Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Want on a Desert Island

Ha, that was so almost a Dessert Island - which I'd far rather be stuck on, to be fair *grins* Here we are in the second week of Top Ten Tuesday, and the topic this time round is 'Books I'd Want on a Desert Island'. I have interpreted this to mean really really big books that I enjoy reading - they'd keep me occupied so that I don't realise I'm slowly starving to death (unless it really is some dessert island...) You're going to see a list of my most favourite LONG books! This fun meme is created by The Broke and the Bookish, remember? Links and love back to them if you join in!

1) Kushiel's Dart - Jcqueline Carey

This beautifully written book is one that I picked up through curiosity more than anything else. I saw a number of novels by Jacqueline Carey on the bookshelves in my local library and figured that if I liked the first I'd be kept supremely busy reading the rest of the series. To my delight, I adored the tale of Phaedre - the politics, the love, the adventure, the magic. The Kushiel series is just spectacular.

2) Deadhouse Gates - Steven Erikson

I've cried over a few books - none of them fantasy. For some reason, either the fantasy I was reading didn't involve enough tension or I didn't care enough about the characters. This all changed with Deadhouse Gates. I read certain chapters of this with tears streaming down my cheeks. In addition to this, it was the first time I "got" Erikson and his Malazan series and could understand why the fans were so very fervent in their love for the series.

3) The Little Country - Charles de Lint

Music and magic wrapped in stunning prose and sympathetic characters. My first Charles de Lint novel - and still my favourite.

4) The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan

You might not know it from a singular lack of mentions on this blog to date, but I'm actually a big fan of the Wheel of Time. Sure, there are some repetitive characters; yes, the prose is often beyond purple; hmm, is that bearing a remarkable similarity to other fantasy novels? There is a lot wrong with the series, but I've been reading it since I was 14 years old or thereabouts and have a fierce love for it. My favourite of the series is The Shadow Rising - huge and sprawling, with some wonderful scenes out amongst the Aiel and at Rhuidean.

5) Cross Stitch - Diana Gabaldon

Have you not encountered Jamie and Claire? What a treat in store if you haven't! These novels are SO hard to classify, with elements of historical fiction, romance, science fiction (loosely - there is time travel), adventure... It's amazing to realise that Gabaldon wrote this novel as a way to practice writing the "real thing".

6) River God - Wilbur Smith

Wilbur Smith was one of the first adult authors I read as a young teen. His adventure stories are riproaring fun, and this is the one I return to the most. It involves Egypt, one of my favourite historical eras, and a wilful Egyptian princess. Worth picking up if you want a fun historical adventure that keeps the pages turning long into the night.

7) Pandora's Star - Peter F Hamilton

My first "proper" sci fi novel, as recommended by my housemate. What I love about Hamilton's sci fi is that it is incidental to the story. Sure, much of it is set on spaceships and settled planets in the Commonwealth universe, but, at its heart, Pandora's Star is about the people we meet. Their lives, their loves, their losses. Hamilton has an incredible eye for the intricacies of human relationships, and in this sprawling novel, brings all that to bear in spectacular fashion.

8) French Relations - Fiona Walker

There had to be a bonkbuster somewhere in this list *grins* The first tale of Tash and Hugo is by far my favourite - a long summer spent in the luxury of a French chateau. Drink, good food, horses - and more than a few people falling in love. It's sprawling, decadent and very entertaining.

9) The Sunne in Splendour - Sharon Penman

The best historical novelist bar none. Sharon Penman is just supreme at bringing humanity to those people long gone. Here we are presented with a very sympathetic Richard III as he struggles with the idea of taking his brother's throne, and then has to suffer the mystery of the princes in the tower. Penman brings it all to vivid life, and this is a novel that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.

10) The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

This is mostly to give me a man to drool over in my thoughts as I spend those lonely days on the desert island. Locke Lamora is the perfect male protagonist - suave, clever, mocking and, to be, very sexy!

So those are mine - and they also provide a good insight into some of my favourite genres. Which books would you want if you were stranded on a desert island?

A Day Out in That London!

A few months ago, I received a very exciting email... Mieneke (A Fantastical Librarian) was bringing her husband Wiebe to London and wanted to meet up with Liz and I for our very favourite activity - book buying!

Michael and I took an early train to That London so that we could meet at our first stop: Waterstones at Piccadilly (somewhere I had never been, can you believe it?) On the way I was soundly thrashed at some iPhone Yahtzee and proceeded to sulk for the rest of the journey...

We met in the downstairs cafe, and Mieneke was such a sweetheart to have picked presents for Liz and I. Mine was a fantabulous poster, which I plan on hanging in my living room and Liz's was the most gorgeous Dutch edition of the Brothers Grimm fairytales. Here she is showing it off:

In Waterstones Mieneke needed a basket to gather up all her goodies. She is so fun to go book buying with - all my recommendations were accepted without a second thought. I do hope she loves them all! Across the course of the day I recommended some of my favourite books, such as Only Forwards by Michael Marshall Smith, The Little Country by Charles de Lint and (in the absence of Archangel) Angelica by Sharon Shinn.

We had also been met by the delightful Alex Bell, who recommended to me some Deanna Raybourn. I couldn't find any books by her in three bookstores in London, but intend to order me some very soon. That's what Kindles are for, right? All of us compared book recommendations, gossiped over books and blogs, and drooled over pretty covers. We were a little surprised by the similarities of some:

A brief stop for lunch, where Michael was clearly looking at something naughty on his phone - or was it just the cricket score?!

Then onwards to Forbidden Planet - for me, the mecca of bookstores in London. I love that bookish basement, with all the new titles imported from the States, the fabulous selection of fantasy and sci fi novels. Today it was brightened further by the presence of one Brandon Sanderson, who was doing a signing and an impromptu book reading.

I did love the fact that Brandon asked all the fans who had flocked to the signing to spend some time browsing the bookstore and buying books from bricks and mortar, rather than online all the time. He said his local bookstores had supported him during the earliest part of his career, with signings and pushing his first novels, and they deserved every respect.

Mr Sanderson genuinely seemed like a lovely chap, making sure to spend time with each and every fan who had turned up, trying to answer all their questions (although obviously some were out of bounds!) and telling the immense queue that he wouldn't stop signing until every person who wanted their book signed had got it. That is the action of an author still very much in touch with the people that put him where he is, despite all his immense success. Brandon, I salute you!

Finally, while the three boys went to create fire back at home in preparation for a BBQ at Casa de Jager, us girls went to Foyles. We had a really lovely chat with Jenny, and I had far too many books recommended to me. Why can't I read more quickly?!

Finally, back to Casa de Jager for aforementioned BBQ, where Mark proudly showed off his birthday present from Alex:

Before we left (after having feasted handsomely) Mieneke, Liz and I decided to display all our purchases from the day across the table. Here is that decadent haul in all its glory:

It's always a joy spending time with Liz, Mark and Alex - and it was brilliant meeting Mieneke and Wiebe. Mieneke is just as warm and lovely and enthusiastic about books as she is online, and I hope that World Fantasycon in 2013 is not the next time I'll see her in person.

It was the perfect day, and proved for me that:

- book people are the BEST
- Forbidden Planet and Foyles are TOO dangerous for my wallet on the same day; and
- Book bloggers DO buy their own books *grin*

Books I Adopted This Week

Okay! So today's post includes 7 books sent through for review and a massive 18 purchased by moi! Mieneke (A Fantastical Librarian) came over to the UK this weekend and I ended up having a splurge. Time for another book buying embargo, I'm reckoning.....

Books sent for review include:

1) City of Ruins - Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Boss, a loner, loved to dive derelict spacecraft adrift in the blackness of space...

But one day, she found a ship that would change everything—an ancient Dignity Vessel—and aboard the ship, the mysterious and dangerous Stealth Tech. Now, years after discovering that first ship, Boss has put together a large company that finds Dignity Vessels and finds "loose" stealth technology.

Following a hunch, Boss and her team come to investigate the city of Vaycehn, where fourteen archeologists have died exploring the endless caves below the city. Mysterious "death holes" explode into the city itself for no apparent reason, and Boss believes stealth tech is involved. As Boss searches for the answer to the mystery of the death holes, she will uncover the answer to her Dignity Vessel quest as well—and one more thing, something so important that it will change her life—and the universe—forever.

City of Ruins was published by Pyr on 24th May 2011.

I have Diving into the Wreck and was always interested in reading it, after some great reviews by reviewers I trust. As usual, it was one of those novels that past me by and I now need to catch up on.

2) Imperial Glory - Richard Williams

Tired and broken by war, the men of the Brimlock Eleventh Imperial Guard are a force on the verge of collapse. Having been stretched across the galaxy by their loyalty to the Emperor, they are presented with one final battle that will allow them reward they all seek: to colonise the distant world of Vorr and live out the rest of their days in peace. All that stands in their way is a force of savages - a plague of feral orks that has spread across the planet. But can the Brimlock's battered bodies and minds hold up to this greenskin invasion?

Imperial Glory will be published by Black Library on 4th August 2011.

Imperial Guard versus Orks? Yes please! I've not seen Richard Williams' name on a Black Library novel before, so shall be very interested in seeing what he does with his slice of the Warhammer 40K universe.

3) Nagash Immortal - Mike Lee

In the tunnels of Nagashizzar, a new threat to the realm of the undead is rising. Nagash must call upon all his reserves of power to defeat the skaven assault and continue his unholy reign. But when Nagash realises he can use his enemy for his own nefarious needs, an uneasy alliance is struck and a vast, nightmarish army is formed. The necromancer launches his final attack on the lands of Nehekhara, sweeping all before him. Only one man dare stand in his way - Alcadizzar, a peerless warrior and the leader of a defiant force. Their confrontation will not just decide the fate of Nehekhara, but of all the Old World.

Nagash Immortal will be published by Black Library on 4th August 2011.

Beautiful cover - but... third in a trilogy. I am going to try and get my hands on the first two, since I hate diving into a trilogy or series partway through.

4) Witches of the East - Melissa de la Cruz

Freya, Ingrid and Joanna Beauchamp love their sleepy life in the East Hamptons. A new engagement, promotion at work, a happy home - its all going perfectly. And, to top it off, no one's come close to discovering the secret of what they can really do in hundreds of years. But throw a few accidental love potions in the mix the Beauchamp girls are going to need more than a broomstick to clean up this mess...

Witches of the East will be published by Sphere on 21st June 2011.

Haha, the description of this novel is "Sex and the City meets Witches of Eastwick - and I'm afraid I'm sold *giggles* It just seems so funny and sexy and something light to get my teeth into on a summer's day. I'm slightly hesitant because I didn't enjoy Blue Bloods so much by the same author, but this book is for an adult audience and so I'm happy to try her writing again.

5) Chasers - James Phelan

Jesse is on a school trip in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. When he and three friends crawl out of the wreckage they discover a city in chaos. Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. And the only other survivors are infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators...

Chasers was published by Atom Books on 2nd June 2011.

Oooh! Zombies, right? Or something akin to them? Atom is branching out from strictly paranormal romance style novels aka Twilight with books like Chasers, and I, for one, welcome the new approach and the different styles.

6) Envy - Gregg Olsen

This new 'Young Adult fiction' series stars Hayley and Taylor Ryan, crime solving (as long as mum doesn't know), butt-kicking (when they have to) and otherwise normal 15 year-old twin girls. Each novel takes place in Port Gamble, Washington, otherwise known as 'Empty Coffin', so dubbed thanks to an old town legend. Each novel in the series is based on a ripped-from-the-headlines news story with fictionalised characters, real crime-solving techniques and a bit of twin 'senses' thrown in. Told in a non-linear narrative that flashes back and forth in time and bit-by-bit revealing a secret past that even Hayley and Taylor don't know about, each novel tells a satisfying true crime inspired tale as well as peeling back another layer of the overall series arc for the reader at the same time that the main characters discover it.

Envy will be published by new imprint Splinter on 7th September 2011.

Creepy cover, hey? I'm not too sure about the twin senses thing, but I like the idea of taking real news headlines and creating a story out of them. This could be good or it could be awful, but I'm intrigued enough to try.

7) The Necklace of the Gods - Alison Goodman

Once she was Eon, a girl disguised as a boy, risking her life for the chance to become a Dragoneye apprentice. Now she is Eona, thrust into the role of her country's saviour. But Eona has an even more dangerous secret - she cannot control her power. When she tries to bond with her Mirror Dragon, the anguish of the ten spirit beasts whose Dragoneyes were murdered surges through her. The result: a killing force that destroys everything before it. On the run from High Lord Sethon's army, Eona and her friends must help the Pearl Emperor, Kygo, wrest back his throne. Everyone is relying on Eona's power. Can she face her own darkness within, and drive a dangerous bargain with an old enemy? A wrong move could obliterate them all.

The Necklace of the Gods was published by Bantam Press on 26th May 2011.

I'm dense, I admit it, but it took Liz telling me yesterday that The Two Pearls of Wisdom and The Necklace of the Gods are the UK editions of Eon and Eona (from the US), which I have been looking to get hold of after some great reviews from people like The Book Smugglers. So, yay for me having the books already! But boo for not making that much clearer.

Now, here is a picture of all the books I bought yesterday *grins*

I won't be going through them all individually, but here is a list of them all (with all links going to Amazon):

Magic's Pawn - Mercedes Lackey
How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper
The Exiled Queen - Cinda Williams Chima
Fall of Giants - Ken Follett
Bordertown - Various
Harbour - John Ajvide Lindqvist
Red Mars - Kim Stanley Robinson
A Dance to the Music of Time: Volume 1 - Anthony Powell
The Horse Girl - Mary Finn
Monster Blood Tattoo: Foundling - D M Cornish
One Seriously Messed-Up Week: in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite - Tom Clempson
Mechanique - Genevieve Valentine
Promises to Keep - Charles de Lint
Green - Jay Lake
The Last Werewolf - Glen Duncan
The Profession - Steven Pressfield

Oh dear Gods, I simply don't know which to read first!

Which are you coveting right now? Have you read any of the above - what did you think? Which should I read first?

How to Conduct an Internet Debate

1) Avoid using words such as 'retarded', 'moron', and 'fool' - they undermine any point you are making.

2) Everyone is entitled to a valid opinion - if you think it is "wrong", don't use that particular word; rather, explain with reasons why you have a different opinion.

3) Respect that everyone is an individual with feelings. Be careful how you step.

4) Don't use straw man arguments. Definition: A straw man is a component of an argument and is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "attack a straw man" is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by substituting it with a superficially similar yet unequivalent proposition (the "straw man"), and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position. Likewise, hyperbole should be avoided at all costs.

5) If you don't use reasons to back up your point of view, then other people are entitled to ignore your point. Statements like: 'You don't understand the publishing industry' add nothing to a debate.

6) Always read your post before you unleash it on the public. If necessary, rant and then delete.

7) Never ever say something from the anonymity of a keyboard that you would not say to a person's face.

8) Never SHOUT!

9) Try to understand the meaning of someone's post before directly attacking it. Have you read it correctly? Did you read what that person intended? If in doubt, ask.

10) Take any personal issues away from Internet debates. They do not add anything.

Anyone got anything to add?

What is with ALL THE SEXISM?

In the last week I've seen the launch of a new blog, SFF Mistressworks, and an article on the Guardian blog, the incredible shrinking presence of women SF writers, and it got me to thinking: What is with all the sexism?

I'm so totally NOT on board with this focus on women in literature, and I will tell you why.

1) In any other workplace, if people were determined to focus on the specifics between men and women, there would be a good case for a charge of sexism.

2) Women have been fighting for equality for years: why is this suddenly a new story?

3) In chick lit, there is not a fierce desire for there to be a slew of male authors - no one argues that Mike Gayle should be as widely read as Marian Keyes. Authors are enjoyed on their own merits.

4) Last night I was watching the Great British Menu and the commentator described one of the judges as a top female chef - and I felt insulted that she wasn't just considered to be a top chef. The same can be applied to authors: we should be insulted at having to focus on women separately.

For me, this is the height of a storm in a teacup, and I'm so tired of hearing about it now.

Why not consider it this way:

Read the books you like. Enjoy the books you read. Who cares the sex of the authors writing them? I certainly don't! Do you?

Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry

Sylvie is dying in a hospital bed while her mother and doctors watch her life slipping away. But one of them offers her a chance. There’s an alternative community – Stonewylde – hidden in a remote corner of Dorset, and if Sylvie can visit then the clean air and green lifestyle might restore her. Or give her some measure of peace before she dies. It’s a chance, and when Sylvie and her mother take it they find themselves in a haven of beauty and tranquillity.
But it is not all idyllic. As her forbidden friendship with a secretive Village boy grows Sylvie glimpses the truth behind the paradise she’s entered. All is not quite as it seems at Stonewylde.

I honestly don’t know how to review Magus of Stonewylde. I know it is one of the self-publishing phenomena that has now garnered a traditional publishing deal. I know that many people rate the Stonewylde series incredibly highly (of which Magus of Stonewylde is the first). There were many favourable aspects of the book for me, but a lot of it simply didn’t work in my opinion.

I will say that Kit Berry writes with great skill and warmth. Despite my issues with Magus of Stonewylde, I still had an enjoyable reading experience and looked forward to when I could pick up the novel. The simplicity and grace of the prose is a great strength.

Berry also clearly has respect for the English countryside. Where her descriptions of the flora and fauna dominated, I felt all my scepticism receding and thoroughly enjoyed the read.

I also want to remark on the characterisation. Sylvie is a sweet and passionate young girl; Yul is an incredibly well-drawn protagonist for whom I felt an enormous sympathy; and, in the form of Magus, we have a wonderfully sinister individual who professes to have the best interests of his people at heart (much like Mayor Prentiss from the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness).

My issues stemmed with certain aspects of the plot. First of all, I think that the Stonewylde series would have succeeded thoroughly as a YA fantasy, rather than as some odd mish-mash of contemporary and mysticism. If the community of Stonewylde had been a place from a fantasy world, I would have had no issues whatsoever. I found it very difficult to reconcile the idea of this remote community with our modern day. There were glaring references to the Internet and computers in a place where a feudal system is still in place; I did not like this.

I also disliked the contrived manner in which Sylvie is brought to Stonewylde. Her mother, Miranda, is presented as a clever individual, and yet succumbs in a naive fashion to the blandishments of a man she has never met before. She gives up every aspect of her ordinary life and the access to doctors on the words of someone who tells her that her daughter might be okay by moving to the countryside. I’m afraid my scepticism abounded at this point.

Miranda, herself, is one of my issues. SO frustrating! I guess this could be equated to good writing on the part of Berry, if it is intended, but it damaged my reading experience. Miranda seems so strong and capable, but then becomes this lovelorn woman whenever Magus is around – despite his cold treatment of her, and his use of her as a broodmare to bear his children. I never appreciate doormats in my reading.

Speaking of the broodmare aspect – ye gods! This book was just FULL of inappropriate sexual references. The idea that these Villager women were being used by the Hallfolk to bear their children. Sure, it was presented in the form of pagan ceremonies, but it made me feel enormously uncomfortable. As did the fact that everyone seemed fixated on menstruation. Oh, and don’t get me started on the fact that Miranda was raped to bear Sylvie – this was referenced casually and never brought up again. I sincerely hope that this is explored in a later novel, otherwise Berry is just using it for sensationalism, which is appalling.

This last point might be very much a personal problem, but Berry also uses the word ‘moongazy’ a lot, which I find incredibly cutesy, and I ended up gritting my teeth every time it was referenced. This might just be me, however!

Altogether, I found myself reading avidly, but at times not being entirely sure why, hence my very mixed-up review. I definitely think that Kit Berry has talent as a storyteller, but the Stonewylde series requires just TOO much suspension of disbelief for my liking. D’you know the problem? I liked it *just* enough that I want to read the second book in the series, but I suspect I shall find the same irritating issues with plot in that one! Worth reading in terms of writing skill, and to judge whether this self-published author should have been picked up by Orion.

The Terry Pratchett Anywhere But Here, Anywhen But Now First Novel Prize

Sir Terry Pratchett and Transworld Publishers launched a new award for aspiring debut novelists in June last year, the Terry Pratchett Anywhere But Here, Anywhen But Now Prize. After the deadline for submissions of 31 December 2010, 500-plus entries were received for the £20,000 prize.

The six judges (including Sir Terry Pratchett and Tony Robinson) met yesterday at Waterstone’s flagship store in London’s Piccadilly to thrash out a winner. After hours of debate the conclusion was reached that it was impossible to select a single victor! The entries were so diverse that it was unanimously decided to split the prize and award it to David Logan for his book HALF SICK OF SHADOWS, and to Michael Logan (no relation!) for APOCALYPSE COW. Both writers will receive a publishing contract from Transworld.

‘It was a long deliberation and although to some it might seem a cop out to split a prize, we decided that since the existence of the prize was to find new talent then this was the happiest decision to make. Half Sick of Shadows and Apocalypse Cow both stood out in their different ways and I wish their creators the best of luck in their writing careers.’
SIR TERRY PRATCHETT

The Winners

Half Sick of Shadows is a darkly atmospheric, richly written coming-of-age novel in the spirit of Ian Banks’ The Wasp Factory. David Logan, who lives in Carrickfergus, N. Ireland, commented:
“I am disappointed for the runners up. The difference between winning and losing is a hair’s breadth. I just feel very lucky.”
Apocalypse Cow follows the story of a group of social misfits thrown together after an experimental bio-weapon is accidentally unleashed by the government, with peculiar repercussions for Britain’s farm animals. The Scots-born but Kenya-based Michael Logan commented:

“Ever since I wrote my first short story at the age of eight, it has been my dream to become an author - although the idea for a novel about sex-crazed zombie cows did come a little later. The full impact of attaining a lifelong goal has yet to fully sink in. I'm sure it will hit me on the way home, when I will bemuse all around me by performing a victorious knee-slide across the concourse at Gatwick.”

Sir Terry Pratchett and Transworld Publishers would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry to the prize.

Spec Fic Reading Challenge: June Review Link Up!

Welcome to everyone who signed up for the Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge!

This is post where you can link up your reviews posted on your blogs in June 2011 to be in with a chance of winning the prize pack.

The prize pack this month consists of: Cowboy Angels by Paul McAuley, Wolfsangel by M D Lachlan and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

All of the reviews you post to Mr Linky below will equate to an entry into the prize draw.

Below is the link widget. Please make sure that your link goes directly to your review and not to your main homepage. Thanks! (This is not the post to use to sign up for the challenge. If you want to do that, please go HERE!)

Good luck to you all, and I look forward to seeing your reviews for June!

May Wrap Up!

Wowowowowowow! If you throw in my speculative efforts, we hit 75 reviews - a new high for the challenge! I know that quite a few of you have now reached the target of twelve books for the year, but please do keep checking back and posting links to your reviews. I want to see what is exciting you in the world of speculative fiction.

One thing I have noticed is that although there are some books that appear time and again in your linked reviews, there are plenty of other books that are unique to you. It shows the depth and breadth of both your reading, and the speculative fiction that is on offer. Great on both counts!

The prize pack for May was a copy of The Ritual by Adam Nevill, and the lucky recipient is:

Allisyn at The Crystalline Aerie: Books, Recipes and Dancing for her review of Agatha H and the Airship City by Phil and Kaja Foglio

Allisyn, please contact me at magemanda AT gmail DOT com with your postal address so that I can send out your prize *smiles*

I would love to see even more linked reviews for June - people are surely starting to head off on holiday now, which will give them more reading time? I have a week off later this month and I am intending to plough through a large number of books!

May Retrospective

A Look Back on May

May has been a relatively quiet month for me - I did my regular jobs, such as Malazan chapters (which are now scheduled twice a week), editing Whitechapel for Martyn Taylor and slush reading the remaining Angry Robot submissions. Other than that I've been up and down the country a few times for work and seeing friends, and enjoyed some quieter times.

Unfortunately, those quieter times seemed to coincide with a period of laissez faire attitude to reading. I couldn't seem to settle to anything! Thankfully that has now passed and I managed to get through a few books this month. In a scary fashion, Goodreads tells me I'm now five behind my target to read 100 in 2011. The pressure, the pressure!

I watched eagerly as people tweeted from BEA - and determined that, come hell or high water, I shall be there next year.

Oh, and I've been trying to get on board with using my Kindle, but it's not been an instant love affair. We're still on the third date, and the Kindle is trying to get to third base but I'm not having any of it *sigh* I'm hoping to connect soon, but I think I will only come to love it when travelling for a lengthy period. While sat in my house there are way too many paper books that I want to pick up instead!

Reading

As I say, not too many books read this month. Here are the links (where appropriate) to the books I've read:

32) The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy
33) Hollywood Sinners by Victoria Fox
34) Sigvald by Darius Hinks
35) These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
36) The Inheritance by Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm (review to come once published in Vector)

- 4 books by women, and 1 by a man
- 2 fantasy, 1 bonkbuster, 1 family saga and 1 contemporary (I guess! I get lost in which genre is which *grins*)
- 1 came from my shelves, and the remaining 4 were sent for review

Best Book of May

Hmm, none of them were outstanding... I think my favourite was probably These Things Hidden, a dark yet poignant tale about motherhood and the nature of forgiveness.

Pages Covered

Slightly better than April, since I read 2,496 pages in May. The ongoing page count is now 17,961. The Glass Lake was the longest - a sprawling doorstop of a novel - while These Things Hidden was the shortest.

Places Visited

I bounced between Ireland and London, then went to the Chaos Wastes via the Six Duchies. I quite like the idea of living in a little village in Ireland, eating soda bread in the morning and being taught in a Catholic school by nuns - but I'm not too sure about everyone knowing my business!

Plans for June

By far the most exciting thing happening this month is Mieneke's visit and a day spent book shopping in That London! I really can't wait to meet the blogger behind A Fantastical Librarian in the flesh after all the chatting we've done til now online. I also have a week off work coming towards the end of this month and I'm seriously looking forward to a rest and reading through a pile of books. I might even make time for a flying visit to Alton Towers!

Over To You

How did your May go? What did you read? What did you get up to? Spill!