This is WebGenii, with an installment from my “Reading Diary”. So what have I been reading lately?
I knew I had to read “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson, published by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam. I had read the hysterical excerpts that were floating around the internet. I picked up a copy and immediately found the HR section to be as hilarious as the first time I read it. I haven’t been following her on-line persona as “the Bloggess”. But now I wish I had; because Jenny Lawson is very funny.
I will warn you though, that the desire to share her humour with your partner can cause problems. I thought my son was out of hearing range, as I read a very funny section about inappropriate conversations at parties. I had managed to stop laughing long enough to finish, only to hear my son singing in the bathroom “Necrophilia is bad, Necrophilia is bad”. Recommended–just don’t read in front of the children.
Once I settled down, I finished “The Girl in the Steel Corset” by Kady Cross, published by Harlequin Teen. I mentioned buying this book in a previous Reading Diary. I also said that if I had noticed the publisher was Harlequin Teen, I would have given the book a pass. This would have been a loss for me, since this book is right in my Steampunk sweet spot. Honestly, this is the book I have been hoping to get when I read the cover copy of some of the other new Steampunk books I’ve been given to review. Our teenaged heroine joins a band of heroes in an alternate history London. One of the touches I liked about this book was the “inner darkness” our heroine has to fight. Which is a great metaphor for the hormonal surges of adolescence. I also loved how Ms. Cross embraced the steampunk aesthetic in dressing her characters. I could always clearly visualize how our heroine (Finley) is dressed. Usually in a punk-goth-Lolita ensemble. Recommended.
I also found time for Blake Charlton’s “Spellwright” and “Spellbound“, both from Tor. I got interested in this series after listening to his interview on Adventures in SciFi Publishing. In this interview Blake described his struggles with dyslexia and how his experiences helped him create the magic system used in his world. This was enjoyable fantasy with an interesting magic system and an engaging hero. Recommended.
And look what came in through the mail this week:
The “Nebula Award Showcase 2012“, edited by James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel. Published by Pyr. This is a terrific collection, that I’m looking forward to digging into.
Just to recap, the books that I mentioned today were:
• “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson, published by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam.
• “The Girl in the Steel Corset” by Kady Cross, published by Harlequin Teen.
• “Spellwright” and “Spellbound” by Blake Charlton, published by TOR.
• The “Nebula Award Showcase 2012“, edited by James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel. Published by Pyr
This has been WebGenii letting you know what is on my reading list.
If this is a podcast fading why don’t you just admit it and we can get on the less noise in our lives. It so erratic that it become a frustration, Some honesty please
I can’t give you an answer to something I don’t know. I’m still getting content to post, so I posts it!
If you don’t like the reviews, and the interviews coming up, feel free to unsubscribe… we will miss you, but that’s your choice.
Thank you kindly for the read and review! Before life became so hectic, I often listened to the Dragon Page, so it’s great to see this. If you’re ever interested in an interview or similar, I’d be thrilled to be considered. Take good care.
Hi Blake
Summer is mistress of the on-air interviews. But if you were interested in an interview via email …