Books for June, 2003

The Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. I don't know exactly why, maybe because of all the stress I was under this month, but this book felt very loooonnngg to me. This doesn't mean that I didn't I enjoy it, but I kept almost putting it down and not picking it up again. It felt as though it just took a long time to get the story rolling. Of course, with Delia and Ellen, you spend so much time enjoying their language that you almost don't notice, which is why, I suppose, I kept picking it up again. I did finish it, and found the ending to be mildly surprising. I expected to like it better, but again, I think this was just me and life stress this month, not Ellen and Delia.

Granny the Pag by Nina Bawden. One of the collection of YA novels that sdn sent me. Enjoyable.

The Other Ones by Jean Thesman. Again, YA from sdn The problem was, the ending of the story seemed so clear. Girl who has magical/psychic skills which she has been repressing must, of course, come to embrace her true self. No real surprise there.

Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko. Ditto YA. Lively. Pretty irresistible first person narrator.

A Year Down Under by Richard Peck. YA from sdn. Newbury winner. Um . . . this won the Newbury? Really? Pleasant, sure, but much less memorable than other Newbury books I've read.

Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce. I found myself savoring her word choices, like an unusual wine. This is an author whose style definitely calls attention to itself, but at the time I read it, this suited me.

Tithe by Holly Black (blackholly). It will be my great pleasure to get this book autographed when I go to Nimbus 2003. I enjoyed it. I found myself very aware of her sure touch with word choice, metaphor, etc. If you liked Borderlands or War for the Oaks, try this one.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. Twice.

Cheers,
Peg