Category: Ruminations

Blog Hop: What’s In Your Reviews?

On By cherylmahoneyIn Blog Hop, Ruminations15 Comments

book blogger hopThis week’s Book Blogger Hop question: Are your reviews more of a rehash of the story or do you comment on writing style, characters, and reflection?

Well, I certainly aim to do more than just retell the story!  I generally do include a paragraph or (for very complicated plots!) two of storyline, so readers will have some context when I start talking about characters or other aspects of the book.  However, I feel like plot summaries are what the back of the book, or the Amazon description, are for.  In a sense, that’s the objective part–what happens in the book.

I feel like my job as a reviewer is to provide the subjective part.  Duly noting after our last blog hop discussion that this is just my opinion, my goal is to let you know how well the story was carried out.  Was the interesting premise actually interesting, or did it end up dragging?  Was the awesome-sounding heroine as cool as I hoped?  Did the romance hinted at in the plot summary turn out to be believable, or ridiculous?  Was the book funny, sad, or moving–sometimes the contents of a plot summary will hint at those things, but did it turn out that way?

Knowing what happens in a book does help me decide whether to read it or not–but I’ve read plenty of books that were terrible despite great premises.  Only retelling the plot means only looking at one part of a book, and only one aspect that can make it worth reading–or not.

And now I’m curious what other people are expecting from reviews!  When you read book reviews (not just mine!), are you mainly looking for a description of the story, or do you also want to know the reviewer’s subjective opinions? 🙂

Don’t forget, you can win a signed copy of my fairy tale retelling, The Wanderers! Just put #WanderersGiveAway in your comment to enter.

Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Ruminations, Science Fiction6 Comments

I had an excellent time rereading The Thrawn Trilogy, Timothy Zahn’s landmark Star Wars novels, during the Sci Fi Experience this year.  After that, I decided to finally go on and read his Hand of Thrawn Duet, Specter of the Past and Vision of the Future.  (Warning: some spoilers to follow for the The Thrawn Trilogy.)

So why did I never read these before?  Funny story about that…I actually used to own both of these books.  I had the first one for quite a while but was waiting to read it until the second one came out in paperback.  It finally did, I bought it, I started reading Specter of the Past…and I found out in three chapters or so that they apparently-returned-from-the-dead Thrawn was actually a fake.  I was so disgusted that I stopped reading and gave both books away.  After ten years or so, I felt I may have overreacted…

There was one thing I was right about though–these two books function like one really long book, with what feels like an almost arbitrary break between, so it’s no good reading one without the other, or trying to talk about them separately!

Ten years after The Thrawn Trilogy (and 15 years after Return of the Jedi), the Empire has been beaten back to a tiny fraction of its former strength.  Supreme Commander Admiral Pellaeon believes they have no choice but to surrender to the New Republic.  Unbeknownst to him, Grand Moff Disra has a plan afoot–he’s found a conman who can pose as Grand Admiral Thrawn, the brilliant tactician who nearly reversed the Empire’s fortunes before; and a member of the elite guard with enough tactical genius to support him.

Meanwhile, the New Republic is struggling to hold itself together, especially when revelations come out that an unidentified group of Bothans contributed to a world’s destruction (like Alderaan, but not) some 50 years ago.  With many worlds demanding vengeance be taken on the entire species, and others using it as an excuse to fight their own battles, the New Republic is swiftly on the brink of civil war.  Leia, Han and various friends try to put out fires and find answers at home.  Luke does his own investigating, around the galaxy and using the Force, until he’s eventually drawn into a rescue mission of Mara Jade.

Looong plot!  There’s a LOT happening, and I think that’s both the strength and the weakness of the books.  So many cool things are going on–but so many things are going on!  Zahn moves the point of view around with every different plot thread, so between the two books we spent time with Leia, Han, Luke and Mara (together and separate), Lando, Talon Karrde, two different mercenary female warriors (it’s complicated), Wedge Antilles of Rogue Squadron, General Bel Iblis, and no less than five separate groups of Imperials.

To Zahn’s credit, all of these people had interesting things going on, and I had surprisingly little trouble keeping it all straight.  At the same time, I still felt like I was frequently being sidetracked from the couple of plotlines that I liked best, or from the characters I most wanted to see.  I think I might have liked these two books better as one book with half the subplots.

However…these were still solidly engaging books.  I did overreact about the fake Thrawn all those years ago.  While I am still a little disappointed that it wasn’t the real Thrawn (such a cool villain!), the con turned out to be pretty brilliant too.  I especially liked the way it sent all the other characters into a tailspin, second-guessing themselves because they think Thrawn is manipulating them.  So some of the best aspects of Thrawn-as-villain still came through.

Luke had a particularly good thread here too, especially in the second book when he connects with Mara.  Those two play off each other so nicely, and they both underwent powerful character growth in the second book.  There’s some intriguing examinations of the Force as well, as they each explore their abilities and limitations.

The Thrawn Trilogy are probably the best Star Wars books I’ve ever read, and while The Hand of Thrawn didn’t manage to equal them, they’re still solid installments in the continuing saga.  Now I just have to figure out what to read next!  All the various sites about Star Wars books are surprisingly difficult to decipher, but I think the next one I want is Zahn’s Survivor’s Quest.  Star Wars fans, feel free to weigh in on the subject! 🙂

Don’t forget, you can win a signed copy of my fairy tale retelling, The Wanderers! Just put #WanderersGiveAway in your comment to enter.

Other reviews:
Speculiction
Mathachew
From the Mind of Tatlock
Anyone else?

Buy them here: Specter of the Past and Vision of the Future

Guest Post: Favorite Fairy Tale Retellings

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations6 Comments

 You’ve seen me write about my favorite fairy tale retellings many times, but today I’m happy to present someone else’s opinion!  Today we have a guest post from Katy, who writes at A Library Mama.  Some of these are favorites of mine as well, and some are ones I am definitely going to have to explore!  Links go to Katy’s reviews, if you want to find out more.

********************

Fairy tales made into novels are some of my favorite types of books ever, and I promised Cheryl this list oh, months and months ago. I’m finally doing it in honor of the Once Upon a Time challenge (hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings.)

These are not by any means the only fairy tale retellings I have read and loved – but in the interests of keeping it manageable, I’ve limited myself to an even dozen. I hope you enjoy!

Beauty by Robin McKinley. (1978, Middle Grade)

This is the book that started it all, first checked out regularly from the library, then bought with Christmas money so that I could carry it in my suitcase when traveling. This retelling of Beauty and the Beast started both my adoration of Robin McKinley and my search for great fairy tale retellings.

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean. (1991, Adult. “New Adult” might be perfect)

This was the first book I found in the Fairy Tale Series, edited by Terri Windling, though I went on to track down the others as well. I was in college when I discovered it, and despite the marked difference in technology between my college and the college of the story, the college life is so vividly described that it took me quite a while to realize that it was set in the 1960s rather than the present. The magic weaves its way into the story subtly at first, gradually coming to a crescendo.

Jack the Giant Killer by Charles deLint (1987, Adult)

Jacky is stumbling through the streets of Ottawa, reeling from a tough break-up, when she finds that grief and alcohol have blurred the edges of reality so that she can now see its faerie denizens – and the growing conflict between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. This is another Fairy Tales series entry, and my introduction to deLint, as well as a great story in its own right.

Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede (1989, Adult)

The author of the beloved Enchanted Forest Chronicles doesn’t disappoint in this Elizabethan retelling of the story, featuring a manipulative John Dee. Also part of the Fairy Tale series.

Kate Crackernuts by Katharine Mary Briggs (1963, Middle Grade)

Kate Crackernuts (the original, traditional) is a wonderful story of stepsisters who are loyal to each other even when the stepmother thinks they should be enemies. This lovely retelling moves the whole story to the Scottish Highlands. I got a dusty old copy through interlibrary loan to read it, but it’s now happily available in paperback as well.

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley (1997, Teen)

It’s Beauty and the Beast again, but different – I’ve read both of these retellings multiple times. Beauty feels more down-to-earth, and has more about Beauty’s love of books and her relationship with her horse. Though of course there’s magic in both stories, the magic here feels more fantastical, and there is a lot more about the magic of roses in particular.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli (1996, Middle Grade)

A mystical, reflective retelling of Rapunzel, told from the points of view of Rapunzel, the witch, and the prince. I fell in love with it in library school.

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (2003, Middle Grade/Teen)

The book that first brought Shannon Hale to my attention, the story of Princess Anidori’s struggle to survive and reinvent herself after she’s betrayed grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go.

East by Edith Pattou (2003, Teen)

“East of the Sun, West of the Moon” set in rural Norway. When Rose discovers that, contrary to what she’s been told, she was born facing north, the direction of adventurers, she is both outraged and excited. Then, an enormous white bear offers to save her sister’s life and her family’s fortune if she will come with him. Strong characters and a strong sense of setting make for a wonderful retelling.

Ash by Malinda Lo (2009, Teen)

A Cinderella that puts the chancy Fair Folk back into the fairy tale, and takes the assumptions that a heterosexual romance is the path to happiness out. It’s all done in the context of an utterly compelling story.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (2007, Teen)

A beautiful and terrifying, if not straightforward, “Twelve Dancing Princesses.” This particular fairy tale is one where I tracked down every novel retelling I could find – I’ve picked this one as my favorite for this list, but there were so many other good ones, too!

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (2011, Middle Grade)

Confession: Hans Christian Andersen is not my favorite. It’s greatly to Ursu’s credit that she turned “The Snow Queen,” a quite disturbing story, into a novel that I really enjoyed. Breadcrumbs has a modern-to-magic setting that works very well, and deals well with deep issues of identity and friendship.

***************

Thanks for sharing so many great titles, Katy!  Personally, I’m thrilled by a “Jack the Giant Killer” retelling from Charles deLint!  Anyone else see something they want to pick up?

And don’t forget, you can also enter to win a signed copy of my fairy tale-inspired novel, The Wanderers!  See Katy’s lovely review here, and include #WanderersGiveAway in your comment to enter. Contest open until April 30th, and you can comment around my blog and enter as many times as you like!

Blog Hop: Objectively Good–or Bad

On By cherylmahoneyIn Blog Hop, Ruminations11 Comments

book blogger hopThis week’s Book Blogger Hop question is a very BIG one: To you, what qualifies a book as good or bad? Are some books objectively better than others, or is it purely a matter of opinion?

I don’t think this one can really be treated as an either/or question.  There are some qualities of a book that, generally speaking, will make a book good or bad–but there will be exceptions to every rule, and there will be dissenting opinions on every book.

Trying to be as broad as possible, I would say that, for me, a good book requires characters who are complex and believable according to human nature; an avoidance of overt stereotypes, including (perhaps especially) gender stereotypes (although archetypes are completely acceptable); a plot that is both interesting and plausible; and writing that demonstrates a command of language and grammar and (at least a smidge) of the beauty of words.

So it follows that a bad book would have flat or implausible characters who may be stereotypes, a dull or impossible plot, and poor command of words.

But I already have a problem right there, because Edgar Rice Burroughs is one of my favorite authors, and he has completely flat, stereotyped characters more often than not (but he has thrilling plots and landscapes, and a beautiful way with words).  Like I said–exceptions to the rule.

It all gets much more wobbly though, because one person’s complex character will read flat to another; one reader will find a plot gripping while another finds it dull, while a third will say it’s full of implausibilities anyway; and gorgeous prose to one person will seem incredibly dense to another.  And this doesn’t even address the subject of whether a book has something profound to say, and whether it can say it alongside good plot and characters, or at the expense of those, and whether that choice matters (I say yes, many would say no).

Whew, it makes me wonder how I dare state public opinions on any books!  I think implicit in writing a book review is the understanding shared by reviewer and reader that this is my opinion, one I hope would be shared by the majority of the people who self-identify as interested in the same kind of stories I like.

And there, I think, I stop!  Would you like to take on this question? 🙂

Feuding Magical Families in Caprona

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, Juvenile, Reviews, Ruminations5 Comments

The next book in Diana Wynne Jones’ splendid Chrestomanci series is The Magicians of Caprona. This is another one focused mostly not on Chrestomanci and his Castle, taking the action instead to Italian-influenced Caprona.

In Caprona, there are two great spell houses, the Casa Montana and the Casa Petrocchi, and the two families have been bitterly feuding for two centuries (although they both get on well with Chrestomanci). The story begins with family problems within the close-knit Casa Montana, like young Tonino’s apparent lack of magical aptitude, or the question of finding an appropriate suitor for Cousin Rosa. The situation escalates, with threats from neighboring city-states, and only hope to save Caprona—finding the true words to “The Angel of Caprona,” said to be given by an angel centuries before. Soon both families are on an increasingly urgent search for the song, while forces are massing for war and something sinister is going on at the Duke’s palace…

Here we see again one of Jones’ best types of protagonists, the earnest boy hero, seemingly unlikely to succeed, who discovers hidden abilities. I don’t mean to be dismissive by classifying—it’s a type of story that works very well! Tonino is a particularly appealing boy hero, considering his love of reading, and his talent of talking to cats.  Boss cat Benvenuto is also a delightful addition of the story–I do have this fondness for cats in books, you know! 🙂

I particularly enjoy the spell houses, with their huge clan of aunts and uncles and cousins all living companionably together, making magic and cheerfully getting into one another’s business. It’s warm and friendly and vivid. I also love their magic, which centers around sung spells. Singing off-key or muddling words can (and does) have disastrous consequences.

Chrestomanci has a relatively small role here, though he does make a flying appearance early in the crisis, so his arrival near the end isn’t quite a deus ex machina. Besides, he performs his usual role of not actually solving the crisis, just helping the lead characters to solve the crisis themselves.

I wouldn’t read this one first, because it could make Chrestomanci a somewhat confusing presence, but it’s stand-alone enough to read anywhere after Charmed Life.  I have just one more Chrestomanci novel left, plus a few short stories, which I plan to review soon too!

Author’s Site: http://www.dianawynnejones.com/

Other reviews:
Masha du Toit
The Aroma of Books
Readers By Night
Anyone else?

Buy it here: The Magicians of Caprona