book

Finished reading The Dragon of Ynys

Rated The Citadel of the Autarch 9/10

Rated A Fire Upon the Deep 9/10

Added The Wind Through the Keyhole

Finished reading Record of a Spaceborn Few

Wants to read Man Standing Behind

Finished reading The Mercy of Gods

Finished reading Parable of the Talents

Rated Spark 6/10

SPARK is a somewhat disorienting little book. What starts out as a fairly straightforward story turns into a darker, mysterious world.<br><br>The trouble I had with these mysterious occurrences was that I wasn't entirely sure that they were real. Now, maybe the issue is that I was reading the book while tired, before bed, and maybe there were clues that I did not notice. If Mauk intended to makes these experiences surreal, I cannot say for certain if that's how they come across.<br><br>I'd be curious to hear other readers' impressions. SPARK is definitely a novel that merits discussion, and I hope that it gets it.<br><br>(My full review appears on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2012/09/spark-by-courtney-elizabeth-mauk.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Rated Spore 8/10

This was way better than the 50th Anniversary re-issue of EARTHWORLD, which also features the Eighth Doctor, but I wondered how much of the audio adventures Scarrow had listened to because the first half of the story sounded like the Eighth Doctor, and the second half, a bit less so -- A bit more like the Fifth, maybe. Still sounded like the Doctor, but less about the specific incarnation.<br><br>The pacing was good except in that the story just seems to suddenly be done. Partially, this is a problem with the short story format combined with the breadth of DW history, but it did leave me somewhat with the feeling of, "Oh. So we're done now."<br><br>However, this story overall would have made a really great episode too. Maybe one day we'll get a Big Finish audio of it, depending upon how the BBC licenses such things.

Finished reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Rated The Small Backs of Children 10/10

Art is a weapon. Lidia Yuknavitch's latest novel explores the lives of people either directly or indirectly related to a photographer who has taken a very famous photo of a girl from war-torn Eastern Europe. There's a performance artist, a poet, and a filmmaker married to a writer who has fallen into a deep depression, and all the words are wrapped up in the bodily reactions people have in the face of trauma.<br><br>The narrative blurs the line between a story once told, a story repeatedly told, and the fractured fourth wall between creator and audience. It's an interesting way to approach complex themes, and though the subject matter may be tough, it's not a tough read.<br><br>(See the rest of my Top 10 Favorites read in 2015 at <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2015/12/glorified-love-letters-top-10-favorite.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Finished reading The Empire of Gold

Rated Network Effect 10/10

Rated Fugitive Telemetry 8/10

I enjoyed this story but damn it was very confusing trying to work out if the details around the GrayCris assassination attempt also on Preservation Station. <br/><br/>Furthermore this is the sixth book but happens between Exit Strategy (four) and Network Effect (five). I’m definitely going to need to relisten all three audio books in chronological order order.<br/><br/>Really enjoying the switch to detective story style and as always I enjoy seeing Murderbot/Sec Unit grow.

Wants to read The Duchess of Malfi

Rated Parable of the Sower 10/10

What an excellent and (alas) a timely book. Grim and hopeful at the same time. (However, if you're sensitive to animal or child death, best leave this for when you're feeling quite sturdy.)

Rated The Night Manager 8/10

Rated Alien: Out of the Shadows 8/10

Wants to read The Atrocity Archives

Reading Tocqueville: A Very Short Introduction

Rated Spun 4/10

SPUN It’s a story about grief, addiction, and celebrity culture, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecessor, SPIN. <br><br>It’s not that I wholly disliked Spun, but I spent most of the time reading wondering why I cared, and also wishing that we were getting a Spin/Kate story instead. Post-rehab career is an interesting concept, especially in terms of navigating celebrity culture, yet Amber spends a lot of time waiting for someone to point her in the right direction, which does not make for an interesting protagonist. I understand that someone who feels helpless would do so, from a real-life standpoint, but I expected more from a book — even if it is only around 80 pages.<br><br>McKenzie does make good use of incorporating scripts, interview clippings and text messages into the story — a trick that a lot of modern writers are still struggling with. One can hardly write about an actress in L.A. without these things, and their appearances do not feel jarring. There are also some funny bits of dialogue and, again, touching insight into Amber getting her life together.<br><br>Still, if Spun needed to be written, it needed more than backstory with a side of soapy dramz. Amber could have her own full length book, and this one doesn’t quite meet the mark. It feels rushed — dashed off, even — and ill-prepared for prime time. Maybe it’s enough for some readers, but despite its bright spots, it wasn’t enough for me.<br><br>(My full review appears at <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/2014/05/book-review-spun-by-catherine-mckenzie/">Persephone Magazine</a>.)

Finished reading The Empty Grave

Rated Starter Villain 9/10