Beyond Reality discussion

Can you believe it's February already? Let us know what you’re reading this month, February 2024. Tell us about your reads - all genres welcome here!

I didn’t quite get this posted in January…
I managed to finish Mystic Quest by Tracy Hickman & Laura Hickman, 6.75/10. We find mostly new characters and a time jump of 25+ years in this second book of the Bronze Canticles trilogy; neither poses a problem in terms of the story but little is explained about what what has happened in the intervening years.
Strengths: The whole concept of the overlaying of three worlds occupying the same space, connected by the Dream and the Deep Magic/Sharajentei/Techomancy (human/fae/goblin forms of magic). None of the mystics who wield these powers really understand them but are learning to use them, not always wisely or for the greater good of all. A diverse cast of characters within each of the worlds. A complex plot laced with ambition, regret, secrets, fears, hopes, loyalty, and love. Some unique plot devices (the fae’s bubble beneath the sea, for example) and plot twists. Three climaxes (one per world).
Weakness: Over-reliance on some stereotypes/tropes. Characters who refuse to talk to each other when a bit of communication would certainly not only make sense but be realistically more likely to happen than not (looking at you, Caelith and Eryn, Caelith and Jorgan, really—Caelith and anyone!!). Not quite enough explanation of (view spoiler)[how/why Ekteia manipulated characters in all 3 worlds, unless it was just to create chaos and war (hide spoiler)]. And if (view spoiler)[Ekteia and Hrea are 2 of the gods depicted in the statues in Calsandria, who is the 3rd statue? (hide spoiler)] It is confusing who is depicted in the fresco as well.
Hoping book 3 ties up all the threads in a satisfying way.

And I squeezed in Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle, 5/10. A weirdly-imagined retelling of the time leading up to the building of Noah’s ark, with quantum leaps, unicorns, seraphim, nephilim, and a god named El. On one hand, it’s not a bad story, with kidnappings, young love, reconciliations, a birth, and a death. And it is speculative fiction. But it seemed a bit like a stew made with leftovers—throw in a little of this and a little of that, stir, and hope it turns out all right. And it does.

I also listened to The Candles Are Burning by Veronica G. Henry, 5.25/10. Maybe I was too distracted while listening to the second half of this story, but I didn’t quite understand (view spoiler)[the deal she made with Death, other than supposedly she would direct him to others who had the “sight”. How did putting bits of herself or others into the candles work? (hide spoiler)] And oh, the lack of knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver!

Starting February with All the Seas of the World for our group Fantasy discussion.

I just finishedMurder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide and highly recommend it

Kathi, Many Waters was a favorite of mine as a teen. I haven't re-read it to see if it holds up.

I've been picking at Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder since reading the Little House books to my daughter has rekindled my interest in Wilder's life and so I looked up an adult biography. It's interesting, but I've not had much bandwidth for it. Life has been super stressful and I'm in a bit of a reading slump, TBH. I've got several books to hand that I need to start, including The Consuming Fire and a memoir that looked interesting, but haven't been able to make myself pick them up. Someone motivate me! :)

Shel wrote: "Kathi, Many Waters was a favorite of mine as a teen. I haven't re-read it to see if it holds up."

I noticed that you and another mutual friend had both rated it 5 stars. It just felt like such an odd mish-mash of things. I’d never read it before; in fact, the only book of the Time Quintet I’d read when I was young was the first, A Wrinkle in Time.

As for motivation, yours will return. Give it time. Your life has been a bit stressful lately!

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

I finally got myself to start The Consuming Fire the other day and it's proving to be a perfect choice to get me over my reading slump - fun and not too brainy!

I listened to The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl. Thought it had great potential but the last half wasn't great.

Also listened to Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice was a good sequel. Great inclusion of native culture into an end of the world novel.

And System Collapse by Martha Wells, I do like Murderbot but this one started really slow. Ended well though.

Quick update before leaving on vacation in a couple days:
I finished All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay and posted some comments in our BotM discussion thread. Also finished The Last Emperox by John Scalzi and will post my comments next week when we open the discussion for that book in our series discussion folder.
I listened to a couple more short stories:
What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo, 6/10. Like most short stories, this felt more like a chapter from a book rather than a complete story in itself, but it would be a book I’d be interested to read. This “episode” at least, had a beginning, middle, and end, with excellent pacing and atmospheric writing.
Falling Bodies by Rebecca Roanhorse, 8.5/10. In the guise of a well-written science fiction story, the author explores the turmoil of a child (now young adult) of one culture adopted into another, longing for a sense of belonging. His plight echoes that of so many indigenous children caught between cultures.

Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 6 by Gyeoeul Gwon

I just finished The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science, nonfiction science history by one of my favorite pop science authors, and am about to pick up Killers of a Certain Age for another book club. Then I'll be back to our group reads with The Last Emperox, which I just got notified is waiting for me at the library.

A World on Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War by Amanda Foreman

Well, I got one book read in airports & on airplanes, but haven’t started anything else since being on vacation. The one I finished was another Charlotte & Thomas Pitt mystery by Anne Perry, Silence in Hanover Close, 7.5/10.

Just started a wonderful recent French scifi, sorry not yet available in English.
The idea is scientists cline Neanderthals, help them grow, teach them basic life skills, and release them in a special nature area. The book goes back and forth between them and between the scientists. The writing is almost poetry.

Killers of a Certain Age was good fun, if you like mysteries - if you've read any of the Thursday Murder Club series, it's a similar vibe! I also snuck in a quick read of a memoir, Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist's Journey into Seeing in Three Dimensions, which I found fascinating. Brains are amazing!

I've just picked up The Last Emperox from the library, so that's up next!

Fist of Heaven and Earth by Kit Sun Cheah

Game of Immortals by Kit Sun Cheah

Finished one more book, another Anne Perry mystery featuring Charlotte & Thomas Pitt: Bethlehem Road, 7/10.