not reading much fanfic = reading way more profic

[rose_griffes]

Author Terry Pratchett died last week. While I don't have the level of fannishness about his books as many of my friends (RL and online), he was still a favorite of mine.

Related topic, I've now read all eight books in the Toby Daye series by Seanan McGuire. Which means I'm stuck waiting for book nine.

Also read Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. It was... not like anything else I've read. Some romance, a bit of history, several assassin nuns, and a surprisingly interactive god of death. I've already downloaded book two, which apparently switches to the POV of a minor character in book one. Which definitely means more assassin nuns.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan, is a YA novel set after a zombie apocalypse. Sadly heavy on the love quadrangle and light on the whole survival thing. Too bad; the author did some compelling world-building, but the characters themselves didn't really interest me.

Hey chaila, I've read three of the Thief books by Megan Whalen Turner. The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia. They're interesting, though I want more of the women's POV. Maybe after I read book four I'll look for some fanfic.

TV: series three of The Great British Sewing Bee has been so much fun. Thanks for letting me know it was airing, DB. I haven't watched the finale yet, but I'm pretty sure about who's going to win. This season has been a delight because several men participated, and talked regularly about how much they liked sewing for the women in their lives.

(Real life sewing: I made a trial run garment of a blouse last week... good thing, too, because the pattern needed some adjustments. So now I have the pretty fabric cut out, and just need to sew it.)

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a new series on Netflix and I'm pretty sure I would never have watched the whole season if it hadn't been available for binge watching. The biggest problem for me? The "people are so stupid" element that prevails in some of Tina Fey's comedy writing. The two leads (Kimmy and Titus) are great, but so many of the other characters are only there to be mocked (because they're stupid, people are stupid, hey did you get that? people are stupid), and... *sigh* I wanted to like it better. Quirky and offbeat comedy is great, but I also want my comedy to be human(e).

Agent Carter finished its eight-episode run. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and hope that it will be renewed. The shorter format may have worked in its favor, so if they go with another tiny season, I won't be too upset.

Comments

[chaila]

I'm on Book 4 of Toby Daye! Everyone kept talking about them, I figured I better give them a chance. :)

They're interesting, though I want more of the women's POV. Maybe after I read book four I'll look for some fanfic. They're interesting, though I want more of the women's POV. Maybe after I read book four I'll look for some fanfic.

Yeeeeah, this is always true. Book 4 will definitely NOT help with this. Book 4 is by far my least fav, and I skimmed big parts of it. :/ There is some excellent fic! But never enough to fill the Attolia-POV shaped hole in my heart completely. I love the second book with a deep, deep love, but the books in general always need more POV from the women. It is my darling wish that the next book will be Eddis POV, but I'm not holding my breath.

[rose_griffes]

Yay, Toby! That series is one that rewards the loyal readers, for sure. (And book 4, oh my. I remember thinking that McGuire was really enjoying that whole "kill your darlings" idea way too much in that book.)

I do plan to read the 4th book by Whalen Turner at some point. In the meantime I've been snared by assassin nuns, plus the As You Wish memoirs about the making of "The Princess Bride". (Cary Elwes is not a gifted writer, but it's a fun read anyway.)

[chaila]

assassin nuns

Details??? :D

[rose_griffes]

Ah, that would be the Robin LaFevers book Grave Mercy. Which I speed-read in about two evenings, and am on book two. (There are three.) And, yep, I think you'd enjoy them.

So take a real historical setting (Anne of Brittany, a thirteen-year-old duchess who is trying to figure out how to keep the region of Brittany separate from France and NOT have to marry a horrible monster of a man to do so), throw in some old Celtic gods, and a "nunnery" devoted to the god of death, with trained women assassins who serve that god. First person woman's POV--one of the trained assassins, natch. It took me a bit of time to get into the first book, simply because it was so unlike anything else I've read.

[chaila]

Sold! I am very intrigued. I haven't heard of these before, but they are going to I the top of my list. Thanks for the tip! :)

ETA: Facepalm, and now I see you already said all this in your main post. I blame Attolia for distracting me!

[tinny]

Oh, interesting-sounding books! The nuns are definitely going on my wishlist.

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

Hi Rosie! Glad you enjoyed the Great British Sewing Bee! Some really fantastic sewing. I want one of those lace skirts! I watched the finale last night. Watch it!

As for Agent Carter - watch this vid! It's got a little of her and enough of Black Widow to be interesting. I'm not a Marvel head but I love Lim's vids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PBMHm1MXJY

Post a pic of the blouse! Do you have a dressmaker's dummy?

:-)