August books

[clare_dragonfly]

56. Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman - ****
57. The Ivory and the Horn by Charles DeLint - ****
58. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman (reread) - *****
59. Sever by Lauren DeStefano - ****
60. Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander - ** 1/2
61. The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program - ***
62. So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane - *** 1/2
63. Miles, Mystery and Mayhem by Lois McMaster Bujold - *****

As always, discussion welcome!

ETA: Forgot my paper TBR status! It's at 51 now, so it was at 52 yesterday when I made the list. Got it down by 3, which would be on track if I hadn't bought so many books this year...

Comments

[inventrix]

So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane - *** 1/2

I was sort of casually eyeing that book/series, so I'm curious about the rating you gave it. Would you recommend it to anyone? (I'm not really sure how you do your star ratings.)

[clare_dragonfly]

I mostly do my star ratings by instinct, but they're approximately equivalent to grades--so that book would get a C+. Hmm, that sounds worse than it is. Basically, I thought it was a pretty good magical adventure that I would have liked a lot more if I'd read it when I was in the proper age range (middle grade); there were also some Christian overtones that put me off a little bit. I would recommend it to kids in the right age range and people who don't mind Christian overtones, so possibly you! I got a little bored at times because it was relatively childish, but it was certainly easy and quick to read.

[lynnoconnacht]

Which version did you read, though? She's got two available. (I think I read the classic/original version, but I'm not entirely sure anymore.)

[clare_dragonfly]

Wow, um, I have no idea. How do I tell?

Sent from my iPad

[lynnoconnacht]

I think that means you've got the old editions? I can only find the revised editions for sale on the author's own website and she offers a choice between the old and revised ones.

That makes me curious, though, because I don't really remember any strong Christian overtones? I must've noticed them, though... :/

[clare_dragonfly]

Interesting. I didn't (and wouldn't) say the Christian overtones were strong, but they were there. Mainly, it was very clear to me that the big bad evil was meant to be Lucifer/the devil, and he talked on the phone to a good guy named Michael, who seemed obviously to be the archangel.

[lynnoconnacht]

Hmmm... Definitely not strong, then, yeah. But present. ^-^