And thus starts both my last year in Japan and (hopefully) the last year before grad-school when I'll have no time for reading again.
But during this time, I was getting everything together to apply for grad school, so apparently I didn't read much (although, the lack of reading in September is almost entirely Fire Emblem's fault... and more of the lack of reading in October should be attributed to procrastination-manga-binges than to actual application progress...). And what I did finish was mostly in Elantra, good grief.
BUT! I made significant progress in The Way of Kings, and I had been trying to save The Book of Enchantments and Shadow and Bone since they're the last portable books I have now that my Kobo has died... (fall semester is always a struggle)
4 Total: 2 New Books 2 Re-reads
READ:
Cast in Shadow
Cast in Courtlight
The Book of Enchantments
Raven Flight
READING:
The Way of Kings
Shadow and Bone
Cast in Honor
PLANNING TO READ:
Bitterblue
Cast in Secret
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
The Caller
(someday...)
Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1)
Well, I'm off to a terrible start, as this is the first book I've finished and it's already halfway through the season. And it's a re-read. But oh well. The 11th in the series is coming out at the end of this November, and so Katie and I have been toiling away to transfer the information on our now absurdly large Google Doc to the tumblr we created.
Reading this for only the second time, after two years and its nine other installments, felt like I was reading a completely different story. I was able to pick up on and appreciate so many more of the subtle nuances in behavior. I'm also realizing that I'm a complete sap for certain characters *cough*Severn*cough* (as if there was ever any doubt...). While I have many new books I'm supposed to be reading, I'll probably continue with these for a few more volumes yet~
Cast in Courtlight (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 2)
And so it continues. I ended up being late to a party on a Friday night because I couldn't put it down; and then spending five hours on the following Saturday (after spending the entire morning at the elementary school's 学習発表会, which was very much worth waking up early on a Saturday) finishing it in one go.
I'm quite the broken record but there were so many things I hadn't remembered. I'm particularly glad for the interactions with the Hawklord (in the previous book as well) and the more thorough introduction to Lord Sanabalis (oh Sanny...). Lord Andellen's character is so interesting in that he very much serves Lord Nightshade but that he also seems to grudgingly respect Kaylin. And of course, the Lord of the West March and the Consort are always great since they're so different from the usual Barrani High Lords.
I'm also going to cut this rambling off here and really try to read something new from my growing list...
The Book of Enchantments
I found this little book in the used book section at Schuyler's when I was exploring it with Kathryn during my trip home last May. Even though there's only one story tying it to the characters I love from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, I do love Patricia Wrede's writing and all of the stories were lovely in their own way. I appreciated that some took place in the modern world, some in the Enchanted Forest world, and some in new worlds all together. I kept this little book in my purse as my "on the go" book, so it took longer than normal to finish it, but I was also trying to savor one of the few paper-and-ink books I have left to read here.
Raven Flight (Shadowfell, Book 2)
A much appreciated birthday present <3
I love being wrapped up in Juliet Marillier's writing. She takes her time, and while some may call the pacing slow I appreciate how it allows me to sink into her worlds. This installment of the story was heavily tied to the seasons and I appreciated that Neryn's training took so much time. In spending months and months I can believe that she actually gained the knowledge her power requires. The length of time training and the turning of the seasons also highlighted how fleeting and precious anytime spent with her dear friends was.
This is also, incidentally, exactly the sort of heroine and story I would have eaten up when I was an adolescent and teenager. So even though I've never read it before it feels strangely nostalgic and familiar. And as always with her books, I have become entirely too emotionally attached to these characters and weep for the tragic setbacks to their cause. But somehow, I still feel hopeful for the last book.
A much appreciated birthday present <3
I love being wrapped up in Juliet Marillier's writing. She takes her time, and while some may call the pacing slow I appreciate how it allows me to sink into her worlds. This installment of the story was heavily tied to the seasons and I appreciated that Neryn's training took so much time. In spending months and months I can believe that she actually gained the knowledge her power requires. The length of time training and the turning of the seasons also highlighted how fleeting and precious anytime spent with her dear friends was.
This is also, incidentally, exactly the sort of heroine and story I would have eaten up when I was an adolescent and teenager. So even though I've never read it before it feels strangely nostalgic and familiar. And as always with her books, I have become entirely too emotionally attached to these characters and weep for the tragic setbacks to their cause. But somehow, I still feel hopeful for the last book.
