At the beginning of CBR8, I reviewed two graphic novels that deal with contemporary history: Marzi, about Poland under martial law and the Solidarity movement, and War Brothers about civil war and child soldiers in Uganda. Both were excellent and demonstrated for me that the graphic novel is a great way to introduce readers to events that might have either passed notice or seemed too far away to really matter. In particular, I think the graphic novel lends itself to drawing in young readers, educating […]
Werewolves of (Victorian) London
Daisy Craigmore doesn’t mourn her abusive d-bag of a husband at all, but has nonetheless worn widow’s weeds for the proscribed period of time, so as to avoid a scandal. Now she’s pretty ready to get her flirt on, but her first “date” of sorts, is ruined when she comes across her friend torn to pieces in an ally, and the beast that killed her ready to tear into Daisy and her lover next. The mysterous Ian Ranulf, Marquis of Northrup, insists on protecting her, […]
Hawaiian history factoids for the NPR set
So this is my second Sarah Vowell audiobook this year. They’ve so far not been OMG have to read! But they’re quick, entertaining, and I learn a little something on my commutes. And they’re often on sale on Audible which makes them a cheap little pick me up. This time we have Unfamiliar Fishes, the story of the Americanization of Hawaii. Starting with Captain Cook discovering the islands, through the first missionaries arriving (from New England of course!) to their grandchildren annexing Hawaii to the […]
Dragons with feathers!
Though I’m writing reviews for Books 4-7 all at once, and posting separately, I haven’t mentioned until now that the regular cast of characters besides Temeraire and his human buddy Will Laurence has really grown to a large group of familiars. I have to give giant props to Naomi Novik for building a world of details easy to absorb and remember, and still read super quickly. This book, number 7 of the series, brings us to South America, one of the few continents not yet visited […]
Temeraire Down Under
Let’s be real: Temeraire is the Forrest Gump of dragons. He goes everywhere, just when the action where he happens to be is most important. World history hinges on his behavior. He meets all the famous people and gets to be on a first name basis with all of them. And we get to go with him and see the entire world. THE ENTIRE WORLD! This time, we get on a dragon transport and travel with Will Laurence and Temeraire to Australia. Having had a […]
But how does a dragon feel about going into battle?
Back into battle with Laurence and Temeraire! Napoleon’s the bad guy! Easy and fun to read! But wait, first we have to get Laurence and Temeraire back together, because Laurence has been sentenced to death for treason for saving all the dragons in the world (<cough>Mary Sue<cough>), and Temeraire is moping in the breeding grounds in Wales. This is an opportunity for Novik that she jumps all over, and I think the reader is the big winner: we finally get to read from Temeraire’s POV. […]
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