Besides Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson is the best book I’ve read in a while. So though it is an adult book, I had to choose it for Book of the Month. It has the feel of a historical fiction book, with just a touch of the magical city. Predominant themes are struggle for control, regarding government and religion, and the actual governance of the area. After reading the book, which I read because Brandon Sanderson was picked by Robert Jordan’s widow to finish his series, I was referred to this great interview with Sanderson  about The Gathering Storm, the most recent book of the Wheel of Time. In it Sanderson talks about how he got into fantasy and what motivates him to write. And yes, I can totally see what he was meaning.

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I have a long way to go before I finish The Wheel of Time series. Intrigued by the buzz surrounding the newest publication. Sounds like the complexity increases nearer the end. Still lovin’ every book.

The Path of Daggers

Fans of Garth Nix‘s Keys to the Kingdom series will be happy to know the last book will be released March 4th, 2010 in the US and UK and in February for Australia. Thanks to Matt at Fantasy Folder for the news.

I’m only on the 3rd book out of 7, so that’s another series for me to catch up on. However, it will be much quicker than The Wheel of Time, since it’s a series for young readers.

This month’s selection is a bit of fun poetry, language capering. I chose it more for the story and language than the pictures, though I do like the illustrator’s work. The mood is certainly set by the images.

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Time for another glimpse of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. It’s been a while since I posted one, so I thought I’d interject some humor here. What better way than to read the hilarious and often wise Pratchett.

On a side note, my family also had the pleasure of watching the animated Soul Music. We liked it so much we had to have a copy. I will have to reread, since I don’t remember all those funny bits being in the book. I understood it better as a movie, noticed more details. The detailed animation is great! Being  fans of classic rock, we loved the random historical trivia and graphics and got the soundtrack. Also enjoyed the interview with Pratchett.

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For the 2nd month in a row the Book of the Month is a fantasy collection of short stories. Fire by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson is a book of just 5 stories with a firey creature the focus. I’ve been meaning to read their Water, and I’m glad to see this likely means there should be a couple more to make a series.

I’ve noticed I have a lack of reviews for their individual books. I have a review for The Ropemaker inadvertently not posted. I think I had wanted to read more of his books first and couldn’t find some. I have read and liked the non-Newbery McKinley books in my review, but that was before I started reviewing.

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This month’s selection is one of the best quilting related books I’ve read. I admit I have a bias towards these books, but Stitchin’ and Pullin’ by Patricia McKissack and Cozbi  Cabrera handles the subject in a different way. It’s personal, historical and crafty all at once.  Plus, written in poetry form. It reminds me a little of Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott.

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I want to direct your attention to a thread on the BookAdvice forums. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon started the thread. A guest had a question regarding translated books. Given that I’ve only read a few besides classics, I’m hoping others will participate in the conversation. Do you have recommendations for books translated into English? Do you know the name of a publisher who promotes translated books? Or an award? Are there books that you know are not good in their translated format? Please share.

I had a new idea for a list and post today, and it prompted me to think about my initial reasons for starting a website.  Also started me wondering about others’ reasons for reviewing books. Blogging is largely done on a voluntary basis, so I’d like to know what has motivated others to start and continue their blogs.

One of the biggest reasons I started was that my eldest son was badgering me about starting a website. He was excited about blogging himself and felt that everyone should be doing it. I put him off for months, because I didn’t feel I had something large enough to warrant a site.

At the time, I was volunteering, shelving books at the public library a few hours a week. I noticed that there weren’t any new catalogs of recommended books and thought it was something I could provide. I also was recommending books to children and parents who had no idea what they would like to read. We have an excellent children’s section at the Bangor Public Library, so naturally I was excited and wanted to share books I was noticing and reading.

I wanted a database for my own use and my children’s in homeschooling. The site was a way to share it with more people. For ex., teachers that I know have a need to recommend books, but not much extra time in which to read new books. The site started as a database of reviews. As my son continued to talk about blogging, I came to see a blog as a tool for promoting particular books. It still is a large searchable database, but the blogging aspect is equally important now. I have moved beyond discussing books with friends, though I still enjoy the one-on-one discussion.

It wasn’t until after my site was running and I was trying to market it that I found the online community of book reviews. I was staggered by the number of sites, but I continued because I still feel that I have much to say about books and life. I would like it to be more interactive discussion, but I am finding some of that haphazardly through occasional comments and viewing others’ sites.

So, how about all of you that review books? Why did you start, and what motivates you to continue?

Firebirds Soaring edited by Sharyn November is the third collection in a series of what is some of the best short stories I have read. They are fantasy or science fiction stories (mostly fantasy) for Young Adults. Highly imaginative, widely ranging in content, with no bad writing in the bunch. I can tell by the caliber of writing that everyone involved is having a ball with the anthologies, and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one. Two things I love about these collections are that I learn about awesome authors I didn’t already know and the short story format gives the authors a chance to write something totally different from their novels, since it’s less of a commitment.

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