Of books

[alias_sqbr]

So I've been trying somewhat successfully to cut down on my web surfing time recently, I was getting a lot of headaches and having trouble staring at the screen at work and decided I was spending too much time online in my free time doing nothing in particular.

This has definitely given me more energy at work (and while I do spend more time at work doing stuff like answering email etc, I'm still definitely more productive) but has also had the side benefit of giving me more free time. Of course, I was already spending my energetic&motivated free time doing Real Stuff, so what I have to fill is tired&unmotivated free time.

I've levelled up a bit in Final Fantasy 12 and watched some dvds(*), but after reading this post about internet usage cutting down on people's novel reading I was inspired to check out Perth library, and the first 3 books I thought of to read were all there: "The Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler (which I've had strongly recommended to me by everything from book recommender software to anti-racism communities), "The Algebraist" by Iian M Banks and "Shild's Ladder" by Greg Egan. I then went and bought "Blood Price" by Tanya Huff from Borders on a voucher and a whim.

I read "The Parable of the Sower" last night and this morning (I was up till 11:30, I have to relearn how to put books down for the night :)) and while it's superficially not all that original (a somewhat bildungsroman about a young woman living in a moderately sheltered community in near-future america coming into increasing contact with the chaotic urban decay outside) I really enjoyed it and the ideas and characters and stuff have been sinking into my brain all day. It kind of feels like a Jack Womack novel written by Ursual K LeGuin :)

I'm feeling rather blah now so am going to go read "Blood Price" and nibble on a chocolate scone while the nice healthy wholemeal loaf in the breadmaker cooks :)

(*)Including the very cool and clever first season of "Damages".

Comments

[stableglynn.livejournal.com]

I got Shild's Ladder for Xmas off my Dad. Can't recommend it enough, I thought it was amazing! Does your (library's) copy have a glow in the dark cover too?

[alias_sqbr]

Not that I noticed, but I don't tend to read in the dark :)

I'm enjoying it, but I think it gets a bit self indulgent. IMNSHO, if I, having a Phd in maths, am getting irritated with the maths:plot ratio then he's doing something wrong. Also the whole "in the future every sentient being in the universe is a total physics geek" premise, while appealing, strikes me as a little implausible.

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

"It kind of feels like a Jack Womack novel written by Ursual K LeGuin"

Recommendations don't get much better than that!

[alias_sqbr]

Heh, depends on who you're recommending it to :) But yes, I think you'd like the book.

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

If you want my opinions, I liked the Algebraist and didn't like the Blood Price series.

The Algebraist felt like a Culture novel without being one and I liked how its 'fear the AI' elements contrast with his Culture 'love the AI' attitude.

I found the Blood Price books kinda boring to be honest. Just... bleh. My apologies for insulting it if you like it!

[alias_sqbr]

Heh, nah I found "Blood Price" rather dull too, though it filled in an afternoon enjoyably enough.

Currently finishing "Shild's ladder", which is rather self indulgently mathsy/physicsy so might appeal to J :) "The algebraist" is up next!