Entry tags:

books, herd those cats

Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs
Books are my brain's way of subtly getting me into new pairings for which no fandom exists. Don't think I haven't noticed that no one is writing Christopher Creed fanfiction, internets, or that Locke/Jean sexy times doesn't exist anywhere, or that there is Care Bear porn but not hilarious futurefic where Frankie goes to Harvard and Alpha discovers how awesome she is and they have a snarky, whirlwind romance. Why is Rule 34 not applying—

help

In conclusion, this is all Becky's and mekosuchinae's fault. It was peer pressure; I am a wuss.

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Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs (April 1st, 2009 - December 31st, 2009)

Last year this project garnered excessive amounts of attention, more than I ever expected. It really was just an epic plot to get Dewey and owlmoose and not_cynical to read two tons of my recommendations (note: it almost worked!). It became more, like do-I-seriously-have-50-plus-participants more. Answer: yes. Reaction: oh shi

Here are the guidelines to Herding Cats II:

1. Make a list of five books you love. Directions:

• Five. I'm as serious as a beached whale.
• All titles must be books you've read in 2007, 2008 or 2009.
• Please don't list a series; just the first book. If you really want to list a book in the middle of a series, you can, but it has to be that specific book.
• Feel free to share why you're putting the book on your list, because I am nosy.

2. Post your list:

• in your own journal, in the comments here, whatever is fine. Share the link to the list here.
• Lists should be public (no locked entries, no logging in to view).

3. Browse the new book list. Stay a while. Read a few (eta: if you want; not even reading is required this time around if you don't have time to commit to a new challenge but still want to share your favorites).

4. If you review your books, you can share the reviews. You know, if you want. No pressure. Definitely not.

The home page for this project is at http://www.echthroi.org/getliterate/herdingcats/ (or http://tinyurl.com/cdxk45). If you twitter, feel free to #herdcats over there. ;)

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Last time, on Herding Cats I there were eight books I read out of the 632 that were suggested by people taking part. The truth comes out about why I am only allowing five this time oh snap!

• Th1rteen R3easons Why, Jay Asher


• The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly


• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, E. Lockhart


• The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch


• Dairy Queen, Catherine Gilbert Murdock


• Mortal Engines, Philip Reeve


• Unwind, Neil Shusterman


• Battle Royale, Takami Koushun

It is no coincidence that several of the books I read are now going on my list and I am going to talk about them now although everyone has already heard me go read this book! and I have bribed everyone with fic I can at this point...

1. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch: I admit I had some issues with this book, but it is on my list because I can't put the sequel here, which is the one I really want to list because the female characters in Red Seas Under Red Skies are more awesome than all of you bitches. Context matters! The second book isn't rewarding without the first, so Locke Lamora it is. Reasons you should read this book include political intrigue, badass motherfuckers with knives and hatchets, thieves with hearts of gold they didn't steal, mysterious killers, bromance and fantasy world building that's so thorough you get sick of it halfway through the book and then realize later as you finish that those throwaway world building moments mattered and boy they're fabulous.

This is supposed to be a series of seven books and I am going to ride them hard as soon as Scott Lynch publishes more. My heart is in pain over my love for Locke and Jean and I just want Lynch to beat up on it again. What kind of relationship is this!

2. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart: This book got a National Book Award nod, a Printz award nod, the coveted "Renay is plotting a one week series of posts on the topic of this book" award, and I am not sure awards sway anyone is it working?

My dreeeams, guys.

I love Frankie and all her flaws. It's Feminism 101 and Feminists Can't Win 101 all wrapped up into one entertaining and aggravating package and by aggravating I mean don't read negative reviews about this book if you do a Google search for the title because they are full of so much sexist language when the book is about institutionalized sexism it is almost hilarious. This book is fantastic and well worth reading so I think everyone should hop to it.

3. Old Man's War by John Scalzi: I am never giving up until all my SF friends have read this book and all the sequels to it, cried like a slob at the end of the last, and then joined the John Scalzi fan club with me. I am a convert to SF with really bad covers, okay, I need to point out that the covers are terrible and I actually think that as the series went on, the cover people decided to get progressively worse on a bet to see if John Scalzi was good enough to keep selling books even when the covers of the books were ridiculous (the answer is clearly yes, Scalzi triumphs even in the face of really unappealing covers, as well he should). I own four of his books, bad covers and all. Hilariously, not this one! This one is in e-book format and if anyone wants it I will send it along with my HEAVY EXPECTATIONS that the story be loved or else.

No really, I'm serious, who wants the e-book. One book is all it takes and then you will be drinking at the fountain of Scalzi forever and harassing your bookseller to please order you everything Scalzi has ever written. STEP UP.

Some of that sounded more pornographic than I intended BUT I'M LETTING IT STAND.

4. The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente: Full disclosure! This book has a direct sequel. It is also extremely complicated, but not as complicated as say, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, which is so complicated whenever I pick it up my IQ drops 3,000 points in protest of reading it and only goes back up whenever I put it back on the shelf, behind another book and out of sight. Therefore, In the Night Garden is not as complicated but still might be troublesome to get through for people who aren't like me and into complicated literature that layers stories inside of stories. This book is worth it for the language, first of all, then the female characters and then the mythologies. I promote this book to women I know everywhere even though most of them turn up their nose when they realize it's fantasy, but that's okay. I am going to keep on trucking as long as it takes. This book was my favorite part of the series, even though the sequel In the Cities of Coin and Spice was also excellent, it lacked the discovery aspect I had with In the Night Garden. Discovering and figuring out this book is part of the journey; you can't reproduce it.

I haven't felt like this about a book since The Book Thief. I could see Zusak's Death and Valente having long, fascinating coversations, to be honest.

5. One Piece, Volume 1 by Eiichiro Oda: I hear everyone now moaning things like, "shut up about this manga already!" and "no one cares, Renay!" but having just finished the 50th volume of this manga and experienced just how awesome Oda is, how in each story arc he improves upon his past feats so much so he leaves you not just in tears, but with your soul cracked open and bleeding on the ground from how heartbreaking and terrible and wonderful the latest revelation is—I think Oda is my favorite storyteller ever. One big criticism I see of One Piece is the art, but honestly I think it is awesome (Zoro is the most awesome). One Piece is a manga about a rubber man and his dreams of being Pirate King, fruits that grant crazy ass powers with the trade off of only being able to sail on the sea instead of swim in it, pasts and how they shape us as people, how Luffy seems like a moron but sometimes he'll smile in just a certain way and make you go, "Oh!", hot ass first mates and standing up for what's right and nakama who will give you hell but turn around and save your ass a dozen times in one week.

It's a story about friendship and finding the right way to your dreams. It is so awesome.


In other news I just spent $350 on a new BlackBerry, hahahahaha.