48HBC: Day 2

Got up and started reading at 5:20 am.

*** First Update: 5.5 hours ***

Saga v. 1-4 by Vaughn/Staples (Rated R, SF, Hugo nominee) ★★★★☆
Thoroughly enjoyable SF-lite comic series. The humor and some of the characters (Lying Cat) make this series stand out above the crowd.

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie (high fantasy) ★★★★☆
Having just read The Goblin Emperor recently, I couldn’t help comparing the two books as I was reading them. Both books center on an unfit, unwanted, reluctant younger son who is forced into kinghood. Both young kings had fathers who did not want them (Maia because he is a half-breed, Yarvi because he has a half-hand). Both young kings are betrayed by a close family member and advisor. There the comparison ends. Yarvi’s betrayal plunges him into slavery and he has to fight his way back to the throne. Classic high fantasy stuff. Good storytelling, a Norse-inspired world, and some unexpected twists make this story an easy pleasure to read and enjoy.
For readers who love: Sea of Trolls, The Ranger’s Apprentice

The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood and Co.) by Jonathan Stroud (audiobook) (MG, YA, ghosts, paranormal) **in progress**

*** 2nd Update: 7 hours ***

My Real Children by Joe Walton (SF, time travel, slice of life) ★★★☆☆
Meh. If I wanted to read the story of two people who struggle with everyday problems and issues, I would read more contemporary lit. I want *more* from my SF/F. I want to be taken from my world, not be mired for several hours in a reality that mirrors the struggles of my own. Not my cuppa.

*** Final Update: 14.75 hours ***

I’ve got to get the kiddos ready for camp, but here’s a quick update on the last books I read.

In Real Life by Doctorow/Wang (YA, graphic novel, video games) ★★★☆☆
Both of the boys really loved this one…  I thought it was interesting but too predictable.

The Lost Boy by Greg Ruth (MG, graphic novel, fantasy) ***DNF***
I bounced off of this one.

More Than This by Patrick Ness (YA, SF, LGBT, death, existentialism) ★★★★★
Wow. This is another book that is going to take me some time to process. Absolutely amazing. I couldn’t put this one down.

The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill (MG, folk/fairy tale, witches, wolves) ★★★★☆
A perfect way to end the weekend. A fun, light, fast-paced fairy tale.

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2 Responses to 48HBC: Day 2

  1. Time travel in My Real Children? I don’t remember that at all. Do you mean making the choice at the end? But I did enjoy it a lot, so we were reading different books. I had just slogged through Atkinson’s Life After Life , which everyone but me seemed to enjoy, so maybe I was just in a better mood for it.

    I hope you enjoying the reading weekend!

    • kczaja says:

      You’re right… it is technically not time travel — the stream of time is splitting apart and then coming back together for her. I always lump all SF time bending books under the category of time travel in my mind.

      And perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t come on the heels of action-filled books like Half a King and I wasn’t getting tired. I’ve had books that I didn’t enjoy that I’ve come back to at another time and loved.