Chapter One Hundred Two: Howl's Moving Castle

On a whim, wanting something fun and light and fantastical, I decided to re-read Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.  It was exactly what I wanted it to be--an engaging, enjoyable fantasy--and this time around I was even able to follow the events at the end of the novel while I was reading it.  (On previous reads, I've found the end a bit complex, and this complexity was even spurred a class-wide discussion just to figure out what actually happened when we read this novel for an intro to children's lit course I took in college.)  But this time around it all seemed very clear and I had a jolly time reading it.  If you've only seen the Miyazaki film version, it is very, very different from the original novel, so you should definitely read the book, too.  (The film is fine in its own way...)  Anyway, if you want a fun, fast fantasy, Howl's Moving Castle is a great choice.

Chapter One Hundred One: Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading

So as you know if you're reading this blog, I'm a sucker for books, and as you know if you know me at all, I'm never to be found without a book, and I'd usually rather be reading than doing whatever else it is I'm doing.  So every now and again, I like to read memoirs by other bibliophiles, as a reminder that I'm not the only inveterate and incurable bookworm.  A few months ago, I read and deeply enjoyed Joe Queenan's One for the Books, and I think I enjoyed reading Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan even more.  I have a bit more in common with her taste in books, and she's a bit less judgmental than Queenan is.  As someone in the process of applying to grad school (for library science and children's literature, obviously) it was also deeply interesting (and a little horrifying) to read about her experiences as an English grad student.  I also like that she discusses the dangerous aspects of books and reading--physical dangers, such as books falling off of shelves onto your head or toes, and less tangible dangers, such as the potential for books to change your life or worldview in ways you hadn't imagined.  I think this book would be a bit dull for someone who doesn't love reading, but I really enjoyed reading her experiences of life as an avid reader.

Chapter One Hundred: Lincoln's Dreams

All of the books by Connie Willis that I own somewhere on the cover or front page describe her as "the author of Lincoln's Dreams," so when I saw Lincoln's Dreams while browsing through the public library one day, I figured I'd check it out.  Let me just say that it is a very weird story.  I finished reading it a week or so ago, and I still am not sure what I think of it, which is sort of unusual for me.  It definitely kept my interest while I was reading it--I had no idea what was going to happen next.  And as for the end, I was satisfied with it, even though it is a bit vague and fairly tragic.  It was a fascinating read, exploring the possible meaning of dreams and set against the backdrop of Civil War history, not a topic I normally find interesting but which worked well with this story.  Don't read it if you're looking for a happy story, though.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: D.A.

D.A. is a weird, nutty little novella by Connie Willis, one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy authors.  I had never come across it before, and I was a little skeptical--the cover is pretty awful--but the story gets off to a quick start, so that pulled me right in.  This story takes place in a future U.S. where space travel is a bit more prominent than at the current time.  There's this very prestigious space-cadet training program that almost all high school seniors apply to, even though there are very few open spots, and somehow the main character of the novella, Theodora, ends up winning an appointment to the program, even though she did not apply and has no interest in going, unlike the rest of her peers.  Still, before she can stop it, she is hustled up to the space station where she scrambles to find out how and why she was appointed and how she can get out of the program as soon as possible without jeopardizing her chances of getting into college.  This story will take only an hour or so to read, and it's a fun, funny, and clever little tale.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Jasmine Nights

Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson is a fun, mostly light story that follows a young woman from Wales who joins ENSA during WWII as a singer and ends up singing and spying for the British army in Egypt and Turkey.  There is also, of course, a romantic plot line, with her intense involvement with Dom Benson, a handsome young fighter pilot.  Between the romance, the singing, and the spying, this book is full of period adventure, drama, and love, and it makes for a captivating and fun read.  If you're looking for lighter historical fiction with a spunky and fairly realistic female protagonist, I'd highly recommend Jasmine Nights.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Midnight Queen

The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter is the first (and currently only) book in a new fantasy series set in an alternate, regency-era Britain where Roman culture and religion dominate and where magic is a fact of life.  Although the characters in this novel are rather stereotypical--the shy but extremely talented young lady, the gawky but kind young man, the mysterious older fairy godmother-type woman, the inept but well-connected villainous professor--the plot was original enough to hold my interest and keep me guessing.  The Austen-esque style the book is written in is also fun to read and helps set the book in the British tradition, even though it isn't by a British author, while also poking gentle fun at it.  If you like fantasy, this is a fun book to read.