Summer Reading Binge

That I am excited to have read two books over the course of the past weekend does not speak well for my reading habits lately.  It's not that I don't enjoy reading.  I probably read a novel's worth of text every day on the computer.  It's just that long, sustained reading is something I haven't been very good at lately.

I finished Valiant by Holly Black first.  Those of you know know me well are aware of my absolute hatred of elves and the fey. I generally consider their appearance in fiction to be lazy worldbuilding.  I'm much more excited when people invent their own supernatural beings than when they crib those from prior literature.  Anyway, I was hesitant about this book because of that, but Black's prose and characterization captured me in the first few pages, and before I knew it, I was polishing off the book.   It was a very satisfying read, and somewhat disturbing in its depiction of  hard drug abuse (albeit a magical drug).  The drug abuse stuff never seemed overly preachy, which I feared would happen before the finale.  Clearly, Black doesn't approve of it, but she doesn't bend her characters over her knee like some authors will do when their characters head down that path.   Val, the protagonist, was one of the most believable YA protagonists I have read yet.  I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

The second book I finished, Siberia by Ann Halam (Gwyneth Jones)  was recommended to me by someone on the LJ friendlist-- I think it was Mrissa?  Whoever it was, thank you.  This was a bloody good read.  Dark, but hopeful, and full of lovely science in a science fictional setting.  I am such a sucker for plots that revolve around taxonomy and little animals. I am also a sucker for a good eco-collapse dystopia, so this book was right up my alley.  I loved the simple, but sharp prose, and the world building was stark and bleak--appropriate for a book of this title.  I was a little bothered by how the protagonist could never really trust anyone at all, and the narrative supported this decision, but not so bothered that it hampered my enjoyment of the book. 

I have The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud up next.  After that, I'll be hitting the library up again for more.  I'm also reading research for my own book, and trying to manage all the web design I need to do.  Secret Summer Web Project needs some love, and I need to get my recording equipment set up again for that.  I feel pretty good about my project load this week, for some reason.