Atalanta - Jennifer Saint

57% 

18.05.24

This started out well, with delightful descriptions of life in Arcadia and offering a refreshing, well-researched take on Greek myths. But the author seemed a little stymied by the Argonauts not actually doing much to win the Golden Fleece, and so the story got a little lost and the narrative structure rather linear. Atalanta herself went through the unusual character arc of becoming less sympathetic as the story went on. But these retellings of myth are illuminating and I already have more ready to read.

Fairy Tale - Stephen King

56%
29.01.23

This was a well-written, well-researched (if consciously derivative) take on the hero's journey but it's all undermined by the fact that King clearly regards women as a necessary inconvenience. Example after example of the few women in the story shrieking and crying and generally spoiling things for all the brave men (unless they have a bit of sex appeal) gets wearing after 500 slowly unfolding pages. Oh, and did I mention the breasts? Apparently all women have them, wouldn't you know, so they have to be mentioned in every description. Strange that he doesn't describe the male characters' willies at all opportunities. Strange too that I can't find any other reviews that mention this obvious misogyny. 

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London - Garth Nix

 

51%

13.08.22

Garth Nix is a prolific and experienced (Australian) writer, so it's odd that this urban fantasy could have been so much better. The British characters all speak like Americans (but throw in uniquely British references to remind us that they aren't) and, despite explaining everything to each other at least three times, it's still not clear what's going on most of the time. The plot is a series of self-contained set-pieces that don't really hang together. It doesn't seem to have been proofread. Oh, and here's yet another book that is set 40 years ago purely to overcome plot points that would be made redundant by mobile phones and the internet.

Cuckoo Song - Frances Hardinge

72%
25.04.20

Finally, something worth reading. In other hands, the simile-heavy style would be overwritten, and the Gothic/fantasy/social commentary plot disjointed. But somehow Hardinge makes it work, and work like a, well, song. Even better than 'A Skinful of Shadows' (but unfortunately with the same occasional jarring phrasing that a decent copy edit should have sorted out).

The Fairy's Tale - FD Lee

47%
12.01.20

Well-meaning and I didn't actively dislike it but ultimately it's a book in search of a decent editor who can wave their magic wand to sort out the incoherent plot, strange irrelevancies and weird mix of US/UK styles.

Circe - Madeline Miller

66%
23.04.19

An introverted goddess with self-esteem issues reclaims her story from the patriarchy. It's an unusual and absorbing reworking of the Greek myth but its main strength is that its lyricism makes the rather disjointed story and vague characterisations matter less.

A Clash of Kings - George RR Martin

61%
31.03.16

How odd. After enjoying the first book so much, the second one made so little impact that I forgot to review it for a month. It's more of the same, but sillier and grimmer and with even less resolution. And so many kings (and queens)! If any land needed to be a republic, it's this one.

A Game of Thrones - George RR Martin

72%
21.02.16

It's an unpromising mix of things I don't usually choose to read: dodgy sex, graphic violence, tedious politics, suffering innocents and superfluous adjectives. It didn't end properly, there were too many names, and one story arc remained totally detached from the rest. But it's also clever and well constructed with fascinating, three-dimensional characters and [sighs in resignation] I couldn't put it down.

The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

58%
11.01.12

I'd forgotten how wise and funny Margaret Atwood can be. This novella reminded me how wise and funny some of her other books are (The Blind Assassin remains one of my favourites). Its mix of quirky humour, learnedness and feminism - usually a winner for me - just didn't hang together. But I might read The Odyssey when I get a moment.