Books Read in 2009: #30 - #45
30) John Garth - Tolkien and the Great War
This was so, so good - I can't even image how much research Garth must have put into this. A definite recommendation if you want to learn more about Tolkien and his influences. On the same level, if not better, than Carpenter's biography.
31) JRR Tolkien - Tales from the Perilous Realm
This was really the first time that I read Tolkien's shorter works, and despite my love for all things Middle-earth, I wound up enjoying them a lot. I found myself especially enchanted by Leaf By Niggle, which despite Tolkien's often-voiced dislike of allegory, can't really be read as anything but allegorical of his own creative process, IMO.
32) Jacqueline Carey - Angels: Celestial Spirits in Legend and Art
Non-fiction by one of my favourite authors - now I should have everything she has ever published. ;)
33) Diana Gabaldon - An Echo in the Bone
OMG! Now that's what I call a cliffhanger! Lord John and Claire?!?! *flails* And then she makes John tell Jamie that he had sex with Claire, and then she just ends it? Waaah, it's going to take her another few years to write the next book, and I think I might just die from suspense in the meantime. Or request John/Claire/Jamie for Yuletide... ♥
34) Diana Gabaldon - Lord John and the Hand of Devils
I just needed *more* after finishing Echo, so I finally caved and ordered this. It's a collection of 3 short-stories/novellas, of which I had already read two in anthologies, so there was only one novella in here which was new to me. Still, as everything Lord John, it was totally worth it in the end.
35) Diana Gabaldon - Lord John and the Private Matter
I decided to reread the other two Lord John books then; they just make me happy. ♥
36) Helga Esselborn-Krumbiegel - Von der Idee zum Text. Eine Anleitung zum wissenschaftlichen Schreiben.
Another non-fiction book, but hey, it totally counts in my goal to reach at least 50 books this year.
37) Mamiya Oki - Ja-Dou 4
The only Manga series I've picked up in the last five years, but her drawings are just gorgeous, and she has this adorable couple I cannot get enough of...
38 - 41) Chris Owen & Jodi Payne - Deviation series 1-4
I bought the first two quite some time ago, and at last got the latter two as ebooks - it's m/m bdsm, and I really hope that there will be a fifth novel eventually.
42 & 43) Jules Jones - Lord and Master 1 & 2
I decided to check out another m/m ebook series afterwards, and I liked this a lot. The premise is such a cliché, but I loved it... Probably because I never read het romance novels, and this m/m take on 'secretary falls in love with boss' was completely enjoyable.
44) Janet Brennan Croft - War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction & Fantasy)
I was disappointed by this book, I really had expected more - I read it after Garth, compared to which this is really a letdown. I wouldn't recommend this unless you have very specific research interests like looking at Aragorn as a military leader, or comparing the battles of the War of the Ring to Greek or Roman tactics. For everything else, rather get Garth.
45) Verlyn Flieger & Carl F. Hostetter - Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on the History of Middle-Earth (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction & Fantasy)
This, on the other hand, I can very much recommend. It contains a broad selection of very good essays written by the usual names of Tolkien academia. I haven't read all essays, but those relevant to me were really very well researched and argued.
Right now I'm rereading Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. Afterwards I'll only have four books left to get to 50, and as I'll probably have to do some rereading for Yuletide, that shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I'll manage 60 after all?
This was so, so good - I can't even image how much research Garth must have put into this. A definite recommendation if you want to learn more about Tolkien and his influences. On the same level, if not better, than Carpenter's biography.
31) JRR Tolkien - Tales from the Perilous Realm
This was really the first time that I read Tolkien's shorter works, and despite my love for all things Middle-earth, I wound up enjoying them a lot. I found myself especially enchanted by Leaf By Niggle, which despite Tolkien's often-voiced dislike of allegory, can't really be read as anything but allegorical of his own creative process, IMO.
32) Jacqueline Carey - Angels: Celestial Spirits in Legend and Art
Non-fiction by one of my favourite authors - now I should have everything she has ever published. ;)
33) Diana Gabaldon - An Echo in the Bone
OMG! Now that's what I call a cliffhanger! Lord John and Claire?!?! *flails* And then she makes John tell Jamie that he had sex with Claire, and then she just ends it? Waaah, it's going to take her another few years to write the next book, and I think I might just die from suspense in the meantime. Or request John/Claire/Jamie for Yuletide... ♥
34) Diana Gabaldon - Lord John and the Hand of Devils
I just needed *more* after finishing Echo, so I finally caved and ordered this. It's a collection of 3 short-stories/novellas, of which I had already read two in anthologies, so there was only one novella in here which was new to me. Still, as everything Lord John, it was totally worth it in the end.
35) Diana Gabaldon - Lord John and the Private Matter
I decided to reread the other two Lord John books then; they just make me happy. ♥
36) Helga Esselborn-Krumbiegel - Von der Idee zum Text. Eine Anleitung zum wissenschaftlichen Schreiben.
Another non-fiction book, but hey, it totally counts in my goal to reach at least 50 books this year.
37) Mamiya Oki - Ja-Dou 4
The only Manga series I've picked up in the last five years, but her drawings are just gorgeous, and she has this adorable couple I cannot get enough of...
38 - 41) Chris Owen & Jodi Payne - Deviation series 1-4
I bought the first two quite some time ago, and at last got the latter two as ebooks - it's m/m bdsm, and I really hope that there will be a fifth novel eventually.
42 & 43) Jules Jones - Lord and Master 1 & 2
I decided to check out another m/m ebook series afterwards, and I liked this a lot. The premise is such a cliché, but I loved it... Probably because I never read het romance novels, and this m/m take on 'secretary falls in love with boss' was completely enjoyable.
44) Janet Brennan Croft - War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction & Fantasy)
I was disappointed by this book, I really had expected more - I read it after Garth, compared to which this is really a letdown. I wouldn't recommend this unless you have very specific research interests like looking at Aragorn as a military leader, or comparing the battles of the War of the Ring to Greek or Roman tactics. For everything else, rather get Garth.
45) Verlyn Flieger & Carl F. Hostetter - Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on the History of Middle-Earth (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction & Fantasy)
This, on the other hand, I can very much recommend. It contains a broad selection of very good essays written by the usual names of Tolkien academia. I haven't read all essays, but those relevant to me were really very well researched and argued.
Right now I'm rereading Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. Afterwards I'll only have four books left to get to 50, and as I'll probably have to do some rereading for Yuletide, that shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I'll manage 60 after all?
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