such_heights | Entries tagged with things: books

I have a bunch of shiny-looking books to dive into now that I've finished my Masters and actually have time to read novels again. These are all sitting on my to-read shelf: what should I read first?

In the case of Left Hand of Darkness it's sort of a reread - I skim-read it very quickly for a book group once but honestly couldn't tell you much about the second half of the book and need to rectify this.

Poll #8022

Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 49

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What should I read next?

View Answers

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
23 (46.9%)

Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner
18 (36.7%)

The Persian Boy - Mary Renault
12 (24.5%)

Spirit - Gwyneth Jones
1 (2.0%)

Elaboration in comments welcome!

Also, heads up: the next London Collectormania is the first weekend of October and has a bunch of cool people as guests. Including Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston, Caitlin Blackwood, Eve Myles, Joe Flanigan, Evanna Lynch, Diana Rigg, John Hurt and Armin Shimmerman. Full list and other details here. This is ameliorating my happy envy at reading all of your awesome Dragon*Con reports. That and having just booked tickets to see Arthur's Doctor Faustus at the Globe next week. \o/

While I fret over watching the NY Senate live stream as they vote on same-sex marriage in the state,

were_duck gave me some more questions:

( includes spoilers for Doctor Who 6x07 )

Questions from

pocky_slash:

( questions! spoilers for Doctor Who 6x07 )

From

lovelythings:

( questions! )

Let me know if you'd like some questions of your own!

The book I am reading:

Academically: The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal, approx. one million journal articles on international criminal law, democratic theory, feminist philosophy, etc.

Recreationally: when I am post this particular deadline, Un Lun Dun by China Miéville is sitting on my bedside table.

The book I am writing:

Ahahaha. Yeah, ask me again when I graduate?

The book I love most:

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. After all this time, it's still got a hold on me in ways few other books quite manage.

The last book I received as a gift:

Avatar: the Last Airbender: The Art of the Animated Series by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, from my dad at Christmas. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OMG. *_*

The last book I gave as a gift:

Funny you should mention that! I am giving away a whole bunch of books RIGHT NOW, details just below.

The nearest book on my desk:

International Law, edited by Malcolm D. Evans.

---

So yes, book giveaway! In the UK they're launching World Book Night this year, and have had a million special editions of 25 different books printed to ship out to volunteers to give away. How could I resist?

To that end, I have 48 copies of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas that are looking for good homes! I am very happy to send them anywhere, but please note that I can't pay for posting & packaging, so this is possibly not particularly cost-effective if you're overseas. (The Royal Mail Price Finder can help you out if you want to know how much it would cost - the book weighs about 300 grams.)

I am also happy to save a copy for you if I will be seeing you in person over the next few months at Vidukon, Diacon or other fannish events.

They're nice editions, and also have a slip in the back where I'll be putting in information for BookCrossing, which is cool. It's a great book - not without flaws, but what is, and it's got many elements in it that will appeal to fannish sensibilities, I think. It certainly continues to appeal to mine, and I've read it many times now.

If you'd like one, just leave a comment saying so, or email me at such.heights at gmail. They are taking over my kitchen omg, send help!

+ In department of 'omg this had better be a totally unfounded rumour': Fox to commission a RTD-penned US remake of Torchwood? WHAT. And I am just not thinking about how I would feel if it did turn out that RTD did indeed blow up his old show then go and make a brand new shiny one. May this never come to pass!

+ In happier news,

queerlit50 is starting up, similar to

50books_poc. Read some queer authors! Tell me about them! :D My reading list for the next few weeks includes Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, Mary Renault's The Persian Boy, and Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint, so I will probably chat about those over there.

+ Also,

oxoniensis's ninth porn battle is taking prompts.

+ eta: Also! The

help_haiti auction closes in just over 24 hours. There's a lot of things still available over there very reasonably, and everything's all listed and indexed so it's easy to find something you might like.