This book is a compilation of stories that were previously published in the Grantville Gazette. It is part of the 1632 series (also known as the Ring This book is a compilation of stories that were previously published in the Grantville Gazette. It is part of the 1632 series (also known as the Ring of Fire series. In 1632 a small town in West Virgina in the year 2000 is mysteriously transported to Germany in the year 1631. Subsequent books continue the story, as the Americans (now called uptimers) interact with the Europeans (now refered to as downtimers).
The first section (Music) is a linked series of stories primarily focussing on two characters: Franz Sylvester is a downtime violinist who has injured his hand and can no longer play. Marla Linder is a skilled uptime music student who has lost her parents and her music teachers through the Ring of Fire. Together they work to introduce uptime music to Europe in the 1630's. (For reference, Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685, so his music is considered modern and uptime, as is Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and the Irish folk music popularized by the Chieftans).
Several real-life musicians and composers appear as characters as they try to accept (or reject) the new music. There is also a moving storyline about a Jewish musician trying to reconcile his love for music with his religion.
I sing in a chorus, and really enjoyed reading this. I appreciated being able to read the entire series instead of reading one and then having to wait two months for the next one. (This was a re-read since I had read them in the Grantville Gazette, but I think they gain from being put together.)
The three stories in the second section ("Murder") has a totally different set of characters. It focusses on an uptime and downtime partnership as the Magdeburg City Watch tries to recreat itself as a police department with uptime principles of investigation.
This book is a compilation of stories that were previously published in the Grantville Gazette. It is part of the 1632 series (also known as the Ring of Fire series. In 1632 a small town in West Virgina in the year 2000 is mysteriously transported to Germany in the year 1631. Subsequent books continue the story, as the Americans (now called uptimers) interact with the Europeans (now refered to as downtimers).
The first section (Music) is a linked series of stories primarily focussing on two characters: Franz Sylvester is a downtime violinist who has injured his hand and can no longer play. Marla Linder is a skilled uptime music student who has lost her parents and her music teachers through the Ring of Fire. Together they work to introduce uptime music to Europe in the 1630's. (For reference, Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685, so his music is considered modern and uptime, as is Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and the Irish folk music popularized by the Chieftans).
Several real-life musicians and composers appear as characters as they try to accept (or reject) the new music. There is also a moving storyline about a Jewish musician trying to reconcile his love for music with his religion.
I sing in a chorus, and really enjoyed reading this. I appreciated being able to read the entire series instead of reading one and then having to wait two months for the next one. (This was a re-read since I had read them in the Grantville Gazette, but I think they gain from being put together.)
The three stories in the second section ("Murder") has a totally different set of characters. It focusses on an uptime and downtime partnership as the Magdeburg City Watch tries to recreat itself as a police department with uptime principles of investigation.
Set in Regency London (or more precisely pre-Regency, since this takes place in the days leading up to Prince George's installation as Regent) What AnSet in Regency London (or more precisely pre-Regency, since this takes place in the days leading up to Prince George's installation as Regent) What Angels Fear has a great background and interesting plot. I enjoyed reading it.
The main character, Sebastian St. Cyr, has resigned his commission in Intelligence in the British Army and is living in London when constables come to his doorstep to arrest him for murder of a young actress. Rather than going peacefully and arguing later, he runs away and tries to solve the murder on his own with the help of another actress, Kat, who is an old flame, and a young Cockney whom he meets when Tom tries to steal his purse.
On the down side, most of the characters seemed flat. St. Cyr was too perfect. I always knew that he would prevail (and not just because this is the first book in a series). I wanted more development and instead got more unresolved plot points and red herrings....more
I actually read this in Classic Drama: Christopher Marlowe but am shelving it as a separate edition because I'm not planning to read any of the other I actually read this in Classic Drama: Christopher Marlowe but am shelving it as a separate edition because I'm not planning to read any of the other plays at this time....more
I had read this many years ago (at least 30 years) and had not been that impressed. Tried more recently to read it and just couldn't get into it. But I had read this many years ago (at least 30 years) and had not been that impressed. Tried more recently to read it and just couldn't get into it. But this time it just sung. The characters and the plot were interesting. Despite knowing how it would end, I wanted to keep reading. (I don't know what changed. I've seen the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth miniseries a few times, so maybe it was having pictures of the characters in my head that helped.)...more
This seemed flat to me. For the first 50 pages I wasn't sure whether it was worth continuing. I didn't empathize with any of the characters (2.5 stars
This seemed flat to me. For the first 50 pages I wasn't sure whether it was worth continuing. I didn't empathize with any of the characters (except one of the minor ones near the end) and didn't understand the motivations of the main characters. It got more interesting when the mystery got going, but petered out at the end.
I hadn't realized when I picked it up that this was part of a series, and other reviews indicate that it might be better if I had read some of the earlier books first....more
I generally like the Jane Lawless mysteries and thought this one was quite good. I liked the mystery and the background to the new characters, but wasI generally like the Jane Lawless mysteries and thought this one was quite good. I liked the mystery and the background to the new characters, but was less impressed with Jane's personal story. The interaction between Jane, her current lover (Aviva) and her ex (Julia) did not add to the story....more
I read this for the first time at age 54 and my general reaction was "why?". Why is it considered a classic? Why do people seem to like it so much morI read this for the first time at age 54 and my general reaction was "why?". Why is it considered a classic? Why do people seem to like it so much more than I did? Maybe if I had read it in school I might have a different perspective. The main character is a not very likeable teenage boy who belittles everyone he interacts with except his sister. Anything that doesn't revolve around him and his immediate needs is criticized or laughed at....more
The author's note at the begining says "This is a novel. That means it is fiction, fantasy, make-believe-not a true historical account. Did any of theThe author's note at the begining says "This is a novel. That means it is fiction, fantasy, make-believe-not a true historical account. Did any of the people in this story live and any of these events happen? Yes, quite a few. But the joy of fiction comes from its ability to borrow facts and details from the real world and then encourage the author to embellish them and produce a unique entertainment. The wise reader will consider this story nearly entirely the result of the author's imagination."
What is true in the novel? Queen Victoria had nine children, of which Louise was the sixth. She (Louise) married the Marquess of Lorne (later the Duke of Argyll) but had no children with him. Prior to her marriage she studied at the National Art Training School. Everything else is what might have been.
On its own, it's not a bad read. But unlike some historical fiction, it can't be used to teach history....more
I won this in Goodreads First Reads Giveaway and really really liked it except for disappointment with the ending. (view spoiler)[ I didn't think it wI won this in Goodreads First Reads Giveaway and really really liked it except for disappointment with the ending. (view spoiler)[ I didn't think it was realistic that Alice and Samuel could get together so easily (hide spoiler)]. 4.5 stars. Will come back to write more detailed review....more
I saw this in the library and it looked interesting. It was relatively short, so I kept going even while asking myself "why bother?"
The main problem iI saw this in the library and it looked interesting. It was relatively short, so I kept going even while asking myself "why bother?"
The main problem is that it was telling rather than showing. I never empathized with the main character or any of the secondary ones. The first section of the book had potential to go somewhere, but then devolved into family history - the names of the kids and what careers they wanted - without any time to explore their personalities or development.
Also, I hadn't realized that this was published as Christian fiction. I probably wouldn't have picked it up if I had noticed that. The religious aspect was not the main point of the book, but it came in at odd tangents such as the main character debating whether it was OK to go to a social at a Masonic building since the Catholic Church didn't approve of the Masons....more
This is a periodic re-read, which I hadn't (re)read since joining GR. (This review was from 2014.)
The blurb makes it sound like this is a mystery and/This is a periodic re-read, which I hadn't (re)read since joining GR. (This review was from 2014.)
The blurb makes it sound like this is a mystery and/or adventure story. While that is part of it, what stands out is the intricacies of language and culture. Tocohl Susumo is a glossi, an expert in languages, who is called in to help determine the sentience of a alien bird-like species. The sprookjies imitate human speech, but don't initiate it or respond. To complicate matters, the survey team on the planet where the sprookjies were found has members from many different cultures, leading to frequent misunderstandings.
(view spoiler)[ The two things that I remember between readings are 1) the importance of body language and how it is different for different cultures, and 2) the discovery that the sprookjies language is how they move their feathers (hide spoiler)]...more
Some people love this book and some... don't. I'm in the second group. It was unique, but not compelling.
The book is narrated by Death. This is an intSome people love this book and some... don't. I'm in the second group. It was unique, but not compelling.
The book is narrated by Death. This is an interesting literary model, but it has a few problems which got in the way of the story for me: First, I felt as though the characters were being shown as if through a translucent curtain. I couldn't identify with any of them and rarely empathized. (To the extent that I did empathize it was because of previous knowledge of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, not because of how the characters acted.) There was a lot of telling rather than showing. Second, the foreshadowing turned into telling the story without suspense. In Part Five (almost halfway through the book), the narrator says "Of course, I'm being rude. I'm spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book, but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance, because I don't have much interest in building mystery." Although this is supposed to be part of the narration by Death, it struck me as descriptive of the author as well. (view spoiler)[ We learn early on that Liesel will live and Rudy will die. (hide spoiler)]
I also had expected that a book entitled "The Book Thief" would illustrate a love of books and reading. That feeling didn't come through. (I'm not sure if this is because the books are supposed to be symbolic or whether it is just more of the issue where I couldn't get into Liesel's head.) ...more
Well written book about a period in history that I didn't know anything about. (I read it as the Historical Fictionistas Book of the Month.)
The book fWell written book about a period in history that I didn't know anything about. (I read it as the Historical Fictionistas Book of the Month.)
The book follows the main character, Hawaiian girl Rachel Kalama from age five through adulthood. When Rachel is diagnosed with leprosy (later known as Hansen's disease), she is forced to move to Moloka'i as part of the quarantine program. The patients there are not permitted to touch outsiders or "clean" people. Although adults were permitted to marry, any children born at Moloka'i were sent away to avoid them catching the disease.
Overall this was depressing but that's because of the topic. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading, but by the end I couldn't put it down.
4.5 stars. I rounded down because it is a rewritten version of a previous book Little Fuzzy (with permission of the earlier author's estate).
This is a4.5 stars. I rounded down because it is a rewritten version of a previous book Little Fuzzy (with permission of the earlier author's estate).
This is a combination of science fiction and a legal thriller. The main character, Jack Holloway, is a disbarred lawyer who now makes his living as a surveyor on another planet. The story has a lot of sci-fi elements, but also has some wonderful courtroom scenes....more
