tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post2243675814560721263..comments2024-02-14T01:50:56.112-06:00Comments on The OF Blog: A look at books being considered for my year-end Best of 2011: NovelsLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-45856257835372918682011-10-31T00:14:49.658-05:002011-10-31T00:14:49.658-05:00Oh wow, yeah, I suck. Too used to messageboards.Oh wow, yeah, I suck. Too used to messageboards.Jameshttp://dazedrambling.posterous.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-91501862584379035572011-10-31T00:14:08.112-05:002011-10-31T00:14:08.112-05:00I have IQ84 coming in the from the library sometim...I have IQ84 coming in the from the library sometime this month (I had it reserved weeks before release, but there were still a few holds on it) and am looking forward to that.<br /><br />[i]Swamplandia![/i] (I love that title.) and [i]Jamrach's Menagerie[/i] are sitting atop my to-read pile and I will be making my way through them soon.<br /><br />For me, [i]The Silent Land[/i] was this year's disappointment. I am a fan of Graham Joyce and I love most of his work, but this one just felt weak. [i]Embassytown[/i] was a decent enough read, I suppose, but the narrator's distance from the action, the quick wrap up, and having to slog through occasional bouts of babble ensured that it doesn't sit too highly on my list of favored reads.<br /><br />[i]The Tiger's Wife[/i] is my favorite debut of this year, my favorite read period. And [i]The Night Circus[/i] comes in right behind that.<br /><br />I have passed both [i]White Luck Warrior[/i] and [i]A Dance with Dragons[/i] on the shelf at my local library, but have felt no desire to pick them up. [i]The Judging Eye[/i] pretty much did away with any interest I had in the series and it has been so long since I read anything from Martin that I just don't give a damn about the series anymore.<br /><br />I really enjoyed [i]The Devil All the Time[/i], but I haven't thought about it at all in the months since I wrote my review for it. Half the time, I forget that I read it at all. [i]The Last Werewolf[/i] was pretty damn good and has set the standard that I hold werewolf novels to. The only problem I had with the book, beyond the author's strange fascination with assholes, was the ending, which felt too cliched and was quite disappointing.<br /><br />Looking forward to new (non YA) Zafon. Try as I might, his YA work just doesn't work for me.Jameshttp://dazedrambling.posterous.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-68482533241830558942011-10-30T19:04:59.051-05:002011-10-30T19:04:59.051-05:00I am reading Parallel Stories too and after 400 pa...I am reading Parallel Stories too and after 400 pages in I started really getting used to its style, while realizing that I missed a lot from before, so I went back to the beginning. So far my #1 novel from 2011 is another translation released on October 25, 1Q84, but the Nadas book can get there, we'll see. <br /><br /> November 17 is the date for the new CR Zafon in Spain and I have huge expectations for that too.<br /><br />So far from your list only ADWD will be a top five book for me (now it's #3) and Embassytown a top 25; I will also recommend Night Circus in my 25-60 spots but White Luck Warrior made me drop the series, Sacred Band made me realize how far I moved from standard fantasy and The Pattern Scars made me wish it would have gone beyond almost 100% s&m to something broader...Liviuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04615405766065227026noreply@blogger.com