Friday, 22 October 2010

Women of Science Fiction 2011 Book Club

Women of Science Fiction 2011

TJ at Dreams and Speculation is holding this book club to read a great selection of science fiction written by women in 2011. Some of these I have read and some are already on my TBR list; there is no obligation to read all 12 books, so I shall give it a go and see what happens.

The full list of books and details on how to sign up are here.

I’ll add details when I start and finish any of the books – and hopefully there will be reviews over on Saving My Sanity… but, as always, that will be dependant on my health.

  1. Dust – Elizabeth Bear (completed 11-1-11)
  2. The Dispossessed – Ursula K. Le Guin
  3. Darkship Thieves – Sarah A. Hoyt
  4. The Doomsday Book – Connie Willis (read in 2007)
  5. Mappa Mundi – Justina Robson
  6. Lilith’s Brood – Octavia E. Butler
  7. Cordelia’s Honor – Lois McMaster Bujold (most recently read in 2009)
  8. China Mountain Zhang – Maureen McHugh
  9. Remnant Population – Elizabeth Moon
  10. Farthing – Jo Walton
  11. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
  12. City of Pearl – Karen Traviss (read in 2008)

There is also the option to read short stories from the collection, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever – by James Tiptree, Jn (who is, indeed, a woman of science fiction).

Women of Fantasy 2011 Book Club

Women of Fantasy 2011

Erica at Jawas Read Too is holding this book club to read a great selection of fantasy written by women in 2011. Several of these are already on my TBR list and there is no obligation to read all 12 books, so I shall give it a go and see what happens.

The full list of books and details on how to sign up are here.

I’ll add details when I start and finish any of the books – and hopefully there will be reviews over on Saving My Sanity… but, as always, that will be dependant on my health.

  1. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N. K. Jemisin (completed 6-1-11)
  2. Elfland – Freda Warrington
  3. Prospero Lost – L. Jagi Lamplighter
  4. Four and Twenty Blackbirds – Cherie Priest
  5. War for the Oaks – Emma Bull
  6. The Dark Mirror – Juliet Marillier
  7. All the Windwracked Stars – Elizabeth Bear
  8. Indigo Springs – A. M. Dellamonica
  9. Firebird – Mercedes Lackey
  10. Tooth and Claw – Jo Walton
  11. The Gaslight Dogs – Karin Lowachee
  12. Reader’s Choice

Saturday, 16 October 2010

10/10 Reads for 2010

  1. Mirror Dance – Lois McMaster Bujold
  2. Shalador’s Lady – Anne Bishop
  3. Memory – Lois McMaster Bujold
  4. A Swiftly Tilting Planet – Madeleine L’Engle
  5. Silver Borne – Patricia Briggs
  6. Sunshine – Robin McKinley
  7. The Curse of the Mistwraith – Janny Wurts
  8. The Ships of Merior – Janny Wurts
  9. Warhost of Vastmark - Janny Wurts
  10. Cryoburn - Lois McMaster Bujold
  11. Fugitive Prince - Janny Wurts

DNF Reads for 2010

  1. Jacob’s Faith – Lora Leigh
  2. Except the Queen – Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder
  3. Doctor Who: The Writer’s Tale (The Final Chapter) – Russell T. Davies and Benjamin Cook
  4. The Passage – Justin Cronin
  5. Event – David L. Golemon
  6. Sweet Danger – Margery Allingham
  7. Magic to the Bone – Devon Monk
  8. How to Fossilise Your Hamster - Mick O'Hare

Cumulative Totals – September 2010

2010 Reading:
Books read in 2010 = 72
Short Stories read in 2010 = 9
Total reads in 2010 = 81

10/10 reads in 2010 = 8
DNFs in 2010 = 7
New reads in 2010 = 59
Rereads in 2010 = 22
paper books : eBooks = 44 : 37 = 54 % : 46 %

Pages read in 2010 (according to Goodreads) = 26737

2010 Challenges Progress:
Flashback Reading Challenge = 19
Big Book Challenge = 10

2010 List Progress:
eBooks read = 37
SFF books read = 61
Library Books read = 26
Audiobooks listened to = 0

2010 Completed Challenges:
Sci Fi Experience = 9
Once Upon a Time IV Challenge = 11
Time Quintet Readalong = 4

September 2010 Reading

  1. The Owl Keeper – Christine Brodien-Jones (320pp)
    YA; Fantasy; eBook; 6/10
  2. Different Learners – Jane M. Healy (416pp)
    Non-Fiction; Library Book; 7/10
  3. The Ships of Merior – Janny Wurts (738pp)
    Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 2; Fantasy; 10/10
  4. Magic to the Bone – Devon Monk (368pp)
    Allie Beckstrom, Book 1; Urban Fantasy; eBook; DNF
  5. I’d Rather Eat Chocolate – Joan Sewell (224pp)
    Non-Fiction; Library Book; 5/10

Best book of the month = The Ships of Merior
Biggest disappointment of the month = I’d Rather Eat Chocolate

September Reading:
Books read this month = 4
Short Stories read this month = 0
Total reads this month = 4

10/10 reads this month = 1
DNFs this month = 1
New reads this month = 4
Rereads this month = 0
paper books : eBooks = 4 : 0 = 100 % : 0 %

Pages read this month = 320 + 416 + 738 + 224 = 1698

September Challenges Progress:
Flashback Reading Challenge = 0
Big Book Challenge = 1

September List Progress:
eBooks read = 0
SFF books read = 2
Library Books read = 2
Audiobooks listened to = 0

Cumulative Totals – August 2010

2010 Reading:
Books read in 2010 = 68
Short Stories read in 2010 = 9
Total reads in 2010 = 77

10/10 reads in 2010 = 7
DNFs in 2010 = 6
New reads in 2010 = 55
Rereads in 2010 = 22
paper books : eBooks = 40 : 37 = 52 % : 48 %

Pages read in 2010 (according to Goodreads) = 25039

2010 Challenges Progress:
Flashback Reading Challenge = 19
Big Book Challenge = 9

2010 List Progress:
eBooks read = 37
SFF books read = 59
Library Books read = 24
Audiobooks listened to = 0

August 2010 Reading

  1. Inhuman – Eileen Wilks (unknown)
    Lupi, Book 3.5; Short Story; Fantasy; eBook; 7/10
  2. The Passage – Justin Cronin (769pp)
    Literary Fiction; Library Book; DNF
  3. The Suitcase Kid – Jacqueline Wilson (160pp)
    Children; Library Book; 7/10
  4. EventDavid L. Golemon (482pp)
    Thriller; SF; Library Book; DNF
  5. Night Season – Eileen Wilks (352pp)
    Lupi, Book 4; Fantasy; eBook; 8/10
  6. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return – Marjane Satrapi (187pp)
    Graphic Novel; Non-Fiction; Library Book; 7/10
  7. Stork Raving Mad – Donna Andrews (309pp)
    Meg Langslow, Book 12; Cozy Mystery; Library Book; 9/10
  8. The Curse of the Mistwraith – Janny Wurts (841pp)
    The Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 1; Fantasy; 10/10
  9. The Undrowned Child – Michelle Lovric (432pp)
    YA; Library Book; 5/10
  10. Shadows Past – Lorna Freeman (400pp)
    Borderlands, Book 3; Fantasy; eBook; 6/10
  11. Sweet Danger – Margery Allingham (251pp)
    Albert Campion, Book 5; Mystery; Audiobook; Reread; DNF
  12. When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead (199pp)
    Children; Fantasy'; eBook; 9/10

Best book of the month = The Curse of the Mistwraith
Biggest surprise of the month = When You Reach Me
Biggest disappointment of the month = Shadows Past

August Reading:
Books read this month = 8
Short Stories read this month = 1
Total reads this month = 9

10/10 reads this month = 1
DNFs this month = 3
New reads this month = 8
Rereads this month = 1
paper books : eBooks = 5 : 4 = 56 % : 44 %

Pages read this month = 160 + 352 + 187 + 309 + 841 + 432 + 400 +199 = 2880

August Challenges Progress:
Flashback Reading Challenge = 0
Big Book Challenge = 1

August List Progress:
eBooks read = 4
SFF books read = 6
Library Books read = 4
Audiobooks listened to = 0