2010 Reading #65: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

[snurri]

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
61. Life Sucks by Jessica Abel, Gabriel Soria, and Warren Pleece.
62. JLA: Classifed: New Maps of Hell by Warren Ellis and Jackson Guice.
63. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Book One of The Inheritance Trilogy) by N. K. Jemisin.
64. Fear Itself by Walter Mosley.

65. Tongues of Serpents: A Novel of Temeraire by Naomi Novik. Read for review. (It's good! Who else is reading these?)

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I'm reading that series, but I haven't gotten a copy of the new one yet.

[mastadge.livejournal.com]

I'm reading them, but since I already know I love the books and trust Novik, I'm considering not reading the new one for a few years, letting a few more books in the series pile up on my shelves so I don't have to wait years between each new book. Or maybe I'll decide to read it this week!

[jamiam.livejournal.com]

Yes! I haven't read that one yet. I thought... she did an okay job addressing the European colonialist attitudes toward Africa in book 4? (BY HAVING THE AFRICANS BEATING THE PANTS OFF OF THE EUROPEANS, BOO YAH.) But I've heard she more or less ignores them in Australia. So I'm being a bit shy of this book?

[jamiam.livejournal.com]

See, I cleverly waited until there were 5 books before reading them! And then, lo, I read them all in a two month period, and had to face up to the lack of a 6th one. (Basically, I think there's no helping it.)

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I don't know a ton about Australian history, so take the following with a grain of salt. But at the time the book is set Australia had only been colonized by the British for about 20 years, and that on the coast, so I think perhaps the indigenous population had not yet been impacted much?

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I'm reading them, but I think you're the one loaning them to me so you already know this?

I like them very much, even though I'll admit I fast-forward through some of the battle scenes.

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

I'll admit I fast-forward through some of the battle scenes.

I'm glad it's not just me! I love her writing, but even well-written battles (especially naval or aerial ones) tend to lose my interest.

I like the books very much too.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Have you noticed that if you fast forward with too little attention you miss key plot points? I have annoyed myself with this.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I tend to glaze over, if not skip over, the battle scenes as well. I personally like the books a lot better when Napoleon is way off stage.

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

I have noticed that, and I get annoyed with myself when it happens, too. Fortunately when it does happen, I usually know where I need to look to find the information I missed the first time -- I guess it helps to be consistent in one's inattentiveness?

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy his cameo in... the fourth book, I think? But otherwise, yes, I much prefer it when he's on another part of the globe than the protagonists.