(no subject)

So, around 100 pages in, and "He is a secret, debauched spy! She is a destitute crossdresser! Together, they save England from Napoleon with the aid of a secret book!" from this poll is actually pretty decent so far. If lacking in secret spy books thus far, and more "decent read" than cracktastic or really good.

Yes, I should tidy up the posts on all the OTHER things I've read lately (note to self: 2 pages on how evil and hateful "I'm an angel who's an attempted rapist and who threatens to murder babies. And I make vampires." is is a bit much and should be trimmed down. He could give Bertrice Small's men a run for their money.) but I thought I should let you know that some books I have you vote on don't end up either with horrible writing or interesting ideas marred by incredibly hateful characters!

ETA:  Crossdressing heroine coming up with relatively clever plan to save girl she barely knows from an evil rapist.  I approve.

The Bell At Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip

Every night, a bell at Sealey Head that no one can find rings. Judd Cauley’s family inn used to be the only one around, but he has few guests now that there are other options. Despite this, a traveler and fellow bookworm named Ridley Dow rents a room from him. Ridley has an interest in Aislinn house, where the aged Lady Eglantyne lays dying, and her heir has been summoned. Inside Aislinn house, however, there seems to be another world, one where a woman named Ysabo is being forced to marry a knight she doesn’t even know the name of. Meanwhile, in the village, Gwyneth, a merchant’s daughter, is being courted by a nearby aristocrat, but is far more interested in writing stories, and wondering what’s going on at Sealey Head.

I kind of love the way half the characters are major bookworms, are there are things like Judd realizing that Ridley has been in the rain for hours and hours, and his strongest reaction is to the fact that Ridley was carrying around books in the rain, and they could be wet, or how he goes scouring the inn for a new bookshelf, and when he finds one, he realizes that the reason it’s empty is that he already moved all the books to his room. Or when another character is supposed to remain hidden lest Dire Things occur, but completely forgets about it because there’s a mysterious book in the room.

I also loved the stories the different characters told, though I kept wanting them to impact the main story in a way they never did, but that may have been me trying to make the book more like Alphabet of Thorn than it really was. I also loved how McKillip got so into the daily lives of the various residents of the town, though, ultimately, I think there were too many characters with their own stories for a book that isn’t quite 300 pages long, though McKillip brought them together well.

In the end, it’s not my favorite McKillip, but I liked it a lot.

*sigh*

So, starting Thursday evening, I will be out at the parents' catsitting.  (For those newish to my LJ/DW and going "Oh noes!  She's going away!" or "Ah!  Peace!" I have internet access there.)  I have packed 22 manga volumes, 14 books, Hansungbyulbok, and season 2 of Eureka.  There is no need to back so much entertainent because (A) I won't get through that much anyeay, and (B) i'll be coming back by the apartment at least 2 or 3 times for mail and such.

Though, part of Dad's retirement settlement was a projector screen that he has set up in the media room behind Mom's new 2 car garage, so I may end up back there the whole time.