Evil Genius / Claire Oshetsky

 

3.5 stars

I spent most of my time reading this book wondering about the title. Who was the evil genius? Surely not Celia, this nineteen year old woman with a horrible job, an abusive husband, and a controlling mother. If her life is this awful, she's no genius, evil or otherwise. On the other hand, maybe she's not the most reliable of narrators?

If I was believe Celia's account of her life, all kinds of coincidences continually happened to her. She is a runaway train, jumping the tracks of her boring life and gas lighting husband. Her job (dealing with late payments at the phone company) leads to some odd situations, which feel real enough if you've ever worked in the service industry. (I worked a telephone job for a while and was propositioned regularly by the guys who phoned.) There's the Sock Man who repeatedly phones to ask her to put a sock on his willy. The evening out with the girls that results in being propositioned by a well tailored man (her mother was a seamstress, she recognizes a well fitted suit). Finding dog poo all over his house and finding that he is an inferior fondler. It all just rolls along organically.

By the book's end, I was doubting my interpretation of events. Had Celia actually masterminded everyone's reactions to a tee? Maybe she was an evil genius? I still haven't decided and maybe I'm not meant to.

Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? / Thomas Kohnstamm

 

***2026 Summer of Sightseeing from my Sofa***

DNF @ 36%

At this point, I just disliked the author enough that I had no desire to read another word.

This book has taught me that traveling as a birder is entirely different from the regular travel crowd. I mean I already knew that, but I now realize just how different we are. If anyone on my birding tours was trolling for drugs, I don't remember it. Our tour leader in Japan regularly got soused drinking sake, but hangovers don't mix well with early mornings and bright sunshine.

I just couldn't relate. And couldn't dig up enough enthusiasm to finish the book. He's a good writer, but I'd never want to have a coffee with him.

The Odyssey / translated by Emily Wilson

 

4 out of 5 stars 

***2026 Summer of Sightseeing from my Sofa***

When I was planning a travel theme for this summer, I thought why not read one of the earliest travelogues, Homer's The Odyssey? Little did I know that I would be competing with adventurous movie goers who decided to read it either before or after seeing this year's film.

The introduction was so informative, with notes on the history of the tale and how it came to be a written document rather than only an oral tradition. I am reasonably sure that I read a different translation back in the early 1980s while studying classics at university but I remembered very few details. I was entranced by this new translation with its graceful phrasing and beautiful vocabulary.

This is really many stories strung together like a necklace. As a child, I read a lot of Greek mythology books and I was pleased to meet up again with some old friends. Bits and pieces of The Odyssey were packaged as something short-story-like and suitable for children and provided by the extension librarian. I had no idea back then of how well educated in classical knowledge I would be! This translation was very readable. I was pulled into the tale immediately and enjoyed it. I was also reminded of how different the worldview of the Ancient Greeks was from a 21st century North American. 

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying / Django Wexler

 

DNF @ 18%

I may come back to this eventually, but I'm not in the right mood for it now.

I wanted to like this book. Friends have enjoyed it, people that I trust. It has things that I like: humour, snark, and an unconventional approach to a time loop. That's why I say that I may return to it someday. But these elements are so unrelenting! Davi can't seem to say anything non-snarky. At the 18% mark, I found myself avoiding reading because this was what was due at the library. That's my sure sign that a DNF is immanent.

Teach the Torches to Burn / Christina Dodd

 

5 out of 5 stars 

I absolutely adore this series and Lady Rosaline Montague! Now Princess Rosaline of Verona. I've warmed up to her new husband, Prince Escalus, too. He has gone from the man who tricked her (A Daughter of Fair Verona) to the man Rosie has dutifully chosen (Thus With a Kiss I Die) to the man that she desperately wants to get naked with (Teach the Torches to Burn).

Rosie is juggling a lot of responsibilities: wedding planning, keeping the Montagues and Capulets from shedding each other's blood, supervising the Montague kitchen, plus trying to find private time with her bridegroom. Her patience is wearing thin, especially when it becomes obvious that someone is attempting to poison her. Being who she is, Rosie makes plans.

Another fun romp through fictional Verona. If you haven't yet made the acquaintance of fair Rosline, what are you waiting for? Forsooth, get thee the first book and commence reading!

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy / Brigitte Knightley

 

R

4.25 out of 5 stars 

The Extreme Pleasure of Reading a Fun Romance

A great follow-up to The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy. I like this author's dedication to slow burn and unresolved sexual tension. I adore Osric Mordaunt, the Fyren assassin, who finds himself inexplicably happy, indeed even floaty, when he gets to spend time with healer Aurienne Fairhrim. And not just because she seems to be healing the seith rot condition that was killing him.

Osric is an assassin extraordinaire and occasional dickhead. Aurienne is a rather uptight goody-two-shoes healer. They are indeed star crossed lovers—who are quite determined to state that “This isn't love, dammit!” They are attempting to heal Osric's magical abilities in exchange for a donation to create a vaccine for a plague of pox. They are keeping it on the down low, however, so that Aurienne’s Order doesn't disown her. Also because they are using the Old Ways, which supposedly have been completely discredited. The two snark and whine at each other, but repeated full moon healing ceremonies are allowing them to get to know each other and grudgingly admit that it's not that bad.

Osric is an inspired creation. (Not sure what this says about me.) I tolerated Aurienne because he liked her. I also loved his pack of dogs: Rigor Mortis (Great Dane), Arson (retriever), Perjury and Forgery (border collies), Outraging Public Decency (bulldog; prolific farter), High Treason (borzoi) and Creme Brulee (whippet). Knightley's sense of humour meshes with mine perfectly. The couple's banter and their interior monologues were endlessly entertaining. The author uses the “one bed" trope exceedingly well. And that cover artwork! Gorgeous!

My only real complaint is that everything is so well wrapped up by the end of this book. I hate to see this end, but even slow burn romances must combust eventually and sexual tension must either resolve or snap. Although I am somewhat dismayed that there are only two books, let me state right now that I will gladly read whatever Ms. Knightley publishes next. She knows exactly what I like.

The Human Division / John Scalzi

 

3.5 out of 5 stars 

Book number 544 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

For me this was an improvement from Zoe's Tale. Scalzi moves along to focus on different characters in the Old Man's War universe. I enjoyed the change in perspective to Harry Wilson, despite the fact that he is very like John Perry: seemingly smarter than everyone around him, able to magically solve any problem at speed, sarcastic as all get out, and apparently unkillable. I guess they did train together, didn't they?

At any rate, there is a new wrinkle in the colonization of the universe. The Conclave, an association of 400 alien worlds, have given humanity notice—no more worlds for you. As a result of Zoe's Tale, Earth is now aware that the Colonial Union has been keeping them ignorant of the realities of the universe and using them as a resource for soldiers and colonists. To say there is a rift between Earth and the CU is an understatement. Will the Conclave be able to woo the home planet away?

I enjoyed the exploration of the diplomatic aspects of this universe. Ambassador Ubumwe is a wonderful character. She also is quick witted, turning hopeless situations into possibilities. She has high expectations of her staff as well as herself. Hart Schmidt is the less competent sidekick who shows how shiny Wilson and Ubumwe are.

And the next novel has been set up. Through back channel communication, the CU and the Conclave have realized that they have a mutual enemy. These mysterious bad guys have been grabbing older spaceships from both sides and using them to cause disruption. I'll be reading The End of All Things, but not until next year. My reading queue is currently over full.