English girls' school with fairies

If Naomi Novik's novels are the Napoleonic Wars with dragons, Jo Walton's Among Others is English girls' school with fairies. This is a strange, unclassifiable novel. Is it adult or young-adult? Is it literary fiction or fantasy, or magical realism, or ...? Whatever it is, it's wonderful. The voice of the 15-year-old protagonist, who is writing in her diary, is compelling, lovable, fascinating even when she's just listing the books she's read. That bit reminded me of how I read even Lizbeth Salander's trip to Ikea and the unpacking of her purchases in her new apartment with absolute riveted attention. Mori is a protege, who doesn't know it, a matter-of-fact magician, whose mother is a witch. I'd put her up against any female heroine in fantasy/sci fi literature for bravery, appeal and precocious wisdom. If you love books, read this one.

17. The Stalker Chronicles, Carley Moore
16. Among Others, Jo Walton!
15. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart
13. The Baker's Daughter, Sarah McCoy
12. Hank Hung the Moon, and Warmed Our Cold, Cold Hearts, Rheta Grimsley Johnson
11. Wonder, RJ Palacio
10. 1Q84,Haruki Murakami
4-9. His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, Tongues of Serpents, Naomi Novik
3. The World that Made New Orleans, Ned Sublette
2. Where Things Come Back, John Corey Whaley
1. Legend, Marie Lu

Re-Read:

1-2. Phineas Redux, The Prime Minister, Anthony Trollope

Baby bunnies seem to be everywhere in the backyard tonight. Don't know if it's the same one over and over or a bunch of babies. But, with all these predators, I can't say I admire the mother's parenting skills.

2012:

10. Hank Hung the Moon, and Warmed Our Cold, Cold Hearts, Rheta Grimsley Johnson
9. Wonder, RJ Palacio
8. 1Q84,Haruki Murakami
4-7. His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik
3. The World that Made New Orleans, Ned Sublette
2. Where Things Come Back, John Corey Whaley
1. Legend, Marie Lu

Re-Read:

1-2. Phineas Redux, The Prime Minister, Anthony Trollope

SIBSL, or Should I Be So Lucky

I am 16 pages from finishing a seven-month revision of my YA sci-fi/fantasy novel. and plan to wrap it up today or tomorrow. This is draft 13. It's been through a round of revisions with a smart and savvy agent and had feedback from another. My beta readers are within 40 pages of the end. I plan to begin submitting again this month.

Which brings us to SIBSL. This is my tenth finished novel? Is that right? Falcon's Way, Mr. Touchdown, Redbone, Peace I Ask of Thee, Oh River, Grannynapping, Reply All, Meditations of an Animist, Elementary Murder, The Abyss Begins at Main Street, and now The Snow Lion, not to mention three screenplays: Transfer Station, Long's Peak and Never Touched Her. As deep as my dreams are for this new novel, I cannot say anything about it without the verbal knocking on wood of saying SIBSL.

This is especially true of this novel because it is designed to be the first of a series. When I discuss it with my readers I say things like, "Well, that will be further developed in the second (or third) book, SIBSL." Or, "Well that could be spun off into a little extra materials feature on my Web site or online, SIBSL."

Arrogance is justly punished and arrogant people plumped up with hubris have never met the concept of SIBSL. They've not had the knocks and the crushing disappointments and the realization that what you've written actually pretty much sucks and reflects very little of what was glittering in your head. They've not racked up the piles of rejections. But they've also not had the thrill of occasionally getting an award, or having a reading, or even a nice, personal rejection when they were sure they wouldn't and are almost unbearably happy when that happens. They are poorer for it though I envy confidence.

So I am still hopeful that this time IWBSL. Which in itself is an open invitation for the universe to come and crush me one more time.


2012:

8. 1Q84,Haruki Murakami
4-7. His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik
3. The World that Made New Orleans, Ned Sublette
2. Where Things Come Back, John Corey Whaley
1. Legend, Marie Lu

Re-Read:

1-2. Phineas Redux, The Prime Minister, Anthony Trollope

A Slow Start

So far this year I've been pretty much wrapped in a blanket, reading comfort books, specifically Trollope. Only one more of the Palliser or Parlimentary novels to go.

But finally I read a couple of good YAs: Legend and Where Things Come Back, which was a strange little charming book, sort of reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

2012:

2. Where Things Come Back, John Corey Whaley
1. Legend, Marie Lu

Re-Read:

1-2. Phineas Redux, The Prime Minister, Anthony Trollope

2012 Dibby Hill Awards

Herewith the eagerly anticipated 2011 Dibby Hill Book Awards, based on what I read in 2011, not what was published in 2011:

Book of the Year, Skippie Dies (a grand tale, brilliantly told, Holden Caulfield meets Oscar Wao in an Irish prep school)

Best Young-Adult Novel: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Best Crime Novel: A Single Shot

Best Non-Fiction: A Concise History of Spain


2011, 56 total:

39. Graceling, Kristin Cashore
38. Racing the Devil, Jaden Terrell
37. Rachel Ray, Anthony Trollope
36. The Grey Fairy Book, Andrew Lang
35. A Single Shot, Matthew F. Jones
34. A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Eagan
33. A Concise History of Spain, William D. and Carla Rahn Phillips
323. The Innocent, Taylor Stevens
31. The Informationist, Taylor Stevens
30. The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
28-29. Palladin of Souls, The Hallowed Hunt, Lois McMaster Bujold
26-27. The War of the Ring, Sauron Defeated, Christopher Tolkienn
25. Deed to Death, D.B. Henson
24. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
23. Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman
22. The Treason of Isengard, Christopher Tolkien
21. Bent Road, Lori Roy
20. Lord of Misrule, Jaimy Gordon
19. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
18. Mr Chartwell, Rebecca Hunt
17. Half-Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls
16. The Shadow of the Past, Christopher Tolkien
15. A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
14. Protector of the Small, Squire, Tamora Pierce
11-13. The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia,Megan Whalen Turner
10. Skippy Dies, Paul Murray
9. Lost Horizon, James Hilton
4-8. The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, The Demon King, The Exiled King, Cinda Williams Chima
3. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly
2. Armadale, Wilkie Collins
1. The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, Jennifer Trafton

Re-Read:
11-17. Doctor Thorne, Framley Parsonage, The Small House at Allington, The Last Chronicle of Barset, Can You Forgive Her?, Phineas Finn, The Eustace Diamonds, Anthony Trollope
10. The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
7-9 The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
5-6 The Woman in White, The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
1-4 The Nine Tailors, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon, Lord Peter, Dorothy L Sayers

The Winter Solstice

We are sinking to the low energy point of the year, the time when we should be hibernating in our dens, the time when the fires die out and we clean the hearths and light a new flame of hope that once again spring and light will return.

It's a time to go inward, go deep, rest, guard the spark of life within.

2011 so far:

39. Graceling, Kristin Cashore
38. Racing the Devil, Jaden Terrell
37. Rachel Ray, Anthony Trollope
36. The Grey Fairy Book, Andrew Lang
35. A Single Shot, Matthew F. Jones
34. A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Eagan
33. A Concise History of Spain, William D. and Carla Rahn Phillips
323. The Innocent, Taylor Stevens
31. The Informationist, Taylor Stevens
30. The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
28-29. Palladin of Souls, The Hallowed Hunt, Lois McMaster Bujold
26-27. The War of the Ring, Sauron Defeated, Christopher Tolkienn
25. Deed to Death, D.B. Henson
24. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
23. Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman
22. The Treason of Isengard, Christopher Tolkien
21. Bent Road, Lori Roy
20. Lord of Misrule, Jaimy Gordon
19. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
18. Mr Chartwell, Rebecca Hunt
17. Half-Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls
16. The Shadow of the Past, Christopher Tolkien
15. A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
14. Protector of the Small, Squire, Tamora Pierce
11-13. The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia,Megan Whalen Turner
10. Skippy Dies, Paul Murray
9. Lost Horizon, James Hilton
4-8. The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, The Demon King, The Exiled King Cinda Williams Chima
3. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly
2. Armadale, Wilkie Collins
1. The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, Jennifer Trafton

Re-Read:
11-16. Doctor Thorne, Framley Parsonage, The Small House at Allington, The Last Chronicle of Barset, Can You Forgive Her?, Phineas Finn, Anthony Trollope
10. The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
7-9 The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
5-6 The Woman in White, The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
1-4 The Nine Tailors, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon, Lord Peter, Dorothy L Sayers

G-4 Summit

We had our G-4 Summit in Chicago in October. Fabulous in every way. From the storms we landed in on day one, to Lori's Shoes, to our favorite restaurant, Shine, to hearing the Bears fans erupt in cheers on Lincoln Avenue, to seeing the unbelievable Connie Crothers tear up the keyboard Sunday night at the Hungry Brain. Eva's EJS party at Dean Hines house, Brian, Ron and Steve's gig at the VFW hall in Willmette, where I danced by myself as if no one was watching, which they weren't, the Art Institute, which is so incredible, and the Performance Arts building, with its funky restaurant, Wagnerian star, darling bambino, and lovely used book store. The Villa D'Citta with its luxury and strange flakiness, a perfect place for G-4. Especially being able to host our friends for a little cocktail party, and snack late in the night. And the long nights of real conversation, the great laughing fits, hearing the core familiarity of my best friends' voices as I lay with my eyes closed, feeling their unconditional love.

I love Chicago, I love them. Miss it, miss them.



The 2011 list so far:

37. Rachel Ray, Anthony Trollope
36. The Grey Fairy Book, Andrew Lang
35. A Single Shot, Matthew F. Jones
34. A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Eagan
33. A Concise History of Spain, William D. and Carla Rahn Phillips
323. The Innocent, Taylor Stevens
31. The Informationist, Taylor Stevens
30. The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
28-29. Palladin of Souls, The Hallowed Hunt, Lois McMaster Bujold
26-27. The War of the Ring, Sauron Defeated, Christopher Tolkienn
25. Deed to Death, D.B. Henson
24. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
23. Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman
22. The Treason of Isengard, Christopher Tolkien
21. Bent Road, Lori Roy
20. Lord of Misrule, Jaimy Gordon
19. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
18. Mr Chartwell, Rebecca Hunt
17. Half-Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls
16. The Shadow of the Past, Christopher Tolkien
15. A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
14. Protector of the Small, Squire, Tamora Pierce
11-13. The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia,Megan Whalen Turner
10. Skippy Dies, Paul Murray
9. Lost Horizon, James Hilton
4-8. The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, The Demon King, The Exiled King Cinda Williams Chima
3. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly
2. Armadale, Wilkie Collins
1. The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, Jennifer Trafton

Re-Read:
11-12. Doctor Thorne, Framley Parsonage, Anthony Trollope
10. The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
7-9 The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
5-6 The Woman in White, The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
1-4 The Nine Tailors, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon, Lord Peter, Dorothy L Sayers