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electricland1. I have to start getting to work earlier. Once the sun goes down (like, now) I no longer feel like working.
2. My high school's Festival of Carols was last night. The Old Girls' two songs went over well (thunderous applause!) but mostly it was all about the kids -- 675 odd, in about 25 different groups, from about Grade 2 up to Grade 12. The little kids were ADORABLE. I'm really glad I went.
3. Books read last week:
Gideon the Cutpurse, Linda Buckley-Archer. Enjoyed very much. Am convinced of two things:
a) Gideon and Lord Luxon are an estranged couple. I swear I am not reading more into this than is really there. Ordinarily I would call the relationship slashtastic, but as neither one appears to have any canonical sexual orientation (yet), I will just say, Holy homoeroticism, Batman! Evidence:
Oh, and the story is pretty cool too. Two 12-year-olds accidentally go back in time to somewhere in the reign of George III.
b) Gideon and the Tar Man are brothers. Their backstories just dovetail too darn neatly.
Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett (seasonal reread)
The Steerswoman's Road, Rosemary Kirstein.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
papersky mentioned her a while back, and later I noticed I had put her name on a list of authors to investigate and then forgotten all about her. This book (actually, two books in one) is SO GOOD. Apparently I still can't be coherent about why -- hopefully this will come. Briefly, steerswomen are an order of sort of wandering scholars and cartographers. There's a rule: if you ask a steerswoman a question, she has to answer it, if she knows the answer. And if she asks you one, you have to answer; if you don't, or if you lie, no steerswoman will ever answer your questions again, ever, about anything. The book is about truth and intellectual curiosity and logic and consequences and it is WONDERFUL. The worldbuilding, and the way things are revealed to the reader, are terrific. When I finished I had a moment of panic because I was under the impression that the third one wasn't out yet and I wasn't sure I could survive without finding out what happens next, but luckily the third and fourth are both out, so that's good.
4. And that's why I didn't tidy my apartment this weekend. Although I did go shopping for clothes with my mum, which was good because she doesn't. We found her a pair of black pants and a pair of jeans and a sweater and a shirt and a red cardigan that looks amazing. Yay us.
2. My high school's Festival of Carols was last night. The Old Girls' two songs went over well (thunderous applause!) but mostly it was all about the kids -- 675 odd, in about 25 different groups, from about Grade 2 up to Grade 12. The little kids were ADORABLE. I'm really glad I went.
3. Books read last week:
Gideon the Cutpurse, Linda Buckley-Archer. Enjoyed very much. Am convinced of two things:
a) Gideon and Lord Luxon are an estranged couple. I swear I am not reading more into this than is really there. Ordinarily I would call the relationship slashtastic, but as neither one appears to have any canonical sexual orientation (yet), I will just say, Holy homoeroticism, Batman! Evidence:
"To think I escaped his clutches only to learn of this!" Gideon's eyes burned with such intensity and hatred that an observer would have thought he was talking to a living being. Yet it was into the empty night air that Gideon directed his words, and whatever he saw in his mind's eye was clearly causing him great distress.And:
"He lies, Joshua! He lies! He does not hold you in high regard. He does this to lure me back; he has no other aim!" Gideon cried. "Will Luxon not rest until he has taken everything from me? Why can he not let me go in peace?"
"Why won't Lord Luxon let Gideon go if he's sworn not to betray him?"And:
Ned turned to look at Peter.
"Have you not heard tell of Mr. Seymour's skill? There is no one like him. He is Lord Luxon's favorite. He is more than his cutpurse -- he is his conscience. The rest of the world might see Lord Luxon as the devil by any other name, but your Mr. Seymour is determined to see some good in him. ..."
"Now, that is a powerful high price, Master Schock. We have spent nigh on three weeks trying to persuade Gideon to return home. Gideon has scruples that sometimes blind him to the greater truth. Besides, Lord Luxon would be ill pleased, indeed, if I were to release Mr. Seymour before he has remembered why he should remain with those who appreciate his talents the most."And more. So much more. I am wondering if the author meant it that way; if she did, I'm surprised and kind of impressed to see it in a kids' book, and am also wondering if she means to follow through. Anyway, should be interesting to see what happens in the next installment.
"You're not saying that Gideon won't want to come with us?"
"Gideon is as a brother to me and is fortunate enough to be the favorite of Lord Luxon. And surely you are old enough to know that it is those closest to us who cause us most grief? I can assure you that once he has been reunited with Lord Luxon, he will not want to return with you."
Oh, and the story is pretty cool too. Two 12-year-olds accidentally go back in time to somewhere in the reign of George III.
b) Gideon and the Tar Man are brothers. Their backstories just dovetail too darn neatly.
Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett (seasonal reread)
The Steerswoman's Road, Rosemary Kirstein.
papersky mentioned her a while back, and later I noticed I had put her name on a list of authors to investigate and then forgotten all about her. This book (actually, two books in one) is SO GOOD. Apparently I still can't be coherent about why -- hopefully this will come. Briefly, steerswomen are an order of sort of wandering scholars and cartographers. There's a rule: if you ask a steerswoman a question, she has to answer it, if she knows the answer. And if she asks you one, you have to answer; if you don't, or if you lie, no steerswoman will ever answer your questions again, ever, about anything. The book is about truth and intellectual curiosity and logic and consequences and it is WONDERFUL. The worldbuilding, and the way things are revealed to the reader, are terrific. When I finished I had a moment of panic because I was under the impression that the third one wasn't out yet and I wasn't sure I could survive without finding out what happens next, but luckily the third and fourth are both out, so that's good.4. And that's why I didn't tidy my apartment this weekend. Although I did go shopping for clothes with my mum, which was good because she doesn't. We found her a pair of black pants and a pair of jeans and a sweater and a shirt and a red cardigan that looks amazing. Yay us.
