Familiar Stars

Star Wars: Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Familiar characters, doing familiar things.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it was exactly what I wanted.

And I got my first introduction to Admiral Daala, which explains some things from later books.

Still like Han better than Luke. Is he ever going to grow out of being a moody teenager? *sigh*



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I'd Rather Some Tommy and Tuppence

The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


For a long time I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was about this book that was so...familiar. And then I figured it out.

It reminds me of a Georgette Heyer London mystery (as opposed to one of her "cosy" mysteries, or Regency romances)--except Heyer does it much, much better.

Two days of reading out of my life that I'll never get back.



(And, yes, I know T&T are Christie, not Heyer.)



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When Worlds Collide

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I know many people who love this book.

Me, not so much. For instance, I was 2/3 of the way through it several years ago, lost it, and didn't really care.

But I found it again, and after a dear friend mentioned Hiro Protagonist the other day I thought, "Oh, what the heck. Let's finish it." Well. That's done.

Maybe I read it too far after it was published to find it very "cutting edge." Maybe I don't know enough/too much about computers and cyberspace to really get engaged by the central conceits. All I know is Uncle Enzo rocks, YT reminds me far too much of how Lisbeth Salander might have been had she grown up with a loving mother in Southern California, and I'm having a terrible time not merging Hiro Protagonist and Hiro Nakamura in my mind--though, frankly, I definitely prefer the latter.

What did I most take away from this book? The impulse to look at everyone I know and wonder what phrase I'd tattoo on their foreheads. Alas, there a many who, like Raven, should have the words "Poor Impulse Control" written in large friendly letters for everyone to see.

Now, where did I leave my towel?



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