Shamelessly indulging in my favorite things...

[summer_jackel]

Well, this year's Sebastopol Celtic Festival has come and gone...actually, last weekend, but I haven't mentioned it til now, so there. It was lovely, a whole weekend of really good Celtic music! Exquisite, mind blowing performance from Martin Hayes, who I'd say had to have made a deal with *some* less than trustworthy supernatural being to be able to play a fiddle that well, save that he seems so peaceful and gentle when he does it. Sigh. Any opportunity to hear this guy should not be missed. Also wonderful were the Old Blind Dogs, Altan, Lunasa and several other bands that make me purr and purr and purrr. (Old Blind Dogs=really adorable Scottish guys, perfect folk-rock blend, and the inclusion of the small pipes. melt!)

And as if that weren't enough, Laurell K Hamilton's new Anita Blake novel is out!!!! I made a beeline to the bookstore right after work on tuesday for it. Without giving spoilers, let's just say, I'm not done with it, but when I am I'll probably start from the beginning again, just so I can savor it. Do I like it as much as I loved the last two? Hmm...well, given that 'Narcissus in Chains' and 'Cerulean Sins' are like, two of my favorite ever novels, honestly, no. (Asher. I have such the fictional-character crush on Asher.) She's maybe getting a tiny bit formulaic. And I really don't care, because the book is fresh enough, and honest and sweet, dark and compelling enough to make me not care that parts seem a little familiar. And is this deep philosophy? Hell no. (If you want that in your Sci Fi, let me kindly and shiveringly direct you to some of CJ Cherryh's work, and Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.) Still, neither it is total fluff; there are moments of nice introspection. But is this worth getting? *Jackel melllltttssss...* oooh, yeah. Let me tell ya.

Now, if you're a furry fan, and especially if you're fond of furotica (smirk. Don't be shy. You know who you are. And I'm certainly not being shy about it) you really must go read 'Incubus Dreams.' 's furry as all get out in bits. Especially if you're into leopards...again, you know who you are. But please, not without reading all of the prior novels (start with 'Guilty Pleasures', quite possibly the most accurately titled book in history) in order. The fun of seeing this poor character develop over the course of eleven (12?) books to get where she is in 'Incubus Dreams' is priceless, and believe me, well worth it.

Go, now. Shoo. Read!

Jackel

Comments

meow! *glomp*!!!

[mooncatx.livejournal.com]

I'm soooo jealous of the celtic music fest >^@@^< ... I so totally love music and that is one of the genres I'm a fan of. The sole reason I'd go out to SCA events was the bardic circles, and the big part of enjoyment of ren faires is the chance to enjoy live music of a similar vein.

Mmm... Incubus Dreams!!! We are having an ongoing discussion of it right now on the LKH_IncubusD yahoo list. woo hoo!

Yes, I love Anita's progression from beginning of the series to where she is now.

Some other 'fans' on other groups/message boards aren't so thrilled, so beware, they b*tch and moan each and every book and only read (or don't even read and just go by other peeps comments) about how they hate the books and seem determined to rain on everyone's parade if their personal idea of where the books should go aren't met. gah...

But I'm thrilled with all the books, one exception being Obsidian Butterfly. I started from the series when the 1st book 1st came out, and I loved all the books (cept OB) and while the focus has shifted as the character changes due to her many experiences, I love the new books a LOT *^_^* yeah!!!! Looooooooooooooovveeeeeee....

I need to reread the book too... sigh. Slow. With chocolate *^_~*

meows
Mooncat
>^,,^<

Re: meow! *glomp*!!!

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

hmmm...why didn't you like OB? I'm quite fond of it, nice tight plot and really good action...of course, it *hurts* b/c of no Jean-Claude, so I'd probably have liked it a lot less if I'd read it when it first came out, and didn't have the comfort of Narcissus in Chains buring a hole in my bookshelf to be enjoyed immediately after. ;)

Yeah, slow with chocolate, that's the ticket. I'm having Chris read it to me. ;D

Wish you could go to the Celtic fest. It is so,so good...

Obsidian Butterfly

[mooncatx.livejournal.com]

It's not that I dislike it, but it's the low rung of the totem pole on my Anita Blake list --

Reasons : Anita is a necromancer, she should have known wether the skinned bodies were alive or corpses. This really bothered me, because her major intrinsic power is with the dead. Also, poor little Jaquar were doesn't get rescued!!!! And a couple of things like th big ball of werewolves aren't taken care of that we know of. Not even a throwaway setence. We just have to assume she remembers and goes to undo the magic holding that poor critter together.

Otherwise I did like the book and enjoyed many specific parts of it. Mostly the part with Anita and Edward and Olaf. But of all the books it's the one that is my least fave.

mews and happy purrssss... pouncies jackel girl!!!!
*groom, groom, groom!!!*

Sigh... no Celtic music for me unless I throw on a few of my cds... sigh. but... *perks* I do have your music mix cds *^_^*

choooocolate!!!!
Mooncat >^,,^