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Cori June (3033 KP) rated Dragondoom (Mithgar book #5) in Books

Aug 10, 2019

Dragondoom (Mithgar book #5)

Dennis L. McKiernan | 1990 | Science Fiction/Fantasy

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

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Continuing in my quest to read this series in chronological order, this is a good book to enter into the land of Mithgar. A multiple POV book. It is a "love story" (it says so in the forward" but it is really subtle about it. The story starts in the middle and goes between the past and the present or near present. About hatred, greed, racism, even foolhardy pride. Yes, it actually has dragon's as well as stone giants. Also, if you get the 2002 edition you will get a glossary (it has spoilers), translation of words and phrases, and a partial calendar (again spoilers), so it's kind of cool seeing what the translation of the native languages.
Now that I'm older then when I first read this I admit I at times read it in a melodramatic way. but still a good read if a little long winded at times. The main characters are the Warrior woman Elyn and Dwarf Thork, with Elyn's twin Elgo as a not quite main but very important character.
This book had love, war, quests, and well almost everything. A fun read.

Kudos

ClareR (5869 KP) rated My Life As A Rat in Books

Jul 9, 2019

My Life As A Rat

Joyce Carol Oates | 2019 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

A compelling, frankly heart wrenching, story.

Oh my word, this was a tough book to read! A book about family loyalty, betrayal, racism, love and survival. Violet is a twelve year old who knows a secret about her two older brothers, and she keeps this secret for as long as she can. When her life is threatened, she discloses the information- and so starts a chain of events that result in her being disowned by her family.
It’s a heartbreaking story. Violet believes that her family will take her back, that they live her really, and that it’s her fault alone that her brothers are imprisoned. She seems to punish herself repeatedly through the course of the story: she puts herself into impossible situations with unsuitable, cruel men, and then feels that she deserves their appalling treatment. I really wanted to take her out of the story and tell her that she did the right thing, that it wasn’t her fault and that no one deserves to be treated as she was.
So yes, I would recommend this book. It’s my first book by Joyce Carol Oates, and it certainly won’t be my last.

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Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Gate at the Stairs in Books

Feb 9, 2020

A Gate at the Stairs

Lorrie Moore | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry

5.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Not bad but ultimately forgettable

I read this as part of a local reading group I’ve joined recently, and I was sceptical as some of the Goodreads reviews are scathing to say the least. However fortunately this isn’t as bad as others seem to think.

The problem is that this book is mostly forgettable. The writing is rather good, although does have a tendency to ramble off at rather bizarre tangents. I’m not sure if this is meant to be a nod to the disjointed and random thoughts of the narrator, but for me this didn’t quite work. When it got a little rambling I found my mind began to wander and I ended up skim reading more than I should. I also struggled with the anti-racism group, while they didn’t feature too often when they did their inane ramblings and chat I just couldn’t stand. Despite this the rest of the book isn’t too bad. Tassie is a rather shambolic protagonist and for the most part not very sympathetic or endearing. But the development of her and her friends and family is engaging enough to keep you reading, even if sadly this book is ultimately forgettable.