Leseratte

[openidwouldwork]

The Clumsiest People in Europe: Or, Mrs. Mortimer's Bad-Tempered Guide to the Victorian World by Todd Pruzan
It's exactly what the title promises and great, great fun. Especially to read out loud to friends. Laughing tears, I tell you...


The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer
Yes, I'm back in the peninsula. This book follows Cpt. Smith of the 95th from the siege of Badahoz all the way through to Waterloo. I quite enjoyed this one, there are a lot of colourful details and very likeable (real!) characters. And it has action!Wellington, which makes a change from the aloof general he is sometimes portraied as.

Quote:
"He was so astonished, he said, by the spectacle of Lord Wellington and Marshal Beresford hacking their way through the mêlée with their drawn swords, that he doubted whether he could have collected his wits sufficiently to give the order to fire.
‘And how they came there, I know no more than my old mare!’ Kincaid told Harry, much later.
‘Old Hookey, and Beresford, and the two guns, and all the beautiful Staff, took refuge behind my picket. Old Hookey didn’t look more than half-pleased, I can tell you. But it was a pleasure to hear Alten swearing. I wish I understood German.’"


Journal of a Regimental Officer during the Rcent Campaign in Portugal and Spain by Anon (probably Peter Hawker)
Journal of a Light Dragoon officer, covering the retaking of Oporto and the battle of Talavera. Written in a sightly detached style, not giving away much thoughts or emations, concentrating more on sights and observations. Good read.

Quote:
"The passes, as everywhere else, were strewed with dead men; the majority of whom were in the most offensive state of putridity. The French had so many horses precipitated down the heights, that we concluded they must have passed them in the dark. We saw several lying at the bottom, apparently quite mangled by the fall."


Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
A nice Fantasy novel, I like it a lot. It's not the 'Quest' or 'Magic' type of story, be perpared for intrigue, power play and matters of honour. It brought both the 'Sanctuary' series and 'Alatriste' series to my mind, but it's not going to be everybodies cup of tea.

Quote:
"Some little girls were skipping rope in the front yard of the old house. The jumper’s plaits bounced as she chanted:

Mummy told me to have some fun:
Kick the boys and make them run,

“Charming,” said Alec.

Kick them ’til they run for cover;
Don’t forget my baby brother!"


Micromegas by Voltaire. A collection of novellas. Entertaining but thoughtful at the same time. The amazing thing is how very 'current' the topics still are. Human nature just did not change much over the centuries...


Priviledge of the Sword by Ellen Kushner Set in the same universe as 'Swordspoint' but about 20 years later. As this is written from a 16-year-old girls POV and is about the meat marriage market and forced marriage, it was not much fun for me. Too Mary-Sue-ish. Did I mention the girl becomes an accomplished swordswoman in 6 months? Not my cuppa...


Sharpe's Havoc Re-read for obvious reasons. Sharpe got over his phase of low esteem and gets on with leading his men into a 20:1 fight. Which he wins, of course.

Quote:
“There’s something I’ve noticed, sir,” he said, “ever since we joined up with you in Spain.”
“What’s that?”
“That we’re always outnumbered and surrounded.” Sharpe had been listening, not to Harper, but to the day itself. “Notice anything?” he asked.
“That we’re surrounded and outnumbered, sir?”


The Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner. Introduces magic and mythology (the green man, lost kings coming forth in need, 200 years old wizards sleeping in groves... you name it)... which... well... I quite like the original 'Swordspoint'- Universe without all this.


Sartre's Sink by Mark CrickThis is an exellent read: DIY with 15 well known literary figures... Home Improvement tales written in the stylw of different authors, very amusing, very entertaining. I particularly like putting up a shelf with Caesar and subduing the Adolescentii at the same time...


The Big U by Neal Stephenson. a) this is scary... so very realistic, b) am very glad I studied in a place where there is no compulsory housing or eating, c) I know nerds like this, d) I really don't want to know average students like this
Quote:

“Well, I sort of lost some plutonium down an elevator shaft in the Big Flush.”

There. All caught up!