Moar Books (and other things)!

So! A quick reading recap this week. I'm totally going to hit that 50 books this summer benchmark. TOTALLY.

11. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
If you haven't read the Beka Cooper series, GET ON IT RIGHT NOW. It's the best kind of fantasy, where none of the characters are black and white, and the subplots are just as interesting as the main plot, and you never want it to end. No one makes stew in these books. (It always cracks me up when fantasy characters go on a trip and make...STEW!) Anyway, this book takes Beka on the road, which I think was a really interesting choice. I missed seeing her usual crew develop, but I liked seeing how she dealt with being out of her element. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but the rest of the series was so so SO good. You should totally read it.

12. Not the End of the World by Christopher Brookmyre
This is about a terrorist plot, and a B-movie festival, and a bunch of disappearing sailors, and Glaswegian photographers. I've seen Brookmyre compared to Elmore Leonard, whom I love, but unfortunately I managed to pick up one of his more serious titles when I was really in the mood for something funny. So I will definitely revisit later, and if you're into complicated, pop culturey mysteries, you should give it a try.

13. Watchmen by Alan Moore
Wow is this a dark book. I love that it was a game-changer for graphic novels, and anyone who claims that comics are a bunch of fluff about guys in day-glo tights needs to pick this up. I love graphic novels--anybody have any good recommendations?

14. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
I've been meaning to read this forever, and it was well worth the wait! I think my favorite DWJ title is still Dark Lord of Derkholm, but this one was crazy and interesting and weird. I'd recommend it, but it seems like I'm the last person in the world to have read it, which is as it should be.

15. The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
A lot of things about this book reminded me of Texas Gothic, which I LOVED. There's a ghostly mystery, and burial grounds, and archaeologists, and an awesome guy for the main character to argue with. Instead of tree-climbing goats, there's an impish Chihuahua. In short, a lot to enjoy. If you liked Texas Gothic, you'll definitely like this one.

So there you go! I'm going Internet dark this week to get some things done. Who am I kidding? I'm going to spend a lot of time swimming. But I do hope to get a lot of reading in too. Hope you have a similarly lovely week, and I'll see you when I switch back on again!