The Confidence Game :: Michelle Welch

Genre: fantasy
Year: 2003

This is obviously a first novel, but that doesn't dim the fact that I find the main character fascinating. I am troubled by the choppy narrative, because I often had to go back and remind myself who was who. I did like the difficult relationship that develops between Elzith and Redtanner and wanted more of that and less of the petty intriguing of the Justices. I'm not 100% on whether I will read the next in the series "The Bright and the Dark" or not. I have it, so I probably will, merely because Welch's second go ought to be more refined than her first.

Dime Store Magic :: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Fantasy
Year: 2004

I have to admit I was delighted when I learned that this author was Canadian. It doesn't seem often that I come across a Canadian author who write fantasy fiction. I first read Bitten a couple of years ago and loved it. I loved it so much I read it twice before I let it go back to the library! So when I came across this novel I snapped it up without a thought, and I was not disappointed. Paige Winterbourne is a genuine character, by which I mean it's easy to get into her head. Often in Fantasy novels the core of the character is neglected in favour of the magic spells and demons. While I think there is room for more exploration, I don't think I will be disappointed, since Paige shows up in the next book: Industrial Magic.

Love in the Time of Science :: Emiliana Torrini

Genre: Trip Hop
Year: 2000

I became hooked on Emiliana when a friend recommended her to me and I hunted around for some samples. I like this album because it reminds me at times of the melancholy of Portishead and the desire inherent in Goldfrapp. I'm still thoroughly enjoying this album - much to the SO's annoyance since I've listened to it six times in a row today. :)

Covenants :: Lorna Freeman

Genre: Fantasy
Year: 2004

I thought this was a good first novel. Not only was this author brave enough to attempt it in the first person, but she managed to do so while keeping the story going throughout, which I admit is one of my weaknesses. Rabbit is definately an interesting character, but I would have liked to explore him a little more. There were, however, a few too many characters for proper development of them all, and as a result I feel that some of them were neglected, not the least of which was Laurel, the Faena. There is a forthcoming book in this series, and I may pick it up to see if we get to find out more about this intriguing character.

The world that Freeman has created is certainly fascinating, but again we could have done with some more 'flashing out' as it were, since I was unclear on a few things. We were so much on the surface of this story (which sometimes happens in first person) that I wasn't satisfied with the explanations we recieved, as readers about motivations. As a result I felt there were a few too many 'coincidences'.

The plot was satisfyingly complex though, and I love that.

Black Cherry :: Goldfrapp

Genre: Trip Hop
Year: 2003

I picked this album up after hearing and falling in love with the track "Train" when it was played on the local radio station. It's remeniscent of Portishead, (which is one of my all time favourites) and occasionally of Massive Attack. Allison Godlfrapp's voice is capable of being haunting and provocative at the same time. The songs go from trippy sound collage to bass-heavy rollicks into erotica. On the whole, it's Delicious.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy :: Douglas Adams

"A sudden silence hit the Earth. If anything it was worse than the noise. For a while nothing happened.
The great ships hung motionless in the sky, over every nation on Earth. Motionless they hung, huge, heavy, a blasphemy against nature. Many people went straight into shock as their minds tried to encompass what they were looking at. The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."

And so begins the destruction of the earth, which sends Arthur Dent on the adventure of several lifetimes. I read the entire "trilogy" in omnibus form, partially because the movie was coming out but mostly because I'd never read it and I was beginning to feel a little less like a worthy human being. This series had been touted as one of the must-reads by nearly everyone who's cracked it open before. I'm pleased to say that they were right. Definately a HUGE success.

Douglas' style is witty and off-kilter, which I've always admired in British drama, fiction, TV and radio. I laughed the whole way through, even when I was 23 hours jetlagged and waiting for a 20 minute flight home.

Angel Sanctuary :: Kaori Yuki

What drew me first to this series (both the manga and the OVA) was the artwork. I stumbled across an image of Alexiel, which I used for my desktop for a few months before I found out who it was. The idea behind the story is fabulously twisted and even though I have yet to see the last episodes, or read the last mangas I'm hooked. You can't apply the same criteria to graphic novels that you can to regular novels, because the images make up for so much that you can't quite explain in text. Granted, the fact that Setsuna is in love with his sister is a bit odd, but everyone seems to get over that once they realise who he was in his past life.

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