The Warrior Prophet by R Scott Bakker
The second book in the series, an excellent continuation from the first. He doesn't make the mistake of expanding the points of view too greatly.
Long story short: if you liked the first book, the series gets better. The hard work of figuring out the overall situation is over-- now you get to see how everyone deals with tough circumstances. Some of it is surprising-- very surprising.
Weather Warden by Rachel Caine
Thanks to Stacy for the loan!
I enjoyed the first three books of the series: Ill Wind, Heat Stroke, and Chill Factor. They all have a very different feel but share being fast, fun reads.
Joanne goes through a lot in these books. In the first book she's on the run, hunting for a hidden ally... and facing a devastating clock; she's dying to a corrupting demon twisting within. Her balance and resourcefulness in the face of her many challenges is wonderful and completely engaging.
The end of the first book sets up the second-- but the hope you're left with at the end of the first is swiftly tempered. It's a dog eat dog world, and she's completely reliant on others for her sustenance. The book wanders a bit, but the core relationships are solid and well done. The end is very incomplete-- really, it's just an open hook for the third book. The resolution, returning her to normal life is a little vague and... obvious, but it mostly works.
The third book is a bit more "normal life" despite the unusual circumstances. There's some appealing flashbacks that do a good job of explaining more about Joanne and where she came from. The additional development is nice, though the rape and interrogation scene was disheartening. (More disheartening that it had to happen in her storyline; she had plenty of motivation without it.) This time the book resolves clearly, then tacks on an open hook to the 4th book.
A slew of library books came in so I set the series aside for now-- but I enjoyed them all.
The Darkness that Comes Before by R Scott Bakker
A pretty good book, filled with intrigue. It was almost set aside; the prologue felt very fan-fic, with a super heroic character, cut off from everything, overcoming outrageous odds and completely manipulative and dispassionate. Fortunately I stuck it out and got much more appealing characters in the next several chapters.
The book has the struggle intrigue rich books always suffer; there's a complex set of interactions and history that the major players all know, but the reader has to get introduced to them as transparently as possible. The author does a good job of not info dumping intensely, though separating the dreams and history from the book's current day is tricky the first time it comes up.
In the end, I liked the characters-- they are all flawed, but most have extenuating (or at least explanatory) circumstances. The nebulous evil is very shadowy-- we only come to certain proof at mid-book (from a minor character's POV, and at the end (for the movers and shakers).
The book doesn't even pretend to come to a real conclusion; it ends on a turning point, but there's no clear break or circumstance to ground it. Despite my grousing, I do want to look up the other books in the series and see where the characters wind up. The end of the world's a good place for drama...
Beyond Heart Mountain by Lee Ann Roripaugh
A short, beautiful collection of poems. The book is organized into three parts, with the middle being a collection of poems from the perspective of internment camp survivors. They're fascinating and intertwine; one is a sister worrying about her brother (sent off to the no-nos camp), another is from the brother explaining why he couldn't say yes. They're heartbreaking, fascinating little glimpses of life.
I love this style of poetry and look forward to reading more. Sadly, this is the library's only copy of her poetry.
Uncle John’s Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader
A lot of short snippets-- random lists of facts, two page articles on a lot of interesting topics, longer articles on vaudville and other quirky topics. There's a lot of readers digest like articles-- strange laws, stupid burglaries, accidental discoveries-- plus odd facts about toilets and sewers to fit the overall theme.
It was fun, entirely light-- and entirely forgettable. There's very little I retained-- well, remembering freeform. Perhaps, if something specific came up in conversation, I might remember something more, but I don't consider most of it added to my stock of knowledge. (Other than the extended series on the Mayflower, which was particularly interesting.)
Alcestis by Katherine Beutner
A fascinating take on myth, grounded firmly in historical Greece. The world is alien but dimly familiar; the encircled and separated world of women, the grim brooding of a father who still blames his daughter for the loss of his wife in her birth, sisters and rivalries, and the terror of getting shipped off to an entirely new world to join her husband that she knew for only an afternoon previously.
Her decision to intercede on her husband's behalf is surprising-- it doesn't come from an excess of love the way you'd imagine. Her time in the underworld is bold, deeply marking-- and annoying, given how she's treated. Passion comes in the least likely place-- and returning to the world above is a sacrifice, not liberation.
The men are alien and distant, separated by her status and the difference between the reader's and the characters' mores. It's a fascinating look that encourages me to dig deeper into Greek literature.
Exploration morning of 7/21
Four corners this morning: Ashlan and Cedar, Cedar and Nees, and two corners at First and Nees.
Niffty Lease Space search tool
Showcase.com has a google map style pan and zoom around town map with lease listings. Click on an R and it pops up some quick data [property type, rent/SF/yr] and has a "view listing" link at the bottom with all of the extra info. It looks like a lot of spaces get good information-- a dozen pictures, agent, links to any PDFs, etc.
Scouting 7-20
464 E Bullard Ave, Bullard Village Shopping Center. It's on Bullard, just east of Fresno (not on the corner). It's two buildings in a T shape-- a building perpendicular to Bullard, and a building parallel to Bullard at the back. It looks quite new, and is mostly empty for now. Against Bullard is Jiffy Mart Liquor, at the other end of that building is PC Club, with vacancies between. The back building parallels Bullard, with an attractive fountain/statue centered on the building. Only a karate school is in this building, at the left end.