N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms rather knocked my socks off. The world she created was rich and interesting, and the style of storytelling had a unique flow.
Check out the sample chapters.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the Inheritance Trilogy, The Broken Kingdoms, which comes out in November. (Oh look, a sample chapter!)
I just finished reading Mart Robinette Kowal's Shades of Milk and Honey, and I must say, I enjoyed it greatly. The plot was engaging, the writing flowed well, and nothing jarred me out of the world of the book (as opposed to the clever-idea-but-poorly-executed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).
It reminded me Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's magical regency books, though with a very different flavor. Kowal is very careful to make sure that this magic is used for decoration and entertainment, and does not have any military applications, which makes it a suitable "feminine accomplishment" rather than a dangerous weapon.
I recommend the book, and after reading it, I also recommend going to the website and reading the Easter eggs. (They are password protected: just remember the name of the horse Jane rides in Chapter 10.)
In the meantime, here is the delightful book trailer, featuring some of Kowal's shadow puppetry.
And as a bonus...Jane Austen's Fight Club, for some non-period authentic fun:
(Coming soon...my belated thoughts on N. K. Jeminsin's amazing The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms)
LIFE.com has some previously unreleased photos of the Hell's Angels from 1965, LIFE photographer Bill Ray. These are great aesthetically, historically, and as a sociological piece. Too bad the story was killed in 65, but I'm glad they've put the photos online.
Denverpost.com has some fabulous arial shots of Manhattan in their photoblog. The perspective is breathtaking.
The days are getting shorter and cooler. School has started and Labor Day has passed. But I am not quite ready to let go of summer. Not yet. So here is a photo I took at the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, back in August.
It was like eating sunshine.
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The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century
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