Sunshine

[hwango]

Last week I stopped by the local public library and poked a bit at some of the art books. On a whim, I also checked the recent arrivals for sci-fi and fantasy. I spotted Sunshine, by Robin McKinley. Now, the author's name is familiar to me since I remember reading The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword many, many years ago. I thought I'd pick up Sunshine to see what sort of stuff she's writing these days. There's the extra incentive that there's a quote from Neil Gaiman on the cover that proclaims it to be "Pretty much perfect." It was a busy weekend, though, and I didn't start reading it right away.

Earlier this evening, I was working on art and decided that I needed a break from the searing glow of the computer screen. I cast about for something to do for a few minutes and finally decided to crack open Sunshine. It was a little hard to get into at first, since the narrative tends towards run-on sentences and weird self-interruptions. However, the story and setting have certainly grabbed me. I'm on page 137 right now. = )

Comments

[jicklet.livejournal.com]

The Hero and the Crown is my favorite book ever. It's been a long time since I've read anything she's written, I'll definitely have to go to the library and check this one out.

[lconover.livejournal.com]

Wow, it's been years since I've thought about The Hero and the Crown. That was one book I read multiple times as a teenager.

Let me know if you end up liking her new book!

[hwango.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to remember exactly when I read The Hero and the Crown. I have a weird feeling it may have been when I was 11. I have a memory of looking up the word "tor" in the dictionary, which I think I encountered for the first time in that book. I think the room in that memory was my 6th grade homeroom. Memories are strange, though, and that could be a total fabrication.

I like Sunshine so far, so unless the second half turns out to be terrible, I'll probably end up recommending it. I'll let you know when it's back at the Chelmsford library. = )

[krzzl.livejournal.com]

So what does "tor" mean anyhow?

[hwango.livejournal.com]

A fort or pile of rocks, if I recall correctly.

[hwango.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to go back and re-read The Hero and the Crown at some point. I'm pretty sure I still have my copy, somewhere. I have very vague memories of it and The Blue Sword, though I'm not absolutely positive which memories are from which book.