What I’m Reading: “Guardian of the Dead” by Karen Healey; “Mirabile Dictu” by Michelle Leggott
Last week I had the chance to read YA author Karen Healey’s Guardian of the Dead ahead of both Worldcon and The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival where Karen and I are going to be in a number of events together. And I have to say that I found Guardian a fun read—an intriguing mix of urban fantasy in not just a New Zealand, but a Christchurch setting, woven together with Maori legends of the patupaiarehe (fairies) and taniwha, as well as the myth of Hine-nui-te-Po, the Goddess of Death.
But I only had a few days to read it, so I had to put aside Emily Maguire’s Smoke in the Room, which I was enjoying—a very different story, it’s contemporary fiction about three troubled individuals trying to make sense of life and themselves. I’m looking forward to getting back into that now.
In terms of books to read on the plane and in downtime (will there be any?) at Worldcon, I also have the Booker longlisted Room, by Emma Donoghue and will be re-reading a poetry collection that I personally feel should have been a finalist for this year’s NZ Post Book Award for Poetry, Michele Leggott’s Mirabile Dictu (Auckland University Press, 2009).
Of course, if I see it I’ll be grabbing a copy of Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay to read, since The Hunger Games was one of my three top reads for last year. And maybe, just for something light—and because I’ll be missing my weekly True Blood fix while in Melbourne—I might pick up the latest Charlaine Harris, Dead in the Family.
Then again, I might just be too busy with my Worldcon schedule to do any reading at all!
But how about you? What will you be reading this week?
‘Guardian of the Dead’ sounds like something I should read.
I myself just finished ‘the Enemy’ by Charlie Higson, a story in which all adults have become infected by a disease that turns them in crazed monsters who are out for human flesh. The children who are unaffected have to try and start a new life for themselves while trying to not be caught and eaten. I liked it very much.
Now I’m reading ‘Kiss of the Rose’ by Kate Pearce a Tudor Vampire novel
Sullivan: I think you would enjoy “Guardian”–I like the sound of the Enemy, too, and Tudor vampires. For more good Tudor stuff, although without the vampires, check out Patricia Finney sometime—she has a series that starts with “Firedrake’s Eye”, which is rich and epic, also quite dark.
Planning to buy book 7 & 8in Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty series. I see she has another series out so will start it.
Still waiting for the first 3 in the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop to arrive to read on the plane. They must arrive by tomorrow! Getting nervous.
Jan—I think Carrie Vaughn will be here at Worldcon so you should bring your books to get signed in person.
The Guardian of the Dead is definitely on my TBR list. Right now, though, I’m reading Catching Fire. I’ve been saving it and The Hunger Games to read once Mockingjay came out, since I hate to wait between books when I really love a series. I’d sooner wait and start once I can read all three. I read THG last week, and now I’m almost done with CF, so I can start Mockingjay soon. Love this series.
Do let me know what you think—I am longing to get my hands on Mockingjay!