2017 books: Seven Princes,

[thistlechaser]

Seven Princes by John R. Fultz
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



It's a bad sign for a book when I'm more interested in correcting a book's grammar than I am in the story. The first page had a grammar issue big enough that I had to read a line multiple times to figure out what the author meant, and the same issue was repeated on the next page. The story seemed very stereotypical fantasy -- nothing original. Characters were "types" instead of people (typical evil sorcerer, etc). Add to that lackluster reviews on Goodreads, and I lost all desire to give this book more of a chance. Abandoned at 1%.


Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)




While published in 1998, this book felt more like it was written in 1887. Which I think was the point, because "the dogs retain the nineteenth-century Germanic culture of the humans who created them" (quote from wiki).

The story was about "uplifted" dogs -- dogs created to be able to speak and walk upright, and given mechanical hands. I feel like it was supposed to be a parable or an allegory, but I didn't get far enough into it to be sure. I wanted to like it, it seemed like it would be a good fit for me, but from the very first page I was bored. Gave up at the 6% point.


Partial book credits:
Point reached in these books: 1% + 6% = 7%
Previous abandoned book total: 68%
New total: 7% + 68% = 75% towards the next book

Currently reading: Fanuilh, which hopefully I'll stick with.

Comments

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

I tried Lives of the Monster Dogs once, and didn't get very far either.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Glad it wasn't just me! It's too bad, it seems like a book that would be a good match for both of us...