book sale finds + Battlestar Galactica
Oct. 25th, 2009 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
denenkyuuthere was a library book sale this weekend downtown, so I went and tried to pick up some good books. problem was, they didn't have a YA/adults fiction section, only something vague called "general fiction" WTF. also, I went for the last few hours on the last day of the sale so I guess pickings weren't great, but still...I only got one book.
The Walking Boy by Lydia Kwa
THIS HARDCOVER COST ME ONLY 50 CENTS.
erm...yeah. not that it sounds terribly exciting or anything (it's about a hermaphrodite child and his journey to find his master's lover or somewhat?), but I'm very interested in the premises with the first/last female emperor of China (the story is based on historical facts) and I'm using it as consulting material for my own story -- which I haven't forgotten, really.
so yeah, the book sale was at a remote corner of the downtown area, and the buses only came once every half-hour, so I decided to walk back up towards my campus in search of lunch/dinner. there were various other used bookstores along the street too so I picked up a few more bargain-ish books:
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
okay, everyone needs to know, this digital image does not do the cover justice, the red cover is GORGEOUS in real life; the reds are much richer and the contrast is much higher.
I can't stop staring at it. *stares*
anywho, haven't read a detective mystery in a while, especially not one with a anti-heroine who is actually a SERIAL KILLER. oh I'm going to enjoy this >D
Eight Skilled Gentlemen by Barry Hughart
this is technically the last book in a trilogy and I haven't read the first book yet. however, it was on sale for $3, so I'll hoard it for now and read it after I've grabbed the two others.
also, chinese fantasy + humor + cheesy english-translation names (ex. Number 10 Ox) = WIN in my book 8Dv
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I've been wanting to read this for a while now. smart apocalyptic humor = ♥
the author profiles were adorable too LOL
I almost got Anansi Boys too, but I found something else shiny so I left itfor later:
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
(this is the first book of The Bartimaeus Trilogy; I actually wanted the UK cover because honestly, this one creeps me out, but I figured I'm not going to stare at the cover as much as Heartsick anyways so...*goes off to stare at Heartsick*)
Jeff introduced me to this series actually, said it was hilarious and the main character wasn't very conventional. also, there's a snarky demon who makes footnotes in the novel, so that's three plusplus criterion that's gonna make me at least enjoy this despite it being for a younger audience
the book salesman said I had a broad spectrum of tastes XD;
ate lunch/dinner at the asian vegetarian restaurant, their pseudo-meat is actually quite good.
I think I'm becoming addicted to pineapple + rice actually, I had quite a few meals with them in various combinations over the summer, and today's dish was Pineapple with (Veggie) Chicken Fried Rice. yum ♥
###
also, I've become officially addicted to Battlestar Galactica.
I technically blame it on my sci-fi class, though we only had a screening of an episode from the '78 series ('04 series screening is this week).
technically, BSG is sorta like Stargate in the spaceships trapped in space and survival themes, but I love BSG way more because I love the characters (most of them anyways), even if I can hate them at times, the show has a way of making you realize that everyone has their problems and situational pressures that push them to do the things they do.
favorite is Starbuck obviously, she is so kickass, I have a girl-crush on her ♥ she's the kind of character who sometimes defies categorization of gender. there's also a lot of gender role reversal here, where Apollo seems the pushover/sympathetic "talker of feelings" while Starbuck is the arrogant and aggressive "don't wanna talk 'bout it" kinda person. I also like how Apollo and Starbuck are always friends first, saving each other and generally goofing around like they're kids, it's very rare to find another guy-girl pair like them on TV.
also, lots of philosophy on identity, what is "human", war, responsibility, forgiveness, and some very plausible military strategic plans for their battles. the use of "low-level" technology also makes the plot just that much more frightening since it makes the "future" (robots rebelling and massacring humans) seem just that much more eminent and possible as opposed to if they had the ships outfitted with much more advanced technology to suggest that we had more time to prevent this.
I'm on season 3 right now though, and the show's "feel" seems to have shifted a LOT (more due to the setting and the separation of key characters I guess), but I hope they return to the original pace soon, I want the kickass Starbuck back T-T
The Walking Boy by Lydia Kwa
THIS HARDCOVER COST ME ONLY 50 CENTS.
erm...yeah. not that it sounds terribly exciting or anything (it's about a hermaphrodite child and his journey to find his master's lover or somewhat?), but I'm very interested in the premises with the first/last female emperor of China (the story is based on historical facts) and I'm using it as consulting material for my own story -- which I haven't forgotten, really.
so yeah, the book sale was at a remote corner of the downtown area, and the buses only came once every half-hour, so I decided to walk back up towards my campus in search of lunch/dinner. there were various other used bookstores along the street too so I picked up a few more bargain-ish books:
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
okay, everyone needs to know, this digital image does not do the cover justice, the red cover is GORGEOUS in real life; the reds are much richer and the contrast is much higher.
I can't stop staring at it. *stares*
anywho, haven't read a detective mystery in a while, especially not one with a anti-heroine who is actually a SERIAL KILLER. oh I'm going to enjoy this >D
Eight Skilled Gentlemen by Barry Hughart
this is technically the last book in a trilogy and I haven't read the first book yet. however, it was on sale for $3, so I'll hoard it for now and read it after I've grabbed the two others.
also, chinese fantasy + humor + cheesy english-translation names (ex. Number 10 Ox) = WIN in my book 8Dv
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I've been wanting to read this for a while now. smart apocalyptic humor = ♥
the author profiles were adorable too LOL
I almost got Anansi Boys too, but I found something else shiny so I left it
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
(this is the first book of The Bartimaeus Trilogy; I actually wanted the UK cover because honestly, this one creeps me out, but I figured I'm not going to stare at the cover as much as Heartsick anyways so...*goes off to stare at Heartsick*)
Jeff introduced me to this series actually, said it was hilarious and the main character wasn't very conventional. also, there's a snarky demon who makes footnotes in the novel, so that's three plusplus criterion that's gonna make me at least enjoy this despite it being for a younger audience
the book salesman said I had a broad spectrum of tastes XD;
ate lunch/dinner at the asian vegetarian restaurant, their pseudo-meat is actually quite good.
I think I'm becoming addicted to pineapple + rice actually, I had quite a few meals with them in various combinations over the summer, and today's dish was Pineapple with (Veggie) Chicken Fried Rice. yum ♥
###
also, I've become officially addicted to Battlestar Galactica.
I technically blame it on my sci-fi class, though we only had a screening of an episode from the '78 series ('04 series screening is this week).
technically, BSG is sorta like Stargate in the spaceships trapped in space and survival themes, but I love BSG way more because I love the characters (most of them anyways), even if I can hate them at times, the show has a way of making you realize that everyone has their problems and situational pressures that push them to do the things they do.
favorite is Starbuck obviously, she is so kickass, I have a girl-crush on her ♥ she's the kind of character who sometimes defies categorization of gender. there's also a lot of gender role reversal here, where Apollo seems the pushover/sympathetic "talker of feelings" while Starbuck is the arrogant and aggressive "don't wanna talk 'bout it" kinda person. I also like how Apollo and Starbuck are always friends first, saving each other and generally goofing around like they're kids, it's very rare to find another guy-girl pair like them on TV.
also, lots of philosophy on identity, what is "human", war, responsibility, forgiveness, and some very plausible military strategic plans for their battles. the use of "low-level" technology also makes the plot just that much more frightening since it makes the "future" (robots rebelling and massacring humans) seem just that much more eminent and possible as opposed to if they had the ships outfitted with much more advanced technology to suggest that we had more time to prevent this.
I'm on season 3 right now though, and the show's "feel" seems to have shifted a LOT (more due to the setting and the separation of key characters I guess), but I hope they return to the original pace soon, I want the kickass Starbuck back T-T
