The art of wooing: A review of Captain Vorpatril`s Alliance

More of a love story than a review, this is my attempt at wooing you all into reading Lois McMaster Bujold.  Yes, her again.  In my defence  I do try to review  books that I am currently reading (my attempt at keeping it fresh).  As it so happens here I sit  reading Captain Vorpatril`s Alliance after so quickly chucking aside the book that I have been wrestling with these past months. Cloud Atlas you are my Waterloo.  Maybe a  peaceful understanding will be met but for now you can stay hidden under my bed nestled up to a triceratops and that random purple sock.   I am indeed speaking to a book.  Good lord, I might need a rum and coke.  Never have I struggled with reading a book more. And this comes with having had  to endure the dusty, depressive Steinbeck books in High School and the endless political ramblings found in 18th century English Lit  I took as a credit filler towards my B.A. 

Honestly, am I the only one on this planet who does not like Cloud Atlas?

Let me begin with a warning, do not read Captain Vorpartril's Alliance if you are new to the Vorkosigan Saga.  Of all the Vorkosigan books it is this one that would benefit most with some background knowledge.   It wouldn't surprise me to discover that Bujold penned this book as a thank you to her loyal addicts.    Only an entrenched fan of the Barrayaran  universe can fully appreciate the little hidden insights into a character that for the most part is foil to the charismatic hero of the series.  Lord knows Miles Vorkosigan has had his time in the spot light.  As with some of the earlier books that explore the lives of Miles parents, Cordelia and Aral,  Captain Vorpatril's Alliance is a great first book in hopefully a new branch to the Vorkosigan story.

Following Ivan has been fascinating especially since I have dismissed him as a truly developed character for all these years.  He was just always there.  Which is rather a revealing statement after having read this book and acquired a more thorough picture of who Miles cousin really is.   My hope is to see more of Ivan's unique world view.  Terrible to say but the last instalment with Miles at  the helm, Cryoburn was rather a bust.  I was a little tired of Miles getting into a tight spot, figuring things out, getting into a bigger mess and then saving the day again.   It is good to  see someone else be the hero.

Deck the halls already: A rant

Never in the history of me being me have I ever consider decorating for the holidays until about 2 weeks before the blessed event.  Never. Ever. Until today....

Not sure why, well who is kidding who, thanks to the overwhelming pressure by stores to make this holiday a year to remember (dollar wise) we, the general public have been sucking on the candy stick of Christmas consumerism since November 1st.  Yes, that is right, November 1st, the day after Halloween.  I kid you not, stores in the city were pumping carols the same day they were trying to unload 55 million bags of Halloween treats.  For once I would like November to be November.  You know the month that Dune Girl was born. (obviously)  Yes, I turn older Tuesday.  It is pretty sweet.  To make it sweeter,  the hubby  turns 5 years younger than I but one year older for him one week later.  With two birthdays to bathe in booze, Christmas has always been on the back burner for us.

This year though we are ready to break the unwritten family rule and deck the house out like a hussy Santa.  Things are getting nuts.  

I never did finish it

You might be wondering if this internal struggle has gotten in my way of reading books and then oh, I don't know blogging about them on this blog for books.  Not really, I am actually reading something right now, it is just taking me forever.  After the third serious attempt to read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (I KNOW) I am finally into it. Finally...To be frank this book bugs me.  I don't know how many years I have been hearing the merits of this thing.  Every time I have heard an incredible review I am running up to my bookcase and pulling the dam thing out to then very quickly  shove it  back on the shelf.  This may officially showcase my level of average intelligence but the first 60 pages of this book MAKES NO SENSE.  Someone seriously needs to sit down with me and talk me through it.  I am not joking. The only way that I have managed to get anywhere in it is because I skipped the first part.  You read that right, I skipped something and am proud of it.

Anyway I am not far enough in to review the book. My hope is that once finished I can return to the first part and suddenly all will be revealed to me.  This is my hope...I am not holding my breath.  And no, I haven't watched the movie. GAWD, give me a little credit.

Beside this epic struggle of Santa or not to Santa  I was handed the new book by Lois McMaster Bujold:  Captain Vorpatril's Alliance yesterday  and subsequently have stopped all communications with my family.  For those of you in the know this is a book from the Vorkosigan Series which just happens to be one of my fave's.    It's like the world knows it's my birthday!