73. Going Loco by Lynne Truss – A strange, convoluted, farcical novel of doubles and mistaken identities, this short novel is a fun read, but would have been better (for me) if I’d read it in a more compressed timeframe. Having stretched it out for so long (while moving, etc.), I had trouble remembering who was doing what to whom when I picked it up again this morning. Still, it’s worth the effort. (finished 8/5)
74. Making the Cat Laugh by Lynne Truss – This book is a collection of some of the best of Truss’ humor columns. I found them even funnier than her short novels (see 70, 72 and 73 above). All 4 of these works came in an omnibus, “The Lynne Truss Treasury,” an apt name if ever there was one. Highly recommended. (finished 8/9)
75. Bite by Richard Laymon – Meh. Pretty much all stream of consciousness, perhaps too heavily reliant on dialogue, not a satisfying resolution. Still, the style made it difficult to put down, as it would have felt rude somehow to stop, rather like turning your back on an ongoing conversation and going to sleep. (finished 8/11)
76. Tiger Eye by Marjorie M Liu - This paranatural romance/adventure is Liu’s first novel (and, judging from her author photo on the back flyleaf, she really couldn’t have written one sooner… that’s how young she is!) and it’s a doozy. Liu has established a group of extremely interesting and believable characters in a great framework for exploration of individual stories in later novels. This novel was satisfying and erotic and exotic… all by itself. I can’t wait to discover what’s in store for the other characters! (finished 8/16)
77. Shadow Touch by Marjorie M Liu – This book involves several characters from Tiger Eye, plus a plethora of new ones. In fact, it was a little difficult at times to follow who was doing what to whom, as there were so many new people introduced in the second half of the book. It was darker and more politically complex than its predecessor, too. Still, the erotic parts were HOT and this was a good read. (finished 8/18)
78. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich – Another winner! I love the Stephanie Plum novels and this one lived up to the rest. I hope Evanovich keeps writing them for another 30 years… although Steph will be more like Grandma Mazur by then than the hottie she’s supposed to be. Still, Evanovich knows how to write a rockin’ grandma, so it could work. (finished 8/21)
79. Love Bites by Lynsay Sands – A fun, sexy, improbable novel. It has laugh-out-loud moments and squirm-in-your-underpants moments. If you don’t take it too seriously, you’ll love this book! (finished 8/22)
80. Vulcan’s Soul: Exodus by Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz – This is a Star Trek novel, the first of a trilogy, which starts about a year after the end of the Dominion War. Serious Trekkers (not “Trekkies,” by the way) will find this book, um, fascinating. I know I did. It features favorite characters from the original ST series, including (now) Admirals Uhura and Chekov, Spock and his now-wife Saavik. It also time-jumps, giving us a taste of Vulcan’s history and a close acquaintance with the legendary Surak. The Vulcan side of the ST universe has always been underdeveloped; it’s nice to see that rich vein tapped. (finished 8/26)
81. Vulcan’s Soul II: Exile by Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz – This is the second book in the Star Trek Vulcan’s Soul trilogy. It’s a strong middle that does what it sets out to do: continue building the story and developing the characters without giving away too much about how the trilogy will resolve. It’s probably a decent stand-alone book, but I’m pretty much incapable not a fan of reading a series out of order or in parts, so I’m not a good judge there. Can’t wait to start the final book tonight. (finished 8/31)
