July Reads.
The World According to Mimi Smartypants by Mimi Smartypants
Read this on the plane on the way to Manchester and must have annoyed the shit out of the nice yeshiva boys sitting across from me what with my donkey snorts, hyena laughs, and all.
The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney
So who didn't guess our darling couple would be doing it like rabbits at the sacred well? I mean, this novel was a nice bit of fluff, but there are better examples of Fantasy-Regency-Romance (Sorcery and Cecelia, for one).
The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett
A very good reason to give up hoovering.
The Brentford Chainstore Massacre by Robert Rankin
I give up. Always go "Oh! Robert Rankin! Interesting cover! Funny premise! Must read!" and then (hours later) am left feeling pretty ... eh ... about the whole thing. Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse was just an aberration. I'm not meant to read Rankin.
Septimus Heap, Book Two: Flyte by Angie Sage (illus. by Mark Zug)
An enjoyable little adventure, but not nearly so clever or well crafted as Magyck.
Inconceivable by Ben Elton
Tiresome.
My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes: Uncensored Iranian Voices ed. by Lila Aza Zanganeh
Mostly breezy little collection essays by Iranian writers, artists, film makers, etc, discussing what it is to be Iranian and trying (valiantly) to create a truer picture of Iran for Westerners who see it either as an Axis of Evil or something straight out of the The Book of One Thousand and One Nights.
Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish
Orphan boy is taken in by his dastardly twin uncles who have terrible plans involving spunky neighbor girl, gold, and trolls. Langrish uses of elements from Scandinavian folklore/fairy tales in her world building and it's a good thing. Extremely enjoyable.