bookgazing | Reading in Color Secret Santa

I know I said I’d be reading ‘The Explosionist’ for Alternate History/Steampunk week, but I got 200 pages in and so much wasn’t working for me that I’ve decided to put it back on the shelf for another time. It seems so much like the kind of book that should work for me (mediums, bombs and mysteries) that I’d like to give it another chance in 2010, rather than cast it off to the charity shop right away. I suspect that the writing style just isn’t something that appeals to me right now and my reaction to that element is amplifying smaller annoyances, as well as distracting me from concentrating on the plot. I’ll try again later. Sadly as I didn’t have any other unread alt history or steampunk knocking around my house right now I didn’t get to play along with this week, but you can see all the links from all the other participants.

I took ‘The Explosionist’ to work last Monday so that I could carry on with it at lunch time, but by twelve I’d decided not to carry on with it. I’d just have to spend lunch time at my desk. This is in my top three least favourite things to do (the phone will always ring over and over if you stay at your desk) and look, the universe cares about such petty things, because it sent my Reading in Color gift to my office that very day!

So instead of picking up phones I went upstairs and started ‘When the Stars Go Blue’ right away. You’ve got to love teenage characters who are so full of passion for activities and I'll have thoughts on athletic dancer heroine Solidad and the zealous musician Jonathan (probbaly in the New Year now). Thanks so much Reading in Color Secret Santa (please reveal yourself if you'd like, there was an email address on the invoice but the envelope got all jumbled up with the masses of Christmas packaging in my room)!