The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde

I loved this sequel to The Last Dragonslayer. Jennifer Strange is still temporarily in charge of Kazam, King Snodd is still an incompetent jerk, and Fforde is still as funny and witty as ever. Because Snodd is trying to use the government to control magic, Jennifer finds she must pit Kazam's sorcerers against those of iMagic--and King Snodd and the iMagicians are not against using any means necessary to take Kazam's team out of the picture. The plot comes together nicely with plenty of wit and derring-do. I especially love seeing such an awesome teenager in charge of a bunch of wizards. Plenty to enjoy for everyone (except, perhaps, the fact that US publication lags way behind UK publication for this series).

The Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card

This book presents the childhood of Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, and thus a very powerful figure indeed. In fact, because of Alvin's great power, he early in his life (even before his birth) attracts a sort of supernatural ire (which we later find out is the manifestation of the Unmaker). I really enjoyed this book, not just for the story of Alvin and his family (which was very entertaining, if a bit episodic at times), but also for the imaginative world the work inhabits. Here we have a variety of peoples contesting for power in the Americas in a history in which the colonies did not unite into one political body and in which George Washington was hanged as a traitor. Although the history stuff neither confuses or dominates the text, it is a great addition to a fine story. I can't wait to see where Alvin's luck takes him.

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

This book provides much of the older history of Tolkien's Arda (home of Middle Earth). I have found increasing rewards each time I read this book--although the first time was very slow and hard to get into, now I find the story quite moving. It's biblical in tone, and none of the characters are fully characterized--although some do come into later stories (or other works like The Children of Húrin) which do provide more of a sense of character and self. I sympathized much more fully with Fëanor this time, and I understood more clearly why the oath he and his sons take is so devastating. I also noticed for the first time that Elendil's sons Isildur and Anárion are named for the sun and the moon. I think these stories are so moving because there are clear consequences to actions and because so many things of great beauty and worth are unique--they can only be made or achieved once. This book is richly rewarding.

The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom's Cabin to Roots by Leslie A. Fiedler

This book contends that there's a female, domestic tradition in American literature that critics ignore or dismiss at their peril. Fiedler traces this tradition from Uncle Tom's Cabin to Dixon's The Leopard's Spots and The Clansman (and Birth of a Nation) to Gone With the Wind (both the novel and the movie) and ending with Alex Haley's Roots. This book still seems representative of an older form of criticism (more observations than quotations and little direct engagement with a broader critical conversation). I appreciate Fiedler's attempts to reopen and redefine the literary canon, though I'm not sure he gets there with this book.

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

This book tells the story of Ayla, separated from her family by an earthquake and raised by the Clan of the Cave Bear. Although Ayla is obviously different, one of the Others, she quickly learns the ways of the Clan, even if she finds them unduly strange and restrictive at times. I really enjoyed this story--the characters and their struggles felt real and familiar, even as their surroundings, culture, and customs were totally foreign.

Vampire Legends in Contemporary American Culture: What Becomes a Legend Most by William Patrick Day

This book looks at the role of vampires in American culture. After a short introduction to the topic (bringing vampires out of folklore and into fiction, and from there into the twentieth century), this book focuses on twentieth century materials, ranging from film to television to novels, and focusing most (but not exclusively) on American works. Day suggests that three main modes of vampire stories exist: liberation stories, in which vampires have been sexualized and turned into the protagonist; horror stories, in which vampires are no longer the boogeymen of the past, but harbingers of a terrifying future; and slayer stories, which turn the focus back to the vampire slayers. The book gives good readings, and offers a basic theoretical framework--it wasn't bad, but nothing to knock your socks off, either.

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

This book sends Jamie and Lord John on an adventure to Ireland, to deal with the remnants of the Jacobite cause. The pacing in this book was much stronger than several of the recent books that focus on Jamie and Claire. I enjoyed the adventures of the characters, and I liked the ambiguity about loyalties that the book introduced (Jamie has effectually sworn off the Jacobite cause because he knows it can only end in failure). There was a nice twist at the end that wasn't fully resolved to my satisfaction, but all in all, a very enjoyable read.