Ladies and Gentlemen, what you see here is a first for me.
Certainly I have been tempted to do it before, but this time temptation has taken root and the result is this: a book review for a book I have not finished.
Note: I do not mean did not finish, as in the case of a book relegated to the DNF pile. This is a book I will finish, and probably much sooner than is reasonable given that this is a book that should be savored. Instead, I am gulping it down like a naughty boy with no self control left unsupervised at the sweeties table.
Jo Walton, Hugo and Nebula winning author of the semi-autobiographical novel Among Others, is described as “an inveterate reader and a chronic re-reader”. With an enviable ability to read, or re-read, several books a week while maintaining a productive, successful career, Jo Walton is both a passionate devotee of Science Fiction and Fantasy and is also extremely well-read.
What Makes This Book So Great is a collection of Walton’s essays first featured on Tor.com. Beginning in 2008, Walton began writing a regular feature in which she shared her thoughts and ideas centered around classics of the genre that she enjoys. This collection, gathered from among essays written between 2008 and early 2011, is a treasure for lovers of science fiction and fantasy.
How can I say that with any degree of credibility, not having finished the book? I can declare this as a must-read with complete confidence because I have read enough of the book already to know that Jo Walton is one of us. She shares our passion for books, she understands the distinct pleasure of discovering a book for the first time and the joyous comfort of re-reading cherished stories, and she has the practiced skill of being able to concisely put down in words why books are indeed great.
