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.
What Makes This Book So Great was published on Tuesday by Tor Books. First week sales are of prime importance for an author and I suspect that most people who have read Among Others sense in Jo Walton a kindred spirit. I know that I do, and I want to shout from the rooftops, or in this case the platform of this site, that you should, without delay, purchase a copy of What Makes This Book So Great. I was so excited about this then-pending release that I pre-ordered my copy just after the first of the year. I arrived home to find it waiting for me Tuesday evening and I have been reading nothing but this since.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, What Makes This Book So Great is a collection that should be savored. Jo Walton mentions in her introduction that these articles are all still present on the Tor.com website and that she continues to read and respond to comments on them. That fact is further proof that when you read Walton’s essays you know you have found a friend. True, you will not agree with everything she has to say. Where would be the fun in that? But you will identify quite powerfully with the passion she brings to the reading experience.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was already hooked on Walton’s essays from discovering them after devouring, and immediately re-reading, Among Others in early 2011. However, one essay into this collection, I found myself smiling and recalling just why that novel made me a fan and why I appreciate Walton’s dedication to the genres that I love.
The internet all too often gives us equally passionate destructive criticism of both contemporary and classic works of science fiction and fantasy. It is easy to put into words the reasons why we don’t like something and it can give a genre fan a depressingly skewed image of the SFF community when you read scathing commentary about books that you love.
How refreshing to find a reader, one who just happens to be an award-winning author, who can creatively discuss how wonderful books can be.
Now, quit reading this and grab yourself a print or ebook copy of What Makes This Book So Great. Despite being reluctantly won over to ebooks over the past year, at least to some degree, I am enjoying reading the print version of this book. As my experience with classic science fiction and fantasy has come solely through reading print books, the physicality of this hardback, with its glorious smells of ink and paper, adds something special to the pleasure of reading these essays.
In my ideal world, I would be afforded the time to read each essay, drop everything to go read the book Jo Walton had just discussed, and then be able to re-read the essay and share my thoughts over at Tor.com. Each essay will make you want to do that, trust me. Until my time-stopping wristwatch is perfected, I will satisfy myself with being encouraged by the words of a fellow book-lover and will enjoy those moments when I feel compelled to revisit old friends through a re-read.
Its sitting unread on my kindle even now. 🙂
Glad to hear it, except the unread part! 🙂 I’m sure you don’t have anything like a backlog of books to read.
I have been wondering if the book is good and now I know! I will definitely be reading this one. I have gone an added myself to the hold queue at the library 🙂
The great thing about this book is that you can follow the link I placed in the post to the Jo Walton articles on Tor.com and actually sample what is in the book.
aw, my copy better get here soon. Stupid snowstorms makes the mail so slow!
I had it in my head that this was not out until next week, so I was giddy when it actually arrived Tuesday.
Mine did finally arrive and I am having so much fun with it!
Hooray! I’m hoping to sneak in an essay or two tonight.
Among Others is one of my favorite novels. I am going to order the “paper” version so I can write on it! Sure to love those essays. Great post.
This would be a book that could inspire copious notes, that is for sure. Isn’t Among Others a wonderful book?
Passionately bookish essays: I can’t wait to read these, though I’m sure there will be lots to add to my TBR list and a new reading project tapping me on the shoulder. Are you adding any to your list, or is it more about reacquainting yourself with books you’ve already read: sounds like a bit of both?
I’m worried that Walton is going to have a huge impact on the number of classics I’m trying to track down. I already have a list for when I go to used bookshops, that list has already grown and I’ve barely made a dent into these essays.
This sounds like a great gift for the hubby!
It is a really nice volume that Tor put together, would make a very nice gift.
I’ve read many of these essays on TOR.COM over the years. Jo Walton is amazing! This book should be on the shelf of every Science Fiction and Fantasy fan. The book version arrived yesterday and I plan to start it after work today.
It will be fun to talk to you about it, George. I suspect you will be getting so much more out of it than I will because you have probably read many of these books yourself.
I’m on the list at the library, but it hasn’t arrived there yet. I’m interested to see what she considers “classic”.
Everything she has talked about thus far has been at least 30 years old, much far older than that. I know the next essay I have coming up is about the Heinlein juveniles. You’ve read Among Others, so you pretty much know the stuff she was reading when younger and felt passionate enough about to include in the book. Like George, I suspect this book will be one you will have a deeper interaction with because of having read more of the books she discusses than I have.
…and if that’s the case after I sample itI’ll end up buying a print copy. What you’ve just said is enough to make me wish you, George and I could have a 3-way chat on it.
I do too. Maybe we need to set up a Skype session at some point. I’m having a podcast studio set up tomorrow night in my spare room as I want to start messing around with podcasting, so I could even record our conversations for posterity.
WOW! The Big Time. I’m kinda interested by the idea of podcasting, but have no idea how it works, nuts & bolts. Kewl.
Yeah, whatever. 🙂
I don’t know much about it either, but will learn. I do know the guest part is easy as you just get a set of headphones with the built in mic (or if you have those items separately, that works) and you hook up via Skype and that is it.
I pre-ordered my copy and it came in the mail on Tuesday. I am so excited to have it. I am not reading it for a few months, although I may take a peek at one or two entries, because I made a commitment to read only books in my TBR pile for the first three months of 2014. But I will have it ready to start reading in April. I know how good it is going to be because I have read a number of Walton’s posts at TOR.com.
I want to thank you because I found out about this through the TOR.com newsletter and it was one of your posts that encouraged me to sign up for that.
I wish you all the best with your commitment, while also tempting you to cheat a bit and at least take a sample or two of the book. 😉
I’m glad I could help with passing on the goodness that is Tor.com.
Tracy, I’m in awe of your commitment (resolution?) to read TBR only Jan-March. You can do it! note to self: I need to do this too….
Thanks, I appreciate the encouragement. It was a challenge I joined, because I have tons and tons of TBR books that I have had for years, and bought way too many books last year. Besides, I really want to read those books.
And that is the thing to remember about TBR piles, exactly. We got those books because we wanted to read them, and so once in awhile it is a good idea to actually get around to doing so.
Oh, wow, I’d missed this one — it looks SO GOOD. I must read it as soon as I can. Thanks for your enthusiasm!
I’m impressed with it thus far, and I think you’ll enjoy it.
By the way, I halfway through Shield of Sea and Space, the 3rd volume of Erin Hoffman’s Chaos Knight trilogy. Have you read any of them yet?
No. I’ve been curious about what you’ll think once you finish them. I love the covers of those books and am regularly tempted to buy them.
I adore books about books, especially essays about much loved books. My favourite is Howard’s End is on the Landing by Susan Hill and recognise your need to gobble it up as I did the same with that one. Have read it again since then and plan to read it for the third time this year. Have added What Makes this Book so Great to my Amazon wishlist.
I’m wanting to read that Susan Hill one at some point. It has been on my wishlist since it was first released.
Another btw: nice article on Kirkus, reached by link from a brief on SF Signal, on woman SF writer pioneer Katherine MacLean. Well worth reading. I just ordered a book of her short fiction.
I saw that but haven’t clicked over. I will though.
Aaaah, I’m so excited for this one.
Other than the rest of the world, I really didn’t like “Among Others” but Jo Walton’s essays on Tor.com have always been great. This book has been on my wishlist since it was first announced.
You, my friend, have sealed the deal. I wanted to wait a little before buying it but I just loaded it onto my Kobo this morning.
Can’t wait to get started. 🙂
As a lover of science fiction and fantasy you should really give Among Others a try. Wrapped up in its fairy tale stylings is a love letter to reading genre fiction, particularly at a young age.
I’m enjoying it. I am trying to be good and savor it, but I keep finding myself thinking, “just one more”.
For anyone who wants to sample some of Jo Walton’s essays, check out: http://www.tor.com/search?searchword=jo+walton&ordering=relevance&searchphrase=all&areas%5B0%5D=blogs&areas%5B1%5D=stories
Thanks for the link, George.
Apparently I am the only one in the world who hasn’t been reading her on Tor.com, mostly because I don’t know if I have spent more than ten minutes on Tor.com. Not sure if I ill buy this, but I am reading her back catelog on the site now and certainly liking what I read.
I don’t hang out there on a regular basis, but I do subscribe to the weekly newsletter and that makes me go back and check out the site. I also like seeing what the weekly short story releases are and the art that accompanies them.
I look forward to picking up this book as well. I’ve read numerous essays of Jo’s on tor.com and find them highly entertaining and informative. I’m sure she will cause my TBR to grow as it did when I read Among Others and I’m totally fine with that.
Yes, it isn’t a bad thing when it comes to problems to have, is it? Unless of course you have to start having the kids sleep outdoors so you can use their rooms for bookshelf space.
Just from reading Among Others you can easily tell how much Jo Walton loves genre fiction. Although it did bug me that the main character in the book said she didn’t like A Spell for Chameleon, which is the first book in Piers Anthony’s Xanth series. Yes, some of the later books in the series are absurd bordering on stupid in some cases, but the first book is one of my favorite books and I’ve probably read it 4 or 5 times.
I’ve seen other posts about this book, but I don’t know if I’ll look into it or not, maybe I’ll start out by checking out some of Walton’s posts on Tor.com.
I actually bought that first book not long ago because of some really nice review of it. I may try to read it for the next Once Upon a Time Challenge. And absurdity can be fun!
It is a great idea to sample some of her articles on the website. If they don’t get you hooked, then that is a good sign the book is not for you. But I do think they have that affect for most people because of her obvious love of the genre.
I read A Spell for Chameleon years ago and loved it. I went on to read about a half dozen more of the Xanth novels and enjoyed the fun of all of them. Piers Anthony is an under appreciated writer. I read those books 20 years ago or so. It would be fun to go back and read one again now. A believe I just added another book to my TBR pile. 🙂
Glad you liked it! I feel the same about her essays. Her posts increased my TBR pile substantially.