May seems to be a readalong month. I’m hosting my own Literature and War Readalong at the end of the month, signed up for the readalong of Kushiel’s Dart at Dab of Darkness, and am extremely tempted to join Bellezza (Dolce Bellezza), Tom (Wuthering Expectations), and Helen (a gallimaufry) in their joint reading of John Crowley’s Little, Big.
Jacqueline Carey’s mentioned the readalong on her Facebook page!
Here’s the blurb of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Dart:
The land of Terre d’Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good…and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. PhEdre nO Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission…and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel’s Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. PhEdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, PhEdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair…and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and PhEdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear. Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of “Kushiel’s Dart”-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.
If you’d like to join – head over to Dab of Darkness. Below you find the schedule and the list of participants.
Week 1: May 10, Chapters 1-8, Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: May 17, Chapters 9-18, Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 3: May 24, Chapters 19-26, Hosted by Over the Effing Rainbow
Week 4: May 31, Chapters 27-36, Hosted by Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
Week 5: June 7, Chapters 37-45, Hosted by Violin in a Void
Week 6: June 14, Chapters 46-54, Hosted by Books Without Any Pictures
Week 7: June 21, Chapters 55-63
Week 8: June 28, Chapters 64-73, Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 9: July 5, Chapters 74-83
Week 10: July 12, Chapter 84-END
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Grace at Books Without Any Pictures
Caroline at Beauty Is a Sleeping Cat
Lauren at Violin in a Void
Celine at Nyx Book Reviews
Bellezza at Dolce Bellezza
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Here’s the blurb of Little, Big:
Edgewood is many houses, all put inside each other, or across each other. It’s filled with and surrounded by mystery and enchantment: the further in you go, the bigger it gets.
Smoky Barnable, who has fallen in love with Daily Alice Drinkwater, comes to Edgewood, her family home, where he finds himself drawn into a world of magical strangeness.
Crowley’s work has a special alchemy – mixing the world we know with an imagined world which seems more true and real. Winner of the WORLD FANTASY AWARD, LITTLE, BIG is eloquent, sensual, funny and unforgettable, a true Fantasy Masterwork.
Winner of the WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL, 1982.
If you’re interested in reading along John Crowley’s Little, Big, you should visit Bellezza’s blog here where you can find the details.
Unfortunately both books, Kushiel’s Dart and Little, Big are hefty tomes, that’s why I don’t think I’ll manage to join both. I’m glad if I succeed in finishing one.
Will you join?
Jacqueline Carey’s mentioned the readalong on her Facebook page!
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Why does Kushiel’s Dart have such random use of upper-case? Little Big is an acknowledged SF classic, so I’m not surprised people want to read that (not that I have myself), but Kushiel’s Dart sounds like bad erotic fantasy fanfic. What tempted you to that one?
I’m not sure about the upper-case. I see where you’re coming from and it’s possible I’ll end up thinking that. I signed up before hearing about the Little, Big readalong, which has always been on my piles. I read one of Carey’s short stories set in this world and I liked her writing. It’s a bit purple prose at times but the vocabulary is quite surprising. And the whole idea of an alternate France also spoke to me.
Dab of Darkness compared it to Gilgamesh and when you start reading there’s something of that. So, the world- building is interesting. How much I’m going to like the explicit sex scenes . . . we’ll see. Twenty pages into it, I think it’s special.
Fair enough. Best of luck Caroline!
Thanks. If I see it’s not for me . . . I’ve got my Little, Big copy ready.
Thanks for the mention, Caroline, but more important than that is how I’m looking forward to reading with you and the others. Books shared: that is the best part of blogging for me. Hopefully, you may find time for a bit of Little, Big, but I can understand if not with all the May plans you have!
I love that part as well, Bellezza and I’m looking forward to it. My Little, Big copy is grinning down from the shelves and wants me to go and get it down. 🙂
Thanks for telling me about the Little, Big read-along. I have my copy ready. It’s a book I’ve wanted to read for years.
Kushiel’s Dart sounds interesting as well. Isn’t that part of a series?
I was glad to see you were interested. I’ve got my Little, Big copy out too. I have to look at the schedule again. Maybe I’ll manage.
I know, even if I like Kushiel’s Dart, I might not go on reading. The series is so long.
Oh, don’t worry about a schedule. I loosely suggested May 15 for Books 1-3, and the end of May for Books 4-6. But if we are still talking about it in June or July that’s fine with me! 😉
OK. I’m not good at reading in parallel, so Kushiel’s Dart comes first. So far it’s a rather quick read – 30 pages in – another 800 to go. 🙂
These aren’t my taste Caroline but I’ll read your review (if you just go w/the one) as I am always on the lookout for book recs for others. When I have to buy gifts for people w/different reading tastes, I can always use tips.
Good to know that the reviews are still useful.
Little, Big might even be for you.
Thanks for telling me about the readalongs, Caroline. Both of the books look quite interesting in different ways. PhEdre looks like a fascinating character and all the houses being put inside each other is a fascinating concept. Hope you enjoy the readalongs. I am not sure whether I would join, because of the size of the books, but I will think about it. Happy reading!
Thanks, Vishy. Yes, they are huge books, both of them. It’s a bit sad that such areadlongs often come at the same time.
Obviously I could manage but the idea of only reading two books in one month . . .
These books sound so good especially Kushiel’s Dart. That one seems very creative and different.
Unfortunately I am in the middle of some huge books right now and I will not be likely to be able to join in. I look forward to reading everyone’e commentary.
I know, you’re tied up, Brian.
So far I’m really enjoying Kushiel’s Dart. I think it’s an interesting premise. What if France wasn’t a Chrsitian country but a polytheistic one? I get a kick out of premises like that.
As much as I have loved my class it will be nice to be finished and be able to read entirely at whim again. I will still keep reading Israeli authors, but I have lots of other great books to look forward to and hopefully can join in a bit more than I have so far this year. I am tempted to read Little Big, too, as I have it somewhere on my bookshelves! May have to see if I can find it. Thanks for the heads up!
I’m really sorry that the Little, Big readalong didn’t come at another time.
I discovered an Israeli author in my course Etgar Keret. Did you come across his short stories?
I did read Etgar Keret–according to my teacher he is one of the biggest names in contemporary Israeli lit–I have only read a handful of his stories–apparently he only writes short stories (though he has a new memoir due out very soon). They are sort of quirky. Iike him, but he’s sort of different–not what I usually read. I like him when I pick up some of his stories, but at the same time I don’t always feel compelled to pull his books off my shelf–if you know what I mean. I am sorry to have missed this–I feel like I have dropped out of sight of the blogging world and am only very slowly (and not always very successfully) catching up.
He’s very quircky and I like his stories but they speak to me intellectually, not emotionally, so i don’t think he’ll ever be a favourite. But he’s interesting.
I can’t, but I look forward to your reviews, Caroline.
Thanks, Carole.
Thanks for sharing the read alongs! We have a great group of folks signed up for Kushiel’s Dart and folks already asking if we will read along Book 2. Very exciting!
my pleasure. Yes, it’s amazing how many people signed up. And I really like it so far. have already read the first 6 or 7 chapters. I was bit worried because I did so badly with Mercedes Lackey recently and for some reason thought it might be similar. It’s not. The descriptions are so lush.
These readalongs are not for me but I’ll read your reviews.
🙂
What can I say? My last venture in fantasy land didn’t end well.
I was very afraid and after seeing Max’s comment I thought it might be like Mercedes Lackey. So far I enjoy Kushiel’s Dart although it’s pompous and almost a parody of Louis XIV court.
I think you’d be safe with Little, Big. After all Tom’s reading along too.
I’m glad for your it’s better than the Lackey. The cover is dreadful though.
Tom’s choice is a always safe bet on the literary side.
Yes, the cover is a bit awful.
I saw their readakong too late. I’ve been meaning to read Little, Bir for years but they are both over 700pages long.