threeplusfire: (Blue pegasus)
three ([personal profile] threeplusfire) wrote2011-01-07 04:08 pm
  • Add Memory
  • Share This Entry
Entry tags:

war for the oaks

I bought some books the other day, one of which was Emma Bull's War for the Oaks. I have a sort of uneasy relationship with urban fantasy as a genre. Part of me really wants to like it and love it, but often it feels so twee and full of violet eyed vampire dragon pixie hybrids to the point of absurdity. I wasn't sure I really wanted to be reading a book that involve faerie and a rock band but I picked it up anyway.

Well, it really hammered my prejudices about novels with bright eyed magical beings and rock bands and urban fantasy. The writing was amazing, vivid and forceful. I read this book in four hours today, carrying it from lunch to the shower to the sofa. I only put it down to wash my hair.

In other news, I forgot to obtain caffeine while grocery shopping. I did buy gelato though.
Threaded | Flat

[identity profile] redstapler.livejournal.com 2011-01-07 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you buy one of those gelato cups?!?!

[identity profile] rexlapinii.livejournal.com 2011-01-07 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
War for the Oaks is one of my favorite books. :)
ext_1880: (bookworm)

[identity profile] lillian13.livejournal.com 2011-01-07 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't tell you how many times I've reread War for the Oaks. Emma Bull is an excellent writer, and it came out long before the current Chick!Urban Fantasy craze struck.

[identity profile] cozzene.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
That book is fantastic. It's so fun to read it and think of all the places as we drive by them every day.

[identity profile] dine.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
War for the Oaks was one of the first urban fantasy novels - it's really an astounding book, and set the bar very high for the genre.

you might also see if you can track down any of the Borderland series - Bull and a bunch of other good writers are featured in several anthologies and novels. sadly, the collections are out of print, but are well worth reading if you can lay your hands on them; and I'm tickled that there'll be a new anthology out this summer.

http://windling.typepad.com/editing/borderland.html

[identity profile] ladyofthelog.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
War for the Oaks is what most urban fantasy wants to grow up to be. I LOVE IT.

Emma Bull also (with Steven Brust) co-authored my FAVORITE BOOK EVER, Freedom & Necessity - I can't recommend it highly enough.
Edited 2011-01-08 01:08 (UTC)

[identity profile] the-brown-bunny.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
she has neil gaiman's endorsement... now i HAVE to check this out.

[identity profile] alainn-sorcha.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
How do you read in the shower? Don't the pages get wet?

[identity profile] miep.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
War for the Oaks was one of the first (ostensibly) grown-up books I read. I love its depictions of Minneapolis in the 80s, especially the paeans to Hennepin Ave. and Minnehaha Creek.

If you come to mpls, I'll take you to the places in the book, at least the ones that are still there...

[identity profile] rockstarbob.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, dude. I will have to be picking that book up. Your recommendations generally resonate with me and I know you set the bar pretty high.

[identity profile] cymry.livejournal.com 2011-01-08 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I had never even heard of this. I must now find myself a copy. =)
Threaded | Flat