Who's Your Author? discussion

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I've heard a lot of talk about this book and how it's really amazing, I have it here to be read but haven't started it yet.

Anyone have any comments about the book? Frankly, I'm a little freaked out by the woman on the cover!! At first I thought it was going to be some sort of Gothic book, and now I'm hearing that it's more funny than anything else.

It is funny, and nicely paced, and has werewolves and vampires in it. It is also set in Victorian London. So think big dresses, carriages, spinsters (aka single women in their early 20s). The technical word for this setup is steampunk(?).

This one stands out because it's different (as a bonus also well written and hilarious). Read it, you won't be sorry.

Very well-written, incredibly witty, with extremely likeable characters.

It's especially refreshing to read a debut book that does not suffer from First Book Syndrome in the slightest.

Michelle, did you read Beautiful Creatures? That's another good debut.

I loved Beautiful Creatures, even though I thought the last chapter was a little unexpected. I'm looking forward to reading Soulless. I've heard so much about it.

*cough*Michelle*cough*

So what you're saying is I should stop procrastinating and pick it up lol.

I also think that this was a really good book. I really like reading historical fiction and it was really fun reading about Victorian England and seeing all the familiar aspects but with Carriger's own twist.

I say read it :)

Changeless, the sequel is coming out early 2010, I'm looking forward to it.

Kasia wrote: "Michelle, did you read Beautiful Creatures? That's another good debut."

Haven't yet, no. I'll make sure it's on my TBR!

Sarah wrote: "I loved Beautiful Creatures, even though I thought the last chapter was a little unexpected. I'm looking forward to reading Soulless. I've heard so much about it.

*cough*Michelle*cough*"

Watch it, you!! There will be no man-gift, if you're not careful.

Jess wrote: "So what you're saying is I should stop procrastinating and pick it up lol."

I've only known one person so far to put it down...she said she hadn't realised it was in the vein of more formal, Victorian setting/writing. But that's the only person I know to have disliked it so far to any degree.

So sorry, Michelle. I didn't mean it! **retreats in submission**

Honestly, I am looking forward to this one. I like historical, quirky, literate novels (among others!), so this sounds like it's right up my alley. Plus I've never read steampunk, and some reviewers have mentioned that theme when discussing this book. Around Christmas, I get in the mood for something historical/Victorian, so I may move this farther up on my TBR. After I finish Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

What does steampunk mean?

Straight from Wikipedia:

"The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date."

Sarah wrote: "Straight from Wikipedia:

"The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elemen..."


Thanks, I don't know why I didn't think to wiki it.

I really liked all the steampunk aspects of Soulless, it adds another element to it and makes it more than just another urban fantasy.

Sarah wrote: "Straight from Wikipedia:

"The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elemen..."

Thanks for that. The term had me confused.com.

And yet, the steampunk is not a pervading aspect. It's kinda like Intro to Steampunk 101. There's not heavy talk of gadgetry. It's subtle for the most part.

O.M.G.

So! The divine Miss Carriger created a "dream cast" list. And I have to say that almost every SINGLE person she chose matches my mental imaginings to a tee.

She mentions James Purefoy for Conall. And the more I think on it, the more fabulous it seems.

http://mybookthemovie.blogspot.com/20...

I can totally see James Purefoy as Conall!!! Wow. Perfect match. and I liked the woman she picked for Alexia.

I liked the book. It was very different from all the others out there. And it was definitely funny :)

Yay! See, isn't it good you stopped procrastinating?

:)

lol, yes it was :)

thanks for the push Michelle!!!

Another convert in my campaign. Muah ha ha ha!

::jumping with glee::

Does the woman on the cover still freak you out, Jess?

I liked the cover because, like the book, it's not focused on your typical leather-clad hunter with a tramp-stamp, nor is it all about being ravished by some manly supe. I think it well captures Miss Tarabotti's essence.

Yeah, she still kinda weirds me out, and doesn't really match with the picture I have of Alexia in my head either.

But at least I understand the umbrella part :)

Lol. Perhaps it's the odd angle she seems to be standing at. The model is the owner of a shop that does steampunk clothing, I believe.

I think I might like a parasol...

I gave a copy to my mom for Christmas. She loves Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre and so on, so I think the formal society aspects of the story will grant her very conventional mind the space to deal with vampires and weres, oh my. Fingers crossed!

Yeah I think that's what made it stand out as opposed to other pnr or uf books. The way she blended the formal aspect of her writing which brought about ideas of Jane Austen and such.. and the modern storyline.

Very interesting.

Loved, loved this book. If you go on her Facebook page, she has pictures of a book party where some people are dressed period style and a man is wearing the glasses she mentions. Can't wait for the second book to come out.

I've added this to my list. . . why does my tbr only get bigger and not smaller?? . . sigh.

Sam wrote: "I've added this to my list. . . why does my tbr only get bigger and not smaller?? . . sigh."

You're not the only one with this problem. I plan to make a huge dent in mine this coming year but at the rate that I keep adding books, who knows lol.

Gail Carriger's website is pretty interesting, she explains the whole steampunk thing and has a variety of interesting and humerous things on it.

http://www.gailcarriger.com/

I love how she lists ridiculous, Ivy-worthy hats.

Michelle M. wrote: "I love how she lists ridiculous, Ivy-worthy hats."

I didn't notice this when I was on there the other, I just went back on, still can't find it but I found some other things...she has an Alexia's London page that is really neat, paper dolls and dossiers of characters as well as other things.

The hats may have been a blog post from a particular day.

The dossier was indeed interesting. I like how she has illustrations of dresses similar to each of Alexia's throughout the novel.

Did you find the character interviews? There's one where Alexia refers to Gail as a strumpet, or something equally unflattering.

This book was lol-funny. I loved it. Bookish Alexia is so different from the usual UF hot heroine that I found myself warming up to her a lot. Full marks for Ms Carriger for an amazing first book! I already lent it to my friends, who also loved it. Can't wait for the sequel.

OMG-tell me who read Changeless! I just finished it last night. Can you say suprise ending?!!!!

I read it and immediately pre-ordered Blameless. I'm just sick about the ending.

I don't know how I feel about the ending yet besides completely shocked!!!! I definately liked this book better than the first. I felt that Alexia's personality came through more in this book. I also really like that fact that she is not all powerful. She has limitations yet she still manages to save the day so to speak.


SPOILER

Do you think she will reconcile with Maccon-or do you think she will have a new love interest????

I'm hoping that Maccon comes to his senses. I just don't know how she can go back home especially with that awful sister of hers. She does have that job with the Queen so maybe that's not easy to quit. Gosh, if that were me I'd move to America.

I think they'll reconcile eventually, but I must admit that when Channing Channing was first introduced I was afraid of some triangle developing.

I read the description of Blameless (which we have to wait until September for o_O) and it looks like she is let go of her position with the Queen, the vampires are trying to kill her, Maccon becomes a lush, and Akeldama takes a leave of absence. So Alexia ventures off to Italy to find the Templars in hopes that they can shed some light on her growing (heehee) problem.

Ooooh, sounds so good.

Yes, I can't wait. I wonder if there will be another love interest introduced or if there will be a reconciliation with Maccon(I like him, but if she takes him back she better make him beg and suffer first)I'm also interested in Madam Lefeaux (sp?) Obviously, Alexia travels home with her-will she accompany her to Italy?

I just got [image error] , I should be starting it this week.. Can't wait :)

i LOVED it!! I liked it much better than the first one. I love Alexia's down to earth dry sense of humor.

Her little side remarks are why I started liking the books so much. She just cracked me up.

Yes, she is very funny. I like that she thinks for herself. She's not an all powerful MaryJane-she actually has to think her way out of situations.

Steampunk has a long history in science fiction. In addition to Jules Verne and HG Wells who were writing back then and trying to figure out what technology was going to be like, there were bunches of authors who were writing in the 70s and 80s about what technology would have been like if slightly different things had gotten invented earlier.

I have just finished Soulless and I really enjoyed it. I have never read a steampunk book before and to be honest I didn't really know what it was until I read it on this thread!

I can't wait to read the next one! Although I may wait until the third one is out so I have two together to read : )

Are there are any other Steampunk books that anyone can recommend?

I've only read steampunk by Gail Carriger, but I've heard that Boneshaker by Cherie Priest is good. I also know that Katie Macalister has Steamed A Steampunk Romance. If you try them let me know how you like them.

Thanks Crystal, Boneshaker looks quite interesting. they ave both ebeen added to my ever growing TBR pile!

Would Northern Lights by Phillp Pullman be classed as Steampunk then?

I'm not familiar with Philip Pullman, unfortunately. Steampunk is usually set around Victorian era, with steampowered technology that did not exist. Whitechappel Gods is another example.

You should give him ago His Dark Materials Trilogy is a brilliant trilogy. if you have seen the film "The Golden Compass" ignore it as it is completely pants! Also his Sally Lockhart books are really good as well, the first one is The Ruby in the Smoke

I will def try it. Forgive my American ignorance but what does "completely pants" mean?

Sorry, it means rubbish or really bad! Like horrid underwear : ) Lol I have been spending too much time around my teenage sister I think!