coffee, Christmas, and conjurations

[incandescens]

(I realise that it should have been 'urban sorcery' rather than 'conjurations', but I couldn't think of any other good words beginning with c.)

I am having far too much fun reading the Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin. Thanks, flemmings -- excellent tip.

Had a good time poking round town and doing my shopping today. There's a new, rather highly-priced but rather nice small coffee shop just a few doors down from the local comic/rpg/manga/etc shop, so naturally I was obliged to try it out, and the coffee was certainly very good, as was the cake. (Though I'm afraid they don't do chai, archangelbeth.) Definitely one to remember for those occasions when I feel like an (expensive) treat.

Shops are, of course, already full of Christmas stuff. The Christmas lights are up. There is a Christmas tree in one of the square areas that could be described as fairly central. Mince pies, stollen, and so on pack the shelves. All far too early. Bah. Especially as I refuse to buy/eat any mince pies till the first Sunday in Advent. This heroic self-control had better be worth something. I like mince pies.

---

"Please don't waste my time with the usual inadequate excuses, Mr Swift. 'I just happened to be playing with the bones of the dead' or 'It just so fell out that I accidentally summoned the spirit of a thousand shards of falling glass' or other feeble tales. I really don't care how the injury was inflicted, I simply need the full information to make a good diagnosis."

[...]

". . . Mr Swift, did you bother to consider some of the medical implications of being injured by a creature of pure darkness before you rashly engaged it in mortal combat? I doubt it. Young people never do."

A Madness of Angels, Kate Griffin

Comments

[fadethecat.livejournal.com]

What's the first book in that series? The quote suggests it has some good banter, and I'm a sucker for banter.

[incandescens]

The books so far are, in order:

A Madness of Angels
The Midnight Mayor
The Neon Court
The Minority Council
Stray Souls (this one is same-universe, with some of the same characters, but a different protagonist)

[fadethecat.livejournal.com]

Spiffy; I've got a sample for the first one waiting to be read. Thanks!

[incandescens]

I will be interested to know what you think of it.

I did see one review which complained about the amount of description in the books. I think the reviewer was somewhat missing the point.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

thank you for sparing me the trouble of asking. :P

[incandescens]

Heh. I will be interested to see what you think of them.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

Given that I MIGHT have spent over $200 on Amazon the night before your post (MIGHT -- I admit NOTHING) they've gone on my wish list, but I do hope to get to them early next year...

[incandescens]

Heh. Something to look forward to, then. :)

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

You're entirely welcome. It was originally nojojojo's rec that set me on to it.

[incandescens]

And thus the fictions spread . . .

[archangelbeth]

No chai! HORRORS! *sniffle*

Well, maybe they do tea.

One of the local stations is doing Xmas songs. IT IS TOO EARLY!

[incandescens]

They do indeed do tea. And there are other local places that do chai. (has not given up on you visiting me at some point)

Yes, far too early!

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

When I was working at Swem Library at William & Mary when my daughter was a baby, I became good friends with a young woman from Oxford whose husband was at W &M doing post-doc work in Physics - they were both very brilliant, well-traveled, charming people (they have since settled in Boston.) They threw a bang-up Christmas party one year in the little house the College provided them, and the highlight - which she presented with great flourish and fanfare - were Alison's mince pies, which she had made from scratch, and was immensely proud of. Having grown up with a half-Canadian mother who loves them, I was able to appreciate her efforts enthusiastically, and as I remember it, was sent home with several mince pies in a sack! But between you and me, I think a certain percentage of the Southern US palates at the party were a little less enthusiastic, and a bit taken aback by the mince pies! My daughter-in-law also loves them, so I've promised her and mom mince pie at Christmas dinner this year - although I can't promise I'll make filling from scratch!

And pastries in the shops already, really? It's too early for them to even be for pre-holiday parties! Why???

[incandescens]

I know! Far too early. :)

(My mother uses shop-bought mincemeat when making her mince pies, so I don't see why you should feel ashamed of that.)

[lacewood]

Oh hey, more people reading Matthew Swift! XD Have you read all the books? (Aaahh the need to wait for Stray Souls to hit the library)

[incandescens]

I've read the first two and am currently on The Neon Court, and have The Minority Council next to it for when I've finished it. I've already read Stray Souls, which was actually the first of the group that I read. What a pity that soon I'll actually have to wait for the author to write more until I can get my hands on more of them.