Short Reviews: June 2013. Women of the Silk, Steadfast, One and Only, Bird King

The Bird King: an artist's notebook, Shaun Tan.  ISBN: 978-0545465137
June 16-22, 2013
A lovely little bound sketchbook of Tan's ideas and drawn ruminations and early/preliminary sketches from his other published works.  The man has a thing for people with bird heads, and his sceneries remind me of Bosch at times; creepy but really enthralling.  Makes me ache that I can't draw.

One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy of Being One, Lauren Sandler.  ISBN: 978-1451626957
June 10-15, 2013
Nonfiction: Debunks bad press re: onlies, but admits that human perceptions reinforce stereotypes even if false.  Also notes that people tend to blame hardship on whatever differentiates themselves from others, so onlies blame their social or relationship problems on their only-child status.  Interesting read.

Steadfast, Mercedes Lackey.  ISBN: 978-0756408015
June 10-15, 2013
Elemental Masters (but just Magicians here) story, based on Steadfast Tin Soldier.  Overall Meh.  Pleasant read, no peril, no problems.  Nice dragon.

Women of the Silk, Gail Tsukiyama.  ISBN: 978-0312099435
June 3-7, 2013
Oddly flat, affectless telling of "extra" daughters in China sent into the silk factories on the eve of the Japanese invasion.  Despite the title, the silk factories not actually necessary to, or highlighted in the plot.  Read for possible research/background for my "mill girls" story.