2- It’s Breaking Dawn, and it comes out on August 2nd. Eclipse Special Edition comes out May 30th, though, and they’re releasing the cover for Breaking Dawn in the back of the book. AND the first chapter!!!!!!!! *omg*
The Clique, anyone? Kind of dumb, but I like them anyway.
I read Twilight only, I haven’t gotten to the others yet. It was okay, I enjoyed it, but it was just a bit pointless. However, I’m not getting death threats from two of my best friends for not reading it, so thats good!
Right now I’m reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and really liking it….it’s so strange, wow.
I love books! My favorite books are the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, the Sisters Grimm series, and the Indiana Jones books. I also love books about dragons and fairies. Any reccomendations out there? 8 O
9~ Good, yes, but pointless. I enjoyed reading it, and I plan to read the others when I have the time. All I;m saying is that it’s pop fiction, and more like watching a movie– one doesn’t have to think very much at all, they can just let it wash over them.
I am reading Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary by Pamela Dean. It is quite good. a lot of discussion of things by intelligent characters. I enjoy it.
I’ve also been reading Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, a magazine/zine/whatever I’m supposed to call it where you may subscribe so that you receive chocolate with every issue.
Everyone should read;
The Ironic Gentlemen-it’s AWESOME!! Hilarious and a great adventure, great for everyone I think.
Inkheart and Inkspell too (I read those in 3rd grade, still fantastic)-Great for people who love books like Harry Potter, yet it’s totally different.
East- East was the greatest book I ever read. Though sometimes confusing, you can get right back on track, it’s magnificent!!
(last thread replies:
I have The Little Prince in English and French, but I don’t think I could read French well enough to read that version yet. Maybe I should try again… maybe I should read the translation again too, because the first time I read it I was only in fifth grade, and I don’t think I understood it as much as I would now.
I didn’t know about Watership Down sequels!
Rosanne: *feels honored* Well, I don’t know, that’s just how I felt. But I don’t think I’ll read any more of the author’s work, if he wrote anything else…
I thought Anne Frank would have a big impact on me, but id really just didn’t. And I felt bad about it not affectiong me. I’ll have to read it again, and see.)
GWTW was definitely not my favorite,with all the racist passages and the character’s selfishness and everything. the
Just lost train of thought again when writing in disappeared comment box. *sigh* anyway, the author was pretty good with her actual writing, and it was interesting, but I couldn’t really enjoy it because she annoyed me. (Scarlett) by the end. and they didn’t say “frankly” during the famous quote, either…
I need to read more of the Dragon Riders of Pern… And find that last harper book, too.
I think I have to read all of the Eragon books again, bto really judge, but, well, I’m kind of divided on the issue. *kis not in the program, but does not join the totally-anti-Eragon-program either*
Sorry for this not making any sense and being gigantically long. By comment box shrank about a bazillion minutes ago…
2.All of Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar books (and her other books too): Several trilogies and stand alone books set in various times in the fictional kingdom of Valdemar
3. Anne McCafferey’s Acorna series was ok
4.Eragon is fine–no particular leanings either fanatically for nor against–Has the second book come out yet?
5.LOTR is fine–although I’m a bit sick of it right now, haing been taking a literature course on it–written nearly a hundred LOTR related pages for the course, and I’m not quite done yet….
Sorry, on my last post I meant to ask if the third book in Eragon, not the second, had come out. And I meant I needed a new box so I can proof, not can’t.
I finally read Twilight. It is incredibly awesome. I was afraid that it would extrordinarily creepy, being about vampires and all, but it wasnt much worse then a lot of other books I’ve read. Now I really need to get the second one from the library!
eragon is not the best book ever written, but then again it is not the worst either. the third is not out yet. if anyone hated Lord of the Flies in english, there is a book that can make up for it. For those who are mature readers, try to read Battle Royale. it was written in japan, and made into a movie. (rated R in a lot of countries, and banned in others) really violent
22- robin mckinley is such a good author. i read her robin hood book, the blue sword and that sequel
I need a book. But not just any book. I need a fantasy, not too weighty but really gripping, with characters that I can care about, and dramatic moments where I can’t concentrate on the book but I have to keep reading. I haven’t read a book like that for ages and ages, and I am experiencing withdrawal from dramatic irony.
29- the third book of Eragon comes out in September. I’m so glad it’s a cycle now! I was getting a little worried about how CP would fit everything he had to write into one book.
I posted my views on Warriors in the Neophyte thread, so any curious persons can go there.
Good books (those not mentioned here):
Dragonlance series (OMG wheee!)
Young Wizard series (I haven’t read them all yet, I’m trying again right now)
Pellinor series (The last book comes out in September)
The Dark Reflections Trilogy (Origionally written in German– the end’s so sad!)
I’ve read all the H2G2 books. All five. So Long and Thanks for All the Fish is the best one because it actually has a happy ending! And Mostly Harmless’s ending is completely and utterly stupid and the beginning is super sad. A hilarious series on the whole.
I’m reading the book Pretties. Heard of it? It’s pretty (puns are the lowest form of humor *glare at self*) good. It’s the sequel to Uglies, which I haven’t read, so I’m extremely confused to what’s going on when. But I’m starting to get it…
33- There is a sixth HG2G book that has nothing to do with the other five. It’s called “Young Zaphod Plays It Safe.” It’s about 10 pages long and is only available if you buy the “Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide.” Which I own.
35- I’ve heard about those books and I want to read them, but I haven’t gotten a chance yet.
Oh yeah and I just finished reading the original “Around the World in Eighty Days”. It’s great, but the movie (with Jackie Chan) is better, because it has the huge subplot about the jade-buddha-thing. Not that the book is bad, it’s great.
I also have read some of the Charlie Bone series, and the Shadow Children series. They’re both great.
Has anyone read the Mates, Dates series? Please don’t. The writing style is terrible, and they use commas like they’re going out of style. They remind me of the Mary-Kate and Ashley books. *shudder*
Twilight sounds scary. It’s the one with those high schoolers turn into vampires?? I’ve read all of the H2G2 books.
33- I read the young wizards series in 3rd grade. I still can’t find the last 2 anywhere. It’s a great series though.
42- The Host doesn’t really have anything bad in it. Eclipse is actually worse in the whole sexual department. You should totally read it. And it’s really easy to read, and the fount isn’t insanely tiny.
43- It isn’t scary!!!!! They’re GOOD vampires. That’s the whole plotline. The only scary ones are the bad vampys, and they don’t come in until the end-ish. READ TWILIGHT. NOW.
My mom says it’s a “Young adults” book. She won’t let me read it *sobs* I have read TONS of young adult books before, and very scary books. It’s probably because she thinks it’ll give me nightmares. So, it’s about good vampires that do what? The movie poster looks scary. *shivers* sorry, I won’t read it. I’m not a huge fan of vampires stories, but I do like Dracula.
Has anyone ever read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle? It’s by Avi. Though it was a little boring in the beginning, I couldn’t stop reading it after that. I finished AotSP last week. It was flamablamablous!
1-I haven’t read Twilight yet, but I intend to!
5-I haven’t read it, and I don’t intend too.
10-I need to get the new one!
Eragon: Boring!
Charlie Bone: Harry Potter Rip-Offs taken to the Extreme! I knew what would happen in the Last Book from the First Book!
12- It’s out already. saw it at Barnes and Noble on monday.
Just so you know, the sequel to Benedict society is the mysterious benedict society and the perilous jroney. It’s dust jacket is blue, and it is 433 pages. it’s $18 in stores, and $12 on amazon.com.
Has any one read the Calder Game yet? it’s the newest “Chasing Vermeer” and “The Wright 3” book. It looks good.
Eragon…ick. I guess I read it sometimes, in between other more interesting books…it’s my “I’m too lazy to go look for a good book” book. I think the story could be good, but it’s not all that well-written.
Here’s a really awesome book: Summerland, by Michael Chabon. If you like myths and legends, or just a good adventure/coming of age story, read it.
I also like the classics, particularly Scarlet Pimpernel (which I think I’ve read about twenty times) and The Three Musketeers.
And of course I feel obligated to add The Princess Bride. It’s waaaay better than the movie (if that’s even possible), lots of little asides and funny comments that didn’t get into the movie.
50 – Ick. Romance.
51 – Eragon. Yuck. I agree. The movie was terrible. It cut out the WHOLE journey. It was worse than the book. The Princess Bride movie wasn’t that good. The book was way better.
What’s Twilight? I’ve never heard of it. I guess I’ll look for it. But if you’re into vampire stories, you might like the Cirque du Freak series. It’s a little gritty, and after the third book it sort of peters out, but I liked what I read of it.
43) Books are rarely very scary, trust me. Stephen King is supposed to be one of the best horror writers, right? I’ve read plenty of his books and not one of them was overly frightening. He’s not the only scary story writer that I’ve read. No book or story is really, really scary. This is because books have very little scary-factor. Horror books are not like horror movies; less scariness, more plot and character development, as a whole.
[/rant]
Who’s read Ivanhoe? I liked it, but I think the ending was a little weak.
Has anyone read any books by Jack Vance? I just finished reading one, Nightlamp, and it pwns. He’s a pretty good sci-fi writer, I think.
45- Tell your mom that I am eleven years old and read twilight whenI was ten, got nightmares from an episode of the Simpsons, and I read the twilight books just fine.
57- I hate Eragon.
46- *agrees about charlie bone*
47- Yes, a girl falls in love with a vampire. It’s terribly tragic (but awesome)
54- WHAT?!!!?!!??? NEVER HEARD OF TWILIGHT????? What rock in which cave on which planet in what UNIVERSE have you been living in for the past four years?????????????????????
I think I might steal my friend’s bookcase and read it over the summer. After getting through all my aunt-gift books that I haven’t had time to read because high school eats my free time.
Good books I’ve read recently: Larklight and Starcross
The Faerie Wars series
My History textbook (…only joking!)
I’m thinking about reading Twilight, but I’m not sure I want to get myself into that. Lotta culture going along with the book, y’know?
I liked Eragon the first three times I read it, but the fourth time I spontaneously decided it wasn’t that good.
My Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide is currently being lent to a friend. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is my favorite.
I keep looking for Twilight (and New Moon and Eclipse) in all the libraries but it’s ALWAYS checked out. It’s a fad in my school, I should have read it when only a few people knew about it.
I finished The Picture of Dorian Gray and I’m going to start Jane Eyre.
One of the things that I didn’t like about Twilight was that Bella was pretty shallow. It seemed like she was most concerned that Edward was so gorgeous, and how lucky she was because of that. I dunno, it just annoyed me.
I now present to my fellow MBers a series suggestion that almost nobody will take.
Note: to read this series, it is ideal to be in the mood for something not only dark and creepy, but extremely grotesque, too. If you want that, read the Demonata series by Darren Shan. The first book is Lord Loss.
67-Yes! You finished it. Did you like it? I really adored it. Except for those thirty or so pages in the middle devoted exclusively to Dorian’s interests. Those were a bit rough…I wish there were someway to discuss it without posting spoilers on the general thread. Ah well! : )
Hm… books, books, books. Where to begin. I used to have a mental “favorite book” list, but I haven’t thought about it in a while, and I just realized how extremely out of date it is now… I’ve read most of the books mentioned here… I’ll just write all my opinions in one ginormous chunky bullet-paragraph thing.
Good books:
-Twilight (series). Planning to read the Host.
-Uglies (series)
-Percy Jackson/Olympians (series)
-H2G2 (I’ve only read a bit, but it’s pretty good insanely beyond amazing
-Tamora Pierce (author): She’s written a bunch of series, they’re all quite nice. Especially if you read all of her “same universe” books.
-Harry Potter (pfft less than no-brainer)
-Jules Vernes (author)- I almost inhaled these books a few years ago. *…* Come to think of it, that sounds quite painful :/
Notes on other books:
-Charlie Brown- it was o.k… I agree with post 38, it should have stopped sooner
-Eragon- basically a bunch of other fantasies smooshed together. It was fair reading though.
-LOTR- I read the Hobbit and the first 1.5 books a couple years ago, but I got bored… and stopped :/ I should probably go back *cough*
-The Clique- It’s fair. I can’t really see why people like them so much though. *plehh*
Many heartfelt apoligies for the insanely long post.
70~ Disturbing to think of someone being so obsessed with their own beauty and living a life like that and in constant fear of discovery. That was disturbing. His portrait, grotesque. You said that when I finished it you wanted to “rant about it,” care to? I enjoyed it immensely, and read read into the wee hours, taxing my tired eyes to no end, but it was worth it.
I loved The Dark is Rising, too, Turquoise. Have fun!
I’m about to get my first taste of the Patrick O’Brians Aubrey/Maturin series — as soon as I get the first one from the library. I wonder if I’ll get hooked, as so many have.
76- Hmm. It could never hold my interest long enough. I desperately wanted to read it, but I couldn’t seem to get past the bits where they sit around talking about things I don’t understand.
The Inheritance trilogy/cycle–Christopher Paolini.
Attack of the Smart Pies–You know who wrote that!
Harry Potter–Obviously.
All of Lloyd Alexander’s books.
Warriors–Erin Hunter.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole–Kathryn Lasky.
Septimus Heap–Angie Sage.
His Dark Materials–Philip Pullman.
Hatchet–Gary Paulsen.
LOTR–J.R.R. Tolkien.
Why Cats Paint–Er…I can’t remember who wrote that one.
Redwall–Brian Jaques.
and an excerpt from my fav. book–one that I’m writing!
Chapter 1
Fishing
Yoko was an energetic young cat; stretching luxuriously in the warm summer sun, he looked up at his beloved castle, its turrets and towers and formidable walls looked so powerful to him. Lying on the large lawns dotted with gardens and fountains, he was able to see all across this side of the castle, its walls made of a brown-colored brick, the window sills were hung with ferns and all other manner of lush vegetation.
Yoko watched with considerably more interest as a robin flew overhead, it seemed to be reveling in the new season as it zipped onward, its clear call piercing the sunlight: chirrup chirrup chirrup. Yoko continued watching for a moment, and then he heaved himself up and padded off toward the castle, lunchtime.
Yoko walked across the lawns slowly, enjoying the warmth on his back. The huge walls that protected the outer flank of the castle shown a reddish-brown color that reminded him of afternoons spent out fishing, boating on the creek that ran not far from the castle, in fact, the creek was just a quarter mile from where the fortress lay.
Pushing open the huge oaken doors, Yoko entered, immediately (predictably)
He was toppled over backward, stampeded by a huge crew of young kittens.
Squealing with delight, the kittens pummeled him fiercely, leaving Yoko to yowl,
“Gettoff you little fiends!†Yoko bellowed. “Dugger, you’re the ringleader, you little devilish infants—” but his reply was cut off by a homely catwife, (who was incidentally Dugger’s mother).
“Why, what are you doing? Stop tormenting young Yoko there, you included, Rimples!†she said, swiftly waylaying a young one who was attempting to escape up a lofty flight of stairs. Yoko spoke out on the behalf of the apprehended young cats. “Oh, their fine, they were only having some fun. To tell you the truth, I actually enjoy it.â€
With a clamor, the young kittens cheered, happy that they had not been punished
For their open disrespect for their “elder†though Yoko was really only the cat equivalent of a teenager. “Go out and play, before you get up to any more mischief,†Yoko tried hard not to laugh as the little ones cavorted out the door.
“Thanks, Imbleberry,†said Yoko. “I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t there to help me, well, actually, I’d probably get pummeled to death by the kittens.â€
“Think nothing of it dear,†Imbleberry fussed with her apron strings, “I must be getting of to work on lunch, we’re having a fish pie tonight, your favorite I think?â€
“Indeed it is, thanks again Imbleberry,†with that Yoko trotted off towards his bedchamber, Maybe sitting down would do me some good, thought Yoko, as he made his way up the stairs, Nah, too nice a day for that he admonished himself, but continued up the stairs.
Entering, Yoko saw that his room had been tidied up in his absence. The curtains were thrown open and the bed was neatly made, coupled with the fact that the ashes in his fireplace had been cleaned out and his armchair was devoid of its usual three or four cloaks that often hung over its back. Yoko yawned loudly, reaching under his desk; he pulled out a pair of sandals from underneath the table, pulling them onto his footpaws, he sprinted back down the stairs at top speed.
“Hey! Whatchit!†Yoko sailed through the air ears over tail; looking wildly around to see what he had hit. His friend Crius the Aplomado Falcon was rubbing ruefully at an injured tail feather.
“Ouch. That hurt.†Said Crius, “I don’t know what you think you’re doing these days Yoko.†He rubbed his tail again, and then continued with a will.
“I’ve just been sent up to fetch you. Pouncer and Merlin want you to come and go fishing with them, they say they just bought new bait from Binkle’s Bait Shop, you know, the one that we used to go to and Binkle would give us free treats, boy, that ole cat could catch any fish that ever lived. And they also told me that if ye don’t get down there fast, they’ll go without you.†Crius left off rubbing his tail for a minute, and then fluttered his wings for a moment to make sure they were all in order.
“Well, I guess I’d better get down there pretty fast. Nice to see you Crius,â€
Yoko resumed walking down the stairs, this time at a slower rate, the light shining through the stained glass windows danced upon the winding stairs, there long motes showing the dust in the air. When he reached the hall, he walked through it at a sedate pace, admiring the wonderful carved pillars, depicting the many heroes and patriarchs of catten history: Utara the Warrior, Edgar 1, Amar the Fighter…the list went on and on. Yoko reached the doors, still watching all around him, the words of his father came back to him in a flurry: more may be learned by hours of watching and waiting than ever could be seen by those who spend their time doing practices of our system of writing and numbers, true, thought Yoko, ah, but he was supposed to be down fishing, not staring blankly at long-dead heroes, but he reminded himself, though he never liked to, that he was a prince, and that once he would have to rule the throne. It was a grim fact, but one Yoko knew he would have to accept. His father, Edgar II, still held the castle though, so Yoko could still revel in the joys of being young and unburdened. Oh why did he let his mind run like this? Yoko chided himself, wondering at the way his just skipped from subject to subject, never staying in one realm. FISHING! The thought intruded on his head, and he started to lift the bolt—then realized that, there was no bolt. Odd, Yoko thought, since when did the doors not have bolts?
Hmmmmm, well, I’ll tell Merlin and Pouncer about it as we boat down the creek.
Yoko pushed open the doors, much the same as he had done just fifteen minutes earlier, and walked out on the lawns. The soothing perfume of roses and mint hit his nostrils as he padded past a pool surrounded by gardens, a young trout swam lazily underneath the cool surface, it all seemed so peaceful here. To Yoko, it looked like nothing could ever disturb the serene lawns of his castle. From his position he could see the treetops poking over the east walls, their leafy foliage casting patterns of light across the ground.
“Yoko! Over here!†Pouncer and Merlin, Yoko’s two friends from the city were calling from the east corner, holding poles and their small drift boat. Merlin was a white cat with blackish-gray patches, wiry muscles showed under his lean coat.
Pouncer was similarly built, but he was an orange tabby, and slightly smaller than Merlin, with the M of a typical tabby marked on his brow. Sharp claws protruded from both cats paws, gleaming in the light of the sun, their coats shone lustrously as Yoko approached.
“Hi! Crius jus’ told me that you were waiting on me.†Yoko called.
“Oh, we thought he might, we were just tellin’ Imbleberry about fishing, Crius never failed to hear, seeing as he was sitting in the tree above us. He thought we didn’t know he was there.†At this point, Pouncer snorted, “Well, we did, but he went off to tell you anyway.â€
“What? He told me you sent me a message!†Yoko was surprised.
“Well, I guess it was the only fib he’s ever told,†Merlin answered, shaking his head. “But we’d best be off, I here Hugh will be out fishing, we’ll wanna get our twitchy little tails in the creek before he catches all the fish.†He shouldered the boat, carrying it over his head, seeing as they were smaller than Merlin, Yoko and Pouncer hefted the poles and a surprisingly heavy tackle box, given its small size.
“Wow, what’s in this?†Yoko held up the tackle box. “Rocks, by the weight of—oof!†he crashed to the floor, overbalanced by the immensely heavy box.
“Whoa there Yoko, can’t ye lift a tackle box? It’s full o’ Binkle’s newest style of bait, the best anywhere, but the problem with it is that the bait has to be soaked in water constantly, which means that it’s full with jars of water.†Merlin laughed his voice echoingly strangely from the inside of the boat, which he carried over his head.
“There, tha’s better,†Yoko lifted the box, then set it down again, and opened it.
“Hey, you’re right; it’s completely full with water jars.†Pouncer peered inside it, looking surprised. “Merlin, what were you thinking? There’s no way we can tote this all the way to the creek.â€
“Here, I’ll take it. You carry the boat, it’s lighter than you’d expect.â€
He set the coracle down with a grunt, lowering it carefully so as not to hurt his paws. Yoko and Pouncer lifted it with a flurry of labored breathing, their muscles groaning in protest at the weight.
“You call this light?†Pouncer snorted derisively, shaking his head. “How did ye get that kinda strength, Merlin?†Merlin merely answered: “I was born with it.â€
And continued trudging towards the wall’s door. “You’d better hurry up. There’ll be no fish left if we don’ get goin’.†The others followed suit, balancing the boat on their shoulders, with much hard breathing, they lifted it.
They made their way out through the main gate, which was wide enough for the boat to fit through without any problems, walking out onto the hard worn dirt track that wound through the ancient trees, many of which were much wider than ten boats put together. A thrush fluttered overhead, its wings slicing the air was the only sound that penetrated the dense foliage.
“A lovely noontime to be out,†said Yoko, letting the sun shine down on his jet-black fur. “But we’d better hurry, that is, if we want to catch fish, ah, well, you two know what happens when Hugh goes fishin’.â€
Soon they came to a fork in the trail, one going towards the stream, the other, the flatlands; those were off beyond the wood, maybe four days good hiking to reach them. Merlin walked off down the left one, the one that went to the creek, Pouncer and Yoko followed him. Yoko stopped to look at the ground; he had never seen tracks like that before.
“Merlin, Pouncer, c’mere, ye need to see this!†Yoko called; the prints were large, with huge depressions, apparently massive claws. “What do you think passed by here? In all the time I’ve studied tracks, I’ve never seen them like this, and the other thing is: there’s no bolts anymore.†Yoko sniffed the tracks; they smelled musty-sweet, with a fetor of rotting meat to them. “Sure don’t smell to good,†he said.
“C’mon though, we should get goin’.†Pouncer said, and then started to lift the boat,
“Yoko, the boat!†Yoko got up, his mind whirring, I don’t know what they are, but I’m going to find out if I can, he thought. He could begin to hear the stream rushing nearby, its waters swirling peacefully.
♦ ♦ ♦
By noon, they reached the stream, its waters babbling on undisturbed: kingfishers flitted from tree to tree, dragonflies buzzed lazily across the water, Peaceful, thought Yoko, I could live here… the thought floated through his head like the damselfly that was now inspecting his nose: it started to buzz away.
“Break out the fishin’ gear Yoko, are ye gonna sit there all day?†Pouncer’s voice sounded above the rushing of the creek, “time t’ fish, not dream.â€
Yoko picked up his rod, “We need some o’ that—’’ his claws sketched quotation marks around the word—“‘bait’ you bought, Merlin,â€
Merlin reached down at the phenomenally heavy tackle box, yanking open the lid, he peered inside, “Um…oops, some of the water spilled…but I think its okay…â€
Yoko moved in closer to observe: the box was filled with what looked like old canning jars, one of which was now releasing a trickle of water from where the lid was screwed on. “Hmmm…don’t look to good.†Pouncer observed, but what’s in the other jars?†Merlin picked a jar up from the bottom of the box, “This.â€
He held up the jar: it was filled with what looked rather like a…well a yellowish paste, which looked slightly orange when the sun shone on the jars.
“Uh…Merlin, are you completely sure that it’s safe to use?†Yoko voiced the question that he felt was surely being echoed in Pouncer’s mind.
“O’ course it’s safe, Binkle gave it to us.†His face turned to exasperation, “Oh, wot is it? Ye look like fried toads witnessing the roasting of two fat sausages.†Merlin could be surprisingly inventive when it came to descriptive terms.
“Hmmm…nicely phrased Merlin, what do you think Pouncer? Do we actually look like—ah, Merlin what was that you said? Roasted toads eying fried sausages? Or was it—whatever.†Said Yoko, laughing: then he picked up the end of his line and rolled the paste into a ball, which it did surprisingly easily, then poked it onto the hook at the end of the thin, clear, cord.
Raising the rod, Yoko whipped it back and cast, sending the hook, with its burden of paste, whizzing over the water, then reeled it back in fast. “Casts good,â€
He remarked, “Let’s get the boat on the water though.â€
Yoko, Merlin, and Pouncer heaved the small coracle down the muddied bank, and slowly pushed it into the water, the stream lapped gently at its sides.
“All aboard!†Merlin leaped in, pulling the tackle box with him, “Last one in’s
A fried toad!†Yoko and Pouncer swiftly hopped in, teasing Merlin. “Well, here’s the fried toads!â€
A book list that shall look entirely different from the rest of yours and rapidly turn into an authors list.
-The Dark is Rising (yes, I like it too.)
-Freedom and Necessity Steven Brust and Emma Bull
-Books by
-Emma Bull
-Charles de Lint
-Ellen Kushner
-Delia Sherman
-Nina Kiriki Hoffman
-Will Shetterly
-Elizabeth Bear
-Laurie J. Marks
and many more.
-Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
-Joan Aiken
-Tolkien
etc, etc..
38-Yay! (I can’t wait until the other books come out, even if it is in about two years…)
81-Yes, I did! It was, kind of…
It wasn’t my all-time-favorite book, but there were some really funny bits, and I had a hard time telling the two author’s styles apart (Which was good…I think…?) It was kind of Neil Gaiman dark-like, and most of the humor seemed Prattchett-esque (like the footnotes and stuff). I need to read more of Terry, but the library has about five books of his, and that’s it.
78-I like it!
77-I feel the same way, but then I always feel bad because I know I should like them, but I just don’t as much as I’m supposed to. I tried to read about the one with the foxes three times, … I liked it eventually, I’m just too lazy/ or something. But I did like King Of Shadows by her. E
66–I ended up buying them, I couldn’t wait long enough to read them.
I know this is a cardinal sin, but I like the LOTR movies waay better than the books. I think they’re well-written in some places, but they’ve got so much detail that it’s hard to get through them (and this is coming from a major book reader, so I’m not just lazy).
*begins list*
Harry Potter
H2G2
LOTR
Septimus Heap
Stravaganza!!!!!!!! I love it!
The Dark Is Rising
The Harper Hall Trilogy
The Circle of Magic
The Immortals
Protector of the Small
Everything else by Tamora Pierce
Inheritance
The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, Inkheart, Inkspell etc. by Cornelia Funke
Artemis Fowl
Chasing Vermeer
Etc.
Oh, the agony! The pain! I’ve finished Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and now I must rely on the movies to tide me over until I get to the library. And I ♥ the movies, but it’s not the same.
87 – I still haven’t seen the LotR movies yet, though I’ve read the books at least twice. My parents’ excuse is that they want to wait until I can “see it on the big screen” – in other words, a projector projecting the movie on a sheet hung on our living room wall. I don’t see why we couldn’t have done that already, though, so I think the PG-13 rating is still scaring them off, at least for my brother and possibly for me.
Wow, this post had nothing to do with books.
Um…Tamora Pierce rocks. All of her same-universe stories are awesome, although they get slightly repetitive.
I adore re-reading Sherlock Holmes. I’m still plowing semi-succesfully through the Balzac, not very sucesfully through L’Etrangere, and I haven’t even started The Spy Who Came in from the Cold yet. Bad girl!
Good Omens: Awesome! Two of my favorite authors get together and write a book! I love it!
80-I like your list. I haven’t read most of those, and I now have some new stuff to look for. I have read Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s story in the 2nd Firebirds Anthology, and I liked it!
Ooh! I almost forgot about Artemis Fowl! I love those books.
Has anyone read The Supernaturalists? It’s by Eoin Colfer (the same guy who wrote Artemis Fowl). Stefan Bashkir has got to be one of my favorite book characters.
92- yay firebirds! if you find something out of print, send Sharyn emails about it. (she is the person who puts together those anthologies.) She appreciates feedback. I… should re-read the second anthology.
re: Chasing Vermeer. I liked it. I still need to read the Wright Three…
I like Stravaganza too. (this was sort of to post 88)
I think I’ve figured out why I’m a bit miffed at all the Twilight/Harry Potter/Maximum Ride -ness. It is all fine and good to /like/ those (though personally I don’t particularly like Twilight and I’ve not read Maximum Ride) it is just that I see patterns of it being the only things read. Or, well, talked about. I’d like to see more discussion here that branches out into other books, other genres, just farther afield in general. Favorite books lists that /differ/
96- Like Abarat?
Or Watership Down?
Or (you guessed it) Hornblower?
What can I say, I’m obsessed.
I think we’re going to the library tomorrow. I’ve got His Majesty’s Dragon waiting for me there.
*booklist’d*
Enthusiasm (Polly Shulman )
Harry Potter (JKR)
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
The Clique (Lisi Harrison)
Guitar Girl (Sara Manning)
The Sisters Grimm (Michael Buckley)
Artemis Fowl (eoin colfer)
Cell (Stephen King)
The Secrte Life of Sparow Delaney (Umm… I forget.)
97- Woot for Watership Down! I just went and read the Watership Down vs. Chuck Norris thread. Exceedingly amusing! And my vote goes to Watership Down. I &hearts: that book with a fiery passion.
Probably the sweetest book that I have ever read is Wind in the Willows. I’ve reread it so many times by now that it’s engrained into my subconscious. For those of you who don’t know, its just the quaint little story of Rat and Mole and their quirky friends. It is not a little children’s book at all, but a very beautiful and lyrical read. Anyhooo, strongly recommend it.
Also, for someone who is looking for a slightly more solemn book: “Passage to India” is wonderful. The book is centered on the class tensions in British India, but its stock full of philosophical discussions, so that it transcends the shallow political bookness that so many works get stuck in.
I am a huge fan of: Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson and the Olympians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for double post, but I forgot to and Eragon/Eldest/Brisingr (when it comes out) And Warriors *pauses to think* Hatchet series, the Giver, Holes Pendragon and a personal favorite, Ender’s Game
I’m reading this wierd book right now called Feed. It’s about how kids in the future get a chip implanted in their heads a birth (called a feed) and it’s controlled by a corporation. Basically a boy with a feed meets a girl who had her feed implanted when she was twelve, so she had a free life for a while. It’s actually really good, the whole thing is in this like futuristic slangy-type thing. Forget who it’s by.
The books that I got yesterday:
His Majesty’s Dragon
Throne of Jade
Black Powder War – All by Naomi Novik. I’m terribly excited, I ♥ that time period.
The Maelstrom – Anne McCaffrey and someone else. Possibly good, possibly not, but I’ll give it a chance.
Curse of the Romanovs – It looks rather generic, but again, I might as well give it a chance.
The Pig Who Saved the World – A very silly-looking spin on Ancient Greece, promises to be a fun read.
Rain Village – This looks like it could be amazing or awful. I hope it’s the former.
Ingledove – I got it a while ago but couldn’t settle down enough to read anything, so I’m going to try again.
110- BPW! *wants*
A fifth book, Victory of Eagles, is coming out soon. Does the Eagle refer to France (crowned eagle was Napoleon’s seal; also, his son was known as the Eaglet), Russia (two-headed eagle was the crest of the Czars) or America? I personally think it’ll refer to Russia, since Napoleon didn’t exactly *win*, and the War of 1812 (the only conflict with America in which Laurence and Temeraire could get involved) is still more than six years off.
Alice (77): Did you mean the Dark is Rising series didn’t hold your attention? Or Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series?
I just got the first book of the latter series from the library. Now all I have to do is actually open it up and start reading.
Rosanne- Aubrey/Maturin, of course! The Dark is Rising is one of the best books I’ve read.
But I’m going to try reading Patrick O’Brian’s books again pretty soon, seeing as I’ve been longing for nautical tales and I ♥ the movie.
Alice: That clears things up
I did think that I recalled you giving The Dark is Rising a thumbs up.
As to Patrick O’Brian’s books: The publisher (Norton) has some helpful links on its Web site. I might refer to them if I get excessively confused.
TMFA: I do wonder what color magic is. I’d guess gray.
Not exactly literary, more historical, but worth mentioning nonetheless…I am doing a project on the 1950s and to get an idea of feminism in the decade, I am reading Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique.” Its a pretty disturbing depiction of a woman’s world back then, actually. Page after page describing this picture the media massively promulgated of a woman with the caption “If I have only one life, let me live it as a blonde.” Its a good book in the sense of a historical source. Which reminds me, I should probably go back to working on it, so cheers everyone!
78- Yoko! I thought Yoko was a girl’s name?
Has anybody read the Septimus Heap series?n The first one is Magyk, then Flyte, after that Physik, and the one that recently came out was Queste.
(130-133) Aww, thanks, guys. By the time I finish revising the first book, everyone here will be old enough to read it. Even Rosanne. *dodges pies and runs*
The new Sisters Grimm is so good!!!!!!!!!!! The Mad Hatter as a Judge, The Scarecrow as a librarian, and more on Little Red Riding Hood!!!!!! I loooove this book!!!!!!!
If you know about Lurline, you must be highly Oz-literate. My family owned all the Oz books when I was a boy, and I read every one of them, over and over again — including the ones by Ruth Plumly Thompson, Jack Snow, John R. Neill, and Rachel Cosgrove. If anyone ever wants to talk about Oz, I’m ready.
134-Hmm…glad womeone else shares my infatuation! for short stories, *ruminates* I love any of the O’Henry collections and vehemently reccomend The Dubliners. I’ll set a couple more down when its not so late. How about you?
142-I love the Oz books!!!! They always will have a soft spot in my heart. Five years after my Oz addiction of the first seven years of my life, my room is still stuffed with Ozian items. I really only loved the L. Frank Baum books, but I read some others. I have models, scripts, and artifacts from my three Oz themed Birthdays, including a “Pin the Heart on The Tin Woodman” Game drawn by my late grandfather. I still read Oz again and again, and it will stay very special to me!!!!!!
(145) “Pin the Heart on the Tin Woodman”? Brilliant!
Baum’s books were definitely the best. I had childhood crushes on Ozma, General Jinjur, and Polychrome, the Rainbow’s daughter, and I was very fond of H. M. Wogglebug, T. E. My favorite minor character was the Glass Cat. Remember her?
I’ve read a LOT of Oz books, but I can’t remember which ones. There is a picture of me when I was seven years old, very small, with my childish haircut, sitting in a (very large) chair reading a simply enormous Oz book, probably a quarter of my size.
My favorite authors of the last few years(I may be forgetting some):
Tamora Pierce
Gail Carson Levine
Patricia C. Wrede
Katherine Paterson
Karen Cushman
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Jeanne duPrau
Cornelia Funke
Tanith Lee
Maud Hart Lovelace
Actually this is more or less what my list was a couple years ago, I haven’t updated it in a while. In some of those cases I haven’t read any of their books in quite a while, so they may be aimed at kids slightly younger than I am now. (Maud Hart Lovelace has been a favorite since my dad read me the first 3 Betsy-Tacy books when I was about 5.) But I loved them all, so they’ll always be among my favorites.
I just started “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.” Its an espionage-ical thriller. Very and excessively difficult to put down. I’m simultaneously reading a Balzac. Here’s the odd thing: the Balzac is crammed with descriptions and all that other stuff that tends to make a book tedious, however, like with all the others I’ve read, the book is equally, if not more, intense and fascinating than some action packed crime story. Gawd! I love that. It must be the characters.
146-She’s great! Exactly how a Glass Cat would be, I think. The essence is so perfect.
147-I agree about Garth Nix! Have you read the Keys To THe Kingdom?
151-I agree. Take a little pause, guys. Also, I love PCW too. Her books are so funny!
(154) For non-Ozophiles, the Glass Cat has pretty pink brains that she is always asking other people to admire. Though not outwardly affectionate, she is secretly very loyal to her friends. In The Magic of Oz, there’s a great scene in which her human companions get stuck on a magic island and plead with her to fetch a rescue party. She replies that she might help them if she gets around to it and strolls slowly away. But as soon as she is sure they can’t see her, she runs like the wind.
I rather liked the Bartimaeus books (I think they were a trilogy; sorry, don’t remember who they’re by!). I liked the way they switched between the different points of view. Herm. Must…go…to…library…
Has anyone hear read, “Sophie’s World.” Yes, iIknow there is a somewhat more renowned book with a similair title, also invloving the possesive form of Sophie, but I’m not talking about it. I am referring strictly to “Sophie’s World.” Its an incredible introduction to philosophy, and its also a very nice read in the general sense. Me reccomenderates it!!!!
153. The new book is called Inkdeath. I don’t know any plot details or the release date. I assume it will be about more death, and the revival of Dustfinger and more treachery. And more ink, of course!
AHHHH I am in such a dilemma.
OK, so here’s the thing: I’ve been burning through the Temeraire books like crazy. I’m almost done with Throne of Jade, and I’ll almost certainly get into Black Powder War today. I’m not sick of the writing style yet, which is refreshing. So no big deal, right?
Wrong. My trip starts Thursday evening, and it seems like it’s going to be a long one. Drive for two hours, sit on a plane, sit on a different plane, drive, sit on another plane, drive some more, albeit spread out over the course of several days. I could make Black Powder War last this long, I think, if I brought one more book with me. BUT, I want to read BPW now. Also, I’m afraid something terrible will happen if I take a library book on a plane.
…
I can’t remember what sort of help I was looking for. Maybe I’ll just get JS&MN back.
Here is my summer reading list, for june at least:
the hollow chocolate Bunnies of the apocalypse by Robert Rankin
do androids dream of electric sheep by philip K. Dick
Second Variety
Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
2001: a Space Odyssey By Arthur C. Clarke
Dune By Frank Herbert
foundation By Isaac Asimov
Stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Fatherland by Robert Harris
I, Robert by Isaac Asimov
Question for those of you who love Twilight. What makes you like that book so much? Sample answer to a ‘why do you like that book anyways question’ only I’m answering about Juniper, Gentian and Rosemary by Pamela Dean.
I love the characters. I love reading Gentian’s thoughts and the conversations between her and her friends. I can see them in my mind, they are real and there and they could be real people. their flaws and their qualities are realistic and /there/ and they are great, great people.
(sorry, had to go for a bit)
I also enjoy the quality of words used and how the conversations are actually ones people would say and that they challenge me in my knowledge of everything. I probably have more to say also but I have to go.
181–that’s a really good question. I think it’s because they’re sort of every girl’s dream–to get a really hot, sensitive, and mysterious BF who’s like your destiny and is constantly craving you (in more ways than one). Note how most of the Twilight fans are girls.
183- I disagree that that is every girl’s dream to get a really hot, sensitive and mysterious BF. Personally, I’d rather have a companion that I know loves me for who I am and that I love for who they are and that I can sit in shared silence with but also talk endlessly together or sit and dream or show them myself when I am vulnerable and be shown them when they are vulnerable and support and cherish each other for a long time, not a few weeks or days or months.
However I also think that this thread would be more interesting if we discussed our thoughts about and reasons for liking the books we read.
Today I finished Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks. I enjoyed this book because of the characters’ struggles with themselves and with each other as well as their goals and their journeys towards those goals. I also enjoyed reading the close friendships and understandings some of them had with each other. I also enjoyed the suspense of the new difficulties. It was not unbelievably fast paced but it was not a book without action. (not that I dislike those.)
181- Well, partially I agree with Nthanda. I would love to have a sexy, mysterious boyfriend who’s really polite and stuff and not all GIRL=SEX GAHHHH!!!!! Mainly I like it because of the characters. I actually like Jasper more than Edward, and my friend likes Emmett like you can’t believe. And, ever notice how the ‘popular’ girls don’t like Twilight as much? Well, I think that’s because ‘loser’ girls can relate to Bella a lot more than Massie Block or Blair Waldorf. Bella’s sensitive, smart, bookish, and never really had a boyfriend before Edward. She also mentioned how she was grouped into the herd of losers in Phoenix. Personally, I think the plotline in the first one is bad; the only thing that kept me through it was the characters, romance, etc. That is why I like Twilight.
185 – I have to disagree, some really popular girls at my school like Twilight. One,who is popular, is crazy about Twilight and got me into it… And she is lucky enough to have the movie come out on her birthday…
187- I liked Abarat because of the richly detailed writing, the immensely surreal and imaginative world, the perfect balance of horror and humor, and because it’s full of characters that readers can sympathize with.
186- That lucky little…
187- I enjoyed His Dark Materials because of the mystery of it all. Like, there could be portals to infinite worlds, and there could be magical particles of dust in the vastness of Space.
187- I liked Abarat because it was so bizarre and imaginative. It was sometimes beautiful and sometimes grotesque, with both amusing and awe-inspiring moments. And the characters were well-done whether hateful or friendly. It was so weird, and so good.
186–yeah, I agree, Twilight’s huge with everyone at my school. Although my school is so ghetto there’s not really a “popular” clique…which is kind of nice.
191- I don’t really like Harry Potter, to be perfectly frank, but I’ll tell you why that is.
I don’t really like Harry Potter because I can;t see through the fandom and they hype to see the actual story and the writing style anymore. When I last read HP it was just flat. I didn’t mind reading it, but it wasn’t very interesting at all. I think that I’ve grown out of it. I can’t take it seriously, partly because the ridiculous names but mostly because magic is everywhere and people can work it without even thinking. I feel that it needs to come at some sort of price for it to have any sort of meaning.
I’m sorry I misunderstood you about The Dark Is Rising. I don’t know why I never really appreciated them… I know I should …
I find I’m reading less than I used to, and it’s kind of scary. I don’t know if it’s because I’m just so busy and it’s the end of the school year and everything, or that I just can’t find that many books that I really like…
I’ll have to read Un Lun Dun…
I did read Coyote Road, which was part of that series of short story anthologies (like The Faery Reel), and they mentioned Kokopelli. There wasn’t an actual story about him though, which was too bad.
196- The Clique books are not as abd as everyone makes thm seem. They’re very relaxing; they make you grateful that you don’t have to deal with girls as bad as that. I’m strangely addicted to them, actually. Yes, she did write them. *waits nervously for angry explosion from clique haters*
198- ooh, I like those anthologies. Anthologies edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow (the editors of those) tend to be good ones in general. There are many more out there by those editors. Some other good collections are Interfictions edited by Delia Sherman and Theodora Goss and The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet compiled by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (LCRW being a Zine produced by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (I’m a subscriber))
I liked Un Lun Dun for much the same reasons I enjoyed Abarat, the variety of characters, the ambiguity of their motives (well, that one more Un Lun Dun than Abarat), the imagination used in producing the world, the drawings/paintings (more Abarat than Un Lun Dun though the latter has drawings), the characters (Curdle!), the plays on words. They are simply just gorgeous books.
Anybody read Louis Lowry’s books? They are very good. I have also read Great Expectations, but I guess I am not into that kind of books, because it was very well written (well, DUH) but I like more, Fantasy stories.
OHHH!!!!!! Really good book!!!!!!!! Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. It’s about a girl who can see faeries and the King of faeries captures her to be his bride, but she’s in love with her friend Seth. It’s so awesome I can barely describe it. (Warning; rated PG-13 for a sexual situation, occasional strong language, and mild violence. It still rocks, though!!!!! )
203-Anthologies? I like Firebirds Anthologies! The characters were by far the strongest part of Un Lun Dun. The plot was weak, but it did have some great plays on words, (Armets!) I love Kelly Link’s Anthologies of Short Stories, (By her, not edited by her!) You can get the entire book “Stranger Things Happen” as a download for free on her site. I live in the same town as her, which is really cool!
204-I’ve read some of them, i. e. the Giver Trilogy. It’s very upsetting, but it’s great.
My fave anthology is a book that belonged to my Great Aunt, was published in the 1940s, and was written by E.B. White. It’s called a Treasury of American Humor. It’s all short stories and essays and they’re hilarious and very clever.
206- yay firebirds! you live by her? (Kelly Link that is) that’s awesome! Yeah, I’ve been meaning to read those anthologies and I’d download it only I don’t have my own computer and therefor less space. I suppose I could download it and then try to burn it onto a data cd or something.
204- yes, I like The Giver and the other ones after it. They’re quite good.
What I like about Abarat is that the characters are not one-dimensional, like just good and bad. It is pretty obvious who’s who, but some aspects of both.
I’ll have to read Un Lun Dun…
199-I almost know Great Expectations by heart. Not only have I read it, I listen to it every night on audiobook (weird perk of mine, I love to fall asleep listening to audiobooks). Please go rant and spazz about in on the Abundant spoilers thread.
On the subject of anthologies, I just remembered that I read a collection of Thomas Mann stories (Tonio Kruger, the Wunderkint), which was nice. I’m still too chicken to ford through one of Mann’s actual novels, however…
203-They actually mentioned Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet in an author biography, and I remembered that you mentioned it… I will have to investigate… (I’ve been meaning to for about forever)
We’re doing silent reading of Gread Expectations in English, but only the first fifteen chapters. Don’t get me started on how I think this is pathetic on the part of my English teacher, and that we’ve learned practically nothing the whole year that we couldn’t teach ourselves, but I was still glad that I get to read it by myself, and I guess I’ll finish it later. I had started it once already, and then I had to return it to the library, so now I’ll have to get it out again. But
Wow, lost my thread of thought. Anyway,
Argh, I hate the shrinking comment box. I’m sorry this is (once again) messed up.
220- yay! do check it out, it is excellent. You could buy a single issue or subscribe (there’s an option that sends chocolate each time) or purchase a copy of The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet somewhere…
I just finished reading “Curse of the Romanovs.” It’s a very poorly written book, and not historically accurate either, but the appendices are quite interesting. I only wish they were about twenty times longer.
Or I could just go read a book on the Russian revolution. That would work too.
OMG, i got Eclipse Special Edition!!!!!!!! and guess what????? there was a poster of Breaking Dawn in it, and on the bottom it’s all like, “I love you, be with me forever, blablabla. But it doesn’t say WHO BELLA IS TALKING TO. She could be talking to JACOB or EDWARD!!!!!!!!!!! This is driving me so nuts I can’t even think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it IS jacob, I will lose my mind!!!!!!! BUT what if it’s neither of them??????????????? *goes totally nuts* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
222- yes, good dark chocolate bars. of course ‘each time’ is only twice a year (June and November) but they are superb stories and excellent chocolate bars
Hypatia has an annnouncement to make to MBers studying French. READ “PETIT NICOLAS”! Its a hilarious set of quirky little stories (to which Hypatia is addicted) about petit Nicolas (a leetle school boy), his fairly delinquent friends, and their utterly insane escapades!
230-I started reading L’etrangere, failed miserably, and decided to stick to simpler literature…such as Petit Nicolas. Its not at all a hard read as soon as you get used to the style and I reccomend it most adamantly as a first book (it was mine too :grin:).
I just finished The White Darkness. Maybe I’m a little too easily brought to tears when it comes to books, because I was crying my eyes out for chapters, because Titus was just in Sym’s head, and I really wanted him to be a solid character. Which is silly, because even in Sym’s head he was a perfectly solid character. I’m just far too tied to reality, I think. It’s all about tangibility for me, and yet I attempt to bury myself in fiction, as though believing in it will make it real, all the magic and the thrills and the lovely characters, Nan Linnet and Jonathan Strange and Dido Twite and Lyra…
I just got “Sebastian Darke:Prince of Fools” 3 days ago. I finished it today. It was awesome. I want to read the second book “Sebastan Darke: Prince of Pirates” it sounds really good.
I just finished Pendragon: Pilgrims of Rayne, and man is it confusing. However, I think I’ve got it (could someone correct me if I’m wrong?):
-Ibara is part of Veelox
-The second turning point for Veelox was the pilgrimage, and it failed
-The turning point for Ibara was the battle for the island, and it succeeded (despite the fact that the village was destroyed)
-Overall, it was like a draw, since Saint Dane won one turning point, but he lost another.
-The flighters are people who came out of Lifelight as zombies
-Telleo was Nevva winter
-Nevva convinced Mark’s parents to not get on the plane, but it backfired because that convinced Mark to destroy Forge
-the sixth officer guy is saint dane, because the computer says Mark was murdered, and Courtney almost shot him with the gun that she took from dogder… which he took from the sixth officer.
-Bobby destroyed the flume on Ibara to keep Saint Dane from hopping around the territories.
237- Same here. I need to get more english books. DANISH BOOKS ARE BAD! Most of them are translated, and the Queen even said that the Danish people need more authors.
But seriously, H.C. Anderson is famous because there aren’t any other good danish authors. And even he’s racist/sexcist. *growls*
By the way, I’ve read on several reviews of Raven Rise that there’s gonna be a tenth book. Does it seriously say that in the list of books in the series.
-The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (I loved the original, by the way) came out on June 1
-Raven Rise on May 20
-Superior Saturday (Keys to the kingdom) on August (Im actually not sure if its august or july) 1
-Brisingr on September 20
246-I know what you mean. Although I never read Master and Commander (*puts on mental to do list*) all the somewhat obscure and mostly obsolete sailing terminology in Moby Dick was what initially scared me away. Naval books can be quite difficult.
247- Ha, natural stubborn-ness was what scared me away from Moby Dick. I didn’t want to read it, so I wasn’t going to, so there. If I’d had more of a personal inclination to read it I probably would have got past the second page. My dad got a ways into it, but he said he stopped when they started talking about how whales were fish and anyone who said otherwise was Wrong. He said it was fairly boring, too.
Alice, have you ever been obsessed with the Polar Regions? Because that’s why the book had such an impact on me, and I was wondering if you had the same story or a more “normal” perspective.
251- No. Actually stories of the polar regions tend to horrify me, in a fascinated sort of way. I cannot comprehend how cold it would be. My toes have no circulation.
It had such an impact on me because I have unattainable best friends in my head, too.
!!! I just read a synopsis of Victory of Eagles. Napoleon Bonaparte, with the help of Lien, invades Britain and sets up in London (the king of England escapes to Edinburgh). Meanwhile, Temeraire, believing Laurence to be dead, begins training the ferals they picked up during Black Powder War and shaping them into a fighting force.
I am about to commence reading:
Far from the Madding Crowd
Stories from the Jazz Age (Fitzgerald)
Magic Mountain
Vanity Fair (which I’ve listened to on audiobook but never read)
I am hoping to finish:
A Harlot High and Low by Balzac
This is made difficult by several factors:
a) The translation has poor grammar…or archaic grammar
b) The translation has very very convoluted sentences
c) There are about six subplots going on in addition the the real plot at the moment.
d) I cannot keep track of 999999999999 similair sounding names!
So, yeah…I’ll probably come on and rejoice when I hit the 3/4 way marker (I just hit the half…).
I haven’t finished BPW yet. It’s still sitting in my room with a boarding pass stuck in it as a bookmark and probably about ten dollars of library fines on it, and even worse than that, Emperor of Ivory has been gathering dust on the bookshelf for weeks
While I was on vacation I ignored it, and I just couldn’t gather momentum again. The same thing has probably happened to Master and Commandeer, which I haven’t touched since Wednesday.
Has anyone here read the Thursday Next series or the Nursery Crime series?
Quote…
“Books for people who love stories, or stories for people who love books.”
266- Ooh, Harry Potter. Insert obsessive potter-fangeek drool here
I think I’ve read each one about 8 times at least. Most likely more though, I haven’t kept count
NM was talking about A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It sounded super cool.
I’m finally reading Black Powder War again. I’m also trying to see what my mom finds against it. She says it’s not very well-written, but aside from the run-on sentences, I can’t see what she means (although I do agree that it doesn’t compare to JS&MN, then again, nothing does). Maybe I’ve been reading kids’ and YA books so long that anything written for a higher level seems pretty well-written. *shrug* The dialogue isn’t forced, the plot is only sort of predictable…
I finished The Glassblower’s Children yesterday. It was one of those strange, obscure little fantasy stories, almost like fairy tales. Like The Search for the Tinker Chief. I ♥ that type of book, but at the same time, they give me a very odd feeling. They aren’t of this era, and they don’t even slightly resemble the epic tales you see in libraries and book stores. They’re more magical, somehow.
I made a list of 50 good books a few months ago, and so I’m going to post it.
Eragon, while I recognise how much of it is stolen from other books, it nonetheless is a good book.
wait, i just came up with 7 more.
57 books.
57 REALLY GOOD BOOKS
These are in the order of which I came up with first, not quality, so number 42 might be better than number 18. Oh, and these are just 50 really good books, not the fifty best books, they are just some books I enjoyed.
1. Harry Potter I
2. Harry Potter II
3. Harry Potter III
4. Harry Potter IV
5. Harry Potter V
6. Harry Potter VI
7. Harry Potter VII
8. The Lost Journals Of Ven Polypheme
9. Eragon
10. Eldest
11. The Lightning Thief
12. The Sea Of Monsters
13. The Titan’s Curse
14. Stormbreaker
15. Point Blank
16. Skeleton Key
17. Eagle Strike
18. Scorpia
19. Ark Angel
20. Snakehead
21. Ravens Gate
22. Evil Star
23. Nightrise
24. The Schwa Was Here
25. The Eyre Affair
26. Lost In A Good Book
27. The Well Of Lost Plots
28. Something Rotten
29. First Among Sequels
30. The 13 And A Half Lives Of Captain Bluebear
31. Swordbird
32. Alex Rider: The Gadgets
33. Regarding The Sink
34. Framed
35. Snow Treasure
36. The Thief Lord
37. How To Live With A Neurotic Dog
38. Superfudge
39. Fudge-A-Mania
40. Mistakes That Worked
41. Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
42. The Number Devil
43. Animal Farm
44. Where’s My Jetpack?
45. How To Survive A Robot Uprising
46. Late Fire, Late Snow
47. All The Books By Group O-6
48. The Unofficial Lego Builders Guide
49. Alice In Wonderland
50. Flush
51. Mister Monday
52. Grim Tuesday
53. Drowned Wednesday
54. Sir Thursday
55. Lady Friday
56. The Big Over Easy
57. The Fourth Bear
36 GOOD BOOKS (ACCORDING TO ALICE)
In no particular order.
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
2. Juniper
3. Wise Child
4. The Golden Compass
5. The Subtle Knife
6. The Amber Spyglass
7. The Dark is Rising
8. Over Sea, Under Stone
9. Greenwitch
10. The Grey King
11. Silver on the Tree
12. Treasure Island
13. Sabriel
14. Lirael
15. Abhorsen
16. Lord of the Flies
17. The Hobbit
18. The Lord of the Rings (technically one book)
19. Watership Down
20. Abarat
21. Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
22. Un Lun Dun
23. The Search for The Tinker Chief
24. Chasing Vermeer
25. The Forestwife
26. Swallows and Amazons
27. Swallowdale
28. Winter Holiday
29. Coot Club
30. The Big Six
31. We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
32. Secret Water
33. The Picts and the Martyrs
34. Great Northern?
35. Peter Duck
36. Missee Lee
I have no idea why I haven’t posted here before…in any case I am in dire need to new books, so having reviewed the thread I saved a lot commendations and will be taking a trip to the library or bookstore soon to check them out.
I already have a phenomenally long list of books to read, which now grows ever longer…a good complaint to have, I think.
Currently I’m reading John Adams by David McCullough.
Oxlin and Alice, I have to say that in particular your recommendations sound interesting…I’m going to print some out in addition to my own lists and go on a literary spree.
Yay! a whole thread on books! I’m rather new on MB, which explains why I haven’t been on here before. . . I think I’ll plan a trip to the library soon, since most of those books I haven’t even heard of. I feel so deprived!!!
289 – I know. He has Cartoon history of the Universe 1-3, Cartoon Guide to the Environment, Cartoon Guide to Genetics, Statistics, Computers (but that’s old), etc. etc. etc.
295- aww, thanks. And don’t worry, I’m good at finding obscure books. I’m reading Temblor by Rosa Montero in Spanish right now. It was also rather obscure. I like obscure books.
Okay so, I just finished stories of the Jazz age. They were amusing. I took a break from a Harlot High and Low, mostly to spite Balzac at whom I am livid with rage. He seems determined on cold-bloodedly driving all of his characters into danger in sundry creative ways, which I really don’t have the patience to withstand a moment longer! I am a little over halfway done with Vanity Fair, same goes for Far From the Madding Crowd. It took me a while to grow accustomed to Hardy’s style; its sort of…perfect, the right raito of everything, no long ranty sentences..but I am starting to like it quite a bit. At first it just annoyed me. Rebecca Sharp is an amazing character! End rant.
I actually read The Trial for book club. Its a pretty good book to discuss so as soon as you’re finished I ORDER you to go post-haste to the Ranting thread! And there to discuss.
(don’t mind me, please, I am just busy being my ordinary bossy self :grin:)
I’m almost done with Empire of Ivory… ack. By the end of BPW I didn’t care what happened, but now I do, and I am desperate to see Laurence and Temeraire reunited before the book ends.
11 days until Victory of Eagles comes out!!! Much good that will do, what with having to wait for the library and everything…
The trouble with those books (besides there being too many names to remember) is that every sentence is a run-on sentence. I cannot deny that I love run-on sentences, but really, you have to give fragments the attention they deserve as well. I was going to tell Ms. Novik this (albeit in slightly different terms), and ask her about the Incas while I was at it, but then I found that one could not post anonymously, and chose not to post at all.
304- Second paragraph: Oh, drat. First paragraph: YAAAAYYY!!!! Now I have to find Empire of Ivory and read it so that I’m caught up… our library doesn’t have any of them.
I have been enjoying Laurie J. Marks’ Shaftal books. the first is Fire Logic then Earth Logic then Water Logic. I don’t think Air Logic has been released yet.
YAY! FIRST POST ON MY FAVORITE THREAD EVAH!!!!!!!!! So, Twilight. Love it. has anyone read the Host yet? It’s Stephenie Meyer’s new book.
Yaaay! I was just about to bring that book up. I just finished the third one (Eclipse) and LOVED it, can’t wait for New Dawn to come out.
Has anybody here read the Vampirates series by Justin Somper (I think that’s his name)?
1-Yesss I love Twlight!
3-Nope.
The House of Dies Drear and A Wrinkle in Time are both good.
2- It’s Breaking Dawn, and it comes out on August 2nd. Eclipse Special Edition comes out May 30th, though, and they’re releasing the cover for Breaking Dawn in the back of the book. AND the first chapter!!!!!!!! *omg*
The Clique, anyone? Kind of dumb, but I like them anyway.
3- I thought they looked kind of stupid, so I didn’t. Am I wrong?
I read Twilight only, I haven’t gotten to the others yet. It was okay, I enjoyed it, but it was just a bit pointless. However, I’m not getting death threats from two of my best friends for not reading it, so thats good!
Right now I’m reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and really liking it….it’s so strange, wow.
I’ve been rereading H2G2. It’s very funny.
6- They’re actually pretty good. However, the writing style is rather low diction, which annoyed me at first.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians ROX!!!!!!!
10- Finshed the new one? I have yet to order it.
11- Are you referring to the Labyrinth one that’s coming out soon?
11-Wait…which one?
8-What? Is the book actually called that or is it an abbreviation? If abbreviation, what does it stand for?
Everyone should read the Mysterious Benedict Society and its sequel, too!
I love books!
My favorite books are the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, the Sisters Grimm series, and the Indiana Jones books. I also love books about dragons and fairies. Any reccomendations out there? 8 O
13- It’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
9~ Good, yes, but pointless. I enjoyed reading it, and I plan to read the others when I have the time. All I;m saying is that it’s pop fiction, and more like watching a movie– one doesn’t have to think very much at all, they can just let it wash over them.
14- Hi. Are you new? *pies*
who?
i Looove eragon
18- Really? I don’t particularly like it. Too derivative.
A good book for anyone who likes funny books is All American Girl by Meg Cabbot but don’t read the Sequel it stinks.
Curently I’m reading Gone With The Wind. It was a little slow in the begining but now that I’m farther into it I like it a lot.
I am reading Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary by Pamela Dean. It is quite good. a lot of discussion of things by intelligent characters. I enjoy it.
I’ve also been reading Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, a magazine/zine/whatever I’m supposed to call it where you may subscribe so that you receive chocolate with every issue.
oh, and note. if you like vampires and want something less pop-y, read Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
hey. POSOC. you don’t like Eragon? sorry, but that means you’re outta the program.
23- What program?
Everyone should read;
The Ironic Gentlemen-it’s AWESOME!! Hilarious and a great adventure, great for everyone I think.
Inkheart and Inkspell too (I read those in 3rd grade, still fantastic)-Great for people who love books like Harry Potter, yet it’s totally different.
East- East was the greatest book I ever read. Though sometimes confusing, you can get right back on track, it’s magnificent!!
I love this thread!
I started the Dragonriders of Pern series today.
(last thread replies:
I have The Little Prince in English and French, but I don’t think I could read French well enough to read that version yet. Maybe I should try again… maybe I should read the translation again too, because the first time I read it I was only in fifth grade, and I don’t think I understood it as much as I would now.
I didn’t know about Watership Down sequels!
Rosanne: *feels honored* Well, I don’t know, that’s just how I felt. But I don’t think I’ll read any more of the author’s work, if he wrote anything else…
I thought Anne Frank would have a big impact on me, but id really just didn’t. And I felt bad about it not affectiong me. I’ll have to read it again, and see.)
GWTW was definitely not my favorite,with all the racist passages and the character’s selfishness and everything. the
Just lost train of thought again when writing in disappeared comment box. *sigh* anyway, the author was pretty good with her actual writing, and it was interesting, but I couldn’t really enjoy it because she annoyed me. (Scarlett) by the end. and they didn’t say “frankly” during the famous quote, either…
I need to read more of the Dragon Riders of Pern… And find that last harper book, too.
I think I have to read all of the Eragon books again, bto really judge, but, well, I’m kind of divided on the issue. *kis not in the program, but does not join the totally-anti-Eragon-program either*
Sorry for this not making any sense and being gigantically long. By comment box shrank about a bazillion minutes ago…
Books/series I like:
1.Harry Potter (obviously)
2.All of Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar books (and her other books too): Several trilogies and stand alone books set in various times in the fictional kingdom of Valdemar
3. Anne McCafferey’s Acorna series was ok
4.Eragon is fine–no particular leanings either fanatically for nor against–Has the second book come out yet?
5.LOTR is fine–although I’m a bit sick of it right now, haing been taking a literature course on it–written nearly a hundred LOTR related pages for the course, and I’m not quite done yet….
k, I need a new box, so I can’t proof….
Sorry, on my last post I meant to ask if the third book in Eragon, not the second, had come out. And I meant I needed a new box so I can proof, not can’t.
I finally read Twilight. It is incredibly awesome.
I was afraid that it would extrordinarily creepy, being about vampires and all, but it wasnt much worse then a lot of other books I’ve read. Now I really need to get the second one from the library!
eragon is not the best book ever written, but then again it is not the worst either. the third is not out yet. if anyone hated Lord of the Flies in english, there is a book that can make up for it. For those who are mature readers, try to read Battle Royale. it was written in japan, and made into a movie. (rated R in a lot of countries, and banned in others) really violent
22- robin mckinley is such a good author. i read her robin hood book, the blue sword and that sequel
I need a book. But not just any book. I need a fantasy, not too weighty but really gripping, with characters that I can care about, and dramatic moments where I can’t concentrate on the book but I have to keep reading. I haven’t read a book like that for ages and ages, and I am experiencing withdrawal from dramatic irony.
29- the third book of Eragon comes out in September. I’m so glad it’s a cycle now! I was getting a little worried about how CP would fit everything he had to write into one book.
I posted my views on Warriors in the Neophyte thread, so any curious persons can go there.
Good books (those not mentioned here):
Dragonlance series (OMG wheee!)
Young Wizard series (I haven’t read them all yet, I’m trying again right now)
Pellinor series (The last book comes out in September)
The Dark Reflections Trilogy (Origionally written in German– the end’s so sad!)
I’ve read all the H2G2 books. All five. So Long and Thanks for All the Fish is the best one because it actually has a happy ending! And Mostly Harmless’s ending is completely and utterly stupid and the beginning is super sad. A hilarious series on the whole.
“Frogs? You don’t want to know…”
33-Is your name from Sabriel?
32-Shannon Shinn is pretty good (Like Mystic and Rider) … light, but interesting. I don’t know…
I’m reading the book Pretties. Heard of it? It’s pretty (puns are the lowest form of humor *glare at self*) good. It’s the sequel to Uglies, which I haven’t read, so I’m extremely confused to what’s going on when. But I’m starting to get it…
Anyway.
33- There is a sixth HG2G book that has nothing to do with the other five. It’s called “Young Zaphod Plays It Safe.” It’s about 10 pages long and is only available if you buy the “Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide.” Which I own.
35- I’ve heard about those books and I want to read them, but I haven’t gotten a chance yet.
Oh yeah and I just finished reading the original “Around the World in Eighty Days”. It’s great, but the movie (with Jackie Chan) is better, because it has the huge subplot about the jade-buddha-thing. Not that the book is bad, it’s great.
I also have read some of the Charlie Bone series, and the Shadow Children series. They’re both great.
36-I loved Around the World in 80 Days. And if we’re on the subject of Jules Vernes and travel-y books, “Michael Strogoff”is a fantastic read!
36- Yes, I have the Ultimate. I didn’t count it as a book, though. It’s more like a short story.
34- Of course it is! Mogget’s my favorite character of all time! And no, I’m not Ranna. I just randomly picked this name for myself.
I don’t really like Charlie Bone. I think the author should have stopped the series at five books.
33- I read the first two Dark Reflections, but I really didn’t like the translation. It made it rather dull and hard to read.
My list is coming along nicely. I have a pizza box covered in titles because I didn’t have any paper in the car.
32- try Freedom and Necessity by Steven Brust and Emma Bull. or if you don’t like that, try A Fistful of Sky by Nina Kiriki Hoffman.
Has anyone read the Mates, Dates series? Please don’t. The writing style is terrible, and they use commas like they’re going out of style. They remind me of the Mary-Kate and Ashley books. *shudder*
36 – I have the Ultimate HItchhiker’s Guide, but I’m only about halfway through and going nowhere fast.
I would love to read The Host, but it says it is an “adult” novel. So…
Jaclyn Moriarty is a good author.. The Year of Secret Assignments, and The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie.
Twilight sounds scary. It’s the one with those high schoolers turn into vampires?? I’ve read all of the H2G2 books.
33- I read the young wizards series in 3rd grade. I still can’t find the last 2 anywhere. It’s a great series though.
42- The Host doesn’t really have anything bad in it. Eclipse is actually worse in the whole sexual department. You should totally read it. And it’s really easy to read, and the fount isn’t insanely tiny.
43- It isn’t scary!!!!! They’re GOOD vampires. That’s the whole plotline. The only scary ones are the bad vampys, and they don’t come in until the end-ish. READ TWILIGHT. NOW.
My mom says it’s a “Young adults” book. She won’t let me read it *sobs* I have read TONS of young adult books before, and very scary books. It’s probably because she thinks it’ll give me nightmares. So, it’s about good vampires that do what? The movie poster looks scary. *shivers* sorry, I won’t read it. I’m not a huge fan of vampires stories, but I do like Dracula.
Has anyone ever read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle? It’s by Avi. Though it was a little boring in the beginning, I couldn’t stop reading it after that. I finished AotSP last week. It was flamablamablous!
1-I haven’t read Twilight yet, but I intend to!
5-I haven’t read it, and I don’t intend too.
10-I need to get the new one!
Eragon: Boring!
Charlie Bone: Harry Potter Rip-Offs taken to the Extreme! I knew what would happen in the Last Book from the First Book!
Is Twilight a romantic novel?
12- It’s out already. saw it at Barnes and Noble on monday.
Just so you know, the sequel to Benedict society is the mysterious benedict society and the perilous jroney. It’s dust jacket is blue, and it is 433 pages. it’s $18 in stores, and $12 on amazon.com.
Has any one read the Calder Game yet? it’s the newest “Chasing Vermeer” and “The Wright 3” book. It looks good.
45- Ooh, love that book.
48- Oh, Chasing Vermeer was good. Very puzzlish. I liked it a lot.
43 – Somewhat. But they’re good vampires, and it’s not really scary at all. I hate almost all scary things, and I absolutely loved it.
45 – Aww, that’s too bad.
Twilight is really awesome.
47 – Yup. Most of the book’s plot is based around romance.
Eragon…ick. I guess I read it sometimes, in between other more interesting books…it’s my “I’m too lazy to go look for a good book” book. I think the story could be good, but it’s not all that well-written.
Here’s a really awesome book: Summerland, by Michael Chabon. If you like myths and legends, or just a good adventure/coming of age story, read it.
I also like the classics, particularly Scarlet Pimpernel (which I think I’ve read about twenty times) and The Three Musketeers.
And of course I feel obligated to add The Princess Bride. It’s waaaay better than the movie (if that’s even possible), lots of little asides and funny comments that didn’t get into the movie.
50 – Ick. Romance.
51 – Eragon. Yuck. I agree. The movie was terrible. It cut out the WHOLE journey. It was worse than the book. The Princess Bride movie wasn’t that good. The book was way better.
51-I loved some of the ideas in Summerland, and how the different genres melded together!
What’s Twilight? I’ve never heard of it. I guess I’ll look for it. But if you’re into vampire stories, you might like the Cirque du Freak series. It’s a little gritty, and after the third book it sort of peters out, but I liked what I read of it.
43) Books are rarely very scary, trust me. Stephen King is supposed to be one of the best horror writers, right? I’ve read plenty of his books and not one of them was overly frightening. He’s not the only scary story writer that I’ve read. No book or story is really, really scary. This is because books have very little scary-factor. Horror books are not like horror movies; less scariness, more plot and character development, as a whole.
[/rant]
Who’s read Ivanhoe? I liked it, but I think the ending was a little weak.
Has anyone read any books by Jack Vance? I just finished reading one, Nightlamp, and it pwns. He’s a pretty good sci-fi writer, I think.
54 – Uh oh. You’ve never heard of Twilight?
*braces self for explosion from Misswann*
55- I’m exploding too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-52
you are totally insane to think that eragon is a bad book…grrrrrr…
45- Tell your mom that I am eleven years old and read twilight whenI was ten, got nightmares from an episode of the Simpsons, and I read the twilight books just fine.
57- I hate Eragon.
46- *agrees about charlie bone*
47- Yes, a girl falls in love with a vampire. It’s terribly tragic (but awesome)
54- WHAT?!!!?!!??? NEVER HEARD OF TWILIGHT????? What rock in which cave on which planet in what UNIVERSE have you been living in for the past four years?????????????????????
Is it safe to come out?
57 – Why? It’s terrible! *braces self*
59- Yes, it’s safe. *wheeze wheeze wheeze* HONestly… And I agree with the eragon sucking thing. It just doesn’t work.
Okay. *comes out*
I reread Narnia. Urk. It’s confusing.
Attention to Alice. did you see post forty?
62- I did indeed. I’ve requested it. Thanks!
I am currently reading:
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
Tales from Watership Down
The sad thing is both are short story collections.
I need to go to the library. His Majesty’s Dragon hath arrived.
I think I might steal my friend’s bookcase and read it over the summer. After getting through all my aunt-gift books that I haven’t had time to read because high school eats my free time.
Good books I’ve read recently:
Larklight and Starcross
The Faerie Wars series
My History textbook (…only joking!)
I’m thinking about reading Twilight, but I’m not sure I want to get myself into that. Lotta culture going along with the book, y’know?
I liked Eragon the first three times I read it, but the fourth time I spontaneously decided it wasn’t that good.
My Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide is currently being lent to a friend. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is my favorite.
Wow, I thought everyone had heard of Twilight. Do you live in the Himalayas in a cave?
Sorry, I don’t mean to make you feel bad.
Although you could remedy the situation by reading it…
I keep looking for Twilight (and New Moon and Eclipse) in all the libraries but it’s ALWAYS checked out. It’s a fad in my school, I should have read it when only a few people knew about it.
I think I’m gonna end up buying it.
I finished The Picture of Dorian Gray and I’m going to start Jane Eyre.
One of the things that I didn’t like about Twilight was that Bella was pretty shallow. It seemed like she was most concerned that Edward was so gorgeous, and how lucky she was because of that. I dunno, it just annoyed me.
I went on a book spree, and now I’m getting Books 5&6 of Sisters Grimm and the new Percy Jackson on Thursday! YES!!!!!
Waitaminute.
New Percy Jackson book???
*hops on bike and goes to Barnes & Noble*
I now present to my fellow MBers a series suggestion that almost nobody will take.
Note: to read this series, it is ideal to be in the mood for something not only dark and creepy, but extremely grotesque, too. If you want that, read the Demonata series by Darren Shan. The first book is Lord Loss.
67-Yes! You finished it. Did you like it? I really adored it. Except for those thirty or so pages in the middle devoted exclusively to Dorian’s interests. Those were a bit rough…I wish there were someway to discuss it without posting spoilers on the general thread. Ah well! : )
Hm… books, books, books. Where to begin. I used to have a mental “favorite book” list, but I haven’t thought about it in a while, and I just realized how extremely out of date it is now… I’ve read most of the books mentioned here… I’ll just write all my opinions in one ginormous chunky bullet-paragraph thing.
Good books:
-Twilight (series). Planning to read the Host.
-Uglies (series)
-Percy Jackson/Olympians (series)
-H2G2 (I’ve only read a bit, but it’s
pretty goodinsanely beyond amazing-Tamora Pierce (author): She’s written a bunch of series, they’re all quite nice. Especially if you read all of her “same universe” books.
-Harry Potter (pfft less than no-brainer)
-Jules Vernes (author)- I almost inhaled these books a few years ago. *…* Come to think of it, that sounds quite painful :/
Notes on other books:
-Charlie Brown- it was o.k… I agree with post 38, it should have stopped sooner
-Eragon- basically a bunch of other fantasies smooshed together. It was fair reading though.
-LOTR- I read the Hobbit and the first 1.5 books a couple years ago, but I got bored… and stopped :/ I should probably go back *cough*
-The Clique- It’s fair. I can’t really see why people like them so much though. *plehh*
Many heartfelt apoligies for the insanely long post.
70 – Um… er… ah… Disturbing, you say? Well… ah… Grotesque? Um…
70~ Disturbing to think of someone being so obsessed with their own beauty and living a life like that and in constant fear of discovery. That was disturbing. His portrait, grotesque. You said that when I finished it you wanted to “rant about it,” care to? I enjoyed it immensely, and read read into the wee hours, taxing my tired eyes to no end, but it was worth it.
I just started The Dark Is Rising series last week. I love it!
I finished the Harper Hall Trilogy today. (Pern by Ann McCaffrey) Are there any others?
I loved The Dark is Rising, too, Turquoise. Have fun!
I’m about to get my first taste of the Patrick O’Brians Aubrey/Maturin series — as soon as I get the first one from the library. I wonder if I’ll get hooked, as so many have.
76- Hmm. It could never hold my interest long enough. I desperately wanted to read it, but I couldn’t seem to get past the bits where they sit around talking about things I don’t understand.
i’m also making a list of GOOD books.
The Last Apprentice–Joseph Delaney.
The Inheritance trilogy/cycle–Christopher Paolini.
Attack of the Smart Pies–You know who wrote that!
Harry Potter–Obviously.
All of Lloyd Alexander’s books.
Warriors–Erin Hunter.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole–Kathryn Lasky.
Septimus Heap–Angie Sage.
His Dark Materials–Philip Pullman.
Hatchet–Gary Paulsen.
LOTR–J.R.R. Tolkien.
Why Cats Paint–Er…I can’t remember who wrote that one.
Redwall–Brian Jaques.
and an excerpt from my fav. book–one that I’m writing!
Chapter 1
Fishing
Yoko was an energetic young cat; stretching luxuriously in the warm summer sun, he looked up at his beloved castle, its turrets and towers and formidable walls looked so powerful to him. Lying on the large lawns dotted with gardens and fountains, he was able to see all across this side of the castle, its walls made of a brown-colored brick, the window sills were hung with ferns and all other manner of lush vegetation.
Yoko watched with considerably more interest as a robin flew overhead, it seemed to be reveling in the new season as it zipped onward, its clear call piercing the sunlight: chirrup chirrup chirrup. Yoko continued watching for a moment, and then he heaved himself up and padded off toward the castle, lunchtime.
Yoko walked across the lawns slowly, enjoying the warmth on his back. The huge walls that protected the outer flank of the castle shown a reddish-brown color that reminded him of afternoons spent out fishing, boating on the creek that ran not far from the castle, in fact, the creek was just a quarter mile from where the fortress lay.
Pushing open the huge oaken doors, Yoko entered, immediately (predictably)
He was toppled over backward, stampeded by a huge crew of young kittens.
Squealing with delight, the kittens pummeled him fiercely, leaving Yoko to yowl,
“Gettoff you little fiends!†Yoko bellowed. “Dugger, you’re the ringleader, you little devilish infants—” but his reply was cut off by a homely catwife, (who was incidentally Dugger’s mother).
“Why, what are you doing? Stop tormenting young Yoko there, you included, Rimples!†she said, swiftly waylaying a young one who was attempting to escape up a lofty flight of stairs. Yoko spoke out on the behalf of the apprehended young cats. “Oh, their fine, they were only having some fun. To tell you the truth, I actually enjoy it.â€
With a clamor, the young kittens cheered, happy that they had not been punished
For their open disrespect for their “elder†though Yoko was really only the cat equivalent of a teenager. “Go out and play, before you get up to any more mischief,†Yoko tried hard not to laugh as the little ones cavorted out the door.
“Thanks, Imbleberry,†said Yoko. “I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t there to help me, well, actually, I’d probably get pummeled to death by the kittens.â€
“Think nothing of it dear,†Imbleberry fussed with her apron strings, “I must be getting of to work on lunch, we’re having a fish pie tonight, your favorite I think?â€
“Indeed it is, thanks again Imbleberry,†with that Yoko trotted off towards his bedchamber, Maybe sitting down would do me some good, thought Yoko, as he made his way up the stairs, Nah, too nice a day for that he admonished himself, but continued up the stairs.
Entering, Yoko saw that his room had been tidied up in his absence. The curtains were thrown open and the bed was neatly made, coupled with the fact that the ashes in his fireplace had been cleaned out and his armchair was devoid of its usual three or four cloaks that often hung over its back. Yoko yawned loudly, reaching under his desk; he pulled out a pair of sandals from underneath the table, pulling them onto his footpaws, he sprinted back down the stairs at top speed.
“Hey! Whatchit!†Yoko sailed through the air ears over tail; looking wildly around to see what he had hit. His friend Crius the Aplomado Falcon was rubbing ruefully at an injured tail feather.
“Ouch. That hurt.†Said Crius, “I don’t know what you think you’re doing these days Yoko.†He rubbed his tail again, and then continued with a will.
“I’ve just been sent up to fetch you. Pouncer and Merlin want you to come and go fishing with them, they say they just bought new bait from Binkle’s Bait Shop, you know, the one that we used to go to and Binkle would give us free treats, boy, that ole cat could catch any fish that ever lived. And they also told me that if ye don’t get down there fast, they’ll go without you.†Crius left off rubbing his tail for a minute, and then fluttered his wings for a moment to make sure they were all in order.
“Well, I guess I’d better get down there pretty fast. Nice to see you Crius,â€
Yoko resumed walking down the stairs, this time at a slower rate, the light shining through the stained glass windows danced upon the winding stairs, there long motes showing the dust in the air. When he reached the hall, he walked through it at a sedate pace, admiring the wonderful carved pillars, depicting the many heroes and patriarchs of catten history: Utara the Warrior, Edgar 1, Amar the Fighter…the list went on and on. Yoko reached the doors, still watching all around him, the words of his father came back to him in a flurry: more may be learned by hours of watching and waiting than ever could be seen by those who spend their time doing practices of our system of writing and numbers, true, thought Yoko, ah, but he was supposed to be down fishing, not staring blankly at long-dead heroes, but he reminded himself, though he never liked to, that he was a prince, and that once he would have to rule the throne. It was a grim fact, but one Yoko knew he would have to accept. His father, Edgar II, still held the castle though, so Yoko could still revel in the joys of being young and unburdened. Oh why did he let his mind run like this? Yoko chided himself, wondering at the way his just skipped from subject to subject, never staying in one realm. FISHING! The thought intruded on his head, and he started to lift the bolt—then realized that, there was no bolt. Odd, Yoko thought, since when did the doors not have bolts?
Hmmmmm, well, I’ll tell Merlin and Pouncer about it as we boat down the creek.
Yoko pushed open the doors, much the same as he had done just fifteen minutes earlier, and walked out on the lawns. The soothing perfume of roses and mint hit his nostrils as he padded past a pool surrounded by gardens, a young trout swam lazily underneath the cool surface, it all seemed so peaceful here. To Yoko, it looked like nothing could ever disturb the serene lawns of his castle. From his position he could see the treetops poking over the east walls, their leafy foliage casting patterns of light across the ground.
“Yoko! Over here!†Pouncer and Merlin, Yoko’s two friends from the city were calling from the east corner, holding poles and their small drift boat. Merlin was a white cat with blackish-gray patches, wiry muscles showed under his lean coat.
Pouncer was similarly built, but he was an orange tabby, and slightly smaller than Merlin, with the M of a typical tabby marked on his brow. Sharp claws protruded from both cats paws, gleaming in the light of the sun, their coats shone lustrously as Yoko approached.
“Hi! Crius jus’ told me that you were waiting on me.†Yoko called.
“Oh, we thought he might, we were just tellin’ Imbleberry about fishing, Crius never failed to hear, seeing as he was sitting in the tree above us. He thought we didn’t know he was there.†At this point, Pouncer snorted, “Well, we did, but he went off to tell you anyway.â€
“What? He told me you sent me a message!†Yoko was surprised.
“Well, I guess it was the only fib he’s ever told,†Merlin answered, shaking his head. “But we’d best be off, I here Hugh will be out fishing, we’ll wanna get our twitchy little tails in the creek before he catches all the fish.†He shouldered the boat, carrying it over his head, seeing as they were smaller than Merlin, Yoko and Pouncer hefted the poles and a surprisingly heavy tackle box, given its small size.
“Wow, what’s in this?†Yoko held up the tackle box. “Rocks, by the weight of—oof!†he crashed to the floor, overbalanced by the immensely heavy box.
“Whoa there Yoko, can’t ye lift a tackle box? It’s full o’ Binkle’s newest style of bait, the best anywhere, but the problem with it is that the bait has to be soaked in water constantly, which means that it’s full with jars of water.†Merlin laughed his voice echoingly strangely from the inside of the boat, which he carried over his head.
“There, tha’s better,†Yoko lifted the box, then set it down again, and opened it.
“Hey, you’re right; it’s completely full with water jars.†Pouncer peered inside it, looking surprised. “Merlin, what were you thinking? There’s no way we can tote this all the way to the creek.â€
“Here, I’ll take it. You carry the boat, it’s lighter than you’d expect.â€
He set the coracle down with a grunt, lowering it carefully so as not to hurt his paws. Yoko and Pouncer lifted it with a flurry of labored breathing, their muscles groaning in protest at the weight.
“You call this light?†Pouncer snorted derisively, shaking his head. “How did ye get that kinda strength, Merlin?†Merlin merely answered: “I was born with it.â€
And continued trudging towards the wall’s door. “You’d better hurry up. There’ll be no fish left if we don’ get goin’.†The others followed suit, balancing the boat on their shoulders, with much hard breathing, they lifted it.
They made their way out through the main gate, which was wide enough for the boat to fit through without any problems, walking out onto the hard worn dirt track that wound through the ancient trees, many of which were much wider than ten boats put together. A thrush fluttered overhead, its wings slicing the air was the only sound that penetrated the dense foliage.
“A lovely noontime to be out,†said Yoko, letting the sun shine down on his jet-black fur. “But we’d better hurry, that is, if we want to catch fish, ah, well, you two know what happens when Hugh goes fishin’.â€
Soon they came to a fork in the trail, one going towards the stream, the other, the flatlands; those were off beyond the wood, maybe four days good hiking to reach them. Merlin walked off down the left one, the one that went to the creek, Pouncer and Yoko followed him. Yoko stopped to look at the ground; he had never seen tracks like that before.
“Merlin, Pouncer, c’mere, ye need to see this!†Yoko called; the prints were large, with huge depressions, apparently massive claws. “What do you think passed by here? In all the time I’ve studied tracks, I’ve never seen them like this, and the other thing is: there’s no bolts anymore.†Yoko sniffed the tracks; they smelled musty-sweet, with a fetor of rotting meat to them. “Sure don’t smell to good,†he said.
“C’mon though, we should get goin’.†Pouncer said, and then started to lift the boat,
“Yoko, the boat!†Yoko got up, his mind whirring, I don’t know what they are, but I’m going to find out if I can, he thought. He could begin to hear the stream rushing nearby, its waters swirling peacefully.
♦ ♦ ♦
By noon, they reached the stream, its waters babbling on undisturbed: kingfishers flitted from tree to tree, dragonflies buzzed lazily across the water, Peaceful, thought Yoko, I could live here… the thought floated through his head like the damselfly that was now inspecting his nose: it started to buzz away.
“Break out the fishin’ gear Yoko, are ye gonna sit there all day?†Pouncer’s voice sounded above the rushing of the creek, “time t’ fish, not dream.â€
Yoko picked up his rod, “We need some o’ that—’’ his claws sketched quotation marks around the word—“‘bait’ you bought, Merlin,â€
Merlin reached down at the phenomenally heavy tackle box, yanking open the lid, he peered inside, “Um…oops, some of the water spilled…but I think its okay…â€
Yoko moved in closer to observe: the box was filled with what looked like old canning jars, one of which was now releasing a trickle of water from where the lid was screwed on. “Hmmm…don’t look to good.†Pouncer observed, but what’s in the other jars?†Merlin picked a jar up from the bottom of the box, “This.â€
He held up the jar: it was filled with what looked rather like a…well a yellowish paste, which looked slightly orange when the sun shone on the jars.
“Uh…Merlin, are you completely sure that it’s safe to use?†Yoko voiced the question that he felt was surely being echoed in Pouncer’s mind.
“O’ course it’s safe, Binkle gave it to us.†His face turned to exasperation, “Oh, wot is it? Ye look like fried toads witnessing the roasting of two fat sausages.†Merlin could be surprisingly inventive when it came to descriptive terms.
“Hmmm…nicely phrased Merlin, what do you think Pouncer? Do we actually look like—ah, Merlin what was that you said? Roasted toads eying fried sausages? Or was it—whatever.†Said Yoko, laughing: then he picked up the end of his line and rolled the paste into a ball, which it did surprisingly easily, then poked it onto the hook at the end of the thin, clear, cord.
Raising the rod, Yoko whipped it back and cast, sending the hook, with its burden of paste, whizzing over the water, then reeled it back in fast. “Casts good,â€
He remarked, “Let’s get the boat on the water though.â€
Yoko, Merlin, and Pouncer heaved the small coracle down the muddied bank, and slowly pushed it into the water, the stream lapped gently at its sides.
“All aboard!†Merlin leaped in, pulling the tackle box with him, “Last one in’s
A fried toad!†Yoko and Pouncer swiftly hopped in, teasing Merlin. “Well, here’s the fried toads!â€
72- I agree with your book list.
A book list that shall look entirely different from the rest of yours and rapidly turn into an authors list.
-The Dark is Rising (yes, I like it too.)
-Freedom and Necessity Steven Brust and Emma Bull
-Books by
-Emma Bull
-Charles de Lint
-Ellen Kushner
-Delia Sherman
-Nina Kiriki Hoffman
-Will Shetterly
-Elizabeth Bear
-Laurie J. Marks
and many more.
-Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
-Joan Aiken
-Tolkien
etc, etc..
anyone read Good Omens By Gaiman and Pratchett? It’s suppose to be like HG2G
oh, and His Dark Materials and Attack of the Smart Pies. One mustn’t forget Attack of the Smart Pies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Erin Hunter is three different people!
38-Yay! (I can’t wait until the other books come out, even if it is in about two years…)
81-Yes, I did! It was, kind of…
It wasn’t my all-time-favorite book, but there were some really funny bits, and I had a hard time telling the two author’s styles apart (Which was good…I think…?) It was kind of Neil Gaiman dark-like, and most of the humor seemed Prattchett-esque (like the footnotes and stuff). I need to read more of Terry, but the library has about five books of his, and that’s it.
78-I like it!
77-I feel the same way, but then I always feel bad because I know I should like them, but I just don’t as much as I’m supposed to. I tried to read about the one with the foxes three times, … I liked it eventually, I’m just too lazy/ or something. But I did like King Of Shadows by her. E
*comment box shrinks*
*sigh*
POSOC, what does ur name mean?
85- It’s an acronym for Prarilius Oob Sir Ozlips Canix. Mim is my muse.
66–I ended up buying them, I couldn’t wait long enough to read them.
I know this is a cardinal sin, but I like the LOTR movies waay better than the books. I think they’re well-written in some places, but they’ve got so much detail that it’s hard to get through them (and this is coming from a major book reader, so I’m not just lazy).
*begins list*
Harry Potter
H2G2
LOTR
Septimus Heap
Stravaganza!!!!!!!! I love it!
The Dark Is Rising
The Harper Hall Trilogy
The Circle of Magic
The Immortals
Protector of the Small
Everything else by Tamora Pierce
Inheritance
The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, Inkheart, Inkspell etc. by Cornelia Funke
Artemis Fowl
Chasing Vermeer
Etc.
Oh, the agony! The pain! I’ve finished Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and now I must rely on the movies to tide me over until I get to the library. And I ♥ the movies, but it’s not the same.
87 – I still haven’t seen the LotR movies yet, though I’ve read the books at least twice. My parents’ excuse is that they want to wait until I can “see it on the big screen” – in other words, a projector projecting the movie on a sheet hung on our living room wall. I don’t see why we couldn’t have done that already, though, so I think the PG-13 rating is still scaring them off, at least for my brother and possibly for me.
Wow, this post had nothing to do with books.
Um…Tamora Pierce rocks. All of her same-universe stories are awesome, although they get slightly repetitive.
Oh no. Shrinkage….
I adore re-reading Sherlock Holmes. I’m still plowing semi-succesfully through the Balzac, not very sucesfully through L’Etrangere, and I haven’t even started The Spy Who Came in from the Cold yet. Bad girl!
90- LOTR= absolutely spiffing!
Good Omens: Awesome! Two of my favorite authors get together and write a book! I love it!
80-I like your list. I haven’t read most of those, and I now have some new stuff to look for. I have read Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s story in the 2nd Firebirds Anthology, and I liked it!
O.k., I’m getting Good Omens next time i’m at the library.
I’ve read Good Omens. It is quite enjoyable.
Ooh! I almost forgot about Artemis Fowl! I love those books.
Has anyone read The Supernaturalists? It’s by Eoin Colfer (the same guy who wrote Artemis Fowl). Stefan Bashkir has got to be one of my favorite book characters.
92- yay firebirds! if you find something out of print, send Sharyn emails about it. (she is the person who puts together those anthologies.) She appreciates feedback. I… should re-read the second anthology.
re: Chasing Vermeer. I liked it. I still need to read the Wright Three…
I like Stravaganza too. (this was sort of to post 88)
I think I’ve figured out why I’m a bit miffed at all the Twilight/Harry Potter/Maximum Ride -ness. It is all fine and good to /like/ those (though personally I don’t particularly like Twilight and I’ve not read Maximum Ride) it is just that I see patterns of it being the only things read. Or, well, talked about. I’d like to see more discussion here that branches out into other books, other genres, just farther afield in general. Favorite books lists that /differ/
Anyways.
96- Like Abarat?
Or Watership Down?
Or (you guessed it) Hornblower?
What can I say, I’m obsessed.
I think we’re going to the library tomorrow. I’ve got His Majesty’s Dragon waiting for me there.
87- Strangely enough, I agree with you.
*booklist’d*
)
Enthusiasm (Polly Shulman
Harry Potter (JKR)
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
The Clique (Lisi Harrison)
Guitar Girl (Sara Manning)
The Sisters Grimm (Michael Buckley)
Artemis Fowl (eoin colfer)
Cell (Stephen King)
The Secrte Life of Sparow Delaney (Umm… I forget.)
oh dangit! i forgot Artemis!
97- Woot for Watership Down! I just went and read the Watership Down vs. Chuck Norris thread. Exceedingly amusing! And my vote goes to Watership Down. I &hearts: that book with a fiery passion.
Probably the sweetest book that I have ever read is Wind in the Willows. I’ve reread it so many times by now that it’s engrained into my subconscious. For those of you who don’t know, its just the quaint little story of Rat and Mole and their quirky friends. It is not a little children’s book at all, but a very beautiful and lyrical read. Anyhooo, strongly recommend it.
Also, for someone who is looking for a slightly more solemn book: “Passage to India” is wonderful. The book is centered on the class tensions in British India, but its stock full of philosophical discussions, so that it transcends the shallow political bookness that so many works get stuck in.
95-I found the Supernaturalists pretty good. I liked Half Moon Investigations a whole lot better! I love Terry Pratchett!’s Books!!! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed! Obsessed!
I am a huge fan of: Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson and the Olympians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for double post, but I forgot to and Eragon/Eldest/Brisingr (when it comes out) And Warriors *pauses to think* Hatchet series, the Giver, Holes Pendragon and a personal favorite, Ender’s Game
102-I just read the new Percy Jackson! Have you?
104- I read it. One of the best, in my opinion. The series overall is just a bit cheesy, but very imaginative and amusing.
I’m reading this wierd book right now called Feed. It’s about how kids in the future get a chip implanted in their heads a birth (called a feed) and it’s controlled by a corporation. Basically a boy with a feed meets a girl who had her feed implanted when she was twelve, so she had a free life for a while. It’s actually really good, the whole thing is in this like futuristic slangy-type thing. Forget who it’s by.
I went to the library. I got all sorts of things, including His Majesty’s Dragon, which I’m very excited about.
I’m reading this great book by Megan Whalen Turner called The Theif I think most Musers would like it! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
107- It’s very, very good.
The books that I got yesterday:
His Majesty’s Dragon
Throne of Jade
Black Powder War – All by Naomi Novik. I’m terribly excited, I ♥ that time period.
The Maelstrom – Anne McCaffrey and someone else. Possibly good, possibly not, but I’ll give it a chance.
Curse of the Romanovs – It looks rather generic, but again, I might as well give it a chance.
The Pig Who Saved the World – A very silly-looking spin on Ancient Greece, promises to be a fun read.
Rain Village – This looks like it could be amazing or awful. I hope it’s the former.
Ingledove – I got it a while ago but couldn’t settle down enough to read anything, so I’m going to try again.
110- BPW! *wants*
A fifth book, Victory of Eagles, is coming out soon. Does the Eagle refer to France (crowned eagle was Napoleon’s seal; also, his son was known as the Eaglet), Russia (two-headed eagle was the crest of the Czars) or America? I personally think it’ll refer to Russia, since Napoleon didn’t exactly *win*, and the War of 1812 (the only conflict with America in which Laurence and Temeraire could get involved) is still more than six years off.
106-That was a pretty good book actually. I’m not usually a fan of teenage-y books, but I got a kick out of reading that one.
I love short stories. My bookshelf is stock full of anthologoies. And I love The Dubliners, about which I will write more later.
For post 104: no, I haven’t but I really want to.
I hope to get it soon though! 
Just finished “Tales From Watership Down.” I ♥ Watership Down.
114-Me too. Though I’d venture to say that I like Wind in the Willows even more. Which is saying something in my book (unintended pun).
I completely forgot the plot to The Supernaturalists. That tells me it’s forgettable, and, ergo, bad.
115- I didn’t really care for Wind in the Willows. It unsettled me somehow, until recently when I reread it, but by then it was too late.
HMD is really good! I’m only on Chapter 2, but I’m enjoying it immensely.
Alice (77): Did you mean the Dark is Rising series didn’t hold your attention? Or Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series?
I just got the first book of the latter series from the library. Now all I have to do is actually open it up and start reading.
Rosanne- Aubrey/Maturin, of course!
The Dark is Rising is one of the best books I’ve read.
But I’m going to try reading Patrick O’Brian’s books again pretty soon, seeing as I’ve been longing for nautical tales and I ♥ the movie.
I just got the colour of magic from the libary.
Wow. that was fast.
120-Yes!!!!!! I hope you love it!
Alice: That clears things up
I did think that I recalled you giving The Dark is Rising a thumbs up.
As to Patrick O’Brian’s books: The publisher (Norton) has some helpful links on its Web site. I might refer to them if I get excessively confused.
TMFA: I do wonder what color magic is. I’d guess gray.
Not exactly literary, more historical, but worth mentioning nonetheless…I am doing a project on the 1950s and to get an idea of feminism in the decade, I am reading Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique.” Its a pretty disturbing depiction of a woman’s world back then, actually. Page after page describing this picture the media massively promulgated of a woman with the caption “If I have only one life, let me live it as a blonde.” Its a good book in the sense of a historical source. Which reminds me, I should probably go back to working on it, so cheers everyone!
123- According to Terry Pratchett it’s octarine. I personally think it’s grurple.
I’d guess that different kinds of magic are different colors.
126- Interesting idea… I’d guess sorcery is a sort of bilious red-violet. Wizardry, of course, is silver. Witchcraft- hard, spiky, frosted green.
123- no, no, no! I’ve just started!
POSOC, I see a sequel to “The Colour of Magic.” It’s called “The Colour of Grurple.
129- Or perhaps Milady Bunniful could make Physics of Blue/Eccentricities of Red a trilogy?
I’d read that trilogy, for sure.
131- So would I, no question about it.
131- Me too.
HMD rules. Temeraire is such a very endearing dragon.
The copy of Colour of Magic that I read was MISSING A PAGE.
112- ooh! I love anthologies too! I’ll suggest a few (Tiptree Award Anthologies are awesome) when it isn’t so late… do you have suggestions?
133- He is, isn’t he?
134-MISSING A PAGE? MISSING A PAGE! *Faints*
78- Yoko! I thought Yoko was a girl’s name?
Has anybody read the Septimus Heap series?n The first one is Magyk, then Flyte, after that Physik, and the one that recently came out was Queste.
(130-133) Aww, thanks, guys. By the time I finish revising the first book, everyone here will be old enough to read it. Even Rosanne. *dodges pies and runs*
138- That’s good to know.
-137 yes, a LOT of people have read Septimus. i just bought Queste.
The new Sisters Grimm is so good!!!!!!!!!!! The Mad Hatter as a Judge, The Scarecrow as a librarian, and more on Little Red Riding Hood!!!!!! I loooove this book!!!!!!!
(141) Bookworm,
If you know about Lurline, you must be highly Oz-literate. My family owned all the Oz books when I was a boy, and I read every one of them, over and over again — including the ones by Ruth Plumly Thompson, Jack Snow, John R. Neill, and Rachel Cosgrove. If anyone ever wants to talk about Oz, I’m ready.
134-Hmm…glad womeone else shares my infatuation!
for short stories, *ruminates* I love any of the O’Henry collections and vehemently reccomend The Dubliners. I’ll set a couple more down when its not so late. How about you?
It’s sad, I really don’t care for short stories. I can’t really get deeply immersed in them, because they’re so very…short.
142-I love the Oz books!!!! They always will have a soft spot in my heart. Five years after my Oz addiction of the first seven years of my life, my room is still stuffed with Ozian items. I really only loved the L. Frank Baum books, but I read some others. I have models, scripts, and artifacts from my three Oz themed Birthdays, including a “Pin the Heart on The Tin Woodman” Game drawn by my late grandfather. I still read Oz again and again, and it will stay very special to me!!!!!!
(145) “Pin the Heart on the Tin Woodman”? Brilliant!
Baum’s books were definitely the best. I had childhood crushes on Ozma, General Jinjur, and Polychrome, the Rainbow’s daughter, and I was very fond of H. M. Wogglebug, T. E. My favorite minor character was the Glass Cat. Remember her?
List of my favorite books:
Abarat
Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen
A Wizard of Earthsea
Inkheart
Eragon/Eldest/soon-to-be Brisingr
Garth Nix is awesome!
I forgot to mention all the books by Scott Westerfeld, and Tamora Pierce. Sorry for the double post.
146- The Glass Cat is amazing. I love her.
I’ve read a LOT of Oz books, but I can’t remember which ones. There is a picture of me when I was seven years old, very small, with my childish haircut, sitting in a (very large) chair reading a simply enormous Oz book, probably a quarter of my size.
137-No way, the spelling scares me too much.
My favorite authors of the last few years(I may be forgetting some):
Tamora Pierce
Gail Carson Levine
Patricia C. Wrede
Katherine Paterson
Karen Cushman
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Jeanne duPrau
Cornelia Funke
Tanith Lee
Maud Hart Lovelace
Actually this is more or less what my list was a couple years ago, I haven’t updated it in a while. In some of those cases I haven’t read any of their books in quite a while, so they may be aimed at kids slightly younger than I am now. (Maud Hart Lovelace has been a favorite since my dad read me the first 3 Betsy-Tacy books when I was about 5.) But I loved them all, so they’ll always be among my favorites.
141- I KNOW!! I hathe the ending though!!!!!!!!! *drools while waiting for next book to come out*
I don’t really like how Puck and Sabrina are kind of getting into a relationship, though. They should wait a few years.
142- I read the Oz books before Harry Potter! I got the entire set with full-colour drawings for my 7th birthday. I was so happy!
150- I adore Patricia C. Wrede! No ione knows about her books, though. It stinks.
I just started “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.” Its an espionage-ical thriller. Very and excessively difficult to put down. I’m simultaneously reading a Balzac. Here’s the odd thing: the Balzac is crammed with descriptions and all that other stuff that tends to make a book tedious, however, like with all the others I’ve read, the book is equally, if not more, intense and fascinating than some action packed crime story. Gawd! I love that. It must be the characters.
150- Cornelia Funke is a magnificent writer. I especially like Inkspell and Inkheart. I wonder when the 3rd book will come out.
146-She’s great! Exactly how a Glass Cat would be, I think. The essence is so perfect.
147-I agree about Garth Nix! Have you read the Keys To THe Kingdom?
151-I agree. Take a little pause, guys. Also, I love PCW too. Her books are so funny!
(154) For non-Ozophiles, the Glass Cat has pretty pink brains that she is always asking other people to admire. Though not outwardly affectionate, she is secretly very loyal to her friends. In The Magic of Oz, there’s a great scene in which her human companions get stuck on a magic island and plead with her to fetch a rescue party. She replies that she might help them if she gets around to it and strolls slowly away. But as soon as she is sure they can’t see her, she runs like the wind.
I rather liked the Bartimaeus books (I think they were a trilogy; sorry, don’t remember who they’re by!). I liked the way they switched between the different points of view. Herm. Must…go…to…library…
156- They’re by Jonathon Stroud. They were good. I’ve been wanting to reread them. Maybe I’ll do that this summer.
151- I like Patricia C. Wrede! A new edition of The Seven Towers is coming out this year.
The Bookworm & Lurline: Yes, I have, but I haven’t gotten my hands on Friday or Saturday… yet.
86-errrrrrrr……..and what does that mean again?
160- It’s an amalgam of my three previous alter egos.
159-Friday is out, but Saturday is released: June is Australia, July in UK and Canada, and August in USA!
Cool.
158- Siriusly? *googles* Alas, you’re right!
155- Have you read the Oz books, Robert?
Has anyone here read Abarat by Clive Barker? Is it good? My friend Mae read it and reccommended it, so… any feedback?
(164) Read his comment #142.
Abarat is the best book ever!!! I’m serious. The pictures are a little… odd. But a very good book.
165- I seeeeeeee.
Has anyone hear read, “Sophie’s World.” Yes, iIknow there is a somewhat more renowned book with a similair title, also invloving the possesive form of Sophie, but I’m not talking about it. I am referring strictly to “Sophie’s World.” Its an incredible introduction to philosophy, and its also a very nice read in the general sense. Me reccomenderates it!!!!
168- Author?
153. The new book is called Inkdeath. I don’t know any plot details or the release date. I assume it will be about more death, and the revival of Dustfinger and more treachery. And more ink, of course!
AHHHH I am in such a dilemma.
OK, so here’s the thing: I’ve been burning through the Temeraire books like crazy. I’m almost done with Throne of Jade, and I’ll almost certainly get into Black Powder War today. I’m not sick of the writing style yet, which is refreshing. So no big deal, right?
Wrong. My trip starts Thursday evening, and it seems like it’s going to be a long one. Drive for two hours, sit on a plane, sit on a different plane, drive, sit on another plane, drive some more, albeit spread out over the course of several days. I could make Black Powder War last this long, I think, if I brought one more book with me. BUT, I want to read BPW now. Also, I’m afraid something terrible will happen if I take a library book on a plane.
…
I can’t remember what sort of help I was looking for. Maybe I’ll just get JS&MN back.
Ahem.
cheese, oh cheese, I like you cheese!
I like you cheese, oh smelly cheese!
with your cheesy ways
how you can please!
I love you my yellow cheese.
I would love you in the day.
I would love you lat at night.
for you my chedder cheese
I would put up a fight!
you are my yummy cheese!
I give my pledge to the farm
so the cows receive no harm
for these creatures are the makers
of my creamy cheese
cheese, oh cheese, oh geez, i live you cheese!
cheese
cheese
Thank you. [Potentially identifying information snipped. –Admin.]
169-Jostein Gaarder. I’m pretty sure that its transalted from German!
170-Sweet! I plan on reading that!
CHEESE!
CHEESE?
Here is my summer reading list, for june at least:
the hollow chocolate Bunnies of the apocalypse by Robert Rankin
do androids dream of electric sheep by philip K. Dick
Second Variety
Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
2001: a Space Odyssey By Arthur C. Clarke
Dune By Frank Herbert
foundation By Isaac Asimov
Stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Fatherland by Robert Harris
I, Robert by Isaac Asimov
I really, really, Really like sci-fi right know.
176- Wait wait wait… “The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse”? Is that seriously a book?
170- Release dat eis October 7!!!!!!!!!!! It already came out in Germany. ((is sad))
I’m reading right now:
Deathly Hallows (again)-JRK
Invasion of the Boy Snatchers-Lisi Harrison
Just Ella-…..Can’t remember
The Host-Stephenie Meyer
Abarat-Clive Barker
171- find Freedom and Necessity by Steven Brust and Emma Bull
179- I know. I desperately need to take a trip to the library. The difficult part will be convincing Mother to do this. She’s seen my stack of books.
Question for those of you who love Twilight. What makes you like that book so much? Sample answer to a ‘why do you like that book anyways question’ only I’m answering about Juniper, Gentian and Rosemary by Pamela Dean.
I love the characters. I love reading Gentian’s thoughts and the conversations between her and her friends. I can see them in my mind, they are real and there and they could be real people. their flaws and their qualities are realistic and /there/ and they are great, great people.
(sorry, had to go for a bit)
I also enjoy the quality of words used and how the conversations are actually ones people would say and that they challenge me in my knowledge of everything. I probably have more to say also but I have to go.
181–that’s a really good question. I think it’s because they’re sort of every girl’s dream–to get a really hot, sensitive, and mysterious BF who’s like your destiny and is constantly craving you (in more ways than one). Note how most of the Twilight fans are girls.
183- I disagree that that is every girl’s dream to get a really hot, sensitive and mysterious BF. Personally, I’d rather have a companion that I know loves me for who I am and that I love for who they are and that I can sit in shared silence with but also talk endlessly together or sit and dream or show them myself when I am vulnerable and be shown them when they are vulnerable and support and cherish each other for a long time, not a few weeks or days or months.
However I also think that this thread would be more interesting if we discussed our thoughts about and reasons for liking the books we read.
Today I finished Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks. I enjoyed this book because of the characters’ struggles with themselves and with each other as well as their goals and their journeys towards those goals. I also enjoyed reading the close friendships and understandings some of them had with each other. I also enjoyed the suspense of the new difficulties. It was not unbelievably fast paced but it was not a book without action. (not that I dislike those.)
181- Well, partially I agree with Nthanda. I would love to have a sexy, mysterious boyfriend who’s really polite and stuff and not all GIRL=SEX GAHHHH!!!!! Mainly I like it because of the characters. I actually like Jasper more than Edward, and my friend likes Emmett like you can’t believe. And, ever notice how the ‘popular’ girls don’t like Twilight as much? Well, I think that’s because ‘loser’ girls can relate to Bella a lot more than Massie Block or Blair Waldorf. Bella’s sensitive, smart, bookish, and never really had a boyfriend before Edward. She also mentioned how she was grouped into the herd of losers in Phoenix. Personally, I think the plotline in the first one is bad; the only thing that kept me through it was the characters, romance, etc. That is why I like Twilight.
185 – I have to disagree, some really popular girls at my school like Twilight. One,who is popular, is crazy about Twilight and got me into it… And she is lucky enough to have the movie come out on her birthday…
It is really fun to read what people say about why they like Twilight. Anyone care to do it for another book? Say, Abarat or His Dark Materials?
187- I liked Abarat because of the richly detailed writing, the immensely surreal and imaginative world, the perfect balance of horror and humor, and because it’s full of characters that readers can sympathize with.
186- That lucky little…
187- I enjoyed His Dark Materials because of the mystery of it all. Like, there could be portals to infinite worlds, and there could be magical particles of dust in the vastness of Space.
187- I liked Abarat because it was so bizarre and imaginative. It was sometimes beautiful and sometimes grotesque, with both amusing and awe-inspiring moments. And the characters were well-done whether hateful or friendly. It was so weird, and so good.
186–yeah, I agree, Twilight’s huge with everyone at my school. Although my school is so ghetto there’s not really a “popular” clique…which is kind of nice.
Why do people like Harry Potter?
191- I don’t really like Harry Potter, to be perfectly frank, but I’ll tell you why that is.
I don’t really like Harry Potter because I can;t see through the fandom and they hype to see the actual story and the writing style anymore. When I last read HP it was just flat. I didn’t mind reading it, but it wasn’t very interesting at all. I think that I’ve grown out of it. I can’t take it seriously, partly because the ridiculous names but mostly because magic is everywhere and people can work it without even thinking. I feel that it needs to come at some sort of price for it to have any sort of meaning.
Magic should have a price.
I’m reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. Once I’ve read more of it, I’ll tell you why I like it.
I’m reading Dylan by Lisi Harrison. *laughs* Sometimes I just need to read a really crappy book to take my mind off life.
183 – EXCUSE me? That is EVERY girl’s dream? Talk about generalizing!
195 – Didn’t Lisi Harrison also write *shudder* the Clique books? *shudder*
To all who enjoyed reading Abarat I recommend Un Lun Dun by China Mieville.
I’m sorry I misunderstood you about The Dark Is Rising. I don’t know why I never really appreciated them… I know I should …
I find I’m reading less than I used to, and it’s kind of scary. I don’t know if it’s because I’m just so busy and it’s the end of the school year and everything, or that I just can’t find that many books that I really like…
I’ll have to read Un Lun Dun…
I did read Coyote Road, which was part of that series of short story anthologies (like The Faery Reel), and they mentioned Kokopelli. There wasn’t an actual story about him though, which was too bad.
I finished Jane Eyre, and now I’m starting in on Great Expectations..
196- The Clique books are not as abd as everyone makes thm seem. They’re very relaxing; they make you grateful that you don’t have to deal with girls as bad as that. I’m strangely addicted to them, actually. Yes, she did write them. *waits nervously for angry explosion from clique haters*
Un Lun Dun is good.
192–I feel bad for you!
196–Apologies, I suppose that is a generalization.
198- ooh, I like those anthologies. Anthologies edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow (the editors of those) tend to be good ones in general. There are many more out there by those editors. Some other good collections are Interfictions edited by Delia Sherman and Theodora Goss and The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet compiled by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (LCRW being a Zine produced by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (I’m a subscriber))
I liked Un Lun Dun for much the same reasons I enjoyed Abarat, the variety of characters, the ambiguity of their motives (well, that one more Un Lun Dun than Abarat), the imagination used in producing the world, the drawings/paintings (more Abarat than Un Lun Dun though the latter has drawings), the characters (Curdle!), the plays on words. They are simply just gorgeous books.
Anybody read Louis Lowry’s books? They are very good. I have also read Great Expectations, but I guess I am not into that kind of books, because it was very well written (well, DUH) but I like more, Fantasy stories.
OHHH!!!!!! Really good book!!!!!!!! Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. It’s about a girl who can see faeries and the King of faeries captures her to be his bride, but she’s in love with her friend Seth. It’s so awesome I can barely describe it. (Warning; rated PG-13 for a sexual situation, occasional strong language, and mild violence. It still rocks, though!!!!!
)
203-Anthologies? I like Firebirds Anthologies! The characters were by far the strongest part of Un Lun Dun. The plot was weak, but it did have some great plays on words, (Armets!) I love Kelly Link’s Anthologies of Short Stories, (By her, not edited by her!) You can get the entire book “Stranger Things Happen” as a download for free on her site. I live in the same town as her, which is really cool!
204-I’ve read some of them, i. e. the Giver Trilogy. It’s very upsetting, but it’s great.
My fave anthology is a book that belonged to my Great Aunt, was published in the 1940s, and was written by E.B. White. It’s called a Treasury of American Humor. It’s all short stories and essays and they’re hilarious and very clever.
206- yay firebirds! you live by her? (Kelly Link that is) that’s awesome! Yeah, I’ve been meaning to read those anthologies and I’d download it only I don’t have my own computer and therefor less space. I suppose I could download it and then try to burn it onto a data cd or something.
204- yes, I like The Giver and the other ones after it. They’re quite good.
Anyone read Wicked Lovely? Anyone?
209-Not yet…
210- PLZ read it. It’s so awesome.
What I like about Abarat is that the characters are not one-dimensional, like just good and bad. It is pretty obvious who’s who, but some aspects of both.
I’ll have to read Un Lun Dun…
So, good books. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……………………………… *loss* Maximum Ride?
199-I almost know Great Expectations by heart. Not only have I read it, I listen to it every night on audiobook (weird perk of mine, I love to fall asleep listening to audiobooks). Please go rant and spazz about in on the Abundant spoilers thread.
214-I listen to music CDs. Strange thing is, I enjoy going to sleep to Heavy Metal!
215- Really? I personally like going to sleep to Kimya Dawson, but that’s just me…
I just finished Un Lun Dun. Good book.
215/216-Woot go nightime listeners!
On the subject of anthologies, I just remembered that I read a collection of Thomas Mann stories (Tonio Kruger, the Wunderkint), which was nice. I’m still too chicken to ford through one of Mann’s actual novels, however…
217- whee! Un Lun Dun! What did you like about it?
203-They actually mentioned Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet in an author biography, and I remembered that you mentioned it… I will have to investigate… (I’ve been meaning to for about forever)
We’re doing silent reading of Gread Expectations in English, but only the first fifteen chapters. Don’t get me started on how I think this is pathetic on the part of my English teacher, and that we’ve learned practically nothing the whole year that we couldn’t teach ourselves, but I was still glad that I get to read it by myself, and I guess I’ll finish it later. I had started it once already, and then I had to return it to the library, so now I’ll have to get it out again. But
Wow, lost my thread of thought. Anyway,
Argh, I hate the shrinking comment box. I’m sorry this is (once again) messed up.
220- yay! do check it out, it is excellent. You could buy a single issue or subscribe (there’s an option that sends chocolate each time) or purchase a copy of The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet somewhere…
221- CHOCOLATE???
I just finished reading “Curse of the Romanovs.” It’s a very poorly written book, and not historically accurate either, but the appendices are quite interesting. I only wish they were about twenty times longer.
Or I could just go read a book on the Russian revolution. That would work too.
221- Hand. Over. The. Chocolate. NOW!!!!!!!
INTENSE SPOILERS
OMG, i got Eclipse Special Edition!!!!!!!! and guess what????? there was a poster of Breaking Dawn in it, and on the bottom it’s all like, “I love you, be with me forever, blablabla. But it doesn’t say WHO BELLA IS TALKING TO. She could be talking to JACOB or EDWARD!!!!!!!!!!! This is driving me so nuts I can’t even think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it IS jacob, I will lose my mind!!!!!!! BUT what if it’s neither of them??????????????? *goes totally nuts* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
223- *stops missSwann from desroying the books.*
222- yes, good dark chocolate bars. of course ‘each time’ is only twice a year (June and November) but they are superb stories and excellent chocolate bars
Is this a bi-annual, (something with Kelly Link), magazine with chocolate? I must sign up!
226- yes, yes it is! and do sign up!
217: Just about everything, but especially the creativity, the drawings, and the detailed characters whe never do what they’re supposed to.
Hypatia has an annnouncement to make to MBers studying French. READ “PETIT NICOLAS”! Its a hilarious set of quirky little stories (to which Hypatia is addicted) about petit Nicolas (a leetle school boy), his fairly delinquent friends, and their utterly insane escapades!
Huzzah for fun learning!
229-hmm, I never read a full french book before…
223 – Heh, I’ve decided not to read the “first chapter” put in it. So when I read Breaking Dawn, it will be alll newww…
I finished the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. SO. GOOD.
I also read Gail Carson Levine’s new book, Ever, which is pretty good. Kinda skinny.
Since it is summer, I plan to reread the entire Pendragon series (that is out) in order to refresh my memory. The new one came out, ya know.
230-I started reading L’etrangere, failed miserably, and decided to stick to simpler literature…such as Petit Nicolas. Its not at all a hard read as soon as you get used to the style and I reccomend it most adamantly as a first book (it was mine too :grin:).
I just finished The White Darkness. Maybe I’m a little too easily brought to tears when it comes to books, because I was crying my eyes out for chapters, because Titus was just in Sym’s head, and I really wanted him to be a solid character. Which is silly, because even in Sym’s head he was a perfectly solid character. I’m just far too tied to reality, I think. It’s all about tangibility for me, and yet I attempt to bury myself in fiction, as though believing in it will make it real, all the magic and the thrills and the lovely characters, Nan Linnet and Jonathan Strange and Dido Twite and Lyra…
233- I read that a few months ago. The uncle was really crazy, but Sym’s the best example of a fellow Polar Geek that I’ve ever found in literature.
234- Heehee, yeah. But Victor was pretty scary toward the end…
Well, Mr. Popper in Mr. Popper’s Penguins was something of a proto-Polar Geek, but Sym is an example of a modern one, like me.
I need to get more books.
I just got “Sebastian Darke:Prince of Fools” 3 days ago. I finished it today. It was awesome. I want to read the second book “Sebastan Darke: Prince of Pirates” it sounds really good.
I just finished Pendragon: Pilgrims of Rayne, and man is it confusing. However, I think I’ve got it (could someone correct me if I’m wrong?):
-Ibara is part of Veelox
-The second turning point for Veelox was the pilgrimage, and it failed
-The turning point for Ibara was the battle for the island, and it succeeded (despite the fact that the village was destroyed)
-Overall, it was like a draw, since Saint Dane won one turning point, but he lost another.
-The flighters are people who came out of Lifelight as zombies
-Telleo was Nevva winter
-Nevva convinced Mark’s parents to not get on the plane, but it backfired because that convinced Mark to destroy Forge
-the sixth officer guy is saint dane, because the computer says Mark was murdered, and Courtney almost shot him with the gun that she took from dogder… which he took from the sixth officer.
-Bobby destroyed the flume on Ibara to keep Saint Dane from hopping around the territories.
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
237- Same here. I need to get more english books. DANISH BOOKS ARE BAD! Most of them are translated, and the Queen even said that the Danish people need more authors.
But seriously, H.C. Anderson is famous because there aren’t any other good danish authors. And even he’s racist/sexcist. *growls*
Exactly, I-Man! You just summarized The Pilgrims of Rayne!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
By the way, I’ve read on several reviews of Raven Rise that there’s gonna be a tenth book. Does it seriously say that in the list of books in the series.
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
RAVEN RISE! WOOT!
I haven’t read Raven Rise yet, so I don’t know!
I think I’m in book heaven this summer:
-The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (I loved the original, by the way) came out on June 1
-Raven Rise on May 20
-Superior Saturday (Keys to the kingdom) on August (Im actually not sure if its august or july) 1
-Brisingr on September 20
48 – Calder game? I’m so looking it up right now!
I have tackled the first two chapters of Master and Commander. It’s very good, but often a bit confusing.
I want so much to be a tallship nerd, but I hardly understand sailing at all.
246-I know what you mean. Although I never read Master and Commander (*puts on mental to do list*) all the somewhat obscure and mostly obsolete sailing terminology in Moby Dick was what initially scared me away. Naval books can be quite difficult.
247- Ha, natural stubborn-ness was what scared me away from Moby Dick. I didn’t want to read it, so I wasn’t going to, so there. If I’d had more of a personal inclination to read it I probably would have got past the second page. My dad got a ways into it, but he said he stopped when they started talking about how whales were fish and anyone who said otherwise was Wrong. He said it was fairly boring, too.
I’ve read the Calder Game. I love the mysteries. Blue Balliett is a mastermind. I was totally stumped in all 3 mysteries. And she’s a great writer!
233- awww. *hugs*
Alice, have you ever been obsessed with the Polar Regions? Because that’s why the book had such an impact on me, and I was wondering if you had the same story or a more “normal” perspective.
251- No. Actually stories of the polar regions tend to horrify me, in a fascinated sort of way. I cannot comprehend how cold it would be. My toes have no circulation.
It had such an impact on me because I have unattainable best friends in my head, too.
!!! I just read a synopsis of Victory of Eagles. Napoleon Bonaparte, with the help of Lien, invades Britain and sets up in London (the king of England escapes to Edinburgh). Meanwhile, Temeraire, believing Laurence to be dead, begins training the ferals they picked up during Black Powder War and shaping them into a fighting force.
253-interesting. another Napoleon story. Those are always enjoyable.
253-Ferals?
I am about to commence reading:
Far from the Madding Crowd
Stories from the Jazz Age (Fitzgerald)
Magic Mountain
Vanity Fair (which I’ve listened to on audiobook but never read)
I am hoping to finish:
A Harlot High and Low by Balzac
This is made difficult by several factors:
a) The translation has poor grammar…or archaic grammar
b) The translation has very very convoluted sentences
c) There are about six subplots going on in addition the the real plot at the moment.
d) I cannot keep track of 999999999999 similair sounding names!
So, yeah…I’ll probably come on and rejoice when I hit the 3/4 way marker (I just hit the half…).
253- Oh, my. That should be good.
…
I haven’t finished BPW yet. It’s still sitting in my room with a boarding pass stuck in it as a bookmark and probably about ten dollars of library fines on it, and even worse than that, Emperor of Ivory has been gathering dust on the bookshelf for weeks
While I was on vacation I ignored it, and I just couldn’t gather momentum again. The same thing has probably happened to Master and Commandeer, which I haven’t touched since Wednesday.
Has anyone here read the Thursday Next series or the Nursery Crime series?
Quote…
“Books for people who love stories, or stories for people who love books.”
WARNING:
It is very morbid
258 – No, haven’t read it.
Are you a newbie??? *pies just in case*
258- Er…
Yes?
Half of one.
It didn’t really intrigue me. I got halfway through and got bored.
255- Feral dragons. If you ask what dragons are doing in a Hornblower-esque novel, I don’t know.
261- Making it even better!
Wait, I must add a book to my list.
A Wrinkle in Time, and the rest of the series by Madeline L’engle.
Why has it only been mentioned once on this whole thread? PREPOSTEROUS! *flying spit*
-Rant over.-
I just realized that I put “Charlie Brown” when I mean “Charlie Bone. Hehe.
My, I’m posting quite a lot today. Usually it’s mostly lurking, with a post about once a month.
260-Which one did you read? Some are better than others…
I’m reading OOTP for the 37th time.
265- The Eyre Affair.
267-That’s not the best one! I might try “The Big Over Easy”, if you have any free time!
266- Ooh, Harry Potter. Insert obsessive potter-fangeek drool here
I think I’ve read each one about 8 times at least. Most likely more though, I haven’t kept count
258- Yes I have minus the last book in both (there are only two of the nursery ones, right?) and they aren’t morbid, I don’t think.
263- hooray for Madeleine L’Engel!
NM was talking about A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It sounded super cool.
I’m finally reading Black Powder War again. I’m also trying to see what my mom finds against it. She says it’s not very well-written, but aside from the run-on sentences, I can’t see what she means (although I do agree that it doesn’t compare to JS&MN, then again, nothing does). Maybe I’ve been reading kids’ and YA books so long that anything written for a higher level seems pretty well-written. *shrug* The dialogue isn’t forced, the plot is only sort of predictable…
I finished The Glassblower’s Children yesterday. It was one of those strange, obscure little fantasy stories, almost like fairy tales. Like The Search for the Tinker Chief. I ♥ that type of book, but at the same time, they give me a very odd feeling. They aren’t of this era, and they don’t even slightly resemble the epic tales you see in libraries and book stores. They’re more magical, somehow.
Thank you, 270, and they are…
They are…
I made a list of 50 good books a few months ago, and so I’m going to post it.
Eragon, while I recognise how much of it is stolen from other books, it nonetheless is a good book.
wait, i just came up with 7 more.
57 books.
57 REALLY GOOD BOOKS
These are in the order of which I came up with first, not quality, so number 42 might be better than number 18. Oh, and these are just 50 really good books, not the fifty best books, they are just some books I enjoyed.
1. Harry Potter I
2. Harry Potter II
3. Harry Potter III
4. Harry Potter IV
5. Harry Potter V
6. Harry Potter VI
7. Harry Potter VII
8. The Lost Journals Of Ven Polypheme
9. Eragon
10. Eldest
11. The Lightning Thief
12. The Sea Of Monsters
13. The Titan’s Curse
14. Stormbreaker
15. Point Blank
16. Skeleton Key
17. Eagle Strike
18. Scorpia
19. Ark Angel
20. Snakehead
21. Ravens Gate
22. Evil Star
23. Nightrise
24. The Schwa Was Here
25. The Eyre Affair
26. Lost In A Good Book
27. The Well Of Lost Plots
28. Something Rotten
29. First Among Sequels
30. The 13 And A Half Lives Of Captain Bluebear
31. Swordbird
32. Alex Rider: The Gadgets
33. Regarding The Sink
34. Framed
35. Snow Treasure
36. The Thief Lord
37. How To Live With A Neurotic Dog
38. Superfudge
39. Fudge-A-Mania
40. Mistakes That Worked
41. Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
42. The Number Devil
43. Animal Farm
44. Where’s My Jetpack?
45. How To Survive A Robot Uprising
46. Late Fire, Late Snow
47. All The Books By Group O-6
48. The Unofficial Lego Builders Guide
49. Alice In Wonderland
50. Flush
51. Mister Monday
52. Grim Tuesday
53. Drowned Wednesday
54. Sir Thursday
55. Lady Friday
56. The Big Over Easy
57. The Fourth Bear
273- I’ve read 1-7, 9, 10, 21, 36, 49, 51-55, and half of 25.
273-I’ve read 1-23, 25-30, 32, 33, 36, 38-44, 46, 47, 49-57! I wish to note that 47 is no longer relevant.
I’ve read… 1-7,11-13,24,38-43,45,49-50,
36 GOOD BOOKS (ACCORDING TO ALICE)
In no particular order.
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
2. Juniper
3. Wise Child
4. The Golden Compass
5. The Subtle Knife
6. The Amber Spyglass
7. The Dark is Rising
8. Over Sea, Under Stone
9. Greenwitch
10. The Grey King
11. Silver on the Tree
12. Treasure Island
13. Sabriel
14. Lirael
15. Abhorsen
16. Lord of the Flies
17. The Hobbit
18. The Lord of the Rings (technically one book)
19. Watership Down
20. Abarat
21. Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
22. Un Lun Dun
23. The Search for The Tinker Chief
24. Chasing Vermeer
25. The Forestwife
26. Swallows and Amazons
27. Swallowdale
28. Winter Holiday
29. Coot Club
30. The Big Six
31. We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
32. Secret Water
33. The Picts and the Martyrs
34. Great Northern?
35. Peter Duck
36. Missee Lee
I got bored before I got to 50.
I have no idea why I haven’t posted here before…in any case I am in dire need to new books, so having reviewed the thread I saved a lot commendations and will be taking a trip to the library or bookstore soon to check them out.
I already have a phenomenally long list of books to read, which now grows ever longer…a good complaint to have, I think.
Currently I’m reading John Adams by David McCullough.
Oxlin and Alice, I have to say that in particular your recommendations sound interesting…I’m going to print some out in addition to my own lists and go on a literary spree.
I was at Barnes and Nobles last night, and I found a book by Larry Gonick about chemistry. Cool, huh?
i just came up with a 58th good book…
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
277-I’ve read 4-8, 13-18, 20, 22, 24, and 26!
281- You should read number 1.
277 – I’ve read 4-12, 17-19, and 24
Yay! a whole thread on books! I’m rather new on MB, which explains why I haven’t been on here before. . . I think I’ll plan a trip to the library soon, since most of those books I haven’t even heard of. I feel so deprived!!!
282-I’m planning to!
I never read those first-chapter previews. They put me into TOO MUCH SUSPENSE until I can get the next book. Un Lun Dun needs a sequel.
286-
1. Me neither.
2. Un Lun Dun does not need a sequel. Too many books have sequels. It’s driving me nuts.
279 – Yeah. I have that book. The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry, right? Yeah. I have that. It’s awesome.
There may be things Larry Gonick doesn’t know, but I haven’t found them yet.
289 – I know. He has Cartoon history of the Universe 1-3, Cartoon Guide to the Environment, Cartoon Guide to Genetics, Statistics, Computers (but that’s old), etc. etc. etc.
287- agreed on point two. neutral on point one.
287-Okay, maybe it doesn’t, but I would like it.
I’ve read all but 16, 23 and 25-36. (of Alices)
to Axa, yay!
when I get around to it, I will post a list of books that I’ve enjoyed.
Has anybody here read The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner? It’s one of my favorites.
293- I think you’d really like TSFTTC, but it’s so obscure. I would lend it to you if we lived anywhere near each other.
295- aww, thanks. And don’t worry, I’m good at finding obscure books. I’m reading Temblor by Rosa Montero in Spanish right now. It was also rather obscure. I like obscure books.
Okay so, I just finished stories of the Jazz age. They were amusing. I took a break from a Harlot High and Low, mostly to spite Balzac at whom I am livid with rage. He seems determined on cold-bloodedly driving all of his characters into danger in sundry creative ways, which I really don’t have the patience to withstand a moment longer! I am a little over halfway done with Vanity Fair, same goes for Far From the Madding Crowd. It took me a while to grow accustomed to Hardy’s style; its sort of…perfect, the right raito of everything, no long ranty sentences..but I am starting to like it quite a bit. At first it just annoyed me. Rebecca Sharp is an amazing character! End rant.
I’m currently reading The Trial, by Franz Kafka. Anybody read it?
298-Uh, yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you read Metamorphisis? Its really good too.
I actually read The Trial for book club. Its a pretty good book to discuss so as soon as you’re finished I ORDER you to go post-haste to the Ranting thread! And there to discuss.
(don’t mind me, please, I am just busy being my ordinary bossy self :grin:)
Eep! Sorry, that was Hypatia…
Yes, I also read the Metamorphisis! Once I’m done, I will go rant! Who are you, exactly?
see 300…
Ooh! I got 300th post! *popos*
Well then! Go rant abput Metamorphisis!
Eva’s reading Metamorphosis. It sounds weird.
I’m almost done with Empire of Ivory… ack. By the end of BPW I didn’t care what happened, but now I do, and I am desperate to see Laurence and Temeraire reunited before the book ends.
11 days until Victory of Eagles comes out!!! Much good that will do, what with having to wait for the library and everything…
The trouble with those books (besides there being too many names to remember) is that every sentence is a run-on sentence. I cannot deny that I love run-on sentences, but really, you have to give fragments the attention they deserve as well. I was going to tell Ms. Novik this (albeit in slightly different terms), and ask her about the Incas while I was at it, but then I found that one could not post anonymously, and chose not to post at all.
304- Second paragraph: Oh, drat. First paragraph: YAAAAYYY!!!! Now I have to find Empire of Ivory and read it so that I’m caught up… our library doesn’t have any of them.
Whupps, forgot to change my name back from when Smoleeon was using the computer.
305- Empire of Ivory is the BEST. ONE. YET. BPW was boring me half to death and I picked up EOI and it was amazing.
And don’t worry, I’m sure I can muster enough bravery to go post, if I knew what to say. What were we going to ask about the Incas again?
307- How they survived as a force to be reckoned with, as implied in TOJ and BPW.
308- OK. I will convey the message presently.
309- Ah, good. Where are you posting it?
309- I’m not actually sure. *looks* I think I’ll just post it on her most recent thread, or no, the one about Victory of Eagles.
Posted it. Check back later to see if there’s an answer.
312- OK, the Victory of Eagles post? Let me see if I can see your comment.
Oh, you’re… Wait, the GAPAs would snip it if I said anything further. I recognized the post, anyhow.
314- Yeah, I’m that person. Now you know my Secret Identity.
311-Which Thread?
316- If I told you, I would be exposing my Secret Identity more than I already have.
317-Secret Identity? 311-Whose latest Thread?
318- Yes, Secret Identity. Naomi Novik’s latest thread.
*is infuriatingly unhelpful*
319-No, that was helpful!
320- Well…good. I think.
I have been enjoying Laurie J. Marks’ Shaftal books. the first is Fire Logic then Earth Logic then Water Logic. I don’t think Air Logic has been released yet.
[Continued on Books and Reading, 2008, Part 3. –Admin.]