What else are you reading now?

[lithorose]

Woo Hoo! First thread in a new forum!

So, what else are you reading right now/recently besides Harry Potter? (You do read other books, right?)

I've just finished reading two books by Diana Wynne Jones: Tough Guide to Fantasyland, and Dark Lord of Derkholm. The two go somewhat together. Tough Guide to Fantasyland really funny, it skewers a lot of genre cliches. It is best read in small doses, try to read it all at once and it gets a little tiring.

Dark Lord of Derkholm is along the same lines but it's an actual story; not quite as funny if you've just read Tough Guide, since it takes advantage of a lot of the same cliches, but still enjoyable. It's about a world forced to cater to off-world tourists by pretending to be the typical fantasy world complete with poor peasants and evil monsters and a DARK LORD.

And for all you snobby readers (you know who you are:D), I've also just finished Turgenev's Fathers and Sons. It's about the rift in ideologies between the 1840s and 1860s in Russia as played out through, you guessed it, Fathers and Sons. In my not-so-humble-amateur opinion it was unrealistic, especially when compared with Dostoevsky's Demons, which covers the same material. To be fair, it may have suffered from translation, since it is considered to be a classic.

Well, that's it for interesting reading (I won't even mention the piles of Russian history books I have to plough through for school. Talk about curing insomnia!). Anyone read anything interesting lately?

[Colli]

:) I'm usually too tired to read during the school year, but since we were getting ready to read Antigone in World Lit, I went ahead and read the first two plays in the trilogy, Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus.

I've also been trying to finish the Hitchhiker's Guide series, but reading just seems to make me tired and so I can't read very far before I put it down and go to sleep. :D

:clap: Nice thread! I'm gonna start one for movies

[Fleurdelacour]

I'm currently reading The Two Towers for the first time, although it's all been spoiled for me *sigh*. It's wonderful so far, so beautifully written, *sigh* However, despite its greatness, it doesn't beat Harry Potter :p

[Elfëa]

I'm reading my Northon Anthology of English Literature vol 1 & 2.

But I'm only doing bits and pieces :D

Like part of Paradise Lost - I think I'll read the whole thing later, a loud, cause I liked the sound of it. :)

And the rest of reading I do at mo, is fanfiction... :o

[StarGazr]

I'm currently reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. My brother recommended it to me and I really like it so far. Try it, it's like a satire on sci-fi everything.. very cynical but a great laugh or two... or lots lots more!! haha

[Ravenclaw]

I'm REreading The Golden Compass... I love that book. I think it's cause Lyra's such a lovable character to me. I love all three of the His Dark Materials books, but I think the Subtle Knife's my favorite.

OK, OK, this is IT, I am POSTING this here right NOW!

Buy this book. Dead serious, here, buy this BOOK!

Obernewtyn, by Isobelle Carmody (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312869584/qid=1047324541/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9810552-0972641?v=glance&s=books)

[amrael]

Besides my usual pecking at my all time companions (LotR, Potter or Pratchett) I'm now halfway thorugh Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman and just finished a nice introduction to chaos theory (not for the completely uninitiated in hard mathematics, but understandable for people like me who have forgotten most of them ;) ) called 'Does God play dice?' Believe it or not it is actually quite funny. I am about to begin reading 'Gödel, Escher, Bach'. A real classic I've been wanting to read for ages. :)

[Amberion]

I am currently typing on the computer keyboard :LOL:

I am rereading Sharon Green's Blending series

just finished reading the latest book in Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars series

[alqua]

Actually I don't read that much of Harry Potter. I've only read each of the books once. But besides LOTR, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, which I read all the time, I'm just reading some boring books for my exams at the moment. There's so much I'd like to read, but right now I don't really have them time.

[ElfTBD]

I'm re-reading the "Last Herald-Mage" series by Mercedes Lackey...this is one of my favorite series of books ever...a set of books I can always re-read and never get bored with...

I think, though, when I'm finished, I'm going to re-read PoA again...:)

[Xazinon]

Hey Ravenclaw, I've got Obernewtyn: you're right, it's pretty good! I've actually got the first three in the series, but I haven't gotten around to reading the fourth yet. The size doesn't help: they just seem to be getting bigger and bigger! :)

As far as other reading, I'm doing a Romanticism class at uni, so I've mainly been reading books from that: Madame Bovary (okay), Ibsen's A Doll's House (not so good), Frankenstein (okay, pretty good). Next one up is Wuthering Heights, so if I suddenly fall in love with Heathcliff like everyone else seems to, it's not my fault! ;) :D

I read some Pratchett stuff recently, got a bit of that for my birthday: still just as good as ever! :)

[Elfëa]

Which version of Frankenstain are you doing Xaz? 1818's or the later one?

I read Frankenstain last autumn, for Critical Interpretations... I don't really know tho, did I like it or not. Was nice to read... :p

[Colli]

I tried to read Wuthering Heights a few years ago and failed miserably, but I think it's time to try again. :D

[Fleurdelacour]

I stopped reading TTT... I need to reread all the HP books now, because of revision.... :o

[Elfëa]

I bought Quidditch Through Ages... :p (for 99p)

[Moxie]

I'm lagging in keeping up with fanfiction and my recently acquired copy of American Gods by Neil Gaiman is also sitting unread... mainly because I found a big stack of Isaac Asimov's science fiction magazines from the early 1980s at the town dump. :eek: Hard to believe someone just tossed all these out - it'll probably take me weeks to get through this pile (which will then be split up among my gaming buddies :)) I also have occasional thoughts of reading Pullman's trilogy if I have time before OotP comes out; by now I should be able to get copies of those from the town library without being on a waiting list behind dozens of kids.

[Rivenlas]

I'm reading Jane Eyre right now. I'm not sure if I'll finish it, though, its a little dull. I was hoping maybe it'd be a little like Little Women.

I am REreading Interview with the Vampire, FOTR, Sorcerer's Stone, the song of the lioness quartet series, among others my fingers don't feel up to listing right now. ;)

[Xazinon]

Originally posted by Elfëa
Which version of Frankenstain are you doing Xaz? 1818's or the later one?

I read Frankenstain last autumn, for Critical Interpretations... I don't really know tho, did I like it or not. Was nice to read... :p

The version I have is kinda a classics edition, which covers the 1818 and the 1831 version... I think the text is the 1831 version, but it has an appendix at the back noting what has been changed since the 1818 version. So I suppose I'm probably basing my study on the later version, but I have the availability to check the earlier one if I want. :)

I thought the introduction, regarding the way that Frankenstein came to be written in the first place was pretty interesting! Mary Shelley's part in a ghost story competition with her and Byron et al. I reckon she probably might have won, at least retrospectively! :)

Good luck with Wuthering Heights, Colli! And to think you're not even reading it for a class... wow. :D

I have Quidditch Through the Ages around somewhere: it's a fun book! :)

[Elfëa]

Neil Gaiman's American Gods? :swoon: I really should get my hands on that... :) (as I love everything by Gaiman).

Xaz - hmm... I did 1818, and what our teachers said, 1831, is greatly edited to be much conservative (as Shelley wasn't as radical, or couldn't be as radical at that time anymore...)

Jane Eyre is Dull. :p I've seen it as movie tho... I think... was much interesting like that... or I might have read it as translation, when I was younger. Can't remember, I've read it, I know that...

And now I should go and read some poetry...

[alqua]

I read Jane Eyre some years ago. I think it got a little better towards the end, but maybe that was just because I got used to writing style or I have forgotten by now the most tedious parts. At least I did get it finished. But I do prefer Jane Austen to any of the Brontë sisters.

[Elfëa]

Confession: I have great dislike to Jane Austen...

:o

[Colli]

Xaz.. looks like I'm shelfing WH again for a while. My World Lit teacher passed out topics today for our research papers.


And since we missed 13 days of school this year because of the weather, we're horribly behind. So she's decided that we shouldn't be able to pick any book we want (*cough Tolkien*). So we have to choose from her list. And she has the WORST taste in books. But I'm not done yet.

There are three World Lit classes, 1st, 2nd, and 6th periods. I'm 6th. She tells us that only two people can do the same book. And we're like "Well, can we come in early and pick so 1st and 2nd periods don't get all the good ones?" And she's like "No! It's not my fault you're 6th period." (Well, it's not our fault either).

So we get the list 6th period today and ALL the good books are taken. Including Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl which was probably (sadly) the best book on the list.

So I looked at author names and blindly picked "Persuasion" by Jane Austen. Never heard of it, but she wrote "Sense and Sensibility" which ended up making a delightful movie. And if "Persuasion" follows her general theme and is about a bunch of girls running around courting and getting married, I should be ok.

Alqua, Elfea, have either of you read this?

OH! And we don't even get to pick our own topic for the paper. Our Lit teacher doesn't even know what Persuasion is about, so she's gonna to watch the movie and pick a topic FOR me. Why on earth can't I pick my own?

[alqua]

I've read the Persuasion. It does follow Austen's general theme in the sense that there are girls and guys looking for spouses, but in a way it's a bit different, because the protagonist, Anne Elliot, is a bit older than Austen's heroines in general and she actually has a past unlike the other girls Austen writes about. I liked the book quite a lot myself, but I can't answer for other people. :D

[Colli]

I downloaded a plot summary.. I much prefer Persuasion to poetry or even worse, Shakespeare. *shudder*

thanks for the input. :D Now if only there was a movie about it with Alan Rickman... ;)

[StarGazr]

For English Composition part 2, we're reading "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. It's good! Totally not what I expected from an English class... it's... well scandelous (I really can't spell) and.. well words I probably shouldn't say in the forum! Haha

[ChianaWeasley]

I'm reading the most wonderful trilogy! It's the Book of Words trilogy by J.V. Jones. About a baker's apprentice who has the power of sorcery, and a run away daughter of a duke.
book #1-The Baker's Boy
book#2-A Man Betrayed
book #3-Master and Fool

For you medeival fantasy buffs, you must read these!!!!
:D

[Xazinon]

Well, Elfea, you might be right about Frankenstein... I've only read it, we haven't discussed it in class or anything yet. We're doing it next week, so maybe I'll have more of an idea then. There's a few interesting things I was wondering about people's opinions of, so hopefully it will be an interesting class. :)
We've been doing Romantic poetry the last few weeks, Blake and Wordsworth and stuff: she made us write our own poems and some people had to read 'em out to the class, including me! Luckily I thought my poem was OK, so I didn't mind TOO much, but still... ugh!


Hehe, that's quite the excellent rant Colli! That sucks that you don't get to pick the book you want to: hope you can tolerate the one you were stuck with! We don't usually have assignments where we get to pick the books we read.. we just usually read all the books and then there is an assignment question or two we can do for each one. I don't mind it that way: sure it's possibly a bit restrictive, but it saves me thinking up a topic! ;)

I'll still be reading Wuthering Heights, so maybe I'll post and say what I thought of it for ya if you want. :) Good luck with your essay!

[Elfëa]

Interesting Rant Indeed Colli :p

I should be reading poetry right now, but I can't bother to walk to my books, so I'm online. ;)

I haven't read Persuation - I've only read Pride and Prejustice by Austen. I have dislike for her... (I tried to read Sense and Sensibility, but it was SOOO boring...)

Has anyone read The Importance of Being Earnest? I really like the depth it has, under the comic surface... :)

Xaz - are you doing Eng Lit on what level? (Uni, college, high school?) Just wondering... *does Eng Lit in uni in UK - first year*

We did Book 2 of Paradise Lost last week (well, part of it), and I think if I have time, I'm going to read it all - out loud. It was nice sounding poem - when you read it. :) (even if it doesn't make any sense to me, when I read it... :o)

[Colli]

Elfea, did you ever end up watching the S&S movie? MUCH better. ;) (yummy Alan..)

I spent all day trying to decide between Persuasion and Tess of the D'Urbervilles... I finally ended up deciding on Tess. Kinda funky "victim of society" soap opera type thing. But I might read Persuasion over the summer... before OOTP comes out and I'm glued to its pages, rereading it over and over and over again. I want to read this other book on our list, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, too.

Interesting rant, indeed. And such is my life. She's a great teacher.. usually tolerable the first 3/4 of the year, and then she just really gets on my nerves. Maybe if I actually LIKED English it would be better.

[Xazinon]

The Literature unit I'm doing is a second year university unit... it's the only second year literature subject available I think. Have to do I think four more units next year if I want to get a major in Literary Studies. Trying for one in History too, so I'll see how things go.

Wait, you didn't ask all that, did you? Oh well! :D

[alqua]

People interested (or even not so interested) in Jane Austen, might also enjoy the Bridget Jones Diary -books. They are loosely based on Austen's books, the first book being a modern version of Pride and Prejudice and the secon book, Edge of Reason, having several parallels to Persuasion. They're great fun. :D

[Elfëa]

Gah.

We did poetry today, some Keats, some Wyat and loads of others. :p

But the topic wasn't the poems, it was how to analyse a poem ;) (hmm... I would have gotten a sexual allergory out of few of them...)

So, you're doing literature module, not literature itself, Xaz? Is anyone doing Eng Lit as degree???? (share opinions... ;))

I bought a small Bridget Jones guide to life few days ago. Will try to get the real books... someday. But, I don't enjoy Austen (I find her way of writing boring...)

[lithorose]

Jane Austen is pretty quiet. I like her a lot though, I've read all her books except Persuasion. S&S isn't the most exciting book, but it has a lot of sharp observations of human behavior that I didn't even pick up on till the second reading. I still like P&P best overall though.

What did you think of Keats? He's the only poet I really like, rather than appreciate. Great, rich imagery IMO.

Nope. No English Lit major here. Far from it, actually. But I filled up a lot of electives with Lit classes.

[Elfëa]

Hmm, we did only one Keat's poem... (and I can't really remember which one was it.) It was either They Flee from Me or La Belle Damn Sans Merci and I know other one's by Wyat... :o

But, as I said, we did it for how to analyse poem, so... :o

I started reading Paradise Lost, but fell asleep :o

[glaelia]

the psychology of perception by M D Vernon.... interesting book, was my dad's - i found it and thought i'd read it.... interesting...

[lithorose]

If you ever get the time, try one of his odes: "Ode to a Nightingale, Ode to Melancholy, Ode to Psyche, Ode to a Grecian Urn" are all really good:cool:

"My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
my sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk.."
-Ode to a Nightingale

:)

[Elfëa]

Hmm... sounds nice. I actually like reading Paradise Lost out loud, cause it sounds nice. And also gives me a good way of practising my pronounciation ;)

One day, I'll read the whole Norton Anthologies... (well, the Eng Lit ones I have... ;))

Anyone read Beowulf? Seafarer? Wanderer? :swoon: ;)

[lithorose]

Haven't read Milton yet, but he had a big influence on both Keats and Shelley (Percy, not Mary), and we talked about him some in class.

We read Beowulf in high school, but I don't remember any of it. Found it really boring.:(

[Elfëa]

Hmm... lith any suggestions:

I need to figure out what modules I want to take next year... I have to take:
- Shakespeare I (20)
- Writing: Showing & Telling (20)
- Writing for Film and Media (20)

That leaves me with 60 credits, 20 on Semester 1, 40 on 2.

40 credits from:
- Romanticism (20)
- Late Twentieth Century Lit. (20)
- Old English I (20)
- Old English II (20)

20 credits from:
- Arthurian Literature (20)
- The Short Story (20)
- Children's Literature (20)
- Interpreting Beowulf (20)
- 19th & 20th Century Gothic (20)
- Sexual Dissidence: Gay Texts (20)

I've deleted half of the options already, and this is what I'm left with... :eek:
Sorry, bit OT, but that's what I'm going to be reading ;)

Beowulf depends quite loads on translator - but, I can easily see how it can be boring (especially in high school).

Actually, Mary Shelley refers greatly to Paradise Lost in Frankenstein - Paradise Lost is one of the books the creature reads. ;) And is affected by it, and how humans are evil - and becomes evil as well... (this is what I remember, we didn't discuss about Frankenstein...)

[lithorose]

So you are taking the first three?

I would definitely recommend the Romanticism class. The Romantics had a big big influence on philosophy that wasn't apparent till later. OT: I took Keats/Shelley at the same time as 20th century Arch. Theory and the parallels were stunning! Everything that was cutting edge for the Modernists and Pre-Modernists was already in Keats/Shelley a hundred+ years earlier! They sort of stand on the edge between the Enlightenment and Modern worlds.

Can't really help you with the others.:o I'm not up to reading most modern things yet, I'm trying to get grounded in the older stuff first. Have to put that on hold though as I'm taking a Mark Twain class next term. Last class before I graduate, BTW!! (Finally:rolleyes: )

edit: I'm not surprised seeing PL showed up in Frankenstein, seeing as how MS and PBShelley were married! (That, BTW, is a very interesting story![/i])

[Elfëa]

I dislike Modernism... hmm... I think I dropped the "Shelley Circle" module from the list already.

And, yes, I have to take those first three... :) (No interest in Shakespeare, I'm afraid... :o)
Children's Literature consists of 18th century literature mostly...

And I'd really really be interested in the Gay texts...

Anyone read Goblin Market by Rossetti? ;)

edit: And, Percy edited Frankenstein for her :p And, it's extremely interesting story... all the Shelley Circle probably is... *wonders why she dropped it from the list*

[lithorose]

I was supposed to read it. Sorta skimmed over it in a hurry before class:o

I'm not a big fan of Modernism either, at least in the art/architecture sense. Not sure about how it affected Literature; ideas start there much earlier than they do in the other Arts. But it was the first serious doubting of the Enlightenment and of the notion of Progress and stuff. Very interesting IMO.

Shakespeare's someone I appreciate more than like (with the exception of Hamlet). I also don't understand any of it until at least the fourth reading of each play.:o

[Elfëa]

Yep, that's what I'm afraid with Shakespeare... and it's what happened with Medieval, like Chaucer and such... :o

I liked Sir Orfeo tho, and all the references to classical mythology, Arthurian texts and Celtic fairy myths! :D

[lithorose]

It's doubly sad for me considering I'm a native English speaker!:rolleyes: But he writes in a strange way. I get caught up in the lines and forget the big picture.

What (or whose) is Sir Orfeo? I generally like medieval-type stuff.

Ever read any of the Russian classics? I had a class on Dostoevsky last term. Very hard. I liked it, but it was very time consuming. I think it was the translation, and I'm not the world's fastest reader anyway. Speaking of which I should really get off the net and get a head start on MT.;)

[Elfëa]

I started with Tolsoy's War and Peace, but found it rather boring to read, and so far I think I'm on page 16... :o

Shakespeare's language is said to be the "highest" level of understanding English, so if you understand it straight away, your understanding of English is better than most native speakers... Only few English speakers ever achieve this level...

Sir Orfeo, Medieval courly love verse, author not-known. Possibly translation of French lai, but not certain. Also, goes seriously along the story of Orpheus from classical mythology. :)

[lithorose]

Shakespeare's language is said to be the "highest" level of understanding English, so if you understand it straight away, your understanding of English is better than most native speakers... Only few English speakers ever achieve this level...Well, he still writes in a strange way. It's not a natural manner of speech by any means, but then I guess it doesn't have to be.

OT: Ever see Titus? It's not that old; 2000 I think. It was pretty good (violent, but that's the point). Unlike most Shakespeare productions I hardly noticed the manner of speech. It sounded more natural and less stilted than most. Also it was just plain bizarre. (lacking perfect smiley to express this!:mad: )

[Elfëa]

No, haven't seen Titus - is it Shakespeare's play? I haven't seen any yet :o

And by old you mean? ;)

I've read translations of Midsummer Night's Dream (which I kind of liked) and Romeo and Juliet (which I found well, Romeo and Juliet cheesy in kind of way... :p).

Should really really do some serious reading.

Hm... has anyone come by Lolita? I read that a while ago. Also Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things (which was a nice read), recommended to anyone. (Booker winner from 90s). :)

[lithorose]

And by old you mean? Sorry. I mean it was made in about the year 2000, give or take. Anyway it was really weird, sort of like Baz Lurhmann's Romeo&Juliet, but much bloodier (and yes, it is Shakespeare). Cannibalism and dismemberment and stuff. But the point of the story was good: violence begets violence. And the sets and costumes were interesting even if they made no sense.

Is Lolita really lurid?

Okay, now I should really get off and get some work done.;)

[Elfëa]

It's - Lolita, it's.

I disliked reading it, but now I keep refering back to it. Am starting to find it interesting, not as narrative and story, but as literature. :) Also, it's written by someone whose first language is not English :p (Russian, I believe... even if the book has loads of French in it.)

[Xazinon]

Well, I'm doing a Bachelor of Arts, but I'm doing all the Literature subjects that are possible within that course. I think I'm doing just about all the Literature they have at the university: it's not that big a university really.

I was doing Children's Literature last year, and I really liked that, but the only place you could do it this year was at the other campus which is pretty far away. We mostly did modern stuff though: if you're doing 18th century children's literature, that would be some of the earliest stuff ever made, I think! Hehe, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone was one of our texts, yknow: that was quite fun! :D

You've got a lot of choice there Elfea, which is good: good luck choosing which ones you want to do! I think most of them would be pretty interesting, myself. :)

lithorose, we did a bit of Keats this week, and we did a little bit on Ode to a Nightingale. We did Ode to a Grecian Urn last year: it was pretty good, very, err, poetic! :D

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty," - that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

Very cool that bit, and quite famous to boot! :)

[xKatiexBellx]

I'm reading A Walk to Remember right now, it is very good... I saw the movie and fell in love with it:)

[Elfëa]

I spend half hour today reading Paradise Lost out loud... Quite fun actually... should have probably read some of the plays I'm supposed to read for Friday... :o

[qleap]

Originally posted by amrael
I am about to begin reading 'Gödel, Escher, Bach'

That's my brother's favourite book, he's been trying to make me read it for ages ;) seriously, he can quote that book whatever you're talking about.

At the moment I'm reading The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass. But I'm stuck in the middle and I can't go on, I'm not in a very good mood so I just can't concentrate long enough to read.

I'm thinking about rereading my Daniel Pennac's books, I kind of forgot most of them, I was wondering if any of you has ever read them.

[Xazinon]

Well, I said I would post what I thought when I finished Wuthering Heights, so I thought I'd better do it! :)

The book was pretty good, I guess, though it was spoiled for me somewhat because I knew some of the stuff that was going to happen in the book before I got up to reading certain parts of it.

As far as Heathcliff goes, I didn't end up falling in love with him.. thought he was a git actually! Most people in our class didn't seem to like him very much, except for the tutor and one of the other gals who both defended him passionately, hehe! :)
I didn't really like the first Catherine a whole lot either, she was a bit over the top.

Despite not particularly liking a lot of the characters, I still thought it was a reasonably good read, which must say something I think!

Hope I didn't offend anyone by badmouthing Heathcliff, but he really isn't a very nice person yknow! :)

[lithorose]

Yeah, from what I saw in the movie he was a git. Haven't read the book though. I may someday in the (far) future.;) That girl in the movie (the one with Ralph Fiennes) was also a bit of a git, so they deserved each other, I thought.

I've just finished Twain's Innocents Abroad, and Austen's Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. Whew!

Innocents Abroad was kinda boring, but that may have been because I was trying to speed-read it. Some parts of it were hilarious. It's about his sight-seeing trip to Europe, and his responses to the great things of Europe from an average American's point of view, and of his critiques of his fellow travellers. Favorite line(s) from the book: "Is he dead?"

Northanger Abbey was better on the second read, but it's still not my favorite. Pride and Prejudice just gets better with every read. :D

[Colli]

Dude I SOOOO finished Hitchhiker's Guide last week. (Finally!)

*Go me, go me, go me, it's my birthday.*

I thought it was kinda sad..

[qleap]

HHGG, that's something I should reread.. but I didn't like it too much after the first two books or so, or probably, I just loved the first one so much the rest just couldn't get better :D

I'm still stuck there with The Tin Drum, so I just decided to reread all HP, just to make sure I remember them before OoTP (I never reread them all before). I'm halfway through GoF, and GOSH just HOW COOL that Lupin can be :D can't help thinking about him since PoA. Anyway :o

[Xazinon]

Originally posted by lithorose
Yeah, from what I saw in the movie he was a git. Haven't read the book though. I may someday in the (far) future.;) That girl in the movie (the one with Ralph Fiennes) was also a bit of a git, so they deserved each other, I thought.



Well, I kinda thought they deserved each other too, I just didn't want to say it! :) I didn't think Catherine was quite as bad... more of a drama queen than anything. But if Heathcliff is happy to put up with that, good luck to him!

I was thinking about reading Northanger Abbey... might get round to it one of these days. :)

[alqua]

I never got around to reading Wuthering Heights. I saw the movie with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, and I think it was ok, but those characters were driving me nuts! So much unnecessary pain.... :rolleyes:

[lithorose]

I'm currently wading through Emma and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Waded through Mansfield Park last week, and am *supposed* to be done with Tom Sawyer. Why'd I decide to take 2 Lit classes?:eek: :rolleyes:

Both Austen books are relatively boring. They were fun the first two times but by the time the third reading rolls around, they kinda lose something, y'know? (In addition to seeing the movies too.) I've decided I'm not taking any more Lit classes. But that's going to be easy, as it's my last term anyway!:D

[Elfëa]

I just finished Oliver Twist (what a boredom. Some description was nice... :rolleyes: ) And I started reading Moll Flanders, but it's even more boring... :rolleyes:

Might end up reading Poe after all, except I packed it already! :p

[Amberion]

I have just purchased and started reading


'The Gathering Storm" by Kate Eliott

Its the penultimate book in the Crown of Stars series:cool:

[qleap]

Well I gave up on The Tin Drum. There must be some reason if I stopped like that. Oh well I'll try again when I'm done with this.

After rereading the whole HP seres, my brother and I swapped "almost favourite books". That is, I gave him a book ("Miss Smilla's Feeling For The Snow", my second favourite book - well, sometimes first, I haven't made up my mind yet ;) ) and he gave me another. So now I'm reading:

Ka (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099750716/qid=1053459959/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/202-8152048-0823017) - by Roberto Calasso

[swiftsnowmane]

Right now I'm reading A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I'm almost done with the second book, A Clash of Kings. So far its pretty good.:) It is one of few series that keeps me guessing ALL the time. I never know what the author has up his sleeve next, its great! (Though rather stressful at times too.:eek: ;))

[Irys]

I just finished Prey by Michael Crichton. I haven't read anything by him since The Lost World (book) came out, but I couldn't put this one down. Plus, it wasn't very long, so I was able to read it pretty fast.

Are there any MC books that haven't been turned into movies eventually?

[alqua]

And I started reading Moll Flanders, but it's even more boring...

Oh dear, I was just thinking about trying to read it. I recently saw the tv mini-series Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders and thought I might read the book as well, but if it's that boring, I'm not so sure anymore... :rolleyes:

But then again, if I remember correctly, you don't like Jane Austen either but I do...so it wouldn't be the first time we think differently of a book. :D

[xKatiexBellx]

I've started to read To Kill A Mocking Bird, so far its boring... I'd rather re-read Holes in which I just finished:) It's a good book!

[swiftsnowmane]

Finished A Song of Ice and Fire last week. (At least all the books out so far.) I loved the series, the books are page turners for sure! And I still haven't guessed most of the author's twists and turns. The series is a bit bloody at times, and often lewd, but very realistic. Its fantasy, but its very close to what I guess real medieval times must have been like. There is enough fantasy and magic to keep it mysterious and exciting, without being overdone. I definately recommend this series, though its not for the faint of heart. George R.R. Martin has no problem killing off characters, or at least making them suffer from very tragic circumstances.:(

Most recently I finally finished the latest Wheel of Time novel, Crossroads of Time It moves a bit slow compared to some others in the series, but its Robert Jordan, so I always expect him to be verbose.:p WoT is not for everyone, but I like it good enough. (Though I'm kinda hooked now whether I like it or not, LOL. :D ) My only problem is that I now must wait another two years or so for the next one.:rolleyes:

Coming next:

I'm definitately going to reread Harry Potter soon, though maybe not for a week or two yet. What to read in the meantime....hmmm......so many books, so little time.;)

[ChianaWeasley]

I just finished reading 'Krull' by Alan Dean Foster I really enjoyed it, and I found out there was a movie. but it isn't available at the video store, has anyone here seen it? It seemed to have a very good cast; Liam Neson, Robbie Coltrane, and a few others I cannot remember. But it looks like a good bad sci-fi flick.

what else has Alan Dean foster wrote? I just cant think of any at the moment, I've heard his name hundreds of time on sci-fi network....hmm.....brain scratcher that is! :)

[lithorose]

Liam Neeson was in Krull the Conquerer? :eek:




:rotfl:


Alan Dean Foster has written tons of books. I think he got his start writing Star Trek novelizations, and I think he also wrote the original Star Wars adaptation. Since then he's also written a lot of original stories. But I haven't read any of them. I actually owned Krull the Conquerer (the book) for a while but as I never read it I got rid of it. Oh, well.

Lessee, Currently not reading any fiction other than HP. Won't bore you with the non-fic I am reading.;) I am planning on starting Lord of the Flies pretty soon though. Anyone know anything about it?

[Fleurdelacour]

Originally posted by xKatiexBellx
I've started to read To Kill A Mocking Bird, so far its boring...

It's amazing! Just wait until you've finished. I've done exams on To Kill a mockingbird, and, the work we did before the exam just enhanced its greatness :)

I just finished Oliver Twist

lol, I read that when I was six :D My first novel, I was very proud of my self!

Well, I'm currently still, re-reading the Harry Potter books. But with three months until I go to college, I'm going to finish LotR, and start reading some Austen, and some of the Bronte Sister's stuff :) Desperate for some romance! (this is all counting on, whether I feel like re-reading OotP all summer.... )

My friends reccoment Terry Prachett. Is he any good, and what sort of stuff does he write?

[alqua]

I think Terry Pratchett writes fantasy. Actually my friends have also recommended Pratchett, but I haven't read anything by him yet. :D

[Xazinon]

Ohh, you should DEFINITELY read Terry Pratchett! He's excellent! :)

Yeah, he writes fantasy, but not your average kind: I suppose you'd call it fantasy satire. His main book are based on the world of Discworld, a giant disc world on the back of 4 elephants on the back of a giant turtle flying through space, which should tell you something right there, hehe! (a take on aspects of Hindu, I'm pretty sure)

They're really very good, and very funny! Read them fore sure! :D


I've read To Kill A Mockingbird.. good book, I agree with you FleurD! Excellent read. :)

[Ollie Loop]

ravenclaw

have you read pullman's Sally Lockhart books? they're great. not much like his dark materials. my favourite is the amber spyglass. at least it has a little bit of romance.:D

[Colli]

Hi Ollie! :wave: I've been gone all week, I don't think I've met you. Welcome! :hug:

I read the Sally Lockhart trilogy when I was a lot younger, I absolutely loved it. :)

[swiftsnowmane]

Right now I'm reading Spindle's End, by Robin McKinley, a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. Great so far! I've also read her retelling of Beauty and the Beast, which is called Rose Daughter. That one was really good as well, I like her style.:)

P.S. Hi, Colli, you sexy beast.:D :swoon: ;)

[Ollie Loop]

hi colli my sis says you're a hoosier. feel sorry for you, you know my sister. yes i just joined love this site though

[Colli]

Originally posted by swiftsnowmane
P.S. Hi, Colli, you sexy beast.:D :swoon: ;)

:confused: That was random. :D


Ollie, I was born a Hoosier, moved to Ohio when I was 5 and have lived here for 13 years. :) But the same blood runs through my veins.. the same weakness...

[Ollie Loop]

dont know who said that to you but it was weird. hi people out there. I AM ALIVE
katz said sweet hoosier love (NOT in that way)
i believe i am a hoosier but i don't express my self like she does.

just finished reading Twelve Red Herrings by....... somebody.... it was really good...... not what i expected it to be. katz and i are now daring each other to read books that we wouldn't normally read. i have to read Jane Eyre, and she has to read The Golden Compass, and The Subtle Knife. This is going to be easier for me than it will be for her..... hahahahahahahahahaha :LOL:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[qleap]

Originally posted by Ollie Loop
have you read pullman's Sally Lockhart books? they're great. not much like his dark materials. my favourite is the amber spyglass. at least it has a little bit of romance.:D

Hi :)
I loved HDM when I read it (my favourite one is still Northern Lights), I actually started to read them because someone (sorry I forgot who, but I'm really grateful to her/him) recommended Pullman somewhere on the old boards...
It changed the way I look at lots of important things, and that's something for me :)
We have a thread about it if you're interested:
HDM trilogy thread at CoE (http://www.council-of-elrond.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1091)

As for Sally Lockhart, I was just thinking about those books this very morning :eek: I liked them, not as much as I loved HDM but they were good (especially first two) and I was thinking about the last Harry Potter comparing it with The Shadow in the North... I mean.... if you've read them you know what I mean...
There are certain ways to do kill your characters and Pullman did great I think.... when I read Sally Lockhart I CRIED and I was SO DESPERATE!! But all the same it was such a great scene and twist in the plot. I must admit that OotP didn't have the same effect on me.

Ok, enough with my We Love Pullman rambling for today ;)

[ChianaWeasley]

Just finished Willow by Drew Wayland.

:swoon:

::sigh:: Sorsha and Mad martigan....woah

You know in the film when he has been enchanted, and he tells her she is his sun, moon, and star lit sky? Well during the battle in the end, at Bavmorda's castle? Well he grabs her, while they are sword fighting with Bavmorda's troops and says to her.

"You are my sun, my moon, my star lit sky."

:eek:
:jawdrop:
:swoon:

does it GET any better then that?

[Elfëa]

Hmm.. .what I've been reading lately?

* Loads of Terry Pratchett - cause you can always do with a good laugh. :p
* Some Tom Clancy
* Some Neil Gaiman - I just love American Gods and Stardust (especially the illustrated version).

I just started Marion Bradley's Mists of Avalon, and so far it's been great. I've seen bits of the movie few years ago, and upon the occasion I saw the book in the library, I borrowed it...
I hope it's half as good as the bits I saw of thte movie were... :D

I think I have to write my own book someday... ;)

[ElfTBD]

Originally posted by Elfëa
I just started Marion Bradley's Mists of Avalon, and so far it's been great. I've seen bits of the movie few years ago, and upon the occasion I saw the book in the library, I borrowed it...
I hope it's half as good as the bits I saw of thte movie were... :D

I think I have to write my own book someday... ;)

The book is WAY better...and make sure when you're done with that to read teh other two prequels: The Lady of Avalon and The Forest House. Excellent books!!!!

[Lanen]

lithorose, I know I'm way too late with this, but - nobody under the age of 25 should read Austen! ;) Honestly. I read her in my early 20s and found her pretty boring. Then I read her in my early 30 and she'd gotten a LOT better. Then, after I'd been through a divorce and all sorts of life-stuff and watched people for a few decades (i.e. I was in my late 30s) all of a sudden she was/is amazingly funny. Her style is so - sparse, yet accurate. She can delineate a character in a line or two, it's extraordinary. and her observations on the society she lived in are SO catty! Wonderful, wonderful stuff.

As for HDM - I loved the first one, thought the second was good but weaker, and was furious at the ending and the 3rd book. He had established certain characters as feeling and acting a particular way, and in the 3rd book, because it suited his plot, he had them act entirely against everything he had said about their characters before that time. It was a rotten book, written to serve the agenda of his philosophy (there is no God, it's all down to us to make our own lives), and as much as I enjoyed and admired the first two, I will never bother to re-read them. Infuriating. Snarl. I know I'll get trouted, but too bad.
Lanen raises her shield to fend off the trout being waved in her direction

As for beowulf - I adore Beowulf, probably because for my degree in the early 80s we had to translate quite a large chunk of it from the Old English. Absolutely fascinating. I adored it - and you really start to get a feel for it when you're that close to the text.

[qleap]

Originally posted by Lanen
lAs for HDM - I loved the first one, thought the second was good but weaker, and was furious at the ending and the 3rd book. He had established certain characters as feeling and acting a particular way, and in the 3rd book, because it suited his plot, he had them act entirely against everything he had said about their characters before that time.
Well no trouting every point of view deserves respect I think :)

I must say that just considering both the way it was written and the plot, I liked much more the first one. But I didn't hate the others, I just thought they got a bit too complicated at times, but I must say there wasn't much I'd have done without.

It is indeed an imperfect work (even most fans says so): and you know, this is probably what I liked it so much. As I said somewhere else, it's not about what the books answered, it's what the books asked.
At least for me, such an imperfect work that made me think so much was way better than any perfect other one who didn't. Of course with perfect works you usually get meanings too, probably after studying them carefully; but this had such an immediate and direct effect on me I was surprised. When I think about HDM the very first thing I have in mind is a question mark: it's a starting point, and it doesn't matter much if at the end your answers agree or disagree with his theory, because you've already achieved the main goal, which is starting to ask yourself.

As for the change in characters, I cannot really say since I'm not an expert, but I didn't find it any weird. Maybe I missed more than I thought, if you could tell me more about that it's be great.
I have read somewhere else about, for example, Lyra changing from the great character in the first book to someone way less interesting and/or strong in the last. I don't even agree with that (because in the last books she's showing her strenght in other ways), but even if it was so, why not? Why characters have to keep behaving like themselves as we know them? Sometimes people do change completely in real life, so I don't see why not in a book. I think the matter with the alethiometer might be an example: on the way to grow up, you lose something, you change into another person. Of course I like consistent characters, but I don't think this time it was so necessary.

Probably since these books gave me so much to think about I had no time to care about the books themselves: it sounds bad but it's not. Sometimes you like a book for the book itself, sometimes you like it for what you got through it.

[lithorose]

Well, I've been reading Austen since I was about 18, and I love her. It was just Austen over-load to read her entire collection in 3 months. I love her observations of character, probably because her characters reminded me so much of people I knew. I wouldn't put an age on when you should read her, seeing as I'm only 24 and I feel I understand most of what she's saying about human behavior. It's amazing how similar the middle class then was to the middle class today, how people still basically interact in the same ways.

They also say you shouldn't read Shakespeare until you're thirty.

[Lanen]

I wouldn't put an age on when you should read her, seeing as I'm only 24 and I feel I understand most of what she's saying about human behavior.

There, you see, lithorose? I'm just slow! :o Not kidding, I'm a late bloomer in many respects.

Still, though - I'd be interested to hear what you have to say on the subject in 10 years' time! ;) :D

As for Shakespeare - for the most part, I feel that you should NEVER read Shakespeare, apart from his sonnets, unless you're reading him aloud. Plays are not meant to be READ, plays are meant to be acted or watched! I used to regularly fall asleep reading Willie's plays - but take me to a theatre where the language lives in the mouths and minds and bodies of the actors, where it's meant to be, and I ADORE his stuff. I've been in a few of the plays, always minor parts, and even today his words fall naturally from the lips. The man possessed a staggering genius. :notworthy: Or maybe it just looked that way because he drank a lot... ;) :D

[ChianaWeasley]

Im in between books at the moment...I couldn't find charlie and The Chocolate Factory anywhere. So until I go back to the library, which should be some time this week, I need some suggestions. I really enjoy fantasy/sci-fi with a bit of romance added in, and just a pinch of medival settings. LOL!

So please throw out some ideas for me
:)

[swiftsnowmane]

On the Jane Austen thing ~ I have read some Jane Austen, and I've liked what I've read so far...(I'm 19). Though I guess it may help that I've seen a ton of the movies based on her work already. :o
On dearest Willy Shakespeare ~I totally agree. Shakespeare should not be read, it should be watched! Whether watched as a movie or a play, it doesn't matter. Its just so much easier to understand. :D

I just finished a wonderful book by Juliet Marillier (the author of the Sevenwaters Trilogy, which are some of my favorite books ever, about three generations of women in 9th century Ireland. This is an excellent series, especially if you love celtic mythology and a good romance. :swoon: Caution: The stories are very moving, but at times bittersweet. I cried a lot...:o )
The book I just read by Marillier is called Wolfskin, part of her new series, The Saga of the Light Isles. Its about what may have happened when Norsemen landed for the first time on the Orkney Islands (north of what is now Scotland.) It follows Eyvind, a Viking warrior, also known as a 'Wolfskin'. The book also follows Nessa, a preistess of the ancient religion of the Folk of Orkney. Marillier explores what happens when the Norsemen's warlike values clash with the peaceful ways of the people of the mysterious islands.

If you like historical romance mixed with high fantasy, I highly recommend any of Marillier's exquisitely written books! :notworthy

[Remus]

I'm reading Pride and Prejudice for about the fifth or sixth time at the moment - and I'm only 16! I have found, though, that it's taken me this long (I was 12 when I first read it) to fully pick up on all the aspects of the story and I only started to appreciate the humour the third or fourth time round. But I think that had a lot to do with my age and the fact that it was the first classic I read, so I wasn't used to the difference in language which was why it took me a few readings to get over that.

After Pride & Prejudice I think I'll either go onto Sense and Sensibiltiy or Emma, or read something completely different like Day of the Triffids (which is another book I've been meaning to read :o ).

[Colli]

My dad handed me a book yesterday called The Sigma Protocol, 650 or so pages long. As his past endeavors at picking out books for me had all failed, I was skeptical.

But I started reading it this morning, and I'm about 2/3 the way through, and really enjoying it!

It reminds me a bit of the movie "The Net."

[Lanen]

Dear Remus - I commend you on your Austen attachment - I too have read them since that age. The good news is, they keep getting better! It's wonderful.

swiftsnowmane, are you familiar with Kristin Lavransdatter? It's a novel by Sigrid Undset, a Scandinavian author (Swedish? norwegian? Can't recall). She won the Nobel Prize for Literature for this book :notworthy , and it's easy to see why. It was the first of its type, a great sweeping novel following the whole life of its central heroine. It is utterly brilliant and impossible to put down. I expect you will find much that reminds you of Marillier - though you must remember, it's the other way round! Sigrid Undset wrote it in 1920-1922. The work reflects the attitude of women of her time - she was born in the late 1880s - but it is absolutely fascinating.

And, again to come late to the discussion, I heartily recommend Terry Pratchett. His first two books, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, are pretty good, but he gets EVER so much better from there. You could even start with, say, Equal Rites, and go on from there to Sourcery, Pyramids, Guards!Guards! - the list is long, and the good news is that they are all excellent. The man has even been accused of literature... ;)

[ChianaWeasley]

I have to read Jane Erye before school begins. But I've read it many times already, actually I read it in the seventh grade:D But I have to keep a reading journal with it :rolleyes: thats the bloody problem. I can recite the whole story to you, but that doesn't count for anything. How annoying.

Nonoe wants to read it, you know, they loathe required reading. I keep telling them it's really good and to try it. You'de think I was trying to serve them laxative ice cream sundaes ;)

Right now I'm reading Princess Bride, what a wonderful book :swoon:. I always try to keep my reading spaced out, I read it so fast. And I love the part where Buttercup hear the man in black say "AS.......You.........Wish......" :swoon:

What can I say I'm a schmuck for romantic fairie tales
:D

[PhineasNigellus]

Chiana - i was forcced to read Lord of the Flies last year, i probably would have read it some in my life and perhaps enjoyed but when i was forced to read i just hated every second of it!

I highly recommend to anyone who is into Heroic fantasy an author called James Barclay (The Chronicles of the Raven) - real pulp fantasy. The charecterisation is good and some parts steamy but like JK he does need a better editor.

[ChianaWeasley]

Oh I've treid to get through Lord of the Flies
I hate it!

I've still got to find Peter Pan!!!
I haven't been to the library in ages!!!
Im going through withdrawl
:p

Books recommended:

'Starship Titanic' Terry Jones (helped out with douglas Adams)
*so you KNOW its good*
'NeverEnding Story' by Michael Ende
'Princess Bride' by William Goldman
'Ella Enchanted' by Gail Carson Levine
'The Claudi Journals' by Tanith Lee
~Wolf Tower~ ~Wolf Star~ ~Wolf Queen~
'Two Princesses of Bamarre' Gail Carson Levine
'The Book of Words Trilogy' by J V Jones
~Baker's Boy~ ~A Man Betrayed~ ~Master & Fools~

[swiftsnowmane]

Chiana~ isn't it called The Claidi Journals?
Well, regardless of how its spelled, those books are so hilarious and absurd, I love them! "Claidi Baaa baaa" LOL! ;)

And Ella Enchanted is so cute! I haven't read the other one by her though.....
Don't be put off that these books are for "young adults" either, they're so much fun.:D

And of course The Princess Bride is wonderful. The tone is a bit different than the movie, but I love them both. :)

Lanen~ Thanks for the recommendation, I will definately check out that book! :)

I also heartily recommend Lanen's books! They are the sweetest, coolest, best books about dragons I have read! Read them! :swoon: :notworthy

[ChianaWeasley]

Books about dragons? You mean the Dragon Chronicles?

[Amberion]

Chiana

I dear and :hug:able lady Lanen is a published author.

I can highly recommend her books

Song in the Silence

and

The Lesser Kindred

with one more book at least to come next year
Lanen there had better be more or I will cry

Her name is Elizabeth Kerner

Do yourself a big favour and read them as soon as possible

[PhineasNigellus]

recently read some great fantasy by a bloke called Simon Green Fear and loathing in Haven its kind of detective mystery in Fantasy settings.

[ChianaWeasley]

Wait a tick!!!

Lanen is an author?!
You're an author?!
:eek:

Why didn't anyone tell me before?!
:jawdrop:

There it is...Song in The Silence!!!

I feel like Holly in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'!!!
I feel so silly, but i had no idea!!!
Thats wonderful

oh no...I've become an awestruck commoner :LOL:

I will definately go straight to the library,
I wish I had my license, Din doesn't like driving down into town:mad:

...I know authors...REAL honest to goodness authors...:D

[PhineasNigellus]

REALLY? (well i feel stupid now as i thought you were just joking!)

[ChianaWeasley]

That nasty library didn't have your book Lanen :( and I'm really looking forward to reading it once I get my hands on it. LOL. I was going to take out a reserve for it, but our parking meter ran out of time. As so did I. And of course, we think we were ticketed, this female cop was out jotting something down,took one look at us and left. We must of gotten a ticket.

Im angry enough that you must PAY to use the library!!!:mad:

But anywho this is what I got out:

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
&
Lady of The forest by Jenifer Robbinson

[StarGazr]

I'm reading Little Women right now... I've never actually finished this book before. I was watching Friends yesterday (ok I watch it every day!)... and Joey was reading the book... gave me the idea... good so far ;)

[PhineasNigellus]

Lol i thought joey only read porn/comics?



Don't read Terry Brooks !!! he rips off Tolkien and even uses basically the same plot and hardly disguises the charecter names!!

[Colli]

But isn't that the episode of Friends where Joey and Rachel trade books? Rachel reads the Shining and Joey reads Little Women, right? And he puts books that bother him in the freezer?

Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen that one! :)

[ChianaWeasley]

Bit of a 'Friends' fanatic Colli?
not that it shows or anything....;)

Dont read Terry Brooks?....but everyone I've talked to loves his work

I wanna read Lanen's book!:p

[PhineasNigellus]

IMHO Terry Brooks is awful and quite possibly the biggest rip off ever - including popcorn and drinks at the cinema!

[ChianaWeasley]

I finally got ahold of Lanen's book.
I took it up to the register and the girl said ,"oh this is a really good one!" Is was really excited and told her proudly that I knew the author, well sort of anyway ;) She thought that was really neat. And Avada wants to read it next, so Im going to try to get my other friends to read it when I'm done. We pass around books alot :p

Popcorn and soda at the cinema IS a ripoff. What happened to good old two dollar cinemas? :rolleyes: Sad really.

[lithorose]

Terry Brooks isn't a very good writer, but his stories are okay. I laughed at both him and Jordan for all the wrong reasons when I read them (sacrelidge, I know;)).

Still, though - I'd be interested to hear what you have to say on the subject in 10 years' time! Quite true!:D I'm sure what I get out of it will be totally different!

I'm ashamed to admit I'm not reading anything at the moment. But I have decided not to buy any more books until I read the ones I have. That is after all why I bought them. So up next, Moby Dick! Or, maybe, Last of the Mohicans!

[Lanen]

Amberion! :hug: Honestly, you should be on commission! :D

Chiana, THANK YOU for making such an effort, and for letting me know what the gal at the register had to say - whee! :rotfl: (I just hope to goodness you enjoy it after all that!)

Lithorose, my dear, I had no idea at all that you were a masochist! :eek: What, you aren't? Then don't waste your time on Last of the Mohicans!! :barf: It's complete - er, as my friend mistypes it, carp. Appalling rubbish! You want the best bits, go see the movie - trust me on this one, it's a hundred times better than the book! The man was a dreadful writer. You would do far better to find Mark Twain's essay on Fennimore Cooper. It's - it's vicious and deservedly so. Put it this way - I can manage to read most things, but Last of the Mohicans - I've tried three separate times. I never made it past page 15.

PhineusNigellus, I entirely agree about Terry Brooks. yurgh. Avoid like the plague for the reasons stated!

Raymond E Feist is rather the same - "his" lovely worlds were stolen, with hardly a change of vowel, from Professor M.A.R. Barker, who created Empire of the Petal Throne (aka Tekumel), an RPG system, in which he detailed all the creatures, the culture, the artifacts, etc., which Feist used in his rip-off books. Feist used to game with the Professor, when Barker was developing his world. Feist stole it. End of Story, as far as I'm concerned. :mad:

Amberion - as for future Kolmar novels - hmmm. I have a few ideas, but nothing that would translate at this point into a novel. Though the possibilities are endless... Tell you what, have a read of book 3 next June and see what you think then! ;) :D

[lithorose]

Lithorose, my dear, I had no idea at all that you were a masochist! What, you aren't? Then don't waste your time on Last of the Mohicans!! It's complete - er, as my friend mistypes it, carp. Appalling rubbish! You want the best bits, go see the movie - trust me on this one, it's a hundred times better than the book! The man was a dreadful writer. You would do far better to find Mark Twain's essay on Fennimore Cooper. It's - it's vicious and deservedly so. Put it this way - I can manage to read most things, but Last of the Mohicans - I've tried three separate times. I never made it past page 15. Oh dear. I was hoping the book would be better than the movie. The movie was pretty, but didn't have much character development. I've read the opening bit of the Twain essay, but I should probably give Cooper a shot before I read the rest of the essay. That way I can truly uh, appreciate it!:D

[StarGazr]

Originally posted by Colli
But isn't that the episode of Friends where Joey and Rachel trade books? Rachel reads the Shining and Joey reads Little Women, right? And he puts books that bother him in the freezer?

Are you like a Friends freak and never told me... cuz that's my favorite show... I have the first four seasons on DVD... OK... enough of that... back to books...
I just bought Alias: Declassified it's so freakin awesome!! Colli, you should be proud! You've passed your obsession on to someone!!

[ChianaWeasley]

Well, since everyone is telling me how terrible Brooks is...maybe I shouldn't bother...my friend really wants me to read it though.

Sorry for being so...well over excited that I know an author lanen. LOL, please bear with a girl ;)

Im itching to read it, but I have to finish my library books first. But I know I won't last another hour, it looks really good! I'm very bad at waiting to read a book, the other books will have to wait. :D

Everyone is a 'Friends' fan,lol,;)
I cannot wait for the season opener
but ill let you get back to books
:cool:

[RosieLass]

I'm in the middle of several things, as usual. :D

I'm rereading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. It's not my favorite Austen, but it's next in the collection I bought, and I'm determined to read them all.

I'm reading a collection of sci-fi short stories by Connie Willis called Impossible Things. She's the author of one of my favorite books of all time -- To Say Nothing of the Dog. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but I'm enjoying these stories.

I'm rereading the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. It's a suspense/spy thriller/fluff series about a middle-aged grandmother who gets bored with raising geraniums, so she joins the CIA and becomes a spy. :D

I also just finished the Aunt Dimity series, a mystery/fluff series by Nancy Atherton. Aunt Dimity is a ghost who communicates with her friends by writing in a journal. The books are cute, but the main character really gets up my nose. She is supposedly happily married but can barely contain her lust whenever anything with a Y chromosome crosses her path. Including a Roman Catholic priest, fer cryin' out loud! And in the last book, when her husband showed signs of having the hots for another woman (he didn't...it just looked that way) she had the utter gall to be jealous!!!

Oh, and I'm still struggling through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's all right, but it's sooo long.

[ChianaWeasley]

I sat down and read it all day long till I finished it
:D
:rolleyes:
sorry just very proud of that

[PhineasNigellus]

perhaps you should read Terry Brooks just so you now what an awful author he is! I mean seriously hating Terry Brooks is a very important experience and everyone should appriciate how bad he is!

[ChianaWeasley]

Well with what you've said, and trust me I value a fellow informer's opinion, I may not read it.

I have to finish Peter Pan anyway.

Which I have fallen in love with just as I started the thrid chapter.

a thimble=a kiss
a kiss=a thimble

:o

And tinker bell, I think I was tinker bell in my past life :)

'Silly ass!'

[Avada Kedavra]

im hurt that no one likes terry brooks. shannara was prolly one of the best books ive read within the past year. its aguable that its too similar to LOTR series, but in any fantasy catagory, what isn't? secondly, the story line is very good, its in depth and intermixing characters and plots all through out it, never missing a beat. not wanting to ruin it for chiana, but shaking my fist at all those who keep her from reading it, because you always enjoy a book much more when you have positive feedback, and if something negative is said about it, then suddenly a book does start to look bad and you stop reading it before the story picks up. your probably thinking that the story never did pick up, yes in fact it more or less had a 300 page into, but i felt myself caring for the characters and knowing their pain and sorrow and feeling thier rush/excitement. and anyway, if the book was so bad why would they be making a movie out of it, and they already have videogames?

[RosieLass]

Terry Brooks isn't as bad all that, Chiana.

Sword of Shannara was basically an unoriginal rehash of the LOTR plot, and the Shannara sequels are pretty tedious.

But his original stuff, where he came up with plots out of his own mind, are pretty good. I enjoyed the Magic Kingdom series.

Do give him a try, just to make up your own mind!

[ChianaWeasley]

Ah!!!!

Stop pulling me back and forth like this!!!!

curls up into a little ball and rocks back and forth

Enough! I'll read it and decide for myself!!!

that is after I read Peter Pan and Song in The Silence

:D

[ShannaraRhapsody]

I am appaled to see how many people hate Terry Brooks. Shannara, yes, is very closely related to LOTR, I'll give you people that, but his writing style and stories take you so deeply into the story, you don't want to leave. When Tolkien wrote LOTR, he took many different folk tales from all over the globe to create a story for England, becuase England, as we should well know, had no folk tales. Then came LOTR, so in a way, Tolkien fared no better than Brooks. Imy opinion, Shannra is better than LOTR, and as mad as it will make some people, far superior than Harry Potter. There are many, many great fantasy novels, don't turn yourself away from them because they border along the lines of LOTR. That's kinda how these things work. LOTR is kind of a guideline for past and up and coming fantasies. Harry Potter is actually quite close to the books about Merlin, so Harry Potter is following a guideline. Look at Tom Clancy. GREAT WRITINGS, but he's following the guideline set by Ian Fleming, who wrote the many 007 Books. So don't turn yourself away from books becasue they border others. You'll miss out tremendously. I highly reccomend you try Shannara if your a fan of LOTR or if you are tiring of Harry. And to Phineas Nigellus, you are very narrow minded.

[PhineasNigellus]

I am appaled to see how many people hate Terry Brooks. Shannara, yes, is very closely related to LOTR, I'll give you people that, but his writing style and stories take you so deeply into the story, you don't want to leave.
Don't want to leave? speak for yourself!

becuase England, as we should well know, had no folk tales.That just simply is not true.

Look at Tom Clancy. GREAT WRITINGS,
Tom Clancy is not Great writing. His books are clever and involve a large quantity of "government jargon". Tom Clancy is a popular writer but NOT a great one. I don't mean to belittle your views but seriously Tom Clancy is the sort of author that 90% of people will not reread because there is not much to them to be honest.


Terry Brooks took advantage of the massive popularity of LOTR by taking the charecters and the plot and putting them into a paralell world.because they border along the lines of LOTR I mean seriously, Bored of the Rings is a parody and more original than Shannara.




And to Phineas Nigellus, you are very narrow minded. Please elaborate.

[lithorose]

Hi Shannara! Welcome to the MI!:wave:

For myself, I don't hate Brooks. But I don't think much of him as a writer. The story was okay (though I had guessed the 'surprise' before I'd gotten halfway in) but I was frustrated because I kept rearranging his sentences while I was reading. His grammar wasn't very good. Unfortunately I no longer have the book (Elfstones), so can't give any examples.

[Lanen]

Lanen adjusts her Auror undies, throws on her official Auror robes, and wades into the Common Room carrying a menacing bucket of water.

Hi, ShannaraRhapsody. Welcome to the Muggle Informer!

You are obviously a person of strong opinions, and that's great! :D Makes for lively discussion and a free and frank exchange of ideas.

{ahem}

However, as an Auror of the Cauldron, I would like to request that you remember that the whole board is full of people with strong opinions. Heck, I have opinions that can bench press 300 lbs plus! ;) :D This is a good thing - but we have discovered over time that the discussion can roll merrily along, including huge and complete disagreements, without resorting to disparaging remarks about your fellow posters.

As it happens, I disagree with nearly everything you said, but that's what happens when different folk approach things from their own angles. I could cheerfully argue with you if I had the time, but I don't so I won't! :D

Basically, say what you think and be prepared to defend it (there are some pretty sharp cookies around here :cool: ), but please do so within the bounds of civilised conversation.

If you don't - well, I've got a bucket of water and I'm not afraid to use it! :devil:

[ChianaWeasley]

Lithorose, I only thought you could make an avatar so superb! But avas, you made it ten times better!!!!
:hugs:

Well I'm reading another book at the same time, 'Lady of The Forest' it's part of the Marian and Robert of Sherwood series by Jenifer Roberson
Very good, well so far at least.
I read the prologue and i was hooked!
:D

[ShannaraRhapsody]

Meh. I just strive to piss people off and belittle their opinions. I get a kick out of it and enjoy it. There can be millions of smart people in this room. Doesn't matter to me though. I'm SUPREME RULER OF THE WORLD! So what I say, goes. Have fun! There are also many other things I could say, but I promised Chiana I wouldn't. See Chiana, I'm good to my word!

[ShannaraRhapsody]

Civilized conversation. Pppsh. Defend my opinions? Why? I'm SUPREME RULER OF THE WORLD! My opinion is the right one and the only one. There is no reason to defend! I am right and that's all there is to it!

[Kristin]

Calm down, Supreme Ruler. ;) :hug: Lanen will use that water. Trust me. I've seen her do it.

I don't think anyone wants to fight over whose tastes and opinions are "right" or "wrong." We're just here to have fun.

... And as for me, I haven't even read Terry Brooks, so I have no opinion! :p

[ShannaraRhapsody]

Now, how will water be any good against me, over the little something I like to call, THE INTERNET! There is no argument as to who's taste and opinions are right and wrong. There is my opinion, and that is the only right opinion. All who agree are worthy! Only my tastes are correct. Let me reiterate something. I'm SUPREME RULER OF THE WORLD! If you don't like it, then to bad. And what is this fun you speak of. All are on this earth to agree with me and serve me, and those who do not will face horrible consequences!

[lithorose]

Lithorose, I only thought you could make an avatar so superb! But avas, you made it ten times better!!!! lith blushes.:o Thank you! :D

[Colli]

Funny, I thought Melkor was supreme ruler of the world. ;)

[ChianaWeasley]

I thought Disney was......;)

Lanen I've decided to use your book for the required brit lit reading and do a project for it :)

[Lanen]

Chiana, a quick word of warning - I'm NOT BRITISH! I'm American, and so is my publisher. Can't see your teacher allowing Song in the Silence as Brit Lit! Sorry, but better you should know now rather than later!

And Shannara Raphsody - well, dear, you think what you like :rolleyes: , but I'd recommend you keep taking the medication. ;) :p

And in fact it does matter who you annoy here. In case you did not realise it, this is a moderated board. You can be banned if the mods decide you deserve it. Thus far you're just being silly - goodness knows, it's an occupational hazard here! - and so have done nothing to merit a ban.

If you really enjoy trashing other people's opinions just for the fun of it - well, most of us just won't play. If that's how you get your jollies, there are plenty of other sites out there where you can interact with folk who enjoy the same kinds of things. Have a nice time.

And btw, Colli is right. Melkor is, in fact, god! ;) :D :notworthy

[qleap]

So I was at the airport waiting for my flight for a fortnight backpacking in Scandinavia, and I was choosing a book... and I found this one.
Since I had quoted its title at least twice in the previous two days with no reason (since I'd never read it before) I thought it was a sign and got the book.
I'm back home but haven't finished it yet (didn't have too much time to read really) but almost; it IS complicated, it IS hard to read (and it might just sound as a silly book but it's everything but silly) and some parts I could only read half a page and then had to sleep on that, but that's because it gives you a lot to think about. Definitely a good friend during the trip, especially because there were parts describing things that were happening to me right there during the journey.

ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE ~ Robert M Pirsig

I found an online version too, if you're any interested.

[Melkor]

Originally posted by ShannaraRhapsody
Now, how will water be any good against me, over the little something I like to call, THE INTERNET! There is no argument as to who's taste and opinions are right and wrong. There is my opinion, and that is the only right opinion. All who agree are worthy! Only my tastes are correct. Let me reiterate something. I'm SUPREME RULER OF THE WORLD! If you don't like it, then to bad. And what is this fun you speak of. All are on this earth to agree with me and serve me, and those who do not will face horrible consequences!



Really now?


Three guesses who just made my radar and the first two don't count.

Melkor Bows to Lanen and Coli

Flatery will get you everywhere ;) :D :cool:

[Lanen]

Melkor :notworthy

What do you mean, flattery? :confused:

Wait. You mean - you mean you're NOT god?!?! :jawdrop:

okay - how about Ghod? A modified version, but still recognisably a deity! :D :cool:

Glad you're keeping an eye on things here - though haven't heard any more from the lassie, I suspect she realised we don't feed Trolls around here and left.

[ChianaWeasley]

No!!!
awe....I was really hoping you were from europe Lanen:(
well, I guess I'll find another book. Maybe the author I'm reading now is british....hmm

Yes Shannara, I agree, it's good to have an opinion. But it's also good to be open minded and respectful of others who may have differed thoughts. Just remember that my friend:)

:LOL: Ghod!!!!

thats perfect
I'll have to remember that one
;)

[Rivenlas]

I actually read Terry Brooks before Lord of the Rings, and I really did like them at first. And then I read LOTR, and was extremely disappointed in them, especially the Sword of Shannara because everything seemed the same, even the descriptions. Except I can't say I don't like Ilse Witch and Antrax a lot, they seem more original, and I do like some of the others...it's just that reading a book, liking it, and then finding out it was based on another bothered me. Don't get me wrong, Terry Brooks is a good writer, it's just that his original works do more for me than the ones taken from LOTR. Some of it doesn't bother me, though. I've seen countless things with elves and dwarves in them with basically the same characteristics, but when it has the same plot...erg.

[ChianaWeasley]

I'm reading 'Lady of The Forest', as I've mentioned earlier. Now that I've gone further into it I HIGHLY suggest you pick it up next time you're at a bookstore or a library!!!! Its wonderful, and it takes a new odd perspective of all the characters.

I give it five on a four point scale
:D
Read it!!!!
I know you'll love it!

[PhineasNigellus]

I found a book in my local store called the Jewel of Samarkand highly entertaing and very funny - i really recommend it to everyone (even people who like Terry Brooks ;)). Altough it is probably aimed at a youngish (teen) age group i think everyone who reads it will enjoy it - destined to be MASSIVE.

The copy i got was a proof reading copy (why my local bookstore had one i will nver know) and i think it becomes available from september.

[ElfTBD]

I do like the Shannara series, and Terry Brooks in general, but the books aren't ones I'll read over and over again...just like *gasp* LOTR...I think it stems from reading other different types of fantasy that have a deeper involvement in the character's minds (and I really do like stories that have something to do with mental powers ie: telepathy, etc....)

speaking of that, I've decided to delve in to the Pern books by Anne McCaffery (a friend of mine loved them, and I read "Dragonsdawn" a long time ago)...I'm just confused about the order I should read them in...if anyone can help me and/or point me to the right thread, let me know...:D

[Amberion]

As quoted from "the chronicles of Pern"

The author respectfully suggests that books in the Pern series be read in the order in which they were published

Which is

Dragonflight
Dragonquest
The White Dragon

Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Nerilka's Story

Dragonsdawn

The Renegades of Pern

All the Weyrs of Pern

The Chronicles of Pern

Dolphins of Pern

Since then she has released

Red Star Rising:The Second Chronicle of Pern

MasterHarper of Pern


If you like mental power books have you read her Talent series

To Ride Pegasus
Pegasus in Flight
Pegasus in Space

[PhineasNigellus]

Thebest books i ever read about mental powers was Andre Norton's Witch world series - really excellent!

[Lanen]

Phineas Nigellus, I second Amberion's recommendation - Anne is a world-class writer with a huge following for a very good reason. The 'talent' series is fabulous. To Ride Pegasus is a collection of short stories/novellas, and her ideas set the stage for quite a few imitators.

The dragon books are, of course, fabulous. Especially the first 6. I kind of lost track of the series after that, but those first 6 are amazing. Classic McCaffrey.

And for something completely different, try Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle. Utterly different, entrancing, involving - it is fantastic. In fact, read anything you can find by Peter S. Beagle. He doesn't write huge numbers of books, but the ones he DOES write are well worth the wait. Beautiful, polished, well-observed - I just can't say enough good things about his work. Enjoy!

[ElfTBD]

Originally posted by Lanen
Phineas Nigellus, I second Amberion's recommendation - Anne is a world-class writer with a huge following for a very good reason. The 'talent' series is fabulous. To Ride Pegasus is a collection of short stories/novellas, and her ideas set the stage for quite a few imitators.

The dragon books are, of course, fabulous. Especially the first 6. I kind of lost track of the series after that, but those first 6 are amazing. Classic McCaffrey.

And for something completely different, try Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle. Utterly different, entrancing, involving - it is fantastic. In fact, read anything you can find by Peter S. Beagle. He doesn't write huge numbers of books, but the ones he DOES write are well worth the wait. Beautiful, polished, well-observed - I just can't say enough good things about his work. Enjoy!

I LOVE the Talent series...I've read all the Rowan books, I've only read Pegasus in Space (I randomly picked it up one day), but I plan on reading the other ones eventually...It's really nice to get the Reidinger backstory...

It's kind of funny, but I picked up "Dragonflight" so it's nice that I picked it up in the right order...:)

Thanks for the tip on Beagle...For some reason the title sounds familiar, which means I probably saw it in the bookstore and thought "hmm...interesting...", but put it back because I was looking for something else...

[Lanen]

Can't remember if I have put in a good word for Peter S. Beagle in this thread - just finished his Tamsin, it's terrific, very very original and moving. There again, everything the man writes is at least good, and sometimes great.

He's the one who wrote The Last Unicorn. also A Fine and Private Place (the two books couldn't be more different), Folk of the Air, The Innkeeper's Song, Giant Bones - not a huge oevre, but every one a winner. The man is brilliant.

[Amberion]

Originally posted by PhineasNigellus
Thebest books i ever read about mental powers was Andre Norton's Witch world series - really excellent!

I first read these about 25 years ago and was just browsing my 3 bookcases and thought about reading them for about the fifth time

I can recommend these as well:cool:

I am reading the Witches of Eileanan series by Kate Forsyth at the moment on the second book. The first book titled Dragonclaw was good.

Has anyone read Jenifer Roberson
I just love the Cheysuli series

[ChianaWeasley]

Oh!Oh!
I'm reading Jenifer Roberson right now!!!!

YOU MUST read the 'Lady of the Forest' and the others to follow in the saga!!!!

I almost went nutters in barnes and noble when I couldn't find the sequal! I highly recommend any of her books!

:LOL: And yes Lanen, you did put in a good word of Peter S. Beagle :)
http://www.cheysuli.com/author/Bookscans/FOREST.GIF
http://www.cheysuli.com/author/BookScans/los--72-med.gif

[Monkfish]

ARTEMIS FOWL By Eoin Colfer

Review by BellaOnline LDS Families Host Terrie Lynn Bittner:

"He´s being billed as the next Harry Potter, but Potter might be a little puzzled by the comparison. They are both into magic. They are each the stars of their own books...but that´s about it.

Artemis Fowl is the creation of Irish author Eoin Colfer, who describes the book as "Die Hard with fairies." Although the books are being compared, there is really very little comparison to be made, other than they are both fantasies about boys the same age. The author had not even read Harry Potter until the comparisons began to surface.

Harry Potter is a good kid. He´s the underdog in the Muggle world, unwanted by his relatives. He is a nice person who tries to make good choices, even when it costs him the prize. Artemis is another story all together. He´s actually a bad guy, so now parents who worried about the wizardry issue can also add bad ethics to their concerns. Artemis breaks the fairy code to learn how to accomplish his evil deed: he then kidnaps a leprechaun and ransoms it. The story has a heavy Internet connection, as Artemus researches the fairies (who are required to stay underground) on the Internet and also builds a computer program himself to translate the fairy language. He twists and turns Irish culture in ways that may startle those who think of leprechauns as cute and mischievous. His leprechauns are assigned the task of making sure the fairies never come above-ground. In fact, the very name stands for Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance. The fairies have machine guns!

If Harry Potter, who really wanted to be good, was banned....what will parents make of Artemus, who has a deeply-rooted goal to be evil?

There is a good guy in this story... good woman... good leprechaun woman. Captain Holly Short is the victim, but she´s not much of a victim. According to reports, she´s quite a handful. "

A brilliant set of books!!! :notworthy :D

[Fleurdelacour]

Oh wow... I've just finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

It's amazing I've been reading reviews of it in newspapers and magazines for weeks, but only decided to buy it after my Harry Potter excitment died down. And It was well worth the £7!

It's about a girl called Susie Salmon a fourteen year old girl. She was raped and murdered on her way home from school, and she watches from her place in heaven what happens to her family and friends as they grow up. It's awfully sad, but... Amazing.... I strongly reccomend it, and I'm not even spritual!

[ChianaWeasley]

I just started reading The Devil's Due I got it out of the library, it's a "heavy breast book" or so I like to call them ;) I know they are cheesy but it's about a pirate! That sold me, and the girl is this violent tempered scottish red head, who is actually exactly like me. Chasing after the boys in men's clothes, throwing stuff at them because they made a comment on my lack of femininity :p

We are feisty red heads

[lithorose]

I just started reading The Devil's Due I got it out of the library, it's a "heavy breast book" or so I like to call them I know they are cheesy but it's about a pirate! Or as I like to call them: 'bodice-rippers'. Which reminds me that great bodice-ripping moment in POTC!! That was great!:rotfl:

I just finished reading Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped. I read it once before, but didn't remember anything beyond him getting kidnapped and washed ashore.

It was pretty good. Not as action-packed as Treasure Island, and more of a morality play, but intruiging nonetheless. It is really about David Balfour growing up and experiencing the world, coming into contact with people who are radically different from himself, and how he copes with it.

[ChianaWeasley]

I started Kidnapped over the summer, and it wasn't too bad. alittle slow in spots if you ask me, but other then that it was decent. I do need to finish it. I have books left uinfinished and piled up all over my room, speaking of my room...where did my floor go? ;)

Right now I'm reading:

'Bad Boys' by Olivia Goldsmith
'Song In The Silence' by the great LANEN
'Starship titanic' Douglas Adams

[Avada Kedavra]

YOU STEAL!!!!

ITS HEAVING BREAST BOOK, AND YOU GOT THAT FROM ME!!!


BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS GONE!! WELL HA.... JOKES ON YOU!!! GIVE PROPS TO AVADA!!!

MATERIAL STEALER!! MATERIAL STEALER!!!

im currently reading 'Wishsong of Shannara' and i dont give 2 hoots what you say about Terry Brooks, i enjoy his works.

im also reading ' THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV' by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky ( say that 3 times fast :jawdrop: )

and parts of the communist manifesto. hee hee.

[Lanen]

AK, please don't shout. Sigh. :rolleyes:

If you're only here to be a pain in the arse, fine, I'm sure the mods will be happy to ban you, it's no trouble at all - but if you're here to communicate at all, there's an old Southern saying - "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". ;) Which means, if you want people to listen to you, try being interesting or intelligent or amusing, rather than just abrasive.

Argument is fine. Yelling about how great you are is really boring, and it tends to make people think the opposite in any case.

I've read TBK by Dostoyevski. Challenging, but ultimately so depressing in outlook that I gave up. There was so little variation in tone, and I can only take unremitting despair for so long!

As for the communist manifesto - my pals and I read that when we were in 7th grade, and we thought it was a great idea. the problem was that half of the world was trying it out as a genuine system of government at the time, and the only thing they proved was that it doesn't work out in practice. It requires too much in the way of integrity on the part of the heads of state, and the rulers of the USSR were just as corrupt as their Western counterparts were then and are now. Mismanagement was the standard, and the people who suffered most under the "official" Communist regime were the peasants. Alas. It's still a great idea, but in practice it appears to be a dead loss.

[lithorose]

I've read TBK by Dostoyevski. Challenging, but ultimately so depressing in outlook that I gave up. There was so little variation in tone, and I can only take unremitting despair for so long! Don't read Demons (aka The Posessed). It's even more depressing. The Brothers Karamazov is more hopeful in tone than most of his books.

I actually like both of them very much, though TBK was more depressing the second time round, for reasons I won't say as it counts as a book spoiler. Let's just say I interpreted the facts differently the second time around.:( But I really like the conversations with the priests, and Alyosha is one of my favorite literary characters.

I'm currently reading some of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories. Very cool.

[Avada Kedavra]

ok lanen

first off you assume that im yelling at chiana? shes my best friend in the whole unirverse, how about noting the sarcasm? who gets mad at stealing heaving breast book?


secondly, you also assume that i am not aware that communism wouldn't work, and your equating me with a 7th grader. why thank you your information. Not only have i done my homework, but i got it in on time, you know, so that way i wont have to stay after school and miss my cartoons.

i wasn't making any sort of argument, and i wasn't full of myself. I stated what i was reading. I appriciate FD on his literary talent, im not going to stop reading something because its not going to make me feel happy or put elves and faeries in it. But i suppose someone like me wouldn't be able to understand Classic Literature, because im too busy being a pain in the arse.

[alqua]

Avada Kedavra, using caps is usually considered yelling regardless of whether the person they're directed at is your friend or not. Also, it is much more pleasant to read text which is not all written in caps.

When you state what you are reading, it might be better for the conversation's sake also to say something about why you picked the book and what you are thinking about it. I think Lanen was only trying to make conversation with her views about Dostoyevski and the communist manifest, not assuming you didn't understand the problems of communism or suggesting you should stop reading Dostoyevski.

To quote our Membership Rules and Guidelines (http://www.muggleinformer.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3248) : "Lively debates are encouraged, but remember to comment on the post, not the poster. Keep debates civil. Flaming is not allowed."

So, be nice, all of you. ;)

[Avada Kedavra]

yes quite right

i apologize. i am not some ass who comes in here and destroys and runs amuck. however, i have had quite the horrible day, and was up on my guard a little too much, and well, lets just say i even took offence to the cat not eating all her food in the dish.

so i apologize for my rudeness and my sudden burst of pms.

[Lanen]

AK -

alqua was quite right, I was referring to your use of all caps when I mentioned shouting. Funny how swiftly I have become used to the conventions of the net. I "hear" caps as yelling.

As for your choice of reading material - I have no idea how old you are. You could be a brilliant 12 (in which case you very likely wouldn't know, necessarily, that communism doesn't work) or a childlike 50, or anything in between. Who knows? I was simply letting you know my experience with the two works you cited.

I can only judge your age and experience from your writing, and I'm not very good at that. I tend to note spelling and punctuation and draw conclusions therefrom. They are often wrong. My mother had to have a dictionary at her elbow when she wrote letters, she was such a lousy speller... .

I never meant in any way to suggest that you shouldn't read Dostoyevski because I find him depressing. What you read is entirely your business! And you don't need to be patronizing either, thank you.

However, as the purpose of this thread is to encourage discussion of various works other than Rowling's, I thought I'd put in my two cents' worth. In my own personal experience, speaking only for myself, I find life hard enough without acitvely seeking out social, political or personal angst in literature. I read Jane Austen, for goodness' sake! Calm, lovely use of language, and permeated by a sense of order. A daft order, to be sure, given the society at the time, but order nonetheless.

Ok, I've just deleted an angry reaction to your earlier post, but as you have very handsomely apologised, I for one accept it. God knows I understand PMS (the joys of endometriosis), and fair enough, I get seriously cranky then too. I am currently under a ridiculous amount of stress myself and getting next to no sleep, so I'm over-reacting too.

Shall we start again?

Hi, I'm Lanen, an opinionated middle-aged American woman living in the UK. Nice to meet you. ;)

And what's wrong with cartoons? :D

[Amberion]

Amb gives Lanen and Avada stress relieving hugs

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Lanen]

Amberion, you honey bear!

:hug:

Thanks, my dear, I needed that! Deadline closing in on me, argggghhhh!!!!

I think we need a 'losing my mind from stress' git... you know, something cute that is losing it...

:hug: back atcha, Amberion

Man, when I finish this thing, first I'm gonna have a :beer:, then I'm gonna :sleep: for a week. Possibly two.

[Kristin]

The deadline might be bad for you, Lanen, but it's good for us! :D I can't wait to read more of Lanen, et al.

Right now I'm reading:
The Two Towers - I've actually only read LOTR once (and that was three years ago)!

Assassins - The script of the musical by Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and John Weidman (book). I'm reading it, poring over it and rereading it because my dream is to direct the show sometime. I'm writing down ideas to prepare to pitch it to my community theater. That won't be for a while yet, but I'll be well-prepared.

[Avada Kedavra]

hi, my name is avada, im 16 and i live in the US.

i was introduced to this sight by my best friend, chiana.

i cannot spell.

im not usually this erm... a word that starts with b and ends in itchy.


i guess thats really all i have to say.

i enjoy reading almost as much as i enjoy living.

[Ayla]

I've just finished Clive Cussler's Fire Ice - good, as usual.

I'm still stroling through Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre . Beautiful - so far.

We are feisty red heads

Oh, Chiana ---> I know that it's very soon to say, but Oh! I love you!!!!!! ;) ;)

[Remus]

I love Jane Eyre, the first half more than the second, but it's a still agreat book.

At the moment I'm reading the Colour Purple. Some of the stuff she talks about is so appauling, but I'm really enjoying it (now that I've got used to the language).

[Ayla]

yes, it does take a while to get used to her way of writing. the language is funny at first, but later on i start talking like that!! eeuw (actually it is quite pretty, but still......) ;)

I love the Brontë-sisters' poetry. I've got such a lovely poem of (i think) emily--- i'll post it when i find it.

I bid thee fare well for the moment :wave:

[alqua]

I just started reading Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibilty Diaries, which she wrote during the planning and filming of the movie "Sense and Sensibilty" (to which she wrote the Oscar winning screenplay). Very nice reading. She seems like a very intelligent and funny person. I can't wait to see her interpretation of Trelawney. :D

[Lanen]

I adore Jane Eyre. But then, I'm a hopeless romantic...

Haven't read Emma Thompson's S&S Diaries, though I've heard about them. thanks for the recommendation!

[Ayla]

I finished Jane Eyre Wednesday (took me so long -- no time, you see) and it was wonderful!!!!! I think I might read it again ---- in a while though......

Here's that poem I talked about-- i love it


Last Lines

No coward soul is mine,
No tremble in the world's storm-troubled sphere
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith flashes equal, arming me from fear.

O God, within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life, that in me hast rest,
As I, undying Life, have power in Thee!

Vain are the thousand creeds
That move men's hearts : unutterably vain;
Worthless and withered weeds,
Or idlest froth amid the boundless main,

To waken doubt in one
Holding so fat by Thy infinity;
So surely anchored on
The steadfast rock of immortality.

With wide-embracing love
Thy Spirit animates eternal years,
Pervades and broods above,
Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears.

Though earth and moon were gone,
And suns and universes ceased to be,
And Thou wert left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.

There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void :
Thou - Thou art Being and Breath,
And what Thou art may never be destroyed.
Emily Brontë

~I just love this poem~

[Flockman The Wise]

I'm currently reading "The Outsiders" after finishing Stephen King's "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon".

[Ayla]

So, tell us about the stories......... :D we wanna know! really we do;) :o

[Flockman The Wise]

Who, me?

[alqua]

Probably you. It would be nice to hear some insight on the books and not just the names. Would you recommend them to anyone? I haven't read either one of them myself.

[Flockman The Wise]

Well, "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" is about a young 11 year old girl walking in the mountains with her mother and older brother. She is tired of hearing them fighting so she decides to break off the path she is on and meet back with them a little ways up the trail. This plan goes all wrong and she ends up lost in the woods, with nothing but her walkman radio. She listens to the baseball games each night, she loves Tom Gordon, who plays for the Giants. This keeps her going, it drives her, having some contact with the outer world. All the while she knows something is wrong. Something is following her through the woods. Stalking her. Hunting her. A #1 New York Times bestseller, this book is funny, cool, scary, and in some ways, moving. I've recommended this book to several people and all of them have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now, "The Outsiders" is an extremely good book. I've finished reading it only yesterday and the ending is wonderful. This book is about two gangs, the Socs and the greasers, and how the two differ and have to deal with eachother. The Socs are rich and have everything they ask for. The greasers are poor and many of them steal what they need. Although it's short, once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down. If you haven't read this one already, make sure you do. I recommend this to everyone of any age.

[Ayla]

and what is your age?? over sixties?:D ;)

No, i'll try to find the books.:wave:

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by Ayla
and what is your age?? over sixties?:D ;)

No, i'll try to find the books.:wave:

o.O

I'm sixteen..

[Ayla]

hmm....

so i might just read it --> i'm 17 so there's no fear of me getting educated above my age;) --> or beneath it for the matter!

[Piper-Eowyn]

(Firstly... hi-there everyone... I'm new here, my name is Kim, hope to speak to some of you soon :D)

Currently (aside from HP) I am reading -
* "The Science Of Harry Potter" ~ Roger Highfield (it looks at how the magic in the novels could be put into practice in real-life [eg could we actually make a broom that flies? how?])
* "Dangerous Lady" ~ Martina Cole
* "The Valkyries" ~ Paulo Coelho
* "The Return Of The King" ~ JRR Tolkien (re-reading it in time for December )

Plus some books for uni,
* "Language Play" ~ David Crystal
* "Language Myths" ~ Laurie Bauer and Peter Trudgill

[SiriuslyInLove]

I seriously need to check out The Philosiphers Stone....and * "The Science Of Harry Potter" ~ Roger Highfield (it looks at how the magic in the novels could be put into practice in real-life.)

any other HP related books anyone wanna recomend Go right ahead! :)

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by SiriuslyInLove
I seriously need to check out The Philosiphers Stone....

I read that. The only real difference is that the word "sorcerer" is replaced by "philosopher". I bought it in Canada.

[SiriuslyInLove]

okie dokie...and why was it changed? makes no sense, no sense at all! :confused:

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by SiriuslyInLove
okie dokie...and why was it changed? makes no sense, no sense at all! :confused:

Different country = Different word choice. I don't know, maybe "Sorcerer" is too American for other countries or something.

[SiriuslyInLove]

Originally posted by Flockman The Wise
Different country = Different word choice. I don't know, maybe "Sorcerer" is too American for other countries or something.

LOL! :lol:

riiight....were a bunch of crazy americans-you know that! ;)

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by SiriuslyInLove
LOL! :lol:

riiight....were a bunch of crazy americans-you know that! ;)

No doubt.

[SiriuslyInLove]

just like thier the crazy canandians...lol! acctually i have 3 friends in canada, one is deffinetly crazy but i have not said one word to him a/b it;)

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by SiriuslyInLove
just like thier the crazy canandians...lol! acctually i have 3 friends in canada, one is deffinetly crazy but i have not said one word to him a/b it;)

I'm half-canadian. My dad's the pure-blood Canadian. My friends say he's exactly like Conan O' Brian.

[Kristin]

Actually, there are more changes than philosopher vs. sorceror. The Lexicon has a full list here. (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/help.html#british)


The worst change is: In the British CoS, Hermione talks about how hard it is to "go to the loo" with Moaning Myrtle wailing in the next stall. In the American, she says "have a pee." What?! I have never heard anyone ever say "have a pee"!


* "The Return Of The King" ~ JRR Tolkien (re-reading it in time for December )
Yup. Me too. (Not that I need to. I re-read it a couple months ago.)

[Flockman The Wise]

:rotfl:

Queuing = Lining Up

:rotfl:

[Kristin]

Why is queuing/lining up funny? :confused:

[Irys]

Why have I never noticed Hermy's "have a pee"? :rotfl: That's a terrible phrase, not to mention something that no one has prolly ever said.

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by Kristin
Why is queuing/lining up funny? :confused:

Because a comedian Jay Mohr did this comedy special on Comedy Central and said some English guy kicked his *** because he was standing in both lines and the dude told him to "que up" then karate chopped him under the chin, knocking him into the ropes that go around the lines (he was in an airport) which caused the ropes to knock other people down and MAN JAY MOHR IS A FUNNY MOFO.
:rotfl:
:rotfl:

[glaelia]

having a pee isn't common... but 'going for a pee' is something we brits do say a lot...


*cough* And apparently, Warner Brothers decided to change ''Philosophers" to "Sorcerer's" because they didn't think... our American cousins would know what Philosopher meant...


which is terrible... obviously...

But also, they mean completely different things!!

[Flockman The Wise]

Originally posted by glaelia
having a pee isn't common... but 'going for a pee' is something we brits do say a lot...


*cough* And apparently, Warner Brothers decided to change ''Philosophers" to "Sorcerer's" because they didn't think... our American cousins would know what Philosopher meant...


which is terrible... obviously...

But also, they mean completely different things!!

Probably true.

[swiftsnowmane]

I don't think they meant for Philosopher and Sorcerer to mean the same thing....maybe they thought that American fantasy fans or kids would be more likely to buy something that said Sorcerer rather than Philosopher. I dunno....either way its quite silly.:p I wish they wouldn't change anything in the American versions. I like all the British-isms!!!:D (Though some are still in)

[Hermionegirl]

maybe they thought that American fantasy fans or kids would be more likely to buy something that said Sorcerer rather than Philosopher. I dunno....either way its quite silly. I wish they wouldn't change anything in the American versions. I like all the British-isms!!!



I do thing that the children wouldn't buy something that said philosopher. I would but. of course I love to read books!! :swoon: :notworthy


H-girl

[alqua]

Now, now. Aren't we getting a bit off topic? This is the only forum where we aren't supposed to talk about Harry Potter. :D

This kind of discussion would be better fit in the Literary Discussion -forum.

[Ayla]

I'll get us back on topic ....or whatever I thought the topic was:rolleyes:

At the moment I'm reading 2 books : Violin --by Anne Rice.
And ....Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban. Just finished the other 2 again and am about to go to goblet & phoenix.

Well, the other books I'm reading at the moment also includes :

Thief of Time ----by Terry Prathcett. Kind of confusing, but I'm trying to get the hang of it. :)

Last night I finished : Where the heart is --by Billie Letts----there was a movie made of it, remember: Natalie Portman played in it.
The book is very good. Touching.

And 2 books you should read to your children, but it has to be children with a whole of understanding. But, older people can read it too. My dad read the one book when I gave it to him and he said it was good, hopefully he just said it not to make me feel bad;)

they are both by Brian Jacques : the first is TRISS (it is a tale of Redwall---apparently there are a whole lot of books about that ''place'')
The other is CASTAWAYS OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN----i almost cried. I liked it very much. Sometimes it was a bit childish for me, but never bad!

And for the romantics at heart who does not want a sloppy romance, but rather a witty recollection of how love really reacts to real life -------- read SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT by Sarah Webb.
I laughed a LOT!!!!:LOL:

That is my effort for tonight.

Good bye!!!:wave:

[lithorose]

The Redwall books are great.:) I've read two of them, Martin the Warrior and another one, I forget the name though. Martin was a very good book, I cried at the end of it...

And I believe his books weren't originally written for children, they used to be in the SF section of the bookstore, and have migrated into the kid's section in more recent times, since kids like them so much.

I'm trying to read the Silmarillion. I'm about halfway through, and it is interesting in spite of the fact it's taking me forever.:D

[alqua]

I'm reading a biography about J.K. Rowling, which I got for Christmas. It's quite interesting, because I haven't known that much about her before.

The Silmarillion is great. It took me a while to get into it, but it's wonderful reading once you get started. It brings so much depth to some things that were only briefly mentioned in LotR.

[Ayla]

I'm halfway through the Silmarillion----too many other books keep me busy:p
but it DOES give depth to LotR etc. I like to understand EVERYTHING about it. it makes the "world" more real to me.:D

[SiriuslyInLove]

Originally posted by Kristin



The worst change is: In the British CoS, Hermione talks about how hard it is to "go to the loo" with Moaning Myrtle wailing in the next stall. In the American, she says "have a pee." What?! I have never heard anyone ever say "have a pee"!




hmm...I have CoS i will have to look it up-they call the toilet in London the Loo! lol!

[Flockman Optimized]

I've always wondered what a 'loo' was. Thanks, Meg.

[SiriuslyInLove]

Originally posted by Flockman Optimized
I've always wondered what a 'loo' was. Thanks, Meg.

your welcome! :) I only know that because it was in What a Girl Wants with Amanda Baynes...very funny movie! ;)

[Ayla]

it was a cute movie, yeah.

great, I'm glad that everybody understands the words *loo* and *have a pee* now. That is such a reassurance of your intelligence:rolleyes:

[Lanen]

Glaelia et al -

I think the prob with the different titles is that NOBODY knew what the Philosopher's Stone (a common mythological constuct in alchemy and known to Western civilization for many hundred years) was anymore, before J.K. Rowling made it popular knowledge again. And the publishers decided that American readers wouldn't buy anything with philosopher in the title, as they would think it too 'highbrow'. Sigh. I'm so glad they have been proven wrong!

Oops - sorry, alqua, this shouldn't be happening here! :D

[SiriuslyInLove]

Originally posted by Ayla
it was a cute movie, yeah.

great, I'm glad that everybody understands the words *loo* and *have a pee* now. That is such a reassurance of your intelligence:rolleyes:


im very Intelligant acctually-but very behind on math! :( im homeschooled and my dads the math genius around here and he's always working...its soooo annoying! im thinking of getting oline math help!

[Hermionegirl]

I'm reading Harry Potter 5. this book is sooo cool!!! I'm reading about the order. I'm also reading a book called Memories of Summer. It is a very sad book about a girl named Summer her sister Lyric and her dad. Summer has a mental problem and sometimes she will say "Jibble, jibble." Lyric wants to grow up like a normal teenager, but her love for Summer is getting in the way. Somtimes in the book Lyric will say to herself that she is embaraced about Summer.

H-girl

[Lanen]

Just finished a book called The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold - haunting, disturbing, well-written. Sad but ultimately peaceful.
Have also read Girl with a Pearl Earring, a novel about the painting by Vermeer. It's interesting enough, but I really don't get the huge publicity or why anyone would try taking a fragile story like that and making a movie about it. Go figure...

[Ayla]

I've finished the new Clive Cussler last night --> Trojan War. have any of you ever read any of the Dirk Pitt-series? it is a great set of books!!!!!!!!!!!
And when it was finished I was kinda depressed 'cause I had a terriblr feeling that the series is over. The door closed behind them in the book (I'm very paranoid about symbolical stuff):rolleyes: and that, for me, showed the end of a very successful book......or rather character, Dirk Pitt is the most wonderful man *lol* but the story, everything, it's GREAT!!!

[lithorose]

Well, it's summer now, and we all have lots of free time for reading, right? (haha!)

I just finished one of Asimov's Robot novels (The Caves of Steel). It was pretty interesting, though I had the plot half figured out before I'd gotten very far. Even so, he managed to pull a few surprises at the end. The story was intriguing even though it's beginning to show its age. The New York of the Future only had about 10million people, and yet it was presented as this majorly overpopulated megalopolis, and, like many of the classic SF stories, it concentrated on inventing robots that looked like humans (rather than bioengineering, which seems now to be the more viable future). And a little odd that spacers couldn't breathe the air of earth, yet could let it get all over their skin without problem. But even so, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series...

[Fleurdelacour]

Summer is time for my reading binge, no more books set by college! No more DH Lawrence!

I just read Notes On A Scandal by Zoe Heller, and I loved it :) It's written so beautifully and with such fragility. It's about a teacher who has an affair with a 15 year old student, told through the eyes of her collegue. It also has a sub-story about the collegue's own tale of loniness. Its very sad, but also at the same time hilarious. I'd recomend it right away!

I also bought Girl With A Pearl Earring, but I've not got round to reading it yet!

[Peregrinning Took]

I am currently (re)reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. :cool: