DragonFreak Soars High for the Summer

Here's my rating key.

1/2 = Time waster
* = Why did I read it?
*1/2 = Could be better.
** = Not the best book I've read
**1/2= OK, I guess.
*** = Somewhat good.
*** 1/2 = Good.
**** = This is great.
**** 1/2 = This is awesome.
***** = This is greatly awesome.

January
1. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
2. The Divide by Elizabeth Kay
3. The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
4. Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
5. Back to the Divide by Elizabeth Kay
6. Jinx on the Divide by Elizabeth Kay
7. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
8. The Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
9. Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
10. The Gift by James Patterson. (Can't find right touchstone)

February
11. The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour
12. Get off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey
13. Fair Blows the Wind by Louis L'Amour
14. Magyk by Angie Sage
15. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
16. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
17. Flyte by Angie Sage
18. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

March
19. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
20. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
21. Physik by Angie Sage
22. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
23. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
24. The Drift House by Dale Peck
25. School's Out Forever by James Patterson
26. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
27. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
28. Saving the World and other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

April
29. Firedrake by Richard Knaak
30. The Final Warning by James Patterson
31. Max by James Patterson
32. Icedragon by Richard Knaak
33. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
34. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
35. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

May
36. Animal Farm by George Orwell
37. Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
38. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
39. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey
40. 20 Years Later by Emma Newman
41. In the Days of the Comet by H G Wells
42. A Game of Thrones by George Martin
43. The Lark and Wren by Mercedes Lackey

June
44. The Robin and the Kestrel by Mercedes Lackey
45. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
46. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
47. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford
48. Powers that Be by Anne McCaffrey
49. The Lake House by James Patterson

July
50. Crazy Horse Electric Game by Chris Crutcher
51. Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher
52. When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
53. Escape From Zobadak by Brad Gallagher
54. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

August

September

October

November

December

END OF 2011

And here is my list of popularity based on each month. At the end of each month I'll list the best and worst books and at the end of the year, I'll announce my best and worst book of 2011. If there is no terribly bad books for that month, the bottom three will be the worst unless it the book really deserves to be good.

For the regular 12 months, I'll list them from the best book of that month to the third best book of that month. The same with the worst book of that month.

And at the end of 2011, I'll caculate the top 12 books. Now I suddenly decided that when rating the best and worst books, the actual ratings go out the window. Why? Because sometimes how you view a book changes as you change, and maybe a book wasn't as good as some, but it deserves much more praise than some. Does that make sense? As long as it makes sense to me, I guess that's all that matters, right?

January
1. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
2. Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stoud
3. Jinx on the Divide by Elizabeth Kay
4. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
5. The Gift by James Patterson
6. Back to the Divide by Elizabeth Kay
7. Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
8. The Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
9. The Divide by Elizabeth Kay
10. The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

Best:
3. Jinx on the Divide by Elizabeth Kay
2. Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathon Stroud
1. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Worst:
2. The Divide by Elizabeth Kay
1. The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

February
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
2. The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
4. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
5. Get off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey
6. Flyte by Angie Sage
7. Magyk by Angie Sage
8. Fair Blows the Wind by Louis L'Amour

Best:
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
2. The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Worst:
3. Flyte by Angie Sage
2. Magyk by Angie Sage
1. Fair Blows the Wind by Louis L'Amour

March
1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
3. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
4. School's Out Forever by James Patterson
5. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
6. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
7. The Drift House by Dale Peck
8. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
9. Physik by Angie Sage
10. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

Best:
3. All Maximum Ride books by James Patterson
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Worst:
3. All Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage
2. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
1. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

April
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
2. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
3. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
4. Icedragon by Richard Knaak
5. The Final Warning by James Patterson
6. Firedrake by Richard Knaak
7. Max by James Patterson

Best:
3. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
2. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Worst:
3. The Final Warning by James Patterson
2. Firedrake by Richard Knaak
1. Max by James Patterson

May

1. A Game of Thrones by George Martin
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
3. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey
4. Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
5. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
6. 20 Years Later by Emma Newman
7. The Lark and Wren by Merced Lackey
8. In the Days of the Comet by H G Wells

Best:
3. The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
1. A Game of Thrones by George Martin
Worst:
1. In the Days of the Comet by H G Wells

June
1. The Lake House by James Patterson
2. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
3. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford
4. The Robin and Kestrel by Mercedes Lackey
5. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
6. Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey

Best:
3. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford
2. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
1. The Lake House by James Patterson
Worst:
1. Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey

July
1. Epn: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
2. Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher
3. When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
4. Escape From Zobadak by Brad Gallagher
5. Crazy Horse Electric Game by Chris Crutcher

Best:
3.
2.
1.
Worst:
3.
2.
1.

September

Best:
3.
2.
1.
Worst:
3.
2.
1.

October

Best:
3.
2.
1.
Worst:
3.
2.
1.

November

Best:
3.
2.
1.
Worst:
3.
2.
1.

December

Best:
3.
2.
1.
Worst:
3.
2.
1.

END OF 2011

Best Book of 2011
12.
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.

1.

Worst Book of 2011
12.
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.

1.

In the summer, I don't go Online nearly as much (which is probably good for me), so I won't be on LibraryThing, like never unfortunately. But I'll pop in every time I get the chance and when I have a review to write.

First here, gawd that never happens to me because of the time differences. Got your new thread starred and I like the flying dragons. Who is the artist?

I like your flying dragons also. I hope you reach your reading goal this summer.

>3 KiwiNyx: and 4 Welcome! I do hope I reach my goal. I don't know who the author was, but it's from Animal Planets show Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real which I saw on the Science Channel when they did a whole night devoted to dragons. Fell in love with that show and I recorded it. Unfortunately, the DVR went complete berzerk and deleted everything. It happend three more times since then. But I don't know who the artist is. I was going to put another picture instead, but then I decided against it, because I wanted something else. I wanted a picture of a reading dragon flying playing on the word Soar in my title, but there isn't any multi-tasking bookworm dragons out there, so I decided to use a summer-y type picture, so I remembered the Animal Planet show and searched that and got the picture. The dragon on top, I have as my background picture on my computer and it's been there annoyingly for quite some time, because I love it too much to change it.

Great news: Just got my ARC copy of 20 Years Later by Emma Newman today! It came with a packet about the book and a handwritten letter addressed specifically to me. Any publishing company who would take time to do that is a pretty darn good company in my opinion. So after I get done with Dragondrums I’ll read that…unless A Game of Thrones comes in and then I’ll go back and forth from each other.

Speaking about Dragondrums, I’m halfway into it, and I realized something. There’s a character in there named Piemur who’s like the Justin Bieber of Pern. He’s young, and has a voice like a girl, and all the girls love him, and he lost his golden voice…OK, so that hasn’t happen to Beaver yet, but pretty soon, I can stop calling him Justine unfortunately.

Checking in your new thread. :)
Loving your dragon pics!

I have to admit that I've never read any of Anne McCaffrey's books but your reviews are definitely nudging me in the right direction.
Hopefully we will still be able to catch you on LT during the summer but I say take advantage of the nice weather and spend as much time away from the computer! :)

Love the dragon pic! Will miss conversing with you over the summer but look forward to your reviews.

Nathan, I've been on the road for the last two weeks and so missed a lot of your recent tumult. I'm sorry to hear about the death of your great-grandmother, but also awed--I never knew any of my great-grandparents or my paternal grandmother. Congratulations on making it through the people-filled congregations that accompany such occasions. And you've been reading my favorite Pern books as well as Robin McKinley, one of my favorite authors.

>7 jolerie: Welcome and thanks! I say go for McCaffrey if you want to. You'll catch me in the summer, just not as often.

>8 elfchild: Thanks! I'll miss convesing with all of you too!

>9 ronincats: I saw that you were gone. I keep meaning to mention something on your thread, but I never got around to it. Thanks! That event left me drained. Overall, I'm glad I went. Besides, despite all that, I thought it would've been 80% worse than what it actually was. I want to read more Robin McKinley, because I can really get used to her.

I've got you starred! And I love the picture, too. You are doing an awesome job of reviewing books and I so enjoy reading your comments. Thanks.

No, Thank You times about four. I love compliments. Also, constructive critizism is nice too!

Starred once again. LOVE the Pern series. I may have to re-read them, right after I read the last Harry Potter again....LT is supposed to be fun, so only post when you want and if the nice summer weather and activities draw you away for a while, we will all be here when you get to us! ; )

Glad to see you! I'm almost done with my review with Dragondrums. Oops, really have to go. bye!

FINISHED: Book 29: Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey

Review:

Piemur is the friend of Menolly in the Harper Hall. His reason for being there: his unnaturally high-pitched, golden voice that is absolutely amazing. Piemur knew his voice wouldn’t be that way forever, and he was right. Just before Master Domick’s new ballad about Lessa, which he wrote specifically for Piemur to sing Lessa’s part, his voice suddenly changes when he hit puberty. Piemur is afraid that he is now going to be kicked out of Harper Hall, but Master Robinson has other plans. Piemur is now going to be a drum apprentice and is going to work for the Masterharper. This is different, but it’s good to Piemur.

But like Menolly when she arrived, things started to get complicated. His peers hate him for the same reason Menolly’s peers hated her: he is too good. While the rest of the class struggled, he flew by the rest of them with no trouble at all. Also, Piemur has a problem with speaking his mind, and lately, it’s been getting him into much trouble. Also, he really wants a fire lizard, and Menolly promised an egg of her golden fire lizard, Beauty, when she mates. But both of them know that that promise won’t happen, since Menolly has no control over who gets Beauty’s eggs. In this final book of the Harper Hall Trilogy, chaos breaks loose and the madness over the fire lizards increases.

At first when I learned that this book was more about Piemur and not about Menolly, I groaned and thought, wow, this is going to be bad. But was I wrong. It was better than both Dragonsong and Dragonsinger. Why? It’s was more surprising. There were more twist and turns. I’m glad I didn’t pay attention to the back, because it told the whole plot of the book. Dragondrums was the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy!

Rating: Five Stars *****

Notes that I’m not going to put on the book’s work page:

At the end, I remembered that Piemur was too in the book The White Dragon. What triggered my memory: his runner beast named Stupid. Can’t forget anybody with that name, now can I? Also, the fire lizards affect their Impressed humans just as strongly as the real Dragonriders do, especially when it comes for them to mate. Wait, I’m getting a flashback. I knew that already. In Dragonsdawn, I think that may of helped the goal of populating Pern. Yes, that’s right in fact. Pesky things those fire lizards. Not worth the trouble in my opinions. I’d much rather have the larger, genetically mutated ones instead.

Spiffy new thread here, Nathan! Glad to see that the first review on it is a 5-star book!

Thanks! It deserved to be a five star most definately.

Congrats on finishing all 3 books for the TIOLI challenge! :)

I did, didn't I? Totally forgot about that. Better update it. Thanks!

FINISHED: Book 40: 20 Years Later by Emma Newman

Review:

Zane lives in the post-apocalyptic town of London, England i where there are bones and skulls of past humans that litter everywhere and a state of almost anarchy resides. The literacy rates of new humans are very low, and their brains develop slowly from the lack of education and order. In London, there are three gangs: The Bloomsbury Boys, The Gardners, and the much feared Red Lady’s Gang. Here, each gang are mortal rivals struggling to survive in the horrible state.

Zane is one of the Boys of The Bloomsbury Boys and lives with his mom, Miri, which is the only female in the gang. The leader of the Red Lady’s Gang, the Red Lady herself wanted to meet Zane, and seduced his somewhat immature mind into letting one of her Hunters train him.

But that’s not the worst part. Life for Zane gets much harder. And soon he strives out to find everything: who is his father, why are the Unders taking all the females, and most importantly: How did the world-wide apocalypse start? The answers to these questions are shocking to Zane as everything in the world is about to change. Again.

You know, for a debut author, this is a pretty good book. It certainly kept me entertained, and whenever the plot got boring, and it happens a couple of times, the book gets much, much better all of a sudden. And like I said in the summary up above, the reason for the apocalypse is so twisted and dark, it’s almost unbelievable.

All in all, very good. I will definitely be looking for a sequel.

Rating: Four Stars ****

Post-apocalyptic novels is a genre I actually quite like, this one looks good.

Well it's on sale July 5th, so you can try to get it then.

#20: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks, Nathan!

Your welcome!

What is the BlackHole?

Nathan, you write really well! I enjoyed reading your review of this book almost enough to want it on my wish list, dang it all!

>25 maggie1944: Thanks! Well one of my goals one day is to be an author. It has been since 2nd grade.

I had to get out my dragonhounds to track you down to your new thread.......

Well those dragonhounds must be pretty reliable. Glad you made it!

I haven't read since Saturday, because I'm still reading for A Game of Thrones to come to me. Yes, I could read something else, but....I don't know.

Summer is here for me! Thank God!

#23: The BlackHole used to be my Mount TBR. Then after I joined LT for a while it became Continent TBR, then Planet TBR. After that, I just dubbed it the BlackHole.

Did you get A Game of Thrones yet?

#29 Ah, I get it. I thought it was a website where you track the books you want. Glad I got that straightened out.

#30 No I haven't. *sigh* I could've read two books already.

OK, I don't know what the heck I was thinking, but I joined this online role playing game based in Pern. Just what I needed.

LOL @ Nathan :) Have a good time in Pern!

>26 DragonFreak:: Why "one day"? Why not start writing today? :)

>32 alcottacre: I'll try. My character just got accepted so I can start to Role Play any day now. You know, I have never once in my life used "LOL". I don't use abbrviations for starters, and second, instead I'll just write "funny" or "ha" or "haha". Just had to put that out there.

>33 dk_phoenix: Well I'm working on it right now. OK, not right now, in fact, not recently, but soon maybe I'll become an author.

FINISHED: Book 41: In the Days of the Comet by H G Wells

Review:

William “Willie” Leadford is a student in a British town called Clayton. He, like most people at that time, is a socialist and wants a change in power for the higher ranked class. Willie is stuck in this horrible circle of love where he loves Nettie, and one day Nettie is now married to an upper class gentleman, which breaks his heart. All the while, a mysterious green comet is coming closer and closer to the Earth, but it seems that the new war with Germany is much more important.

On the night of the Change, Willie decides to kill Nettie, his husband, and then kill himself. That was his plan, until the comet crashes into Earth, changing everything…for the better. When Willie wakes, he feels happy and pure, and realized for the first time how horrible it was to kill his love. The comet changed everyone else too to this strange sense of relaxation and kindness. And as his adventure goes on, he contemplates on his life before the days of the comet.

Despite how ideally interesting this book sounds, it’s really not that interesting. I’ve read The Time Machine by Wells and felt horribly disinterested in the book. The book is missing something. I can’t tell what, but there’s some sort of element that lacked in both books. But I can tell you, I’m probably not going to read anymore Wells books.

Rating: Three Stars ***

Sounds like one for me to skip. Better luck with your next read, Nathan!

Oh, the Pern game sounds like fun. I'm about to start Martin's Clash of Kings as my son won't stop bugging me till I start. He wants to talk about the characters and can't because I don't know what happens in books 2&3. I really hope Game of Thrones arrives soon.

>36 alcottacre: Yeah, skip it. Not worth it. I was on my to read pretty soon, but I had to read something for the weekend, because A Game of Thrones still hasn't come in. I'm not patient at all.

>37 avatiakh: Progress is going slow for me on the Pern RP website, mainly because I can't get ahold of exactly what to do. That sounds familiar, the way your son is bugging you to read a book. It's actually vice versa with me with my mother, but I usually don't listen to her, because her books are strictly non fantasy. I guess my tastes are just too "weird" for her, and now my sister is following into my footsteps and reading "weird" books too.

I'm going to start a new book again. It's called The Lark and Wren by Mercedes Lackey. I created a TIOLI challenge involving books or authors with names of birds specifically to read A Game of Thrones and that book plus The Robin and the Kestrel by the same author, and since the month is almost over, I better get a move on it.

Looking at the back cover on The Lark and Wren, the plot sounds very...familiar. A woman who can play a fiddle really good goes to this place with a ghost and makes a deal that if she's good enough, she gets a sack full of silver, but if she isn't good enough, she looses her life.

My connection: a song called The Devil Went Down to Georgia by somebody. It's song about this man who can play a fiddle really well makes a deal with the devil that if he wins, he gets a fiddle made of gold, but if he looses, the devil gets his soul. See the simalarities. I honostly don't know how that can go for almost 500 page, but I'll give it a try.

Nathan- I'm 6 episodes into HBO's Game of Thrones and they are doing a fantastic job. No dragons yet but there are 3 dragon's eggs.

>38 DragonFreak:

Don't worry about The Lark and the Wren -- the part you describe is only the first portion of the book (at most novella length) and things move on from there. I haven't read it in a few years so I may join you for a shared read on your challenge.

BTW, The Devil Went Down to Georgia was by the Charlie Daniels Band. The pact with the devil / ghost / fae story is a pretty common traditional folk motif, so I think Lackey gets a pass on that one....

Hi Nathan! If we truly are talking about the same things then I'll have to say that I actually didn't mind the ending with Dustfinger one bit. To be honest, I think it actually made me like him a bit more since my impression of him from the last book wasn't the greatest. It has made me curious to see how they resolve that issue in the last book because my hunch is that it is not the last time I will be seeing him.
Now I am curious as to why you disliked it?

I'm enjoying this Inkheart discussion as we have book one and we all enjoyed the movie but I had heard that the 2nd and 3rd books aren't as good. Valerie, I think you've convinced me to definitely read all three.

>39 msf59: That’s great! In fact, I just received A Game of Thrones yesterday, and I can’t stop reading it. It’s fantastic! I plan on talking about it a lot later this post. I can look on HBO channels and see the information on there, and I think I’m equivalent to the beginning to middle of the fourth episode, where Daenerys and Viserys gets into a fight and the tournament is about to start.

>40 Dejah_Thoris: I thought that was the case. It is a pretty common, myths or legends about deals with evil spirits. Like Hades in the Greek myths is known for his love of making cunning pacts. Hey, I haven’t seen you here before. You just joined on April 28th. Hmm…that was my father’s birthday. Welcome! I look forward seeing more of you!

>41 jolerie: It didn’t bother me that much, but a friend of mine was totally devastated. She hates Farid you see, and just the opposite for Dustfinger. And since Dustfinger is usually a book favorite among many, well, maybe it wasn’t a smart part of Funke’s part.

>42 KiwiNyx: You know, I liked the movie too….sort of. It’s a big turn off for me that they made it so they can’t make the sequels. It just bothers the h(eck) out of me when that happens. Even though the movie is flawless in every way, it just makes me mad. But read them. I mean, who wouldn’t want the ability to read things out of a book?

I am 230 pages into A Game of Thrones and you people on LT never fail me. It’s just amazing. Right now in the book, it’s more historical than fantasy, which is just alright to me! But what really surprised me that most of the important characters are children! I know there is more powerful people like Eddard, Catelyn, Robert, and Viserys, but they don’t do much unless the children does something to affect the balance of the world.

For example, Brandon or Bran saw something he wasn’t supposed to, and now somebody wants him dead…fast. And then there’s Ned’s illegitimate son Jon, which they use the term Bastard, but I like saying and typing “illegitimate” better. He can’t rule, and he’s stuck in this world of usefulness and utter worthlessness. Then there is Daenerys or Dany. I truly feel sorry for her. I would hate it to be in her position. In fact I hate to say that I would hate to be in the Targaryen House at all. Unless…no I would still hate it. Anyway, just her existing is horrid to the world, since it seems that her only purpose is to procreate. Then there is Sansa and Arya. Sansa is the typical and totally true princess stereotype. She’s neat, and all she dreams of is to be queen with her beloved Joffrey. But there’s her sister Arya, who is her opposite thank God. Personally I like her better. Those two almost started a war between two Houses. Girls.

This is book so far, and I’m not only half way into it, is spectacular. End of story.

I'm really loving this new post layout!

I'm glad you are liking the book! I bought the entire set of the first four books since there was such a great deal on it. But I think it will have to wait it's turn along with all the other sorely neglected books on my shelves. Did you buy just the first book or the rest of them as well?

I recently gave up waiting and bought Book 1 - Game of Thrones. Now I just have to finish all the other books I've half started before I can get to it. I don't want to be distracted when I do start to read it.

#43> Really good to see that you are loving Game of Thrones, you've got me keen to ditch what I'm reading and pick up book 2. I've given up on pushing books on my children, they enjoy them more when they discover them for themselves.

>44 jolerie: I did neither. I got it in an Interlibrary Loan, and waited two weeks for it. Found out why: it's from Minnesota Univeristy, which is...a long ways away. There wasn't any library closer? But I think I'm going to have to buy the series someday.

>45 KiwiNyx: I can't stop thinking about the book. It's calling for me right now, angry that I haven't read it in three hours. I want to get the rest of the 200 pages done by Friday and review that day, because I'll be leaving Saturday and Sunday, which then I want to read two more books, and then when I get back, I'll have to review three books if all goes right and my May review, and that'll take a whole lot of time, especially with the long reviews I write.

>46 avatiakh: I think that's what my mother started to do. One of the only books that I've read that she has read was the Twilight Saga series. I didn't say for her to read it, she just wanted to. I don't even like those books anymore. I don't think she did either.

My daughter is turning 21 soon and since I was on Amazon ordering her gift anyway...Games of Thrones is on its way along with several other LT 75er hits.

Yeah more books! I just got done with A Game of Thrones and I'll review it later today.

Let me tell you, A Game of Thrones is very intense. Maybe too intense. I finished it yesterday, and afterwords, I just felt....I don't know. I felt very emotional. I think I cried within the book, but I don't know if I actually did. You see, I was reading without blinking except maybe once every 30 seconds, the room was dry too, and then came to the end of this one chapter that was sad, and I decided to rapidly blink, and my eyes got too wet and my tears just ran down while feeling sad, so....It'll probably come up in the next "Crying while Reading" conversation. Ignore that last sentance, it has a lot of grammatical errors that I don't want you to notice.

Afterwords, my heart was pounding even harder than my average (which is actually pretty high itself), and my face was red, and I was very tired. Usually I don't get that sensation unless I play video games for 5 hours straight, or run at high speed for...five minutes. I layed in my bed and the sensation of the book wouldn't go away. I have a pretty good idea how the review is going to go, and it's going to be either my longest or second longest review, because I just don't see how it can be longer than my review for Get Off the Unicorn with 13 short stories individually review.

FINISHED: Book 42: A Game of Thrones by George Martin



The Seven Kingdoms of Westero is ruled by Houses like the Starks, the Baratheons, and the Lannisters and others, each of them very powerful, very influential, and potentially very deadly.

Up in the North are the Starks where bitterly cold weather is always a threat. Their House words Winter is Coming and indeed it is. After a decade or so of non-stop summer, winter is approaching, and with that, comes the unknown. Eddard “Ned” Stark the current ruler of the Starks along with her wife Catelyn of the House of Tully. Their children are Robb, the oldest fourteen years old and the heir to Ned’s throne. Then his two daughters Sansa and Arya, is next. Sansa age 11 is the typical princess stereotype, and her dream is to be queen with her betrothed Joffrey , the heir to the Baratheons. Arya, with 9 years on her, is the complete opposite of Sansa, and because of that, they fight constantly. And last, Brandon or Bran, age 7, and Rickon, who’s only three. But Stark also has an illegitimate son named Jon Snow. Jon has high respect and love for his father and honors him, but how can he when time after time again someone points it out that he shouldn’t even exist in the first place.

The Baratheon House is in the southern continent ruled by King Robert. He’s a good ruler, but he has many faults and weaknesses, it gets in the way of his duties. His wife Cersei of Lannister House doesn’t have the best reputation either. Also there is Prince Joffrey, the son of the King and Queen, and Sansa’s fantasy husband. When Robert’s top advisor Jon Arryn dies without reason, he picks his childhood friend Eddard Stark to take his place, and Eddard reluctantly agrees to the position.

Tywin Lannister is the Lord of the House of Lannister, father of three very unique children. His two oldest are twins named Jaime and Cersei, who the latter is the wife of King Robert. Jaime is also called the Kingslayer, because he murdered Aerys II, called the Mad King, of the Targaryen House.

And finally there is Daenerys or Dany, of the Targaryen House with his brother Viserys. They are the last of the Targaryens, the Blood of the Dragons. When they get exiled to a new continent to the east, Dany is forced to marry Khal Drogo. It seems like everybody wants to kill Dany, because they don’t want another King like Aerys II, and no one wants her dead more than King Robert.

These are most of the characters in the book, and just for a few pages, everything seems good, but it’s not. Dangers are around every corner, no one is safe, and many people are in line for a throne, and winning one is very dangerous. And soon, only one thing is for certain: When you play the game of thrones, you win or die.

There are two things I look for in a book: Great plot, and even greater characters. The plot is outstanding. Even when I thought this one event was going to happen, it didn’t, it was much better than I thought it would be, and at the same time, much worse. It’s not predictable, never boring, and full of surprises on every page.

Then the characters, oh they are so great. I foolishly got very connected with them, wanting them to never get injured or to die, making me feel like they are my friends. Very few books make me have that feeling. Also in addition to character I love, there are also characters that I hate with a passion. Characters I want to stab in the back and send them to the seven hells.

I know a million other reviews say this, but I’m saying it again. Read this book. Seriously. I can’t guarantee you’ll love this book, but I’ll bet my life that you won’t hate it, and why not read it if you know you’ll not going to hate it? This book is now in my Top Five list of the best books I have ever read, and I’m thinking it’ll be on that list for a very long time.

Rating: Five Stars ***** (although if I could, it would be much, much higher)

Very enthusiastic review - I love it. I'm intrigued by The Wall and hope we get more about that in book 2 which I've just started.

Great review and don't worry, I will be reading it soon.

I can definitely see that you enjoyed your read Nathan! Hopefully you can get your hands on the other books soon so you can continue your adventure with what looks like excellent character developments and world building. My hands are itching to read this series as well but I am holding back to give my other neglected books some well deserved attention.

Wow Nathan! I love your enthusiasm! A great review! "This book is now in my Top Five list of the best books I have ever read". That says it all.
The one character you left out was Tyrion, my personal favorite. Although, I also loved Eddard, Arrya & Jon Snow too!

I gave you your 1st Thumb! And you deserve many more!

Great review, Nathan! You almost tempt me to start the series before it is complete. Almost, but not quite.

I received GoT from Amazon this week and look forward to being immersed in this fascinating civilization. After reading your review I'm sure I will more than likely shed a few tears, too.

>51 avatiakh: I hope the Wall gets more time, because it was kind of boring. But it must be important, right.

>52 KiwiNyx: Can't wait to see what you think of it!

>53 jolerie: As much as I want to read the next one so badly, it must wait. Maybe late next month or early July.

>54 msf59: I did forget Tyrion. I always forget about him for some reason. I may have to tweak it a little so I'll fit him in. Thanks for thumbing me! I noticed I was in the Hot Reviews for the second time this month.

>55 alcottacre: Darn it! Well when the series is complete, read it right away.

>56 mamzel: I hope you don't cry. I can't stand people crying, because is makes me cry, but I hope you enjoy it!

OK, so I'm in a hotel right now, on the computer with...16 minutes exactly left, so I'm going to try to hurry. First of all, I'll like the re-thank everyone, you really made my day. And next I'll like to say that my friend wants to read A Game of Thrones too! I told her about it and how good it was and how it grabs you and doesn't let you go, and she wants to read it. She said that lately she's having troubles with books keeping her interest. She quit three books already this summer. But it's not my book, and it's due June 2nd, so that's not an option unless I can renew it, which I probably can't. But I know she'll love it, because we both love fantasy and have a weak spot for The Dark Ages, which is what the book reminds me of. She might actually take advice on a book for once!

Also, I'm 200 pages into The Lark and Wren by Mercedes Lackey, and I say that it is pretty darn good.

DragonFreak, you keep writing those good reviews, and keep reading such good books, and more and more your friends will take you very good advice. Never you worry!

>58 maggie1944: I certainly hope so!

OK, so I just finished The Lark and Wren, and will review it shortly if I have time, and then since I can't finish The Robin and Kestral before May is over, I'll get to the May Review maybe tomorrow. Actually I could maybe read that book before Wednesday, but I don't want to, and I bet it won't make a different in the TIOLI challenge.

Here's my summer planned reading list without the book I've already read. It looks like on Deck is a Wheel of Time book followed by new Chris Crutcher books. Can't wait to read more of those!

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Crazy Horse Electric Game by Chris Crutcher
The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
All Narnia books (6 total when not reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch (if I can get it)
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (possibly)
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

Looks like an ambitious summer reading plan for you, Nathan! Good luck.

>61 DragonFreak: Hopefully I'll get that list done by mid-July. That's 17 books, right? Yup. Thanks!

Great news. I just one my second ER book Escape from Zobadak by Brad Gallagher, which was the only book I really wanted from the list. Yeah!

You convinced me I added A Game of Thrones to my TBR pile.

Great! If you remember, tell me what you think of it when you read it.

I'm going to now review The Lark and Wren. Didn't do it that one day, because I just lazy and well...So I'm going to it now. Hopefully I won't get distracted.

I started something new, when I add a book to my TBR list I add the LT username as a tag so I can remember where I the recommendation came from. So I will be letting you know what I think.

Ah, that's pretty unique. And a foolproof way of remembering it.

FINSIHED: Book 43: The Lark and Wren by Mercedes Lackey



Rune's dream is to be part of the Bardic Guild, but her dream seems very distant. She's cursed to be working in a small inn and have a bad reputation just because her mother is a whore. What she can do is play a fiddle really, really well. And one day she makes a bet that she can go the Ghost of Skull Hill and survive the night. There the ghost arrives and she makes a deal with him that if she can play all night and not bore him, Rune will live. And all through that night, Rune played her soul out, and lived…with a bag full of silver.

Upon going back, she realizes that her dream to be part of the Guild will never come true if she stays, so she runs away with only the silver and her precious fiddle. In a town far away she meets up with her first music teacher named Tonno, where she also finds her a home in a place called Amber’s to work, which coincidently is a whorehouse and befriends all four of them (later two more) and a worker named Maddie.

For months she trained to be in the big competition to automatically become a Bard, but only one problem: women are frowned upon horribly. And what happens after the competition is over is just half of the book, the other half is a new situation full of new surprises and one great adventure.

Surprising, I loved this book. I didn’t expect much the first 100-150 pages or so, but I warmed up to it, and it was really good. The thing I thought I wouldn’t like about it, it turned out all right. In my review up above, Rune worked in a whorehouse as an entertainer. When I saw that, the first thing I thought was Really Lackey? You really want to go there? but the whores were made…not moral by all means, but very likable characters. It’s hard to explain without reading the book, but them and other later characters in the book I can’t say without putting a spoiler warning on it are very, very likable characters also.

So in short, not truly a fantasy book by all means, but it kept me engaged in 3/5 of the book.

Rating: Four Stars ****

So much to respond to. First off -- April 28 is a big day in our household too, being my daughter's birthday.

THEN I am so delighted that you are loving the Martin! And I know exactly what you mean about being emotionally overwhelmed by it at times.

I think my favorite of all is Jon Snow and I too LOVE LOVE LOVE the Wall and the whole concept of it. Just staggering and fascinating. You'll get more into it as the story goes on. But it doesn't get any easier to read, believe me. Awful things go on, but gosh these are determined folks one and all.

Love your summer reading list. And I've put the Lackey on my wishlist. You are a most persuasive dude when it comes to reviews.

Thanks for the review Nathan! I am sure getting introduced to a lot of new fantasy books that I've never heard about before. I hope you are having a great summer so far genius. ;)

>67 sibylline: Yes, awful things did go on, very awful. In that book, the section that got me most riled up were the scenes with Dany. I wanted her life to change for the better, but when it did, it just made me even sadder for her. Hmm...maybe I should use my persuasive powers for good...or should it be evil...no, that doesn't go good with me.

>68 jolerie: Well I am introducing myself to a lot of new fantasy too. And so far, all of them are pretty good. I am doing good, and thanks!

I'm in the process of making my May Review. May: beyond awesome!

To prove how good May was, I’m going to do the worst section first.

WORST
1. In the Days of the Comet by H G Wells – Wait, no third or second? Nope. Those places would’ve been The Lark and Wren and 20 Years Later by Emma Newman, and those have absolutely no reason why they should be in the worst section. This one, well it should be. I don’t know what’s with both of the Wells books, but it’s just missing something important. And I think what: The lack of good characters. In The Time Machine, both plot and characters seemed very flat, and in In the Days of the Comet, it wasn’t much better. The plot I admit was better, but I didn’t give a hoot what happened to the main character, which was so forgettable I forgot him already. No more H G Wells books for me.

BEST
3. The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey – I just love Pern, and this set of books was perfectly flawless in every way. In fact the below books are even more flawless, but it always seems that non-first time series books just naturally fall lower in the ratings compared to first-time series books and non-series books, but these didn’t fail to keep the rating just as high as when I first read Dragonflight. On what planet are there genetically altered dragons with rider saving its planet’s citizens from doom? A planet I want to live on!

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell – For such a little book of only 140 pages, this book really made me think. I think I’ve mentioned before that I love books about societies going bad, and this book is about that. Orwell didn’t fail me again!

1. A Game of Thrones by George Martin – Ha, two George’s right in a row. What are the chances? Anyways, you knew this was coming right? Need I say anything anymore?

So for Sunday through about Wednesday I’ll be gone, but I plan to read, read, read. And then I’ll have to review them all…I should pre-write them. Also for another heads up, the weekend before Father’s Day, I’ll be gone again for another 1-2 weeks. You see my other, other, other Great-Grandmother on my step-father’s side of the family is having her 90th birthday party, so there’ll be another family reunion. And there is only 6-7 people on his side of the family that’ll I’ll actually know out of the possible…dozens…Just grin and bear it I guess.

Another good review, I put a few Mercedes Lackey books on my tbr list last year after someone recommended her Elemental series for fairytale retellings. I'm enjoying Clash of Kings, taking it slowly though.

Thanks! I want to see what else Mercedes Lackey has besides the four books I have of hers. Enjoy yourself!

Nathan, what did you mean in message 66 when you said the Lackey book wasn't "truly a fantasy book"?

>73 ronincats: Well just to me, it didn't seem at all like fantasy. It's listed in the sequel as "high fantasy", but there wasn't any magic, only one scene with mythical creatures, and that was with elves for 5 pages, and it's about normal people with extraordinary powers of music, which is pretty normal. OK, in the beginning there was a ghost, but it's just my personal opinion that it's not a fantasy book. You see where I'm coming from, right?

I'll grant you, except for the ghost and the elves, it's just a story about ordinary people in an imaginary world. ;-) I do see what you are saying, but I think I have a broader definition of fantasy than you.

I'll recommend Od Magic by Patricia A. McKillip to your attention--I think you'd enjoy it.

>75 ronincats: You might. So what do I tag for the book that has no genre? Just plain fiction. Since I don't think it's fantasy, not primarily romance, definately not realistic fiction nor historical fiction, not anywhere near science fiction, and not alternative reality either, since I can't pinpoint if there is certain place that's on Earth, so I use fiction for all my books that don't have a tag and if real world is fantasy. Actually that would be alternative reality, but I'm very picky on what is actually "alternative".

I love recommendations! I think I'll put it on my Wishlist. Thanks!

#66: Another nice review, Nathan. Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks!

I read Martin's books 1-3 and then there was nothing. When #4 came out, I started re-reading, thinking that I could space them out enough to finish them when Martin released the last one. Still waiting. I'm hoping that HBO has something in his contract that makes him finish this by a particular date.

On the up side, I love these books. This is such a great combination of palace intrigue, interesting characters, and eerieness. Glad to meet some other fans.

There is a lot of magic use in The Lark and the Wren - the ghost uses magic, the transformation of the musician into a bird (and the transformation back), the use of magic to heal, the use of music as magic to free a character from the elves and the use of magic music to help them with the guards who wanted to restrain them, use of magic to transform the kid and the whole group, magic to restrain someone.

Not sure how much more magic is needed to call it fantasy.

Nathan- Just swinging through to say hi! I'll have to squeeze in a couple more fantasy books this year, although I do have Wise Man's Fear & A Dance With Dragons to read, at some point this summer.

>77 alcottacre: Your welcome!

>78 jeanned: Yes they are good books. Which reminds me, I need to add the rest of the books on my Wishlist.

>79 Morphidae: Hmm...yes you're absolutely right. Maybe it is fantasy after all...Need to change that then...

>80 msf59: Never heard about those books The Kingkiller Chronicle. Oh, it's by a LibraryThing author. Will you tell me more about them? I have a feeling that it may go on my Wishlist. This part is an edit. So I added A Dance With Dragons to my list, and Wise Man's Fear came up as an automatic recommendation. Seriously, what are the chances? Also, I just now added Tyrion in my review, so now it's perfect!

Name of the wind is the 1st book in the trilogy. It's one I read, back in Fantasy February. It's a good epic read and one I recommend. Of course, Wise Man's Fear is Book 2, which came out a couple months ago. Might have to wait a couple years for Book 3. Hey, plenty of other stuff to read.
That's great you added Tyrion, now it's perfect!

I second The Kingkiller Chronicles, the first book is one of the best fantasy books I've ever read and I'm starting the second book very shortly. Then we'll all have to wait until he finishes the third but judging from what he's written so far, it will be well worth the wait.

Nathan- I wanted to share these excellent comments about a Game of Thrones:
http://confessionsofacommonreader.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/game-of-thrones-by-ge...

>82 msf59:-3 I will definately put it on my Wishlist then. Interesting fact: the action name for killing a king is called regicide. Yup, it's true.

>84 msf59: Loved it! If it was on here, I'll definately thumb it. Thanks for sharing it!

Also, I'll be gone tomorrow until...Wednesday, so I won't be around sadly. But hopefully I will be back to crank out at least three more reviews!

Have a good time while you are gone, Nathan. I look forward to your reviews when you return!

>86 alcottacre: Thanks! I haven’t left yet, but I have news to tell.

So today is garage sale day! Where the whole city has a garage sale. There were two places that had a whole lot of books. The first had 100-150 books, but with one problem: they were all romance books, and probably wasn’t even fantasy romance either! Also the covers did not look appealing to a male’s brain, so I just left.

Then the second had a better selection. There were five James Patterson books, but there was only one that wasn’t in the middle of a series, and it didn’t catch my interest. Then there were four John Grisham books, and I decided to buy one, so I picked the best looking one called The Brethren. Then jackpot! It was the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which I kind of always wanted to read.

Two more books into my library and it only cost 2 dollars apiece, which is a pretty good deal considering how thick they are.

See you all Wednesday, unless I can sneak onto another computer, which is expected.

Have a great trip Nathan! Hope you get some good reading squeezed in between all the family socializing. ;)

I didn't realize the second Rothfuss was out, how remiss of me! I have that in a holding pattern in my tbr shelf and my spouse LOVED it --- he will be so pleased! But..... I am so cheep, I will wait for the pbk .....

The DvCode is a romp! I didn't care for The Brethren, can't remember why now, but for a dollar, you can't lose.

>88 jolerie: Thanks! I'm not even gone, and I'm already counting down when I'll be back.

>89 sibylline: I guess it's out then. I usually buy paperbacks too, unless they're new of course, but it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. I think I'll add The Da Vinci Code for sure to my second reading list of the summer when I finish the first one.

Gnashing of teeth! Pbk isn't out until March 2012. But -- sometimes the price for a used hardback plummets after a few months..... it's down to 12.00 which is not bad. I can wait a few months. (Esp since I haven't read it, so I am not the one suffering.

That's seems like a fair price to me, but what do I know? To me, a insanely huge paperback works just as well as what I what I use hardcovers for, but it must be huge in all dimmension, otherwise it's a big pain.

OK, pressing the "Log Off" button now. See ya later!

I noticed this on other threads, do books only come out in hardback first in the US? We don't get that at all, trade paperbacks are usually the first to hit the shops here and then you'll see the normal paperbacks arriving soon after but the trade ones are usually put on special at the same price as the paperbacks in their first week so I always grab it when it first comes out. I actually prefer the size of the trade paperback books as well, much easier to read.

Leonie, you are so lucky! Here is Canada, most books come out in hardback first and they are RIDICULOUSLY expensive. Depending on the books, they come out in paperback or softcover afterwards. Sometimes even that takes forever to happen so you just get antsy waiting for series to make it softcovers.

Hi Nathan. Not dropped off the face of the planet...just drove to Maine (via upstate New York and Boston) and back. It's good to be home and reading again (I only read 2 books over 3 weeks of vacation and driving)

Hi there, love reading your reviews of the Anne McCaffrey books. Those are real comfort reads for me - read most of them in my teens, borrowed from my Dad's collection. Then re-read them and some more about 5 years back. Must be due for another re-read soon...

>95 elfchild: Your thread used to be one of my favorites, so it got me kind of worried, but so glad you are back!

>96 gennyt: Thanks! I must be 2/5 or 3/5 done with them, and after Anne's Pern books, I'm going straight to Todd's, and then I'll be the judge of whether they are good or not. I think they are starting to be comfort reads for me too. Also, I starred your Thread, so expect to see me soon.

So the thing is...I'm still not home. I'm sticking around here in Iowa a little longer so I don't have to drive back here plus 5 hours, so I won't get home for another 2 weeks plus. My biggest problem is that I don't have enough books to read, but I solved that problem. I...uh...kind of bought three more books at the local book store for about $28.84. They are: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman. I heard some things about it, so I decided to just buy it. Plus my little sister said she was going to read it before me, and that didn't fly to well with me, so now that won't happen. Then I happened to glance upon A Game of Thrones and I decided to buy to so my friend can read it and so that I actually do own it, plus I bought the sequel A Clash of Kings, so yeah!

And it seems when I'm not reading, I end of playing Call of Duty: Black Ops online. I totally sucked first time playing it with an average of .2 kills and 23 deaths, but now my average is more like 4.6 kills and 11.7 deaths, which is much more better. But it always seems I get blown up, killed seven times in a row in 20 seconds by a Chopper Gunnger, or getting Spawn killed (reincarnating after dieing while someone's right there to kill you again), and I'm officially addicted. Just what I need: another addiction.

Also forgot, since I'm probably not going to write reviews soon, I'm going to write some mini reviews and make it up later. So here's the three I read:

1. The Robin and Kestrel by Mercedes Lackey: just a good as the previous, and I want to read the sequels, not really badly, but enough to keep reading. And as always, the Church is evil.

2. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher: so here's how his books go: the main character is not that bad off, but he knows people that have a lot of problems. His life is OK, gets worse, and you want the main character to win the battle, because Crutcher makes you POed and the other characters. I totally recommend all of his books.

3. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher: This is the most bizarre book by him yet. For example, the first person is a ghost, and Chris Crutcher has himself as a character in his book when a class reads one of his made up books by himself. And oddly enough, some Christians thinks it should be bad (there you go, evil Church people). Also, this book was made, because his books has been getting ban because of language, drugs, abortions, gays, etc., but he purposely made it so there's no bad language and nothing in it that people will have it banned for. Smart, eh?

Hey Nathan, your mini reviews are still very good. I had to laugh when I read your Call of Duty paragraph. My husband loves that game as well but I'm not a shooter gamer. I do however love the destruction derby car racing games, for a good driver in real life, I am weirdly great at crashing cars to maximum point effect!

Enjoy your gaming Nathan. I for one am horrible at those games. I end up spinning round and round and getting hopelessly lost and really it's just not fun getting shot and killed every 5 seconds. :)

>99 KiwiNyx:-100 Thanks (99) and I will (100). I'm not much of an action/shooting gamer, I perfer games like Zelda, although I have never completed any Zelda games. Why is it called The Legend of Zelda, anyways? It's clearly all about Link, but oh well, I didn't make the games. I wish though. I'm also horrible at racing games, except Mario Kart if that counts, besides, those games kind of bore me, too repetitive. Black Ops is still fun, especially when I improved a lot in 6 days. My record for the number of kills in one game is 13 with 14 deaths in a game of Headquaters, which is becoming a very good game for me.

Right now I'm reading Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey and someone else, it doesn't show the other author in the touchstones. I think Petaybee is an interesting planet. The planet would more or less be exactly like Jupiter's moon Europa only with an atmosphere. Only I would connect that it would seem.

You know I didn't even know that Zelda was a girl until my husband so kindly pointed that out to me. For some reason I thought she was a boy??? And when it comes to video games, I actually prefer RPG's just because there is a storyline there and anyways it's not fun playing against someone who beats you every single time! My hubby owns me like there is no tomorrow when it comes to button hacking so I don't even bother. :)

I read Powers That Be a couple of years ago and enjoyed it but somehow got stalled continuing the series. I should pick it up again. The other author is Elizabeth Ann Scarborough I'm flattered that you like my thread so much. I should be back up and running soon.

Nathan- Thanks for checking in. I hope you are enjoying your time in Iowa. that was nice that you bought a copy of "Games" for your friend to read. Book-lovers are the best, aren't they?

>102 jolerie: Actually orinigally, I thought Link was named Zelda, so I guess I can't tease you there, since I'm just as gender confused I guess. I love video games with story plots, and the Zelda games where the first or close to it, but a fact is, that because of the storyline of the first Zelda game, people actually did cry. Speaking of RPGs, you know the time I mentioned that I was part of a website where I can Role Play Pern, well...that didn't work out to well. I should've saw this coming, but I don't like working with other people. You see, in school, whenever there is a group project, I always try to do it alone if that's possible, because the only person I trust with my grade is myself, even though sometimes I shouldn't trust myself. Also with collabarate writing projects, I'm a control freak. I feel kind of sorry for my partner whenever that happens, because I just want my ideas to be the plot, and I don't really care much for what the other person wants. It's a bad flaw I have, but my adittude is my way or get out of here. And that website is kind of like a group writing project, and I have to rely on other people for what I write, so......The other reason why it didn't work out for me is that I'm not on the computer alot, so I just lost all interest. Maybe sometime else it'll work better.

>103 elfchild: Well I do like your Thread. I only post things in other threads when something is interesting, and because of that, I haven't been on some threads in forever.

>104 msf59: Yes, book lovers are the best. Oh, and the season finale of Game of Thrones was on yesterday, right? Well guess what? I was in a motel Saturday, because I was going to Adventure Land amusement park the next day (which I'll talk about later), and the room had free HBO! There was two problems, one it was Saturday and we weren't going to stay Sunday at all, and second, when I turned on the channel, it had TV snow and made this strange beeping noise, so it wouldn't have worked anyways. But I was so close to seeing an episode. That close! Well there's always DVDs. There was a handy packet of the schedule of all of June, so I read that out of boredom.

I just got back from this amusement park called Adventureland, and I had a blast. The rides were fun, I didn't get sick once, I got soaked (OK in the long run, that wasn't so fun), and I went on an upside down roller coaster called The Dragon! There was also this other coaster called The Tornado which is a semi-huge wooden coaster. Some people hate those ones, because it feels like you are going to die, but that's the most fun about it. What else? Um there's the Space Shot, which launches you in the air and high speeds, The Inverter which spins you upside down, The Splash which is supposed to get you soaked, but the timing of the ride was messed up just by second causing no one to get wet at all, and the River Rapids, which got me soaked which kept me at least damp the rest of the day. So that was fun, but God was I tired, probably would've been more tired if the sun was actually out.

Also, I started a new book my cousin said is the only book he'll ever read twice called Dark of the Moon by John Sandford. It's a mystery, making it the first ever legit mystery book I have ever read, and Scooby Doo solve-it-yourself books do not count. Oddly, the setting takes place locally. I have to admit, that this book is pretty good. Most mystery books (I think) are like: "Who killed this person", but it's way more complicated than that, which the killer has to be present in a time 40-50 years ago.

Oh, I just checked my visitor's map on my profile, and they added "recently visited" dots, which is a feature that I absolutely love!

I will have to see if my local library has Dark of the Moon. Thanks for the mention, Nathan.

Sounds like you had a good time on your vacation!

I'm also wishlisting Dark of the Moon, it is a good testament to a book when people want to reread them.

>106 alcottacre:-7 I haven't read much mystery books, but this one was really good, and I may consider opening up to mystery books now.

So...it's official. I am now moving to Missouri. My mother got a job down by Kansas City, and we will be moving within next month. To me, I'm so glad. Right now I live in the middle of absoluley nowhere. Think about it: two hours from the nearest Wal-Mart, so forget about any other major store or fast food resturant or anything else. It drives me crazy. Now I'll live in a town where there will be those stores, plus by a big town with a whole lot more, and I can go to the Kansas City Chiefs games! The only reason I don't want to move, is that I'll miss my friends. But you know, there's this thing called email, Facebook, and Skype, so how in the world will I miss them? So I'm excited, but for a few weeks I may not be online very much.

Also now I'm at my Grandparents house that will have the huge family reunion on Sunday. Yesterday, our car broke down. That would happen to us. Totally the usual. So delayed for three hours...But we made it. And one surprise. I was looking at a small bookcase from far away and trying to read the titles like: Romance books, Twilight, Nora Roberts, Romance books, The Lake House by James Patterson, Roma...Wait, that book from James Patterson is on my Wishlist. What are the chances? So after I'm done reading Powers that Be, that's what I'm going to read next.

So that's my "status" update, and now I'm off to visit Threads. Bye!

Well, I'm glad you're happy about the move! I moved from the middle of Louisiana to the DC metro area, so I totally get what you mean about stuff to do.

Louisiana would be another good place I'll love to live in too. But trust me South Dakota's whole population is less than most major cities. Heck, the population is less the Rhode Island, so...

Also, I just realized in my suggestions there is an unsuggestions, which includes books I'm most likely to not be interested in. Most of them are about religeon and human nature (which the latter I'm actually interested in), but that was pretty funny!

Nathan- Thanks for the update. Congrats on the new move!

Maybe you can make the Joplin meetup in November, Nathan! Congrats on your move!

Moving a bigger town sounds really exciting! Will the move come with a bigger library and more selection as well?

>111 msf59: Thanks!

>112 alcottacre: Maybe. Hey, wasn't there a Kansas City meetup earlier this year? Maybe I should find that Thread.

>113 jolerie: Right now my folks are kind of scared and uncertain, but heck, I would be too. In the town that we might live in, the library is much bigger with more selection. Went to check out a couple of authors out and they have a lot of McCaffrey books, both Anne and Todd, all of George Martin's books minus The Song of Fire and Ice series, a bunch of Robert Jordan books, the rest of the Maximum Ride books, and I think I spotted some Robin McKinley books, so overall, I'll be very happy!

So I'm one chapter away from finishing Powers That Be, and unless the last chapter is really good, I feel like the book kind of missed the mark. I don't know why, but I keep finding myself wanting me to stop reading just as soon as I start it. I would've finished it by now, but I was obsessed with trying to solve the Rubik's cube that I forgot how to solve it after 3 years of picking one up.

>113 jolerie:, 114

I've been thinking about moving, too, and one of the first things I checked was the library system. It's good to know what your priorities are! Athletic teams are a plus for me, too -- although I'm more concerned with baseball than football.

Best of luck with the move for you and your family.

#114: Yes, there was a KC meet up earlier this year. The thread is here, Nathan: http://www.librarything.com/topic/110843

The move sounds really exciting and I'm sure you can't wait to get into those bigger libraries, it sounds like a good thing for you Nathan.

>115 Dejah_Thoris: and 117 I just broke it to my friends that I'll be leaving, well one friend, but she posted it on my Wall how much she'll miss me, and so now it's out there. I mean, I'm the kind of person who'll fit in with .5% of the population of people my age at the most, but I'm not that worried anymore. And Dejah, I do now what my priorities though. The school my mother is going to work at has an awesome football team with one time going undefeated for two whole seasons. Oh, but baseball's more important for you. I can see why.

>116 alcottacre: Yeah I did manage to find that Thread. Thanks for the link!

>115 Dejah_Thoris: and 117 I just broke it to my friends that I'll be leaving, well one friend, but she posted it on my Wall how much she'll miss me, and so now it's out there. I mean, I'm the kind of person who'll fit in with .5% of the population of people my age at the most, but I'm not that worried anymore. And Dejah, I do now what my priorities though. The school my mother is going to work at has an awesome football team with one time going undefeated for two whole seasons. Oh, but baseball's more important for you. I can see why.

>116 alcottacre: Yeah I did manage to find that Thread. Thanks for the link!

Finished Powers That Be and it did miss the mark for me. Touching scene at the end that revealed what was probably meant to be one of the most shocking things about it, but I was 110% certain that it would turn out that way, and I was right. So...not that impressed.

Started The Lake House and it kind of surprised me that this is a more adult book with younger kids than the Maximum Ride books. Liking that one as always!

I hope the move goes smoothly. It is hard to leave friends, but it is amazing nowadays how well you can stay in touch. My dau has not lost contact with her friends in Philadelphia after our move last year to Vermont.

>120 sibylline: I hope so too, but I just think this will be very healthy for me.

I finished The Lake House, and I love it. Better than the Maximum Ride series by far. So many reasons for that. Why couldn't I have been genetically altered to have wings?

I just got caught up with your threads - last read May 31. I am also a big fan of Chris Crutcher. Deadline was fantastic. A young man finds out he has cancer and tries to make his last year count. The Sledding Hill isn't in my library so I might have to go farther afield to find it. A Game of Thrones is on my summer reading list.

>122 mamzel: Welcome back! I totally forgot about Deadline when I put Crutcher books in my Wishlist. Thanks for that! I look forward to your reads of A Game of Thrones. Defiantely worth every page.

So I'm back. Yeah! My bed never felt so good. It's like being in heaven. And you know what heaven feels like...wait you don't. It's a joke. Or at least, I think it is. I'm not sure with him. But anyways, three weeks of being gone and now I can R & R...somewhat. I'll try to make my reviews of the six books I've read soon. Two of them are already done, because they weren't mine.

I TOTALLY know what you mean about that feeling on lying in your own bed after being away for awhile. No bed in the world compares. :)

>124 jolerie: Besides, I get all my best ideas in bed and all my brain juices recharge, so before then, I was literally brain dead.

I think most of us know exactly how that feels to be in your own bed, and yes, it is just like the heaven, we assume.

Hi Nathan - good luck with your move, sounds exciting especially with a bigger library to borrow from. I'm thinking of diving straight into A Storm of Swords, I can't wait to read more about all the characters that survived book two.

Welcome home, Nathan!!

>126 maggie1944: Yes, maybe even better.

>127 avatiakh: I kind of like authors who kill off their characters. I mean, sometimes I get really mad for the choices of death, but most of the time, it has a positive effect. Like that one person who died. I didn't see that coming at all.

>128 msf59: Thanks!

I've been really busy packing and painting and cleaning, so I haven't been doing much relaxing things lately. We order U Haul with the boxes, and according to LT, I'll need 4.7 boxes.

Ah, what the heck, might as well do this.

Favorite childhood book?
Either The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

Reading right now
Nothing. But when I do it might be A Clash of Kings or Eon

Bad book habit?
Not sure.

Do you have an e-reader?
Used to.

One book at a time or several?
I’ll only read several at a time only if each book is read at pre-determined time and location that will last for a while.

Reading changes since joining LibraryThing?
Yes, everything. Without LT, I’ll be…I don’t know. I can’t imagine a world like that. And I’m pretty creative at imagining alternative universes.

Least favorite book this year (so far)?
The Time Machine by H G Wells. I’m done reading his books after two. He lacks interesting characters.

Favorite book (so far) this year?
Lots of them, I can’t pick. Maybe His Majesty’s Dragon, or The Harper Hall Trilogy, or…*gasp*…yes, maybe it’s A Game of Thrones. Oops, looks like I’m going to mention it again.

Reading comfort zone?
I don’t know if I have one.

How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Many. None. Both(?).

Can you read on the bus?
Yes, as long as I’m not chewing gum.

Favorite place to read?
In a nice, soft, cool spot that has endless A & W Rootbeers and Butterfingers.

Book-lending policy?
If someone wants to borrow a book, I’ll be more than happy to give it to them, but I’ve lost two already, one to a tornado…

Do you ever dog-ear books?
You mean folding over the corner to mark your page? No, I can never find it anyways.

Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Never felt the need.

What makes you love a book?
One third great plot, two thirds great characters. The plot is meaningless without great characters.

Favorite genre?
Fantasy. Yup, that pretty much answers that question.

Favorite reading snack?
Rootbeer and candybars.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
Naw, it is what it is.

Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Any of the Wheel of Time books. Actually I finished the first one…barely.

Favorite Poet?
Don’t know enough poets to have a favorite.

Favorite fictional character?
It’ll have to be a dragon, so maybe Saphira, Temeraire, or Ruth.

Favorite fictional villain?
Saint Dane from the Pendragon series. He’s so evil in so many ways.

Books most likely to take on vacation?
That’s a hard one. Not sure.

Longest time gone without reading?
Usually I like using a stop watch for that one, but it doesn’t go that high.

Last book/s abandoned?
I haven’t really.

What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Laziness.

Do you keep your books organized?
Yea…no I don’t. I can’t find them easily when they are organized.

Keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Keep them until further notice, which that may never happen.

Book that made you angry?
My answers will be the same as the question below me for the exact same reasons.

Book that made you cry?
Brinsingr. Inkspell. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. A Game of Thrones.

Book 44: The Robin and Kestrel by Mercedes Lackey



Jonny Brede “Kestrel” and Gwyna “Robin” have separated from Rune and the rest of the Free Bard group to go on their separate ways together. They’re married, and since Robin is a gypsy, so is Kestrel. The plan is to go out, and happily play music for everybody.

But that plan gets crushed in an instant. The Church is controlling a number of things, and one of those is that it’s illegal to play music unless you are in the Bard Guild, which to the members of the Free Bard, they are worthless and lazy. And know what Robin and Kestrel love to do, is punishable by death.

Now they are on a mission to change these absurd laws and to take down the Church. The problem is, they are two people versus a great power, but maybe they can get help from something. Maybe the Ghost of Skull Hill, the same one the Rune went to and earned a sack of silver…

While in the first book I’ll have to say it was the most exciting the first 2/3 of the book, and then got boring the last third, this one was boring the first 2/3 of the book and most exciting the last third. It’s a pretty common thing to have books criticizing the workings of the Church, heck I do, and I’m in it. But those are for good reasons, which makes the book both cliché, but also very exciting. I was satisfied with the ending, and it makes me want to read the third.

Rating: Four Stars ****

Book 45: Running Loose by Chris Crutcher



“Hey, you know, this isn’t a whole lot of fun.”
“Ain’t is it? Not hardly worth playin’. Funny too, ‘cause the rules are simple and easy.”

Louie Banks doesn’t have the worst life. His friends and people he knows have it bad with abusive parents and bad influences, but compared to them, Louie lives like a god. With great friends, a fantastic football player, and the most wanted girlfriend in the school named Becky, who’s eyes makes guys ache for her. What can go wrong?

Apparently a lot. In a big game, Louie fights against the coach who ordered one of his players to hurt the star player on the opposite team, and what he gets for that is getting kicked out of the team. It’s still not that bad. He has supporters that love him and care for him including Becky, but as things start to look better, Louie’s life is running loose.

All of Chris Crutcher’s main characters have relatively good lives. They always do compare to their best friend or one of their enemies. Also, Crutcher makes you want to root for the main character, because every other one ticks you off, including any/all Catholics. That and with drugs, abuse, language, and other suggestive themes, no wonder people want to ban his books, but each books has their own lesson, but you have to look inside yourself to figure that out. I highly recommend all of his books. They’re short, and to me, guarantee satisfaction.

Rating: Four Stars ****

Book 46: The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher



Eddie Proffit and Billy Bartholomew are best friends, but nobody knows why. Billy is the smartest kid in the class, while everyone thinks Eddie is an idiot. In reality, people think that because he asks questions no one has an answer for like “Why didn’t the whale’s stomach acids destroy Jonah?”, but Eddie is a genius in disguise, and Billy saw right through it. They are inseparable.

Just one tiny detail is wrong: Billy’s dead. He accidently killed himself during a sledding accident, but their friendship is not going to end, in fact, it’s going to get closer. Billy’s now a ghost and now follows Eddie to help him in his greatest time of need.

It’s now the first day of school, and both Eddie and Billy planned to be in a class called Really Modern Literature, where you can only read books by live authors. The teacher plans to read their first book together called Warren Peace by Chris Crutcher. The thing is, there is a lot of Catholics in that class, and they don’t like all the abortions, the drugs, the language, how good Crutcher makes gay people look, and they want to ban the book without really reading it. Eddie decides to stand up to this. And with Billy by his side, nothing can go wrong, can it?

This is not a typical Crutcher book. For one thing, all the other books I’ve read to him has to be realistic fiction, but with the topic of Billy being a ghost, that’s really not that possible. Also, he mentions a book written by him, that doesn’t exist, which I’ll tell you why later on. And third, he’s a character in his own book.

In the back of this book, there are extras that told me the purpose of this book. Apparently, he wrote this one to fight back against the banning of his books. So The Sledding Hill is actually a censorship book about people wanting to censor his books, and he made up a book, because he didn’t want another one of his books to be part of the banning. Also, and this part is really smart, there is a whole absence of language, drugs, abuse, or anything else that people who look for in a book that would make it banned. Pretty much if you read this, you know the essence of every Crutcher book out there.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars **** ½

Book 47: Dark of the Moon by John Sandford



In the little town of Bluestem, things seem peaceful. This is a town where everybody knows each other and what they are doing at all times. But the horrific murder of Bill Judd Sr. uproots the whole town. His death was caused by a fire in his house and he went down with him. Judd wasn’t very popular, in fact, ever since the infamous Jerusalem Artichoke Scam, people hated him. It almost seemed inevitable that he’ll be killed.

Virgil Flowers, part of the BCA, was called in to solve this murder. It seemed like a simple “Who Done It” case, but again there was another murder. Two actually, a couple about Judd’s age, the Gleasons. Now the case is stranger and gets more personal. Virgil realizes that these murders aren’t some random thrill-seeking kills, they’re something more, much more. This didn’t start with the scam, no, this started 30-40 years ago because of Judd’s actions, and the lives it will affect will be far great.

Truth be told, I thought this book was pretty darn good. The plot is complicated, maybe a little too unnecessarily complicated at times, but overall, very good. Recommended.

Rating: Four Stars ****

Book 48: Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey

Rating: Three and a Half Stars *** ½

Book 49: The Lake House by James Patterson



In Colorodo, six unusual children named Max, Ozymandias (Oz), Icarus, Matthew, Peter, and Wendy are in trial. It’s not them that are fighting, but Frannie and Kit, their “parents” versus their actual parents. You see, these children are genetically mutated superhumans that are part human, part bird. Their mothers were unknowingly part of a secret experiment and at last they have found their parents, but the kids don’t want them. Before the trial, the children were found by Frannie and Kit, and like real birds, they imprinted on them. Frannie and Kit did all they could to gain custody, but failed. Now all eight of their dreams of living at the Lake House, the one place where it’s truly safe, is crushed.

Time has passed and the kids are separated and try to live life normally, but that’s not easy when they have wings with IQ and strength that’s off the charts, and having the Press constantly trying to film them. But that’s not the worst part.

Dr. Ethan Kane is the surgeon of Liberty General Hospital and the mastermind of the Resurrection. His plan is to save the world forever while destroying it. In this Hospital, people die for his cause, and there is nothing that can stop him, except for Max and her Flock. He doesn’t want to kill her, because she’s worth millions, and pretty soon the special place called the Lake House may not be so good anymore.

I’ve wanted to read this book because it inspired the Maximum Ride books. I thought they’ll be very similar, but it’s not at all. In the MR books, the characters goof off half the time, but in here, it’s all serious, all the time. Also the MR books are kind of scientific with the characteristics of the bird-humans, but this one is a lot more scientific with way more “realistic” physical and mental bird DNA. What I like is that all of them, especially the oldest Max and Oz, have very high levels of bird instincts.

In short, this book is better than all of the MR books combined. It would be five stars, but the book just ended. I kind of wanted more, and there were some unanswered questions I would love to know, but all in all, very good.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars **** ½

Not part of the Review

There was an author’s note at the beginning and said why is his first flying novel When the Wind Blows is popular because of either people fantasize about flying or it may be possible the contents may actually happen in our lifetime. Patterson said the latter, but I’ll strongly disagree with him and go with the former, because that’s the one of the only two reasons why I like the MR series.

Oh, and my library has When the Wind Blows, which sounds exactly like a prequel of The Lake House, so I’m going to read that very soon.

Great reading Nathan, I was intrigued with the Chris Crutcher book where he plays on the theme of banning his books - I've never heard of this guy before.

Now I've got to ask, why can't you read on the bus if chewing gum?

Wow! So these are older reviews? Catching up? Last thing I heard you were in a book funk. Sorry, I don't do Patterson. Not my kind of guy.
Good luck with the move!

>137 KiwiNyx: I bet you haven't heard of him. You don't find many of his books around, I think anyways. But like I said, I love his books, and the next to I'm going to read is Crazy Horse Electric Game, and what I've been waiting to read for a long time: Chinese Handcuffs. And about the gum, everytime I chew gum in a vehicle while reading, I always get a horrible stomachache. I don't why, but that's why I can't chew gum.

>138 msf59: Yeah they are older reviews. All of them while I was gone for three weeks. Pretty pathetic actually that I only read 2 books a week. They are half the reason why I couldn't read anymore, but now I think I'm out of the book funk, and I can read more now. Starting tomorrow I think.

OK, you've interested me in The Sledding Hill and The Lake House. Onto the TBR list they go.

Several years ago (when it came out), I tried to read The Lake House. I absolutely hated the book. I'm glad to see someone likes it, but it was entirely too weird for me!

>140 elfchild: They were both very enjoyable, and maybe you'll like them too.

>141 thornton37814: Yes it is very, very weird, and that's why I loved it so much.

Great reviews Nathan! Looks like you got a lot of reading down while you were away. :)

Yes indeed. I've been quiet lately, but I am a devoted reader of your reviews!

>143 jolerie:-4 Thanks! I really didn't get much reading done. This whole month I've only read 6 books. I blame Black Ops. Oh wait, that remeinds me, I need to write my June review. What time is it? 9. No, not tonight. Maybe tomarrow.

Nathan- Hope your reading begins to take off. Have a nice holiday weekend!

Thanks! I got done with The Crazy Horse Electric Game this morning, and pretty soon I'm going to do my June Review after I catch up on Facebook and LT.

BEST:

3. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford – It’s my first legit mystery, so I guess it’s a big deal whether or not I’m going to like the genre or not. It was pretty good. Like I said in my review, the plot was complicated, maybe a little too complicated, but that works for me.

2. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher – It’s not a typical Crutcher book with the first person character being a ghost. It also contains no swearing, no drugs, and no reason for people to ban that book, which was his goal. And as abnormal as it was, he hit the mark head on.

1. The Lake House by James Patterson – This is way better than the Maximum Ride books by two miles. It’s all serious all the time and there is more bird DNA in Max’s flock of mutant freaks than MR, which for me, the freakier, the better. It is really weird, like off-the-charts weird, but I’m used to things like this. Now I really want to read When the Wind Blows.

Worst:

1. Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey – This is the only one of the six-book month that was “bad”. My expectations for this books must’ve been estimated 6 out of 5 stars, because it fell really flat. Actually not that bad. I did rate it Three and a Half Stars, but that’s a Two and a Half Stars down from 6 stars. Plus, what was supposed to be the biggest shocker of the book, I knew it 110%.

I like the countdown format.....

I remember that I started out loving McCaffrey and then..... slowly.... wandered away as they got less interesting.

>149 sibylline: I like the countdown too, but I always do it backwards at first. I always do that.

Hmm...interesting. Maybe the second Petaybee book will be better or something.

No. Nathan, put the Petaybee books down and back away. They do NOT get better. Face it, this is the one McCaffrey series we can all do without. I speak from experience. There are much better McCaffrey books. Avoid Acorna as well. Look for Doona and Dinosaur Planet and Restoree and Crystal Singer/Killashandra and Get off the Unicorn and even the first couple of The Ship Who... books.

You have intrigued me with The Sledding Hill so onto the TBR pile it goes. Also why did you use to own an E-reader. Did you not like it?

Nathan,
You might try Deadline by Crutcher. I really liked it.

Are you going to see the last Harry Potter movie? *teasing voice* There's a dragon in it!

>151 ronincats: Oh, well OK then. I did not expect that. I'll keep that in mind, but if I do want to finish the series sometime else, then I'll have to lower my expectations. I've read Get Off the Unicorn early this year, and I've heard of all the other ones, so I'll keep those in mind too or put them on my Wishlist if I have the chance. Thanks for the tips!

>152 bbellthom: Well it just couldn't replace paper, and looking at technology for more than three hours in a row gives me a headache, unless I'm a yard away like with a TV, so it just didn't work for me. So I sold it and bought all my books back.

>153 mamzel: Yes, I want to read Deadline as well, but my library doesn't currently have it. And yes, I plan on seeing the last Harry Potter in movie theaters. I've only watched the fifth in theaters before, so this one I want to see. The first part, they stopped it right before they decided to break into Gringotts and steal a dragon, so that may happen early in the movie probably after a flashback. That's out in a couple more of days right? I'll so be there!

Today, I got 3/4 of the way packed. And I threw away two garbage sacks full of junk I've been hoarding since I was seven. You have no idea how good it felt to throw it all away without any regrets. Well maybe you do, but it felt so great. And now I have a bunch of room for my other less worthless board games and puzzle games.

Also, my sister is watching Pokemon again. I quit watching that and playing the card game, because it just got really boring. I mean, the episodes you know for a fact that Team Rocket will blast off again and that Brock will fall in love with some girl, mostly Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny or both, and his Pokemon will come out and knock him out. Besides, now I have bigger, better ways of getting fantasy highs, so why am I being pulled back in? Ugh! Stupid McDonalds! If it wasn't for my little brother getting a Pokemon toy at McDonalds I wouldn't feel this conflicted.

BOOK 50: CRAZY HORSE ELECTRIC GAME BY CHRIS CRUTCHER



Willie is on top of the word when he wins the baseball game of the season dubbed The Crazy Horse Electric Game. He’s invincible, he’s unstoppable, he’s untouchable. That is until the accident that left him hopelessly crippled. He can hardly move, hardly talk, and there is hardly a thing he can do about it. And while he’s crippled, he sees his perfect, non-fighting mother and father slowly drive each other away, and his girlfriend cheat on him. And there is nothing he can do about it. So he runs away.

He ends up quite by chance at OMLC High School. The letters stand for One More Last Chance, and are a place where people with mental and physical disabilities go to be helped and nurtured. There he starts to feel more and better, but what is waiting for him elsewhere? Willie is not the same person as he was at the time of the Crazy Horse Electric Game.

This one was kind of a dud book, and I knew it was going to be. It wasn’t bad by any means of the sense, but compared to the other Crutcher books, it fell flat. But like I said, it wasn’t bad at all.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars *** ½

I second what Roni says about McCaffrey, Nathan (though I have never read Dinosaur Planet - something I need to rectify - nor any of the Doona sequels). She can be very uneven and the series that she has *started* more recently (Acorna, Peytabee) do not appeal to me nearly as much as the ones she started earlier. If you look at the publication dates, you'll see that the sequels to To Ride Pegasus, The Ship Who Sang and Decision at Doona come many years later than the original books.

My husband is of the opinion is that she does the 'coming of age' theme over and over again and he has tired of it. I think that he is not far off but if one doesn't read her books back to back to back it is nice to revisit characters and worlds one loves. The Crystal Singer trilogy remains one of my favorites and I reread it periodically, sometimes wishing that she's write more in that world.

Congrats on the packing progress. I hate packing.

Glad the packing is going so well and you are feeling unburdened. That is the UP side of having to do it, certainly. Of course, then there is UNpacking at the other end of things..... I'm still doing that a year after our move.... mumbles off into dark cave, tail dragging.

>156 elfchild: I see. I think it's either that way or the other way around in most cases. I have two books on Dinosaur Planet, but they are in the middle of the series I think. Actually I have never heard of the Crystal Singer trilogy. I'll have to look that up.

Also, I never pay attention to "coming of age" theme. Mostly because I never know it's there. I suck at identifying themes. I always have been, and I probably always will.

>157 sibylline: You crack me up. Seriously, you do. I don't many "things" now that I sold half of what little I already had or threw them away. And the plus side of that: now I finally have room for all my board games and puzzles. Yeah!

#157> *sets warm brownies at mouth of cave* In another 2 weeks we'll have been here TWO years and I am not completely unpacked. Furniture acquisition for doubling our floor space is slow since we are not inclined to buy junk. And bookcases keep getting put off.

#158> You made me look it up. I always thought there were just 2 Dinosaur Planet books but apparently the 3 Sassinak books are considered part of the series/universe as well. One of these days I'll get to them.

>159 elfchild: I think I have two of the Sassinak books. I think. No I don't, I have The Death of Sleep and Generation Warriors. I think I'll read them both sometime next month or the month after that. So relatively soon for me.

Well over halfway into Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher, and I'm absolutely hooked. It's so intense and not meant for the sensitive. This book features two huge issues: Suicide, and child abuse, particularly rape.

I really need to get to Chris Crutcher's books. Thanks for the reminder, Nathan.

>160 DragonFreak: The Death of Sleep and Generation Warriors are books 2 and 3 of the Sassinak trilogy.

>161 alcottacre: Your welcome! They really are good. I finished Chinese Handcuffs at 10:00 at night , or midnight LT time. I will review it later today, I should be busy right now.

>162 Morphidae: Two and Three? There's no way I can read them now. I must read One first. Thanks!

#163> Yes, they are 2 and 3. The first one is called Sassinak. The two Dinosaur Planet books were written beforehand.

I don't like starting in the middle of the series, but I might have too. Or not. It depends.

I don't like starting in the middle of a series either. With fantasy in particular, it often matters a lot so I am pretty obsessive about reading in order.

Sniff, sniff, do I smell brownies? Oh thank you elf child -- but uh oh -- and yet -- I know there will still be boxes unopened next year at this time. It is inevitable.

>166 elfchild: Same feeling. I think it's pretty universal.

>167 sibylline: There's worst things you can procrastinate on. Like eating those brownies. Eat them now, before my monsterous appetite gets them first!

Book 51: Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher



Dillon Hemingway’s life is turned upside down the day he watched his brother Preston commit suicide. It killed him, his family, and all his loved ones inside-out emotionally. But that’s only the beginning of Dillon’s trouble. As he trains for a triathlon that will put him in a coveted race called the Ironman in Hawaii, he has to deal with two girls, one his brother’s long-time girlfriend, Stacy, the other, his want-to-be girlfriend named Jennifer.

Stacy has always treated Dillon as a friend. Sure she always plays tricks on him and gets him in trouble, especially when he was young, but he was the one closest to Preston, and knows why he may of did his terrible act.

But Jennifer has an even darker secret. When Jennifer was little, her father used to touch her inappropriately. Her mom and dad divorced naturally, but now her new step-father, a big hotshot lawyer, does the same thing…only much, much worse. He threatens her that if she tells, both her mom and sister will get it. And when she did called Child Protection Service, he killed Jennifer’s dog, and managed to convince CPS that Jennifer is only trying to kick him out. And the only one who has any hope to save her is Dillon.

With these new set of complications, Dillon has tough choices to make that will make more than one life fate sealed. If he’s to succeed, he’s going have to go by the lesson of Chinese handcuffs: if you want to do it right, you have to do the opposite of what you normally do.

This is by far the best Crutcher book I have ever read. It’s intense, it’s scary, it’s full of twists, and the sympathy you feel towards the characters is astronomical. I highly recommend this to any person who not overly sensitive.

Rating: Five Stars *****

Up Next is When the Wind Blows by James Patterson, followed by my May ER book Escape from Zobadak by Brad Gallagher, and then maybe A Clash of Kings by George Martin, but I might save that until the 12 hour car trip on the day of the move.

I think that Crutcher book might be pushing my boundaries just a little too much. I am glad to see that you liked it though, Nathan. Nice review!

Thanks! Crutcher is a psycologist and works with people like Dillon and Jenniffer probably on a daily basis. I'm glad this town doesn't ban books. Why should it? It has less than a thousand people in it.

I'm so close to being done with my packing. All I have left is my clothes left. I have my board games, puzzles, K'nex, handheld games, bags, colone (I never use it anyways, I don't go out), and my books, which fit into two U-Haul boxes and one small Chex Mix box. Yeah!

And I'm 100 pages into When the Wind Blows and it is definately a prequel to The Lake House. It's like reading a book backwards so that the ending is known, but the beginning will be a surprise.

Wasn't When the Wind Blows published first?

ETA: rebooted touchstone

Yes it was. By 4 or 5 years. And now that I know that, it bothers me to death.

sorry, Nathan...didn't mean to make trouble for your mind. You've actually intrigued me with the Maximum Ride books and these and I am somewhat obsessive about reading things in the order they were published. This is a lesson I learned reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books, for which the continuity issues are much less troublesome if you read them in publication order (she was 19 when she wrote the first Darkover story and was quite forthright about sacrificing continuity for the sake of the story, particularly when it was stuff written years earlier).

19! What a cool piece of info. And I agree about being bold about continuity -- sometimes you simply have to change things when you know better.

>174 elfchild: That's OK, it was self-inflicted anyways. I have to look up that author to figure out what you are talking about.

Now that I looked it up, she sounds very, very familiar.

I kind of think now that When the Wind Blows is not a sequel, I think The Lake House is a parallel universe sequel. It's these small details in The Lake House (now going to be LH) that's kind of fuzzy that makes the difference. Like in LH, Kit and Frannie are married, in here, they aren't. Also, in here, they haven't mentioned the lake house, which would be important for the LH, in LH, Kit and Frannie finds all six bird kids at the same time, which in here is not the case at all, Max and Oz are the same age, while in here Max and Oz are 4-5 years apart, and finally, the bird kids are supposed to find they're parents, so unless some of these matters are resolved in 100 pages, I think LH is not a true sequel.

I finished When the Wind Blows, and I still mystified whether or not it's a prequel or not. In The Lake House, now that I think of it, Kit and Frannie may not have been married, and maybe I read wrong that Oz was 7, because if it wasn't for those two facts, it would be a perfect prequel, although there was no lake house so...I still don't know.

Book 52: When the Wind Blows by James Patterson



Frannie, recently widowed a year and a half ago, lives in Colorado and is the town’s veterinary nurse. Her life is boring and sad ever since her husband was murdered, and that day still haunts her. Little did she know, her life was going to get a lot more interesting.

The day she met Kit, is the day that things start to get odd. For one thing, Kit is an FBI agent, and he came to Colorado to look into a secret organization that he was thrown off of. There have been clues that led him to believe that someone was doing highly illegal experiments on humans for some reason unknown. Frannie, not knowing Kit’s true identity, let him stay in her cabin as he doubled as a guy on vacation.

Then later that night, Frannie saw a young girl running through the woods. One problem though, she has wings. And over the next day, she sees her again and again. Her name is Max, short for Maximum, and she’s the creation of one of the mutants that secret organization is making, ultimately for the good of all human life. Max is very weary of all humans. All her life she was kept in this horrible place called the School, where she’s been tested on and kept in a very solemn place where everyday experiments are “put to sleep”, and Frannie, with the help of Kit, capture Max and convince her that she’s OK with them.

And that’s only the beginning. Somewhere Max’s best friend Matthew, who is also the same genetically, is struggling for his life. Also forces are beginning to rise and soon Frannie and Kit can trust absolutely no one. Frannie’s life is changed forever along with the rest of the world.

Fantastic book. It was really slow in the beginning, but the last one hundred pages are the best.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars **** ½

So I decided that after I read the rest of the Maximum Ride books, I’ll read his Alex Cross books if they are available. I want to see what they are about.

Nice review, Nathan!

>178 DragonFreak: Thank you very much!

I'm 2/3 into my ER book for May called Escape from Zobadak by Brad Gallagher, and for a children's book, it's really good. My not-so-inner 12 year old self is in glee over it. I can easily read the last 100 pages tonight and then I'm going to start reading Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman. Can't wait for that one either!

Nathan- Nice review of When the Wind Blows. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Patterson, so I probably won't get to it. I have my snobbish side.

Was gone for a whole week so I'm just swinging by to say HI. :)

>181 msf59: Thanks! That's OK, I don't expect you to like everything.

>182 jolerie: I thought you have been quite for a while. Nice to see you back! Hi!

#180: I look forward to your review of the Gallagher book when you have finished reading it, Nathan.

>184 alcottacre: I read it, wrote it on paper, and now I'm going to type it up. Be back in 15-20.

Book 53: Escape from Zobadak by Brad Gallagher



Uncle Gary Fyfe was probably the best person in the world to his nephew Billy and niece Sophie. He’s fun and imaginative, and he can build things from wood that no one else can. His furniture is amazing, so amazing it’s unreal. And then one day he disappeared.

Billy and Sophie’s father told them their uncle owed someone enormous amounts of money, and maybe that’s why he’s missing. Their family went to retrieve the belongings of Uncle Gary, but all they found was sawdust that was feet upon feet deep. And in the basement was just one piece of furniture: a nightstand.

As soon as the nightstand was transported to Billy’s room, two mysterious people came. They claimed they were from the Zobadak Wood Company and wants back a rare piece of wood as part of a shipping error. They looked and smelled creepy and disgusting. When they left, their house was plagued by hordes of crows.

But things start to get even stranger. The nightstand in Billy’s room is magical. It will transport them to a world unknown, a place that Uncle Gary might be. And they must find him quick, because pretty soon Billy and Sophie must escape from Zobadak.

This was a pretty good children’s book. When I was 12, I would go nuts over books like this. Now out of the things I didn’t like, there was really no reason not to like it. It wasn’t flawless, but I know that children who love fantasy would think it’s perfect. Overall, it definitely was worthwhile and engaging.

Rating: Four Stars ****

Nice review, sounds like a good one for my 12 year old.

That sounds like an interesting read Nathan. I will have to add this one to my list for future considerations. :)

>187 KiwiNyx:-8 Thanks! I didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be good. And it kept my interest for the most part, so that's always a big plus.

Sounds like an interesting book, Nathan. I'll try to check it out.

>190 ronincats: You do that! I looked and the book was officially on sale on July 1st.

I hope my local library gets a copy of the book. Nice review, Nathan!

I added Zobadak to my wishlist. Looks like something my kids might like. I started reading The Sledding Hill based on your review and so far I think it's great.

>192 alcottacre: Thanks a lot!

>193 bbellthom: It's probably something your kids will like. I hope they enjoy it, and you, if you do read it. You started The Sledding Hill? That's great! You know, I just finally found your Thread, and the good news is that it's full of books I know and I'm going to comment on a couple of them, so expect me there.

I'm just over 100 pages over Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, and so far, it's living up to the expectation of what I heard of how good it was. My favorite part so far: the cover art of my edition. It's so stunning. Here, I'll post it.

That is a pretty cool coverart. It's even more cool because I can actually read the chinese character in the middle of the O. :)

Oh really, what does it say?

Your favourite, it is the chinese character for dragon. :)

I thougt so. You know I do have a shirt with a dragon on it with a chinese-like character, but I don't know what is, since I really can't do a reverse Chinese symbol lookup with my current keyboard, and it looks nothing like that character, so maybe it's just random? Maybe it's Japanese...why would it?

Okay but then now I'm wondering why they put a chinese character on the cover? Is the dragon chinese??..haha

Yes it's a chinese dragon made in a China-type world. Now they could put it in Greek if it was someplace else and look like this: δράκων.

Okay then I will definitely be interested to see what you make of the book when you are done with it. Yeah that makes sense why there would be that character on the front. :)
You know Greek??

It's pretty good. There's some things I want to say about it right now, but that can wait till another day. My head hurts, but only because of technology and not sickness or anything like that.

No I don't know Greek, I just used Dictionary.com translator and translated the English word "dragon" into Greek, copied the results and then pasted it. Now if I was lying, I would say I know that language along with Russian, Arabric, and French, but I don't.

LOL. Thanks for being honest Nathan. :)

Your welcome! Although I do want to learn German one of these days, because I like how German talk, and because I'm half German, although I don't have the accent.

#194: I had that one home from the library last year and took it back unread. It did not have that cover though! I love that one. I am going to have to pick the book up again.

You do that! I looked at the other two versions, but I still think the cover I have is the best.

In a non-book related tale: a friend of mine, a couple of weeks back, found out I have never saw the movie Meet the Robinsons, and demanded me to see it. So last night, I did. It was good, but I don't care about the characters, the lessons, or anything like that, all I care about is how interestingly confusing the movie is. You see, it's about time travel, and I say if you are going to do something about time travel, you got to make some paradoxes, and this movie is chock full of them.

For example, the main character Louis (I think) is a genius and an inventor, and in the future, he's a very successful inventor who made two time machines. One person from Louis childhood (Goob I think) stole one to get even with him. Why? Because one day Louis kept him up and lost a baseball game because of it, and that destroyed his life. It was self-induced though. And Louis's future son takes another one of his time machine to stop Goob, but he somewhat succeeds and Louis is taken to the future and gets stranded in it. So long story short, here's the paradoxes:

One, in the end, Louis helps Goob so he wins the baseball game making his life all better. Two, Louis invents something that will inevitably destroy all mankind, and in the middle, he says he won't invent that machine, and then he's gone, just like that. Three, Louis meets his future self, and he didn't seem to freaked out by it. Maybe it was because he's already had this experience before as a child about meeting his future self? And then he gives him his famous motto to use as he grows up, otherwise Louis probably wouldn't have thought of it himself. And fourth, at the very end Louis almost created a paradox that would change his past, present, and future life forever, making every part of his life, and the movie, non existant, but he didn't.

For a children's movie, it's very complex, and I wouldn't have understood it if I watched it when it first came out. It's like one of those movies you gradually get the older you grow. Like The Lion King gets funnier and funnier each time I see it.

Nathan- Hope you have a nice weekend! Speaking of movies, we are going to see "Super 8" tonight. I hope it's not to mind-numbing. I like the combination of Spielberg & JJ Abrams.

>208 msf59: It's OK so far...noisy and chaotic, but it's like that 20 out of 24 hours so it's nothing different. I kind of want to see Super 8, but that's not going to happen. Tell me how it is.

So here's a little something about Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. This is about a girl named Eona, but she is picked for a candidate to be a Dragoneye. Basically it's 12 dragons all named for a member of the Chinese Zodiac like Ox, Rat, Tiger, Pig, Dragon, and others. But the one that is the Dragon Dragon, or the Mirror Dragon is missing. But here's the thing, females are forbidden to be a Dragoneye, the punishment is death, of course. So she's in a disguised as a eunuch 12 year-old boy. I only have heard of eunuch of once before, but I still remember what it means before the author explained it. When this happens, supposedly masculine energy called Sun is more towards the feminine energy called Moon, and it would explain her “undeveloped” body. There is only one way a eunuch to have the body of a full male, and that’s to take this drug called the Sun drug, which acts as steroids, only it’s not injected, but dissolved into liquid and drink it. But anyways, to make Eona even more disguisable, her named was changed into Eon.

So here in the beginning, she’s a candidate for the Rat Dragon, and she fails, but you know the Mirror Dragon that has been missing, well she’s become’s the Mirror Dragon’s Dragoneye. OK, that’s kind of a spoiler, but it’s something I knew would happen the first time it was mention that that dragon was missing. I mean, it wouldn’t be as exciting if she has only the Rat Dragon. Plus it happens pretty soon, so not that big of a deal.

What this book is intriguing me about is that Eona has to be male in order to survive and live. It’s one thing to pretend to be male, but she’s done it so long she practically is one. There’s a character in the book that’s a male, but with a female soul, and that makes Eona wonder if she’s the exact opposite. Sure she still is female and has to do things like taking a potion to stop her…uh…Moon Cycle, if you (hopefully) know what I mean, but she struggles with this sense of being in two different worlds and wondering whether her true name should be Eon or Eona. I have 100 pages to go, so I can easily finish it tonight.

Also, I planned on reading A Clash of Kings on my official moving trip in 6-7 days from now, and I want to have no book started and everything finished by then. Problem is, the only other book I have out is The Da Vinci Code, and I highly doubt that I’ll finish it by then.

Speaking of books not being finished, my friend is reading A Game of Thrones, and I went to her house to get it, because I don’t want to leave it behind, but she stubbornly said she wanted to keep it, because it’s good. I asked her what page she was on: page 120 she said. 120 pages in 2 and a half weeks. She promised me she wouldn’t lose or damage it, or have it destroyed in a tornado, because that happen to me before, so I reluctantly let her keep it and mail it out to me when it’s done.

You are a good friend, Nathan, allowing her to keep the book and return it to you later. Good friends are harder to come by than books :)

You can say that again. And again. And again. I speak from experience.

#211: So do I.

Book 54: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman



Eon is a candidate to be the Dragoneye to the Rat Dragon. Every year, one of the twelve dragons, each one named after an animal of the Chinese Zodiac, chooses a new Dragoneye apprentice, who will eventually become a Master Dragoneye. This particular year, Eon, his friend Dillon, and ten other much stronger 12-year-old boys compete. The winner will become the Rat Dragoneye. But Eon is crippled, and because of that, people despise him, and it seems that he’ll never win. Except that he can sense all of the eleven dragons with ease, which is a very rare talent. The twelfth dragon, the Dragon Dragon, or Mirror Dragon, has been missing for 500 years, and doesn’t look like he’ll ever come back.

But there is one tiny little problem with Eon being a candidate. Eon’s name is actually Eona, and “he” is actually a 16-year-old female. Her master choose Eona on an impulse, even though the punishment for females to use dragon magic is death. So to disguise her, she claimed she’s a 12-year-old eunuch boy, so that way no one questions her when her body in not as “developed” as a male’s should be.

On the day of the ceremony, the Rat Dragon will choose who will be the new Dragoneye and be apprenticed to the terrible Lord Ido. Eon must win, because if she doesn’t, she’ll be sent back to the Salt Farms, where she’ll inevitably die at a young age. Unfortunately, the Rat Dragon didn’t choose her, but Dillon instead, who was considered the least likely besides Eon.

Then something strange happened. The Mirror Dragon came back and choose…Eona. Her dreams came true. She’s now Lord Eon and everything will be alright from now on.

But that feeling of happiness may have lasted about a second compared to the problems that Eona will have to face. The Emperor is dying, and he asked Eona to protect his son when he reigns, because she is the most powerful Dragoneye. Eona realizes something really, really bad. She can’t call her dragon. Something went wrong. Maybe it was because she didn’t give her name to the Mirror Dragon at the ceremony, or maybe…it’s because she’s female. Either way, she can’t protect the prince, and if the Emperor’s other son, Sethon, gets the throne, it’ll spell doom for all of the land.

But there is one other force greater than Sethon, and that’s Dillon’s master Lord Ido, the current Rat Dragoneye. He’s planning a rebellion of some kind. The end result will be untold horrors. And he’s doing something to poor Dillon, because his mood is becoming…more like Ido’s. And as the days go on, and Eona still can’t call upon her dragon, it’s getting a lot harder to be herself, even more hard to be Eon.

The theme that I found interesting in here was the changing of Eona to Eon. It’s one thing for a girl to pretend to be a boy, especially for hiding, it’s a whole different situation to act like one and even have the mindset of a male. And more or less, that’s Eona’s problem: she’s caught in this world where she mentally may be male, female, or both. And Eona struggles with this up to the final pages of the book.

Also, I know the author really did her research. Although the setting in not based in ancient China/Japan physically, but it has most of the traditions and beliefs of both ancient and modern China and Japan.

I found no faults in the book or anything to make me not like it, so my decision is very easy.

Rating: Five Stars *****

Oh, yeah. I am going to have to get that one home from the library again.

Great review, Nathan!

I just went to add that book and it was already on my wishlist, I've obviously read other great reviews about it too.

>214 alcottacre: Thank you! I'll be watching Sunday for it in the future.

>215 KiwiNyx: Funny how those things work. That may have happened to me before, but for what I have no idea.

Yesterday I watched Clash of the Gods on the History International Channel, and it was about the world of The Lord of the Rings and how Tolkien based it all on real life, old myths, and Christian beliefs. It's a rewatch, but it's among my favorite episodes of that show. The others I like are The Odyssey and Beowulf.

Well tomorrow is the big day, the big move. I'm saying goodbye to this house and town and saying hello to a new one. *Sigh* Just get it over with, please!

ETA: I just got news that it's official that the Dragonriders of Pern are going to be a movie! I just hope it succeeds visually.

OKay, I need to watch the History channel a lot more, you have just mentioned three of my favourite books there. Now Pern is Anne McCaffrey right? Haven't read her yet but I will be very interested in a movie.

Edited to add - Good Luck with the Move!

>218 KiwiNyx: Clash of the Gods is not on nuch, but it's anong mt top favorite shows. Yes, Pern is Anne McCaffrey, and the series is the greatest dragon books ever, and I am not even halfway through them.

Thanks!

Good luck with the move, Nathan!

Hope the move goes well. The best thing is, next time we have a KC get-together, you will be right there!

I am going to have to look for Eon -- and I am excited to about Dragonrider as a movie. CG dragons are getting awfully good -- I loved the white dragon in Gringott's in the last HP -- might have been my favorite thing in it, in fact. I like the movie fine, btw, I just loved that dragon.

Back from vacation, AGAIN. No more vacations means I can hopefully keep up here on out.

>220 alcottacre: Thanks! I survived for the most part.

>221 ronincats: Yes, I'm really close to Kansas City, so I think I might go then! One thing though, what does "CG" stand for?

>222 sibylline: I saw the Harry Potter movie. Shoots, I was going to talk about that. I still am down below. But yes, the dragon part was great...

>223 jolerie: I hope so too. I've been out too. Not on a vacation, but might as well be.

Well I guess it’s obvious that I’m back! I should’ve been back a long time ago, but there was this mess up and…well the end result is not having Internet for over a week. I’ve got uncomfortably too used to it.

But I’m here no in Missouri in my new house. It’s nice and big with a view of corn in my backyard, the sound of trains every hour, more than one radio station, and within two days of moving in, my room is fully unpacked.

Backing up: we left of Friday, and it took 17 hours of driving time to get here. Then there was 12-15 people helping us, so unloading it was a breeze, thank God!

Also, on Friday, I saw the last Harry Potter movie. It was truly spectacular. Sure they left important things out and forgot to mention others, but who cares? It’s kind of strange that it toke 45 minutes to do that last few pages with all the extra battle scenes, or maybe I just forgot it…wait, they forgot the love conversation between Harry and Voldemort. Just brush it off Nathan.

What else happened? Hmm…oh, I know. My little brother decided to play The Claw Machine, and on his first quarter, on his first try, on his first time doing it by himself, he won a stuffed Pikachu. So for all you non-believers, apparently it’s so easy, a six-year-old child can do it…or a caveman if that floats your rootbeer.

And finally, I’m done with A Clash of Kings. Let me tell you, it’s just a good, if not slightly better than A Game of Thrones. Five stars with ease. I have the review written up on paper, but I have to catch up with my messages and see what’s new on The Green Dragon, so no time today.

You've already unpacked?? Wow, I moved here 5 years ago and I still have boxes downstairs (no room to put more stuff but still..). Nice one on the Clash of Kings, I'll look forward to your review and you have definitely made me want to hurry up and see that last Harry Potter.

Oh, and thanks for the wee tale about your little brother, I have always wondered whether those things were rigged..

Nathan- Glad you are all moved in! It sounds like you are going to like your new "digs". We haven't seen the latest Harry Potter yet, but I've been hearing some choice things about it.
Glad you loved A clash of Kings. Now, Book 3!!

>225 KiwiNyx: I don't have many "things" to unpack, so it really didn't take me very long. The last Harry Potter is great, but the fourth book and movie will always be my favorite, because it's the first time you truly see Voldemort.

>226 msf59: Yes, I guess it I'm now on book 3. Argh! It's killing me wondering what will happen next.

You sure make me want to pick up those Martin books and give them a read. If only they weren't so thick! Lately I've been in a thin book kind of mood so I can get through them as fast as possible.
Glad to hear that you're all unpack and settling in. Looking forward to seeing what other books you will be reading this year. :)

Glad you are settled, Nathan! I have no idea what CG stands for, but the KC I used in my message means Kansas City.

I agree, they left some important things out, but I was happy that they did stay pretty faithful to the Dumbledore scene. I thought they needed more lead up to Mrs. Weasley--I think most people didn't even register that Ginny had been threatened.

Hello! Long time no "see." Congratulations on the smooth move! Hope you enjoy your new digs.

Lots to catch up on here. Glad that your move went so smoothly. I'm also reading A storm of swords though at 40pgs in, I don't feel qualified to say that yet. I got a used copy of Eon a few weeks ago, I've been meaning to read it for a good 12 months or so as I enjoyed her Singing the Dogstar Blues.
Excited to hear about the Pern movie, I loved those books and moved through them at the speed of light.

Glad the move went so smoothly, Nathan!

I'm hoping that the inevitable 'extended' version will correct the Ginny/Mrs. Weasley scene..... we can hope? For some reason theatre versions of movies have to be shorter.....

So glad you are all moved in and envious I was furiously unpacking boxes for a few weeks there, but I've slowed down to zero again.

I got Dance of Dragons for my boiday but I've just read two huge SF trilogies over spring/summer and feel the need to take a small break -- particularly as I have the first two Rothfuss's (that's a lotta ssssssss). I guess I can probably skip rereading everything and just go find a website that has a detailed synopsis..... amazingly, the Martin is very vivid, most of it, some names have fallen out of my head, sure, but not the predicaments they are in.

Nathan, I'm halfway through A Clash of Kings and loving it! After meeting and getting to know all the characters in the first book, it's a pleasure to follow them in the second book.

>228 jolerie: Yes, they are thick, and all the books I've been reading lately have been relatively thick too. Whuch reminds me: July Review

>229 ronincats: And also everything to do with Lupin. The whole movie was rushed and slow down and the same time.

>230 Berly: Same to you! I surely hope so too. Oops, I need to visit your thread.

>231 avatiakh: I say Eon is really good and worth reading. Oh, I really like the idea of Singing the Dogstar Blues I know what's going on my Wishlist! I wonder how much more popular Pern will be after the movies. Just think how George Martin became after HBO.

>232 alcottacre: Thank you!

>233 sibylline: I know the scene with Mrs. Weasley was coming, but I couldn't tell what it was about. Like I said up above, the whole movie was rushed in a way.

Martin's books do seem vivid...maybe too vivid...but I'm very eager to read more.

>234 mamzel: I saw on your Thread that you've read A Game of Thrones, and I plan on commenting pretty soon. A Clash of Kings only gets better!

Hi Nathan, sorry I haven't visited for ages and ages. I'm glad your move has gone smoothly, and that you enjoyed the last HP film (even if they missed a few good bits out!) and thanks to your reviews, I will be avoiding Powers that Be most definitely, but looking out for Eon which I like the sound of. Do you read Pratchett? For a more humorous approach to the woman pretending to be man to get into army/other ancient institution, you can't beat Monstrous Regiment, one of my favourites.

>236 gennyt: Hey! It's OK you haven't been here, in truth, I haven't even seen myself on here in a long time either. Terry Pratchett sounds familiar. I can't place the where I've heard him. Didn't he write that series about that person who's a dectective wizard or something like that? I'm not sure. But glad to see you!

OK, so there's a reason why I haven't been on here for a week. You see, I'm going into band again. I was in band at my old school in elementary, but to be honest, the band program was horrible so I quit, and now here, I joined up again with my clarinet. And from Monday to Saturday, all day long, I've been in Band Camp, and afterwards, I'm just exhausted. But I'm learning new songs like Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. I get to play my favorite part right away which is when you here those short fourth high-pitched noises in the beginning of the song, yup that's my favorite part, and also in the beginning of the chorus where it's two fourth notes followed two rest notes then repeat that 2-3 times.

Also, school is about to start again! My goal was to read 50 books over this summer. Let's see how good that turned out...not good at all! Oh well. There's no way I can't reach 75 books by the end of the year. Up next I'm going to read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and then...not sure...I have an idea, but not sure.

#237 Glad you seem to be enjoying band this time round. As for Terry Pratchett, he's the author of the very extensive comic/satirical fantasy series set in Discworld. Some of the books feature wizards certainly, and some witches, and some Death himself (with occasional apprentices). And some feature Dragons! If you've not read any, you might like to try Guards! Guards!, the first of a subset that feature the city night-watch - dragons play a very big part in this one.

>238 gennyt: I see. It looks like one of those huge series with mini series inside of it, right?

YES!!!!! I'm finally caught up with all posts for the first time in weeks!

That is all

#239, Yes that's right. I've been re-reading from the very start over the past year or so, including all the ones I'd missed first time. But I'm finding the earliest books don't grab me so much, and I think there is no need to read them all from the beginning to appreciate a single book or a subseries. I enjoyed Guards! very much and there seems to be a general view that it's one of his best, so if you want to give Pratchett a try, it's as good a place as any.

#240 Wow! well done. That's quite a marathon read in itself!

>241 gennyt: Hmm...OK, I will put Guards! Guards! on my Wishlist, try that, and see if I want to put more of his books on there as well. All I need to do is look out for it.

And yes, the reading took a total of four hours with an hour and a half break. My eyes are exhausted. In fact, I should get off right now.

Nathan- Good to see you posting! Sorry you will be busy with "Band Camp", but good luck. I have not read terry Pratchett but I do plan to read Good Omens, his collaboration with Neil Gaiman.

Hey, Nathan, been missing you! Glad to hear it's for good cause. I'll second the recommendations for both Guards! Guards! and Good Omens, with the comment that Good Omens only increases in enjoyment if you have a decent working knowledge of Revelations.

>243 msf59: Another author I want to read is Neil Gaiman, so Good Omens is another one I might read.

>244 ronincats: Thank you! OK, I'll put Guards! Guards! on my Wishlist for sure, and I might have Good Omens already since I added a bunch of Gaiman books earlier this year.

I am glad to see you back, Nathan. I hope all goes well with school for you this year and it sounds like 'Band Camp' has been fun!

Yep, we're gettin' that school is coming back soon feeling around here too..... kind of bearing down on us. My dau. has to finish up The Iliad and the book she chose for biology Stiff by Mary Roach (I think she's finding it a bit of an uphill battle..... seemed like a good idea at the time kind of thing).

It seemed like you were reading like mad for a bit there -- and some of those books were ridiculously long ..... that really does slow things down. When I get discouraged I confess I do sometimes scout through my tbr shelves for some thin books.

>246 alcottacre: Yeah "Band Camp" sure was "fun" and I "enjoyed" it. I don't get it, you're the second person who quoted "Band Camp".

>247 sibylline: I want to actually read The Odyssey now that you mention The Iliad. I've read sections of it in English, and watched shows of it, but not the actual book.

Also, yes, I have been reading like mad, but I'm going to get a jump-start on my reading pretty quick.

Nice to have you back Nathan! Seems like things are crazy on your end with band and all, which I think is very cool and that makes it okay if your books get a bit neglected in the mean time. :)

>249 jolerie: Neglected, but not forgotten. I just hope I complete my 75-book-challenge.

Oh my God, this is my 250th post! I need a new one for the fall. I will make a new thread soon.

Nathan- I think Band Camp sounds better with quotes, IMHO! Hey, you only need 20 books for your Challenge. That shouldn't be to bad. You can DO IT!!

>251 msf59: Yeah, it kind of does sound better with quotes. Yes, I can read 20 books. I can do it!

My new Thread will be up as soon as I get my review for A Clash of Kings done. Hopefully tonight, but don't bet on it.

Nope, not tonight. Tomorrow definately. Now I just need to find a good dragon picture. Might as well not change a common theme. It's just not like me.

Great review of Eon, Nathan. I just finished the book last night and I enjoyed it also. I have the Game of Thrones downloaded onto my Nook, so hopefully I will read that one soon.

If you do decide to read the Iliad be sure to get the translation by Robert Fagles -- it's wonderful. My daughter has been loving the read (except when the warriors pause in battle to recite their genealogies!)

>253 chinquapin: Thanks! Like I said before, I really enjoyed it too, and I'm so thankful I bought it. I hope you also like A Game of Thrones too.

>254 sibylline: I'll try. When you say that they recite their genealogies, do you mean like this one person goes, "You can't defeat me. I'm the son of the almight Joe Bob in the all powerful Smith familiy!" or something like that? Oh, and I keep forget to add, you never told me what CG stood for. Does it stand for Computer Graphics or something else?

New Thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/122397