January Read - NO SPOILERS - The Last Unicorn

I'll get mine ordered from the library. Join us!

It seems to be available at my library, and in storage so pretty likely to still be around when I get to visit next ^^

Probably won't be before the beginning of next month though.

I have it on my shelves, I'm IN! :)

I've not read it in years, but suspect I'll still love it.

I've got a copy hanging around, so I'm also in. :)

Yay! I wanna join!

I can't find it, but I know it is here, somewhere...

I was about to tackle some boxes of books in the front closet to look for it, but DD admitted she had it in her books in her room. It's my copy from the 70's--broken spine and loose pages from many many reads by both myself and my kids.

I found my copy. I'm looking forward to joining in. Haven't read this one in years.

Found my copy this evening, an omnibus which I bought in 1979.

I feel old... ;)

No copies available at any of my libraries - boo!

I might have to hunt bookfinder.com.for a copy, wont get it in time for the group read tho...

Don't forget abebooks.com and Thriftbooks.com. They each have used copies for about $5.00.

I read the graphic novel last year and just received the deluxe edition of the novel for Christmas so I'm thrilled that this is happening. My sister and I have been huge fans since we saw the movie in 1989 and I've read the book every couple of years since then.

I've only seen the movie and just started the book. It's interesting at how close the movie follows the book so far.

Yeah, they remained delightfully faithful to the book. The graphic novel is very close to the movie, too. It has breathtakingly beautiful artwork.

I've not yet started the book, hope to begin by the weekend.

How are the rest of you doing?

I'm at the part where they are heading into Haggard's castle.

Damn you and your fast reading!

It's not like it's a fat book!

I know. I'm just so woefully distracted lately.

Aaargh! This seems to be out of print in the UK, and even used copies on amazon are £many. :-(

I stumbled across my copy yesterday. Wondered why it was out, fate maybe?

Still have a copy - read it Years and Years ago. I'll contribute if I have anything to add.

My library does not own a copy of this and neither do I! Wah! But they do have the graphic novel version, so I have ordered it and hope to join in shortly.

Hello! I've had this title for years and just let it sit on the shelf. I watched the movie dozens of times as a kid and I'm looking forward to finally reading this book :-)

#24 by @markon> You are in for a treat. It's the prettiest graphic novel I've ever seen.

Is there a schedule? I'd like to do a re-read, but can't start till next week.

No, Jim, anytime you like!

The book was successfully snagged from the library, will probably begin reading it over the next days though it faces strong competion from Memories of Ice :)

I borrowed the graphic novel by accident, and so I had to put the real book on hold and am waiting for that to come through. But I'll begin it soon!

OK, I've got my copy, and I've started reading, just a little behind the times.

26: leahbird - I'm glad to hear something good; I'm always nervous when I source something other than the text. Hoping it
will be ready for me Monday.

I used to see this book around the library, but never read it. I don't know why. It looks good, though; let me see if I can get hold of a copy, and join you.

I've started reading.

I also put in a request for the graphic novel version through the library since Leah and others recommend it so highly. It will be interesting to compare the two. And... it will be my first graphic novel (graphic novel virgin that I am) although I did read some graphic non-fiction last year.

Unfortunately there is only one copy in the whole ILL system, so it may be a while before I see it.

I just finished up my last book and am starting this one tonight.

I haven't tracked down a copy of the book yet... but I'm working on it...

On chapter five.

I am enjoying how the author uses words...for example:

"The long road hurried to nowhere and had no end. It ran through villages and small towns, flat country and mountains, stony barrens and meadows springing out of stones, but it belonged to none of these, and it never rested anywhere. It rushed the unicorn along, tugging at her feet like the tide, fretting at her, never letting her be quiet and listen to the air, as she was used to do. ..."

YES! I love that description. Keep it in your mind because it becomes fairly apt later on.

My copy of the graphic novel was waiting for me Monday, but, alas, I am a word person, and could not get into the story this way . . . So I will be lurking, but probably not posting.

Just started after finishing my previous book. I still have my 95-cent Ballantine edition. I think this is the third time I've read The Last Unicorn; I read it in high school, when it was new, and again in my thirties or so. I remember that I loved the names: Schmendrick, Haggard, Molly Grue, et al. I also liked a couple of his other novels, A Fine and Private Place and The Folk of the Air.

I've never seen the graphic novel, but I think I remember an animated movie version a long time ago. I don't remember much about it at all except that it bored my kids, who were in early elementary grades.

I noticed that on the first page, while introducing the unicorn who lives in a wood, Beagle refers to the sea three times.

The movie was pretty faithful to the book, although considering it was a Rank(in)/Bass production, one would have expected the opposite.

Here is the cover of the book I originally bought:



I have had an omnibus copy since the late 1970s, with "Come Lady Death", "Lila the Werewolf" and A Fine and Private Place included.

I saw the movie for the first time as a 7 yr old. It blew me away and I've been slightly obsessed ever since (I have the book, the deluxe edition of the book, the deluxe edition of the graphic novel, and the movie). But I could see how it wouldn't hold all kids attention.

ETA: I forgot that I also have The First Last Unicorn and Other Beginnings.

42> Is The First Last Unicorn and Other Beginnings worth reading? I see that it has cover art by Stephanie Pui-Mun Lee, so I might be willing to get it just for that.

It's... interesting. VERY different from what actually became the novel. There are some highlights but I don't think I'd say it's a must read unless you are a super fan or this is really your genre. It's not bad, it's just hard to describe.

I read this last year and loved it! Will be looking forward to the discussion.

(42) It's not available on amazon.com :(

That's so weird because it looks like a new edition came out last year...

I checked several sites, that said it was being released on JANUARY 30th!

Reading about Mommy Fortuna's show reminded me of The Circus of Dr. Lao, which I had not read the last time I read TLU. I'm also noticing the way Schmendrick, among others, slips some modern vernacular into his conversation. It seems that Beagle is winking at the reader, saying, "We both know we're playing the epic fantasy game." Anyone else have that reaction?

Yes, definitely. Jim. I love the writing in this book. The bits of wordplay and humor; the author's winks at the fantasy genre; the unexpected bits of wisdom that pop out of nowhere.

I wonder how much of the wordplay comes through in the graphic novel version (which I've requested through ILL)--and in the movie (I haven't seen since the kids were little 15-20 years ago and which I'll get from Netflix when I've finished reading).

I'm not sure that the link to the spoiler thread is posted on this thread, so I'll post it (sorry Morphy, if I'm just missing it).
http://www.librarything.com/topic/147562

Finished it last night, and am headed over to the spoiler thread (thanks Janet!).

Well, did anyone else finish it?

Oh, yes. I should get my mini-review posted today or tomorrow.

Not yet, I'm at the first encounter with the Red Bull.

Just started last night, I had to finish the bookclub monthly reading first.

I got my hands on a copy, and am now half-way through - a bit late to the party, I admit.

It's still January!

I know, I know; I put a rush on it. I should finish - just let everything else fall by the wayside ...

Don't rush the read, it's too good a book to do that!