What is everyone reading at the moment? III

To continue our posting of what we are currently reading. Or, if you haven't been around in a while and are catching up, please share some books you have recently read. Not only is this a wonderful way to get book suggestions, it's a wonderful way to increase your TBR piles and wishlists. ;)

I'm reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the group reading.

What are you reading?

I just finished rereading Archer's Goon. I love just about anything by Diana Wynne Jones.

(Not to hijack a thread already, but glad to see you foggi! Missed you today!)

well besides OoTP I'm reading racy romantic novels, they go quick

There's foggi Hallo foggi!

Hallo! 204 new posts on the Galactic Bookworms thread! How will I ever catch up???

(#6 --> It was maybe hijacked this morning. *guilty face*)

I don't want to fail my reading goal for a third week this year so I think tomorrow will be the day that I finally pick up a book again. It may be Rachel Caine's Glass Houses, what I had originally planned to read next. After that, I did swear that I would get to The Book Thief and am already feeling guilty for trying to sneak a vampire book in first.

#7 -- Aw, no guilty feelings! (Not for thread hijacking, and not for reading whatever you feel like!) I, for one, am reading fluff now: Everything's Coming Up Josey, which is chick lit at its soppiest.

#8 foggi:
Thanks. :)

OK, this is a great excuse to compile my list so far for 2008:
* Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder
* Remember me to Harold Square, Paula Danziger
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life, Roald Dahl
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Gregory Maguire
* Stone Butch Blues, Leslie Feinberg
Good Omens, Gaiman and Pratchett
War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card

*******and HP1 (01/01/08) - HP7 (02/27/08).

* = re-read

Am now starting Battle Royale by Koushun Takami and Mirror, Mirror, also by Gregory Maguire, but I don't know if I'll finish the Maguire one; his stuff doesn't flow very well in my opinion, and I haven't yet felt like I'd ever want to re-read something of his, which is my mark of a good book. meh. I'll probably finish it, because I'm a masochist like that. But that doesn't mean I'll like it! *hmph*

:-P

#10 aglaia:
I hope you're feeling better!

thanks, Kerian! I am a bit, thankfully. Gotta love steam, tea with honey and lemon, and kitty TLC :)

You're welcome. I'm glad to hear it! :)

I am glad you are feeling better aglaia!

My tbr list is getting kind-of long, and I cannot wait for summer to hit when school's out and I'll be able to read a plethora of books. Anyyways, here's my current (or at least a piece of it) tbr list:

re-read of the Charlie Bone series
Lord Raglan's Hero's Journey ( I can't remember the exact title of it, despite the fact that it's in my library. This book is the beginning of the hero's journey archetype).
some Star Wars books (such as The Rise of the Dark Lord)
The Abs Diet: How to Keep Your Stomach Flat and Fit For Life
V for Vendetta
and the Twilight series. I;ve been hearing some amazing review over this series and have yet to open it, so I'll wait just a few more months.

On another note, I'm continuing to write my two novels at once. So they are being read and written at the same time.

On another note, I'm continuing to write my two novels at once. So they are being read and written at the same time.

#15 06nwingert:
The Twilight series is very much amazing imho. :)

#16/17 wingert:
Good luck!

#15 I started Twilight for the first time yesterday. I'm only half-way through it, but so far it's a great book.

I just started reading Castle in the Air this morning. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying it. It's cleverly written and so far quite entertaining but I have a slight objection to it being called a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle. I'm over 100 pages into it (about half way) and so far no Howl, no Sophie, no Calcifer, no witch.... am I missing something?!?? The only reference to the original is the fact that it takes place in the same world. How does that qualify it as a sequel????

Like I said, it's a pretty decent book, but not at all what I was expecting. If I had read it without reading HMC I would probably be enjoying it a lot more.

I'm reading The Last Chronicle of Barset, along with OotP, of course.

aglaia, I loved Stone Butch Blues. I saw Leslie speak once in NY. She was awesome.

edited to fix touchstone

#21 -- Howl, Sophie, and the rest come in later. I'm not a big fan of Castle in the Air (I like pretty much all of DWJ's books, but that one's not a favorite). House of Many Ways is the next sort-of sequel (also includes Howl, Sophie, etc, but doesn't focus on them). I think it's much better than Castle in the Air. (I don't think it's been released yet; I got a galley of it at a conference earlier this year. Soon, though!)

I'm still reading Jack of Kinrowan. I'm also catching up in my history text before the final next week.

#24 Letta:
Good luck in history! Also, I would love to hear what you think of that book. :)

ooooooooooooo

#25 so far I really like it. but it's due back to the library tomorrow and I still have another hundred pages to read.

Just read Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
And Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Now I am reading Enders Game

#27 Letta:
Hope you get it finished before you have to turn it in. :)

#23 - Thanks foggi. :) I just finished Castle in the Air and I would say it ended better than it began. Overall it was a decent book but not what I expected out of a sequel (and I really really liked Howl's Moving Castle so it was hard to measure up to). I like DWJ's writing though, she's really clever and entertaining so I think I'll probably have to read some more of her stuff. I've been told Witch Week was a good one but let me know if you have a better suggestion.

#30 - I really liked Dark Lord of Derkholm and its sequel, Year of the Griffin. But Witch Week is good, too! As I remember, it's set in the same world as the Chrestomanci books, but it's fine to read on its own.

I have really enjoyed all the Dianna Wynn Jones books I've read, but there is something sort of chaotic about her plots. I have to be in the right mood to read her stuff.

Thanks! (On a random quasi-DWJ note, I always feel weird checking her books out of the library cause they're in the YA hardback section which is a series of floor-to-waist-high bookshelves. It's sort of like paint a big sign on my forehead that says "I READ TEEN LIT". Awkward.... but then again if I put my hair in pigtails I've been accused of looking like I'm 13 so maybe it's only weird in my mind....)

*whispers* El, I know that feeling all too well. Do you sneak around when you're looking for YA books, too?

The only YA book I felt embarrassed to be looking at was Twilight.

*ducks*

Tsk, LG. ;)

I never had to go pick Twilight out at a library or bookstore - my copy was a gift. When I bought New Moon, the special edition had just come out and my co-workers were jealous. I got Elipse in the mail with part of my winnings from the DH review contest.

I know, I know, but it just looks so cheesey. I can't help it.

:P~~~

You say cheesy, I say sweet.

Well, one of these days I probably will read it. By this time, I'm just afraid I'll either hate it (and have to say so, while dodging suge's jinxes) or love it (and have to admit it).

;-)

*gets her hopes up*

Really, you think you may give it a chance?

I wouldn't worry about suge's jinxes. She and LadyN spent a whole extended weekend together and LadyN is just fine, right? ... She is, isn't she? ... LadyN? ;)

hmmmhmm mauhaahaa ha ha hooo haaa hoo haa hmmmmhmmmm mahaa ha ha!!!

Well I dont know what to tell ya, it has a glossy black cover, very pale arms holding an apple..... no sign of cheese. cheesedar isn't going off (and it is very, very sensitive) so I think you'll live, you can also remove the dustcover dahling then you just look like you're reading a bible in public, which as you know, isn't cheesy at all.

Or I could simply order it off amazon.

don't worry, girlz, I'm sure my curiosity will overcome my aversion one of these days. but I'll be keeping my wand handy if I have to give it a bad review. no offense, sugey-pants.

none taken lg, you just keep your paws off my Edward and we'll be ok.

As long as I can have Sirius, you have nothing to worry about.

oh eww Sirius is sooooo last year *rolls eyes*

Never! I remain loyal to his doggy love forever....

ok. his doggy love aint bad, I admit (ah the good old days....), but I'm on to greener pastures!!

47- Yes, of course you are! The pasture is always greener on the other side of the fence. ;)

lol! You two!

You know who is better to you than Sirius then, suge? I do not find that suprising. ;)

but then that means that I'll want to change sides now that I"m on this side. and then when I get to that side I'll want to change again!! AAAAAAH! the human condition!!! Never ever happy!!!

#50 suge:
Too true.

Get away from my Sirius! Stay on your side of the fence with your goth boy.

Goth boy?!

LG, if it's even possible, these are non-goth vampires. I know, I know, boggles the mind. Read the books.

What's the point of that?

I mean, NON GOTH VAMPIRES????!!!!!

Kids these days!

You are not selling me on the book, foggi.

Hehehe. Hey, LG, you'll love this:

What is a goth vampire? I mean, what books are they in?

;)

Um, like every vampire book in the known world.

Except in the Twilight series. ;)

And I'm supposed to want to read it?
*sigh*

I mean how can the WALKING DEAD not be goth?!

I think they don't wear the right clothes. ;o)

Exactly. I mean, they still have the deathly pale, inhumanly strong, and irresistably gorgeous thing going on, they just don't wander around in black cloaks and too much mascara.

I don't think of goth as being "too much mascara" fashion, but as being "gothic" as in Daphne duMaurier, Sarah Waters or Wilkie Collins.

You know, spooky, mysterious, necrophilic, like that.

Ah, that's where we got off-track, then -- I read your comment to suge in post #52 and my mind went to chains and black nail polish. ;-)

65- That's what my mind went to also. ;)

mmmmm goth boys/men are so much more fun than non goth

*remembers dog collar- lets ants bite tongue b/f* mmm as long as they don't like to let insects bite them... and no we didn't kiss after LOL

mmmm.... but can we him off me, LG....?

Now as far as the non goth vamps: we are talking about a group of beings who are looking for tranquility and a quiet place in this earth where they can live out their endless days. They just want to survive in peace, with out prejudice or drama, pitchforks, stakes or lynch mobs. They never want to stick out, they try to blend in as much as possible.

Lets face it you're already pasty, humans get weird vibes from you, to add all the goth garb, its just a recipe for disaster.

ooh, not to interrupt the goth talk, but -

MrsG, let us know what you think of Ender's Game - it's possibly my top book of all time!

I would suspect that even the most clueless muggle would "get weird vibes" off someone who actually was the walking dead.

The whole point of vampires is to examine our fears of death (and sex, but that's another thing). If you dumb them down for suburbia, why bother?

Re goth:
I had a 'goth' friend in high school. She dressed all in black and there was nothing else to it. Some years passed, and one of my sisters also dressed in all black - except she has a bazillion chains and dyed her hair black. More years pass, and my kid sister has sometimes worn the leftover back clothes and chains with lots of dark eye make-up, sometimes streaks of eyeliner running all over her face. (I told her I would never buy her eyeliner again if she didn't change that - twelve is too young.) Point being, my definition of goth is undefined.

amy lee is one type of goth



there are just tooo many types of goths to keep track of k. everone puts their own twist on it.

72- What's with the guys in the background? Are they her posse? ;)

after finishing Twilight on Thursday, I was in the mood for more vampires (and my vampire tv shows still aren't on) so I read Blood Price, which is the first of the series of book the tv show Blood Ties is based on (one of the vampire tv shows that I am missing right now).

I finished Jack of Kinrowan (had to turn it in a day late) loved it and am now reading Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley.

Edited to delete repeated word.

#73 LOL um that's the band mates 8) (did I miss the sarcasm? Did you know that?) okay whatever for those of you who don't know that's a pic of the band Evanescence. Pretty good music, a little soft but she's got a beautiful voice.

I finished Mountain Betty and I am about to finish Little Lord Fauntleroy. The first is chick lit on skis and I wouldn't recommend it unless you have taught skiing. The second is another book by Frances Hodgson Burnett which I would recommend if you liked A Little Princess or The Secret Garden.

#76--> Yep! I love Ev! Amy's voice rocks.

#76 MEM:
Also love that Evanescence. :)

Today I will be reading OotP for the group read. :)

I just finished The Declaration by Gemma Malley -- dystopic fiction, which I would recommend to fans of The Giver. I probably ought to finish Little Lord Fauntleroy before getting started on anything else.

Right at the moment I am reading The Talisman by Stephen King.... it is pretty good so far...

I am reading Enders Game right know.

81--> Bells I love The Talisman!

I'm reading Geek High. the protagonist has crashed down to the ground twice in less than 100 pages. As a fellow klutz, I love her.

76- Oooh, okay. I'm really bad at remembering band names and band members. I might have heard their music, but I'm never sure. :P ;)
Thanks for clearing that up.

Cat I've compiled a helpful checklist to help you determine wether you have heard Evanescence music or not:

Have you lived in the continetal US in the last five years? Check YES or NO

Have you ever watched t.v. in the Continental U.S. in the last five years? Check YES or NO

IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED "YES" TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS LISTED ABOVE, YOU HAVE HEARD THE MUSICAL SHANGRILA THAT IS EVANESCENCE.

Thank you for participating in our fun survey. Note: Suge is just joking :)

Edited: ggggggrrrrr! that's all I have to say!!! ggggrrrr!!

Then I guess I have! ;)

LOL!

Grrr?

I read Pagan's Crusade and was underwhelmed -- I know some people really like it, but I just never got into the story. Now I'm reading The Hound of Rowan: The Tapestry by Henry H. Neff (which won't touchstone) -- it's pretty good. It has some very Harry Potter-esque tendencies, but it doesn't feel too much like a cheap knock-off.

I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl. I've wanted to read it forever and then the movie came out so I thought better read the book now! (I always try to read the book before I watch a movie)

I read it not that long ago - great book! :)

I'm reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

I'm listening to Order of the Phoenix still. I checked it out at the beginning of the group read, but now I've let myself get sucked into the story, so I'm going to finish it up soon. I'll have to go back and skim chapters as they come up for discussion, but at least it will be fresh in my mind! It's making me want to read HBP, but I may restrain myself. ;-)

I also just read Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins, which was pretty good.

I only ever listened to the audio books summer of 2006. I also read each of the books that summer. (I was doing my reread for the HBP release.)

This is the first HP audiobook that I've listened to. I probably won't listen to any more -- I prefer the voices in my own head -- but it's been nice since I've had a couple of long car trips lately.

Really? Considering listening to one by the other man who reads the books for audio tapes? I've heard they can really vary.
I bet it has been nice for those trips! You've given me an idea for a new thread. :)

#93 - Um. And how long have you been hearing these voices in your head foggi? And have they been giving you any instructions? :o)

LOL! Oh, no! Our poor foggi!

*examines her head and pats it gently*

Do we need a doctor's office table or a nice comfy couch?

*whispers* We should be keeping clear of saying anything we don't want You-Know-Who to find out about. ;)

Oh yeah, I'm reading OotP too. I'm forcing to read only four chapters at a time.

96- *whispers* You're right, K!
*bright voice*
Here foggi, you should rest! ;)

#97 biblio:
LOL, the torture! ;)

*helps foggi onto a couch because it is much more comfortable* Just relax, dear! :)

Oh, thank goodness. A couch. I am so tired.

*falls asleep, blissfully unaware of the group's concern about the voices in her head*

*whispers to concerned group*
Anyway, now that foggi's taking a nap, I should ask if anyone has any good quick read recommendations. I've got nothing but Villet by Bronte and Wuthering Heights, but those are a little slow right now.

AR Villette picks up after a bit. I am reading A Saturday Life which is going quickly- a slim 221 pages and I am 75 pages in after starting it last night. I often turn to P.G. Wodehouse or Muriel Spark if I want a fun quick read.

Quick-read is one of my tags if you want to view it. I'd link it but I can't remember how to go about linking books in your own catalog.

AR do you like Bronte? Have your read Jane Austen? If not, Pride and Prejudice is a good place to start. There are some good books listed on this thread: The Book Thief, The Time Traveler's Wife, and The Other Boleyn Girl are three of my favorites.

*covers foggi with a blanket*

I second compski's good opinion of Pride and Prejudice, The Time Traveler's Wife, and The Other Boleyn Girl! :)

*fluffs a pillow and puts it under foggi's head*

Thanks you guys!!
I couldn't get into Pride and Predjudice, but I'll give it another try sometime, definitely.

*glances at foggi*
Is foggi okay? To see her tired...it's shocking!

The voices keep her hopping. ;)

Hmm, hopping 'till sunday!

*removes foggi's shoes and gets her comfy slippers*

*brandishes wand and expands couch to more comfortable length and width*

*drags her HP books over to the couch and wonders which one has the scene foggi likes with Snape it in best so she can be read to*

*cracks one eyelid* And don't think I don't remember what you did to MrA when he was napping! No funny business! ;-)

I would never draw on foggi!

*opens a HP book and begins to read scenes at random with Snape in them aloud*

*AR creeps to bathroom*
*whispers* I'll get the shaving cream...

AAAWWW! foggi looks so sweet sleeping there! :)

Do you think foggi's really hearing voices or just hearing all of us posting in the threads? Adds lavender pillow to foggi's pillow.

Do you think foggi would be disappointed to hear us in real life? I mean, do our voices match the ones she's decided we sound like?

Hmm I don't know. I am trying to think if I have assigned you all voices in my head. Have you assigned all of us voices JP?

LOL! I know suge did not sound like I imagined. I think you all sound like me in my mind. :o)

Even MrA and Spaz...

#118 Mar:
Maybe both. ;)

#119 jp:
I don't think so. I've only talked to one LTer so far, but I never had a voice in my head before that.

#121 jp:
She didn't sound like I imagined she would, either. And she told me I talk like the people on tv because of my Cali accent. I didn't think I had an accent!
About everyone sounding like you in your head, that is why the voices can be such a shock when you finally hear them, I think.

I'm very soft-spoken myself, so no one confuses my voice. ;)

Most everyone sounds like me except MrA who sound like Dick Darlington...but only cuz I just saw that episode of Coupling...

I have to say, I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl on my lunch breaks and it's very hard to stop.

#122 the people of cali, orogan, washington, ideaho, montana, and probably nevada don't have a recognizable regional accent. which is why we sound like the people on tv.

Oh...there is a California accent, my cousins have it and when I talk to them I get it too, but it's hard to explain.

if you talked to someone from any of the other states though, you would realize we all have pretty much the same accent.

#122 You don't have an accent, everyone else does!

I'm reading Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith.

Possibly true...however, not everyone in Cali does have, just natives who have lived there all their lives.

yes, but the accent is common to all the states west of the Rockies. (I have it and I'm from Washington)

Yep, but it is still a "recognizable regional accent" #124

That's all I'm saying.

There's no such thing as not having an accent. Everyone has one.

I have lived in many areas in the country. They each have regional accents (even Cali, tho they deny it) but there are people everywhere who speak a "generic North American" accent. It's weird.

Even in Missouri, there were people with strong accents and people without. Maybe it's tv?

#131 lg
Thank you! That is exactly what I was trying to say, but you put it a lot better than I did.

I think it could be TV, or it could be moving around. I moved around a lot as a kid, and everytime we did I would get made fun of for the way I spoke, so I would "fix" it. There are certain words though that still come out with various accents. I don't know why.

I thought I had no accent because I was raised in a home with a thick Spanish accent and a thick Brooklyn accent.

I do admit I probably have a nasal New Yorker quality to my voice, but I blame that on my amazingly large honker. ;o)

The California accent is not just "west of the rockies." It involves lots of overenthusiastic dipthongs. Think Moon Zappa in the song Valley Girl.

I well remember the first time I "heard" the Cali accent. I had been living in NY for about 2 years and someone called in to work and I immediately said, "you must be from California." He was shocked that I could tell, but duuuuude, it was obvious.

Prior to that, I would have said we don't have one.

LOL cat just said she sounds like a teenager in recordings. The kind she makes fun of.

cat darling, you ARE a teenager!!!!

I discovered there was a CA accent when I was in an acting class (in PA) when I was 14. I had to say "banana" and the teacher immediately knew where I was from.

It is weird that no one can seem to "hear" their own accent. Once you move away and get used to a new regional accent, you can suddenly notice it.

I even stopped noticing my ex's English accent. People would comment on it and I'd think, oh yeah, he's English....after a while it was just how Mark talks.

I suppose that's kind of like toddler's speaking. If you hear them all the time, you can usually understand what they're saying, but if you rarely see them, or are just meeting them it often sounds like gibberish.

The funny thing about Mark was he was raised in Europe by English mother and American father. Then went to college and spent the rest of his life in the states. Americans and Brits both think he has an accent. (His vowels are English, but he prounounces "r's".)

#124 rissa:
Aha! So we are free of accents. ;) *high five*

#125 Biblio:
Yeah. I've been told I have a nothern CA accent. I already told you yesterday I've pretty much been in CA all my life since I was four.

#127 Letta:
lol. I love that! :)

#133 jp:
lol. I had an art teacher from NY several times through high school - I would recognize a NY accent easily. ;)

#135 jp re cat:
I understand maybe she has a dislike of her voice for sounding young? I always had that and could never stand the sound of my voice on recordings - it's why I haven't set up my voice mail on my phone (besides being lazy about it ;).

#137 LG:
I used to hear English accents easily, but I have become so used to them at work that I don't even notice anymore.

#139 LG:
Maybe a mixture of both? :)

140 re 135 -
No. She just doesn't think she sounds like she sounds on recordings. In her words: "It's like the stereotypical teenager that goes on the phone and says "like" all the time! Like Like Like!"

OK she just told me to shut up. :o)

"A NY accent!" There are so many different kinds! Just like there are so many different dialects within London. When you live in NY, you can tell Queens from Manhattan from the Bronx from Brooklyn from Jersey from various upstate accents.

Isn't that strange...when you live in a place you can pick up subtle differences, but you don't think you have an accent. When you're NOT from a place, you can hear a distinct accent, but it's generalized.

People are weird, aren't they?

And you know, when somebody tells me to shut up, I shut up! Because you shouldn't just keep talking when someone tells you to shut up. You should just, well, shut up. :o)

144- That was to my 142.

OK I'm done now.

I won't say another word.

shut up jp! (just kidding!)

*Key locks lips*

#141 jp:
My kid sister just came up to me yesterday asking if she used that word too much. I normally never hear her use it, and while she spoke to me, she used it five or six times in every sentence. ;)
*Gasps* Cat! You told your mother that?! I seriously have only said that to my mom once and I swear I just wanted to die afterward.

LOL!
Wait that doesn't count as talking.

Doh!

#150 - LOL! She just said it in a joking manner because I'm teasing her! Must encourage her to speak up for herself!

#143 LG:
Different kinds? However can people get used to them to identify them?! ;)
Hehehehe! I get to hear suge,jp, and cat sound weird. ;)

#144 jp:
I don't. I get nasty when people tell me to shut up, unless it's someone who's important to me, then I'd probably be all *hurt*.

#146 - 148 jp:
lol! :)

#152 jp:
Oh, very good to hear. Is she doing homeschool stuff or is she being shy of coming on LT right now?

JP was repeating everything I was saying!!!
And yes, I was trying to do homeschool stuff. Not so easy when your mother starts acting like this. ;)

*tsk* JP! ;)
Hehehe! The teacher misbehaving instead of the student! ;)
You know, I don't think my mom has ever repeated everything I say - only my sisters have done so.

#130 by recognizable I meant that people from other parts of the country usually can't tell where I'm from from my accent. there is only sound that not only says what general region of the country I'm from, but says what area of the state I'm from. when I say -ing I touch the tip of my tongue to the roof of my mouth instead of the back of my teeth.

I've lived in several different states, including ones that have a very recognizable accent (Georgia, Oklahoma, Kentucky. . .) but have escaped having one, myself. At least, so I have been told.

#157 rissa:
I'm silently practicing words ending in 'ing' now to see if my tongue touches my teeth or not. ;)

#156 - K, I'm just building her character!
*pulls out Groucho glasses*
And she's become quite a character!

#159 I'm told it's particular to the Eastern half of Washington State (and Northern Idaho).

#157 rissa

Okay, now I understand!

When we first moved to PA we were blown away by people saying the "t" in often.

#160 jp:
Hehehe. I bet she has. :)

Hmmm, I'm trying to think if there are any words I may say that would sound funny to anyone outside of CA but don't know what they would be.

there isn't much differnce in the way -ing sounds when I say it. I had to have a singing teacher point the difference out to me.

major thread hijacking since I was on earlier. I don't usually notice the way people talk.

I'm going to be like polly and say I'm reading LT. I'd link it for you guys to check it out, but I have a feeling you're reading it, too. ;)

JP in the 140's
Were you just waiting for someone to say "shut up shutting up"? I love that line from Bugs Bunny!

Hehehe. I never watched Looney Tunes much myself. :)

If only compski would come on at the right moment... :o)

I know! I am so bummed! You have no idea how many times I have done those lines and no one gets it. Great minds think alike, just not at the same time :)

LOL! From now on, I'll make sure you're on when I allude to Bugs Bunny!

160- Yes, I am quite a character, JP.
A cartoon character! :P ;)

jp, is cat simply an illustration with the ability to type and express her opinions? ;)

jp, how does one give birth to a cartoon character? ;)

*whispers* I think cat is one of jp's illustrations. Maybe jp drew her one day and that is how cat was born. Then, while in Snape's Potions class, she spilled something on her parchment which she had been drawing cat on instead of paying attention in class. *Voila* Her illustration of cat developed a mind of her own. ;)

I'm heading out to yoga soon, can't do this now, but K and rissa made me think of a music video from Aha called Take On Me. My crazy brain. Neurons constantly firing.
I'll try to find it for you. Later.

#176 - thanks jp, now that song will be in my head all day!

And on the What are you reading now note.... I just finished Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Lots of people hailed it as being as good or better than Twilight. I'm gonna have to be in the camp that disagrees.

#177 -- Oh, me too! I love McKinley's fairy tale stuff, and was so disappointed in Sunshine. *sigh* I like her earliest stuff better than the last few she's done. She has a new one coming out in (I think) the fall. I'm hoping it won't ramble so.

Hooray for getting the thread back on topic! I'm reading The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath and really liking it.

omg, lets not even talk about my accent! There are things I cant even pronounce. Mayonnaise. It defies all logic but I cant say it, not even think it, actually. My mental voice cant pronounce it either :(

btw you all had been assigned voices. You all sound a little like me but without the accent. I see I"m the only one that does that tho. oh well...

*ROFL*

Now I'm reading Here, There Be Dragons. I think my main problem with it is that I know who the three main characters are supposed to be, and these characters in the book don't seem at all like I imagined those people to be. (I hope that makes sense -- can't be more specific without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't read it yet.) I'm sticking with it, though.

suge, when I heard where you were visiting family I assumed a thicker Spanish accent like my dad's. You are much easier to understand. The accent is practically nonexistent.

To clarify: I combined my voice with my father's accent. :o)

foggi, I'm so sorry you know who they are. It's much more fun when you don't know. :o(

I'm not sure how it got spoiled for me -- maybe a review? But I would be having a much better time reading it if I didn't know, I think.

#179 suge:
What's wrong with your accent? Nothing. And I made you say mayonnaise, remember? It sounded fine. Nothing wrong. *hug*
Oh, after talking to LG I think I actually did assign everyone voices. LG, if you are reading this, you did not sound like how I thought you would. :)

#182 jp:
I agree her accent is practically nonexistent. I rarely notice it.

when I read, it mostly is in my own voice. but I think that I have put different inflections in it for everyone. I know I don't even try to add in everyone's accents.

Oh thank you, guys! I didn't think people could understand me! there are moments when I get the giggles or I dont know, something happens to my jaw and I cant even speak. I'm sooo weird!

#187 suge:
Couldn't undertand you? Never. :)
Do you get lock jaw? It kind of makes it difficult to open your jaw and can be painful sometimes. I don't get it anymore, but I used to.
Yes, you are a little weird, but I would always say silly over weird. Who in HE isn't at least a little weird? ;)

Kerian, your voice is exactly as I imagined it.
What was different about mine?

Really? That's eerie. ;) So long as I didn't sound about twelve as some people kid around and say.
I'm not sure. As time passes since talking to you your voice is fading. One thing I can say is I think you sound younger compared to others your age, or maybe it's your dialect or that you're young at heart and that shows when you talk. As I said, not sure.

going back to the original topic. I am reading Rhiannon by Vicki Grove.

I just started UN Lun Dun this morning. Pretty good stuff so far.

(and back to 177/178 RE: Sunshine - the lack of explanations in that book slayed me. It was like "hi I'm gonna throw in a bunch of stuff that you're majorly going to think is important and then never mention it again!" Grrrr....)

Still reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I took a The Onion Girl, a favorite of mine that I haven't read in five years, with me when I left for work yesterday, but didn't get any reading in. I'm sure I'll be catch up in OotP and then read some of Onion Girl by early Wednesday.

In addition to the already mentioned I am now listening to SS/PS on my commute.

I dont get lock jaw k, sometimes my accent gets the best of me.

192---> u haf no ida how many times i've picked that book up! It never makes it home with me.

You've already heard my whole spill on Sunshine, all that rambling, I wanted to slap sunshing to see if that would make her focus and move on with the story.

I'm a huge Titanic buff, and inpreparation for the sad anniversary (April 14 1912) I'm reading The Titanic: The extraordinary story of the "unsinkable" ship. I'm also re-reading Pride and Prejudice. As I've said many many times before Mr Darcy has ruined all men for me.

I'm reading 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill, The Somnambulist by Johnathan Barnes and Iron Orchid by Stuart Woods.

187- I get worse giggles than you do, suge. When I get the giggles, I end up on the floor laughing hysterically and I can't breath. I suppose it's good for working out the stomach muscles though. ;)

as your alter ego I know exactly what you mean. Keep it up cat, sooooon we'll have abs of steel, then *getting carried away* we can market out own giggle work out videos! "one, two, ha ha ha three four hee hee heee!" We'd be millionaires cat! think of it!

Silly cat and suge. ;)

*stars in eyes*
Ooh, yes, YES! Let's get started now!
*rolls on the floor in another giggle attack*

I'm reading Renegade's Magic by Robin Hobb.

I am reading Crashing Through by Robert Kurson. It is about a man who lost his sight at the age of three. I really liked Kurson's book Shadow Divers about two men who find the wreck of a German Uboat.

This weekend starting friday evening i reread Pride & Prejudice then read Mr. Darcy's Story (wich i loved) then turned on the TV and P&P was on!!! YAY!!! then started to read a "sequel" which so far i'm not liking too much but that is what i'm reading now. Plus I watched the first half of the Masterpiece theatre's Sense and Sensibilty so i had a fantastic Jane Austen weekend.

I read The Warrior Heir, which was quite good. Now I'm reading The Somnambulist, and really liking it so far.

I justed finished Spanking Shakesphere by Jake Wizner he is a new author out. It was an excellent read definitely recommend it. I am going to start Powder Monkey Adventures of A Young Sailor by Paul Dowswell

#203 Mandy:
I'm glad to hear you loved Mr. Darcy's Story. It's in my TBR pile. :)

I finished Enders Game

Then on friday I started and finished The Empress of the World

Then on Saturday I started and finished Keeping you a secret

Now I am reading Inkspell

I love Enders Game!

I'm reading Wicked lovely by Melissa Marr.

I'm reading Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham.

Oooh we gotta get people to start sharing reviews. I've had Crashing Through, Mr. Darcy's Story, and The Somnambulist on the periphery of my TBR stack for a while now - haven't picked any up but with a good rec I might have to!

I just started reading Adelaide Einstein by April L. Hamilton - it's a really fun book so far and it's cool cause she's an LT author as well!

Reading....what's that? Is it on the interwebs?

I guess I'm spending too much time watching BSG and in the chatroom at night to get any reading done. I'm officially reading Tigana right now, but we'll see how long it takes!

I'm still offically reading Order of the Pheonix and another favorite of mine, The Onion Girl. I'm hardly into that second book and think I should drop it and read something shorter because I'm not up to reading thick books right now. I have a YA in mind that I might go with, but not till I catch up with the group read. I'm sorry I'm behind! Only by four chapters now. :(

Edited: Need I say I had a typo? Anyone who's been in chat with me knows how much I make typos.

I finished listening to Sorceror's Stone this morning and started on Chamber of Secrets, of course I'm also still keeping up with the group read and working on The Other Boleyn Girl in my "spare time".

Spare time, what's that?
*looks around at messy house*
Grrrr.

I listened to the first four discs of Half-Blood Prince today -- about the only useful thing I did, really. Grump, grump, grumble.

#211 -- The Somnambulist is reminding me of the Series of Unfortunate Events, except for adults, if that makes sense. So far, we have a narrator who seems to be somehow involved in the story, but that involvement has not been explained. He occasionally addresses cryptic remarks to the reader. There are quirky, mysterious characters, inexplicable or supernatural events, and there's a generally dark and slightly creepy air to the story.

I really should write reviews here on LT. Maybe I'll do that when I finish this book. You do know that you can use the "connection news" tab on your profile to see friends' reviews, right?

*sticks hand up* Big Ender's Game fan here (Andrew Wiggen, natch).

For some weird reason i whave been reading a bunch of books at the same time, and i'm glad to have finally finished them so i can concentrate better on the next one.

Just finished: my first Neil Gaiman book, Coraline; Bill Bryson's The life and times of the Thunderbolt Kid (stoopid touchstones), and David Sedaris' Holidays On Ice (why do short books take the longest to finish?).

Now checking out another first, Christopher Moore: Practical Demonkeeping

*sympathetic grump grump grumble for foggi*

216 - You can all see my reviews. Now I'll need to erase them! *blushes*

Hehehe. Um, in my opinion, my best reviews are for DH and The Other Boleyn Girl. Otherwise, ekk! ;)

Don't read my The Other Boleyn Girl review, Biblio, I don't want to spoil! I need to reread it to see if it does.

MrA, have you read the full saga and the parallel novels? *love* Ender books.

I'm reading Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and The Witches by Roald Dahl, and I feel like I've written this somewhere on HE in the last couple of days... hmm...

I'm rereading Twilight (such a good book)also James Pattersons many books, and the Bourne series (again)

>#221. yeeeeees, i think so... even the enderverse short stores. I have to admit i lost interest during the shadow series, though.

MrA, Chris Moore is one of my favs.

LG, i heard a lot of recommendations for Lamb, but this is the first one of his that i've been able to get my hands on.

I'm reading Dragon's Breath by E. D. Baker

i have that in the morning, sometimes. Or so i'm told.

It's his first book. He wrote several in that same setting, which is actually based on Cambria, CA IRL.

If you ever get chance to go to a booksigning by Moore, check it out. he's really funny in person, too.

The only Christopher Moore book I read was The Stupidest Angel: A heartwarming tale of Christmas Terror and that had me cracking up, big time. I'll have to read more of his stuff. :)

#216 - I love the connection news feature and spend way too much time reading other peoples reviews.... yeah, I'm probably the one giving lots of y'all those cute little green thumbs ups. :)

I just finished Adelaide Einstein and it was a really great book! My review is here if you don't get it on your connection page. ;) If anyone's even remotely interested in it, all I can say is buy yourself a copy because it's a good book and the author is an independent and could use the support! (She's on LT too which is doubly cool)

Now I'm reading Alive and Well in Prague, New York which is an ARC that a fellow LT-er passed on and it's really really good so far too.

I gave up on Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. I loathe not finishing books but life has been too psycho lately to spend it reading nonfiction about the hardships of early colonial people. I need more fun escapist reads right now. :)

I'm debating between Blue is for Nightmares and Glass Houses. Any opinions?

Hmm I haven't read either K- sorry I am no help.

I am doing research right now so I am reading Dalton Trumbo Johnny Got His Gun Time of the Toad and Additional Dialogue but I am secretly reading the fun books Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Salem Chapel

I'm reading Cassandra's Sister and The Boy Who Dared and Talking to Dragons.

(edited for touchstone)

I'm reading City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

#231 Mar:
No worries. :)

#232 foggi:
I saw your post before you edited it - that first book sounds like it's really interesting. :)

#234 -- Yes, the subtitle of Cassandra's Sister is "Growing Up Jane Austen." It's a fictionalized biography. So far it seems pretty good, but I'll let you know what I think when I finish it.

I just finished The Whole Story version of The Picture of Dorian Gray today. I was all alone in the house when I finished it, so I think I freaked myself out a bit. ;)
It was really interesting! Scary, but good.

#231 Oh dear, I didn't realize Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day was a book. I really wanted to see that movie and now I can't until I read the book and my TBR list is already so long. Oh the humanity!

finished the Moore and started on House of Sand And Fog to switch mental gears. I feel like Ben Kingsley is narrating the first chapter in my head.

237 Yes bib and so far it is great a fun fast read! I saw the movie too which was enjoyable but this is better.

I'm reading Lost Boy by Linda Newbery

Still working on The Other Boleyn Girl on my lunch breaks, listening to Chamber of Secrets on my way to and from work, and keeping up with the reread of Order of the Phoenix and now I've added my Early Reviewer book Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club in my free time at home. I must be insane.

I'm reading The Wizard Heir and Jane Austen in Scarsdale right now.

I finished Many Dimensions by Charles Williams and almost threw the book across the room.

Now I'm reading The Elusive Pimpernel.

I'm reading "Brewing Justice, fair trade coffee, sustainability, and survival" for a class.

still need to get back to Nineteen Minutes, but am currently blazing through the Time Quartet because my partner wanted to re-read it.

i also need to start with my Early Reviewer books; i've got two or three that need my attention!

I just finished Crashing Through. It was good. It was about a man who lost his site at three and had a chance to get it back again.

Tonight I am going to start What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, How Many Miles to Babylon?, or Flush.

Compski, whenever you read What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, I would love to hear what you think of it. I have been very curious about that book. :)

Ok, K. I decided to read Flush first, but I think it is going to go fast. They are both library books, so I will read the other one next.

Now I have started Zuleika Dobson as well as still reading Salem Chapel and I have started The Third Miss Symons

I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl.

I'm reading (I know, shocker, I'm reading something for fun, but I have all weekend to finish it, and I needed a break from school stuff) Elvenblood by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey (we really need better author touchstones.

I finished CoS and have moved on to listening to Prisoner of Azkaban

#250 Letta:
That's a great book! :)

#251 riss:
Hurrah! Fun reading! I'm glad you can enjoy something other than a textbook right now. :)

#252 bib:
Just in time for the group movie watch! :)

I'm reading Scott Westerfeld's Uglies.
(I completely agree about the author touchstones!)

Just finished Flush and really liked it. Can anyone recommend any of Carl Hiaasen's adult books?

Kerian, I have starting What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. So far it is pretty interesting. I have read all of Austen's books but only a few of Dickens's. It includes information for other 19th century books, too. I might have to buy a copy to have around as a reference.

#254 compski:
I'm glad to hear you like it so far! I'm still waiting for it to become available on BookMooch. :)

I finished Jane Austen in Scarsdale and I thought it was a really cute book. Nice modern day adaptation of Austen with her style of wit and a cute innocent love story (the kind that makes you go "awwwww"). Predictable but quite entertaining!

Now I'm back on a Jim Butcher kick with The Dresden Files (a series I keep coming back to mid other stuff). I just finished book 5 Death Masks and now am reading the sixth one Blood Rites.

And then there's the stack of books I just go out of the library..... :)

i'm reading Searching for Alaska by John Green.

#256: Hehe. I gave Jane Austen in Scarsdale to one of my homeschooling friends to read. She started panicking about whether she's doing enough for her kids' education. She lives veeeerrrrry close to Scarsdale...

is this chat room, i guess its called, for everyone, including me, or do i have to belong to your group to discuss things?

Welcome, harrypotter41294! You're welcome to post here. This is a discussion board, but we do have a chatroom -- the link is on the group homepage. You're also welcome to join the group! Hope to see you around here often. :-)

ok, thanks!!!

I am rereading Wicked, right now

Not being able to go to work has its advantages! Today I finished my Early Reviewer Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club and got my review posted. I've also finished listening to Chamber of Secrets and moved on to Prisoner of Azkaban. With any luck I'll finish The Other Boleyn Girl this week too!

#263 bib:
I hope it wasn't for anything like being sick? Congrats on your reading! :)

I just finished reading Uglies. I'm still deciding what I'll read next.

#264 I imagine you'll feel for me K, I did something to my back and couldn't stand to move around much. The way my desk is set up I have to do a lot of twisting and Monday morning it hurt so bad that I got sent home. I think I'll be okay tomorrow, I'll just need to keep myself doped up on ibuprofen! How was Uglies? That book sounded interesting to me.

Finished book 6 of the Dresden Files, Blood Rites by Jim Butcher. I love the wit he brings to his writing and his take on vampire mythology is very cool as well.

Now it's on to my mega-stack of library books starting with the newest one because it's a two week loaner instead of three. It's Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella and though I've heard it's not as good as her other stuff, it still looks fun.

After that will be one of the following, if anyone has extreme recommendations of which one to read first, let me know: Fight Club, The Namesake, Lamb, Monkey Business

And what's the feedback on The Other Boleyn Girl? I've heard mixed things about it so I haven't picked it up yet. Good? Bad? Comparison to the movie (which I haven't seen)?

I haven't seen the movie (I like to read the books first). I'm enjoying it so far. I try not to let small inaccuracies bother me when I read Historical Fiction, and honestly I don't know much about the Tudors, so I wouldn't really notice. I think one of the things that's most interesting to me is I read an ARC of Portrait of an Unknown Woman about a year ago, and I loved it. It takes place at the same time but the protagonist is a member of Thomas More's family, so it has a very different viewpoint. They make a fun counterpoint to each other. I have the rest of the Tudor books by Phillippa Gregory as well, but I haven't read them at all. I've heard mixed reviews about each of them, mostly in the Historical Fiction group, but I'm willing to give them a try. For me the fund of historical fiction is getting another persons ideas of what a person might have thought or felt and Gregory is definitely good at that!

I haven't read any of Sophie Kinsella's (hey that touchstoned!) non-Shopaholic books but I do have an ARC from when I was at the bookstore that's her writing as Madeline Wickham. I haven't read that yet either, let me know how you like it!

#265 bib:

Oh no!! You are right, life has taught me much about back pain. I wonder if you pulled a back muscle. That definitely hurts worse when you move. I hope it gets better soon! *gentle hugs*

Uglies was fantastic. I had picked it up just to try and ended up really liking it. I want to read the rest of the series but don't imagine I can go bookshopping anytime soon.

266: El

I really enjoyed Lamb. It is one of my favorite all time books. Not far down the list is The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory's other books are so-so, but this one is awesome.

#266 el:
I've only heard good reviews for The Other Boleyn Girl book. One of my sisters who has not read the book went to see the movie and loved it. Someone from work read it the same time I did and got to go see the movie unlike me. We both loved the book tremendously, but she says the movie is a disappointment. Too much is changed. She said it was made more to be from Anne's point of view than Mary's. Also, she felt important things were left untold that would have changed how the audience viewed Mary for those who never read the book.

Thanks for the input everyone!

#269 - I thought The Stupidest Angel (also by Moore) was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time and lots of people said Lamb was even better. I'm not sure what I'll think of it but it'll probably be next on my list. :)

#267 - Kinsella/Wickham varies a lot for me. I pretty much really liked every other Shopaholic book (the first third and fifth were my faves) and outside that series I liked The Undomestic Goddess but was unimpressed with Can You Keep a Secret?. I also read The Gatecrasher that she wrote as Wickham and it was a lot different than her other stuff, but pretty good. For the most part I just have to be in the mood for her stuff. Sometimes I find it lighthearted and fun but other times I just get annoyed at her characters.

#270 - Most of the negative things I've heard about Boleyn Girl have been people criticizing the accuracy of it. I just keep telling them it's historical fiction - there's a reason it's not a history book! ;) It's definitely on my TBR list but unfortunately the library has a huge hold list for it since the movie came out. I might be able to borrow it from a friend though.

In response to The Other Boleyn Girl-
Thank you elbakerone for finally saying it... I have had this debate with people about this book for quite a while. The basic facts are there: yes, Mary was involved with Henry, who wasn't at that time? Yes, Anne ended up marrying him and having a child that wasn't a boy... history will tell you any of that. But the other fluffy stuff is what makes the story fiction instead of being a textbook. And P.S. it is a great book, get your hands on it and gobble it up. It's a fast read and truly engaging. I'm a huge Philippa Gregory fan.

But keeping in tune with the thread, I am currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. The next one on my list is Loyal In Love, also titled Myself My Enemy, by Jean Plaidy.

I'm almost done with The Name of the Wind. It's a very entertaining read. I think the hype is a bit overblown, but I would definitely recommend it.

What to read next? I really should finish up Tigana. Then again, there's so many other interesting reads on my TBR and GGK is such a downer. And mysogynistic, imho. Anyone else in the world have a problem with GGK or is it only me? Everyone on GD seems to love him.

I'm really attracted to The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. That may be the next one.

#273 - I've heard good things about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle! Let us know if you go for that one. As to Guy Gavriel Kay (the GGK abbreviation took me a while, I'm still snoozy this morning), I've never read his stuff but people in and out of the GD have raved to me about Lions of Al-Rassan. I'm always wary of overyhyped authors though.

#274 I only heard about Kay from the GD. Some other authors I have discovered there I have loved (Brandon Sanderson comes to mind) but GGK, I dunno. Perhaps it is the "romance" factor. I think all his books are really more romance than fantasy, and we all know how I feel about romance. (As a genre, that is.)

#275 -- From reading GD posts, GGK is one of those authors that I have some faint interest in reading, but I'm not rushing out to find his stuff (like I did in other cases, such as Brandon Sanderson and Naomi Novik). While I'm probably more tolerant of romance (as a genre) than you, you're confirming my opinion that GGK is an author that is low priority in my TBR authors. (My TBR pile always involves mental triage depending on how desperate I am to get my hands on something!)

#271 el:
Yes, exactly. The accuracy isn't there, but I agree - this is historical fiction, not historical fact. ;) I hope you get a hold of a copy soon! :)

#273 LG:
I told you this when we met, but wasn't sure if I got the title right. I just checked it to be sure. It's The Summer Tree that's in my TBR pile. Until I read it, I have as of yet to read anything by GGK.

I'm a little more than halfway through reading Rachel Caine's Glass Houses.

I just realized that I have a sticker that says "Love your phlebotomist" in my vampire book that I'm reading right now. My mom, a phlebotomist, gave it to me last night and I had stuck it between some pages without thinking.

funny, k

LOL, that's perfect!

I thought it was funny, too. :)

I finished Glass Houses last night and am moving on to book two in this series (the Morganville Vampires), called The Dead Girls' Dance.

#278 - Love it!!

#281 - Sounds like a cool series - would you recommend it?

And since we sort of somewhere got into a mini-discussion about the book Jane Austen in Scarsdale, I thought I'd mention that I finally got around to writing a review of it. Definite thumbs up to it if you like Austen. :)

#282 el:

She gave my sister a bumper sticker with the same message, but I think the sticker in the book was much better. ;)

Did you read the book description to Glass Houses? I think the book was okay. I've read better. As far as vampire books go, it's nothing like the Twilight series, which I find to be a much better series. Feel free to read what I wrote about the first book on my blog or book challenge thread. Both are linked at the top of my profile page.

Lovely review! :)

well, i just finished Twilight.....again.

my mom thinks its kinda wierd that i read for maybe the fifth time, but i love those books!!!!

#284 - You're in good company around here, then!

#284 Oh, my giddy god, another one! ;-)

I officially gave up on Tigana and wrote a provisional review. I started Wind-up Bird and so far it's really intriguing....

#286 LG:
Bwahahahaha! ;)
I wondered if that would happen. I'm glad you seem to enjoy the book you are reading now. :)

I just read The Remains of the Day. It was excellent, but it made me sad.

#288 I love that book, but I agree, it's really sad.

Yeah -- I shouldn't read depressing books when I am already on my way to being depressed.

*goes to look for a happy book to read next*

*hugs for foggi just because*

Thanks, K -- I seem to be needing a lot of those, lately.

I've sort of started Dragon's Keep, but it is not holding my attention. I think it may be that it's not all that well written. I'll read a bit more before giving up, though, as it may just be me having an off day. Well, a few off days.

*hugs foggi too*

You're welcome. I'm sorry you're needing them, though. I hope your off days turn into better days soon. *more hugs*

#292 - foggi! Read The Elusive Pimpernel! Romance, intrigue, happy ending, you'll love it. I promise. ;o)

I read Alive and Well in Prague, New York in 3 hours this afternoon. I really enjoyed it! (thanks el! check your profile)

#290 - *more foggi hugs*

#296 - glad you liked it :)

I just finished Remember Me? - typical Sophie Kinsella fair but that's not a bad thing. :) Not quite as funny as the Shopaholic stuff but still light, fun and entertaining.

I've been keeping track of "date finished" this year and I just realized that that's the 9th book I've finished this month. *whew* I started Lamb this afternoon and it's already entirely amusing.

I have just started Uglies by Scoot Westerfeld which I just bought with a few others (on the derailments thread) and so far i really am enjoying it...

#297 el:
Nine books in one month sounds great to me! Congrats! :)

#298 Ms_Bella:
I just read that earlier this week - I loved it. :)

I recently read Twilight New Moon and Eclipse. I had to catch up with what all of you have been talking about. Yes I enjoyed them immensely.

I am also pages away from finishing The Ballad and The Source before that I had finished Aiding and Abetting and Zuleika Dobson (The trains have been slow so I have had good enforced reading time as of late.)

Oh and about The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. I liked it a lot it goes in strange directions but I really enjoyed it, incredibly atmospheric. I will be curious to hear what you think LG.

I'm about 150 pages in Wind-up Bird and so far I'm loving it. The surreal elements make it really creepy. Very effective. It's like an indie movie.

It's also amazing how much American culture has been absorbed into Japan. Unless that's part of the translation, but I doubt it. It could be set in NY just as easily for the musicians, authors, eateries and other cultural reference points mentioned.

Yes one of my friends says Murakami is criticized by some in Japan for being too Western.

I kept thinking it would make a great movie then I kept wondering how it could possibly be a movie because it is so surreal.

I'm glad you are enjoying it.

#300 Mar:
I'm very glad you enjoyed the series. Do you think you'll read the fourth book in the series once it's released? :)

Oh yes K. I have to see how it all ends.

Ends? I'm afriad of her ending the series with Breaking Dawn. It'll be so sad if that's the case.

Well, if Maren liked it, maybe I will too. *ducks*

(where is sugey pants? i keep on provoking her, but she ignores me *pout*)

#306 LG:
Maybe?! Maybe?! :P~~~
Busy work day, I'm sure. Then there's that horrid thing where sometimes she can merely read threads but is for some odd unknown reason unable to post. I did drop her a comment the other day linking to a thread with a specific post number where I told her she needed to defend the Twilight series. ;)

Dear Reader11722, please contribute to the discussions or stop this. Measurements will be taken against you by the leadership of LibraryThing if you do not stop this for that I am sure. Be kind. Don't spam.

Someone else needs to flag #308

K, if you speak with suge, please tell her I miss her.

#310 LG:

I've flagged it as well. We need a third person to.

I will definitely tell her. I'm sorry she's not on LT more.

I understand tho. I'm not going to be around much in the next couple of weeks because of business trips. Might chat in the evenings, tho.

I'll flag it. I didn't follow the link though, are they trying to hawk their own book?

#312 LG:
*gasps* No? We'll miss you!! I'm glad at least you may be able to go in chat sometimes.

#313 bib:
Sadly, that's usually the case. Too cheap to pay for advertising.

eta: I think we need a fourth person to flag it for it to disappear.

bib, if you go to their profile it's a dead giveaway.

Yeah I just went, that's ridiculous.

wat was wrong with number 308? what i mean is, wat did i miss?? Wat did reader11722 say?
Or do i wanna know?

#317 harry:
That person submits that very same message in multiple threads throughout LibraryThing every so often as a way of advertising for their book. They never do anything else on LT except that. Advertising is not allowed in LibraryThing and is seen as spam. We are encouraged to flag and report such posts. To view the message, you may click on that message (#308) where it says '(show).'

I just finished readin Uglies and I loved it! I am now moving on to Pretties I can wait to see what happens

I'm glad you liked it! Wish I could be moving onto the second book, too.

I'm near half way done with The Dead Girls' Dance.

Just got home to a message from the library. My book is there so I'll have to go get it this weekend, but I kinda want to get my OotP chapters done and try to finish The Other Boleyn Girl first. I don't want to say what the book waiting for me is though, I'll get yelled at for not rushing over to the library immediately. :)

#321 bib:
Are you afraid that if you pick it up before finishing the two books you're in right now, that you'll start reading it instead of finishing those two first?

Wait! Is the book at the library Twilight by any chance? ;)

#322 Yep.

#323 No comment. ;)

bib, you have to read your Harry chapters. Where would the review thread be without you?! *shudder*

K, I'm beginning to eye Twilight....I'm like the last person to read it around here.

Awww....thanks lg! They will get done, don't worry!

Second to last maybe lg, and I'm not buying it.

#324 bib:
Bwahahaha!

#325 LG:
Thank goodness. Yes, it seems many of us have read it. :)
At this time I would like to say that there is a long list of books I wouldn't have considered buying or reading when I did if it weren't for the fact that most of the group has read them. :)

#326 bib:
We'll see. *insert evil laugh here* If I were you, I would request a hold on the second book, New Moon, just in case, or else you may end up buying it for not wanting to wait. ;)

Ahhh, that is the beauty of internet card catalogs.

I'm reading Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George.

I finished my book and just wanted to say I am so happy because that's three books this week. I worried my book challenge was toasted. Now I'm sure I can complete it. Question is, can I keep it as a mimimum requirement of books this year as I had originally planned.

Next up, Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth.

I finished Inkspell. Know Im reading The Subtle Knife

#331 MrsG:
I have Inkspell in my TBR pile. I can't wait to read it! Is The Subtle Knife a reread or first time read for you? :)

i am currently reading Children of the Mind, by Orson Scott Card

332> First time read. You have to read Inkspell!!! it is soo good!

#334 MrsG:
I loved The Subtle Knife. I hope you do, too! I'm glad to hear you liked Inkspell so much! I was thinking of reading that series by Jonathan Stroud before that, but I might just read it first. :)

Finally finisher The Other Boleyn Girl this morning. Yay! And I picked up a book at the library, but I haven't started it yet.

I finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay a few months ago and I thought it was pretty good... does anyone know if The Yiddish Policeman's Union is any good?

Yay!!! Just finished Specials!!! Thats my three books since thursday!!!!!!! I have no idea what to read next though.... I am think maybe The Fountainhead or The Book Thief... any suggestions?

The Book Thief is one of my favorite books, Bella.

Still scared to say the name of the library book, eh bib? ;) You probably won't be the last person to read it.

will you be the last person, comp?

ditto The Book Thief.

No. I read it. I liked it, but really wasn't to thrilled with the second book in the series. Have you read it Mr.A? Do you know what the book is? :)

Thanks MrA and Compski, I started reading The Book Thief last night and so far I am really enjoying it...

I know what the book is. Hehehe. I agree, compski, but that means nothing when you think about....

Urgh, can say no more. Bib, when will you speak up? After you finish reading it?

Ms_Bella, I read the Yiddish Policemen's Union and it was good. Not as good as Kavalier & Clay, but that one is hard to top.

I haven' read The Book Thief.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is so good that I'm having a heck of a time tearing myself away to do things like read my Harry chapters, post online or knit. This book is amazing.

I started The wizard Heir yesterday and I'm almost finished.

>#341: I'm assuming that it is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.... no, just kidding. Twilight, right? If so, yeah i read the first one.

stoopid touchstones

Yeah, bib, it would be a lot worse if you hadn't read the Harry Potter series yet!

would be really funny if bib hadn't read HP yet.

337 A friend raved about the Yiddish Policeman's Union but I haven't picked it up yet. It looked like an interesting premise.

LG I am so glad you are enjoying The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

I always thought that Murakami would be right up my alley, but Hard-boiled Wonderland kind of annoyed me. I wonder if perhaps I started with the wrong book. I would like to give The Wind Up Bird Chronicle a go sometime.

I am reading "Soul Music" by Terry Pratchett, right now.

and finishing up Wicked

Polly, are you working your way through the interminable discworld series and have just reached soul music ?

! read them as I find them Mr A I get them at the library so I have to take whats available

Okay, I'm halfway through the book. I had to force myself to put it down last night a little after midnight, because I need my 8 hours and I was already to the point where I was only going to get 6. (As it turned out, I couldn't sleep, so I only got 3 hours). Anyway, *heaves large, reluctant sigh* I guess I'm going to be going to Borders or Target on my lunch break and buying 3 books. *sighs again*

>#354: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ?

*blinks innocently*

#355 I couldn't get Philosopher's Stone at Target of Borders, at least not in the states.

;)

well of course not. DD got Nicholas Flammel to destroy the last one.

*looks even more innocent*

MrA I think some of Murakami's works are uneven. I haven't read the one you refer to though so I can't comment. I think Wind Up Bird is the place most people start. What was it that you didn't like?

I started Frost in May as my new train book today.

A lot of "post-modern" fiction is annoying to me, but Murakami somehow feels truer, resonates. I don't get the feeling that he is just showing off or being random; instead, he is using the language of the unconscious (we pagans might say "child self") i.e., images, metaphor and dreams, to say some pretty profound things. This book speaks directly to that child self of mine.

#354 bib:
LOL. I like how you bolded that. Ohhh, couldn't put it down, could you? Haha! That is the book for you!! WOOHOO!! *high five for bib* :)

#356 bib:
I got two copies of Philosopher's Stone from BookMooch. The downside? You have to be willing to part with some of your books to use the site. Also, they're typically international mooches, and cost two points instead of one. (One point = one mooch within your own country. You receive one point for every book you send out to your own country, and three points for every book you send outside your country.)

#357 MrA:
LOL!

Besides The Phantom Tollbooth, I am now also reading Phillipa Gregory's The Constant Princess.

(Hmm, it seems I must learn to type without typos. Every time I press backspace, I am taken back a few pages online. Scary!)

*heaves another large sigh* Hypothetically, I might have enjoyed it so much I had to take the book and hide it in a drawer in the coffee table in the Family Room, which is the furthest room in the house from my bedroom so that I wouldn't be tempted to pick it up and read more if I couldn't fall asleep, which I couldn't.

I went to Target on my break, I guess I should update my library. *sigh*

Edited to correct bold!

#361 bib:

ROTFL!

When will you offically announce which book you're reading? ;)

I'm rereading The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, which has long been a favorite of mine. I should be reading Order of the Phoenix for the group discussion, as I'm running behind and haven't yet read this week's chapters. I'd like to -- having a thread I haven't read irks me, and I don't want to read the thread until I've read the chapters. However, my brain is fried and I needed comfort reading. Maybe tomorrow. . . .

I was gonna say, "isn't Harry comfort reading?" and then I realized it was OotP. (sorry, bib, I'm only kidding.)

Harry is comfort reading, but not when I feel compelled to make notes on it. I guess that, at this point, I could probably just get by with reading the chapters and then adding whatever I think of when I read the thread.

Adding to the confusion, I've been listening to Half-Blood Prince in the car. I'm at the intense part near the end (the scene in the cave) so it makes it hard to shift gears to the intense part at the end of OotP -- but equally hard to stop listening so I can concentrate on the OotP chapters.

#365 I know exactly what you mean foggi. I keep getting confused during my listening. I think things like "Wait, Hagrid's gone, why would they go see him? Oh yeah, this is PoA, not OotP." or "Why are they doing that? Umbridge will catch them for sure!" Oh well, eventually I'll catch up and pass myself. I'm not sure that I want to listen to DH before the reread though.

Anyway, yesterday I finished listening to Prisoner of Azkaban so today I started Goblet of Fire. I also finished the book (never K, I'll never admit it!) which I really, really enjoyed. Today I brought The Constant Princess with me to be my lunch read and I'll probably start the next book tonight or tomorrow night. I can't have it as a lunch read because I had so much trouble putting it down the first time.

PoA isn't touchstoning.

#366 bib:
You're making me want to reread the book! I almost picked it up yesterday but reminded myself I'm already in the middle of two books. W'll be reading The Constant Princess at the same time! I would normally think you'd finish it before me, but with the next book waiting for you at home, I know better than that. ;)

Prisoner of Azkaban

Works now. :)

Foggi how did I not know of The Blue Castle I will have to check it out. Hope the packing is going well.

I still haven't read the next book, I'm going to be doing that this summer, incidentally, summer starts in 4 days.

#368: It's great -- one of the very few Montgomery books that feature an adult heroine (rather than starting out with the child heroine and watching her grow up). I love it.

#366/369: The general consensus is that the next book is not as good as the book, but the book after that is worth the effort.

#366:
how did u like it?? i love that book, it is my fav!

wait, i'm confused. which book is 'the book', 'the next book', and 'the book after that'? are they the twilight books?????

Bwa-ha-ha! All of this talk about the book is making me think of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!

#372 -- We do not speak its title! Beware! (Yes.)

;-)

foggi, you're making me want to reread some L.M. Montgomery books this summer, but I don't think I'll have time. I may just read the two collections of short stories that my mom bought in the last year (I think those were the only two we didn't already have).

I'm actually listening to Inkheat by Cornelia Funke on CD and, on the side, I'm also reading Airborn by Kenneth Oppel. I've already read Inkheart so I'm enjoying Airborn much more.

#373 Maybe we should also start referring to him as the boy in the book so that suge will stop fainting so much!

#371 Are you talking about the book? If so I really enjoyed it!

#376 bib:
LOL! But where would be the fun in that? ;)

I need to tell my parents that I want the next book and the book after that for my birthday.

I'm now reading Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George.

I liked the next book just fine. I think people just don't like it as much because it doesn't feature as much of the boy in the book.

no boldies. sad :(

Kerian, you would be proud of me, I threw THE BOOK into my suitcase. When I finish Wind-up Bird, I will be reading it next.

OK, back to work. Hope you girlz are being good. ;-)

#381 LG:
WOOHOO! Butterbeers all around! That is marvelous! I hope you enjoy it! :)
Who isn't being good? ;)
Btw, check your profile soon! :)

Thank you, mar and bib! I'm sure your opinions of the book helped LG pack it in her suitcase. :)

hmph. the book indeed.

"Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself".

silly people.

Hehehe! Too true. :)

I have to say this has been a whole lot more fun than when I read it and posted it as it's actual title.

I only hope LG hasn't been oversold. Have a great trip LG

#385 -- I don't think she can have been -- her expectations are pretty low, I think. ;-)

LG you will love The Book


You guys are making me want to reread The Book, The Next Book, and The Book After That!!!

maybe i should provide my views on the book that must not be named, to help lower lg's expectations?

so, was i right about the title of 'the book's??
when you say 'the boy in the book', you guys don't mean EDWARD CULLEN, do you?

whoops-posted same message twice

*rushes to find smelling salts before suge faints*

Oh, I would just like to say, Mandy you would love the book. I'm lending my copy to Holly, but you can have it after that if you want, or buy it yourself, it's very inexpensive at Target!

388: I sounds like Mr. A didn't like the book. Didn't you find the boy in the book dreamy Mr. A?

;)

oh, he was just brilliant.

*mutters* boy, my heinie...

Can you think of a better term while still being completely generic and not gving away the book?

i am confused..... wat do you mean by THE BOOK

hp94 knows, read their posts.

ok, thanks

I want to hear what MrA thinks of THE BOOK even if it brings out the wrath of many . . .

hmmmm, yes

Hi miriamelise. We hadn't really met yet. Welcome!

#385 mar:
I agree with foggi (#386). :)

#387 Bella:
They're making me want to reread it, too. The only thing that's stopping me is my consciousness of how many books are in my TBR pile. ;)

#388 MrA:
No! ;)

#389 harry94:
*whispers* Shhhh! You have to be careful about mentioning (and screaming) his name. You haven't been around enough to see it yet, but you will soon know why. :)

#391 riss:
Good thinking! ;)

#392 bib:
I'm close to getting two of my three sisters to read it, too. The 19 year old has too many books in her TBR pile right now, but wants to borrow The book, The Other Boleyn Girl, and Uglies. The 12 year old has friends who love the book and talk about it often, making her very curious about it. I might buy her a copy for her birthday. :)

#393 compski:
LOL!!

#399 Mar:
I guess it's not fair of us to not have him say what he thinks about it.

Okay, MrA. Tell us what you thought of it? (Remember spoiler warnings if you spoil. :)

ok, sry kerian! i'll try not to mention *his* name! (what will happen if i do???)
Yes, MrA, we want to know what you think of Ed-i mean *the boy in the book* and what you think of *the book*!!

#403 harry94:
Read rissa's post #391. That will give you a clue. :)

ok, thx Kerian! :)

i just finished Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah and am moving on to One in a Million; next will be Things I Want my Daughters to Know. Then I'll stop feeling bad about re-reading beloved books because I'll be out of Early Reviewers :)

I just started Stardust. touchstones not working.

#406 aglaia:
Congrats on getting through your Early Reviewers TBR pile! :)

#407 Letta:
I loved that book! Have you seen the movie? :)

#407 Letta
wow, do you like it? it is a bit strange but kewl at the same time!!! THe movie is pretty good!

Well I hate to say it, but I'm half way through the book and I can't say i'm too impressed so far. Standard girly melodramatic porn. I have been rolling my eyes.

</B>#410 LG:
Oh, no! I'm sorry you don't like it! Thanks for giving it a try. I know we've bugged you forever about it, and I was with you when you bought it. I feel bad now.

Edited to undo the bold.

Don't feel bad, k. I'm sure I would have loved it when I was 17, however, I'm not convinced that's entirely a good thing. Real human males are actually more interesting than falling for someone just because they smoulder. It's possible that this kind of book sets up unrealistic expectations for relationships or distorted ideas about the other gender, in the same way that porn does for men.

That's not to say that I don't still like looking at pictures or movies with pretty boys in them. But that's just looking.

*ducks* I didn't think that the boy in the book was that great, I identified with the girl much more.

Ah I was afraid of that. I think all of your criticisms are fair LG. But perhaps the book is not any more distorting than Sleeping Beauty or Snow White or Disney movies that change the original dark ending to the Little Mermaid.

Actually in spite of people not liking the second book I found it is interesting in that it was the development of a friendship instead of a romance Maybe that's why people don't like it as much - no smouldering. I found the second book interesting because there are so few representations of reservation life in fiction apart from a few American authors like Sherman Alexie or Leslie Marmon Silko but I also wondered how American Indians would feel about the books treatment of the reservation.

I was thinking too that given the criticisms from certain Christian groups of Harry Potter and The Golden Compass there are just as many disconcerting things to criticize from a Christian perspective in the Twilight series and I wonder if there has been any flack on that front.

I read an article recently (I wish I could remember where that suggested there was a return to monster films when ever there was a pervasive anxiety (it gave the cold war as an example) I found myself thinking about that but maybe I am bringing my fondness for reading about fairytales and archetypes to the books and giving more thought than is actually in the writing.

This thread has some fantastic posts for the book! This can lead to a big discussion since we talk about it so much and because so many of us have or are reading it. I felt it deserved it's own thread.

Book Discussion: Twilight thread

Wait, I'm confused. It misrepresents men? Because I assumed it must misrepresent vampires.

There I go. Assuming again. :o)

. . . and you know what happens when you assume!

Oh, perhaps I should post what I'm reading! I finished listening to Half-Blood Prince today. *sigh* So sad, but I love it! I started listening to Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. I like it so far. I've been meaning to read it for a long time. And I'm trying to get back on track with my LotR reread, so I picked up The Two Towers again.

Hi, foggi! :) Suge says hi! She also says thank you for recommending Firefly and that she loves it! She almost called in sick yesterday so she could keep watching it. :)

Hi, Kerian! Hi, suge! Glad she likes it! :-)

I just finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was really, really good! I'm still reading (about halfway through) Red Land, Black Land, by Barbara Mertz. Barbara Mertz is the real name of Elizabeth Peters, the author of The Amelia Peabody Mysteries. She is such a good writer, that her nonfiction is as good as her fiction! :)

/rave

I need to remember to watch Serenity

#421 I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret too.

I'm halfway through the next book. Should I wait till I finish all of them to head over to the new thread I wonder?

#421 I've always wanted to read her non-Fiction and have had trouble finding it without having to order it, where did you get it?

I'm glad suge is enjoying Firefly as well. I've talked to her about it and I'm glad she finally got it.

Rissa, have you watched Firefly, I recommend watching it before Serenity. I think you'll get more out of the movie if you watch the show first, that's how I did it anyway.

Firefly is on my list. I love BSG and those fans are always recommending it.

You'll like it LG. Interesting characters, great ensemble based program. You don't have to worry it was oversold like THE BOOK was! ;)

Oh I recently finished reading The Ballad and The Source and just finished Frost in May on the Train. I am on a Virago Modern Classics (that's a British publishing company that publishes great works by women and I have yet to be disappointed in their selections) kick lately because I am also reading Salem Chapel but I am sort of itching for a new book . . .

#425 bib:
Since you'll go through the next book and the book after that quickly and there is a weekend now, I would read as much over the weekend as possible and just enter the thread a bit safer on Monday. I don't think there are any spoilers beyond the book right now, though. :)

Suge needs to stop watching Firefly and get some sleep! She's staying up waaaaaaaay too late at night!

It'll be tough K. I hope to finish the next book tonight, but then I have to finish OotP before I start on the book after that. Mandy's here this weekend and we have a baby shower we're helping to host and then having "sister time" at some point with our other sister as well. I'll try to get them all finished this weekend though!

If anything I bet you'll have the book after that done by Tuesday night. I hope you enjoy your weekend! :)

just be careful, bib, *the book after that* almost gets a little......bad, in a bad kinda way, if you know what i mean. almost, but not quite (fourtunately!!).

I have no idea what you mean, but I'll find out soonish I guess! Thanks for not spoiling! :)

oh, right, sorry!!!!!!

Yea, biblioholic, ya might wanna watch out, there are some pretty...... ah, shall i say, "inappropriate"!!!

Any ways, Bella can get a little suggestive a guess!

You will find out!

Edward Cullen porn, a hundred posts later and I'm still on that. *passes out*

*from the ground, opens one eye* And just WHAT is wrong with smoldering??? please someone explain this to me. WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT TW.... THE BOOK????? Edward cullen, New beginnings, love, loyalty, friendship, adventure, baseball, literature, and most importantly EDWARD CULLEN!! I love you LG, but *sniffles* I love you just a little less.... kidding. I'm sorry you didn't like it after we all but shoved it down your throat. *back to swoon*

(YES!!!! YES!!! YES!! Bib and Foggi THANK YOU!!! FIREFLY ROCKS!!!)

SUGE!!!!!!

(Edited to clarify -- I was just so excited to see you that I had to say hi!)

sugey pants!!!!

It's ok, I still haven't finished reading it so maybe it'll get better. Probably not, but you never know.

Hey, you guys should come chat, if you have a minute!

FOGGI!!!! LG!!! HI!!! I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE THIS BEFORE!! OK! I'M COMING TO THE CHAT ROOM, HOPE TO CATCH YOU!!! *KISSES AND HUGS*

#436 suge:
I knew you would be. ;)
LOL! Passed out and yet can open an eye and argue, huh? ;)
*runs with the smelling salts to revive suge several hours too late*

#438 LG:
Probably not? Oh, you are so hopeful. ;)

All this talk about The Book has been reallllly making me want to reread it. I think I'll give in and do that. I would tonight had I not so much housework to do still. (No, it's not messy - I have a person who is never pleased judging it, and I myself am partially a perfectionist.)

Yay! K I just started rereading it too... haha I woke up this morning and went straight for it my boyfriend thought i was possessed... I told him i was having a book craving haha

Yea, my mom thinks i am to!!!

I finished the the next book last night. I don't know when I'll be able to start on the book after next, I have a lot to do this weekend, but we shall see.

Thanks for the warning hp94 and miriam, I'm sure I can handle whatever it is, I've been married.

I am reading Skin Deep by E.M. Crane.

I am reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, a reread for me, but I haven't read it in about a decade.

#425 I watched Firefly back when it was on tv, and watched the all day marathon on scifi where they played all the episodes in a row a month or so ago, so I'm ready for Serenity.

I'm rereadind Prince Caspian before the movie comes put since I haven't read it since seventh grade and don't remember what happens past the first two chapters.

I really did like the first few chapters of Prince Caspian. That may have been the best part of the book. It looks like they may have done a good job of it in the movie.

I began reading the book very late Saturday night. I haven't managed to have much reading time since with my busy weekend and am on page 125. I need to finish it today because first thing tomorrow, I'm getting on a bus to go buy the author's new book, The Host. Borders gave me a 40% off coupon for it! :)

Ha haa ha! I'm re-reading The Book. I can't believe people dont like this book! I spen a little time last night (since LT was donw) looking at Twilight related sites and trying to find movie information. I saw an awesome clip of the scene at the studio, IT WAS FAB FAB FAB!! I CANT WAIT FOR DEC 12!!!!

AND OMG OMG OMG THE HOST COMES OUT TOMORROW!!! ITS LIKE DEATHLY HALLOWS ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

Opps. I should have said 're-reading' as well. This is my third time reading it.

Suge, I told you about that clip a couple weeks back, silly girl. ;)

Hurrah for The Host!

Finished OotP of course, am in the middle of the book after next. I pretty much seem to be able to read half of each book before I need to go to bed and finish it the next day.

I am in the middle of reading The Vampire Diaries it is turning out to be awesome so far!

I finally finished The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. One of the best books I've read in years. Truly a masterpiece.

I'm going to finish the book now. *sigh*

Ooh I am so glad you liked The Wind Up Bird Chronicle LG. What did you like most?

I loved the noirish tone but I also loved the references that made it feel it was part of some bigger spiritual or metaphysical world. I have a feeling he was using some Japanese folk tale type references that I am not familiar with but it felt that way. I found it really interesting the ideas of journey and redemption, healing and pollution and absence that he touches on. I loved the empty well and the lolitalike neighbor girl and the cat.

I guess Murakami frequently uses cats in his books. I have wanted to pick up another one of his books but I am afraid it won't live up to how splendid Wind up bird is.

Okay I'll stop gushing I just only know a handful of people who've read it and it is so difficult to describe if you haven't read it.

Oh right now I am reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady and I have started Dracula but I was curious about the origins of the vampire story and I hadn't read stoker before.I am still just in Harker's journals and he has just arrived at castle Dracula.

see I can have a long post without being silly in the slightest.

Oh Mar, let me know what you think of Dracula. I've not read it either but I was tempted after reading The Historian. I wonder if I might get more out of a reread if I read Stoker first.

I finished the series and have posted my thoughts on the thread. So now I'm down to just listening to GoF and reading The Constant Princess. Hollybeee and I are supposed to trade, I loan her the series and she loans me His Dark Materials but we both have really bad memories, so I don't know when we'll actually do this. I also need to reread Prince Caspian but she has my copy of that right now. And of course I'll be starting Half Blood Prince this weekend.

Does anyone know if they're doing midnight showings for Prince Caspian? I went to the midnight opening of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but I'm not sure that I liked Caspian enough to bother.

As soon as finals are over by the end of the week and I travel home, I'll begin reading the Twilight series, a re-read of the Charlie Bone series becuase the newest book Charlie Bone and the Shadow arrives in bookstores on 1 June, and The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Hmmm... I am not sure what I want to read now.. i think I might do a reread cause i am upset... and old books are like old friends.

I never really gotten into read the chrlie bone series... it is good? It always seemed to me to be a sort of knock off of harry potter... No offence... but i really am interested... any good?

Maren, as to Wind-up Bird, what I loved best was just the sheer raw power of the imagery. It really speaks directly to deep truths, rather than mundane facts. I'm so impressed that those images work across cultures. I haven't been so affected by a book for....I can't remember really.

I will definitely be reading more of his works.

456- Ooh, I just recently bought Dracula. I might start reading it now. I am still reading Red Land, Black Land, though, so I'm not sure whether I will start reading Dracula now, or a little later. I'm also listening to The Titan's Curse with JP (I have already read that book, but it is JP's first time). I love this story, but I hate hate HATE the reader for it! He ends every single sentence with an upbeat! How hard can it be to read a book out loud? And this guy was supposed to be an actor! Obviously not a GOOD actor! He makes some characters sound so stupid! I really prefer the full cast audiotapes! Ugh!!!!
*puff puff puff*
/end book reader rant

#461 -- I'm listening to The Lightning Thief right now -- I wonder if it's the same reader? (Don't have it here with me, or I'd check.) I'm not thrilled with his reading, either, but I can deal with it. I've read the book before -- unless it's something fairly simple, I prefer to listen to things I've already read, so if I'm concentrating on something else, or if the disc skips, I'm not missing essential details.

That is the reason I dont own any audio books. I'm dying to get some but, I dont want to pay someone to screw up a book I really like. I'm looking for an audio book of New Moon, so I dont have to read it.

Gahh! I had a good post and my laptop shut down for no good reason!!!

suge, try borrowing an audiobook first, and then you can decide if you would like to buy it.
As I said before, I prefer full cast audio books. Bruce Coville produces the full cast audio books, and I think they do a really good job, better than most audio books.
foggi, is the guy reading The Lightning Thief named Jesse Bernstein?
I don't like the way he reads, but I guess it doesn't bug me enough that I would stop listening. I like the story too much.

Here's a link to the above mentioned Full Cast Audio. Bruce Coville's a nice guy. He sent my son a one page typed letter when my son sent a fan letter about his Magic Shop book series.

I'm still rereading Twilight. As soon as I finish, I'll begin reading The Host. First I want to read LT, and then read some online information about my plan tickets. ;)

Bella- Charlie Bone are a 'if-you-like-Harry-you'll-like-this-series.' Charlie begins the series as an 11 year-old, living with his mother and two grandmothers (his father "died;" I won't go there, as it would give too much away). He begins to hear voices in pictures and goes to a school for endowed children.
In a way, it's similar to Harry in multiple ways. But there are differences. Charlie is written in a bigger font and the books aren't near as big as Harry Potter. Nimmo's a different writer than Rowling; she doesn't layer her books as much as JKR and it's more of a science-fiction/fantasy rather than a fantasy-mystery like Harry.
Just my opinion.

Thanks Wing, Maybe I will look into that for some summer reading!

I read the first one, Bella, and enjoyed it, but not enough to be dying to read the rest.

As a comparison, I read the first three Harry Potter books in one week the first time I read them.

I'm half-way thru The Golem's Eye and I started reading The Host in the train on the way home.

(surprise, surprise, The Host didn't touchstone.)

Suge, I'm guessing that, since you're half-way through the Golem's Eye, you've already read it's prequel- The Amulet of Smarkind (not sure about the spelling). Did you like it? I read it about 3 years ago and hated it. Thoughts?

#464 -- Yep, that's the one!

I read (I think) the first three Charlie Bone books -- they were enjoyable light reading, but I lost interest. I might eventually go back and pick up the series again, but I feel no urgency about it. They did feel a bit like a Harry Potter knock-off, but they weren't as bad as some I've come across.

I may buy The Host tomorrow -- we'll see how the day goes. :-)

#450 suge:
Been busy? It's not like you to not speed through books.

#472 foggi:
Check your profile in, hmm, five minutes! :)

I feel a tad silly at the moment. I thought I knew what The Host was, but I really don't know. Could someone tell me?

The Host is Stephenie Meyer's new book. It's not part of the Twilight series, nor is it considered YA. Here is a link to the author's site on the page specifically for The Host. :)

475- Oh OK! Sorry, I knew that it was somehow connected to Stephenie Meyer, but I couldn't figure out whether it was connected to Twilight, or something different. Thanks K!

No worries, cat. You're welcome! :)

I finished Extras tonight... it wasn' bad but compared to the rest of the series i had to make myself keep reading at a few spots... I haave no clue what i am going to start reading tomorrow....

I took The Well of Lost Plots with me yesterday for plane reading and finished it. My least favourite of the series. K says the next one is better?

OK, this time I'm really going to finish the book. When I left off, it was an interminable scene with them lying in a field adoring each other. I think I've just about had enough of the hyperbolic adjectives. OK, I get it, he's oh-so-dreamy. sheesh.

I really don't see how it is possible to think she "loves" Edward for anything other than his looks. He even outright tells her that she is only responding to his glamour. It's kinda sick, really. He doesn't even really "love" her he's just gluttonous about her, but he has decided not to partake for his own reasons. All that neck sniffing was really off-putting.

#478 Bella:
I'm sad to hear that. I've still only read the first book in the series.

#479 LG:
Hmm. Well, remember we had talked about Napoleon? Perhaps you'll like the next book more. I'm sorry the third book didn't appeal to you!
Yeah, right. ;)
Just keep reading, it gets better.

I'm reading The Host, which as suge pointed out, doesn't touchstone. I'm only on page 31 and have to leave for work in a bit. No more reading till evening.

Yah, K, I remember you said Something Rotten was good. I will def read it.

I hope you're right about the book because I am determined to finish it and you know how I feel about finishing books I don't like.

#481 LG:

I adored Something Rotten, but then I truly loved the entire series...up until book 5.

Yes. I think reading more will show you it's not just looks and glamour. :)

I finished The Diary of a Provincial Lady hilarious. I started The House in Paris on the train and of course there is still Dracula which since there are others reading it I'll have to finish so we can chat about it.

There are several other things stacked next to my bed that I started but haven't finshed. The next two books of Proust. The rest of The Late Hector Kipling and the rest of A Time of Gifts, The Coast of Utopia, The Secret Agent, Salem Chapel and Our Island History I am such a delinquent I start books then read others then go back and finish the first ones months later. It is a bad habit.

I fineshed The Subtle Knife. Read Prince Caspian. Know Im reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

I'm reading Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. I need to stop getting library books so I actually read the books i own.

I just started Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden.
Oh my! Two serious books in a row! Time for fantasy next. *smiles*

I always enjoy a YA or two between serious books. :)

I just got The Host Today and i am so exicted!!! i am going to go and read it now.... see you later all!!!!! @-~- roses for eveyone

K read Inkspell!!!!! I like better than the first one.

I need to read much faster if I'm going to read all the books I want to read before going away. I'm upset that I can't take my entire TBR pile with me. Inkspell. Must, must read soon! So many books and so little time. My work has me so busy till next Wednesday that I can hardly read at all.

I'm reading The Host -- about the only good thing about today was getting my hands on a copy. I made myself put it down at the end of a chapter, so as not to stay up unreasonably late reading. Too late: now I can't sleep. :-(

yay foggi i am reading the host as well!!!!

I haven't managed to read at all today. I'm on page 73 of The Host.

The Host is on 7-day maximum checkout period at my local library, and there are 133 reservations for it.

Wow! I've never check out a book that I couldn't keep checked out for 2-3 weeks. Is that a general new book maximum check out period?

I needed an antidote to all the teen hormones, so I'm reading The Yellow Admiral by Patrick O'Brian. Oh, it's so nice to read well-drawn, adult characters and masterfully written prose...ahhhhh....

#496 LG:
:P~~~

Only kidding.

Love you, k!

I'm reading a really good YA historical fiction right now called An Acquaintance With Darkness - not sure if anyone on here has read it or anything else by Ann Rinaldi but it came highly recommended and so far it's really good. I seem to recall that other people on here like historical fic too so I thought I'd drop the title. :)

#499 -- I love Ann Rinaldi! An Acquaintance with Darkness was one of the first of hers that I ever read. Wolf by the Ears is another I remember particularly liking. I definitely recommend Rinaldi to people who enjoy historical fiction.

kerian, when there are a finite number of copies in the system it's the way the library tries to ensure that nobody has to wait too long to get their hands on the new book. I imagine that it only happens with fiction from hot authors (Nora Roberts's High Noon had 260 people ahead of me when I requested it; took about three weeks to get to me).

It's pretty fair, I think. If you're so anxious to read a new book, you're probably gonna sit down and read it immediately you've got it in your hot little hands, so it shouldn't take a week, right?

I am still reading Red Land, Black Land, and I have started reading Dracula. I haven't gotten very far in Dracula, but so far, I love it!

I finished Prince Caspian and am going to take a break from my chronicles of Narnia reread. I'm saving the rest for my trip, the small size of my set makes them great traveling books. now I am reading the next book

I'm half way through The Host.

Still reading Dracula! It is really good! I ended up staying up veeeerrry late last night reading it.

Oh really. This I did not know.

Until now.

Ha ha! Did I say I stayed up late reading? I meant to say that I got hardly any reading time because I fell asleep so fast! Yeah, that's it... ;)

I'm currently reading Taliesin, by Stephen R. Lawhead. so far so good. I really, really want to read the Host soon, but i don't know when i'll have time, what with summer jobs, etc.......

I finally finished What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. Lots of interesting facts, but not a gripping book. I did buy a copy for my library for reference.

Tonight I start Half-Blood Prince for the group reading and Northanger Abbey for an "I Love Jane Austen" group reading. Anyone can participate. Our official start date is the 15th, but a thread has already been started.

LG is The Yellow Admiral from the Aubrey/Mauritin series? I haven't gotten far enough in the series to recognize the title but he certainly has well drawn characters.

I am still reading The House in Paris almost finished so I can pick up Dracula and catch up with cat. But Compski just reminded me I had planned on doing the Jane Austen read along which means I should reread Northanger Abbey Then rissa's idea of rereading Prince Caspian also seems like a good idea. Sigh.

I discovered with Chamber of Secrets that rereading a book right before seeing the movie can really ruin the movie for me. Instead of enjoying it, I am distracted by all the differences from the book. Now, if the movie is a sequel, I will reread the book that comes before it. I will still have a good insight into the characters and such, but I will still enjoy the movie. I will then reread the book after seeing the movie version.

On that note, I should also start rereading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe soon.

I just finished The Host I loved it but i promise not to give anything away!!! It is a wonderful book. I am now thinking of reading The Chronicles of Narnia on Rissas recommendation. I haven't read them yet and they were just sent to me.

I just finished the next book and would like to start the book after that but I wouldn't be able to finish it before leaving on my trip, so I'm waiting until I get back since it's a little unwieldy for travel. I will be picking up the Chronicles of Narnia where I left off after Prince Caspian (reading in publication order, not the chronological order, which is how my set is numbered. I need to write the publication order down before I leave so that I won't forget it.)

Still working on The Constant Princess but I also started the Half Blood Prince reread this weekend.

#498 LG:
Love you, too, LG!

#501 Linkmeister:
Yes, I agree. One would then read rather quickly. :)

#505-507 --> You guys are too funny.

#513 riss:
I hope you have lots of fun on your trip! :)

I admittedly gave up on The Constant Princess. It's not that I didn't realllly want to read the book, because I did. I just found jumping into it difficult with everyone talking about the book and making me want to reread it. I had already decided I might bring two books with my carry-on for my trip and am considering bringing The Constant Princess and Inkspell. I'm still thinking about it.

I've had hardly any reading time with such a crazy work load lately. Turns out, I nearly worked enough this last week to work as much as a full-time employee! The only way I managed to grab more than five minutes to read here and there was staying up till 1am reading last night and till 4am the night before. I have now finished The Host, which I really enjoyed and will not spoil. :)

510- Maren, where are you in Dracula? It is really good!
I just bought Howl's Moving Castle yesterday, so I will probably start reading it after I finish Dracula and The King of Attolia (The King of Attolia is from the library, so I have to read it before we need to return it).

Cat I am about halfway through Dracula (Dr. Seward has been summoned to look at Lucy, Mina has just married Harker, Renfield has escaped twice).

It is really good. I really enjoy novels that make use of journals and the epistolary form and had know idea until I started that Dracula was one of them. Acutally, I suppose it is partly the style of the time period and partly the style of Gothic novels that they make use of "eye witness accounts" this way. I will be excited to discuss it with you when we are both done.

Howl's Moving Castle is great. Very different from the Miyazaki film version which is also very good. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I love all of Diana Wynne Jone's books. I'm reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

#518 - I have mixed feelings about American Gods - for me parts of it were pure genius where as other parts felt like filler. I really really really love its sequel Anansi Boys but most Neil Gaiman fans are switched on their preference of those two. Let me know your thoughts when you're done.

I finished An Acquaintance with Darkness and agree with foggi's mention that it is a great book for any fans of historical fiction! Lots of great history, but still highly entertaining as a story. Now I'm reading The Namesake but Jhumpa Lahiri and so far it's really well written.

So! So! So! What did everyone think about The Host?? I really loved it. So much more complex than the Twilight series. I think the characters were well developed. I thought it was really amazing.

Oh oops! I forgot to say:

#471--> I enjoyed the Amulet of thingie (I can't spell it either), but I am STRUGGLING thru The Golem's Eye. Dont get me wrong, I like the book but I keep getting distracted. I feel as if I've been reading this book my whole life. (so K, that is why its taking me so long to read this book)

479---> BOOO!!!

496---> and BOOOOO!!

edited: I'm reading "The Lighting Thief now.

THE HOST SPOILER

Loved it! But wait! Does this mean you liked it better than the Twilight series?? Someone in RL asked me that and my answer was I think of them separately. Hmm, I think we could have seen a tad better character development. I really enjoyed it, though.

END SPOILER

Reading a book over a great amount of time makes the book worse for me as well. It was a struggle with The Host as I had little to no free time for reading. Sometimes I'll put a book down before I get that into it page-wise so at least I can save it from negative opinions tha could be avoided by reading the book when I know I'll have more time to devote to it.

like you k, I can't compare the books. They are completely different. I thought that the characters were well developed, k. How do you mean?

I did find some parallel issues discussed in both books, tho. The age difference thing.... there were others but I cant remember them right now.

no

Dude, what is up with the random posting today?

THE HOST SPOILER

#524 suge:
Wanderer and Mel's characters were developed well. We can see Mel's character develop more with a sequel, though she will be apart from the main character. I was thinking some of the other humans could use further development, but they could be given that in a sequel as well. I don't know. I'm still thinking. Room for improvement. Not great, but good. Okay, I agree.
Soemthing about the age thing baffled me, but before I go on further...

END SPOILER

...should we just make a thread for this book? We could talk about it so much freer! What do you think?

mmm I dont know?

#526 bib:
It is Stephenie Meyer telling us she won't seek to have Midnight Sun published. ;( Ah, wait! They were suspended for being under 13.

Yeah I know, I went to the profile right away. Weird.

I just jumped from a few different profiles to others (not that one!). I'm a little disturbed. I've found messages such as "i dont like to read" and "i hate to read." Um....we're not kindergarten teachers. ;)

I went ahead and started a thread for The Host -- it's over here!

*Note to self: To Do List
1. Hit bookstore this weekend
2. Buy The Host
3. Read The Host
4. Talk about The Host with Hog Xers
:)

And RE: random postings, I've started flagging stuff like that. In this case it doesn't really matter since the user was already booted but it really is spam and the flags are a good way to notify The Powers That Be of LT (aka Tim, Abby and crew) about people misusing the message boards.

#533 Sounds good to me. I'm all for flagging people who aren't using the boards properly. I'm glad to know I won't be the only one flagging.

#532 foggi:
Thanks, foggi! :)

#533 el:
I like your list!
Thanks - I wondered if The Powers That Be of LT learn about flag usage.

You guys will crack up at this: I have spent the last two days with the stomach flu. How did I get through it? I read Deathly Hallows.

I'll be happy to read it again for the reread. The only time I cried this time: "look....at....me" Gets me every time.

Hi LG! I am sorry that you had the stomach flu but glad that you had Deathly Hallows to comfort you. That moment gets me too. I haven't done a reread yet. I have sort of been dreading it or at least dreading rereading the deaths.

I think Harry Potter when one is sick is an excellent prescription.

I had been wondering where you were lg! You were missed! I hope you are feeling better now. I'm also glad that you had Harry, Ron and Hermione (I almost abbreviated it HRH before I realized that meant something entirely different!)

I imagine that I'll still cry through most of the book, as I still tear up or full out cry at the same parts of the other books, all of which I've read many more times than DH.

Oh yeah, I'm almost done with The Constant Princess. I'm going to try to remember to grab His Dark Materials when I'm at Holly's tonight. I think I need to step away from the Tudor romances for a bit.

I'm very glad you're feeling better, LG!

me too! i missed you LG!

I finally finished House of Sand and Fog. And loooved the farsi words, even if some of them were not complimentary in translation.

For complicated reasons, i'm now rocketing through Weapons of Choice: World War 2.1. It's quite an un-MrA book, and i'm reading it at a quite un-MrA speed (ie fast). I wouldn't normally go into the reasons, but... sigh.. May.

This is a three-book series (i hope - haven't checked), and they are trade paperbacks of quite daunting (for me) size. The first two books have been sitting literally at the bottom of my TBR pile, because they form a nice base for a pyramid, and because they didn't really seem to be my cup of tea. But, i've just acquired the third book for a Bookmooch friend.

diversion: if anyone here wants me to acquire a book for them from an Australian bookmoocher, just let me know - love to help out.

oh yeah, that reminds me - bib, i have two copies of The Book Thief - want one?

back on topic.

Getting the third book prompted me to take a quick look at the others to see if they were at all readable. Well they are very good. So, if i can read the series really really quickly, i can read the third one before i send it on to my mooch buddy. At my normal reading pace that would be... let's see... October probably. But i'm going to try to polish them off in in three weeks, total. Wish me luck

currently at: page 150 after 2 days. sigh. oh well, not too bad i suppse.

PS if i disappear for a while, you'll know why.

Mr. A, will you help me bookmooch an Australian?

Ooooo! Yes please MrA! Post to my comments what you need from me!

kik.

whatever you need, girl.







I'm not even sure that this guy is a HAG:

#536 LG:
I'm sorry you've been sick! I hope you're feeling better and am glad DH helped you get by. *hug*

#537 Mar:
I think Harry is, too. :)

#538 bib:
We can add HRH to the information thread. :)

#540 MrA:
That is so nice of you to offer bib. :)

#541 suge:
Hehehe. No Australians on the site that are up for grabs, deary, only books and sometimes calenders. So sorry. ;)

I need to start reading a book! There's too much to do today, though. I have a three day weekend and imagine I'll read New Moon and another book or two.

Yikes! Even the "What Are You Reading" thread is not safe from H_Gs! They're everywhere!

Holy crap, did I just lose consciousness? *gapes open and drooly mouthed at 543*

LOL. To be expected. ;)

Why is it that Eric Bana does nothing for me? He's dark and cute, but there's something missing or wrong or something.

The others rock tho.

Which one was Eric Bana? He was in a movie I have. (Troy.)

Don't worry, Eric Bana does nothing for me either.

I'm confused. What is bookmooching? Is tis on the explanation page and I missed it, or is it something that should not be discussed in polite company.

Speaking of The Book Thief, have you read his other book, I Am the Messenger. (known as The Messenger (which won't touchstone) in America). Reading that book made me wonder how faithful he was to life in Australia. I would think so since Markus Zusak is from New Zealand, but I always wonder how Americanized books are when I read them.

#550 Espy:

Bookmooch is a book website that a few of us such as MrA and I are members of. You give books away that you no longer want and receive books you do want.

For every book you add to your account that you're willing to give away, you earn one tenth of a point. One full point allows you to request a book from another BookMooch member in your own country. Two full points allow you to request a book from another BookMooch member in a country outside of your own so long as they are willing to send books that far. This process is known as mooching from someone.

For every book you send to another BookMooch member within your own country, you receive one point. For every book you send to another BookMooch member outside of your own country, you receive three points (two points from the BookMoocher and one point from the website itself).

You pay to send the books yourself. Media mail is the typical way in the U.S. so long as the book doesn't travel outside the U.S. Sometimes sending books by first class is cheaper depending on the weight of the book. For every book you receive and leave a feedback score for, you earn one tenth of a point.

BookMooch also allows you to have a wish list as well as a save for later list. You can chose from specific publication dates, publishers, book covers, etc. You receive an e-mail notification when a book on your wishlist becomes available. An e-mail is also sent when someone mooches a book from you.

I'll add this to the information thread. :)

the Host is by what author???

The Host is by Stephenie Meyer. :)

550: Espy: The version I have is called I am the Messenger. Another great book!

I've been wanting to read I am the messenger but I can't bring myself to buy more books right now when I have such a large stack of owned and unread ones. Might make an exception for The Host though... ;)

But back on track (...knowing it won't last), I just finished The Namesake which was pretty good - i really need to start writing more reviews - and now I'm on to The Looking Glass Wars. I just started it this morning and I'm already half way through it!

Actually I just realized that I had it backwards. It reminds me of L'Hote by Albert Camus. The story is most often translated into English as The Guest, but the title could just as easily have been The Host.

I think the title cheapened it a little when I was reading the book because I had the eureka mments a lot earlier than I would if the book had just been titled The Messenger.

L'Hote was great Espy. It has been years since I read it and then it was in French but yes it is actually the same word for host and guest in French which was part of what Camus played with in the title.

Well I just finished Dracula which I mentioned on another thread and I am almost finished with The House in Paris and midway through a reread of Northanger Abbey and rereading The History Boys because I am working on a production of it next year. For fun I think my next book will be The Go Between But who knows.

As everyone probably knows by now, I finished Dracula. ;)

I have just started The King of Attolia, which I really like so far.

Espy the version I have is called I am The Messenger. I haven't read it yet, but The Book Thief was unforgettable (ah why do I bother touchstoning?). I wish I would have bought it in hard cover, but I didn't know it would be so good.

Mar, I would love to see you in a production one day :)

edited: btw I'm rewatching Firefly ("This is a fertile land")

"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal."

Now I feel like the joke I made about the Austrailian version of The Book Thief might not be that dumb after all. Hmmmm....

I think I'm going to finish The Constant Princess tonight, I have about 100 pages left. I read the first chapter of The Golden Compass yesterday and enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to really diving into that book. The beauty of fantasy books is reading all the made up words and knowing that eventually they'll make sense if you keep reading (at least if it's a good authore you will!) I'm not sure if I'll bring His Dark Materials to work or not, it's pretty thick and not mine (I eat while I read at work -- spillage) so I might have to come up with something else. The Boleyn Inheritance maybe.

I finished The Two Towers last night. I had forgotten that it ends in a cliffhanger! (Fortunately, I've already read the third book. Multiple times.)
;-)

I have The Cobra King of Kathmandu checked out to read, so I may read it before diving in to The Return of the King.

Funny, foggi, Hubby & I just finished FOTR last night and started Two Towers.

suge, we've watched the first two episodes of Firefly and I'm yet to be impressed. Does it get better? It's ok, I was just expecting more, I guess. It's nowhere near as good as BSG.

Have you watched Top Chef this season? There was no baseball last night so we caught up. That Lisa is a BE-OTCH!

It does get better. The original pilot wasn't aired until after the show had been on for a while, the network had some problems with it, so "The Train Job" which is the second episode had to act as a pilot as well. Keep watching.

I literally just started reading Sense and Sensibility at my computer. Thanks mar!

Heh heh Thanks suge. This production I am dramaturg for - it is a play with lots of male characters but I have been on stage in Chicago. I got a few decent reviews for playing Georgie Hyde Lees (who married Yates) in a little production here - no really tiny- some Chicago theaters only hold 20 audience members. Lately it has only been a few readings and dancing with a bunch of young people.

LG, Firefly is a different style than BSG less like a documentary in the film style and with more comedic touches. I do think the start of the series was sort of messed up by the network and editing and a bunch of goofy things they did. Even when the series ended it felt like it was just starting to get interesting.

Yay bib! I am glad I am happy to give you yet another workplace distraction!

I wasn't expecting Firefly to be the same as BSG, just I heard so much wild praise and indignation at its cancelling, I figured it had to be as immediately engaging . Sadly, it's not.

I will continue to watch it because it's not horrible or anything, just kind of a mess, and let's just say it wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Perhaps people who are fans of Buffy have trouble being objective about their hero Joss Whedon. Even he can miss.

That said, I am looking forward to the premiere of Dollhouse.

Hmm I've only seen a couple of episodes of Buffy (I am not generally interested in vampires apart from the recent reading) and I didn't see Firefly until DVD last year so I don't think I fall into the category of fan you describe but I did enjoy the series.

I liked how it essentially played with the archetypical characters of a western. The preacher who is too good of a gunslinger not to have a past etc. Those might be obvious types (they are in westerns too) but I like how they are played with in the series. I also appreciate TV series that are based around an ensemble instead of one or two main characters. I think they are more interesting.

Then again no one had tried to oversell the series to me so I went in with low expectations.

I haven't heard of Dollhouse is that another Joss Whedon program?

Yes. Dollhouse is due on the airwaves this fall. It stars Eliza Dushku, who got her "big break" playing Faith on Buffy.

Description copied from morningspoilers.com

The drama stars Dushku as Echo, a member of a group of men and women who are imprinted with different personalities for different assignments. In between tasks they are mind-wiped, living like children in Dollhouse, a futuristic dorm/lab. A group of people, known as "Actives" (or "Dolls"), have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas and hired out for particular jobs, crimes, fantasies and occasional good deeds. When not imprinted, the Actives live, childlike and unremembering, in a hidden facility nicknamed "The Dollhouse". Although the Actives are ostensibly volunteers, the operation is highly illegal, and under constant threat from a determined federal agent on one end and an insane rogue Active on the other. The story hinges around a greater and more subtle threat: Echo, a female Active, begins, in her mind-wiped state, to become self-aware.

yes, Maren, I'm sure part of my reaction is due to overhype. Then again, if I had stumbled across either of the 2 epis I have seen, I doubt I would have tuned in again. I'll keep watching, tho, because I bought the whole series.

Dollhouse sounds like a something you'd really want to do if you were an actor. You'd really get to show your range. I want to see if they can pull it off. Plus it's going to star Tamoh Penikett, who is on BSG. (I think he plays the Fed Agent.) He's kinda hot, not really my type, but I like his acting.

*teary eyed* Lg, I dont know you anymore...
oh well, (I'm sooooo not recomending anything else to you!) I think firefly was funny. I live the psudo-western vibe. I loved the movie Serenity, and it endeared me to the characters and storyline, so when I found out it was based on a TV series, I had to see It. If I've ever seen more than an episode of Buffy I dont remember.

Why is it that great shows always get cancelled? There was this VH1 show called "Too good for TV" it aired great shows that for some reason or the other (low ratings, I guess) got canceled. Usually the script is too clever for the general populace.

Did anyone ever see True Calling? I think that it starred Eliza Dushku. It was about a medical studdent doing an intership in morge. The dead spoke to her, and she relives the day to try to save them. I really liked that show. Another is Phil of the Future. It was a silly children's show but I found the Diffy's funny as they tried to hide the fact that they were from the 22nd century.

*hugs suge*

I don't know why great shows get cancelled, but it's part of the reason why I cut back from tv so much. I lost a lot of favorite tv shows over the past couple years.

To go take advantage of the hot and sunny weather and attempt a tan as I read in the great outdoors of the backyard, which I know will result in a sunburn; to chose to do not this but read in the late afternoon in the lovely front yard, with the coolness of the sycamore's lovely shade; or to stay inside the house, blinds and shades closed, house drawn dark, with wonders of what's beyond what prevents the light from seeping inside the house, heating it up to a horrid 90 degrees, surrounded by frozen strawberries and a few selections for reading such as Half-Blood Prince (chapters 1-8) and Blue is for Nightmares.

Oh sugey pants, I didn't say I didn't like it, just that it's not as great as I was expecting. Everyone says it gets better as it goes along. Besides, I got like 10,000 recommendations, mostly from people who said, "oh, you like BSG, you'd like Firefly." Which I'm not sure why, now that I've seen it. The only thing they have in common is scifi and an ensemble cast.

Does anyone remember American Gothic? That show rocked and no one seemed to care.

*waves hand in air* I saw a few episodes of American Gothic and True Calling. Both good, quirky shows and far better than a lot of pap on tv, especially at that time. I loved the weird southern kid from AG, and the brady-guy evil sheriff. Suge, did you know that weird kid was in Jarhead too? Not sure where American Gothic would have gone, though... seemed to be wandering a bit.

LG, i liked Buffy. Funky ensemble cast, unique and funny dialogue, karate-chopping chicks, monsters... wonderful stuff. But i wasn't a Whedon-head, i wasn't interested in the rest of his oeuvre (Angel et al). I was really doubtful of Firefly when i heard about it, westerns don't really do it for me per se, and space-westerns... ick. It wasn't until i watched several episodes that it started to vibe with me (Donna is a big fan). I think the characterisations are great, and the dialogue hilarious (once you get into the swing of it). Not sure if you've seen Serenity, but i'm tempted to recommend watching that first, you might enjoy it more than first slogging through the series.

As i think you know i've only seen a bit of BSG, and while i suspect that it's good, I haven't really gotten into it. But i can't really see the link between the two, besides the obvious sci-fi. BSG is so much more a serious show. I suspect that there are psychological depths behind it that i haven't fully appreciated because i have only dipped into various episodes, and not followed the character development. Firefly to me is much more about the humour. Serious and dramatic parts, sure, but leavened with humour.

Can i just add, it's cool to not like Firefly, and/or not like BSG, just like it's cool to not like Twilight and/or Tolkien. I won't throw HP into that statement, because this is presumably the wrong group for it. But my point is, it's kind of cool when people like/dislike different things. Diversity is a beautiful thing.

Oh yeah, I thought of the connection between Firefly and BSG. Pretty pretty people.

NO! DIVERSITY IS WRONG! WE MUST ALL BE THE SAME HOMOGENIZED IMAGE AND ONLY LIKE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE LIKES!

;)

i think that I cant read all that yuo wrote b cause its too much to read right at this moment.
anyways I read james and the giant peach and that book was soooooo great.
amagine living in a peach.
that would be so much fun!
Especiallky if there were bugs in it that were nice!

>#573: "you are all individuals!"
...
"i'm not"

>#574. That is a cool book. A flying peach house would be great, if short-lived .

Yay nice bugs. Nobody likes unpleasant bugs. They just ruin it... for the rest of...bugdom i guess.

*wanders off randomly*

Pleasant bugs? ;)

I read James and the Giant Peach for school as a child. The only part I can remember for it was coloring a picture I was drawing for a visual display for a presentation on it. That said, I ought to reread it one of these days.

James and the Giant Peach is an awesome book!

I'm currently reading Tracy Chevalier: Burning Bright. I'm about half way through and am really enjoying it

I just finished Howl's Moving Castle, which was really good! I identified with being the eldest of three, and always having to break up the fights between the younger two. ;)

I'm still working on my LotR reread. I'm also reading Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande -- so far, it's very good.

Mr. I knew I liked you for a reason! You're like my long lost Ozzie brother! You know what I love about firefly? The random Chinese! I hate to admit it but I spent some time on "browncoats.com" trying to teachmyself some phrases. all I've managed to learn is .... ah I forget.

Ok lets get this thread back on track, you should all be ashamed of yourselfs, highjacking this tread. I'm reading "Life as we knew it", "Eclipse", "The Sea of Monsters", "Greek Myths" the reading of which was inspired by reading "The Lighing Thief", I realised how rusty my Greek Mythology has gotten. I also pulled "Sanditon" of my shelf and plan to read it, and geeze, I hate abandoning books so I'm reading at least a chapter a night (at least that was the plan) of "The Golems eye".

geeze I have to have ADD. I submited half sentence. *shakes head*

#578 cat:
I'm glad to hear you liked the book! It's on my TBR pile. :)

#580 suge:
So many books at once! It sounds like you kept your nose in one book or another all weekend. ;)

I'm reading New Moon. I had planned to get a lot of reading done on all those days off I just had, but we had too much going on at home. The next generation of the family now has a second little boy.

#581 - Does that mean you have a nephew? Congrats!!

I had a big weekend of books and finished Into the Mist, The Looking Glass Wars and Prince Caspian.

I'm reading another YA fantasy right now called Fablehaven which is decent but so far, not too spectacular.

I've also started one called Hurt Go Happy which seems fairly unknown (anyone heard of it?) but is so far very well written. In short - it's a YA drama/fiction about a young deaf girl who's mom doesn't want her to learn sign language but she meets a neighbor who has a chimpanzee that speaks in sign.

All your books that you've just finished are ones I want to read, el! :)
Hurt Go Happy sounds very interesting. I'm going to add it to my list of books to look for.

#582 el:
No nephews yet except for a step-nephew who I've never met on the other side of my family. This new baby is my second cousin. (My direct cousin's son - all that 'once' or 'twice' removed stuff confuses me. ;)

#582 -- I heard a speaker at some conference raving about what a great book Hurt Go Happy is, and have been wanting to read it ever since.

#584 - Your first cousin's son would be your first cousin once removed. If you have children, they would be your cousin's son's second cousins. (We have a good relationship with a number of my mom's cousins, so I know these things. Sad, isn't it?) :o)

I'm reading Howl's Moving Castle at cat's recommendation. She's homeschooling me.

#586 jp:
Thanks, jp! I hope I can remember this! I've tried to figure it out a few times, especially when Sirius went over the Black family tree with Harry.
It's not sad to know at all! The knowledge comes in handy! :)

I'm still debating which two books to take on the plane. If I have to chose books according to how much space they take, I really think Howl's Moving Castle will be one of them. My copy is a Mass Market. On the other hand, if I want to leave the books I bring there behind, it seems jp, cat, and suge don't need copies.

#583 - Prince Caspian was good but I love CS Lewis's storytelling - I read it to compare to the movie and (as expected) found the movie an overwhelming Hollywoodization of the book. Still entertaining but much darker, more intense and cheesily romantic. Looking Glass Wars, I thought, was pretty great. I was impressed at Frank Beddor's ability to add new imagination and creativity to something as imaginative and creative as Lewis Carroll. Lots of people complain that it reads like a screenplay, but I liked that it was fast paced. And Into the Mist was on par with all Carman's stuff. :)

#584 - Congratulations to your cousin! I can never keep all that removed stuff straight either....

#586 - Ahhh....now it makes sense.... a little.... ;)

#583/585 - I'll let you all know about Hurt Go Happy when I finish it. I'm afraid it's going to be sad, (it's already dealing with pretty serious subject matter) but so far I'm really enjoying it.