I just finished The Hunger Games yesterday morning. My wife brought the book home from the library a few days ago and I remember that lots of people have been talking about it of late on NWeb (there was an SF open on it even). I opened it not knowing exactly what to expect and suddenly found myself quite enamored with the book. This is my kind of story!

I thought a few of the deaths in the arena were a bit anti-climactic (

), while another broke my heart (). That one was quite rough . My wife says that the next book in the series, Catching Fire, is on hold for a while. I know they've been filming at least portions of the movie in my home state (NC) and have cast everyone and that the film will be released next Spring sometime. Personally I'm hooked....this was a highly addictive read, filled with lots of action, great characters, and a plot that anyone with a pulse would enjoy. This is the best book that I have read in several years and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next installment. Great book!!

Aslanisthebest: I've only read an excerpt of Uncle Tom's Cabin, but the language was beautiful, even if it is a bit sentimental. I'll be interested to hear your final thoughts on the subject.

Louloudi: I have read both Maus books. I read them for a Historical Fiction Class. They were very intriguing. I'm not sure I totally "got" them though. First off, it's strange to see such a serious subject in such an interesting form (usually reserved for humor or epic). Second, the decision to make them into mice is a very interesting one. I'm not much of a graphic novel person, but I was glad to have read them overall. I thought the first one was better.

Shadow: Hurrah! I'm glad you read it at last and that you enjoyed it!

I did a lot of reading during a recent vacation so I have more to post later (plus, catch up on).

I thought Maus was very well done but it's not the sort of book I can enjoy (that's probably a good thing).

Shadow, sounds good, mate. I'm interested in checking out the book. It's great to hear your thoughts on it all.

mara: Hello dear. I feel as though I haven't seen you in a while. Anyway, I'm glad you liked The Willoughbys. I read it and thought it was sweet, but that it just missed the mark. I felt like Lowry grew up reading all the charming orphan stories like the Bastables and the Boxcar Children and Mary Poppins and Roald Dahl and wanted to write her own quirky story, but it simply didn't have enough going for it other than the quirkiness.

I re-read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time since age 14. It was gorgeous, of course, and I was surprised at how well I remembered it. It was interested to read a book about childhood once as a child and then once again as an adult. I'm still not sure I understand what the point of the book is. There's the Tom Robinson plot and the Boo Radley plot and they connect, but it's more incidental than anything and I'm not sure I get how they connect thematically.

I read The King of Attolia for the first time. I'm not nearly as rapturous about Turner and Gen and Attolia as all the rest, but I do think I enjoyed this one the best so far. It was surprising how small this one was. It only left the palace for about a total of one page. And Costis was a strange "main" character. I still don't really care a whit for him. He was very boring. Now I just want to finish the series off!

I finally got around to reading a Evelyn Waugh novel other than Brideshead Revisited and picked up Vile Bodies. It was a very strange book. I think it was supposed to be a commentary on the depressing social state of the time as well as a comedy. Those two purposes didn't mesh well. And it was kind of a sequel (at least, many of the characters were never introduced and feature in earlier written books). so that was confusing. It wasn't too funny and there was virtually no plot. The back of the book said it was a very "religious" work, but there was almost no religion and the book ended "happily" with the two characters living very amorally. And then two characters died very suddenly and without any sorrow from the author at all. At least it was a quick read.

Finally, I re-read Anne of Green Gables with my family. It was, of course, enchanting. I barely remembered it at all from the first read, so it was like reading it afresh (minus the 100 viewings of the movie that I've had). I was surprised at how little Gil figured in the book. Montgomery is a genius and the book is a classic and one I'll never grow tired of.

I also finally finished "The Ill Made Knight" portion of The Once and Future King. It was the really boggy part of the book. All the questing was told in retelling by the knights and it was so dull. I do love White's creativity with the legend though. This is the last time I disbelieve a NarniaWebber's advice. Certain people (Ly and Warrior, I think) told me not to bother with the rest of TOFK, but I didn't believe them.

Shadowlander: Ditto! I, too, am addicted to THG! I just love how Suzanne created the characters and the scenes.

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Sandy, I don't engage in fangurlish opinion polls about who my favorite characters are and what romances I wish to be brought to fruition. *sticks his nose up in the air*

Anyway, I'm glad you liked The Willoughbys. I read it and thought it was sweet, but that it just missed the mark.

I totally agree with this. While it was an interesting book, it seemed lacking in something, and I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, though I love others of Lowry's works.

I read The King of Attolia for the first time. I'm not nearly as rapturous about Turner and Gen and Attolia as all the rest, but I do think I enjoyed this one the best so far. It was surprising how small this one was. It only left the palace for about a total of one page. And Costis was a strange "main" character. I still don't really care a whit for him. He was very boring. Now I just want to finish the series off!

I'm only a semi-rapturous fan (okay, Gen is pretty amazing. ), but I do really love those books. I re-read The King of Attolia for only the second time recently, and I really did like it. I agree that Costis was very boring, and I didn't care about him, but I think she intended it to be like that. Even though he is officially the main character, the focus still needs to be on Gen and Attolia.

Thank-you, Ela! Even though I've had a little taste of both (finished one Doyle book, and read a bit of a Chesterton book, TMWWT) I must admit that Doyle's writing style is up my lane, but I'm really curious to read the Father Brown books, since I've heard great things about them! So they're mystery? (I know very vaguely that he's a laywer of some sorts.)

*by skimming, must admit that the name "Monster Blood Tattoo" is a leetle... dotdotdot to me* xD It sounds interesting, though.

I've always wondered what The Hunger Games are about. What are they about?

Kate- I agree, the language in Uncle Tom's Cabin is beautiful, though it can get a bit sentimental. I really love reading books where the author expresses things aptly, and Uncle Tom's Cabin is definitely one of those. I noticed while reading that Harriet Beecher Stowe and Lousia May Alcott's writing styles have quite a lot of similarities. A good thing, of course. I'll be sure to tell you my report of it!

So far, I've been finding UTC an interesting read. I'm really trying not to adopt the person who did the prologue's point of view, since I read that first and often assume their perception of the book will be mine. We'll see, though... But, yes, a good, touching read so far!

Thank-you, Ela! Even though I've had a little taste of both (finished one Doyle book, and read a bit of a Chesterton book, TMWWT) I must admit that Doyle's writing style is up my lane, but I'm really curious to read the Father Brown books, since I've heard great things about them! So they're mystery? (I know very vaguely that he's a laywer of some sorts.)

I know, I do really like Sherlock Holmes - you know, the strong, silent, masculine sort of guy. xDD But deep in me heart of hearts (:P) I like the sweet, quirky, nice little man. Yes, they're mystery books. He's not a lawyer (if you mean a law lawyer ), he's a priest, and I really can appreciate Chesterton's wisdom about God in all of those books, as well as his other works. You should read them.

Haha, while Sherlock Holmes is neat with all his impressive detective skill, Watson is my favourite. He's very quiet, meek, does what he's told to.

Ohh, okay, thanks! I thought was a priest and a lawyer, but is he basically the priest who makes the decisions in court? (I'm getting this all from a wiki article I read some time ago. ) Indeed-from the quotes I've read by Chesterton, I really appreciate his profound understanding and love for God, so it's good to hear that they take part in the books. I'll put them on hold as soon as I finish some of the books I have at home!

I think the reason Watson appeals to me more than Sherlock is he's almost a "Man-on-the-street" - Watson is the one who could be you or me!

The other day I read Between Shades of Gray, a new YA historical-fic by Ruta Sepetys. It's a really good book, imo, and I highly recommend it. The author dug into her own family history as the original inspiration for this book, which deals with a little-known atrocity perpetrated around 1940.
Until I read this book, I had no idea that Russia deported hundreds of thousands of people - whole families - from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia prior to being involved in WWII. Over one third of their populations were transported to Russia to slave in gulags or on collective farms. When the survivors were released a decade later, they could not talk about what had been done to them for fear of reprisals by the communist government. When this was overthrown in 1991 the truth began to spread.
Sorry about that essay! I wanted to share a bit of background for the novel portion.

The MC is fifteen-year-old Lina, who is deported with her family. Mrs. Sepetys did a very good job portraying their struggles and Lina's resilient, tough spirit. Complex, interesting supporting characters and thoughtful, understandably sad narrative make this one of the best books I've read this year. Again, I highly suggest you read this, especially if you have any interest in historical fiction.
If you read it, I would love to hear what you think!

AslanistheBest, the publishers thought 'Monster Blood Tattoo' sounded too dark and occult-like. That's the reason the series name was changed for the American and Canadian markets. The author is a mature Christian. Nothing more needs to be said. If you must know though, the Monster Blood Tattoo refers to a tattoo a person receives upon

Has anyone here read the book Just David? I started reading it a couple of weeks ago and it is a wonderful book! It's written by the same author that wrote Pollyanna (I don't remember her name )

I read Just David several years ago. It's such a sweet book! My copy had nice illustrations, too, which I think I remember better than the story. (You might try to find a copy of Vinzi by Joanna Spyri, too! )

EDIT: Speaking of Monster Blood Tattoo... I saw the second book on the library shelf and was so disappointed it wasn't the first book I didn't even notice they'd changed the series title.

Haha, while Sherlock Holmes is neat with all his impressive detective skill, Watson is my favourite. He's very quiet, meek, does what he's told to.

hehe, you sound like Dennie. I think she likes him in the books, and she's hysterical about him in the BBC (I think) tv show. And then Betsie is hysterical about Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) . . anyway. I'll stop rambling. He's lovely.

Ohh, okay, thanks! I thought was a priest and a lawyer, but is he basically the priest who makes the decisions in court?

I'm afraid he doesn't make any court decisions, unless I have been really blind the several times I read all of his stories. xDD But I hope you enjoy them, and you can see for yourself!