I finished reading Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters by William Austen-Leigh, and I did enjoy it for the most part, although I remember back in the previous book thread, Lysander mentioned that it was thought to be inaccurate and perhaps not an accurate portrayal of Jane Austen. Having never read any other biography of Miss Austen, I can't compare the one I finished to any others- but I'm keenly interested in hearing what others have to say in regards to the book, if there are any who have read it. I would particularly like to know what parts were inaccurate, and if there's a better biography someone can recommend. Any thoughts?

I was given the grand total of one book this year, but I don't mind. It was one I was very much wanting to read, and since my brother gave it to me, it makes it even better.

(Hopes she's not intruding on any discussions- my apologies if I am)

Fear not! You aren't intruding in any discussion whatsoever. I understand about the finishing-books-before-the-next-semester thing, I'm hesitant to commit myself to anything too deep just in case I can't finish it in time, hence why I'm just about to start Peter Pan.

One book I received for Christmas that I want to mention here is called The Agency: A Spy in the House

It strikes me as the sort of book a lot of you might enjoy. Kind of like Anne Perry-ish books, but for teens. I suppose there are a *few* mentions of slightly older-teen topics, but I don't think it'd be anything to put anyone off from reading it. It was well written, had a excellent main character, and pretty interesting plot (although I'd figured most of it out fairly early on ).

Also got Never Let Me Go...just flipping through it makes me excited and sad at the same time. And got the sequel to "The Forest of Hands and Teeth"--"The Dead-Washed Shore". I actually enjoyed it much more then the first, and I'm really interested in the new one coming out in March. Anyone else read these? They're kind of I Am Legend-ish (zombies, and all, but without being gross or horror-ish).

The other book I got was called Selkie Girl, by Laurie Brooks. It takes place in Scotland, I believe (although it *could* be Ireland ). I'd highly reccomend it to anyone who likes coming-of-age stories (so, not Valia ), and the movie Ondine. I don't think it would be everyone's cup of tea, but I reallyreally enjoyed it.

Still rereading Percy Jackson. On the fifth book now. Unfortunately, I have not received any books for Christmas--yet. Though if I get Christmas money or anything, I'd want to get the other two Westmark books, since the only one we own is The Kestrel. Possibly A Wizard of Earthsea too, depending on prices.

Wow, finally finished The Host! I loved the book and enjoyed it. Stpehenie Meyer did a good job in it, but in Twilight.... no comment.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on A Connecticut Yankee, flambeau. I own a set of what I believe to be Twain's complete novels, but believe it or not, I've yet to read any of them! I've been planning to make ACY my first for some time now, so it's good to have my decision affirmed.

I've not actually read that biography, Fanny, but the general thought on it is that Austen-Leigh pictures Jane the way the family wanted her to be perceived, rather than the way she was. It is usually blamed for creating the illusion that she was some reclusive spinster, when really she was quite lively and outgoing (even flirtatious). I'll have to dig up my notes from my Jane Austen class, but my teacher recommended Claire Tomalin's among a few others. And of course, you can't do any better than reading the lady's own letters.

*cough* Now, before someone asks, no, I have not started living at the thrift store lately.

Made another stop by there yesterday to donate some old clothes after I posted in here, and was accompanied by Djaq. I bought The Killer Angels (yep, I caved in and bought it. I excuse it on the grounds that this is the 'family copy'.), The Two Towers, Johnny Tremain (a book that I simply love!), and The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle (I don't own my own copy of the Narnia books yet, so I decided it was high time that I started rectifying that). Five books for a grand total of $2.20.
Djaq bought Pride and Prejudice and another book that I cannot currently remember the title of.

Question for any other thrift store book shoppers; have you ever noticed how you can always find a certain selection of books in any thrift store? In thrift stores around here you can always find any of the Left Behind books, Frank Peretti's Darkness books, or Prophet by Peretti. (I'm sure there are some more, but those are the ones that I have noticed.)
/random

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on A Connecticut Yankee, flambeau. I own a set of what I believe to be Twain's complete novels, but believe it or not, I've yet to read any of them! I've been planning to make ACY my first for some time now, so it's good to have my decision affirmed.

You are most welcome. I finished the book last night and, while I wouldn't say that it is on my favorites list, it was more interesting than some books that I've read in the past. I really need to look up some more of Twain's work. Prior to this I've only read Huck Finn and a collection of short stories which I found extremely dull (after all, there is only so many times you can hear the story about the jumping frog. ). I'll probably look into reading Tom Sawyer soon if I can find it.

I am one chapter into Chesterton's Autobiography and finding it as entertaining and witty as all of his other books that I've had the privilege of reading. His opening paragraph is perfect...

Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before mere authority and the tradition of the elders, superstitiously swallowing a story I could not test at the time by experiment or private judgment, I am firmly of opinion that I was born on the 29th of May, 1874, on Campden Hill, Kensington...

As wordy as ever.

--- flambeau

There usually is at least one of the Left Behind books in whichever local thrift store I walk into. Peretti tends to show up a lot too, but it's usually This Present Darkness I see, not Prophet. Oh, and there's always a copy of The Bridges of Madison County as well. And The da Vinci Code.

I always see Left Behind books and Tess of the d'Ubervilles or whatever that book's title is at my school's annual booksale.

I've seen seen any of those in second-hand book shops. Maybe the ones in Australia don't accept Christian books. There's always a good supply of romance crap and crime novels though.

Yes, always Left Behind.

flam, if I remember right you've never yet read LotR? But you just bought TTT? (The Two Towers, right?) Well, it's about time!

*is thisclose to putting Leviathan on reserve at the library*

You should, if you've got the (somewhat brief) time it takes to read it. It's not high literature, but it's unique and entertaining. Just don't expect something quite on a level with works of art. Though the illustrations are very nice.

Has anyone else on here read Allen French's Rolf and the Viking Bow? Or anything by Allen French? The above title is on a par with Rosemary Sutcliff's works, though in a different style. His other works are good, but it's the best.

*ears perk up at the mention of Allen French* I've read Rolf and the Viking Bow (which really is very much in the style of an Icelandic Epic and therefore excellent), The Red Keep and The Lost Baron which is not as good as the other two.

Yes, I think I have a couple hours to spare. *trots off to the library website and puts Leviathan on hold*

*finds it amusing that so many of the same books show up in thrift stores across the country*

flam, if I remember right you've never yet read LotR? But you just bought TTT? (The Two Towers, right?) Well, it's about time!

That was true a few months ago, but I have read them since you heard that (I guess I probably told you that I hadn't read them somewhere and just don't remember doing it? ) I read them over the summer (before I started posting in here), and thought they were pretty decent overall. My favorite book in the series was undoubtedly TTT; I was pretty much sobbing my eyes out during those final chapters (and I, uh, rarely cry during books). Sam is simply awesome, and if it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't care enough for the series to re-read it! I find that Tolkien provides too much information for my tastes and it detracts from the story (that's just my opinion though).

--- flambeau

*pops into thread*

I find that Tolkien provides too much information for my tastes and it detracts from the story (that's just my opinion though).

That's exactly how I've always felt about Tolkien... I always refused to read him after I tried getting into the Hobbit a couple years ago... I'm going to persist and try again though.

@ NaiadWaker, well, it's nice to know that I'm not alone in my opinion. I didn't really mind The Hobbit, but I wouldn't say it's on my favorites list by a long shot.

Walked down to the library today while my grandma was getting a haircut, since I didn't have anything better to do than sit in the car and listen to Josh Wilson. (for those who don't know, I chauffeur my grandma since she is unable to drive anymore. The library is right down the street from the hair-place.) I got a couple books by Stephen R. Lawhead which I have not read before, one of which I got because there's a copy of it for sale at the thrift store I'm always mentioning, and I wanted to find out if it was worth buying. I'm three chapters in right now.

Am I the only one who finds it nigh impossible to read only one book at a time? More often than not I end up reading at least two at once, sometimes more, especially if one of them is more fact based. I like to mix fact and fantasy together, because I find that they help offset one another that way.

--- flambeau

No, I'm not really enjoying it. But I'm only a couple chapters in, so maybe it'll get better. Scarlet said it's okay I'm not a fan of Jane Austen, because J.A. already has plenty. Scarlet is one of them. Where do I sign up to join the Overdone British Literary Adaptions Club ? I think I'd rather just watch the film version.

That's perfectly fine! Don't feel bad about not being a fan of Jane Austen or enjoying her books, maybe her work will be something you will come back to later on and find you enjoy it. But if not, that's fine too. I think I like your idea for a club, I enjoy (for the most part) watching the film versions as well.

Maybe...I keep hoping the style will grow on me. I tried to read both P&P and Emma, but never finished either of them. *sighs sadly* I have to complete at least one Austen novel to pass British Lit. As for the club, I can't take all the credit. It's inspired by Veggie Tales' Huckleberry Larry.

I'm going to switch and read One Shenandoah Winter by T. Davis Bunn this week and finish Persuasion after Christmas.

Hey, one of the ladies in my writer's group is a huge fan of T. Davis Bunn! Have you read many of his books? Which is your favorite? In general, I'm the opposite of you in terms of reading tastes -- I find that most contemporary Christian fiction is of very poor quality (exceptions include Jan Karon, Bodie Theone, and Jack Cavanaugh) -- but I'm definitely willing to give Bunn a try.

Other than OSW, I have read The Quilt, The Music Box, The Messenger, Return to Harmony, Tidings of Comfort and Joy, and Tomorrow's Dream. My favorites are OSW, The Music Box, and Tidings of Comfort and Joy. I would definitely recommend reading One Shenandoah Winter. Tidings is the "second best".

I have read the first book in the Song of Acadia series that he wrote with Janette Oke. It's pretty good, although it can be hard to keep track of the characters because of the "blended family". I need to get the rest of the series from the library, but I'll have to wait until next year.

Which of Jack Cavanaugh's books do you like? My library has several of his books and I've been thinking of checking a couple out.

With my Christmas money, I purchased Sonnet to A Dead Contessa by Gilbert Morris and Revealed by Tamera Alexander from Amazon. *sincerely hopes the books will arrive by the weekend before book fever sets in* STADC is the third and last Lady Trent Mystery, a series whose conclusion I have been waiting a year to read. I'm hoping the final book has more closure than the other recent Morris titles I've had the privilege to read. Last night I started The Mermaid in The Basement (first in the series) just to wet my appetite sufficiently for STADC. I'm not very far in yet, but I already know it's going to be very hard to pick Persuasion back up after I finish my new books.

SnowAngel