Kate, I've read Cormax McCarthy's The Road ind disliked it excessively.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed The Road, but I did think it was an excellent novel. It is pretty horrible and hard going, but there's the little glimmers of hope at the end. McCarthy's style was a bit weird at first, but I've come to really like it (especially in No Country For Old Men and All the Pretty Horses). I find it to be really evocative of the landscape his stories are set in, that kind of vast, quiet emptiness. But it's definitely not to everyone's taste. I suspect Kate will either love it, or hate it

Orious, by random coincidence I just finished my first N. D. Wilson book yesterday, 100 Cupboards. I absolutely loved the first half but thought the second dragged. I'll have a review up soon. You can have full credit for introducing him here . Isn't N. D. Wilson working on a Lewis-related screenplay of some kind?

Apparently a lot of people agree with you on The Road, Shantih . Perhaps I can find some redeeming value in it by seeing it as I do The Lord of the Flies; it demonstrates man's depravity, and naturally that won't be a pretty picture!

Can I redeem that credit for books at participating thrift stores, Wisewoman? I am sorry that 100 Cupboards did not live up to your expectations.
Personally, my love of N.D. Wilson starts full blast with his stand-alone Leepike Ridge and leaks over into the first book in his trilogy but pretty much ends there. As far as I am aware, I am the only one of that opinion, all the other opinions I've heard have been that his stand-alone is too far-fetched but his trilogy is mind blowingly awwwwwesooome.
I found his trilogy to be horribly confusing--I could not follow the story at all. I loved Leepike Ridge, I thought that it was a very fun adventure story. It had the perfect doses of wonderment and mystery that filled me full of thrill. It was just the sort of adventure that I would have in my imagination when I was a wee lass.
So, I guess that this is to say that I totally understand not being thrilled with that book and that you should try Leepike.

So anyone here read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry ?

That was one of my favourite books for a while.

Adeona, that makes sense about why Princess of Glass was disappointing for you. I rather liked the setting, and the shoes, and went on my merry way after reading it. Tiger of Mysor is one of my favourite Henty's as well. I plan on re-reading it again this year.

*liked The Edge on the Sword* That and Henty's book about King Alfred are pretty much my favourite books about that time period.

I did enjoy the Dragon King Trilogy by Lawhead. It got a bit preachy by the last book, and I was just sick of the MC being an idiot, but all got better at long last.

Hmmm. I think I have a kind of opposite feeling toward the series. I like the first two books but the third not so much. (Though, I didn't like the second one as much the last time I read it so now I don't want to read the first one for fear of it not being the most awesome book I ever read any more... )

If I remember the chronology of writing correctly (which I might not) I think Patrick is the most recent book by Lawhead where I agree that the scenes advance the story. The feeling I got from Hood was that he was just including it because he could, because the character wasn't moral and upstanding. From a Christian author, that felt like the decidedly wrong attitude.

Isn't N. D. Wilson working on a Lewis-related screenplay of some kind?

The Great Divorce. And, speaking of Wilson, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Dandelion Fire is my favourite book by him.

I did enjoy the Dragon King Trilogy by Lawhead. It got a bit preachy by the last book, and I was just sick of the MC being an idiot, but all got better at long last.

Hmmm. I think I have a kind of opposite feeling toward the series. I like the first two books but the third not so much. (Though, I didn't like the second one as much the last time I read it so now I don't want to read the first one for fear of it not being the most awesome book I ever read any more... )

No, I think you misunderstood. I meant that I like books one and two, but I don't like the third book. I thought that the MC was an idiot for most of the third book, but at the end of that particular book, he got better.

I think I heard someone talking about The Search for WondLa! I got it at the library a few weeks ago; what a good book! The world is so interesting and exciting, and Tony Deterlizzi's full page illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are BEAUTIFUL and rewarding, too! I just savored looking at them. The story was great, too, and I really loved the characterization. Can't wait for the next one!

No, I think you misunderstood.

Oh! Yeah, I guess I did.

*tries to remember what she read that was illustrated by Tony Deterlizzi* It was something about a rabbit and a dragon and it was lovely. ... *checks book list* Kenny and the Dragon, that was it. *marks down The Search for WondLa!*

I've kind of read Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle. I was really rather young to have been reading them, so I ended up skimming them mostly. As the series progressed, I skimmed more and more. By Arthur, I never even finished skimming. Since I gave Taliesin a second try a few years ago (still didn't finish it, as I got busy and forgot about it), I remember the most about it. The strongest impression, though, was that Taliesin's parents were very cool.
I did, however, enjoy the Dragon King series. I haven't, though, had the nerve to to try any other of Lawhead's books.

According to the records I kept, I have read 100 books even this past year. But, I'm not entirely sure that is the best count; that included some comic books and a number of really light books, though I didn't record picture books. Also, for some reason, I neglected to record the titles of theological books I read for Bible study and such. But perhaps it all balances out then.
As for what authors I read the most of this year, Suzanne Collins came in the winner with my reading of 8 of her books (yes, both series), while Garth Nix came in a close second with 7 books (one series). Rick Riordan is sitting nice in third with 6 books (still haven't had a chance to get the most recent from the library). Both Patricia McKillip and Agatha Christie came in a bit lower with 4 books each (which, actually is a compliment to McKillip at least).
There were also a few non-fiction books on my list that I'm rather happy about. I almost never read non-fiction, so even if they're just local history, I was pretty pleased to have actually read them.
I meant to read some Sutcliff over Thanksgiving break (namely, The Eagle of the Ninth, but though I searched over and over in the uni library, I couldn't find it. After the librarians also did some searching, it was declared 'Missing' and I filled out a report. I have since noticed that approximately a third to half of their Sutcliff books are also listed as missing.
There is also still a huge list of books I want to reread and read that I still didn't get done over summer break and other breaks---Chesterton, Sayers, Wodehouse, Tolkien, Turner, Clarke, Austen, and Lewis to name just a very few.

I also recently read Into the Woods and Out of the Woods by Lyn Gardner. My sisters loved them, but while I felt they were alright, I didn't get what was so great about them. Has anyone else read them? I'd love to hear what I was missing about them.

I am currently reading When People are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch and Vets Might Fly by James Herriot. I'm trying to cram in as much reading around my intersession course as I can, but it's been going a bit slow.

So, for 2011, my plans for reading are actually pretty much nonexistent. I do however plan to go request that the library buy several books (to start, the last two books in the Squire's Tale series by Gerald Morris because I would like to see how it ends, and the second book by R. J. Anderson so that I can see if I like it any better than the first one, and probably the most recent Sarah Beth Durst book)...we'll see how that goes.

I just read this book called "Because Of Mr. Terupt"!
it's awesome! I cried at the end, but not because it was awfully sad, but because it was so beautiful!

it's one of those books that makes me want to go out and do good things and make friends and be better than I have been. it's a must read for all ages!

Well, I'm not W4J, but I have read and loved the Harry Potter series. Basically, Harry Potter magic consists of pointing a special stick and saying some badly phrased Latin and voila! magic happens. No matter what your beliefs on real world magic are, I think we can all agree that you can point a stick at a bookshelf and say "Accio book!" until you're blue in the face and nothing is ever going to happen.

The Inheritance Cycle's magic is more troublesome because it relies upon a person's life energy to work. So for Eragon to do something very big, he either has to harm himself or he can pull that life energy from outside sources. In battles, this takes the form of ripping the life out of enemy soldiers to fuel spells. And the first instance of this comes a few chapters after Eragon had his revelation that Meat is Murder! or whatever and proceeded to burst into tears over killing some random furry critter. The entire philosophy of the series is messed up and is very anti-religion. Not Phillip Pullman level crazy rants against religion, but bad enough that I dropped the series after the second book.

Ok, thanks. I don't think I'll ever read all of these, then.

I did enjoy the Dragon King Trilogy by Lawhead. It got a bit preachy by the last book, and I was just sick of the MC being an idiot, but all got better at long last.

Hmmm. I think I have a kind of opposite feeling toward the series. I like the first two books but the third not so much. (Though, I didn't like the second one as much the last time I read it so now I don't want to read the first one for fear of it not being the most awesome book I ever read any more... )

Uh...I didn't say any of this...?

*enters the thread after a successful thrift store excursion*
Made a semi-quick run through a new thrift store earlier while out shopping with my mom, and I ended up making my biggest thrift store purchase thus far: 14 books! Woot! I got the entire Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Princess Bride (which I have not read), The Fellowship of the Ring, Stepping Heavenward, Prince Caspian, and Runaway Ralph (gotta love Beverly Cleary books! ). Me is happy!

I love this book quite a lot. The romance between Taliesin and Charis is very sweet, and the only crappy part is at the end, where (don't you dare read this spoiler, Flam!)...

*did not read the spoiler, though she was sorely tempted* However, I haven't gotten to the romance part yet, so now I'm gonna know what happens. Ack! Probably would have been able to figure it out anyways, so not a big deal.

Thanks for offering your thoughts on the rest of the series! I'm looking forward to reading Merlin now, and will probably be able to start it fairly soon (I'm over halfway done with Taliesin).

BUT: I think that Lawhead avoids making it the focus of his story. When Bran

Spoiler

tries to seduce Merian at the beginning of the book, we learn that it's not a good thing. He's drawn out to be a layabout and basically a dishonorable son at the beginning of the book, if I remember right. It's not shown to be the right thing, and I believe that Merian discourages him.

As for other times, I believe that Lawhead puts it in during appropriate situations and he is not graphic in his detail. Many people may disagree with me, but I'll be honest, it fits. At times, it even contributes to character development, weird as that may sound. I have not read any Lawhead books for awhile, but for the most part, the lust and seduction part of sexuality is drawn out to be something that is wrong and even evil. The good part, as sexual love is found in marriage, is shown to be good and pure-- and that's true.

It may fit, and may even be necessary for the story development, but I still think it could be done in a more tasteful manner. You would be able to figure out that Bran is a dishonorable layabout without

I'm not entirely sure that I agree with you on the next point after reading The Iron Lance. I don't mind an author eluding to something of that sort between a husband and wife (provided that it's tastefully done), but though Murdo and Ragna may have pledged themselves to one another beforehand, they were still unmarried, and I would have to say that the descriptions in that scene were too detailed.

Have any of you read Lawhead's Endless Knot trilogy? Man oh man, it's the best one I've read. What a great story! You should read it! Plot, romance, action, great characters, plot twists! It's wonderful. The first is called The Paradise War. Don't be scared off by the fact that it starts in England. It's great. So great.

I have not read it yet, but I think that our library has at least one of them, so I'll have to look into it.

--- flambeau

Oh, dear me, I feel a special feeling whenever N. D. Wilson is mentioned in these threads because I know (fairly surely) that I was the first person to ever mention him in the book threads back in '08. I am glad that word is getting around and people are reading his books. [/self-absorbed ramblings]

It's all you, certainly. I do think it was your love for his books that got me interested in them back in the day - and then I stuck them all on my BookMooch wishlist and promptly forgot about them until chancing to see 100 Cupboards at the library. I do agree with you that Leepike Ridge is the best - it's so adventurous and fascinating! I did like Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King though, they were good... but not as good as 100 Cupboards or Leepike.

The other day I was feeling like my life has been taken over with school and it was depressing so I sat down and re-read Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones. It was good

I've never understood the notion that because a book has some sexual content, it should be avoided. It seems to be an incredibly taboo area for Christians. Stephen Lawhead includes some in his stories where necessary and doesn't dwell on it. I can understand if books just have it for shock value, for fan-service and/or it's graphically-told but sex in and of itself isn't intrinsically evil. Instead of running for the hills at the first sight of it, we should learn to be mature about it and discerning. That's my understanding any way.

Makes sense W4J. I think that our culture is very divided on that issue. People either take a very lax, anything goes view of sex or seem to shun it completely. The thing I'm remembering is that it's not intrinsically evil. In the proper place, it's a beautiful and wonderful thing.

The problem is, how much belongs in a book? How much should be described? I'm against the graphic scenes and the fan-service and shock value stuff, but I think that there is a balance between none and too much, somewhere.

@Flam: I've never read The Iron Lance before, so I can't really be an authority on it. My knowledge is from The Dragon King Trilogy, Pendragon Cycle, the Empyrion Books, The Endless Knot Trilogy (which may or may not be known to the general public as the Song of Albion trilogy...), and Dream Thief. That may be a bit where Lawhead messed up on the balance thing. He's not perfect, after all.

EDIT:: P.S., Lucy of Narnia, I totally didn't mean to quote you! Whoops! It's my terrible quoting skills that made for the messup.

I think I heard someone talking about The Search for WondLa! I got it at the library a few weeks ago; what a good book! The world is so interesting and exciting, and Tony Deterlizzi's full page illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are BEAUTIFUL and rewarding, too! I just savored looking at them. The story was great, too, and I really loved the characterization. Can't wait for the next one!

That'd be me. Good to hear you liked it! I just finished Inkdeath this afternoon (awesome book by the way!), so I'm planning on starting The Search for WondLa tonight! I'm looking forward to those illustrations - it's so tempting to skip ahead and look at them all before I get to that part in the story.

SweetLilGurlie, I think we're on the same page. What really threw me when I first read Lawhead's 'Taliesin' was the extremely graphic violence at times. It's purposeful yes, but rather full-on. I think he gives Stephen King a run for his money (not that King is all that extreme compared to many authors today). I haven't read much of Lawhead's work but I loved his Song of Albion trilogy - great series!