A Nancy Drew themed web-comic for Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys fans alike:
http://harkavagrant.com/

7Chronicles, that's awesome. I loved the 1001 Arabian Nights as a child. My favourite was the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor and his run-in with the rukh or roc (giant birds of prey). Can you provide a photo or information about the 3-book edition you have? Thanks. Happy Birthday!

@Warrior 4 Jesus: Thanks!
I’m glad to know the Roc is in there, It’s one of my favorite Mythology Creatures!

Here are the links to the three volumes:

Volume 1: Stories 1 - 294
http://www.borders.com/online/store/Tit ... 0140449388

Volume 2: Stories 295 - 719
http://www.borders.com/online/store/Tit ... 0140449396

Volume 3: Stories 719 - 1001
http://www.borders.com/online/store/Tit ... 014044940X

And here is the cover for the first volume.

Cheers, mate! Yes, the rukh is a favourite of mine too. I've read that the myth came about as an exaggerated tale told by merchants from the East. They travelled the seas and natives told them of the 'elephant bird', a three-metre tall flightless bird native to Madagascar. They may even have seen it. Only problem with that theory, is that there's no way someone can mistake a non-flying bird for one which does fly!

Right now I'm reading Kim, by Rudyard Kipling, which is as weird and boring as ever. But still enjoyable.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, which I purchased at a garage sale a few years ago for a quarter.

Oh, that's a good book. When I first read it, I was really excited, because it promises so much at first. But the ending disappoints me. I wish they hadn't brought in That almost seemed to ruin it.
But I like the book a lot.

ValiantArcher, I hope that you like The Club of Queer Trades! I am jealous that your library actually has it! Mine is significantly lacking in the Chesterton department. I have been wanting to read that particular book for ages and randomly said so on my blog. My mother read it and purchased a copy just for my benefit. I cannot wait for it to get here!
Anyways, I really hope that you like it!

Lady Haleth, Men at Arms is a great book! I hope that you like it a lot. Have you read Feet of Clay? Possibly my favorite book in the Sam Vimes series. I hope you like Going Postal a lot too! That is a very interesting read! If you have any clues on this once you read the book you must be sure to post them.

At the moment I am reading a massive book called Les Misérables. I figured that, since I am seeing the show in May, I should finally take it off the to-read and start the process of putting it on the read shelf. I am not very far into it but so far I find it pleasantly wordy and definitely excellent.

I can pick up the other two Discworld books today, but Men at Arms isn't ready for pickup yet. I can't wait till it is! And I haven't read Feet of Clay, as the campus library doesn't seem to have it. But I hope I can sometime.

As this week has already been a fairly boring/depressing one, I've started my re-read of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and am thoroughly enjoying it thus far. I haven't read it since third grade, but it's surprising how many elements of the plotline and characters that I've remembered.

Catching up! *pants*

*sobs a bit at all the abuse Tolkien is suffering from on page 27*

SnowAngel: Thanks for the Bunn recommendations! For Cavenaugh, I would recommend either or both of his books about early English translations of the Bible, Glimpses of Truth and Beyond the Sacred Page. The first deals with Wycliffe's translation, the second with Tyndale's. They are part of a "series" but can be read by themselves as none of the characters cross over. There were supposed to be two more in the same vein but the publisher discontinued the series. If you can't find those, go for the Songs in the Night trilogy, starting with While Mortals Sleep.

What do you all think of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence?

Hmm, I read those years ago, and enjoyed but did not love them. I think I was somewhat disturbed by the nature of the magic, and despite the title of the series, found the author's portrayal of good and evil somewhat relativistic. But I definitely liked the atmosphere of the books, and the villains were marvelously creepy.

It's funny that everyone always calls Greenwitch their least favorite of the sequence, because I remember liking that one best. I think it was because it was the first one in which the two major plot threads intersected (Will Stanton's and the one with ... uh, the three kids whose names I can't remember), Jane (see, I can remember her) actually got some good character development, and there were some very spooky dream sequences. Also, did this book turn anyone else into

?

Kate: despite your dislike of high/epic fantasy, I would encourage you to go on and try Heir of Sea and Fire and Harpist in the Wind. They're not terribly long, and McKillip does some original things with the genre without really leaving its bounds. Plus, the last few chapters of each book are amazing.

I'll certainly let you know what I think of The Tempest when I get around to it, which I hope is soon.

Orious: Yay for A Christmas Carol! That's one of my favorites, so I'm glad it made your top 5 of 2010. Why did you so dislike Peter Pan, if I may ask?

O, Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Oooh, Cather. O, Pioneers! is definitely on my reading list now, as I read A Lost Lady recently and quite enjoyed the writing style. Have you read any of her other books?

Elanor: I haven't read Felix Holt yet, but be aware that it is generally considered one of Eliot's least successful. I would recommend Silas Marner (very short and charming) or Middlemarch (her masterpiece).

Val: I hope you like Rebecca! Du Maurier is a wonderful writer. My Cousin Rachel is also a fine read.

Actually, I haven't read The Belgariad. I think it's MereChristian who stopped reading the series due to its objectionable content.

That's another score against my memory. Oy.

*starts skimming, because otherwise he would be tempted to comment on every.single.thing.*

Best [new] reads of 2010 for me:
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip

Oy, a lot of female authors in there! Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

lys, I have to agree that

I had some of the same issues with the series (especially Will's comments to the vicar in TDiR), but it's still a great reworking of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend, I think.

I finished reading Belle and I have to say that I'm disappointed. It starts out fairly strong for a novel aimed at teens, and has some of the best original characterization of Belle and her sisters I've seen. For once, Belle is not a bookworm! (Sorry, but that gets old after a while.) However, the Beast does not enter until two-thirds of the way through the book, and frankly the story feels rushed from that point on. He never receives enough development for my tastes, nor does his and Belle's relationship. I'd give it 2.5/5 stars, mostly for the beginning and as I said, original characterizations of the three sisters.

Next: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan!

I haven't read Felix Holt yet, but be aware that it is generally considered one of Eliot's least successful. I would recommend Silas Marner (very short and charming) or Middlemarch (her masterpiece).

I did read it, and liked it pretty well - it was interesting, well written, and I enjoyed it. But I should read the other two you mentioned, since I've heard much about them, and we own at least one of them.
I've actually read The Mill on the Floss, but I don't think I liked it as well as Felix Holt. It was very very unsatisfying!!!!!

Is Belle the Cameron Dokey retelling, shastas? I've not read it, but what I've heard lines up with what you say about it: a promising beginning, but an underdeveloped third act. You have read Robin McKinley's Beauty, right? I've yet to find any version of the tale that can top that. (And yes, I do realize that it includes the Beauty-as-bookworm cliche, but it may very well have been the first to do so.)

Elanor: I agree 100% about Mill. Lovely book up until the last two sections, but the climax and denouement were very, very disappointing.

I didn't mention my latest read in my last post simply because it was too long and I wanted to finish it, but now that I'm back so soon I suppose I'll run off my thoughts on it, considering that it's one of the most controversial Books! thread titles ever.

I'm talking, of course, about I Capture a Castle, Dodie Smith's 1948 novel of love, life, writing, and adolescence. It seems that most are either enchanted by the witty, pleasant opening chapters and disappointed when the characters later succumb to romantic dizziness and improprieties; or else they find the later chapters a welcome, sobering relief to the lightheartedness of the book's first half. I can understand both positions, and there is indeed a big shift -- or, depending on one's thinking, split -- between the first and second halves of the book, but I found myself enjoying both for various reasons. The uncomplicated chronicles of the Mortmain family's life in the castle were thoroughly charming, and made me laugh. I loved Cassandra's narrative voice. Later on, when all the romantic entanglements occurred, I found my heart going out to the characters. I sympathized with them. I empathized with them. They helped me understand other people in my own life better, including myself.

To quote VeggieTales: "I laughed, I cried ... it moved me, Bob."

lys, I just have to say, YAY! It seems like I'm one of the few (well, not counting you) who like that book on here. You should definetly check out the movie version...I found it kept quite close to the book and the casting choices were quite brilliant!
I guess I've never really thought about the book being split into two sections though...the light hearted and the more serious...but it is true.

What were your favorite parts? Characters?

I finished From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It was a thoroughly enjoyable re-read, and I shall have to read it again before another 13 years have elapsed .

Tonight (or tomorrow morning, I haven't decided which). I'm going to start Dickens' A Christmas Carol, of which I've read excerpts, but never the entire thing. I know that it is a well loved favourite around here, so we shall have to wait and see if it lives up to the hype.

Well, Cassandra is definitely my favorite character. It wouldn't be anything near the same book without her spunkiness, her insight (or, occasionally, the lack thereof), her desire to love and be love. I also loved Mr. Mortmain, Topaz ("She was so scared, she forgot to be a contralto"), and even young James. I don't think I loved Stephen quite as much as some people do, but I very much liked him -- better than the Cottons, I think. And Miss Marcy was a hoot!

The different parts? Well, I thought the first couple of chapters were flat-out brilliant. One of the best openings to the book I've ever read. Loved all of Rose and Cassandra's night-time chats with Miss Blossom (I suppose I can't count her as a favorite character ?). The swim in the moat was exciting, too. Loved the scene where

I'm sure there's more, but I can't remember them exactly. I think, more than the actual events, it was Cassandra's commentary on them that made me love the book, her shaping of them. Here are some quotes I wrote down while reading.

Contemplation seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing.

When I read a book, I put in all the imagination I can, so that it is almost like writing the book as well as reading it—or rather, it is like living it.

I am not quite Jane Austen yet and there are limits to what I can stand.

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

And my favorite,

This is no moment to be finicky about metaphors.

Those are only from the first half of the book. After that I became to emotionally engaged, tearing up intermittently, etc., to pay attention to quotes.

I did watch the film adaptation, and will post about it in the Past Movies thread. Suffice it to say that I wasn't completely pleased with it, but that may be in part because I watched it almost immediately after finishing the book, and was thus more inclined to whine about the smaller changes.

Yes, Cassandra was great of course. My other favorite characters are probably Rose, Topaz, and James. I think Rose gets sort of shoved to the side, but I could, in a way, see more of myself in her then in Cassandra And Topaz and James because they're just awesome. I wish there had been more of them!

Oh, I agree, it has some amazing quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:

"...I have noticed that when things happen in one's imaginings, they never happen in one's life, so I am curbing myself."

"Ah, but you're the insidious type--Jane Eyre with of touch of Becky Sharp. A thoroughly dangerous girl."

"I wonder if there isn't a catch about having plenty of money? Does it eventually take the pleasure out of things?"

"Oh, wise young judge."

"I could marry the Devil himself if he had some money."

"Did you think of anything when Miss Marcy said Scoatney Hall was being re-opened? I thought of the beginning of Pride and Prejudice – where Mrs. Bennet says 'Netherfield Park is let a last.' And then Mr. Bennet goes over to call on the rich new owner."