Well. Last Thursday I finished my first McKillip - The Bell at Sealey Head. One of my first thoughts on the overall impression was how much it reminds me of Austen novels. I was wondering exactly how silly you all would think me for that, when I found this:

Besides, it's just a delightful, rather Austenesque story, with lovely quotes about books and writing, and lots of mouthwatering descriptions of meals.

In the old Books: Chapter One thread. Whew. I'm not alone!
For some reason the romances struck me as very Austen-y as well. And all the talk about parties!

I did enjoy the lovely descriptions, and both worlds are very fleshed out and interesting. The characters are quite well written - I especially like Emma.

The only big issue I have with the book is that the end was pretty underwhelming. The tension and questions were building as I read, and I while I didn't know what to expect, I did find that the ending did not live up to my expectations.

I will definitely be reading more of Patricia McKillip's work, though!

Well. Last Thursday I finished my first McKillip - The Bell at Sealey Head. One of my first thoughts on the overall impression was how much it reminds me of Austen novels.

haha, yay, and I just finished that too! I'm glad you liked it!!
I didn't get the Austen impression at all, but I *think* I can understand why you and Mal did.

I especially like Emma.

I really like her too; not as a quiet, submissive house maid (they always annoy me), but as a nice girl.

I will definitely be reading more of Patricia McKillip's work, though!

From what I've heard, and the two McKillip books I've read, that one is the best, and the others aren't so good. But I hope you enjoy what you read!

I like that book too although it can take some getting through My sister took it on a long trip once and really enjoyed reading it too. I think Tolstoy has great characters, very lifelike and totally interesting - you never really know what they're going to do next!

I agree! Each of the characters was written realistically, each with foibles, strengths, and weaknesses. Well, I can't say how many strengths some of the characters had , but on the whole, all the characters were quite human-like.

*cheers both Fanny and flam on their recent book buys* I always love to hear about people's book bargains.

Do be sure to tell us if you get any new books!

I can definitely understand that. I don't think I could stick with a book that long; I'm impressed!

Hehe, thanks!

I read it yesterday and really liked it! Verne has a very interesting and entertaining writing style that I enjoy reading.

Hurray! Have you seen the David Niven film version? The book wasn't too hard to read, and yet I found it was not too simple, either. If that happens to make sense. Perhaps "simple" is not the correct word for which I was looking.

I finished reading Churchill's Frontiers and Wars, or rather, a collection done by a third party of Churchill's first four non fiction books. (His very first book was his one and only novel). The four books were capital, and really enjoyable. They were set in the far corners of the British Empire, at a time and a place that I like very much. It was good.

Last Saturday after work my parents and I stopped off at a local bookstore (did I ever mention that my place of employment is two doors down from a book store that is opened only during the summer?) and while I only intended to spend $5.00 or so, I ended up spending over five times that amount. However, I did get my money's worth, and came home with a box full of books. Mainly pertaining to history and political history (not sure how much I should say on the subject of the latter, given the subject nature and NWeb's rules, so I shall stop there), so I have my summer reading all planned. I was extremely happy to get four of the five books I needed to complete Churchill's World War II series. I only need one more to have the complete set. Now if only I can find his World War I series.... (which, I think, is at the moment an unattainable object, given that his WWI series is rather rare). Now I just have to find places for all the books....

I didn't get the Austen impression at all, but I *think* I can understand why you and Mal did.

I'm on the fence about comparing the overall feel to Austen; visually I picture it as being a little more Rococo than Empire, and the writing style reminds me more of Beauty by Robin McKinley.

As for the ending being anti-climactic,

*is sucked in to re-reading Books: Chapter One* Awwwww... all the wonderful books and hilarious conversations... and books that I meant to read but haven't yet.

Oh! And I finished Dombey and Son.

Spoiler

Hurrah! Florence and her father were reconciled! And Walter lived, and Paul's friend got a good wife and the good Carkers were happy and the only one who didn't quite get what she deserved was Edith.

I'm on the fence about comparing the overall feel to Austen; visually I picture it as being a little more Rococo than Empire, and the writing style reminds me more of Beauty by Robin McKinley.

Oh yes, I can definitely feel that! I love that book . .

Oh! And I finished Dombey and Son. Hurrah! Florence and her father were reconciled! And Walter lived, and Paul's friend got a good wife and the good Carkers were happy and the only one who didn't quite get what she deserved was Edith.

Aw, I'm so glad you liked it!! I know, I always feel so bad for Edith . . though she definitely isn't blameless.

I just thought I would let everyone know that the Book Depositary (located in England) has a deal currently going with 10% off all their books - it has been extended till the 5th of June. If anyone is interested the url is

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk

They ship books to Australia for free There are a number of other countries where they ship for free too - you can find a list on there website. I find that they are really reasonably priced and carry HEAPS of books!

I love Book Depository! UK or US version (you have to check which is cheaper). Shipping to Australia is often very expensive so free shipping is great in my books!

Hear hear about shipping to Australia being expensive (or overseas shipping to any country I would imagine). Sometimes the postage is the dearest item

I'm knew to the BD and I didn't realize there was an American counterpart. One of my friends put me onto it as she gets most of her textbooks for uni from there - I wish I had known about it when I was going through uni!

I just finished reading The Clearing by Heather Davis. It was one of those books where the ending blew my mind! I couldn't put this book down. It was fantastic.

I just skimmed about 9 pages of this thread and I have come to one conclusion: You all love Charles Dickens a LOT. I personally cannot stand his writing. It wears me down and bores me and his stories take absolutely ages to go anywhere. But I'm glad everyone else enjoys him. I do want to give permission to people like Lady Galadriel, though, who might be having a harder time. I find him very hard, if not impossible, to enjoy.

Well, good news! My quarter is finally over and summer is finally here! This means LOTS of delicious summer reading. After two quarters of entirely American 20th and 21st century authors and in anticipation of my Faulkner class in the fall, I am going to be reading almost exclusively dead British people this summer. I'm hoping to do some re-reads of old favorites and finally finish The Once and Future King from last summer.

Flam: You read To Kill a Mockingbird and Boo Radley made it on your favorite characters list? What about Atticus? He's so, so incredible.
Please, please, please let me know how you like JSMN.
Also, Roger Ackroyd has been promptly added to my summer "to read" list. Thanks!

I really want to read some Evelyn Waugh this summer, but I'm wondering which book would be the best to undertake. I already read Brideshead Revisited.

On that subject, I was in the library today looking at Waugh books and picked one out randomly and it was a limited edition, autographed copy!! How does that even happen? It was just sitting there, fading on the shelf.

Since I was last here I read:
Beloved by Toni Morrison (Absolutely incredible book. Incomparable and stunning)
A Mercy by Toni Morrison
Passing by Nella Larsen
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
(all for my African American Women's Lit Class)
Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
(For Modernism)

edit: I just got a goodreads account, so be my friend.

Kate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is bored by and struggles to read Charles Dickens' writings.

Still reading Randy Alcorn's Heaven. It's fantastic and hugely thought-provoking.

Gordon Korman's new trilogy "Titanic" is now out!!!!! I was at Barnes & Noble and I read the first part of book one! it's so epic! I hope my library gets it soon.....

Short reviews on books I've read lately:

Fairest by Gail Carson LevineAn interesting twist on the story of Snow White. Doesn't seem like the same story though, which was good with me. It was a fun read...

The Attolia Series by Megan Whalen Turner: [reviews backwards] These were all re-reads.
A Conspiracy of KingsAgain, good. I liked that it focused on Sophos. This was a re-read too, like all the rest of the series was. Good character development and plot turns.

The King of Attolia
Cons: At first it just annoyed me that Gen didn't seem like Gen and that the book was about Costis more. But now I like that part... And all the talk of the gods is annoying too of course.
Pros: Good Character development.

The Queen of Attolia
Pros: Good character development. Good plot turns. Cons: Basically the same as in The Thief.

The Theif
Pros: Good story line. I really enjoyed it. Lots of character. Surprising plot turns. I understood it better the second time around. Cons: Mostly just that Gen swears a ton. He uses "gods" instead of "God", so that doesn't bother me *as much. But still. I don't know if that really changes it.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Cons:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Cons:

Spoiler

Whether Rebecca was despicable or not, he should not have murdered her. Seriously. And the whole time you're hoping he won't get found out. He deserved to be punished for it IMO.

Pros: Interesting,wonderful word pictures and wording.

Yeah, I flicked through this book in the library and I agree with what you have written in spoilers. There was a film made of this book in the 40's or 50's and my Mum used to like it. I started reading a series of short stories by du Maurier and I found them really, really weird and in fact I didn't finish the book.

I'm currently reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" for the first time I'm a bit less than half way through it but so far I'm really enjoying it I've heard about it for years but never gotten around to actually reading it. With the 10% off with the Book Depositary I got an order of books In fact I treated my whole family to a book each. Anyway I should have a few books to comment on here in the next couple of weeks or so

Also, I may have lost my membership in the Honorable Society of Patricia McKillip Junkies, as I just found out today she released a new book...ahem, back in December. Oy. Has anyone read The Bards of Bone Plain? How is it?

*turns in her membership slip on top of malkah's* First I've heard of it as well.

*joins the group of people who hadn't heard about the new McKillip* But, hey, I usually get most of my book news from here, so...

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kate warned me what the situation was in here. I suppose this is what I get for abandoning you all for so long. I am pretty sure that I brought up The Bards of Bone Plain once last year, but it was probably just a passing mention, pre-release. Suffice it to say that I have not only heard of Bards, but have read it as well. Does this make me President of the Honorable Society of Patricia McKillip Junkies?

I personally think McKillip is on a roll. Bards isn't as good as Sealey Head (her last), but I'd still consider it one of her better books. Some have likened it to Alphabet of Thorn, and then come to the conclusion that it was inferior to the earlier book. I can see the connection, and will admit that Thorn's twist is better (this new book was a bit more predictable) but the real joy of Bards is travelling backwards and forwards through the history of the country. I don't think McKillip has bothered to create such a complicated fantasy world since the Riddle-Master series. I also loved the bits of (original) old tales and ballads she uses in order to fill in the backstory.

She does seem to be playing a lot with setting these days, first with the Austenesque seaside town in Sealey Head and now with the vaguely steampunk world of Bards. It's nice to see her moving from using stock medieval fantasy lands all the time.

I will definitely be reading more of Patricia McKillip's work, though!

Glad you enjoyed The Bell at Sealey Head. Her climaxes do seem to take some getting used to, I will admit.

From what I've heard, and the two McKillip books I've read, that one is the best, and the others aren't so good.

Out of curiosity, what were the other two you read, Elanor? I wouldn't say The Bell at Sealey Head is necessarily her best. It's ONE of her best, however, and certainly her most accessible. I also love the Riddle-Master trilogy and Winter Rose. Alphabet of Thorn, Ombria in Shadow, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, and The Bards of Bone Plain are some of her other above-average books.

Well, enough for now. I'll leave McKillip behind and post about some of my recent reads next time I'm in here!