Well, as I mentioned above, I got Northanger Abby and Pride & Prejudice from the library.
And, I got Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. It's pretty good so far!

It is almost scary how you just happen to be reading the exact same books I just finished reading. Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Fairest!!!!
I enjoyed Northanger Abbey though perhaps not quite so well as Pride and Prejudice. It was indeed very funny though, especially when she always imagined things in real life that she read in novels. Amazing how such an old book can still feel very relative to you many years after it was written! I often do that sometimes!
Fairest was good. It got a little strange here and there, but then, Levine's books often are strange. I liked it, though I think Ella Enchanted was much better.

I read Ella Enchanted a while ago for a book club and liked it alot. Then I saw the movie... how can they make such a bad movie from such a good book? Way to cheesy and "modern". I've also read that little series that Levine wrote- can't remember what they're called right now but it was like some fairytale stories. *has to look the name up*. I really enjoyed them when I was younger but I'm sure they'd be a little corny and young now.

So I'm reading the Spiderwick Chronicles . I know, a little young for me but they're really interesting! I'm actually reading the second series- I've already read the first. And I like it alot so far

I requested a book from the library yesterday- Wide as the Waters. It's a book about "The English Bible and the Revolution it Inspired". It was reccomended in my civics book and I'm sure my dad and I would enjoy so I decided to check it out.

Sadly I have not been doing a lot of reading of late.

One book that I enjoyed tremendously was the Biography of O. C. Chambers, Abandoned to God, by David McCasland I knew a bit about the fellow, but I really enjoyed the biography on him as it helped me realise that some of my own feelings on certain subjects may not be misplaced.

I also just finished (again) an older book on the Battle of Jutland, oddly enough named Jutland, by Captain Macintyre, and I enjoyed it as I did previously.

I am slowly working through for a second time The Grand Alliance, by the illustrious W. S. Churchill, and for the first time, Forging a Real World Faith, by Gordon MacDonald.

I also just finished A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson.

220 Okay thanks! I will make sure to keep those titles in mind when I'm next at the bookstore or in need of books to read. I quite like the three-some (of Allan, Curtis and Good) in King Solomon's Mines, so I am glad to hear they are in more.

I think of the ten or so stories that I read, The Maltese Cat was my favourite one. A couple of the other stories confused me a little bit, and on in particular that I found too odd for my tastes, (It was The Finest Story in the World) as I think it dealt with reincarnation? I didn't finish that one, although I think I read over halfway. If you have read that one, what is your view on it? Was I a bit too hasty in putting it down, and should I continue reading it?

Currently I'm reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of The Seven Gables. I'm enjoying it quite a bit, although I have one question that perhaps someone can help with.

For my birthday my best friend gave me Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury. (The one with all the things you can take out and such). I was really excited when I opened the package and found out what it was, it looks like a good book! Has anyone else read it, and if so, what do they think of it? I haven't had time to delve into it yet, but soon!

Welcome to the book thread all new-comers! It is really good to have you around!

...I've also read that little series that Levine wrote- can't remember what they're called right now but it was like some fairytale stories. *has to look the name up*. I really enjoyed them when I was younger but I'm sure they'd be a little corny and young now.

The Princess Tales! I LOVE those books. Cinderellis and The Glass Hill, The Fairy's Mistake, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, The Princess Test and For Biddle's Sake. Lovely.

Hm... I don't really post in this thread a lot. I recently read the first two 100 Cupboards books, 100 Cupboards and Dandelion Fire. They were fantastic. I tried to get one of my sisters to read 100 Cupboards - she gave it back after about 50 pages and told me that it was scary and Henrietta annoyed her. Does anyone know when Book 3 comes out?

W4J, I think the lego people comment is my favourite yet.

You're really sorting away!

Yes, can't you see how busy we are?

The Maltese Cat was my favourite one.

Awww, I like that one too. Out of curiosity, did the collection have Garm, a Hostage?

Does anyone know when Book 3 comes out?

The Chestnut King comes out next summer, I think. I'm really looking forward to it.

greenleaf: Oh, thanks for the word on Alex Rider! Those books are kind of a guilty pleasure of mine.

Lol, I love them, when Snakehead came out I couldn't put it down! There's just something about them that makes 'em awesome:D And some of the ideas Anthony Horowitz comes up with are great

Spoiler

Alex hiding under the bad guy's (I forget his name ) bed!? That's somewhere I never would've thought of.

I just recently read Madeline L'Engle's Time Quintet, (the first in the series being A Wrinkle in Time) i thought they were really good, more sci-fi than I'm used to (I'm more of a fantasy geek ), but I still liked it. Anyway, I need to read through this topic sometime and get some ideas for books to read, 'cause I've got a lot of free time on my hands right now (one of the few benefits of being unemployed)

Another one of my beloved series! (wow, Alex Rider to the Time Quartet....only on Narniaweb ) I'm a fantasy geek too, but I'd probably put these up with some of my favorite series. I love how you can take them at so many levels, you can just read them for fun, or you can really get stuff out of them, they go pretty deep. Have you ever read "Many Waters" or "An Acceptable Time"?
Oooo, seeing as we're both Fantasy geeks, I'll try to come up with a short list...
Ranger's Apprentice series
The Sword of Shannara (a bit too much like LotR for me, but still ok)
Queen's Thief (Attolia) series (great books)
Space Trilogy(I'm still trying to get through the second of this, by C.S Lewis. They're a lot like the Time Quintet)
Just to name a few:)

I've been away for so long, I don't feel like I even have a right to be here. Especially since I haven't been reading many books. *tears*

From the old NewWeb... (That's what I call it in my head. )

Finally decided what books I'm taking along to college this year.
...
Bring Me a Unicorn by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

That made me very, very happy. I'm not sure why I'm obsessing so much about A.M.L.... Anyway, I just ordered all of her volumes of letters & diaries from Amazon. The one I need to read next is the one that hasn't been shipped yet...

I got a $100 Amazon gift certificate!!!!! Being a true bibliophile, I've taken great enjoyment in mulling over everything, and deciding what I want. So far, I've ordered:

Baby Boat, by Betty Waterton. My very favorite children's book ever. Ever since I can remember, in fact. I think it's a pretty rare book, too... only published a few times. Mostly published under the title of Plain Noodles, I think. (I think I think I think I think I think. At least I think I do.)

Manalive! by G.K.Chesterton. This one I'm very excited about. I got a hardcover from 1912! For very little, too. For months I've looked for one for something less-than-usual-new-book-price, but they don't seem to make hardcovers for people like me. It's red, with firm binding, but smells a little musty (any ideas on how to get rid of that?), and has pencil marks on almost every page, which I don't mind. The person who did it must have been like me. I like to underline parts that I like, and make little notes with pencil in the margins. And this is on almost every page, so... must have been like me. That made me super happy.

These haven't arrived yet:

The Count of Monte Cristo, hardcover and unabridged! (Haven't figured out how to do links yet... bother.)

Belles on Their Toes, by Frank and Ernestine Gilbreth, sequel to my dear Cheaper by the Dozen. An older volume, because I like old books best.

Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead

Locked Rooms and Open Doors

The Flower and the Nettle

War Within and Without, all four volumes of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's letters and diaries.

When Jessie Came Across the Sea, by Amy Hest, my second favorite children's book, with the most beautiful illustrations. Hardcover, of course.

Mistress Pat, by L.M.Montgomery, an old hardcover, to my great delight.

And Jane Eyre, a Reader's Digest volume.

I think I'll be able to get a few more... So that is what has been preoccupying and entertaining me.

And yesterday, I entertained and preoccupied myself by organizing my books by publisher. Besides Scholasitc and Bantam, of which I have The Laura Ingalls Series and The Anne of Green Gables Series, the most I have of any single publisher is six books. The A. L. Burt Co. and The Book Supply Co. are the top-rankers, I think.

There's more than you can see, too. I love my books.

I just finished Perelandra. I liked it, but I haven't quite decided on any opinion of it beyond that. Not sure if I liked it more or less than Out of the Silent Planet. The part where the I'll have to think about it more.

Other than that, and dipping into Personality Type, by Lenore Thomson (interesting!), I haven't spent much time with books. And that makes me sad.

Catching up on four — no, five — pages here... Why do I always start my posts here like that?

Lovely Argonath poster, Jo-Anna! Now I don't have to worry about mine disappearing?

I liked your thoughts on The Sherwood Ring, Ryan! I agree, her characters are what make the stories so great. Kind of like the Attolia books. You might want to note that your review contains big spoilers though.

Have you started the Attolia books yet, Amira?

mar_girl, I can't STAND mistakes like the ones you found in Believing in Narnia! To me it just shows that the person writing the book does not really care about the source material, but is just writing a book to write a book (and make money). *sigh*

Welcome to the Books thread, Rachel111. As others have said, your list of favorites are well known in these parts!

Ha, I like the edits to Dan Brown's writing. So true!

So you ended up liking S&S then. GTG. Cool . I know what you mean; it waffles back and forth with P&P for my favorite Austen novel.

The Amanda Root Jane Eyre is something I've had my eye on for awhile.

There's an Amanda Root Jane Eyre? I'm getting one!

Mel, I LOVE your picture of the Books thread aficionados "helping" Jo-Anna catalog her library

Thanks! Yes, I promise that I will reread it a while from now, and I will give you what I think about it, which probably is going to be different than what it is now. =]

Yay! I look forward to hearing from you about it in a few years or so!

Re: Amy in Little Women, I hate when a less-than-lovely fictional character has my name! I'm reading posts about how everyone hates Amy

We have some new people in the thread! Hello Lady of the Green Kirtle and Gmatt (and anyone else I might have missed). It's great that you've found us, here in the best thread on NWeb

WOW Betsie, nice purchases from Amazon! And I love your pictures . They look a little like my living room did this past February when I took on the massive task of organizing and alphabetizing my library.

I haven't been reading much lately... too much going on. But I started The Fellowship of the Ring on Tuesday for my annual reread. Rob Inglis' reading takes a little while to get used to, but I'm settling in with it. It's definitely going to be a long haul to listen to the entire book on audio CD, but worth it!

Also, Wilkie Collins fans should see the Special Feature I posted this morning

Some time ago I picked up "The George MacDonald Treasury", a huge Volume that contains 8 of, you probably guessed it, George MacDonalds books. I started Phantastes some time ago, but I didn't really get hooked yet, so I'm still at the second chapter and picked up C.S. Lewis stories about Boxen instead, which is a light, yet entertaining read.

On the other hand, I read on the official C. S. Lewis Blog about a book called Conversations With C. S. Lewis by Robert Velarde and after reading part of the first chapter, was hooked (unlike with any other book that had C. S. Lewis in its title...) and decided on ordering it, with me looking forward to it quite a bit.

Re: Amy in Little Women, I hate when a less-than-lovely fictional character has my name! I'm reading posts about how everyone hates Amy

Oh dear, I know. I don't... hate Amy from LW... I just--don't particularly like her. *wonders why that is-that no one really likes her* Hm.

*waves to Betsie*
Post 5353

I just recently read Madeline L'Engle's Time Quintet, (the first in the series being A Wrinkle in Time) i thought they were really good, more sci-fi than I'm used to (I'm more of a fantasy geek ), but I still liked it.

I have that series somewhere, just have to find it. I really liked the first book (A Wrinkle in Time) but started to lose interest after the 2nd one. It seemed (at the time) like the books really had little to do with each other, other than having many of the same characters. One could somewhat say the same thing about the Chronicles of Narnia, but with those you're always anchored in Narnia in one fashion or another, and there's a continuing story, even if it's not what we'd refer to as a "story arc". I never really got that from L'Engle's series. I'll need to dust em' off though and try again.

My local library doesn't have this Attolia series in stock, which isn't much of a surprise because everytime I go there they never seem to have any books I look for. My wife works there and can put in a request for it, but before she does is this a series that anyone here who knows me would say that I'd enjoy?

A few quick notes...

DiGoRyKiRkE: I never wanted to read Paradise Lost in high school or college. And I was never assigned it. But I had to read it for graduate comps and I loved it. So I agree with your assessment that "I find Paradise Lost to be so utterly beautiful that I advise everybody to read it." And yes, it shows you "just how much God really is in control." I've also read Milton's Samson Agonistes and a few really short poems. And I want to read Paradise Regained. Have I read Love's Labour's Lost? No...

Like the rest of you, I much preferred The Odyssey to The Iliad. Does anyone like The Iliad? And you know what just occurred to me? Iliad = Prince Caspian [war]. Odyssey = The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [adventure on the high seas]. Interesting, isn't it?

I've also started Plato's Phaedo, but I can't say that I'm tearing through it. I kind of want Socrates to die already so they'll stop philosophying.

LOL!

GMatt: Biography of O. C. Chambers, Abandoned to God, by David McCasland My mother discovered this book today on an old shelf!

And yesterday, I entertained and preoccupied myself by organizing my books by publisher.

That's hilarious! Never thought of that before...

Lady Courage: I didn't particularly enjoy The Last Man all that much, but if you really like Mary Shelley then it's an interesting read.

Oh, well, I don't really like her... Guess I won't read it then... Thanks for telling me!

Man, I can't join in this Jane Austen part of this thread discussion because I've only read Pride and Prejudice, which I think I said earlier I loved.

But here's a question for y'all- Does anyone else here like Charles Dickens? It's amazing to me how many people don't like him. I think he's awesome! But, I just read David Copperfield, and didn't care for it at all. It's not that I disliked it, but I had no love for it like I did his other books. Am I the only one?

But here's a question for y'all- Does anyone else here like Charles Dickens? It's amazing to me how many people don't like him. I think he's awesome! But, I just read David Copperfield, and didn't care for it at all. It's not that I disliked it, but I had no love for it like I did his other books. Am I the only one?

Charles Dickens is one of my favorite authors! But I have to agree: David Copperfield was not one of the best.