The hyphen in Lassie Come-Home bugs me too, ww. We should start a club.

Regarding birth order...the other problem, if you will, that I had with the book was I don't quite understand how it works with more than perhaps five children. Does someone with eleven kids have at least six "middle" kids? I know you have to factor in age gaps, gender, etc, but still...I was lost in trying to apply it most of the people I know. *sighs* I really, really need to go to the library! If I just persevere, maybe then it will make sense.

I know, every birth order expert seems to forget the possibility of having more than three or four children! I read somewhere that in large families (7-8 or more) there tend to be sub-groups within the family...some middle kids will act as older children and take certain younger children under their wing, etc. Also if you have a string of boys then when a girl comes along she'll be more like an oldest or middle child (or vice versa).

I found The Birth Order Book intriguing but don't know how much stock I put into the whole idea. There are SO many variations that can make someone not act like their prescribed "type". Amongst my five siblings and I, one or two of us act the way they say we should. It's interesting but I think I shall stick with my MBTI

Aitb - The only book I can think of offhand is Everyday Life in the 1800s by Marc McCutcheon (you might also find it under The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the 1800s). It's sort of an encyclopedia of everything nineteenth century America. Very good apart from the usual interjections of political correctness. I don't know about the rest, but try searching in your library catalogue by subject. Whenever I look for specific nonfiction titles my library never has them anyway.

I haven't been reading that much lately and what I have been is mostly nonfiction... Thanks to The Wonderful Bookmooch I got Deerskin by Robin McKinley (which my library once had but LOST before I could read it. the nerve!) and The Gentle Infidel which kotwcs once recommended, so looking forward to those. Er...sometime.

I read Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard last week after watching the movie and loving it. I never thought I'd say this but I think I like the film better *gaspchokedie* Everything is described so unfeelingly and objectively, and Book!Jim is a bit too callous and selfish to actually like. Still it's gritty and realistic and all very fascinating, especially how he comes to see the internment camp as the refuge (or rather, a place where he has control over things) and fears the world outside it, to the point of desperately wanting the Japanese to win the war... And Ballard's metaphors and such...ahhhh. Glad I read it, and it's haunting and I couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time afterward, but once in a while I like to actually empathise with the main character. I've also been reading A Boy's War by David Michell, about missionaries interned, and it's amazing how different it is. Same situation, but none of the hopelessness.

Lysander,
Sorry? Your parents think Philip Yancey simplifies life's problems in his writings? I seriously doubt it. With so much fluff and puff on the Christian market (eg. much of Max Lucado) it's refreshing to have someone who talks about the more difficult times/issues in life in a conversational, interesting and honest way.

Hmmm, Lys. I always thought I should eventually read Empire of the Sun myself after enjoying the film so much. But I never got around to it . Thanks to you, I may never read it . I wouldn't want to ruin a good thing .

GB

I'm reading Green by Ted Dekker. It's not as good as Black, Red and White (it was tough getting into it, the beginning was a bit sloppily written and not particularly interesting) but as I've progressed it's become much better.

I finally finished Anna Karenina! I really liked it I found Anna's story interesting and very well narrated, but I, personally, liked more the story of Levin and Kitty.

@ForeverFan: I found Lord Jim a bit slow too at first. But it picked up. I don't want to give anything away. My problem is Conrad's writing, well really Marlow as a narrator. I don't like him at all. Books that don't have Marlow, like The n****r of the Narcissus and Nostromo, are faster reads.

@malkah @Narnian1993: I can't believe I forgot Dumas! I loved The Three Musketeers! [book and 1993 movie] And I liked what I read of its sequels!

I've read a novel and two short stories from each, and while neither are particular favorites, I infinitely prefer Faulkner. Hemingway feels so empty to me, and I'm not just talking about the spare, journalistic prose (which I can stand from certain authors, though not him particularly). And yes, phosphorescence and pee are on pretty much every page of The Old Man and the Sea, although I don't think there's a connection. For Faulkner I prefer the short stories so far; As I Lay Dying (despite the awesome title! ) didn't do much for me, and I seriously wanted to go after his "creative spelling choices" with a red pen. I own The Sound and the Fury, but after hearing my uncle talk it up as "ground-breaking" and "experimental" as compared to the more conventional and accessible Light in August, I think I'd rather read Light instead.

I also prefer Faulkner. His stories are deeper, more archetypal almost, and his characters much more memorable. Hemingway also feels empty to me. I haven't read As I Lay Dying. But I've read The Sound and the Fury 2-3 times. Parts of it are a little hard going and it is experimental. But I loved the book. [spoiler=The Sound and the Fury]I liked all except Jason's part [part 3], which has too much swearing. The best part is Dilsey [part 4], namely her description of her pastor's Easter sermon. The main part of the plot is during Easter weekend. [/spoiler] I tried to read Light in August and it was so conventional and boring I couldn't get beyond the first 2-3 chapters.

@Alyosha: you've read Empire of the Sun and seen the movie? And you own A Boy's War? I also loved the movie! I've seen it like 3 times! The plot, how Spielberg portrays pre-war vs. post-war Jim [remember Gone with the Wind? ], the soundtrack. Ahhh. I've also read the book but I don't remember it that well. It wasn't like the movie, which is a cinematic work of art. I own A Boy's War but I've never taken the time to read it. But I should, seeing it's about missionaries. Have you read any biographies of Eric Liddell, a Scottish athlete? Chariots of Fire (1981) is about him, 1924 Olympics. Liddell was a missionary to China and died in a Japanese internment camp there during World War II.

@Gandalfs Beard: you've seen Empire of the Sun too?

@Mar In Narnia: I also preferred the story of Levin and Kitty.

@ 220: Thanks! As it happens, I finished it this past Friday, so you don't need to worry about it. I agree for sure that the book picked up, and while not (or so I found) being a hard core action/adventure book, I found it moved at a good pace for the rest of the book.

I did find the beginning somewhat confusing, though. I think it was due to the style of narration (almost the entire story being told through Marlow's words), and that sometimes I had a harder time discerning some of the events and if they were part of Marlow's story, or happening at the time he was telling the story. (I hope that makes sense).

All in all, an interesting read for sure.

Mel: Ah, right. I agree- it was unusual, and I dearly wish they had of explained it more...it felt somewhat unconnected with the rest of the book to me.

As I said in the Charles Dickens SF, I've started reading Nicholas Nickleby. I believe I'm not far enough into it to tell whether I'll love it or not (I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it at least), so we'll see. It'll be interesting to see how it all develops and where all the characters go and such.

SnowAngel: I'd say it's definitely worthwhile--all of my family found it quite humorous. My brothers especially loved the parts where Stephen was talking about being the only boy and how miserable it was.
And my brothers have nothing to complain about-- when we read the book it was 7 to 2. Now it's 7 to 1. (Yep, I'm the "loner")

Sorry, I didn't reply sooner, but all of my family (including me ) have had nasty colds over the weekend. So, we haven't been on the computer for fun stuff since Thursday. Sounds like a good book! I'll ask Mom if we can get it in our next book order.

And what? You say the Huskers are bad?!? Hmph. (I'm not really a fan, but... I have many friends who are.)

[off topic]Oh my, I'm so sorry. Yep, I say they're bad. We have some friends that are big time KU fans, so I know what it's like to have mixed-up friends. Love them anyway, right? [/off topic]

I read Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends a while ago...I forget most of it . I got to see the authors though at MassHOPE a few years ago.

Hehe...maybe you should re-read it. Seriously, though, what stood out to you? Any topics or chapters that were especially good?

For those of you who were "talking" with Scarlet, she will try and post sometime this evening. But I'm not promising any thing.

SnowAngel

Wow, I haven't posted since school started.
Page 13-
W4J: yes, I believe Ginger is a tomcat. The author of Believing in Narnia said he was a leopard. I'm going to have to compile a list of what she got wrong because I'm nitpicky like that. I'm busy with schoolwork, so that won't be anytime soon.
*loves the sorting books at jo's picture, and assumes she is also hiding among the stacks*
ww: Ditto on the mistakes in Believing in Narnia. I don't think she just did the book for money, though. Perhaps she just got excited at the possibility of making a "Narnian spiritual insights" book for children (although I doubt that space in the book market was empty; Roar! is very good, although not as heavy on the spirituality/religion aspects as BIN is). She didn't read them enough, is my guess.

This is just a quick post to let you know about the books I'm reading for school.
Heroes Lit
Judith: (Old English poem about the heroine from the Apocrypha book) loved loved loved this poem. I read the Richard Trask translation, which really gave me a feel for the language. I'm going to write a paper comparing this and Sir Gawain (see below)
Beowulf: I also enjoyed this one. The translator was the same as Judith's.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: I've read the first two parts, and so far I'm enjoying it. The endnotes, which are marked with an asterisk instead of a tiny number, are kind of irritating since I have to flip to the back of the book and find out what they have to say about the marked passage. Plus I think I prefer endnotes marked with numbers instead of asterisks. It feels less confusing. This translation is by Keith Harrison, and it's all right, except that our teacher has a different translation that is more poetical and seems to fit the source material better. So that's ruined poor KH for us.

C.S. Lewis class
The Pilgrim's Regress: This book was in turns (and sometimes at the same time) dull, fascinating, spiritually fulfilling/"oh that makes sense", over my head/confusing, clunky, and soaring. It was interesting as a story and rather fascinating as a spiritual journey. The ending felt anticlimactic (I wanted more of the dragon-fighting!! ). On the whole I liked this book, but it's not one of my favorites from him.
The Discarded Image: I'm finding it interesting, but it's a bit over my head since I don't have a background in the classics or medieval history. Oh well.
Out of the Silent Planet: I've already read this one. I love it. I just love it when fantasy books have spiritual themes (or is it when spiritual books have fantasy elements?). That's why the CON, this Ransom trilogy and The Great Divorce are my favorite books (from CSL and in general).

They had a Free Books table in one of the school buildings, and I picked up the most adorable book. Check out the cover and the title. That is why. It's so Book-ish! Even my grandmother noted that when I showed it to her. I'm not all that interested in what's inside, which sounds blasphemous, but it seems to be about Why, What, and How we should read. I don't need to be told the first one, you good people here at NW have got me covered on the second one, and I don't care to be told the third one. So there.

Links
Hark! A Vagrant webcomics:
Not book-y, probably, but this made me think of kotwcs (and it's funny): comic
Jane Austen comic Poor Jane.
George Orwell writes a novel. CONTAINS LANGUAGE (just a couple of words, but I am obligated to tell you)

These are from my CSL class:
Audio clips
Great biography

Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants book trailer, excerpt

Hee, punctuation.

And I'm afraid that's all the links I'll be providing for a while (unless I get more from my classes). Bye and happy reading!

Yesterday I finished Green by Ted Dekker. There were a number of faults I had with the book but I really enjoyed it. The beginning was a bit dull and some of the names of characters, their parallels and names of locations - Paradose Valley? (Oh, please!) were a bit lame. At times I thought the book was too reminiscent of Revelation (and the Left Behind books). Otherwise it was very enjoyable novel with some excellent storytelling. It explored great violence and darkness and great love and redemption. I loved how it tied the Circle Trilogy and Paradise books together. I'm giving it a 9/10.

Hmmm, Lys. I always thought I should eventually read Empire of the Sun myself after enjoying the film so much. But I never got around to it . Thanks to you, I may never read it . I wouldn't want to ruin a good thing

That was me, but glad to know that I could pass as a Lysander impersonator Hooray, someone else who's seen that! If you do read the book I shouldn't think it would ruin it TOO much, as they're quite different...I see them as two separate things really. It's odd how it's so close to the book as far as plot goes, but in terms of theme and (to a lesser extent) character they're not the same at all.

@Alyosha: you've read Empire of the Sun and seen the movie? And you own A Boy's War? I also loved the movie! I've seen it like 3 times! The plot, how Spielberg portrays pre-war vs. post-war Jim [remember Gone with the Wind? ], the soundtrack. Ahhh. I've also read the book but I don't remember it that well. It wasn't like the movie, which is a cinematic work of art. I own A Boy's War but I've never taken the time to read it. But I should, seeing it's about missionaries. Have you read any biographies of Eric Liddell, a Scottish athlete? Chariots of Fire (1981) is about him, 1924 Olympics. Liddell was a missionary to China and died in a Japanese internment camp there during World War II.

Yep...and the acting, the plot (civilians + WWII = something I am automatically biased in favour of. All the better if there's a prison camp. ), all the symbols... Now I want to watch the film again. Also the use of an unreliable narrator, which I've never seen that used in a movie before.

I've read a little about Eric Liddell--very cool story (especially the last part, which I think is more interesting than the Olympics that everyone knows him for). A Boy's War talks about him a bit, as he was in the same internment camp as the author. Yes, read it! I wouldn't have thought that anyone else had heard of it as it seems to be a fairly rare book...actually my mum got ours when she met the author years ago.

mara - Agreed on the Pilgrim's Regress. I loved the first third, thought the second third was ok, and by the last part in completely lost me. My favourite part is the Boethius quote at the beginning. Ha, love the JA comic.

ww, if you tell me you've never read Incredible Journey either, I will be shocked and disappointed.

*preserves a discreet silence*

There are less Ellis Peters books on the shelf because... her fans buy up every single copy and hang on to them like gold?

Good theory! I certainly buy up every Ellis Peters book I see. I have a lot of the Brother Cadfael mysteries already but I buy them anyways, having gotten two of my friends addicted to them as well

What's all this about a Manalive Conspiracy? Can I be in it too?

The hyphen in Lassie Come-Home bugs me too, ww. We should start a club.

I feel so validated right now

Lysander,
Sorry? Your parents think Philip Yancey simplifies life's problems in his writings? I seriously doubt it. With so much fluff and puff on the Christian market (eg. much of Max Lucado) it's refreshing to have someone who talks about the more difficult times/issues in life in a conversational, interesting and honest way.

It would be more convincing if you could provide evidence for your opinion, Warrior. No need to be so harsh, either . I'm sure lys didn't mean this personally toward you!

I haven't read any more of Yancey's book on prayer lately. I'm just not excited about it after noticing his big theological mistake right in the opening chapters...

I've seen Empire of the Sun and wasn't really drawn to it, though it was well made. Don't think I'll be looking for the book anytime soon.

Interesting thoughts on your Lewis class, mara.

*giggles at the JA and punctuation comics* Nice.

I've finally forced some reading time back into my life and have read and reviewed Legacy of Cain, The Princess and the Goblin, and Georgette Heyer's Sylvester. Not quite sure what I'll pick up next...

ww, your silence suggests deficiencies in your childhood reading. Absolutely shocking! *ponders the genre* Ginger Pye? Moshe Cat?

I'm sure you're very welcome in the Manalive conspiracy. After all, D-T-R and flambeau let me join.

mara, I recently ran across Hark! A Vagrant myself. The comic that reminded you of kotwcs is one of my favourites.

ww, if you tell me you've never read Incredible Journey either, I will be shocked and disappointed.

*preserves a discreet silence*

Wow...really? If it's the same book that I read many years ago it was a pretty good book (is this the same one with the retriever, the cat, and the old bull terrier?). I think you'd like it ww, one of the "main characters" of the book is a young Labrador/Golden retriever if I recall right. I want to say that Disney made a movie based on the book waaaaay back in the day but that might just have been my imagination.

I'm reading a James Michener book, Centennial, right at the moment. It was 25 cents at a recent paperback book sale at the library and it looked like it might be long enough to hold my interest. Apparently Michener was some sort of "super author" of the 1970's and early 80's and was known for making epic stories, but beyond that I don't know much about the guy. The premise is that he charts the history of a single town just east of the Rockies from the time of the Earth's formation (lots of discussion about tectonic plate movement, volcanoes, etc.) up until the time the book was set in, 1973. It's interesting thus far, but it hasn't really grabbed me by the throat yet. But I'm giving it a shot.

I have Ginger Pye but I'm not positive that I've read it. Never heard of Moshe Cat.

I blame my library *points finger at tiny one-horse library where she used to scan the shelves for something she hadn't yet read*

Now if only a copy of Manalive would pop up on BM or PBS...

I do think there was a movie about that book, SL. In fact, I think it's one of Jo-Anna's family's favorites. I have to confess I haven't seen that one (though I have seen the newer version, Homeward Bound, many more times than I wish to remember, due in large part to a younger sibling's obsession with it. However, we will not go into that now.)

SL, my sister LOVES Michener and keeps trying to get me to read his books. I will, one of these days. In the meanwhile I keep myself amused by picking up every Michener book I see for her. I think Chesapeake is her favorite, though she likes all of them. It's kind of funny how she got hooked on his stuff... she is a missionary and at times gets desperate for new reading material. Someone had left a bunch of ratty Michener paperbacks and she and her team devoured them for lack of anything else to read — and ended up loving them. Let us know how it goes