I've just finished Lunatic by Ted Dekker. It was a mixed bag. Overall it was well-written but the first half of the book was a bit dull. The last half was absolutely amazing. There's a great portrayal of the seductive qualities of sin. Too often fiction portrays evil as something as very obvious and easy to distinguish from light. We have to remember to always be on our guard, for Satan himself was the most beautiful being in Heaven, below God, before he fell.

I thought I was going to have a very long catch up post, but either I haven't read the books discussed over the last 7 pages or I have nothing of worth to add to the discussion.

ww: Have you read Fforde's The Eyre Affair? The premise seemed very interesting to me and I've been wanting to read it for awhile, but the used book stores never have a very good price on it. How is it?

mara: Oooh, interesting Gaiman trailer. His Lewis influences are ever present. Never ending winter you say Neil... ? Although "Cheerful, infuriating, and clever" sounds like a winning protagonist to me. It appears that this is going to be one of his fabulously genius children's books and not one of his infuriatingly disturbing adult ones, yes?

I have read Ginger Pye. We had to do a report in 5th grade on a Newbury winner and I chose it because my last name is a "W" and I got to choose last. It was terrible. I was only 10 at the time, but I remember being very bored and wondering how a book that pointless and cliche could win the award. I'd read some of the more recent winners and liked them and couldn't figure out why that book could have won.

I finally finished Sutcliff's Tristan and Iseult. I started it last spring before I left school to go home for summer and finally resumed it this quarter. I enjoyed it quite a lot. It's a very interesting and equally disturbing star-crossed romance and Sutcliff did a good job with it. This is the only Sutcliff and the only T&I retelling I've read. I liked that she made their love a choice rather than a product of accidental potion taking, but can you just decide that a crucial plot point in a legend should disappear?

Since I finished the Sutcliff, I picked a new in-library reading book: McKinley's The Blue Sword. It's very interesting so far. I know I'm really rather alone in not being a huge fan of McKinley's writing style, but I find it awkward at times. I'm confused by her fantasy world. I was expecting it to be very traditional (there are mountains and a sword on my cover), but suddenly there's a wireless and a train and a desert--a welcome surprise!

I also finished Plato's Phaedo finally. On to Descartes!

Does someone with eleven kids have at least six "middle" kids?

I'm not positive, but I think it has to do with your functional role in the family. Let's say you have an older brother and two younger siblings. You are much more likely to display traits of an oldest child because you are the oldest female and the functional caregiver among the siblings to your younger sibs. The middle children are always the mystery kids, I think. Oldest and youngest traits are so much more clear-cut and easy to pin down.

Ah, that makes more sense. Thank you! Personality makes more sense to me than birth order, but I'll give Doctor Leman's book another chance soon as I can procur it from the library.

*puts Yancey towards bottom of to-read list* Hmm, I didn't know about that. I'll be sure to read my Dad's copies when I do read Mr. Yancey's books. Dad's a master with a highlighter so I should not have a problem finding the wheat amongst the chaff.

~Scarlet

I finished The Mill on the Floss yesterday:

Aitb, I agree with your thoughts on Northanger Abbey. Austen's style is much more detached there (which is probably one of the reasons why it's so funny ) but it does leave rather an empty feeling in your mind.

I didn't like some of her other thoughts on the book Fanny's character and others in Mansfield Park.

I do remember a good amount of Fanny/Edmund bashing and praise for the Crawfords (which I really don't agree with). Sadly, it's not the first time I've come across that point of view. It seems to be the consensus among Austen "scholars".

Glenstorm the Great, what's the title of your Robin Hood book?

My favorites of the Anne books are Anne of the Island and Rilla of Ingleside. Rilla especially has some of my favorite characters and storylines in the series.

I think Anne of Ingleside is the weakest

Agree. It's just too scattered and episodic.

I'll have to try the Rob Inglis audiobooks!

*adds the Amelia Peabody mysteries to her reading list*

Mar, good to hear you enjoyed Anna Karenina!

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 like The Three Musketeers as well! Dumas really is a master storyteller. So would you recommend the 1993 movie? (I haven't seen any.) Have you read The Count of Monte Cristo?

Fun links, mar_girl! The first one is great!

I'm off to start in on The Idiot. Has anyone read it? Thoughts?

malkah: I highly recommend the 1993 version! It's the only version I've seen but I watched it at least 6 times, by choice. Amazing acting, Oliver Platt as Porthos is hilarious... I haven't read Monte Cristo but I want to.

Alyosha: your mom met the author of A Boy's War? Cool!

FF: when Conrad uses Marlow as a narrator, what's happening and when becomes really confusing really fast. It's called "modernism."

Alyosha, I must need my eyes checked . I don't know how I made that mistake. Still, maybe I will get around to reading Empire of the Sun one day.

Shadow, I did read The Incredible Journey many years ago too. I always liked that book. And I enjoyed the film based on it also. I do believe Disney made the film.

I think you are right WW, that Homeward Bound was based on that story. I remember seeing the previews and thinking it looked like The Incredible Journey.

GB

Yep, that's the book (and film) we love so much: The Incredible Journey—a lovely, heartwarming story with endearing animals who don't talk, btw, which means that their expressions and body language are all the more impressive. And the scenery ... The Disney movie was made in 1963 and I have fond memories watching it as a child. And yes, Homeward Bound is based on this original tale, except the animals talk and the humans, if I recall, are more a part of the story than in TIJ. (Interesting, the film's release date was November 20/63 ... two days before a couple of important, and very sad, events.)

On our trip away this past weekend I got a good chunk of A Thousand Splendid Sunds read. Again, as was The Kite Runner, this is a well-written, fascinating, and very poignant story.

ww: Have you read Fforde's The Eyre Affair? The premise seemed very interesting to me and I've been wanting to read it for awhile, but the used book stores never have a very good price on it. How is it?

I have it, but I haven't yet read it. I've also heard it's very fun and am looking forward to it. I wish I would have known you were looking for it! There was a copy at the library booksale last week that I passed over. I would have sent it to you!

I remember liking Sutcliff's Tristan and Iseult. I'm not overly familiar with the original, though; what plot point did she leave out? I don't think I would have recommended this one for your first foray into Sutcliff, though. My favorite of hers will always be Warrior Scarlet. That was one of those books I checked out probably once a month at the library.

Since I finished the Sutcliff, I picked a new in-library reading book: McKinley's The Blue Sword. It's very interesting so far. I know I'm really rather alone in not being a huge fan of McKinley's writing style, but I find it awkward at times. I'm confused by her fantasy world. I was expecting it to be very traditional (there are mountains and a sword on my cover), but suddenly there's a wireless and a train and a desert--a welcome surprise!

Ooh lovely! I just reread that and reviewed it. One thing that might help you is to think of the Homeland as imperial Britain and Damar as British India. It's definitely meant to be more "modern," no real medievalism here. I've always loved the culture of that book, so different from the usual sword and sorcery fantasy. There is a sword, and there is sorcery, but there's plenty more too.

I'm off to start in on The Idiot. Has anyone read it? Thoughts?

Where is kotwcs? She adores that book! I have not yet read it, but because of kotwcs' effusive praise for it, I imagine it's excellent.

I started Bel Canto by Ann Patchett yesterday. It's pretty good so far.

It's definitely off my beaten track. Certain LibraryThingers can give some interesting recommendations!

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

That, or else Elizabeth was just more prolific. Anyway, it needn't concern us, need it? After all, quantity does not equal quality, nor does popularity.

All right, 220, I won't take The Sound and the Fury off my reading list just yet. But still, I'm mighty suspicious.

I knew we'd be reading some of the same things this semester, mara! I'm going to have to reread Judith, because I sort of skimmed it and wasn't able to form a real opinion of it. I liked Beowulf, and of course Sir Gawain is an old favorite. Unfortunately the previous edition of my anthology had the Tolkien translation, and they replaced it with someone else's in the new one. My prof, who's a Tolkien nut: "Why would you even try to replace Tolkien?" BTW, apparently a translation of Beowulf by Tolkien was discovered in a bin from his library, and Christopher's working to get it published. Excitement!

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

"Addicted"? "As well"? So says the woman who never got past book 2.

I have read Ginger Pye.... It was terrible. I was only 10 at the time, but I remember being very bored and wondering how a book that pointless and cliche could win the award.

Really? That was one of my childhood favorites, and indubitably, unapologetically, one of the funniest books I've ever read. Thoroughly charming too. I'm hoping to read it to my sister at some point. I still remember some of the jokes ... "villianous" [sic] ! ww, I can't believe you've had this lying around and never read it!

Remind me what exactly you find awkward about McKinley's writing style? I find it so interesting that you find fault with it, as pretty much everyone else I know has praised her prose.

Lest it sound as though I wish to make a habit of disagreeing with you, I agree with you on all points about the Sutcliff T&I. It's a pretty disturbing story, but the author's descriptions and characterizations are glorious. And there are other versions without the love potion as well.

malkah, you perfectly echo my thoughts on Mill! Finally someone who agrees with me!

I don't think I would have recommended this one for your first foray into Sutcliff, though.

My fault. I recommended it as party of my Arthurian legend list. It was my second Sutcliff, but I liked it very much. Need to read more at some point.

Looking forward to your reaction to Bel Canto. If you like it, it might make my reading list.

Not much reading progress over here. I did make it to the half-way point of The Two Towers over the weekend, but otherwise I've been bogged down with school reading. I'm also starting to read other books for my four research papers coming up ... including material on the director Frank Capra. His autobiography was recommended to me by Steerforth in the Past Movies thread, and so far it's a great read.

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

Same here! Can I join?

mara: Oooh, interesting Gaiman trailer. His Lewis influences are ever present. Never ending winter you say Neil... ? Although "Cheerful, infuriating, and clever" sounds like a winning protagonist to me. It appears that this is going to be one of his fabulously genius children's books and not one of his infuriatingly disturbing adult ones, yes?

That's what I'm thinking. It sounds more like children's book to me. I agree with your thoughts.

I forgot to mention that I've read Dr. Lehman's book on birth order because my parents own it. You know how it is when you just find random, interesting-looking books on a shelf as a kid. Yes, I agree with ww that it really depends on the role you play in your family. The brother right after me is the oldest boy, so he acts like the oldest child. I don't really, except for doing well in school and sometimes nagging the younger siblings. My little brother is and acts like the youngest, and my sister varies between being the youngest girl and acting like a big sister to her younger brother. Personality definitely plays a big role. My sister's personality is more driven than mine, so she often acts more like the older sister than I do.

Thanks about the links love, everyone! I'm glad you liked them.

I knew we'd be reading some of the same things this semester, mara! I'm going to have to reread Judith, because I sort of skimmed it and wasn't able to form a real opinion of it. I liked Beowulf, and of course Sir Gawain is an old favorite. Unfortunately the previous edition of my anthology had the Tolkien translation, and they replaced it with someone else's in the new one. My prof, who's a Tolkien nut: "Why would you even try to replace Tolkien?" BTW, apparently a translation of Beowulf by Tolkien was discovered in a bin from his library, and Christopher's working to get it published. Excitement!

Really?? I'm so with your professor. I'd love to read Tolkien's translation of Beowulf! I'm going to have to track down his Sir Gawain.

I read Out of the Silent Planet for my C.S. Lewis class, and had a great discussion of it with my classmates. I so love that class. I'm going to read The Screwtape Letters for next week, and I'm still slowly reading The Discarded Image. I'm finding it really interesting, even though I know very little of what Lewis is talking about.

I'm glad you're reading The Discarded Image Mar Girl. It's my all time favourite non-fiction book by Lewis (of the ones I've read). Followed closely by A Grief Observed. It does help to have a bit of background in the Classical traditions and philosophies that were syncretized in Medievalism, as Lewis based the book on his lectures on the topic. He assumed that his audience would have that base knowledge also. But his explanations are clear and concise, and you should get a lot out of it even if you didn't have Oxford training in Classical Philosophies and Myth .

GB

I forgot to mention, W4J, that your post didn't really offend me. I didn't mean to start an argument, though. I haven't even read the books, and though my parents disliked them I don't remember the real reason why. I may ask them when I Skype with them tomorrow. And now I think about it, it might have been something less problematic than simplifying life's problems—maybe they thought that after his first few books Yancey kept going over the same material ad nauseum? Again, I have a vague recollection of such a conversation, but really cannot be sure.

My dad did recently finish reading another Christian nonfiction book, Knowing God by J. I. Packer, and he immediately added it to his favorite books list on Facebook. Now I have to read it!

By the way, conga rats to both ww and MC for making the Hot Reviews section on LibraryThing!

Some literary linkage, courtesy of my local used bookstore's Facebook page :

Where sci-fi authors write
How to repair trade paperbacks
Cathedral-turned bookstore
A bunch of redesigned book covers for YA fantasy series:

• Harry Potter[/*1gyb4qpx][*]A Series of Unfortunate Events[/*1gyb4qpx][*]The Spiderwick Chronicles[/*1gyb4qpx][*]His Dark Materials[/*1gyb4qpx][*]Last but not least...The Chronicles of Narnia![/*1gyb4qpx][/list1gyb4qpx]

~~~~~
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."
~~~~~

Malkah: There was that too, the praise of the Crawfords, that I wish at least there had of been less of. I suppose the Crawfords are not entirely bad people, and had some glints of goodness in them, but still...

220: Ah, glad to know that I wasn't the only one who found it confusing- I mean, sometimes I think that I just "don't get" what certain events are and don't understand things, but I know that's me/whether I'm reading when I'm tired, etc. So to know that it wasn't just me is actually rather comforting.

Mara wrote:

My sister's personality is more driven than mine, so she often acts more like the older sister than I do.

*quietly echoes* Most people think that my younger sister and I are a) twins, or b) that she's actually older than I, because she's more outwardly confident and driven. Most people are in for a huge shock when they realize that I'm actually the older one. Anyways...

I finished Nicholas Nickleby this afternoon, there was definitely some twists I was not anticipating, but they weren't bad twists, of course. I'm hoping to post more on my thoughts later, I'll need to collect them all and put them in semi- sensible terms though...

Up next? I'm hoping Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford, which I've been wanting to read for some time.

Lys: Thanks for sharing the links- I liked the one about the bookstore in the Cathedral...*wonders why there's no creative bookstores like that around here*

"Addicted"? "As well"? So says the woman who never got past book 2.

Says the woman who has 18 of the Brother Cadfael Chronicles but also many other literary addictions

ww, I can't believe you've had this lying around and never read it!

I must remedy this terrible lack soon!

I'm going to read The Screwtape Letters for next week, and I'm still slowly reading The Discarded Image.

Enjoy Screwtape! It's really insightful and profound, while also being hilarious. I just love Lewis — and I am heartily jealous of you taking that class!

My dad did recently finish reading another Christian nonfiction book, Knowing God by J. I. Packer, and he immediately added it to his favorite books list on Facebook. Now I have to read it!

I really got a lot out of that when I read it. Packer has a really concise, intelligent writing style.

Fun links, lys! I like the one about how to repair paperbacks. And the cathedral turned bookstore... how extremely fitting . I don't like any of the redesigns except the Chronicles, but maybe it's because I'm so used to the current covers and those are so radically different. I like the Chronicles redesign because they are so conceptual, somehow. The others are too, but I like the thin sketchiness of those covers. LB's is fantastic.

About the Crawfords:

Spoiler

I think they get praised because they are "saucy" and fun. The problem is that they lack the firm moral foundation of an Elizabeth Bennett, and good manners and address cannot redeem a person who has no moral compass. I've never had a problem disliking them, myself

And I'm off to read and maybe finish Bel Canto tonight. lys, I think you would like it, if only for the constant and adoring references to opera

My thoughts exactly.

Lysander: I've read only one of Packer's books, Freedom and Authority. It's excellent! And I think the complete text is online. So I want to read Knowing God.