I have read Anne Of Green Gables and I enjoyed it!
only the first book though.....the others were sort of boring......

MC: thanks for the advice. I am listening to her...for now at least. i have plenty to read right now, and I'm not obsessed with reading either of their books, but I would like to someday.

Tim, your review reminds me that I really need to reread the Anne books. I loved them so much when I was growing up, but I haven't had a chance to read them lately. I've just about worn out our two big hardcover copies, so I've got my eye on the box set of them.

Finished The Fourth Bear a few days ago. Hilarious stuff and a pretty good mystery too. The humor reminds me a bit of Terry Pratchett.

Exciting day! So a few months ago (ha! It's been 3 months exactly. ), I started LOTR. I meant to come in and post when I reached ROTK, but I went through the first part of it too quickly and reached the Frodo/Sam part. I'm about 50 pages from the end (or so. Whatever the last three chapters add up to.) and it is so good. This is the part I wanted to get to for the past two and a half months. I'm finding a couple of quotes I didn't realize were there (or did and thought, "hey, awesome" and forgot about them). Several are kind of hopeless sounding, but it's Sam! He's about as far from hopeless (for the most part) as you can get!

"The perishing is more likely and will be a lot easier anyway."

"The whole thing is quite hopeless, so it's no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won't come." (This one is actually Frodo, but it sounds like the kind of thing Sam would say.)

Anyway, that's really all. lys, how are you coming along with LOTR?

MissAdventure: I read RofK too fast when I first read it too! I had to find out what happened to Frodo and Sam.....

if anyone has not read LOTR, do so right now!

Finals are over, papers are done, presents have been bought, I have caught up on sleep (sort of ) and I may again return to the Books thread! But, dear me, I have so much to catch up on.

Hearkening all the way back to page 32....

So! December is upon us, and if anyone is interested in joining us, Alyosha, Valia and myself are planning on (beginning) to read War and Peace. If anyone else wants to join in, I'm sure we'd all love to have you!

That sounds lovely! If I weren't so busy wrapping up with The Lord of the Rings, I just might have joined you—or the group on LibraryThing that is reading Les Mis. I hope you girls are all having fun? Everyone will have to post their final thoughts at some point, so that I can be further guilt-tripped into moving it up on my reading list.

You're taking a Jane Austen class? Very nice! Do let us know how it goes! (Please?)

As if I'll be able to shut up about it!

Will you be reading all six novels?

Yes, as well as The Mysteries of Udolpho and perhaps some other novels of the period of which I am not yet aware. It's going to be a heavy reading load, that's for sure, but I'm looking forward to it. And I, too, am interested to see in which order she has us read the novels. I'm guessing it would be either publication order or actual order of writing, but she might have them split up into separate units of her own making as well.

*is supremely jealous of Lys' Austen class*

In't everyone?

Suh-weet that you found a connection between Kidnapped and The Sherwood Ring, Mel! I still need to read both of those. And shame on you for watching most of the new Emma before reading the book! Naughty, naughty Mel.

And now ... I'm sooooooooooooooooooooo excited that you enjoyed The Bell at Sealey Head, Valia! I'm certainly not going to cry you foul. In fact, I would say that it's my favorite McKillip so far as well, but that would be a lie: it's eclipsed just the tiniest little bit by the love I bear for Riddle-Master. You probably are getting more used to the author's style—as I've said before, people usually don't like their first McKillip (although in your case, it was more like three or four)—but a lot of it may have to do with Sealey Head itself. It's a lot simpler and less confusing in tone than some of her others, although it has its fair share of mysteries: you should have seen the debate Mel and I had over Isabo's ancestry.

I must comment on this, though:

Her writing still tripped me sometimes (her habit of using commas oddly...'He reached, took her cup' or something )

What is wrong with her comma use here? The sentence looks perfectly fine to me, and there is only one other way I could see it working: "He reached AND took her cup," which is less speedy and breathless.

Raw and terribly sad

What a wonderful description of Till We Have Faces! I'm glad you enjoyed that one. I need to reread it ... I just know that I didn't catch half of what was going on the first time 'round.

Also, I just love the Welles meets Wells radio interview you linked to. I'm a big fan of Orson, and their interplay is great. Nice find.

I've only read one, the first one, of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but I didn't like it. I personally found some of the content rather disturbing.

As I recall, my mother felt the same, and could never imagine giving one of those books to a child. She did say, though, that it was very engaging and well-written, and that she had to stop herself from continuing on with the series.

"He was neither handsome nor homely, the kind of young man Mothers pray will come courting their daughters and the daughters dismiss as too dull."
I find it refreshing that not every single character in books have to be dashingly handsome to a point of frustration like some books I could name. (*ahem* Legacy *ahem*)

That is refreshing! It reminds me of how a lady at my writer's group used to praise Robin McKinley's characterization of the prince in her novel Deerskin; he was utterly likable and charming, but not at all physically attractive.

lys, how are you coming along with LOTR?

Not quite as well as you are. I really hadn't done much reading at all since I finished up the Two Towers section of the book sometime in November, but I started RotK yesterday and am now somewhere in the midst of the Siege of Gondor. I will finish it by Christmas, because I know I'll get other books then and be dying to read those.

I also started The Magician's Nephew with my sister today. I enjoy voicing Uncle Andrew but unfortunately doing so makes me hoarse.

Oooh, I also made it to a booksale this weekend. I got:

-The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
-Royal Escape by Georgette Heyer
-All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
-The Dark Frigate by Charles Hawes
-Bullfinch's Mythology
-People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

All for now!

3. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (Is it really supposed to be that thick, or did I just get an unusually large version of the book?

Oh good, if it's quite thick then it's probably not abridged!^^ Yes, it is quite a tome, but worth the time it takes to read it, in my opinion. Recently I found a Japanese anime adaption of Les Mis that follows the book so well, it's making me want to reread!

Lately I've been kind of rereading The Silmarillion, and not enjoying it as much as I used to. When I was between 14-16, all the drama, romance, and tragedy of The Sil was heart-wrenching and mind-blowing, but reading it now I find myself thinking things like, "This is so over the top...I don't remember things being this silly" "Wow, that bit of prose was clunky:" the KJV style I used to love is a bit presumptious and too dramatic. Ah well. I guess we all grow up at some point. :/

I think some people coddle children too much. Some children enjoy the darker and more disturbing stories (as long as they don't scar them permanently) And others relate to the children because their lives are less than perfect. I don't think A Series of Unfortunate Events was originally written as children's fiction but instead it was written as a parody of gothic children's literature (not 'gothic' as in fashion but 'gothic' as in artistic time period in history). It's not inappropriate for all children. There are limits of course. For example, a child reading Roald Dahl is much preferable to a child reading a Stephen King novel. I don't think we should expose children to everything but nor should we hide children from everything. There needs to be a thoughtful and discerning balance.

Foreverfan: yeah, I have agree with you about the Series Of Unfortunate Events! I read the first one and I am part way through the second one, but I will probably stop. it's only going to keep getting bad.....the author even warns you ahead of time in the book that a character is going to die! it's kind of weird.....

It certainly is a different way of doing things, eh? Someday I'd like to try that- write a story and tell everyone a huge plot spoiler on page one. I'm not sure how it'd go over though.

mar_girl: Very cool links! Especially the one on Watson.

I hope you girls are all having fun? Everyone will have to post their final thoughts at some point, so that I can be further guilt-tripped into moving it up on my reading list.

Are you sure you want us to? I always feel bad when I know I've made others feel guilty and as such don't like doing it.... But yes, thanks! I'm enjoying it quite a bit- it's really easy to get into and there's some very interesting characters that I do so hope have happy endings... I don't think I've ever quite read a book like it yet, the writing style is different than that of Dickens and Hugo, in that their isn't many side characters (such as Dickens has...) and there's relatively no diversions as that of Hugo. It's pretty much straightforward story/plot... if that happens to make any sense.

As if I'll be able to shut up about it!

She did say, though, that it was very engaging and well-written, and that she had to stop herself from continuing on with the series.

I suppose it's pretty hard to tell accurately since I've only read the first book, but I did enjoy the style of the author's writing and how he put down some things. I've read various quotes from the different novels (non spoilery ones, of course!) and that was what originally helped me want to check out the series...I'm not sure if witty is exactly the right word, but it's the first that comes to mind when I think of how the first book was written in certain instances...

As to other reading, I'm not doing much of it aside from War and Peace and a very intriguing history book, which has been quite fun to read.

kotwcs, I love the prosaic language that Tolkien can employ. It can be a bit clunky at times, to our modern ears, but really it isn't so. I loved The Children of Hurin, for instance, and the language can be just about as difficult. Have you ever read that one? If not, I recommend that you do so.

Good thoughts, Warrior. I agree with you, because some children will be ready for some things, and others not so ready, at differing ages. In the end, I think that the parents are the best judges of when a child is ready for what, so I just leave it to them.

That's it for now, all.

I bid you all adieu.

As long as it's Andrei's younger sister that we're talking about, we're good.

Uh... I think we are. I couldn't remember if she was older or younger, but I think there weren't any other siblings.

I only read the first volume in the Series of Unfortunate Events, and it didn't really thrill me, though, like FF I very much enjoy the quotes I've seen from it.

Do you think maybe it means that 16 year olds aren't mature enough to write good novels, that perhaps they have a bit of maturing as people or writers (or both) to do

Yes, I'd agree with that. Admittedly, at sixteen I remember reading some books and saying, "Well, I could do that." Since I have yet to do it, I think that was a bit presumptuous on my part. Perhaps the sixteen year olds who could write a half-way decent novel are all holding on to the manuscripts, waiting a few more years to revise them?

I like the Infinity bookcase and some of stunt ones, like the upside down one and the books sticking to the wall. Did you see that they included instructions for those?

MC, I've only read the original Shannara trilogy. I'm tempted to suggest that you start with the second book, Elfstones of Shannara. Of course, if you don't start with Sword of Shannara you may never want to read it.

Naughty, naughty Mel.

Yes, I was very naughty. I still haven't finished the book, although I am enjoying it very much and I'm really looking forward to seeing what all was cut from the fifth episode--there must have been a great deal cut.

I think Valia should weigh in and tell us who she thinks Ysabo's father is.

MereChristian: yes! I read The Children Of Hurin and I loved it! very well written, though I cried at the end..... my parents got that book for me on my birthday last year!

It reminds me of how a lady at my writer's group used to praise Robin McKinley's characterization of the prince in her novel Deerskin; he was utterly likable and charming, but not at all physically attractive.

Yes. You haven't read it yet so I won't get too spoilery, but it seems that handsome people are often evil (especially at court!). I wonder if McKinley writes them that way as being evil because of their looks (using their looks to manipulate people) or if it's just that handsome and wicked go together naturally in her mind. Hmm.

*would also be reading War and Peace were it not for the group read of Les Mis going on at the moment*

I'm also halfway through a reread of Pratchett's Hogfather. Quite fun, as usual.

Welcome back, kotwcs . I think I will read The Silmarillion next year instead of LOTR, just to change things up a bit. It will be interesting to reread as a more mature reader, like you this time with it. It's too bad you felt it flawed this time! How our relationships with certain books change over time would be an interesting study...

I've read the first four Lemony Snicket books and I just can't summon any excitement for the fifth. It's just so much of the same thing. My sister, who loves the books, has assured me that new characters are introduced and things start picking up, but I'm not so sure. I really should just sit down and read the series straight through. It couldn't take that long.

I've recently started a (very incomplete) list on LT for the books I'm planning on reading in 2010. What about you guys? Do you have any books you are definitely planning on reading next year? Books you've promised your sister/mother/etc. to read — though you aren't thrilled at the prospect? Big classics you want to conquer? Books that people rave about here that you want to read just so you know what the heck everyone is always talking about? Do tell!

I've read about half of War and Peace over the last week, and I'm enjoying it more than anything I've read for a long time. I've been trying to get through Moby Dick for months now, but I've not made much headway. It's not so musch a novel as a book of philosophy with elements of a novel thrown in for interest. I don't have anything against philosophy, of course, but War and Peace is so much more interesting. It kind of pulls you along with it. I haven't made a book list for next year, but I think a will. Good New Year's resolution, no?

I'm not sure "presumptuous" and "melodramatic" are exactly the words I'd use to describe the language of The Sil, kotwcs, but I know what you mean. For me it isn't the language itself so much as the methods of storytelling: there is so much exposition, and it all feels very didactic and far-off. Not at all like the Tolkien I'd come to love in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

W4J, I agree that we shouldn't coddle children and young adults, but if I were to choose between that and the opposite extreme as the bigger problem in today's society, I'd go with the latter. I think it's always important to ask, when giving a book to a child, how it is telling them to view the world. My only connection with A Series of Unfortunate Events is the movie version, so I don't feel I can say much in this particular instance. Maybe it's just my personal preferences at work, but I don't see any wholesome to be gained from those stories.

Thanks for the thoughts on War and Peace, Fanny! No worries - guilting is totally welcomed by me!

I think Valia should weigh in and tell us who she thinks Ysabo's father is.

Indeed! But don't you mean her

it seems that handsome people are often evil (especially at court!)

Interesting. I wonder if this happens only in Deerskin, or is a theme that runs throughout McKinley's fiction. It might certainly explain her continued return to the "Beauty and the Beast" theme/story.

I have yet to make a reading list or list of reading goals for next year, but I have been looking over the one I made for this year, and I fear I've come up rather short in a few areas.

• read a few nonfiction books: I read six, which is pretty good for me
• begin to read Shakespeare's plays: 3 - again, not terrible for a beginning
• get to know detective fiction a little better, specifically the works of Christie and Conan Doyle: this did not happen at all - ah well, there's always the next week, no?
• do a grand overview of McKillip's works over the summer (w00t!): I was too busy with Tolkien to do any other kind of grand overview, but I have read three this year, one of them twice
• reread The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and read The Silmarillion for the first time: well, I'm almost done with the last one....

I also decided near the end of the year to go for 50 books, and right now I'm at 43. Ah well, I'm a college student, so I'm not going to beat myself up for not reading as many books as Amy.