ooh nice! A book thread! I love reading . My favorite authors are

Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Rick Riordan
C.S. Lewis (of course)
John Piper
Carolyn Meyer
Gordon Korman
etc...

I love the Percy Jackson books and almost anything that is historical fiction. I also like some fantasy, and a few short, more modern books (therefore Gordon Korman).

^^wow we have similar taste . Carolyn Meyer wrote those Tudor books right? If so, I like her writing alot . I'm reading Desiring God by John Piper right now .

Yes! To both your questions- I read it, and it is my favourite Dickens. I hope you enjoy it! It was quite good.

You favorite? Must be good then. I've always considered Oliver Twist my favorite but then again I've only read that and A Christmas Carol (and I admit, an abridged version of David Copperfield) .

Ryan,

I was satisfied with the way Inkdeath ended, but I think too much time was spent on the more predictable parts, and the parts where the Inkworld had a chance to shine seemed thrown in as an afterthought.

Ditto. I thought it was a nicely unexpected to make

About Farid/Meggie

Spoiler

I had thought they were getting married at the end, because on another forum had said Farid and Meggie married each other, without putting it in a spoiler. Either they were mistaken or wanted to shock others, I guess. This branch is probably one of the parts of the book I did not like...

Well, now, for what I'm reading: I started Oliver Twist on Friday night nad have about 90 pages or so to go. I have mixed thoughts on it right now, and have to wait 'till the ending to decided whether I like it or not. Some morality in there bothers me, but I'll just have to wait until I'm done and then do a review of it elsewhere. (It's not the first bit of Charles Dickens I've read, as I've read about a half of The Christmas Carol but it is the first thick one that I'm about to finish. I really enjoy his writing style, descriptions, and the way he doesn't leave or bring in irrelevant characters.)
And, also, I got War and Peace from the library. That is one thick book! I might try go through it with a quota of pages to finish so I actually finish it unlike what happend with Les Mis. And we also borrowed Out of the Silent Planet, so I'm looking forward to reading that!

anybody like "The Underland Chronicles" series by Suzanne Collins? I have read the first three and I finally just got the other three from the library today! yay!

Welcome to the books thread, sloopjonschnek! I think, by your list of favourite authors, you will fit in quite nicely here. Of the authors on your list, Dickens and Austen are my favourites as well. Do you have any particular favourite Dickens or Austen book, one that has stood out to you the most, compared to all the others?

You favorite? Must be good then. I've always considered Oliver Twist my favorite but then again I've only read that and A Christmas Carol (and I admit, an abridged version of David Copperfield) .

Yes indeed! Oliver Twist is pretty good as well- the book, that is. It's not my favourite, though.

And, also, I got War and Peace from the library. That is one thick book! I might try go through it with a quota of pages to finish so I actually finish it unlike what happened with Les Mis.

Have you started War and Peace yet? Don't let the size intimidate you, it really is such a wonderful book!

Of the books that I borrowed from the library last week, I finished three of them. The Two Princesses of Bamarre was alright, I think I liked Ella Enchanted better, if I had to pick a favourite. I think I'll stay away from most young adult fantasy, though, as there was content in The Two Princesses that I was not at all comfortable with, and unfortunately, it seems to be like that in most fantasy now a days.

After that I read the two Nancy Drew I borrowed, and while I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the books, one can definitely tell that the newest Girl Detective series has been written for a younger audience than the Classics. I know the original Nancy Drew series could not be called deep by any means, but there was something about the writing style that I really enjoyed, which is lacking in the newest series. Ah well.

There are HUNDREDS of Nancy Drew book series. You just have to seach for the tipe you like then read that series.

Does anyone like John Grisham? I had to work four and a half hours on a very boring shift at the pool so I dashed to the library and borrowed The Firm and The Runaway Jury. I read all of The Firm during the shift last night and I really liked it. I started The Runaway Jury during another boring shift today and so far, it's better than The Firm.

The best John Grisham I've ever read was The Broker. However at the rate The Runaway Jury is going, it could be better.

I also have read The Associate and that one was also really good.

My favorite Nancy Drew series are the original ones written by Carolyne Keene.

I've recently read and finished Vampire Academy and I need to start reading The Gunslinger soon by Stephen King. I'm currently re-reading The Narnia books.

I have to say as much as I'm not really into vampires like Twilight and Vampire Diaries except Anne Rice's VC. I was very impressed with Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy. Last semester I made friends with someone who is into paranormal things and recommended I'd read the books and I had no idea that there were 3 different types of vampires and the past mythology of it. It really made me think of the different aspects.

There are HUNDREDS of Nancy Drew book series. You just have to search for the type you like then read that series.

I don't know about hundreds, but there is at least ten different series and over 500 books, so you're right, there certainly is many different series to chose from.

My favorite Nancy Drew series are the original ones written by Carolyne Keene.

Me too! They were the first ones I started reading, and I also love the "feel" of the books- especially the 1930s/40s/50s feel of roughly three quarters of the classics. After that they started feeling 60s/70s, which was quite alright, but I like the earlier feel better. (If that happens to make any sense).

ForeverFan, I've finished Riddle of Ramrod Ridge. It's definitely a pulp western. The prose was overblown, the characters stock, and I didn't see any of the redeeming qualities I've seen in work of the other (3) western authors that I've read. Also, there were a few language issues--at times, it felt too 'cleaned up' and then later it felt like it wasn't cleaned up at all (and it was the 'good guy' too! ). However, since it had a few moments where there was some promise of humour and actual likeable character-ness, I'd still be interested in finding a Three Mesquiteers book, which might be better?

How are you liking The Perilous Gard?

I went to a few booksales, and picked up a few treasures: paperback copies of The Winter Prince, The Tolkien Reader, and the same edition of The RiddleMaster of Hed that lys has. Riddlemaster was cheap enough that I'm considering trying to rebind it with a pretty new cover. Or I could just glue on a new cover illustration.

Just a few comments on this page, because although I've been following the thread, I don't really have the effort to catch up since my last post.

Pacing out War and Peace is probably a good idea, Bella. Mine copy is still mostly unread, thanks to uni.

Liberty Hoffman, I've read that series by Collins and rather liked it. I thought there were only five books, though?

Fanny, I wasn't a fan of The Two Princesses of Bamarre either. I really do think Ella Enchanted is her best book.

*dittos Mel's question to Fanny*

So...the reason for my post---I went to the local library booksale this past week. I got:
A hardcover copy of Lord Peter by Dorothy L. Sayers
Mansfield Park and Pride and Prejudice, both by Jane Austen (I realised I didn't actually own any Austens , so I made sure to take what I could find at the booksale )
Money in the Bank, The Mating Season, Something Fishy, and Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, all by P.G. Wodehouse (and all surprisingly stuck in the Mystery section )
In a slipcover box, Paddington at Work, More about Paddington, Paddington Takes to TV, Paddington Takes the Air, and Paddington on Stage (which is actually a small collection of skits based on the books ) all by Michael Bond (what's funny is that only the first two belong in the case---the other three were apparently put in to fill out the case in lieu of the original three that are probably missing )
The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Clymer (this is a book I remember loving from when I was younger )
The Secret of Skull Mountain by Franklin Dixon (original brown hardcover one)
The Sign of the Twisted Candles, Nancy's Mysterious Letter, The Message in the Hollow Oak, all by Carolyn Keene (ALL original hardbacks with blue covers and orange lettering )
I think that all came out to about $8.25, but as we bought the books as a family, I can't quite be sure. On top of that, I found two copies of To Kill a Mockingbird and my sister found another, so now all my sisters who can read it have copies. I also picked up a copy of Lord Peter for Meadow and a Tintin in French for Winter.

While at the sale, my elder sister picked up a copy of JS&MN to see if anyone wanted one and I looked through it while waiting for everyone to be ready to go. I'd forgotten how hilarious it was. I'm going to have to make a much bigger effort to reread it this summer than I did last.

My favorite author is Ted Dekker. The Circle books are amazing, and I've really enjoyed the Books of History as well as his other books. Any other Dekker fans here?

I haven't been in here in 'forever'. But this in no way means I haven't been reading. That could never happen.

Since Christmas I've gone through the Harry Potter series. I'd read books 1-3 when they first came out, began 4, lost interest, put them aside, and now years later picked them all up again. (I have seen all the movies, so had the general of the entire story, 'though I do realize now just how much the films left out.) I must admit, though, I picked up Deathly Hallows and read it first 'cause I was itching to see how Rowling wrapped everything up, then I went back and read books 1-7 ... in order. The characters captured me, as did the really exciting plot. My belief was truly suspended whilst I wandered those halls of Hogwarts. Mind you, I didn't care for how Harry far too readily lied and disregarded authority, but that seemed to lessen as he matured. Not fully though. Yet when I put down DH I found myself not wanting the series to end. And yes, I teared up when

Other recent readings have been:

~The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (highly recommended, as well as the very poignant film)
~Lord of the Flies (hard to believe, but 'tis the first time I read this, and found it fascinatingly disturbing)
~Rosa Parks' autobiography (wow!!)
~I began Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and just couldn't get into it/didn't care for it
~Just starting John MacArthur's Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong: he covers many areas, and especially wants young people today to read this. I'll be passing in on to our own kids after I finish it.

Ongoing books that I am going through gradually, because they're a lot to take in (as well as being very enjoyable), are
~Heaven by Randy Alcorn
~Apollo 13 by Jim Lovell,
both excellent in very different ways.

And now, from the past recent pages I've chosen a few posts to respond to:

I've also been reading In His Image by Paul Brand--it's about the human body and analogies of that to Christianity, but it's also full of stories from his years as a doctor and his work with lepers in India. It's amazing.

Ditto. Ditto! And it's co-authored by Philip Yancey. So glad to hear of someone else who has read this. As Aly said, it is one amazing book focusing on the complexity of our human body, then applying it to how the spiritual body functions best.

Have you read Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by the same authors? It's similar in that it delves even deeper (from what I recall) into our complex bodies and their systems, leading to thoughts on the relationship of Christ to His body, the Church.

And from towards the top on this page

anybody like "The Underland Chronicles" series by Suzanne Collins? I have read the first three and I finally just got the other three from the library today! yay!

Yep. We enjoy those at our home. Have you read the first two books in her newest series (the third of which is coming out later this year), the Hunger Games trilogy? Very different and older than the Gregor books, and really interesting. I found them disturbing at times, to see to what depths a society could fall, and yet then what resilience and bravery those had in fighting against the depravity.

I went to a few booksales, and picked up a few treasures: paperback copies of ... The Tolkien Reader

♥ Ahh, one of my favourite Tolkien books, partly because of his essay "On Fairy-Stories". The Epilogue to this has some of my best-loved Tolkien quotes—on sub-creation, Christ's birth as the eucatastrophe of Man's history; Christ's resurrection as the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation, and this one true Myth that is the fulfillment of all others. Great stuff!

Okay, I simply have to quote a bit:
"But this story [the joyful Gospel] is supreme; and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of men—and of elves. Legend and History have met and fused."
Ahhhhh ...

And right above me

My favorite author is Ted Dekker. The Circle books are amazing, and I've really enjoyed the Books of History as well as his other books. Any other Dekker fans here?

There are a number of Dekker fans here, RawKr, including me. (Good to see you've found the Books thread. ) In fact, awhile ago we had a Special Feature on him (maybe even on the old forum, I forget), but we'll probably have another one someday. I see his new book The Bride Collector was released recently. Does anyone here have it yet? Dekker is one prolific writer: he seems to have an endless well of fascinatingly eerie ideas, yet all are written with a point and purpose. In terms of modern-day writing, a big thumbs up goes to this author. And his plot twists are fabulous.

I'm very impressed by your finds, Valia. Were any of the Wodehouse books mysteries? Two of them sound like they might be.

I thought of you while buying The Tolkien Reader jo. *muses* I see there is a bit more overlap with Tales from the Perilous Realm than just Adventures of Tom Bombadil, which I had been wondering about. (And I'm glad it's an older cover, rather than the newer stretched face one. )

I just finished the Patricia McKillip short story collection Harrowing the Dragon. It's always fun reading books wisewoman quotes in her signature. Finding the quote is a bit like a bonus treasure hunt. The stories themselves were a bit of a mixed bag, but the prose was consistently beautiful. It's a book where one would like to go out and read in a very quiet, wooded place...

Next up: a reread of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

I'm reading The Bride Collector right now, Jo. It's very good, I think one of his best. A lot of really interesting information about mental illnesses and some unsettling facts.