My happy oblivion is ruined!!! (Well, I suppose I asked for it since I read the spoiler. ) Seriously, I don't remember any of that.

As I recall, Sandy loaned her a book, and then after that

Spoiler

she mentioned agreeing that certain people shouldn't marry; it might have been something about not wanting to pass on melancholic or choleric(?) tendencies, and maybe also mentioning an orphan with an unfortunate face. Unless of course I'm mixing this up with a different book but how many books about orphan home managers have I read?

Oooh, but that brings up something I did like--the premise. Most orphanage stories are told from the point of view of an orphan, and the staff are generally actively nasty or overworked or eh. Here, she was working to change things for the better.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, I've read Dragon Spear. I liked it well enough, especially for the premise, but I'm beginning to be jaded about the amount of embroidery Creel accomplishes.

Oooh, and a question for the Percy Jackson fans. If the answer is in the following books, just laugh slyly and say "You'll see" but

*Laughs slyly and says "You'll see!"*

Aitb - I love "Black Beauty", it's such a wonderful book. I think it must be up there among my most-read novels.

I wonder when "Dragon Spear" comes out here. I want to read it! But judging by the first two books, I think you're right, Mel - how does she save the world and make all these beautiful dresses? She obviously knows something that I don't.

"The Red Pyramid" isn't even stocked by my library yet it's so new! I'm going to have to keep checking, but the problem is that every time I go in there I come out with something else ... last time I took out "Last Battle of the Icemark", which was all right. I much prefer the two previous Icemark books. This one seemed to have a lot of bad guys just gloating and not doing very much, and the ending was obvious (though it was well written).

I've read my abridged "Little Men" and found it completely unlike "Little Women" and "Good Wives". Has anyone here read the full version and can tell me whether it's the abridgement or the actual story? I didn't like it at all. Now I'm looking at "Jo's Boys" and wondering whether I can be bothered.

re: "You'll see" -- Uh-oh.

Creel must be a 'faster than light' embroiderer.

I read an abridged Little Men for years before accidentally getting an unabridged copy. The unabridged wasn't a lot different, but it was better. What didn't you like?

MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *coughs* I mean, sorry, Mel. It's odd that you don't remember it---surely there aren't different versions?
Huh. I remember the talk about genetics and stuff, but the only thing like that I remember is But I've returned the book and can't check conveniently.
I did quite like the premise as well.
Creel did seem to do an awful lot of embroidery.
Hehe...*joins AJ in laughing slyly* You'll see... That said, I don't remember being blown away by the explanation. But I'd almost forgotten about that bit by the time I read the explanation, so...

Huh, that's odd, AJ. It's been a long time since I've read Little Men, but it's my favourite of Alcott's books (em, not that I've read tons, but... ).

I stopped by the library today and got the 8th (last?) Alex Rider book, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel and a random modern retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I may hate it, but I decided to give it a shot anyhow. Yes, nothing deep at all, but hopefully they'll be fun.

Mel: I was confused about that too but you'll find out in the last book .

I don't know if I said this already but I'm reading the 39 Clues series. It's REALLY interesting! It's almost like the National Treasure movies in a book, with kids instead of adults .

I am obsessed with The 39 Clues!!!!! I can't wait for book # 9!!!!!!

^ditto! When is it supposed to come out? I'm waiting to start the fifth book right now. I requested it from the library but haven't been able to pick it up yet .

Hmm, that's interesting about "Little Men" ... I don't know, I just found it really really dull. None of the characters were particularly engaging, and I was disappointed in Jo. What is it with those who want to write in books suddenly giving up later in the series? (That also happens to Meggie in the Inkheart books.)

Mel: Someone knows about that book, too?! *is in a minor state of shock* Have you read any other Patricia St. John books?
And, the version I have most likely does have an author's note but I must have skipped it. If you say it's rather interesting, then I'll go ahead and read it. Haha, I know what you mean. I'll just have to see how it turns out.

AJAiken: Mhm, that Black Beauty is!

Your thoughts on Little Men are interesting; like Valia, it's one of my favourite Alcott books but likings vary, of course. Jo was not my favourite character in it as she was in Little Women & Good Wives, but there were a few characters who took my attention.

And, CoK actually arrived at the library speedier than I thought it would, but I let CS read it first because I'm finshing Polyanna #2, but I made her vow that she would not discuss one bit of the book with me until after we're both finished with it. She's taking her time, but I'd rather that than "Who was that?" or "That happend?!" when we're discussing it later on.

I enjoyed Little Men quite alot, but funnily enough, this was majorly because I read Jo's Boys first. The little men from the former are all grown up in the latter, and it was fun to kind of go back in time.

No worries, AJ! Jo comes back to writing! It's all chronicled in Jo's Boys, and there are some quite amusing stories about autograph hounds who come to search her out and get her autograph.

Ooh, now that is temptation enough to read the book!

I will read it, but it might take me a while.

^ditto! When is it supposed to come out? I'm waiting to start the fifth book right now. I requested it from the library but haven't been able to pick it up yet .

you have already read books 3 and 4? awesome! yeah, book five is awesome!

you'll find out in the last book

Well, that'll be awhile yet...

Valia, I remember that too. I think I agreed with that bit. (And I don't have a copy either... BUT! Project Gutenberg does. )

Follows a rather depressing collection of quotes.

Still, I have enjoyed my reread very much (I'd forgotten what an entertaining narrator Sallie is--I was sucked in by the opening sentence), and I should count and make sure that the collection of nice quotes outweighs the specimens of not-so-nice. (It does.) Also, it was sometimes hard to tell when Sallie was simply in the grips of a new idea and bouncing off the walls with it, and when she was serious--but considering that the idea continued to crop up even much later in the story than the first few mentions it seems likely that she wasn't just talking.

I have always liked--but not loved--Daddy Long Legs...but I REALLY like Dear Enemy Haven' read it for ages though.

Has anyone ever read the Campfire Girls books? My mom has several old copies, I don't think they're in print anymore. I read them all ages ago but am just rereading "The Campfire Girls Go Motoring" and am REALLY enjoying it If anyone should want to read them, that is definetly the best out of the 10 or so I've read.

you have already read books 3 and 4? awesome! yeah, book five is awesome!

just started reading it- so cool! I think I like these books more than I should .

Well, that'll be awhile yet...

aww do you have alot of other stuff to read? Have you started Sea of Monsters yet?