A couple years ago, I read Eragon, just the first book, and it took me a really long time. Then I moved on to Eldest, and I read about half, but then I got to the tedious part and I kinda fizzled out. But then a few months ago, I decided to finish the series (as far as its gotten, that is), because my sister (elsendor) was teasing me about the "BIG SECRET", and I started over Eldest, read right through, and read right through Brisingr. Then I decided to read them through again, and I read straight through the first two and halfway through the third, and then decided I needed to read LotR (I hadn't yet, I'm sorry ), so I read all three, then read the Silmarillion, and then the Lost Road. Then I decided I needed to finish Brisingr from when I started it before LotR, so I started over and read it in two nights.

I did all that within about two months (from the restarting of Eldest that is), reading almost every night, and then I got some well needed sleep (I know I'm crazy, thank you).

My 10 year old brother just finished Brisingr, and now he's starting the Hobbit. I feel guilty. He's going to get bad eyes and no sleep and end up just like me.

Just finished reading book seven of the Ranger's Apprentice series. I thought it was good. Nice to have a self-contained story, since the previous ones have all been two volume stories.

Now I'm reading The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. It's styled as the journals left behind by a 130 some odd year old man and tells the story of his apprenticeship with a monster hunter. Really enjoying it so far.

EDIT: Came across this link on Neil Gaiman's Twitter.

http://hypolib.typepad.com/the-hypothetical-library/2010/05/neil-gaiman.html

Last books I read- again, on airplanes:

- The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

*pokes in the thread and wishes she had discovered it sooner*

Books, books, books! Aren't they wonderful? Though I'm not sure of all the titles you guys have named, I do recognize some of them. LOTR, and Eragon, among them.

Currently, I'm reading the most awesome book ever!! (well...just about) called Port Royal. It's by Linda Chaikin and it's absolutely great! I'm almost done with it and looking forward to it's two sequels. It's a pleasent read, and quite Christian, with Faith, Christ, and the Bible woven in. It takes place in the 1600, 1700 hundreds and I'm simply captivated and hardly able to put it down.

Other books that are my favorites; are Gold Fever, bye Angela Dorsey, John Bunyan: Tinker from Bedford, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, of course, but my favorite books of them are Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I also really like the Horse and his Boy. That's a small list for now. I'm sure I'll think of more later

reading almost every night, and then I got some well needed sleep (I know I'm crazy, thank you).

haha, I need to get some sleep . I've been staying up really late reading recently. Last night I was up til 2 am!

I found a book in Borders the other day called '100 Cupboards' by N.D. Wilson.

I got it because the small summary reminded me somewhat of The Magician's Nephew. I haven't read it yet but I'm about to.

It's about a 12 year old who hears these noises on the other side of his attic wall and discovers 99 cupboards after scraping off the plaster. He and his cousin find out that the cupboards are portals to another world.

It sounds interesting and I may start on it tonight.

*appears out of lurkerdom*

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.

I did the same! I think part of the reason I then liked Little Men so much was there's a lot of disappointment and hard reality in Jo's Boys, with everyone being grown up. After that, going back to the carefree innocence of Little Men was like a warm sunshiny day .

lover, it's good to see you in here! Have you been able to get The Thief from the library yet?

I found a book in Borders the other day called '100 Cupboards' by N.D. Wilson...It's about a 12 year old who hears these noises on the other side of his attic wall and discovers 99 cupboards after scraping off the plaster. He and his cousin find out that the cupboards are portals to another world.

I've been wanting to read that for awhile! The summary, at least, reminds me quite a lot of Magician's Nephew as well. Please, do let me know what you think of it!

Books I've been reading lately:
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn(incredibly funny. I was laughing out loud all through the book, and yet also came away with a better appreciation of the English language.)
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (A major favorite! Hale's prose and the way the story unfolds are beautiful! And the way that

Spoiler

her major villain is basically a little girl who never grew out of temper tantrums is brilliant.

And also, I finally got my hands on The Bell at Sealey Head!! Instant love. So vividly and gorgeously written; both Sealey Head and Ysabo's ritualistic world are nearly as real as our own. Plus, the characters were much more likable and fleshed-out than in most of McKillip's books. And they were just lovely--Judd with his terrible cook and love for books, Emma the faithful maid, and Ysabo with her questions that never get answered. I think Gwyneth Blair is my literary twin.

The only thing I didn't quite care for

Next I'm starting in on Anna Karenina. Does anyone have recommendations for a good translation?

I've been wanting to read that for awhile! The summary, at least, reminds me quite a lot of Magician's Nephew as well. Please, do let me know what you think of it!

I sure will

I've heard "100 cupboards" is an excellent book from several people. Enjoy! I intend to read it myself at some point in time!

I have to say that I am proud of myself because I just finished "Pride and Prejudice." I know that sounds awful, but as many times as I have started it, I just could never seem to finish reading it for one reason or another. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have "Emma" as well, which I've never read; so as soon as I find it (it's packed in a box somewhere) I'm going to start that one.

Malkah, ditto about Little Men & Jo's Boys. I think the most enjoyable way to read the books is reading Jo's Boys first and then Little Men. For me, the two biggest disappointments were Josy, though, is one of the best parts of Jo's Boys.

Hm, this is the fourth time I've seen 100 Cupboards mentioned. I think I just might check it out.

And, I'm about 3/4th's done with A Conspiracy of Kings.

ramagut: yes! 100 Cupboards was an awesome book! you should read it! I loved it!

I read the first three chapters of 100 Cupboards and so far into it I very much love it. The main character is written so well even the people and things surrounding him. A very great read.

^^ I find that book to be very realistic, even though the plot couldn't possibly happen in the real world!
yeah, the main character is written very well!

Have you read any other Patricia St. John books?

Indeed, I have. I started with Star of Light (or The Other Kitten but I'm pretty positive that the story I now know so well isn't quite the story I remember reading the first time, so... there might be two stories with an incredible similar premise and title out there but be that as it may I've read St. John's Other Kitten now) and our collection also includes Three Go Searching and Rainbow Garden and Tanglewoods Secret and an "updated" version of Treasures of the Snow.

aww do you have alot of other stuff to read?

That is an understatement. Also, Sea of Monsters has a bunch of other people in line for it at the library.

The hypothetical books are kind of cool, Booky. I doubt I'd read any if they existed, but they're still kind of cool.

I love the 100 Cupboards trilogy! The middle book is hands-down my favourite, but they're all quite good.

malkah, about The Bell at Sealey Head:

Spoiler

I think Nemos turned the world to paper just because he could; but there may have been an element of revenging himself against the queen for some imagined slight too...
lys and I agreed after reading the book that Nemos is related to Ysabo, but we can't agree on whether he's her father or grandfather.

That is an understatement. Also, Sea of Monsters has a bunch of other people in line for it at the library.

Lol I have alot of stuff to read to but *ahem* I find ways not to read them sometimes . Oh yeah it took me FOREVER to get those books out of the library! I ended up buying them b/c I didn't want to wait .

ramagut: oh yay did you like P&P? I LOVE that book .