I love both The Bell at Sealey Head and 100 Cupboards. I guess Lys must not come on anymore, because otherwise he would have pounced on any mention of a McKillip book.

^he said he was going to be gone for a while b/c he's been busy with school. He needs to come back on though!

I requested The Red Pyramid from my library but there are 11 holds before mine .

Well, since lys isn't here. . .
I bought two McKillip books the other day: Riddlemaster (complete trilogy) and The Changling Sea; they were both a pretty good read, but not my list of favorites. Riddlemaster kind of confused me.
I also got The Perilous Gard and I loved it! Kate was a refreshing heroine, being neither drop dead nor particularly concerned about it.

I'M BACK!!!!!! (Glenstorm, I expect another leap of joy from you. Otherwise I may not comply with these ridiculous demands of yours anymore.)

In case you all didn't notice, I was away from NarniaWeb for awhile at the end of the semester, in order to focus on my schoolwork. And for some reason I hadn't been spending much time around this thread in the month or two before that, either. So it's been a ridiculous amount of time. My last post was from the 10th of February, way back on page 50. So I have a lot to catch up on, and a lot to catch you all up on. For the purposes of (relative) brevity, however, I'm going to hold off on talking about my own reading in this post. That means this one is all about you. (Well, I suppose it is indirectly about me as well. But isn't everything? )

Okay? Ready? Let's take the plunge....

First off, Booky, thanks for linking me to that "Afters" song. I've saved the link for later listening.

Mom just bought me (they were withdrawn from the library) the BBC Radio's version of Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park, both on audio book. The latter is, sadly, abridged

Given that it's BBC Radio, are you sure they're not full-cast radio dramas rather than simple audiobooks? I ask merely from curiosity. I know BBC Radio did some full-cast dramas back in the late 80s/early 90s, and that they were released on cassette tapes. That Mansfield Park has Amanda Root as Fanny (!).

*ignores all negative and semi-negative comments relating to Les Mis* Such words should not be spoken.

I only lasted about twelve books into the Elsie Dinsmore series. Single most annoying book heroine ever. She makes the Disney princesses look good.

Hey, don't hate on my Disney princesses! [/off topic]

I'm still reading The Iliad, and now I'm reading Desiring God, Genesis In Space and Time, The Titan's Curse, and I started Becoming Jane Austen but ended up putting it down b/c I have too much on my plate right now to add another book

Wait, what happened to LotR? Did you finish it? By the way, Becoming Jane Austen isn't considered one of the better Austen biographies. You might want to try Claire Tomalin's Jane Austen: A Life if you can find it (I haven't read it, but it came highly recommended from both my Austen professor and a trusted friend). wisewoman also enjoyed Peter J. Leithart's recent Austen bio, which is written from a Christian perspective.

Booky, isn't Ice based off the folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"? I recall reading that it was. There are at least two other novel based off that story, including Edith Pattou's East and Jessica Day George's Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. I've only read the first. Anyway, if all these assumptions are true, it's not surprising that you found similarities to Twlight, as both derive from that "Beauty and the Beast" type idea. I need to read Durst's books at some point; I love the Obscure Fairy Tales on her blog.

*puts on his McKillip expert glasses ( ) and attempts to sort out the misunderstanding between Valia and Mel* Me deaw ladies, beeweeve what Val was twying to say was that she fouwnd twoo McKiwwip books at the bwooksale, Heir of Sea and Fire (being the swecond vowwwume of the Riddle-Master twiwogy) and Cygnet, which she beeweeved to be a twoo-in-one. Indeed it is: it cwontains both The Cygnet and the Firebird and The Sorceress and the Cygnet. Thewwe, I think I have both answered Val's qwwwestwwon and cweared it up for Mel. *takes off glasses*

Haven't been here in awhile. Haven't cared.

To quote a rather lame and over-played commercial out these days, "Ooooh. That's cold."

I much prefer very light books that can be easily crammed and dropped and picked up again

Haha, this explains why you read so many of the "Once Upon a Time" books last summer.

By the way, if you've only read Mansfield Park once, I'd suggest giving it another try. My enjoyment of it increased tenfold upon rereading it; I think it's one of those books that benefits from the reader actually knowing what is going to happen. When I first read it, it really threw me for a loop. Oh, and I see you resolved the McKillip understanding on your own. Still not going to delete my explanation, though....

Kate, about The Count of Monte Cristo:

Speaking of Lit classes, we moved on to The Sound and the Fury. Hate, hate, hate that book. With a passion. We also read a short story by Faulkner called Barn Burning that wasn't too bad. We're a little behind time-wise, so we're skipping reading As I Lay Dying. Can't say I'm too sorry.

From what I've read, Faulkner's short stories seem to be very good in general: along with "Barn Burning," I enjoyed "A Rose for Emily" quite a bit. That said, you didn't miss anything by skipping As I Lay Dying. I really think Faulkner allowed for style to get in the way of story in that one. As my second Faulkner novel, my dad has suggested either Light in August or Intruder in the Dust. By the way, his explanation for the varying quality of Faulkner's work is varying degrees of drunkenness.

Valia - you preferred SaM, IaS to East??? Wow. I really must read it, then.

Right now I'm reading the Hollow Kingdom Trilogy by Clare Dunkle. Really great. I hadn't reread them for AGES and I've forgotten how much I absolutly loved them You should all go check them out

I think I say this every time someone brings up those books, but Clare Dunkle, Libba Bray (author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and my uncle all went to high school together! I think that's so cool. Of course, I only read Dunkle's first book, and never read any of Bray's, but anyway....

Sorry you didn't like parts of The Perilous Gard, Fanny. And if I had ever pegged you with a YA fantasy, it would have been that!

Spoiler

About the People of the Hill: I think it's meant to be ambiguous. To some extent, you decide. The could be fairies, or they could be druids. I think the evidence sways towards the latter for sure, but it's definitely left open. You did like the teind conversation, didn't you?

It's so funny to read everyone's reactions to The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and specifically to the "love triangle" and its various members. I was a Katniss/Gale shipper in the first book, but by the second one I was generally fed up with all the romantic confusion and wishywashyness.

malkah, sooooo happy you fell in love wit The Bell at Sealey Head
too! Isn't it a charmingly cosy read? Quite different in tone from many of McKillip's others. I may address your spoiler later, but it's late now, and you know how hard on the brain McKillip's back stories can be. Actually, y'know, I think I may have Mel's and my conversation in a Word document somewhere. I'll try to fish it out tomorrow.

How much time did you give the McKillip books, Avra? I've found her novels are most effective taken slowly. That's how I read Riddle-Master, and that may be why it's my favorite to this day. She is confusing: but Riddle-Master makes sense if you give it time. The Changeling Sea isn't one of my favorites either, mostly because I didn't like the love triangle.

Whewwwwwwww! That was a long post. And probably unreadable because I'm feeling so loopy right now. A brownie for anyone who read through the whole thing:

(If you skipped to the brownie, that's cheating. )

Yay! Lys mentioned me the most, I must be his favorite!

*snags a brownie*

Yep, Ice is based on that particular fairy tale. You really do need to read her books. I love that she writes strong heroines, but is content to let them be female and not try to force them into more stereotypically masculine roles.

Almost done with The Monstrumologist. I'm not much of a horror reader, so it probably doesn't mean much when I say that it creeped me out. It's not for the squeamish though, there's some gore and other gross bits. Well written though and I was surprised at how authentic the old-fashioned style of the narration felt.

Whoa! I don't think I've been in the Spare Oom since The Great Forum Change!

Anyway, I'm a huge book lover, though I don't believe I've read anything mentioned on this page.

But I shall say that I am currently reading the Swallows and Amazons series, which is all sorts of fun. Anybody else read those?

Good to see you back, Lys!

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.

Ah, very neat! Hmm...The Other Kitten? I haven't heard of that one (actually, out of the one's you've listed here, I've onl heard of 3. ) Those being Star of Light, Treasures of the Snow (I looove this one quite a lot. ^^), and Tanglewoods Secret. (However, I haven't read the latter one yet. ) "Updated" version of Treasures of the Snow? There was another?

For what I've finished reading is Three Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott. *ticks that one off her L.M.A. list with gusto* That was such a sweet book! And the original Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. My thoughts of this one are mutual with my thoughts of the former.

And now I've managed to find a book with 52 of Grimm's Fairy Tales, to my delight. Of course, theirs seem like they tend to be a little...more grotesque in happening. (Take Little Red-cap for instance. Youch. :/) But I'm reading the original of fairy tales I wouldn't have known otherwise, so this is a pleasant read for me. (The Rabbit's Bride, however, leaned towards the humerous side more than the pleasant fairy-tale side. The part that got me was, "He hit the straw figure so that its head toppled off." and then the ending remarks were so general and short with no sentiment that I had to (unsuccessfully) try muffle my loud laughs in a pillow last night.)

Oh, and finished CoK,

Still not going to delete my explanation, though....

*snacks on the brownie* I'm so glad. That was hilarious. Also, I too preferred SaM, IaS to East. Doesn't my opinion count for anything?

I am currently reading the Swallows and Amazons series, which is all sorts of fun. Anybody else read those?

I've read the first two, and yes they are. They're the sort of book one just wants to climb into and live in.

I'm currently reading The Chimneys of Green Knowe after enjoying The Children of Green Knowe and it being recommended in the comments of R. J. Anderson's recent essay (as The Treasure of Green Knowe just in case anyone else gets confuzzled--my library is A-mazing since it has UK editions of some books ) . The Green Knowe series has a similar feel to Swallows and Amazons; something about the way the children interact with the landscape though the storylines are as different as can be.

I am currently reading the Swallows and Amazons series, which is all sorts of fun. Anybody else read those?

I've read the first two, and yes they are. They're the sort of book one just wants to climb into and live in.

Oh, quite. The fourth one (Winter Holiday) in particular is one of my favorites. It made me (a self-proclaimed winter humbug) wish I could have such snowy adventures. And that's saying something.

I'M BACK!!!!!! (Glenstorm, I expect another leap of joy from you. Otherwise I may not comply with these ridiculous demands of yours anymore.)

fine. *jumps high in the air with inexpressible joy* How's that? And what ridiculous demands!? I just asked a few (hundred) times that you would come back on this thread!

Wait, what happened to LotR? Did you finish it? By the way, Becoming Jane Austen isn't considered one of the better Austen biographies. You might want to try Claire Tomalin's Jane Austen: A Life if you can find it (I haven't read it, but it came highly recommended from both my Austen professor and a trusted friend). wisewoman also enjoyed Peter J. Leithart's recent Austen bio, which is written from a Christian perspective.

well I finished The Fellowship of the Ring and I've started The Two Towers but I'm not very far at all. I've been reading alot of other stuff lately so LOTR is kinda on the backburner. Yeah it seemed like no one really liked that book, so I might not read it after all. Ok I'll see if I can find any of those at my library .

But I shall say that I am currently reading the Swallows and Amazons series, which is all sorts of fun. Anybody else read those?

I'm pretty sure I read the first book. It sounds really familiar. Could you refresh me on what it's about?

Booky, isn't Ice based off the folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"? I recall reading that it was.

just read that folktale. I can see some similarities. Don't know if it's based off of that though...(btw I read Ice too )

Yep, Ice is based on that particular fairy tale. You really do need to read her books. I love that she writes strong heroines, but is content to let them be female and not try to force them into more stereotypically masculine roles.

ok I stand corrected. Btw I'm glad her heroines are like that too. I can't stand masculine girls .

Anyway, if all these assumptions are true, it's not surprising that you found similarities to Twlight, as both derive from that "Beauty and the Beast" type idea.

Ice is much better though, IMO . The only problem(s) I had with that book was obviously that it's not from a Christian viewpoint (although it is fantasy) and the mild swearing (she took God's name in vain two or three times I believe).

*eats a brownie* even though I really shouldn't .

"Updated" version of Treasures of the Snow? There was another?

This (our copy) is the 'revised and updated for modern readers because they are too dumb to understand English from fifty years ago' kind of updating. I'm sure they mean well, but, honestly. I'd much rather have the first cover pictured here on Librarything. I think the movie still cover also has the original text.

Which three stories are in Alcott Christmas book? I always get that one mixed up with The Quiet Little Woman. Also, your quote from The Rabbit's Bride reminds me of my favourite quote from the Laxdœla Saga, wherein the fellow gets stuck with a spear and "Eldgrim fell dead off his horse, as was only natural."

But I shall say that I am currently reading the Swallows and Amazons series, which is all sorts of fun. Anybody else read those?

I'm pretty sure I read the first book. It sounds really familiar. Could you refresh me on what it's about?

Four siblings are allowed by their parents to camp alone on an island in a lake while they're on vacation. They have a little dinghy (Swallow) that they can sail around, too. Partway into their adventure, they meet the Amazons, who also have a boat (Amazon). It's "war" for the rest of the book as the children agree to see who can capture the other's boat first.

Just lots of fun with camping and sailing, and all sorts of imagination.

Re: Little Men and Jo's Boys: Yes, I liked Little Men so much better after Jo's Boys dashed my hopes on the rocks. It was SO annoying that Jo told Dan

Ohh, thanks for the enlightment, Mel. Phew, I've read and own the original. Mhmm, I hear you--if one was so curious to read the book, then they should adapt themselves to old English, not deem that they can't understand it. *shakes head*

Which three stories are in Alcott Christmas book? I always get that one mixed up with The Quiet Little Woman. Also, your quote from The Rabbit's Bride reminds me of my favourite quote from the Laxdœla Saga, wherein the fellow gets stuck with a spear and "Eldgrim fell dead off his horse, as was only natural."

Haha, this one was The Quiet Little Woman along with Tilly's Christmas (or something like that) and Rosa's Tale. I believe it's the edition that she wrote to the Lukens girls as a Christmas present. (Rosa's Tale was a little ironic for me, it reminded me so much of Black Beauty!)
"as was only natural"?! LOL! That is hilarious. I think the part that makes it so is that there's no drama or feeling but such news is presented as if "one was telling the time of day."

@Sweeet: Was that really the reason Jo told Dan that? I rushed through the book to find out what would happen and missed things like that...funny. I always thought she told him that because

Wow, the Grimm fairy tales are different! Aschenputtel's (sp?) (apparently, "Cinderella" in German.) story was not at all like the Disney or regular tale that is often told. No fairy godmother but doves. ... As I've said before, I like the Disney/other one because it does not involve

I am re-reading The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins! that series is awesome! plot-wise, it's a cross between The Silver Chair and The City Of Ember! it's awesome!