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

It's not that I dislike girls in more masculine roles, some of my favorite action hero characters are female. I do dislike the fact that lately it seems that authors have bought into the idea that a heroine can only be strong if she's carrying a sword and whacking body parts off. Nobody has that attitude about male characters; there are plenty of good, realistic, strong male characters who never do anything violent.

Just finished a book titled Rampant. It's about Astrid, a girl born with the power to hunt unicorns. I kid you not. It's actually much better than it sounds, though there's content issues. If you know anything about unicorn myth, you undoubtedly know that they're attracted to a certain type of girl and the unicorn hunters must all remain like that or they lose their powers. Thus that state and the losing of it comes up a lot in the book. Anyway, I mention the book mostly because there's this section in the Acknowledgments:

Speaking of inspirations, thank you to those who have portrayed and created warrior women of film and literature. Astrid would not exist were it not for Princess Leia, Sarah Connor, Ripley, Eowyn, Aravis Tarkheena, and Buffy Summers, all of whom taught me that women are powerful and loving, and showed me whom I should write about.

"Speaking of inspirations, thank you to those who have portrayed and created warrior women of film and literature. Astrid would not exist were it not for Princess Leia, Sarah Connor, Ripley, Eowyn, Aravis Tarkheena, and Buffy Summers, all of whom taught me that women are powerful and loving, and showed me whom I should write about."

Thank you to that Bookwyrm!

Same as Princess Eilonwy in The Prydain Chonicles. She always carried her bow and arrow around but hardly used it when she fought. She's spunky and has wit which makes her a very strong character.

Honestly, I liked her better than Taran. This is probably heresy.

Bookwyrm, you and I must both be heretics, then. I'm convinced that the reason the fourth book didn't win any awards was because of the total absence of Princess Eilonwy.

what book were they?

Apple Dumpling Gang, which apparently won awards of some sort, wasn't funny at all, was depressing and generally is the first one. War and Peace is the one where the movie improved the reading experience. Everyone always talks about the fact that W&P has this huge cast of characters with about thirty names each* ... I watched the first half-hour or so of the Audrey Hepburn/Mel Ferrer/Henry Fonda/some other famous people version and then I had faces to put to the characters and it all made sense and I couldn't believe how fast I was able to read the book.

*this is an exaggeration

*throws a few friendly tomatoes at Booky for liking Eilonwy better than Taran* It seems to be a guy/girl thing.

I do dislike the fact that lately it seems that authors have bought into the idea that a heroine can only be strong if she's carrying a sword and whacking body parts off.

Completely agree! They should make more books about princesses who are content to sit at home and be awesome, not always wanting to wear boys clothes and go out adventuring.

I have to admit, I hated Taran Wanderer as well, probably because Eilonwy was not in it. I think of those books, the first three were the ones I really liked. The last two were just OK.

About Inkheart--I absolutly adore Inkheart and can't believe anyone would find it boring. The other two, however....I did like Inkspell when I was 13, but I think this was mainly a lot of romance and I thought that was pretty awesome. Now that I realize Maggie was only 13 in the book, I'm like "TOO YOUNG!!!". I never read Inkdeath, just skimmed the last few pages and was extremely unimpressed that

And why, pray tell, is this better than a cross between LotR, Narnia and City of Ember? *is puzzled*

well, I guess it's a bit like LOTR, but it's closer to SC and City Of Ember. have you read the Underland Chronicles?

I started on the first book of Underland Chronicles a while ago then I got busy and it was over due from the library so I gave it back. I had a few chapters to complete too and it was getting very good.

totally agree Booky. I didn't mean I only like heroines who sit at home but personally I don't like it when they put girls in boys roles. For example, I'm not a huge fan of books where the princess saves the prince. I'm fine with her saving herself but her having to save the guy is pretty feminist. Just my opinion.

Mel: ok I guess if I ever read those I won't expect too much out of them .

@Damsel: finish it! you'll love it! there are five books in the series and it's well worth reading all of them!

I finished reading Winston Churchill's The Second World War series just now- and (bear in mind this is coming from someone who up til a few months ago was not the world's biggest World War II fan, for various reasons), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was the writing style informative, but I really enjoyed Mr. Churchill's perspective of things- I found his viewpoint, that of being one of the key figures in the war and not just a third party looking back, very fascinating and I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how decisions were made that helped to shape the course of the war. It was quite capital, and both my brother and I have expressed great interest in reading his World War One series, so I hope we can do that soon. Now that I am moving on to other books (one of them being a Pride and Prejudice read through with Glenstorm,) I feel that I will sorely miss having Mr. Churchill along as the author. I guess when one has spent hours upon hours in an enjoyable manner in reading a well written series, the author becomes like a friend...

Fanny, unfortunately I haven't started War and Peace yet. I've finished the first page, but nothing more. It greatly contributes to me procrastinating with it... *really had better start it soon*

Alas and alas! Ah well. I hope you do start it sometime, though! Even if it isn't until years from now...

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

Will you let me know how the book is? I've not read it, but I have it (The Wordsworth edition, if that helps any), but I was a bit hesitant to start it when I read about some potential content issues... so, I'd like to know what you think of the book as you read it.

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.

Hurray! It doesn't matter how many times it took you to finish it as long as you did finish it, right? Will you let us know how you enjoy Emma once you've read it?

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 (!).

Out of curiosity, I checked the covers of my audio books again, but unfortunately they are not full cast radio dramas. Although the radio dramas do sound quite wonderful!

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!

Sorry to disappoint you! I think the book will grow on me, especially since if/when I read it again, I'll know what's coming in regards to the People of the Hill and some of those other parts I didn't like or of which I was unsure. I know from experience that final impressions shouldn't be based off of first impressions alone. So, we'll see.

Fanny and I are going to be re-reading P&P soon since it's been a while since both of us have read it- can't wait!

Ditto! It will be really quite fun- reading it again, and also reading it with you.

Completely agree! They should make more books about princesses who are content to sit at home and be awesome, not always wanting to wear boys clothes and go out adventuring.

Same here! I honestly think that I'd buy a book like that, especially if the rest of the premise was pretty good, even if it was for a bit of a younger reading audience. It's such an "old" plot line that it might be new again, if that makes any sense.

After reading Pride and Prejudice again, I have several new biographies to read. I'm very fortunate in that where I work is about two doors down from a used bookstore, which just happens to be open during the summer on the days I work. So, this past Saturday, Dad and I went book shopping. Which was quite fun. I picked up Clementine Churchill by Mary Soames, a biography of Mrs. Winston Churchill by her daughter, and a biography on Queen Victoria, by Cecil Woodham-Smith. Both look promising- I'm especially looking forward to the one of Mrs. Churchill.

Re: Jo's Boys/Little Men:

the two biggest disappointments were

Spoiler

Dan going to jail and Nan and Tommy not ending up together because it was on an awkward note.

Although I was also disappointed

Spoiler

by Dan's going to jail, I wasn't completely surprised, since he was the "black sheep". I think he almost needed an experience like that. And yes! If Alcott didn't want Nan and Tommy to end up together, she could have simply had them grow up and move on, rather than bringing in the utterly unconvincing Dora storyline.

It was SO annoying that Jo told Dan

Spoiler

that he had no hope of being able to marry Bess because he had killed a man. So what is that saying then? That when you do something terrible, it doesn't matter if you're sorry, but you're irredeemable? Ugh!

As Bella wrote below, I think part of the reason was

This is completely unrelated, but Bella, can I have the title of your Grimms fairytales book? I've been looking for a good collection.

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.

Do please post what you think of it! That's one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy!

[quote="Mel, talking about The Bell at Sealey Head,":3nv64sjo]

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.

Spoiler

Hmm, I see. That makes sense; it's just that McKillip so often adds such wonderful twists and layers to a character that such a simple motivation feels rather flat.
Aha! I thought so! So who thinks what and why?

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 so glad you liked it! Isn't Kate wonderful? I love how she

sooooo happy you fell in love with The Bell at Sealey Head
too! Isn't it a charmingly cosy read? Quite different in tone from many of McKillip's others.

It is! I think the different style is part of the reason I liked it so much. Most of her other novels are not rereadable-on-a-rainy-day books, and BaSH (oh dear, that doesn't look quite right, does it? ) is.

My dad just started Pride and Prejudice after he asked me for an Austen recommendation (all of them! all of them!), and considering how inundated my life was by Austen this past semester, it's refreshing to hear the reactions of someone who is totally new to her. This morning he asked me which of the Bennett girls was going to end up the heroine. He seemed rather happy when I told him it was Lizzie.

I hope he enjoys it! With the prevalence of Austen now, it's not always easy to find someone completely unaware of what happens in the books. So it sounds like a really neat experience!

I requested my very first McKillip from the library. The Bell at Sealey Head. Is that a good one to start with?

I read that just a few days ago and really, really enjoyed it! Although there's some confusing bits, I'd say it's one of her most accessible novels. Which you want, for your first McKillip. And it's such a lovable story--by the end, you'll want to live in Sealey Head.

Will you let me know how the book is? I've not read it, but I have it (The Wordsworth edition, if that helps any), but I was a bit hesitant to start it when I read about some potential content issues... so, I'd like to know what you think of the book as you read it.

I'd be happy to! So far I'm about halfway through (using the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation), and

Anna Karenina so far (you may not want to read this, Fanny )
[spoiler=]Barring some unexpected twist, I'm thinking this will end up like The Mill on the Floss, where I quite enjoy the story while ardently wishing the hero would get run over by a carriage.

Seriously, what kind of person meets a married woman and on one day's acquaintance, dumps the girl he's been seriously courting and follows the woman home, with the intent of causing her to be unfaithful? And not only is Vronsky not worried about shattering Anna's marriage, her son, and her reputation, he actively wants to!
Jerk is nowhere near a strong enough word.

Apart from that, I'm liking it. The way Tolstoy constructs the psychology of each character, along with the bits of ironic humor scattered about, are making for an interesting read!

Oh, and Levin is awesome. [/spoiler]

I finished reading Winston Churchill's The Second World War series just now- and (bear in mind this is coming from someone who up til a few months ago was not the world's biggest World War II fan, for various reasons), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was the writing style informative, but I really enjoyed Mr. Churchill's perspective of things- I found his viewpoint, that of being one of the key figures in the war and not just a third party looking back, very fascinating and I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how decisions were made that helped to shape the course of the war. It was quite capital, and both my brother and I have expressed great interest in reading his World War One series, so I hope we can do that soon.

Thanks for that concise review! I am a big WW2 nut, so this tome sounds like my proverbial cup of tea. There's a common thread in many history books one can get and that is oftentimes the author/s will tend to get wordy and hoity-toity, presumably so they can say "Look at me, I'm famously smart! Look at this huge book I wrote on this particular subject". I'm glad Churchill writes in plain English and that his personality comes across in the book so well. He was quite a man! I'll be adding this to my list in the future!

Will you let me know how the book is? I've not read it, but I have it (The Wordsworth edition, if that helps any), but I was a bit hesitant to start it when I read about some potential content issues... so, I'd like to know what you think of the book as you read it.

I read Anna Karenina many years ago and walked away liking it, although not nearly as much as I loved War and Peace. Some people like AK better. *shrugs* As far as "content issues", I think there's a scene where Kitty shows a little leg when she's riding around in a carriage, and of course there's some adultery going on too, but there's worse than that in The Three Musketeers and and no one points any accusing fingers at it.

Well, I finished Pride and Prejudice (it's so wonderful when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth finally get together!)--I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I have now started on Emma. So far I'm enjoying it (I knew I would). I just wish I had more time to spend with it. Of course, I could always spend less time on NarniaWeb and more time reading!

Malfhok / Meltintalle RE: Swallows and Amazons - I love the whole series, and have read them way too many times. Winter Holiday is my favourite, because like the D's I can't sail but I can ice skate and I love astronomy and writing. They are all wonderful though! I've been to the Lake District several times and my mum and I spent one summer hunting for Swallowdale! I hope to go back to the Lakes and climb Kanchenjunga next ...

And, Mel, I like Inkdeath too.

So do you guys prefer to read books before or after watching a movie? I almost always read a book before watching the movie. I always like the books better and I find sometimes if I watch the movie before reading the book, I feel like the book drags (instead of feeling that the movie rushes the story).

I've experienced the book-dragging effect too. I try to read books before I see films, but to be honest sometimes I go and see a film and then realise it's a book, or the film inspires me to read the book. Usually I much prefer the book; there have only been a couple of times I have actually enjoyed the film more.

I'm not a huge fan of books where the princess saves the prince. I'm fine with her saving herself but her having to save the guy is pretty feminist.

Ooh, interesting! I think there's a real drive for that sort of thing to be written at the moment. Personally I don't have a problem with there being a strong female character, but I don't like when the man then sits there and does absolutely nowt. I like it when they work together; it's much more interesting. I guess it's a kind of reaction to the "Every main character is a male!" thing.

I finally read Jo's Boys, yaay! I thought it was much better than Little Men; more seemed to happen. I really liked the descriptions of how Jo had to avoid avid fans, though this did only seem to happen at one point in the book; it wasn't very consistent. I thought Dan had the most interesting story but the most unsatisfying payoff. Perhaps it's my idiotic abridgements, but the final paragraph seemed far too short to wrap up all their lives.

Has anyone here read the Ingo series? I finished them recently and was a bit disappointed. I think Helen Dunmore wasn't really sure of what would happen in the future for her characters and therefore wrote a rather unsatisfying ending. They are interesting books, though, and I do like the characters.

I recently talked to my sister and she told me that she's finally reading the CoN! Woo! It's taken years, but she's finally cracked. She's really enjoying them too.

Next on my list is Wuthering Heights. I am determined to finish it this time!