wrathofkublakhan

the Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey -- I've been following this series for 30 years.

Romancing the Stone!

Fun thread! The TV show Sex in the City could be held up as an example of what chic-lit could be; I could only manage to watch a few episodes (hated it) the men were cardboard-two-dimensional-flat. I remember wondering at the time if it was a sort of backlash to men objectifying bimbos for years in the media. So, anyways, IF chic-lit is the flashy pastel covers like Janet Evanovich then I love this type of writing. It's fun and frothy and entirely disposable. It's not the coincidence that makes it work but rather the circumstance. One worthy in this thread mentioned lack of character development over the arc of the series, our hero never learns anything for the experiences. I would look fondly over at Miss Jane Marple and see that she really didn't change over a series of books because her character arrived fully developed. Like sit-coms on television, the fun is putting familiar characters in different scenarios; so, we see Marple or Holmes or Nero Wolfe or any cast on a sit-com dealing with circumstance (it's Christmas at the 4077). It's a different style of writing because it's not about any rite of passage but rather the foibles of society, the outer not the inner.

Good beginning of a list, I hope to see it build.

The Time Traveler's Wife was brilliant and stunning.

I found it to be a very nice and welcoming forum!

When in doubt -- judge a book by it's cover! Browse the bookshop and find something that looks interesting. And.....good luck.

Thomas Carew. 1595?

When I was a little boy it was a Big Deal to go to the used book store. Getting ten books was a whole lot of fun and I could take some risky chances. Today when I visit a used book store, I marvel at finding old titles that I read years ago; books I'd never see in a new book store and often buy them to re-enjoy them all over again. The leap back to what was popular years ago is appealing to me.

It's tidal for me. It's pretty neap that I can read huge chunks of books in the summertime and even on weekends. And then it's high tide I went and did my job and I'm drowning in work and have to actually teach or write or study (reading homework articles is not reading, lol). The other odd bit is that sometimes I find a book so tasty I don't want to finish the adventure. This stops me from paddling and I just float inside a book for weeks, reading a little bit at a time.

I'm probably wrong, but it seems to me that they publish in six month cycles. So, if you are waiting for the paperback version - that can seem a long ways away. But, the next in the series might be an entire year later! Augh! I should stick to the dead authors. I prefer paperbacks because I'm a snacky, munchy, sippy kinda guy. I like to read and have a bowl of chips or a (small) plate of cookies and a drink. I read everywhere I go but when I settle in, I like to think I'm indulging myself just a wee bit. I do buy hardbacks on occasion but they are heavy and require my knees to be up - this makes the reading a little more intimate (does this make sense?) but on the whole ... paperbacks for ease-of-use.

I always thought that "Ghisteslwchlohm" from the Riddle Master of Hed trilogy was a bit much. I think the author did too, she called him Master Ohm for much of the book, resistance is futile!

Who is your favourite character? Sharpay! What's your favourite Song? I don't dance (I think you can)

I enjoyed it. I thought it was very good for a made-for-tv movie. I was disappointed in some ways because the first one encouraged individuality (cooking, cello playing) and the second one was re-enforcing the clique mentality. That all of Troy's friends would resent that he is trying to get a scholarship for college seemed so wrong. When he finally buckled and turned his back on his future and returned to his high school clique seemed the wrong message to me and, in a way, tragic.

Oh my, I've read plenty from The Bard. I think I like his bawdy comedies like The Taming of the Shrew -- but I'm a pig and like that kind of coarse material. Some people think this stuff is boring -- well, try sitting in the wings for a show waiting to push a bit o' scenery in between Acts! Perchance to dream, indeed...

lol @ vintage lust

It's a fair question, my answer would be, "it is only stupid if you feel it is stupid." I'm not a young man and I've a masters degree and sure enough: I'm reading National Velvet by Enid Bagnold right now. Certainly I read other things and sometimes have to drag myself through offerings from text books and I will say that a children's classic is quite a relief! Personally, I take some pride (not a lot, but some) in that I have a range of tastes and I try to be fearless in my choices. This might lead me to a book oft banned like Lady Chatterley's Lover or a popular best seller like The Kite Runner or even Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I guess it's like that master guy in the Kung Fu television show when Caine asks his master how can he hear the grasshopper. If someone were to ask me why I'm reading a children's classic I would answer, "How is that you can you not?" Welcome to the forum ~ all questions regarding books will be met with much opinion! Enjoy.

Well, welcome to this site. Lots of stuff going on ~ there are people who are in Reading Circles and involved in Challenges. People are sharing recipes, talking movies and playing games too. Some are writing reviews! Join in and post an opinion then come back later and see if anyone responds. What are you reading right now?

(cough), yeah. Anne is such a great book. I think book two is her college years - has anyone read that? I so love her, dare I say 'plucky' attitude, and a woman in college in that era is bound to be fun.

Thanks Echo. I guess it's like The Princess Bride where he only read the good parts. I remember my teacher in grade school reading a story called Little Britches to us while we rested. I loved that story. I finally found it in the library and checked it out - it had swear words! My teacher had artfully read it for us to our age level and it was a wonderful story. Some part of me thinks that no book should be edited unless it is the actual writer - but I guess it happens!

I know I could look this up, but this is a forum! What exactly is unabridged? Does this mean it was edited from the original? And why would anyone do that to a classic? Or am I just guessing? Do I know the answer? No I don't! Help!

Like this one? I read this book (and I rarely read King) because of it's awesome and kind of trashy vintage cover.

Dracula!

I'll confess to buying The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency for it's cover and great title. It was almost haunting me - I'd see it everywhere! Good book too!