Jump to content

Kasei

Member
  • Posts

    125
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Kasei

  1. Wandering back in here! I read "The Five Love Languages" a few weeks ago and was surprised that it was more helpful than I expected. A lot of the suggestions seem very obvious, but if you stop and think about it, how often are we that intentional in our love? I drew a lot of good insights from the book and it was kind of interesting to be able to pinpoint what my love language is vs my boyfriend's love language. I think a focused reading of this book would probably help prevent and/or repair a lot of relationship issues. Certainly not a hard read and easy to pick up, I'd recommend it to those mildly curious in bettering their love life.
  2. Thanks for bringing it back! I could not get into Game of Thrones, I just found the entire premise so dreary and everyone was terrible. I couldn't find much to enjoy and so never bothered with the TV show either, even though it's wildly popular. I'm currently reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and I gotta say, it's a surprisingly fun read for such an old book. Fairly humorous story told from the perspective of demons writing to one another as they try to figure out how to corrupt a human man. I've never read anything by Agatha Christie, but I do enjoy reading old books/classic lit. I have rarely come across any commentary so outrageous that it made me put the book down, though I've certainly slogged through some outdated written word. Mostly it seems to me to be an interesting look into how people thought in the past and what society was like. I don't take offense because, well, these people are no longer around and society is completely changed, so what's the point in getting upset? Unless it's depicting discriminatory violence I usually just press through those bits and enjoy the rest of the book.
  3. So happy to hear! I was really hoping someone would be in a position to be able to take it over! Yaaaay! Thank you Hayley!
  4. Ahh, so sad to see this place go, but I totally get it. Forums are costly to run and take a lot of time, energy, and money. Thanks for keeping it going so long! I hope to wind up wherever everyone else ends up. Maybe you could edit the first post or make an announcement with the links to the places people are flocking to?
  5. Yeah, it's totally okay! I think I'm done setting up, I'm not nearly so organized as some other folks, haha. And that's good to know about it not having to be a yearly thing! Takes some of the pressure off. Thanks for the welcome!
  6. I'm working on The Five Love Languages. Trite, I know, but I always hear people reference it so I figured I should read it myself to see what it's all about, haha.
  7. Reading Wishlist: American Gods by Neil Gaiman London by Edward Rutherfurd Cretaceous sea: A novel of time travel by Will Hubbel Raptor by Paul Zindel Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas J. Preston West of Eden by Harry Harrison The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Africa by Kim Donaldson The Red Wyvern by Katherine Kerr The Rover by Mel Odom In Search of America by Peter Jennings Long Night Dance by Betsy James Eden by Olympia Vernon The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander Kushiel’s Dart by Jaquine Carny The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks Silverhair, Longtusk, Icebones by Steven Baxter King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder Between by Jean Thompson The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy Dragon’s Bait by Vivien Vande Velde Firegold by Dia Calhoun Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliordi Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne Jones The Book of the Lion by Michael Cadmum Deep Dream of the Forrest by Malcom Bosse The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
  8. Hey everyone! It's been years and I'm sure most people who might recognize my name are long gone(here's my old blog if you're curious), but I've recently been missing doing book stuff around here. In 2015 I quit my teaching job to pursue a career in illustration. Because of the busyness of that and trying to establish myself in a new field, it's been years since I've even had time to read. I figured something like this might help me stay accountable and do some goal-setting. I know it's the middle of the year, so I'm not going to give this one a year title, I'm just going to try to continuously update this thread as I read things. I hope that's okay/allowed as I've noticed most of these threads are made new each year. I'd like to keep using this one for a while, possibly into next year, and just make a new one if I go missing again for a while. I will mostly be reviewing/rambling as able about the books I'm digging through, with perhaps the occasional accompanying doodle. If you're into that kind of thing, then this is the thread for you. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Currently Reading: The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis Hoarders by Matt Paxton Aesop's Fables by Aesop Ice Hunt by James Rollins Sitting on the shelf in Que to be Read: Whispers at the Altar by Allan C.R. Cornelius Beowulf Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Mat Smay The Waking Land by Callie Bates Have Read since July 2018: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (4/5) Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado (3/5) The Torah (--) Recommended reads from years past: *Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake [review] **The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson [review] *The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman[review] *Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey **An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina *A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin [review] *The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett *War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Key: ** = Highly recommend! * = Recommend X = I didn't care for the book, would not recommend -- = Historical/Religious document that I read to inform myself All unmarked books mean that I enjoyed the read My review ratings can be interpreted as such: 0/5: Paperweight 1/5: Could've done without reading this one, hardly any redeeming qualities 2/5: A "meh" book--unmemorable/had a lot of problems I couldn't read around 3/5: Pretty okay. You won't die if you miss it, but not awful. 4/5: Quite enjoyable, would read again. 5/5: You absolutely should read this. It reeks of awesome.(you may assume that any title with * by it gets this rating from me)[/url]
  9. Oh no, I don't feel pressured at all. I was just commenting that it felt wierd not writing one since I almost always do, especially last year when I was doing this. I reviewed eeevveeerryyyttthiiing. And at length. xD Always glad to point someone in the direction of a good read though! Hope you enjoy it.
  10. Nice! Nothing like free classics! I probably should review White Fang too since I usually do for the books I read....but I feel so weird reviewing a book that has such an established place in literary circles. It's one of the many well-known classics and, well, I dunno, I just feel weird writing a review for it. xD Maybe I will though sometime, just didn't have as much time today as I thought. Sped through Skip and the Wild Mustang, but they weren't really all that notable. Not terribly written or anything, just very much aimed at a younger audience and there wasn't a lot of substance in them. The Wild Mustang was interesting insofar as it was based on a founding member of the Pony of the Americas horse breed named "Dragon." Made me go look up the facts and see what matched, so that was kind of neat. But even so, his story wasn't all that involved or surprising. So I probably won't be reviewing those book either, haha. Wind in the Willows though, that one should be fun. It's one of those books I've always meant to read my whole life (like the Phantom Tollbooth, which I finally did read and HIGHLY reccomend) and just never have. Well, here's to checking another one off my lifelong reading list! May not get to it for another week or so though, life is about to get pretty busy again here for the next few days.
  11. School got cancelled on account of ice today, yay! So I was up at 3 am finishing White Fang. xD It was quite good, but I also have a bias towards nature books/books written with animals as the main characters. So...yeah, I dunno. Maybe if you're not into that sort of thing you wouldn't like it, but as someone who grew up reading Lassie Come Home, Redwall, The Black Stallion series, etc I certainly enjoyed it a lot. Great descriptions of White Fang's psychology throughout his life experiences. And wow, thanks everyone for the comments and interest in pictures! I'll have to be sure to include some throughout my little blog here, even if they are just doodles. :3 Now onto a couple more animal books I swiped of my TBR shelf that I keep at my parents' house (not enough room in the apartment I own for all of them, haha). These ones are pretty short, but I will feel accomplished adding a few more books to my 2014 read list.
  12. Hey there! Good to "see" you again too! Always nice when I recognize familiar names. Oh yes, all the time! I have sketchbook pages full of character sketches and drawings of powerful scenes from the pages I read. I love books and I love drawing what I see come out of them. That's actually what I would love to do for a living, illustrate books. I have always been really interested in the idea of words and images helping to share thoughts from author/artist to the reader/viewer. Such a cool thing to me! It's like stepping into someone else's head for a moment. I may post some sketches here from time to time if people wouldn't mind the slight off topic-ness...
  13. Nose-deep in White Fang right now, was reading along and saw this little excerpt that I liked and thought I'd share: They ran many miles that day. They ran through the night. And the next day found them still running. They were running over the surface of a world frozen and dead. No life stirred. They alone moved through the vast inertness. They alone were alive, and they sought for other things that were alive in order that they might devour them and continue to live. This starving wolf pack is written like a fire. Such cool imagery, makes me want to stop and draw. xD A frequent problem when I read.
  14. Would Like to Read but do not currently have in possession (aka my TBR list): American Gods by Neil Gaiman London by Edward Rutherfurd Cretaceous sea: A novel of time travel by Will Hubbel Ice Hunt by James Rollins Raptor by Paul Zindel Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas J. Preston West of Eden by Harry Harrison The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman Africa by Kim Donaldson The Red Wyvern by Katherine Kerr The Rover by Mel Odom In Search of America by Peter Jennings Long Night Dance by Betsy James Eden by Olympia Vernon The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander Kushiel’s Dart by Jaquine Carny The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks Silverhair, Longtusk, Icebones by Steven Baxter King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder Between by Jean Thompson The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy Dragon’s Bait by Vivien Vande Velde Firegold by Dia Calhoun Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliordi Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne Jones The Book of the Lion by Michael Cadmum Deep Dream of the Forrest by Malcom Bosse The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
  15. Hey there all! Probably most of you don't know me, but I have lurked here since 2007 and done a couple of book (b)logs off and on over the last five years or so (First attempt and second attempt). I just found my way back here again this afternoon and thought I'd keep with tradition and start a new book log for 2014. We'll see how long I can go this year before I have to disappear due to busy-ness again. e_e; To give an update, I am still teaching and spend most of my freetime drawing or looking at art-related books/sites/things these days. I am trying to focus more on building my portfolio and getting into the illustration business (or at least trying to). But I do still go through phases where I'll read voraciously for a few days, so those times are probably when you will see me around most...because sometimes I need to decompress and ramble about how awesome a book I just read was on a forum that is used to lots of letters and will not "tldr" my words. What I tend to do in here is write reviews/ramble about the books I'm reading, so if that interests you feel free to join in. I mostly read fantasy, adventure, classics, and books about nature...but there are sometimes other things sprinkled in, and I am always open to suggestions. Well then, here I go! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Currently Reading: Irresistable Revolution (re-read) by Shane Claiborne A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne Wind in the Willows byKenneth Grahame Sitting on the shelf in Que to be Read: Dracula by Bram Stoker Beowulf Aesop's Fables by Aesop Cujo by Stephen King Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Have Read since January 2014: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (5/5) Old Yeller by Fred Gipson (4/5) Savage Same by Fred Gipson (4/5) Call of the Wild by Jack London (5/5) Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Cliffton (4/5) Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan (4/5) Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (4/5) White Fang by Jack London (5/5) Skip by Aileen Fisher (3/5) Wild Mustang by Lynn Hall (3/5) Recommended reads from years past: *Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake [review] **The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson [review] *The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman[review] *Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey **An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina *A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin [review] *The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett *War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Key: ** = Highly recommend! * = Recommend X = I didn't care for the book, would not recommend All unmarked books mean that I enjoyed the read My review ratings can be interpreted as such: 0/5: Paperweight 1/5: Could've done without reading this one, hardly any redeeming qualities 2/5: A "meh" book--unmemorable/had a lot of problems I couldn't read around 3/5: Pretty okay. You won't die if you miss it, but not awful. 4/5: Quite enjoyable, would read again. 5/5: You absolutely should read this. It reeks of awesome.(you may assume that any title with * by it gets this rating from me)[/url]
  16. Aw, Lost Years of Merlin! So nostalgic, I loved those books! ...where's the Xanth option? xD Gotta love some Piers Anthony craziness.
  17. Weird that I saw this thread, I was just looking at my copies of Illium and Hyperion before I got online....never read them, always meant to. Had a friend who turned me onto them years ago saying they were quite good so I picked them up at a resale shop a while back. Maybe it's time to pick them up!
  18. Man, it has been a busy couple of months to say the least. Pretty much had not managed to find time to read since my last post. However, I managed to have all of yesterday to myself and breezed through A Wise Man's Fear, which was nice. Always feels good to finally be able to give back a book you've had checked out for months. Finishing up the Earthsea series right now by reading the Other Wind. So far it's off to a good start! No time for a review at the moment, just updating.
  19. Honestly pretty much anywhere I have a flat surface has a book on it, haha. On top of my TV with my DVDs, my nightstand, my dresser, my vanity, inside my closet on the shoe shelves, three mounted shelves in my room, my knick-knack shelf, in various piles around my room on the floor, on my art desk, coffee table in front of the TV....I could go on, but I'll stop. Strangely enough I actually know what books are in each of these places. Can't remember what I was doing 10 minutes ago, but I can remember that, haha! Quite bookish.
  20. Meant to spend the afternoon drawing and ended up browsing the forum for hours...this always seems to happen when I come here, haha!

    1. Chrissy

      Chrissy

      It's the booky spell that's been cast over the site - it gets to us all!!

  21. Surprised no one has recommended Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss to you yet. I heard the second book is not as good, but the first was quite enjoyable. Also, really glad to hear that you are enjoying Mistborn. I think I need to add that one to my list of soon-to-reads, especially since it's going to take so long for the sequel to Way of Kings to come out (another AWESOME Sanderson read that you should check out)
  22. Bumping because Sanderson is closer to completion on the next installment in the Stormlight series (aka the sequel to The Way of Kings) anyone else excited?? There is a projection for sometime this year, the website says he's around 80% done......gah! So close! I don't know about anyone else, but I am dying to know more about what happens to Kaladin. Seriously, if you have not read Way of Kings yet, do. Just do.
  23. The Past When did you start to love reading? Ever since I can remember. I have always loved the places reading takes me. Nothing like an adventure in your hands! What books did you love as a child (either read to or to read yourself)? I loved reading animal stories mostly. My first book re-read was Lassie Come Home...I would check that out in elementary school and read it constantly, it was a favorite of mine. This lead to other classic animal reads like Lad, Big Red, Kavik, The Black Stallion series (which I now finally own all of. ) I could go on....the Secret Garden is a book that, for whatever reason, I read annually. It's like my go-to nostalgia read, I love it. Narnia as well, although I would say I probably read that series every 5 years or something, but I love those as well. I would also read Goosebumps, Encyclopedia Brown, Hank the Cowdog, etc...the usual ones. It wasn't until middle school that I discovered fantasy novels (if you don't count Narnia), some of my first being the Tamora Pierce books and Redwall. Childhood memories of reading (if you have them)? I do actually remember reading certain books from the list above in certain places, but nothing exciting to relate. I suppose I do remember on many, many occasions having stacks of books piled around my room because the checkout limit at my library is 99 and I would go there every day after school in High School and almost always ended up browsing and finding interesting looking titles. This is before I was working mind you and had time for such things. Ahhh, good times. Did you read books for school? Oh absolutely. In fact, I kept all my summer reading lists/book suggestion lists for reports so that I could go back later to read them and see what I had missed. It always seemed a shame to not get to read them all. xD Favourites Favourite book: How on Earth do you pick a favorite book? It's like flavors of candy, you get bored if you can only pick one. I guess if favorite equals longevity then the books from my nostalgia list will do. However, I will say that the most impacting book I have ever read is a book called Irresistible Revolution. The Alchemist is also an amazing read and definitely one of my top faves, highly recommended. Favourite author: Hmm....I am quite fond of Robin McKinley. Her first book, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, is lovely. I also will read anything by Shane Claibourne and Brandon Sanderson, albeit for very different reasons. Favourite genre(s): Fantasy primarily. I am mostly an escapist reader, to be sure. However I dabble in basically everything but horror/thriller, though I suppose to be fair I have never actually tried to read one. Just doesn't interest me I guess. Unless you count House of Leaves....I really liked that one, admittedly mostly for the intriguing book layout. Your Collection Do you own an ereader? Yep, a Kindle, but not the fancy new ones, mine has buttons and a screen, not touch-sensitive. Ebooks or physical books (or both)? Never thought I'd say this, but both actually. My Kindle was a gift from a friend a year ago and I actually love being able to slip it into virtually anything to take with me. I've even taken it backpacking in the Rockies! The only downside is I am cheap and usually borrow my books, it is expensive to purchase them. :/ So all the books on my Kindle are the free classics, but that's okay since I've always wanted to read those anyway. I mostly read actual books though. Hardcover or paperback (or both)? Appearances don't matter, I care what's on the inside! New books or used books (or both)? I'm more of a reader than a collector, so this also doesn't matter to me. Though when I buy I usually buy used because, again, I am cheap. Big books or small books (or both)? Both! Most large books I own are art books though, not really reading books, though I suppose you could read them. What language are most of your books written in? English because I am lame and that is all I can speak. Favourite book shop(s): Half Priced books and/or any book re-sale shop! Do you buy a lot of books? Not really. More than the average person I suppose, but I'm sure most of you here will have me beat. Do you spend a lot of money on books? Nah, the library is my best friend. Amount of owned books: Oh geez, I don't know.....*does a quick glance around room* I have caches of books on top of almost everything and two bookshelves, there's no telling and I am far too lazy to get up and count them all right now. So I'd guess around 250? Amount of books read: Um, also no telling. I've almost always got a handful checked out from the library and have had for at least a decade....seriously, do you guys actually keep a running tally? It never even occurred to me to do so. 0_o Amount of books TBR: All of them. However many I can squeeze in from here to the grave. Reading How often do you read? As often as I can. Lately every couple of days. Where do you read? Usually at home or outside. And if I'm traveling, naturally. I don't get motion sickness which makes road trips that much better. When do you read? Usually after dark when I'm done going about my day. How fast do you read? Don't know. Depends on how much time I have available to me I suppose. I just read, I don't time myself. x) The Forum When did you join this forum? Six years ago, but I didn't really get active until 2010. How did you find this forum? Googled "book forum" one day because I was tired of having no one to discuss the books I was reading with. Most of my friends are casual readers at best.
×
×
  • Create New...