wrathofkublakhan

I'd like to add to the thread the author, Diane Duane. She has several "cat wizard" books set in her "So You Want To Be a Wizard" universe, as I recall they live in Grand Central Station. A wikipedia link to one story can be found here. I love the philosophy of these cats because they don't really have a spiritual or religious approach but believe in "fighting entropy", the ultimate collapse of the universe simply by doing good - even if it is just picking up a wrapper to toss in the trash can. In fact, I like it very much. Finally, if you like ... here is a picture of my cat, Emily. She is a one-eyed cat and so must be magical!

Well, you can tell THEM that it's called a "children's classic" and don't leave out the classic! A classic book is just that; and is sure to be very well written. :eek2: In my most humble of opinions, I think The Secret Garden is one of the best books I've ever read as an adult! Everything you want: pacing, style, suspense, anticipation, surprise and character are all developed with a sophistication that rivals most of the "adult fare" I've come across in my ... uh ... adulthood. AND - if you are a man like myself, toting a children's classic to the salon or a restaurant is sure to get you mega-attention from the ladies who loved that book as a kid. Me, being a rough and tumble macho man, happens to enjoy said attention...

Me too! Computer games get you no where but they sure are addicting. I don't know if Oblomov is talking about games - but, wow - it's suddenly 2007. I'm not sure "tastes" is the right word but I sure have been influenced by this forum. I think the main thing, for me, is that I am more open to trying different books. This includes Kids Books, I'm so glad I read Black Beauty in the Reader's Circle because it showed that it's okay for an adult to still enjoy Kiddie Fare - leading me to Anne of Green Gables, National Velvet, The Secret Garden and the like. It's wonderful. The other big plus in changing my "tastes", is reading more novels and stepping out of my comfy genres like mystery and fantasy. The Kite Runner was a real treat. So let's just say that my horizons have been expanded - I always had good taste....and tasted good!

Whoa, I've not seen this title in decades! Really good reading, he sure spoiled that mistress, didn't he?

Fun books! The question is: Ranger or Morelli? Wooohoooooooo!

Why, I think I'll order me up a child tomorrow. Might help around the farm some...

I think the guy must've been joking. The entire idea of dropping a part of your name so you might write differently is ... pretty funny!

Guilty! It never works....walking around thinking 62, 62, it's page 62....

Howdy Father Author and welcome to this forum. Great books? Talk books! I've not read American Psycho - even the title gives me chills! I think that most of the great books I've read have been so because of the time of my life in which I read them or the timeliness of their arrival in time (Like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was perfect for it's time of initial publishing). Were Dicken's books all the greater for the time in that they were published? Maybe On The Road is best received in the context of the era. If I can learn or grasp the significance of a writing while enjoying that writing for its own merit, then well will I have achieved. Certainly, these are the things I personally struggle with.

What kind of deeper motives, do you think? I see you are reading The Illuminatus ~ no conspiracy motives please!

Very interesting - sniffing at the issues and motives for any form of censorship is at least entertaining. At my age, I refuse to be outraged. I liked the Forbidden Library link, it was a trip. I think I could've done without the smug sarcasm and commentary though. I found myself surprised that certain books were actually burned in Amerika in the 70's! While I know the phrase is loaded, I'm not so bothered by a book being withheld if it "conflicts with the values of the community." Put it on the back shelf then, sometimes even the presence of an item can enrage a person - books do not have to be in your face either. My guess would be that there are many more books than on that list - perhaps pornography or how to make a bomb or 10 ways to grow your own weed. I dunno. What exactly bothers us about banned books ~ because it's classic literature or that I'm not bothered by a book's language set in the time it was written (the N-word seemed to be a common motive) or because it goes counter to my belief system. How about books that are printed that you simply think the facts are wrong? If you don't believe in evolution, a text book teaching just that would seem almost hurtful. Like I said, it's a trip.

Amen, Steffie .... amen....

They are a very popular series! I think I read up to M and then got lost and couldn't remember which letters I'd read. Why not give the second book a go?

Okay ... I'm going to Angel's house for dinner.

I think you could buy one of those pre-made pizza crusts (crust? the dough foundation that's pre-cooked, its called crust?). Then some cheese and have a few different kinds of choices for toppings. It's quick; only takes about 12 minutes to cook because all you are really doing is melting the cheese. He can decide if he wants mushrooms but not have garlic, for example. Might be a fun little thing to do together and since he's right there you can't miss by offering something he doesn't like (like anchovies!). Have a few veggies not normally offered on pizza like broccoli just to make it fun and to have options. Whether the intent is romantic or simply friends, it's much more fun to work in the kitchen together - the key is to keep it simple and let the choices be mutual. It's not too hard to have fresh fruit on hand and mix sliced bananas, apples, grapes, raisins and blueberries; mix in some nuts and drizzle with just a tiny bit of honey - have several fruits on hand so he can decide if he doesn't like, say, apples. Fruit really isn't too expensive and it's fun and quick. Offering a dollop of honey on your finger to lick off while innocently in the kitchen can be a nice ... appetizer. Lunch the next day can simply be nachos with all the pizza mixings, just need the chips. The left-over fruit can be a side snack for lunch - just slice it up. Never offer a whole piece of fruit, always prepare it in some way (sliced with salt or honey or peanut butter). Avoid fruit with pits because a good girl swallows. Now, if the intent is romance: make sure there is plenty to keep him occupied. Guys don't like to sit and talk. They like to do things, that's why dinner works for both sexes so well - talking AND eating. So, have him help make the pizza or the salad or blend some ice cream (with fruit or chocolate or peanut butter); as long as you are doing it together, talking and making mutual decisions - everything will be great. Bon Appetit!

Hello Donna - whatcha reading? I'm just beginning Dracula by Bram Stoker. It's pretty great, the chapter headings (chapter one, chapter two) are in a drippy-blood-font! It's so goofy, it makes me laugh.

I totally agree. Beautiful cover, well designed. I enjoyed the book! It seems my recent reading has had an international flair with The No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency in Botswana, Bangkok 8 in Thailand, The Kite Runner in Afghanistan, Zorro in Spain and Bless Me, Ultima on the US/Mexico border. Mebbe I should've joined the Olympic Challenge!

I'm not sure, but I think some garden supply stores sell ladybugs to help maintain the plants - they are cute and eat littler bugs. That being said: Growing your own.... is a nice little hook to get me to read your post! I had visions of hydroponics, special lights and stinky plants! Not that I ever would "grow my own", I do like to read about it.....

Wasn't The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen simply a wonderful and brilliant film? Come on over to my place and we can watch it twice, I'll buy the popcorn. Maybe we can dance half-way through the film and feel years younger....

Warning: long and indulgent posting..... ------------ I'm having an affair with Hannah Montana right now. Well, let's call it a summer fling since some ... uh ... more manly shows will be airing soon, like american football. It's such a good show, I could write a thesis on how Disney TV and Disney TV movies follow the template of time honored classic plots and simply plug them into a teen-age story. High School Musical (a huge hit) is merely Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. Hannah Montana, Model Behavior, The Parent Trap, Read It and Weep all use the same Prince and the Pauper theme - one pair of eyes viewing two different aspects of the same world. Hannah Montana is such a great story in itself - the father/daughter on the show are father/daughter in real life - how cool is that?. The father actually was a big music star (if only a one hit wonder). Like the old tv show, The Monkees, a tv rock group actually sells a ton of records in the real world - Miley Cyrus is the youngest person in history to have two albums debut at number one in the same year. So, the actor's life is now mirroring the actor's role. Unlike the old "I'm not a doctor, I play one on TV" - Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus play a rock star and has become a rock star. As of this week, her album is number five on the overall Billboard charts - not the kids section, overall. It opened at number one six weeks ago.

Oh, that's right - it IS Maureen (phew!)

Sigh, I think she's talking about me....

Oh my, I read an excellent Louis L'Amour novel about a wagon train crossing the desert to California in the Old West. There is some really great stuff out there - many of the older maps had California as an island and some old legends had large ships found east of California where there are some dry lake beds and maybe just a hint of possibility. The evidence of the long trade routes up and down the Americas (seashells found in Walnut Canyon in Arizona) made me re-think my ideas of civilization in that whole entire region. I've been lucky enough to have now visited the cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon, wonder where the Lost Dutchman Mine might be, and fly down the interstate at 80 mph knowing that a wagon train was lucky to make 12 miles a day!

I would love to dance. Hello, Anne. Welcome to the forum - let's hope you may trip the light fantastic, tread the boards, enjoy a good turn and ... take a bow!

I've finally started my Dracula. It's going sorta slow right now as I'm traveling and reading only before bed. Its nice reading a classic in that, in response to the question, "yes, the original, of course!"