Kylie
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Posts posted by Kylie
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An Instance of the Fingerpost - Iain Pears
Wow, when I read your post angerball, I had a bizarre sort of flashback to a dream I had last night. I think I dreamt seeing this book on a shelf; is this a sign that I should go and buy it? (Any excuse to buy books!)
'The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter - or at least, most minds are'.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - JK Rowling
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I also found A Clockwork Orange very disturbing, and yet it has become one of my favourite books.
There's also a novella of Stephen King's: The Apt Pupil (not a horror story). I couldn't wait to get to the end of that story. It just got more and more disturbing the longer it went on. It's one I won't forget in a hurry.
Speaking of King, from what I understand about the plot of Misery, which doesn't have any basis in the supernatural as some of his stories do, it sounds as though it's a story in which (to quote your good self, Oblomov) 'a measure of possibility exists', which I think is what would make it so disturbing. Personally I've never had a desire to read Misery. In fact, I just looked it up on wikipedia and the plot summary was more than disturbing enough for me - it sounds far worse than what I originally thought it would be!
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I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed when I first heard the title 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'. I thought it sounded a bit like the author was trying too hard; a bit pretentious, I guess you could say.
I haven't read the book yet but I intend to - only because of all the great reviews I've read about it, and the subject matter interests me too. The title is probably what has stopped me reading it up until now (that and an already huge TBR pile that cannot be ignored!)
You wouldn't think that 'Pride and Prejudice' sounds like a particularly interesting name for a novel, but it manages to sum up the novel completely in three words. Wonderful.
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A problem can occur if you decide to edit your first post as you finish each book.. if the post gets too long, the software prevents you adding any more. One solution to this is to leave a few empty posts at the beginning, so you can go back and edit them.
I've been editing my first post to show all the new books I keep buying. I haven't been stopped yet but I think that time is drawing near so I've decided to stop.
I really like the idea of leaving a few empty posts at the beginning of the blog. I'll have to remember that for when I start a new blog next year. Thanks for the tip!
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What a fantastic haul!
Thanks Louise, I thought so too!
Now the problem is to find room for them. I'm seriously short on space. I might have to pack away more of my CDs so I can gain an extra (small) bookshelf.
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I found a couple of excellent second-hand bookshops today and couldn't resist (I've been good for a week and a half!). I've been after several of these (Asimov, du Maurier, Williams, Wylie) for ages.
Isaac Asimov: I, Robot
Wilkie Collins: The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins: The Woman In White
Daphne du Maurier: The Birds And Other Stories
Daphne du Maurier: My Cousin Rachel
Daphne du Maurier: Rebecca
F Scott Fitzgerald: The Beautiful And Damned
Aldous Huxley: Crome Yellow
Hunter S Thompson: The Rum Diary
Kurt Vonnegut: Timequake
Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire And Other Plays
Jonathan Wylie: Across The Flame
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I usually read while I'm having lunch which is all right if it's a lunch I can eat with one hand (cheese toasties for example) but if it's a messier sandwich, needing two hands to hold it together, then I have to put down the book on the table and flatten it open by balancing something along the top of it - I've found that my pencil case is just about the right length and weight to hold most books open.
That sounds exactly like me Sam! I get slightly annoyed when I realise I've brought in lunch that will require two hands! I occasionally use a tape dispenser or a stapler/scissors combo to keep my book open, although it takes longer to read this way because I have to keep stopping and cleaning my hands before I can turn the page. Sometimes I can't be bothered and just close my book until I've eaten.
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Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
JK Rowling
Rating: 9/10
Published: 2000
Number of pages: 636
ISBN: 0747550999
Summary (taken from blurb):
It is the summer holidays and soon Harry Potter will be starting his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is counting the days: there are new spells to be learnt, more Quidditch to be played, and Hogwarts castle to continue exploring. But Harry needs to be careful - there are unexpected dangers lurking...
Comments:
This is probably my favourite Harry Potter book. It's a fair bit longer than the first three, but not too long. Harry also hasn't gotten too irritating yet. I wish there wasn't so much about house-elves though; Dobby, Winky and Kreacher (in the next book) are all really annoying characters.
The Triwizard Tournament, and everything that comes about as a result of it, is entertaining reading. The novel is much darker and more scary than the previous books and there's never a dull moment.
Started: 2 July 2007
Finished: 6 July 2007
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I pictured Hogwarts in my mind completely differently from how the books say, and also everything in the books is a lot smaller in my mind.
For some reason I always picture the Great Hall on their left as they walk into the castle, even though the description says they go to the right! I just can't change it in my mind once it's done. It just seems back-to-front if I picture them going right
I'm not sure 'my' Hogwarts looked the same as JKR's, but I didn't dwell on it. However, 'my' Harry, Hermione and Ron looked very different to the film version of HP!
My Harry, Ron and Hermione always looked identical to the film, probably because they had already started making the first film by the time I got around to reading the books for the first time. My Snape used to look a bit different though - maybe a bit younger and thinner in the face. However, the more I re-read them, the more he seems to have evolved into the 'movie' Snape.
I always picture the characters in my book - even the minor ones. Their faces are very clear in my mind, but voices are less definitive.On the subject of Harry Potter again, I've always been a bit disappointed in the 'movie' Dumbledore. I always hear his voice much stronger and more commanding in my head. I think he sounds too weak in the movies. And even though I keep reading Voldemort's voice described as 'high', I keep hearing it as being very deep.
More on the subject of picturing characters and places - this causes me quite a few problems when I'm reading. If I'm not 100% focused on the words I'm reading, I have to go back to the start of the sentence/paragraph and re-read. It's really frustrating, and most of the time, it's pointless because when I re-read the text, I realise that I probably did take it in first time round. Does that make any sense? I want to train myself to just keep reading but I'm worried I'll miss something; it's very frustrating and time-consuming
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Ditto re Far From The Madding Crowd!
I guess I don't consciously think 'what am I in the mood for next?' but that's probably how I always choose my next book. I'm another one that sits and stares at books until I narrow it down to one. Sometimes I might be in the mood for something light (especially after reading a 'heavy' classic).
I have so many books TBR, and so many that I just know are going to be fantastic, that I don't have to put much effort into it lately. I pretty much know anything I pick up will be a winner!
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I'm currently re-reading HPATPOA too. I noticed that Snape wanted the defence against the dark arts work in on the Monday morning, and it was the Monday mrning when Lupin said it wouldn't need doing!
And is that when Hermione was disappointed because she'd already done it?
I've almost finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, possibly my favourite HP book. I'm up to the slightly scary graveyard scene.
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great idea for a thread!
the first book i remember chucking was 'sophies world'. it was such hard work! did anyone ever read it?it was supposed to have this amazing ending and that was the only thing that kept me going for a while but in the end i gave up.
It took me such a long time to read Sophie's World! I think it put it down and went back to it about a year later. I persevered but it was hard work. I found the history of philosophy interesting, but I don't think I will read it again. And my copy has the ugliest cover you've ever seen on a book
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We have a book club show on TV once a month and they review two books (a recent release and a classic). Last night they did Post Birthday World and it got hammered by all the guests. It's completely turned me off reading anything by Shriver. Probably just as well - I have quite enough to be going on with without adding more books to the list!
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Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
JK Rowling
Rating: 8/10
Published: 1999
Number of pages: 317
ISBN: 0747546290
Summary (taken from blurb):
Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school...
Comments:
I like this book slightly more than the first two, particularly the whole time-turning part at the end (which I thought was done really well in the movie too). This book introduces Professor Lupin, a very likeable character, and also the hippogriffs, which will play an important role in an upcoming book. A jolly good read.
Started: 29 June 2007
Finished: 2 July 2007
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (at librarything.com)
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The Time Machine
HG Wells (ebook on iPod)
Rating: 8/10
Published: 1895
Number of pages: 128
ISBN: 0141439971
Summary (taken from amazon.com):
When a Victorian scientist propels himself into the year a.d. 802,701, he is initially delighted to find that suffering has been replaced by beauty, contentment, and peace. Entranced at first by the Eloi, an elfin species descended from man, he soon realizes that these beautiful people are simply remnants of a once-great culture - now weak and childishly afraid of the dark. They have every reason to be afraid: in deep tunnels beneath their paradise lurks another race descended from humanity - the sinister Morlocks. And when the scientist’s time machine vanishes, it becomes clear he must search these tunnels if he is ever to return to his own era.
Comments:
An enjoyable story about a nameless time-traveller's journey into the future and his search for the truth about humanity's fate. I liked Wells' interpretation of mankind's future rise and fall and I particularly liked the description of the earth as it appeared millions of years into the future. The Time Machine is also one of my favourite sci-fi movies (the 1960 version); very nicely done. I'm glad to have finally read this (short) book and would definitely recommend it to others.
Started: 26 June 2007
Finished: 30 June 2007
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I never turn down pages on a book. If it's a second-hand book I might leave it face down for a short while (but I don't flatten it down). Otherwise I treat my books very carefully, especially if they're new. I'd like them to last me a long time.
On the subject of bookmarks, I bought a couple of nice ones last year. One is purple and kind of curvy. It has a string of beads attached to the top and has the word 'Faith' on it. It's hard to keep it still in the book though and I've come close to losing it a few times. In fact, I once spent about 5min on the train after everyone else had gotten off flipping seats over and shoving my hand down the side of the seat (eww!) trying to fish it back out from where I dropped it.
I also have another one that is a hooked metal bookmark with a Celtic cross and a bead or two hanging from it. A few days after I got it the cross fell off and I haven't reattached it yet so it's just a metal hook. At the moment though, I'm using a couple of bookmarks that someone gave me which have photos of different Sydney landmarks on them. Currently, it's a photo of the first cars to cross the Harbour Bridge in 1932 - hardly any traffic!
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Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
JK Rowling
Rating: 8/10
Published: 1998
Number of pages: 251
ISBN: 0747538484
Summary (taken from blurb):
Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last...
Comments:
Another thoroughly enjoyable Harry Potter book. Slightly longer and slightly dark than the first, this book sees Harry trying to find out who is behind the attacks on mudbloods, while most people suspect him.
I always enjoy Harry's chats with Professor Dumbledore at the end of the books - there's a pretty special relationship there. Incidentally, my favourite character is Professor Snape; I always enjoy his scenes with Harry too, especially in the later books (book 5, where Harry is studying Occlumency, and book 6 as well). I think he's going to figure prominently in the last book (hooray!).
I want to re-watch the movies before the next one comes out as well. As I recall, the kids seem to grow up a lot before the first and second movies, and their acting improved too
Started: 26 June 2007
Finished: 29 June 2007
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (at librarything.com)
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Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
JK Rowling
Rating: 8/10
Published: 1997
Number of pages: 223
ISBN: 0747532745
Summary (taken from blurb):
Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!
Comments:
There's probably not much left to say about the Harry Potter books, so I'll keep it short and sweet. This is the first novel in the series and it's much shorter than the following novels, which is a bit strange considering this is our introduction to the world of Harry and his friends.
These books are great light reads and I think it's a shame that some people avoid them simply because they're so popular. The fourth book had been out for a couple of years before I finally read them and I'm so glad I did. It's not often you can get excited about the release of a book, and I love to see footage of kids and adults on TV all dressed up and waiting in line to get the next book. I don't think that's something we'll see again for a long time, if ever.
If you've been even mildly interested in reading these books but have refused to because you don't want to be like everyone else, well, it's your loss! Highly recommended!
Started: 22 June 2007
Finished: 26 June 2007
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (at librarything.com)
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I have a huge collection of books on the supernatural/occult. Mostly UFOs/aliens, but also ghosts, wicca, new age etc. I've never gotten around to reading a lot of them
Maybe one day... -
I bought some books that I've been wanting for a long time! I'm very happy with today's purchases
Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair
Jasper Fforde: Lost In A Good Book
Jasper Fforde: The Well Of Lost Plots (won this on eBay so don't actually have it yet)
Jasper Fforde: Something Rotten
Mark Haddon: A Spot Of Bother (thanks to this forum)
Maggie O'Farrell: After You'd Gone (thanks to this forum)
Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse 5
The three Jasper Fforde books were a very pleasant surprise. I had gone to a bookshop to pick up A Spot Of Bother, which I'd seen there recently, and thought I'd look around on the off-chance that there might be some Fforde's in stock (it's a 'bargain' bookshop so you never know what'll you find). They had three of them in stock, and it just so happened that there was an eBay auction ending shortly thereafter for the fourth book I needed to complete the set. I had to make a mad dash back to work, but I made it with a couple of minutes to spare! I tell you, this book buying business can be nerve-wracking sometimes!
This means that in the past week and a half, 35 books have come into my house!
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I received more books from a friend I commute home with, who is trying to clear some space on his bookshelves. They all look like being great reads!
Angela Carter: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories
Colette: The Claudine Novels (At School, In Paris, Married, And Annie
Michael Chabon (ed): All New McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories (which comprises the following short stories)
Lusus Naturae - Margaret AtwoodWhat You Do Not Know You Want - David MitchellVivian Relf - Jonathan LethemMinnow - Ayelet WaldmanZeroville - Steve EricksonLisey And The Madman - Stephen King7C - Jason RobertsThe Miniaturist - Heidi JulavitsThe Child - Roddy DoyleDelmonico - Daniel HandlerThe Scheme Of Things - Charles D'AmbrosiaThe Devil Of Delery Street - Poppy Z BriteReports Of Certain Events In London - China MievilleThe Fabled Light-House At Vina Del Mar - Joyce Carol OatesMr Aickman's Air Rifle - Peter StraubDonna Tartt: The Secret History
Donna Tartt: The Little Friend
I'm not going to add these to my TBR list just yet. It has grown frighteningly long as it is, and the number of books I've read so far this year just looks pathetic in comparison
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I haven't read that exact Angela Carter, but I've read The Magic Toyshop, and The Bloody Chamber is next on my list. Her books are really interesting, and I read The Magic Toyshop in about two days. Definitely try it out! I believe that The Bloody Chamber is a re-telling of some traditional fairy tales.
I haven't read any of your other choices, but I've heard really good things about Colette.
I hope that helps!
It does help, thanks! I looked up Colette on Wikipedia and read that originally her books were published under her husband's pen name and he locked her in a room until she had written the required number of pages! I love looking up info about authors and books - it helps give me some perspective when I'm reading them. I didn't know what The Bloody Chamber was about - it certainly does sound interesting!
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield
Unfortunately I haven't read any of the books on your list elbereth, but I have heard good things about The Thirteenth Tale - so much so that I would like to read it myself!
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Different Seasons
Stephen King
Rating: 8/10
Published: 1982
Number of pages: 560
ISBN: 0751504335
Summary:
Different Seasons is comprised of four novellas, each completely different from the rest. The four stories are (with Stephen King's quotes included after the titles): Hope Springs Eternal - Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, 'about an off-beat prison break'; Summer Of Corruption - Apt Pupil, 'an old man and a young boy locked up in a gruesome relationship based on mutual parasitism'; Fall From Innocence - The Body, 'a quartet of country boys on a journey of discovery'; A Winter's Tale - The Breathing Method, 'an off-the-wall horror story about a young woman determined to give birth to her child no matter what (or maybe the story is about that odd Club that isn't a Club'.
Comments:
I was mostly interested in reading this book because of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption; The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite movies and I was interested in seeing how the book and the movie compared. I was surprised to find how similar they were - I had assumed that Hollywood would take a lot of liberties but a lot of the dialogue from the movie came straight out of King's story. So it's no surprise that I loved this novella. I think it's a brilliant story and a wonderful movie.
I found Apt Pupil to be really disturbing and couldn't wait to get it over with, which isn't to say it was a bad story, just that King did well to stir up my feelings of disgust and horror at these two terrible characters. I enjoyed The Body and the interrelationship between the characters. I've previously seen Stand By Me and enjoyed the movie, but didn't remember enough of the movie to interfere with the book. I liked the fact that the ending of The Breathing Method left many unanswered questions about the Club.
Overall, a really good read with some interesting and varied stories. When reading Rita Hayworth... and The Body, in particular, I had to keep reminding myself that this was Stephen King, the 'horror' writer. Highly recommended, even if you would usually avoid Stephen King, as there's next to no horror here.
Started: 11 June 2007
Finished: 22 June 2007
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This thread has come along at a good time. I was given some books yesterday and was going to ask if people had read any of them.
Donna Tartt - The Secret History
Donna Tartt - The Little Friend
Colette - The Claudine Novels
Angela Carter - The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories
Michael Chabon (ed) - All New McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories (collection of short stories by Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, David Mitchell and many others)
The most disturbing work of fiction that you have ever read
in General Fiction
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Me too. And that's what was disturbing about Apt Pupil - it was about a boy who became acquainted with an old man who was responsible for the deaths/atrocities perpetrated on many people in the concentration camps of WWII.