Chimera
-
Posts
1,080 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Books
Everything posted by Chimera
-
And that's one more caught in the net! Welcome!
-
Very true! And I think its great that you can write your reviews in 10 mns Echo: it shows that you know what to write and are self confident enough to write it without pausing. Keep going! And of course the aim of this thread isn't to promote a uniform type of reviews... How sad would that be? *laughs*
-
Harry Potter Books by J. K. Rowling
Chimera replied to kitty_kitty's topic in Children's / Young Adult
I agree... Just because so many people have already read the HP books doesn't mean we shouldn't apply the same caution as with other books. The discussions are also there to help others decide wether or not they want to read particular books. If we dont use spoiler tags then they wont be able to enter the threads. -
The experience of being foreign is as varied as the individuals who undergo it and the settings in which it occurs. On Being Foreign - Tom J. Lewis and Robert E. Jungman
-
mmm yes of course. I think there's always something to say... If you've found it bland then you probably wouldn't recomend it. So you could explain why, what was missing, what still appealed to you... etc. I have a similar problem with books which have already been discussed milions of time. For example I had no idea what to say about A Thousand Splendid Suns which hadn't already been said. And I cant imagine how I would review a book such as Harry Potter... I actually avoid reading other people's reviews before writing mine... I'm too afraid of 'stealing' their ideas or being influenced by them.
-
Oops, got sidetracked again. I'm definitely off to have dinner now!
-
Ok then, since you insist... Dont go and read Roxi's blog people, I'm sure you have better things to do! Honestly, I would say I like it if I didn't! Maybe I should rename this thread "the patting on the back corner"? Right, interesting question! I try to review everything. I do review everything which fits my blog's theme (across cultures) and try to review the rest on here as well but sometimes just put it off until it sounds too far away. (which I've done with The Rights of the Reader for example. A shame as I'm sure that book would interest many people on here.) Like you I want to keep a trace of what I thought. there are too many books I've read over the years and cant remember anything about! mmm I dont tend to think so much about the style, more the theme/ story/ content. Maybe I should pay more attention to that aspect...
-
I've started a bookring for it if you're interested. It's for anyone in europe.
-
Aww that's sweet Roxi, thanks! As I said I love yours as well, so go see Roxi's blog people!... there, favour returned, phew! *laughs*
-
Still haven't had dinner. I need to get off here and go eat something. My kitchen (as well as the rest of the house, my room and the shower excluded) is being repainted and refurnished* so all I have at the moment is fridge and microwave... I'll join you on the ready-made frozen meals marathon Julia *laughs* *I dont even want to think of the state everything is in at the moment... and the cleanup I'll have to do before my mum gets back on friday *shudders* Supposing the workmen finish in time of course
-
Well I think there is a thread with a specific review writing guide somewhere but I dont remember ever seeing real discussion on everyone's methods... Apologies if I missed one! That sounds like a lot of work Roxi. But I like your short and long ramble way of doing it. that way if you are in a hurry/ dont want to know too much about the book you get a condensed version and if you want to know more it's there as well. Ho long do you tend to spend on a review, do you have an idea?
-
So, many if not most of us on here regularly write reviews for the books we read... I was wondering how you write yours. Do you set in front of the blank page and just write what comes to mind? Or do you have a plan/ set of questions you try to always stick to? Or notes you take while reading and just order into a review? How long does it take you? I always tend to spend ages in front of the page wondering which way to go, what to say and not say... I just write what comes to mind and try to pursue ideas a bit... And just stop when I'm fed up with it really I dont think it makes very consistent reviews but I dont want to restrain myself with a set plan... How do you do yours?
-
Very rarely: only if it is short and closely related to the book subject (not always the case...).
-
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien 3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 6 The Bible - 7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte 8 1984 - George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman 10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens 11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D
-
mmm Yes I guess it's the kind of issue which doesn't have one straight answer, as much as I would like them to. *laughs* I also thought it was wonderful that they got that chance but in the end it seemed to have taken such a toll... What did it really achieve? Though of course we dont see what happens next or what was the outcome in other communities. And there were greater issues at hand than just the book controversy so it cant all be blamed on the project...
-
Finished it... and loved it!! Thanks! I was a bit frustrated by the fact nothing big seemed to happen at first. But then I laid back and thought about what you'd said about the finnish culture and really enjoyed it. *grin*
Anyway, my full review is on my blog if you want all my thoughts. And I'll be looking at what else Jansson has written. I'm intrigued by the Moomins...
I hope you've had a great week in Paris and your fill of pink champagne* ;-) I'm off to Bruges for an improvised trip this We. Should be nice!
*I know, I know, no amount is enough for you... *laughs*
-
I finished The Summer Book (my swap book) yesterday... loved it! It's a wonderful little book. There is nothing big happening but each chapter is a little 'vignette' showing life on the island, the growing relationship between Sophia and her grandmother, and for a foreigner like me a bit of the finnish culture. My review is on my blog for anyone interested Next up: On Being Foreign - Culture shock in short fiction. I must say I'm intrigued!
-
Oh, sounds like you had a lovely time Janet!
-
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Chimera replied to Kell's topic in Previous Reading Circle Books
The film still isn't out in France! I've been keeping an eye on it and it's been announced for "soon" for months I'll end up buying the UK dvd before seeing it in the cinema if they dont make up their mind 'soon'... -
Yes, we all want to know! I hope you had a wonderful time there Janet!
-
Have you ever enjoyed a book you didn't want to like?
Chimera replied to Chimera's topic in General Book Discussions
*cracks up* I wondered when you'd surrender and post this here Though on the good side, we book lovers would never really want to hate a book, right? -
No, that's absolutely their right. But it definitely (imo) shouldn't be imposed/ set as a class text.
-
Probably *laughs* I got a pile of books begging to be read from my school's library* today so... Bombay wil have to wait! When are you moving by the way? *Yep, turns out they do have some interesting stuff in there. Took me 3 years to notice. Oh well...
-
Yes, that's what I meant. I think it's ok if it's just a possibility offered (clearly labelled) in the library but I remember reading several abridged versions in class and like Bookjumper I felt completely cheated: I was made to read these abridged versions and then of course didn't want to go and read the full version as I now knew the story. But I didn't feel like I had enjoyed fully the books. One of them was Romeo and Juliet... Honestly, why couldn't the teacher have waited one or two years and made us read it the right way?