Lucybird Posted January 3, 2010 Author Share Posted January 3, 2010 They are a bit peculiar, it's part of what makes them so good, there's nothing quite like them without them being so different that it makes them difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 They do sound odd, Janet, but they really are just great fun and well written books. I read them before I joined the forum, and never found anyone else who'd read them, so I'm delighted that so many people on here are fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 I wish I'd read them sooner, I'd heard of The Eyre Affair but only by name. My Mum read it and when I was off my feet I borrowed it as my own books had run out. So glad I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 May I add my voice to the chorus? Indeed they are peculiar, but deliciously so - I can't envision a booklover who wouldn't adore Jasper's work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Have decided to take part in the Rory Gilmore Booklist challenge this year. So have a look at my lists (what I've already read and what I want to try and read) on the front page. I'd love opinions of which I should read. Am also adding what I've got or can easily borrow to my TBR pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catwoman Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I want to read the forth bear, I love Jasper Fforde and have only got into him. I must read this soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 You should catwoman, it's good, better than The Big Over Easy, at least in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 The Lucifer Effect by Phillip Zimbardo Synopsis (from Amazon) In The Lucifer Effect, the award-winning and internationally respected psychologist, Philip Zimbardo, examines how the human mind has the capacity to be infinitely caring or selfish, kind or cruel, creative or destructive. He challenges our conceptions of who we think we are, what we believe we will never do - and how and why almost any of us could be initiated into the ranks of evil doers. At the same time he describes the safeguards we can put in place to prevent ourselves from corrupting - or being corrupted by - others, and what sets some people apart as heroes and heroines, able to resist powerful pressures to go along with the group, and to refuse to be team players when personal integrity is at stake. Using the first in-depth analysis of his classic Stanford Prison Experiment, and his personal experiences as an expert witness for one of the Abu Ghraib prison guards, Zimbardo's stimulating and provocative book raises fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil, and how each one of us needs to be vigilant to prevent becoming trapped in the 'Lucifer Effect', no matter what kind of character or morality we believe ourselves to have. The Lucifer Effect won the William James Book Award in 2008. Review Oh how long have I been reading this book? Seems like I have been reading it for months! It has taken a long time but not because it's uninteresting or badly written. In fact of the psychology books I've read aimed at none psychologists this is probably the best written. It doesn't use too much specialised language and, unlike the others I've read, when it does it seems to be explained well. I'm probably not the best person to say that as I have a psychology degree but I was trying to think of how people who know little about psychology would view it. Despite a good writing style I can't really say that it was easy to read. The subject matter was quite disturbing, in parts things which happened during the Stanford Prison Experiment and at Abu Ghraib were described in such detail that it actually made me feel a bit ill, there were pictures from Abu Ghraib that I've never seen before, and were nasty. The thought that anybody, any normal person, could do those sort of things is disturbing because it's one of those things you never imagine you could do, but maybe that's wrong. I'm glad to be aware of it though, it's like a guard against it. Certainly not an easy book to read, but an important one I think, and very interesting, I definitely recommend it. 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 I forgot to say something which I disliked about The Lucifer Effect was that sometimes Zimbardo seemed to be pushing his own political views, or even agenda, when it came to discussing Abu Ghraib, and it did mean that there was some content which wasn’t really needed (at least to the extent he discussed it) when thinking about the situation surrounding the events at the prison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman Synopsis (from Amazon) This haunting, poignant and addictive story travels effortlessly across three generations and through time. Unravelling the years from the present to the 1950s, "The Third Angel" is a compelling novel, set mainly in London, about girls and women who make the wrong choices and have to live with the sometimes unbearable consequences."The Third Angel" opens in London in the present day, when an envious sibling comes to her sister's wedding. Their mother's illness cast a shadow over their childhood, and both Madeline and Allie are still searching for something missing in their lives. Back in the Swinging Sixties, the bridegroom's conventional English mother, Frieda, behaves in a wholly unconventional way, and the ghosts of that era still haunt all their lives and a Knightsbridge hotel. Even before that, the seeds of tragedy are sown in the Fifties, when twelve-year-old Lucy first visits London and the same hotel. Precocious, impatient, wise beyond her years, Lucy becomes a go-between for two star-crossed lovers and then holds herself agonisingly responsible for what happens... Review It's a bit difficult to talk about this book without giving away important bits of the plot. I shall try, but be ready for a few blanked out spoilers! I've only read one book by Alice Hoffman before, Blue Diary, which is probably better known, but I preferred this one. I found it read a little like Sebastian Fawkes' earlier work (like The Girl at the Lion D'or, especially in the parts set at the hotel). Not quite up to the standard of Fawkes, but getting there. It made me think a fair bit too, and I felt quite connected with some of the characters. My favourite was probably Lucy (at least when she was young) , she kind of reminded me of myself but maybe more how I would want to be, more confident. I liked Frieda too. I liked how she was so independent, and how she had so many hopes I was almost disappointed when she gave up on her life in London, but I don't think it was really her, more a kind of teenage rebellion. I think in the end the life she had was the one that would have made her happy rather than carrying on as she was. I had mixed feelings about Paul, or at least about his actions. When I found out why he was trying to drive Allie away at first I thought he was a coward for not just breaking up with her. After a while I began to think that actually he was quite romantic, trying to make it easier for her to leave, and maybe to make it easier on her when he died. And he kept trying to get her to escape right to the very end. He didn't want her to suffer, even when he most needed her. 4/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Club Dead by Charliane Harris Synopsis (from Amazon) There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with - at least voluntarily - and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant - in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him, and next thing Sookie knows she's off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elusive vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some Type O - but when Sookie finally finds Bill caught in an act of serious betrayal she's not sure whether to save him, or to sharpen some stakes. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night. Review. This has probably been my favourite Sookie Shackhouse so far, although they are still not a favourite series, enjoyable enough but nothing special. I think maybe I don't care that much about Sookie (or Bill as it comes to it), I don't hate her or anything, it's just that I'm not particularly interested in her. I prefer Eric, he might not have been the greatest guy, but I found him interesting, and more entertaining. I think what really makes this book better for me is Alcide. I like this guy, he's better than Eric, and I certainly prefer him to Bill. I hope we'll see more of him in the next books. I never seem to like the leading male in these types of books, maybe it's me, maybe they're written that way. I kind of liked how Sookie was more independent in this book too, maybe I don't really like how Bill looks after her. 3.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris Synopsis (from Amazon) Sookie comes to the rescue of a naked, amnesiac vampire - and ends up in the middle of a war between witches, werewolves and vampires! Sookie Stackhouse is a small-town cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's pretty. She does her job well. She keeps to herself - she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie's gift: she can read minds. That's not exactly every man's idea of date bait - unless they're undead - vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that's just the kind of guy Sookie's been looking for. Maybe that's why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn't just drive on by. He hasn't got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy - and dead - as the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he's sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie's help - because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie's investigation into what's going on leads her straight into a dangerous battle between witches, vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger - to Sookie's heart, because the kinder, gentler Eric is very hard to resist. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night. Review. I liked this one, not quite as much as Club Dead, but still I liked it. Sookie retained some of her independence (although not all of it) which I liked in Club Dead. There was less of Bill, which was probably connected to Sookie's independence, and which made me realise that I actually don't like Bill, at least as a character, the books are better without him. Then there is lots of Eric, who I always enjoy reading. Him loosing his mind makes it not to good, although he still retains something of his Ericness that I can't quite put my finger on. There is Alcide too, who is my favourite character still (even though he got back together with Debbie, what was he thinking?) , but not enough of him by far. I guess the one thing that is better in this book is that the story seems to get going quicker, I felt with the others I was waiting for the action to happen. I still get surprised at the adult scenes in these books. You'd think I'd have learnt to expect them by now right? 3.25/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Hariis Synopsis (from Amazon) Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead - and to stop the fiend! Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her life, mostly. She's a great cocktail waitress in a fun bar; she has a love life, albeit a bit complicated, and most people have come to terms with her telepathy. The problem is, Sookie wants a quiet life - but things just seem to happen to her and her friends. Now her brother Jason's eyes are starting to change: he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. She can deal with that, but her normal sisterly concern turns to cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population. She afraid not just because Jason's at risk, but because his new were-brethren suspect Jason may be the shooter. Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks - unless the killer decides to find her first. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night. Review This one surprised me a bit because it barely had vampires in it compared to the others even if the killer did turn out to be a vampire...or at least the one who was trying to kill Sookie ! At least it had a fair bit of Alcide in, who is still my favourite, and quite a lot of Sam who I grow to like more and more with each book. A little Eric too who I like to see, and not too much Bill who I'm not so fond of. It strikes me more and more that although Sookie is technically the heroine, she's barely ever works things out by herself, and i's only ever towards the end that she really seems to be the heroine. The romance in this book I find a little confusing, I mean she seem to like these guys but doesn't get her act together, and I don't understand how she can have spent years and years with no dates then after she's dated a vampire she's suddenly so popular. 3.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 I don't think my TBR pile has ever been this long before, 31 books. You people are a ad influence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Well if you feel any better, my TBR is 246 books long, so you're still in the clear in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 lol, before I joined here it was rarely more than 3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Synopsis (from Amazon) Set in Georgia at the time of the Civil War, this is the story of headstrong Scarlett O'Hara, her three marriages and her determination to keep her father's property of Tara, despite the vicissitudes of war and passion. This novel won the Pulitzer Prize. Review This another book that is difficult to review without spoilers, so there will be a few blanked out bits, but hopefully not so many that it's impossible to get a spoiler free review! Scarlet I found very difficult to like, she's so selfish, and narrow minded and she thinks so much of herself- although the last one does give some laughs (but maybe only because I don't like her). There were times that I began maybe to like her, or at least respect her somewhat, because she was strong, even if not for the right reasons. But she really spoilt it when she lied to Frank about Suellen so she could have him instead. And just because he had some money. I just wanted to hit her then. How could she not think of her sister, she was just so afraid of being poor, but was there really no other way? Despite not liking her I did want it to come good for her in the end I suppose part of it was that all the way through part of what annoyed me is that she was so twisted up in Ashley that she didn't realise that she didn't actually love him, but did love Rhett, and in a way when she realised it made me like her more- despite everything,and I guess I kind of wanted her insight to be rewarded when she had been so dilussioned about herself, it was kind of a turning point for her. I did like Rhett though, he might not have seemed the nicest guy but at least he was honest about it, and I always felt that behind it all he was basically a good guy. I was expecting the book to be more of a romance, but really I found it was more about the Civil War- and the time after. I liked that about it as I knew next to nothing about the civil war before, and history does interest me. Something about this book that made me a little, uneasy shall we say, was that it actually made me understand where the Ku Klux Clan could be coming from, a kind of vigilantte justice. It didn't actually go as far as to make me agree though, just to see ther side of things. 4.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I agree about the Ku Klux Klan. It was very interesting to read about how it all started out. I hadn't known much about it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Great review Lucy, my reading of the book was very similar to yours. The part about the Frank bit that also annoyed me to no end was when Scarlett got a letter from Suellen, a very bitter hateletter, and Scarlett had the nerve to get mad at her for telling the truth about Scarlett's character! I also agree with you about the Ku Klux Clan part, I had never really thought about or heard how it all came about, and I do now have more understanding about it. I don't condone it, but I realise that it didn't come about just because white people hated blacks, but because they thought they had no other alternatives for bringing out justice. For the people of modern society it's all very black and white because they weren't there in the beginning, they don't understand the reason behind all this. That's one of the reasons why I loved this book so much, it was so educational. I remember saying to my BF that I would've been so much better in history if the teacher had taught us everything through historical fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Great review Lucy, my reading of the book was very similar to yours. The part about the Frank bit that also annoyed me to no end was when Scarlett got a letter from Suellen, a very bitter hateletter, and Scarlett had the nerve to get mad at her for telling the truth about Scarlett's character! I also agree with you about the Ku Klux Clan part, I had never really thought about or heard how it all came about, and I do now have more understanding about it. I don't condone it, but I realise that it didn't come about just because white people hated blacks, but because they thought they had no other alternatives for bringing out justice. For the people of modern society it's all very black and white because they weren't there in the beginning, they don't understand the reason behind all this. That's one of the reasons why I loved this book so much, it was so educational. I remember saying to my BF that I would've been so much better in history if the teacher had taught us everything through historical fiction. Yeah that's how I felt too, it kind of makes me feel more positive towards humankind to know reasons too- even if I don't agree I can see were they are coming from, and while it was a dramatic reaction it makes it more forgiveable In fact in a way I found the Yankee's more racist because they didn't trust any black person really- just pretended to, at least the Confederates were reacting to what had happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 In fact in a way I found the Yankee's more racist because they didn't trust any black person really- just pretended to, at least the Confederates were reacting to what had happened. I agree. Whereas the Confederates kept black people as slaves but still felt like they were actually members of the family, the Yankees wanted to free them but didn't want to have anything to do with them afterwards and were actually using them for their own agendas. Tricky situation It would be interesting to read about the Civil War from the Yankees' point-of-view... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 GWTW is a very well written book. But it is not history. It reflects a highly romanticized view of slavery prevalent in the South in the 1930s, and presents a totally inaccurate view of Reconstruction, which has been corrected by historians since the 1960s. The Klan were evil, murderous home grown terrorists. For anyone interested, I highly recommend Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877 by Eric Foner for an accurate portrait of the period (also in a very good abridged edition) but there are a slew of good books on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 (edited) Thanks for your input ethan, I'm going to see if I can find that book in the library. Although I'd rather read a fictional book about the period to keep me more interested. However, I don't think slavery was romanticized in the novel, or rather, if it was, people today know that it was by no means a nice business at all and will not take the book as it is. You have to give us more credit than that None of us said that the Klan was a good thing and that they were right to kill people. I only said that I understand the reasons behind the Klan a bit better now. Edited February 23, 2010 by frankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Thanks Frankie, I was trying to think of a way to word that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I apologize for the pedantic tone of my previous post, after re-reading, it does sound pretty obnoxious. I wish I could recommend an historical novel of Reconstruction that presents an accurate account of the period. There are some out there but I haven't read any of them. But I'm guessing none of them would be able to provide the vivid characterizations, or dramatic sweep, that makes GWTW so compelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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