Laurel's comments (member since Apr 05, 2009)

Laurel's comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Jon just sent me a hardcover of so that I might get Kay to sign it in April when he tours! Jon, you're the greatest!!!

I've wanted to read the Miles Vorkosigan series for a while now - everyone raves about it! However, I couldn't find it at my local book stores, nor did the library have it. Apparently, its been read to death and the books could no longer be repaired...

Happily, Lois McMaster Bujold announced on her site that she had recently signed a number of books at a Minneapolis book store that people could mail order. I've been wanting a signed copy of hers for a while, so I looked to see what they had. Warriors Apprentice has been re-issued in hard cover! It should be here in a week or so!

My Grandpa was an avid cribbage player, and at 8 years old, I was dying to learn to play. I watched, and watched, and finally convinced him that I knew enough about the rules to give it a try. I double skunked him and caught him cheating - he never played me again. He and my Dad didn't get along very well, and oddly enough my Dad played with me every time I asked after that...

Still love the game!

Hello all,

I live in Winnipeg, and we have a wonderful, thriving independent book store called McNally Robinson. It is family run, and has the most dedicated and underpaid staff of PhD equivalents when it comes to novels. They are each fans and savants of their respective genres, and people from all over the city flock to their store for the great atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. They are also a bit of an eclectic bunch who love to dress up and are passionate about books.

So, when they heard about Neil Gaiman's challenge to award a book signing to the store with the best "Graveyard Book" theme party, they rose to the challenge. Happily, they tied for first place! The signing is December 15th in Winnipeg!

I'm posting this because a very kind and generous Goodreader by the name of Jon found for me one of my favorite hard covers so that I might get it signed this coming spring. It was a gesture that meant the world to me, and I would sincerely like to follow in her wonderful footsteps. Would any Gaiman fans like to send me their books to be signed?

Pam, that's the best giggle I've had all day! My Dad would love you!

My dad put a magazine/book holder in the bathroom for he and my brother... They loved that silly thing! Somehow it seems wrong for a bookshelf to be in a bathroom. Don't our books deserve better?

Weirdest post I've ever written - sorry!

Does anyone have a current interest/hobby that they've inherited? You can't be quite sure if you're into it because it suits your fancy, or if you were trained to like it because your mom or dad were in love with it when you were a kid?

Mine is John Wayne. I love him! I know that I've seen dozens of his movies, but could hardly name more than 5 or 6 to you. They were always on in the background growing up. Dad, when he had a few hours to kick back and relax, would find "Rooster Coburn" or "The Cowboys" or "Chisum" or "True Grit" somewhere on TV, and we'd while away the day. So, I've started collecting the movies I think I remember and watching them myself on a Saturday afternoon. I can't tell if I want to reminisce about those afternoons with my Dad, or if I really am a fan of the Duke. Whatever the reason, a John Wayne movie always makes me feel at home.

What about you?

I second that emotion. Keep going, Kathi!

A friend who works at a local bookstore was able to get me a copy of Elantris in hardcover. I now have all of his books, save the YA series, in hardcover and am so happy! I'm often introduced to authors after they have been publishing for some time, and its getting increasingly harder to find their earlier work in hard cover.

Case in point, I am starting to read Lois McMaster Bujold and Steven Brust. I love their work, but can find very little in hardcover. Thankfully, I have been able to track down a copy of Curse of Chalion, The. It should be arriving next week!

We're only a few days in, and already I need to change my list! I've had a few books on request from the library, and they all showed up on the same day! So, my revised list is:

The Dragonbone Chair
To Reign in Hell
The World More Full of Weeping
The Dispossessed An Ambiguous Utopia
The Gathering Storm
Paladin of Souls
Stephen Fry in America

Love November!

I've ordered Jherag and To Reign in Hell from the local library - good choices?

I just finished The Curse of Chalion and loved it! I'm now onto my wish list for November:

The Dispossessed An Ambiguous Utopia
The World More Full of Weeping
Under the Dome A Novel
Stephen Fry in America
Paladin of Souls
The Gathering Storm
The Hobbit Or There and Back Again

Its going to be a great month!

This was my first introduction to Steven Brust. I've heard for some time that Zelazny and other writers believe him to be one of the best in fantasy, and so was quite curious.

I think that what I enjoyed most about the book, was that it is a more traditional style of fantasy. It doesn't need to have an escalating crisis every two chapters to keep our attention. The writing is good enough, that the author can focus on the story, the characters, and the mood. I really enjoyed it, and am actively seeking out more of his work.

Nyphron Rising just arrived in the mail! I know that I have about 5 books on the go, but I have to fit this one in - I'm so excited!

I like that the contrasts of their cities and our own culture was allowed to develop slowly. If he had written the novel from the perspective of one of the archaeologists, it all would have seemed extremely exotic right from the start. I appreciate the slow burn.

To me, the book seemed a little disjointed at first. I realize that the sometimes awkward flow of the sentences was meant to convey that the characters spoke a different language than ours. Once I became used to the cadence, it added to the experience. I like the almost fairy tale element of people from the two cities, walking side by side, vaguely aware of the other, but unable to reach out to them. Poetic.

This was my first Mieville read - would anyone recommend the others?

I've heard much the same, Sisimka, but am a bit stubborn, so will faithfully try the book. I'm going in hoping for the best, but aware that its extremely hard to find lightning in a bottle twice!

Oops - sorry Stefan.

I've only read the first little bit, but already I'm hooked! Can't wait to take part in the discussion.

I had to give up a lot of reading time in September to go back to University part time, alas, I had to drop the course. The professor was so completely inept, one of our major "drawing" assignments was to cut basic shapes out of construction paper and glue it into a book. For the money I was spending, I'll take classes at the local art gallery for 1/10th the price! There, rant is done! Having said that, my boyfriend says I seem much happier, like a weight has been lifted. So, off to seek a new dream...

I will happily attempt to read all of the following, but most likely only get through a few - wish me luck!



I've missed books...