Kathy's comments (member since Jan 22, 2009)

Kathy's comments from the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group.

Speaking of which, maybe I should start a topic of "What is on your Christmas list this year?" :P

Lara Amber wrote: "I'm really into it. Let me put it this way, I buy each book as soon as I finish the one before it. Book 1 10/25, Book 2 10/..."

LOL, been there, done that. Well, crud. I don't need another series that will move me to the point of depression because the next book isn't out yet. I will put it on my to read list though, likely for next year. Maybe a Christmas list...

Amen, Patrick! Let's hope that SyFy will pick up Firefly, as I never saw it to begin with (that thing called life got in the way of TV). They, at least, respect we fantasy and sci fi people.

Agreed with whoever commented on dumbing down books/series for TV. IMO, the only series that actually was respected on the screen was LOTR, and even then it wasn't perfect. At least it didn't detract from the major storyline, unlike that darn Legend of the Seeker show that I just couldn't stomach anymore. Ugh.

Tanja wrote: "American Gods won for book club! YAY! Now to figure out how I'll conduct the meeting. I'm thinking of doing a Jeopardy like game-show intro having the readers pinpoint which god appeared as what.
"

So how did your BC meeting go? I have never read American Gods (I'm not a huge Gaiman fan). I was pulling for Agnes Nutter, as the book is very funny and literally laugh out loud in parts (esp. drinking in the bar toward the end of the book)

I must be thinking of Stephanie Meyer of Twilight fame. Sorry about that. Thought that was one of that particular series.

Lara Amber wrote: "I'm continuing with the Jim Butcher books.

Academ's Fury
Cursor's Fury
Captain's Fury
Princeps' Fury

It's times like this that I just lo..."

Lara Amber,

How are you liking the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher? I ADORE the Dresden Files, but I've been too busy rereading to think about picking up the Codex series. I just can't wait until I pull my next all nighter with a new Dresden book (whenever that will be).

I wonder, speaking of modern technology, does DVR-ing your favorite shows (so I can go out to dinner on Friday nights with my husband) count toward ratings?

I know the big 4 networks are showing a bit more sci fi nowadays, but it's still not exactly good. I tried to watch Fringe once, but it seemed too x-files-y for me. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it. I always loved the Stargate series and all the spinoffs, and I'm interested to see what Stargate Universe is going to be like. More of the same with different cast members, or different plotlines? I guess if you want to watch at least decent sci fi TV, you need to watch SyFy channel.

Shellie wrote: "The Host by Stephanie Meyers is very light with a bit of romance. I would almost classify it as young adult.
The Host"

But isn't that what all of the tweens and teens are reading nowadays anyway? Sorry, I'm staying away from that vamp business.

So it's now November. Sorry if I'm stepping on mods toes here, but I figured that October was done.

I am still rereading WoT and will be for a while. I just ordered Michael J. Sullivan's Nyphron Rising and will get to that in the next couple of weeks. I don't read more than one book at a time, and with Jordan, you can't concentrate on more than one book at a time with all the twists and turns, so my list is pretty short for November.

However, I am quickly getting a lengthy Christmas list of books, so I had better be ready in January to hunker down and get serious about my reading!

I don't think that signatures are a bad thing as long as they aren't gaudy and take up half the page. One earlier mentioned poster that gently promos her husband's work actually participates in many, many discussions on GR as an intelligent, well-read person. It's part of the reason that I actually purchased his books after reading some of the leaders, and seriously, they are very good and well-edited. However, there is a fine line you walk. I guess you can't please everyone.

RE: self-published vs. commercial publishing. I am not an author. However, what I have heard from multiple sources across GR is that the publishing houses are not signing any new authors. It's funny that some schmuck from the Bush White House can get his book published, but new well-done fiction does not even get looked at. It is irritating. However, after having taken a flyer on a few self-published books out there, I must say. Get an editor. Get a GOOD editor. Not your best friend. Someone that is going to tear your baby to shreds and make it a flowing, readable piece. It's the only way to really grow as a writer. Then work on the publishing aspect. You might get more readers that way.

I am definitely looking forward to the new book, but I will absolutely have to reread before I even pick up the new book. I'm glad that I wasn't the only one that had this... antipathy toward Rand in the later books. Yes, it's that making yourself so hard to the world that you will break instead of bend. But I was not a fan of it. It was almost as if Jordan made Rand this unmoving mask that grunted instead of interacted. I wonder if that was truly intentional or did Rand just go off the deep end long ago.

Book suggestions:

The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

I haven't yet, but it's on my "to read" list. Maybe in the fall or going to winter. I'm doing the "summer" reading at the moment, with the exception of Dune. You know, whip through a book in 2 days and have fun every minute. I will make sure to get back when I do read it.

What do you think of nominating this for a Book Club read?

I thought the initial witch hunter's contact was a bit slow. I know we have to introduce Newt somewhere, but wasn't my favorite scene.

I don't know about adorable; amusing for sure might be a better fit.

The whole kid mix up thing at the beginning of the book is the scene in which I really saw the direction this book was taking, humor wise. I grew up Catholic (not so much now) and went HA HA, there really is a conspiracy theory in those convents!!!!! (Just kidding, but it was funny in my book.) And that said Sister that is not a sister anymore goes corporate later on. Priceless!

Hmmmmm. Hard to say if I have to pick one, but I think Agnes Nutter could have been a riot of a character if we saw her more. Her writings sure were hilarious. I could just envision the old gal marching on out saying "aren't you going to burn me at the stake now? Well get on with it!" or some such thing? If there was no Agnes Nutter, there wouldn't really be a book. :)

I understand she is involved more in Discworld. Is this true from those of you who have read it?

I have to say that I love the Queen references (the band, not good old Elizabeth II). Shows that people either love them or hate them, and it is pretty evident that Pratchett and/or Gaiman aren't big Queen fans.

The Crowley and Aziraphale drunk scene is pretty darn good, too.

I guess that I was surprised that a book about the apocalypse was so darn funny. I laughed a lot more that I thought, and as a result, I might just take a look at the Discworld series. Pratchett just makes me bust a gut. I am, however, a Monty Python fan, too, and it takes a special person...

I loved The Fionavar Tapestry. I picked this up last year after hearing that Guy Kay's book The Last Light of the Sun was on NPR's fantasy summer reading list. I was looking for a good author at the time, and I figured, what the heck. I guess that I related to our graduate students a bit (was about 3 years out of grad school myself) and appreciated that people have past life issues to deal with.

I will admit, I cried during and after the whole Kevin thing. (I really didn't spoil anything!!!)

I do think that this was a pretty serious read. No humor here, and really, there shouldn't be much for humor. I don't see a place for it. It is a moving series, but humor would be so out of place here...

Random wrote: "Not only that, but you're also more likely to see and try things you'd usually never run across.

I personally have never understood the tight I'll only consider such and such kind of books. I have a friend who will only read a handful of horror authors and what I call vampire romances. I've read a number of books I think she would like but she'll never even consider them.

I've another who says she despises Fantasy/Science fiction. She's never actually tried them before. She did love and read Harry Potter after having seen the first movie, but she still insists she hates and will not enjoy anything fantasy."

I think that there is an element of "genre-ism" in society as a whole. I remember in high school that one of my friends was always reading these books about dragons and such. I thought she was a bit strange, but she took it to the wearing fantasy-themed jewelry and all that, too. Then I picked up my first true fantasy in college, and then it all went downhill.

I think that in many circles, sci fi and fantasy are bad words (see the "strangest place to read a book" thread), and people make assumptions about people based on what they read. People that liked Harry Potter but won't touch any other fantasy work is what I would call a "genre-ist" and wouldn't be caught dead without something from the bestseller list, a la Twilight. How Twilight is cool but Salvatore or Goodkind is not is way beyond me.

Think about it. Would you be openly be reading your non-mainstream book of choice when waiting for an interview, on a business trip, or anywhere that it is "professionally unacceptable?" I think that aside from the money thing, strict genres and how much they get promoted by the bookstores/publishers is a direct result of preconceptions in society. Supply and demand. Cheesy romance novels, self-help books, half-baked ideas like Twilight. THIS is how people see society, and in a way, it is the way society sees itself.

Thanks for my insightful ranting about this. Thoughts?

Kernos wrote: "When a kid I used a 'Holy Bible' book cover to hide SFF books I was reading when forced to go to church until I was discovered and Mom said, "Oh Billy! How could you..." ;-)

Now I carry a book wit..."

Now that's awesome! Very taboo...

I have done the ultimate naughty and read while I was driving. Books on tape are not the same unless you get the unabridged version. I used to commute to work about 90 minutes one way on back woods country roads with little traffic. I'm just glad that I never hit a deer or anything as I was into a good book...