Hi guys,

I've been coming across Libba Bray lately.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3682....

Has anyone read it?

Besides that, who is that girl in the new CW show Priviliged? She looks so familiar.

I have personally begun to take interest in Neal Stepenson and Cory Doctorow's Bodies of work.

I liked Zodiac the best by Neal Stephenson. Cryptonomicon was interesting too.

Hi Viv, I read A Great and Terrible Beauty (Book 1 of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy) and thought it was entertaining, but not great. Would have given it 3.5 stars if possible. I got about halfway through the second book and didn't finish. I found myself not really liking the 4 main characters and was sort of ambivalent about the main character, Gemma. In the end I didn't really care what happened to them so I stopped reading. Another reason why I wasn't a *big* fan may be because I don't really read fantasy, and am finding that I only like certain kinds. I think that eventually I would like to revisit the series and finish the book (and possibly the third).

Thanks Jenn!

I thought the title was interesting, and I do like fantasy, so I'll give it a try.

Would you believe that the cover was also a reason why I bought the book? LOL. I thought it was eye-catching and I love reading about that time period.

I can't tell you how many books I've picked up or ignored just because of the cover. *cringes away from THAT old adage*

Hey, judging a book by its cover can work : )

Have you read Shana Abe?

This cover caught my eye:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28429...

I really liked the second one in the series.

You know what they say Sans: "Don't judge a book blah blah blah." ;) I know exactly what kind of covers you're looking at in the bookstores nowadays! Haha!

Btw, how are you liking the Southern Vampire Chronicles? Caught parts of the premiere episode on HBO and uh, well, I'm sort of speechless... Will watch the full episode when my mom's not around.

I haven't read Shana Abe, but probably because it's in the Fantasy section! Ha! I'm so not a fantasy person - vampires are my limit. ;)

I don't look at those in the shops! I buy those from Amazon! ^o^

I really liked the first 2 SVC books! Got through them in a day each. I'm kinda stalled on Club Dead right now. I think because I skipped ahead and read quite a bit in the middle and end. Not sure how I like the change in relationships, but I'm starting to prefer Eric over Bill.

I watched True Blood on Sunday and was VERY glad my mom wasn't interested when we saw the previews last week. *clears throat* Yeah. I did like it (especially the actor playing Bill!) but Anna P. just doesn't have the right reactions. She LOOKS like she's acting, not like she's Sookie.

I agree, Anna P. is NOT what I pictured Sookie to look like nor is how she acted what I imagined. She seems too bubbly and ditzy in the show, but granted, I only saw bits of it. I'll hold judgment till I see the entire episode.

Yes, I think I like Eric better too. Wait till you get further down the series!

SVC came across my radar because of True Blood, so I'll have to put those on my list to read. Also, haven't read the Dexter novels yet, but I will. I've heard they're different from the show, so I'm excited to see the changes.

Hey girls, I really loved the first 3 or so SVC books. But for me it went down the hill afterwards.

SPOILERS AHEAD - DON´T READ IF YOU HAVEN´T READ ALL BOOKS

For one, I was very disappointed that the love between Sookie and Bill didn´t survive. And then, all of the other on/off relationships. I am missing real romance here. And there are so many mystical creatures introduced. Vamps, shapeshiftes, werewolves -fine! witches/wiccas - ok! but fairies? fairy godmothers? demons? half-demons? it´s like a supernatural convention and only big foot wasn´t invited...

Ooops, do I sound like a dark sider now?
Sorry, I´ll go and clean my mouth with soap...
Shutting!

END OF SPOILERS

How is the new show, anyhow? Is it close to the books?

I like the sookie books, although I started with book 4 or 5, and still haven't gone back to read the earlier ones. To me, it feels like C Harris is leaning towards Eric as the one she will end up with, but who knows?

Jen, let me know when you do, I'd love to hear what you think!

Dom, I read the first Dexter book a year or two ago and was pretty disappointed. It IS different from the show but that isn't the problem. The show makes you like Dexter (somehow) but the book made him seem...bland is the best word I can think of. At least his sister was less annoying in print.

SVC 4 looked pretty good when I was flipping through it!

Sans, thanks for the review of the Dexter books; right now I'm on disc 3 of season 2 and it is SOOOO GOOD. Better than season 1 IMO.

Hi Claudia!

The show did change some things around (Tara is her best friend and gets a job at Sam's bar, Jason isn't the one who made the naughty tape, Sam is a lot more obvious about his feelings for Sookie) but they're keeping the Bill/Sookie dynamic pretty much the same. The pilot episode stopped when the Rattray's came back to beat her up.

I'm definitely going to watch this week so I'll let you know how close they're keeping! I saw a shot of Eric in the preview for next week and, unlike Bill, he isn't what I pictured at all. We'll see.

Well, the author Charlaine Harris, said she pictured Eric to look like a Viking. I believe on her website she mentioned the specific Viking in mind being the Viking leader in the Antonio Banderas flick, The 13th Warrior. <mutters to self> Really?? Um, Okaaaaay....

EDIT: Oy. Found the quote. "Vladimir Kulich was Charlaine's model for Eric as he appeared in the movie, The 13th Warrior. Mr. Kulich has happily accepted an honorary membership in the Charlaine Harris Fan Club because of this distinction." http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2777520640/n...

*wrinkles nose* Ick. Definitely not the Eric in MY head.

He does bring out the scary part of Eric. But not quite what I thought either.

Thanks for the heads up, Sans. Luckily, I was just going to borrow the books from a friend who has them. She said the same thing, that the sister is far less annoying in the book.

Also, two new books are out this week that have caught my eye.

1) Rick Riordan - Maze of Bones: I started reading Riordan's Percy Jackson series with my little brother (he's 9), and we both liked that series (it actually helped him when his teacher did a short segment on Greek/Roman mythology); so we're going to check this one out, too. I'm a little skeptical because there are cards or something that they're marketing with the book. This only excited my bro even more because he was into the whole Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh thing for a while, but I'm not interested in all that. We'll see.

2) R.A. Salvatore & Geno Salvatore - The Stowaway: This is a YA book written by the Salvatore father and son team. I'm completely judging this book by its cover, which looks really cool, and the blurb sounds pretty good, too. It's set in the D&D world, so I know it makes me a total geek to even be interested in reading this book, but I can't help myself.

Here's a short description from the B&N website:
"Barely a teen and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life, Maimun is marked for death. With the help of a mysterious stranger, the boy escapes his village and flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unlikely ally: the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. With a half-demon determined to destroy him, and a crew of sailors resentful of the trouble he's caused, Maimun must find the courage to prove his worth, both to his friends and to himself."

Thanks, Sandy. That´s much appreciated. I guess it will take at least a year or so until I have a chance to watch it...

Someone posted the URL to this site the other day... I'm busy watching the Desden files which I didn't get to watch when it aired... :)

http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/int...

Oh c´mon, Ecape. That´s just too good to be true...There has to be a rub in it...

Yeah - I know, I'm wondering how they get around the legality of ownership... especially the movies section... guilty little pleasures...

Escape, you´re amazing. Did I mention that before? It really works and wow, that opening song is cool!
Ok, seems I have something to watch this weekend :)

Now you can amaze all your friends and be ahead of them on Moonlight episodes and any of the other series we've talked about here... :)

Hey Dominique, I haven't tried R.A. Salvatore, but we always pick him up for the store, so he must have a good fan base. Let me know what you think!

Escape, non of my friends is into this kind of shows and books. It seems I have a very special taste. You guys here are the only ones I can talk shop with :) And I LOVE you for that **blowing kisses**

I'm in the same boat Claudia! I love our little on-line community!

Has anyone read The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or the sequel World Without End? World Without End is coming out in paperback on October 7th and I'm looking forward to it (although the first one was quite a commitment of time for me).

OMG, Pillars of the Earth was FANTASTIC! I didn't think I'd care for a book that ultimately is about the building of a cathedral but it was also an amazing story of the people who's lives revolved around this monument! Hard to believe that the man who wrote Pillars is an atheist!

The characters are wonderful, some easy to love and cheer for, others you just want to smack around, a LOT!

I have to agree with Gena -- POTE is a fantastic book from an author I would not normally read. If you really, really like it, I would hesistantly recommend World Without End. I think Follet uses the exact formula from the first book which becomes tiresome very quickly.

I really liked POTE, it just seemed to take me a long time to read it. It was almost *too* much architectural description (I had to keep referencing the drawings and googling words) - and this is from someone who likes architecture! And there was a lot of back and forth between sides - one up, one down. One up, one down.

So Brian, did you read WOE?

Hey Gena hun!

Yes, I read WWE -- to me the books were soooo similar in feel and why I would only recommend it the "sequel" hesitantly.

Ok, thanks! :) I'll probably wait a bit instead of rushing out to buy it. My to-read list is already too long to begin with.

Hi Brian--and thanks for the update on WWE. I wondered why it didn't garner the fuss that POTE did!

I like that POTE seems to be one of those books that an author gets stuck in their head, and has to write about.

Quote from Oprah's interview:

A lot of people were surprised by The Pillars of the Earth, including me. I was known as a thriller writer. In the book business, when you have had a success, the smart thing to do is write the same sort of thing once a year for the rest of your life. Clowns should not try to play Hamlet; pop stars should not write symphonies. I should not have risked my reputation by writing something out of character and overambitious.

You know how I admire those renegade moves : )

HEY! I'm starting Pillars tonight, how funny! I hadn't yet read this part of the thread :P

Thanks, Carrie, I'll check it out : )

Let us know what you think, Sarah!

Hi, I watched the first two episodes of True Blood (Escape, THANKS again for that link - you´re my hero!!) and I really like it :-) It´s close to the first book and I love this "Southern" atmosphere. And I urgently have to find that theme song somewhere as an .mp3..

Ok confession. I skipped Pillars and went for James Rollins, the same vein as Da Vinci code with less Bible stuff and WAYYYY more science. Loved the first one, I've got two more. I like when authors reuse the same characters, like Patterson with Alex Cross. Makes the book seem....more comfortable.

I love science books like that. I have a couple of books about Einstein and how his relativity theory proves christianity, one about how the compass came about...some about the history of math...I'm a nerd!

Claudia, it's called Bad Things by Jace Everett. I got a copy from iTunes in the States, not sure the Europe store would have it.

http://true-blood.tv/Music/Music.php

Looks like Amazon.com has the club mix for mp3 download. It's not really a re-mix, just extended.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url...

Sandy, thanks :) I found a mp3 version and have it already on my iPod. That song is soooo cool!

From Stephenie Meyer's website:

People often ask me for reading suggestions, and I'm always happy to share because books are exciting things to me. My latest excitement is this: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it. I've been recommending it to total strangers in Target. And now to everyone who reads my website. The Hunger Games is amazing.

--Stephenie

I just read the description for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It sounds interesting.

Has anyone read A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb?

It´s funny to hear that SM was actually as obsessed with a book as I used to be with Twilight. I definitly have to check out The Hunger Games. Thanks for sharing, Viv :)

I reserved it from the library as well, maybe we can start a thread on it : )