Chris’s
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(group member since Feb 25, 2011)
Chris’s
comments
from the Beyond Reality group.
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When I was growing up, my mother was a librarian at our local library. She brought home all the newest books that she thought I would like, and I would keep them as long as I wanted, without due dates. When I moved away from home, this meant I had to pick out my own books, and RETURN THEM ON TIME. Even today, I want to read every book I see in the library or the bookstore. I've learned to be more selective in what I actually pick up, but I still have trouble finishing everything on time. With access to library ebooks, I've learned to only check out one at a time, and to only have one or two holds in case they come in while I'm already reading something else. But it's hard, soo hard.
Jan 15, 2023 06:54AM
Post here if you are reading or planning on reading Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin to continue our Earthsea Cycle series read! No spoilers please.
Have your reading habits changed as you got older? How so?
I nominate Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky for Sci Fi. We've read the other books in the series, and they were quite good.For fantasy, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. It's been nominated for a number of awards, and I've liked her other books.
Ooh, I really liked the Expanse TV series. Although there were definitely changes from the books, the changes generally made sense given the compressed timeline of the series. Right now, I'm very much enjoying Kindred on Hulu. I didn't really love the book when we read it several years ago, I think because the SciFi aspect is pretty limited (magic time travel). But the TV show helped me remember that it was how the individuals react when thrown into the historic situation that is so compelling.
What TV/movie adaptations of SF/F books have you enjoyed? Which ones didn't translate to the screen very well?
It’s a new year! What are you reading in January 2023? All genres welcome.
Did you set any reading goals for 2022? How'd you do? Do you have a reading goal for 2023?
What was a favorite childhood book that has stuck with you into adulthood?
Another beautiful, well-told story in this series. I loved seeing Tenar as a mature woman, one with a grown family, yet building another "found" family to include her mentor, a powerless wizard, and an abused young girl. Like the Tombs of Atuan, the nature of power is a central theme. This society has clear divides between women's work, women's magic, women's intellect. Ogion's last words were for Tenar to teach Therru, but even Tenar struggles with what type of learning would be appropriate and useful. I'd say that our own society had moved past this, at least until I read today's news and saw that the Taliban was once again forbidding women's education.
Kathy, I think that one possibility is that Tenar was conditioned to think that men's magic was greater than women's magic. Or perhaps he simply was more powerful, since he exercised his magic all the time.
So glad we are reading this series!
We're in the midst of the winter holiday season. What books about winter and/or winter holidays are you reading, or do you recommend?
Post here if you are reading or planning on reading Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin to continue our Earthsea Cycle series read! No spoilers please.
Shel wrote: "Kathi wrote: "I am somewhat of a “completist” so it’s hard for me to leave a book unfinished."I used to be like that, but these days time to read is a precious commodity and I don't want to waste..."
I absolutely agree. I used to stick with books until the bitter end, hoping that the ending would make the rest come alive. But I've come to believe that "to every person their book, and to every book their person"; if it's just not grabbing me, it must be meant for someone else. The only exception is book club books; I want to finish these so that I can contribute to the discussion.
What makes you mark a book as DNF (Did Not Finish)? Is there a certain number of pages or a percentage that must be met before considering marking a book as DNF ( For instance, at least 50 pages or 25% read)? Do you count DNF books as "read"?
Well! It's been some time since I first read this, but it did not disappoint. The first few chapters are deceptive, but the scope quickly expands to include multiple races on a galaxy-wide stage. The depictions of the Nameless City and the waterfall are astonishing, as is the very concept of a Shellworld. Princes Fermin (the wastrel) and Oramen (the scholar) both find an inner strength of character that make them worthy to become leaders of their people. And the ending! The last few chapters are just nonstop action, although most residents of the Shellworld will never know or appreciate the efforts of our team of heroes. And, as always, the Culture ship names .... are just too perfect.
I absolutely love Connie Willis' time travel books. Author Jodi Taylor has a laugh-out-loud series, Chronicles of St Mary's that's lots of fun to binge. And, if you like Discworld, who can forget Terry Pratchett's Thief of Time?
Dec 04, 2022 09:22AM
An incredibly well-researched book that incorporates Oxford culture, British colonialism with an emphasis on the opium wars, the industrial revolution, capitalism, and a magical system based on silverworking and etymology. There's definitely a lot to unpack!Ryan mentioned that the British were overwhelmingly portrayed in a negative manner. That is certainly true of the majority of the British characters. The British professors and officials were our villains, not because they were inherently evil, but I think because they were indifferent to the effects of their actions. The shopkeepers and pub owners who discriminated against our foreign-born main characters were, unfortunately, displaying a bias that continues today. But there were a few sympathetic British characters, including the housekeeper and Adam (the leader of the barricade group) who provided comfort to the striking students.
Have you read any good time travel books? Share your favorites!
