Christine’s Comments (group member since Jun 24, 2017)

Christine’s comments from the What's the Name of That Book??? group.

Thanks, Rosa: it's not Kirsten's Surprise, as mine wasn't an American Girl story, plus it's too recent. But I appreciate the suggestion!!

Thanks, Elizabeth: Lucia Morning In Sweden looks very familiar, but the publication dates are too recent (2002 & later). I read my book in the 70s. Still, I will check this one out, in case it's a "remake" of an older book, with a different author. Appreciated!

I'm not sure how to move this to the "Solved" folder? Can anyone help, please? Thanks!!

I read this story as a child, and recently remembered it. It may have been part of a story anthology, possibly about children from different cultures around the world. (I don't think it was in my ChildCraft set, though.) Or it may have been a picture book or early chapter book, with only this story.

I read it in the 70s, so it would have been published in 1975 or earlier.

The main character is a little girl, but I don't remember her name. It's almost Christmastime, and I think the story is either set in Sweden, or America, with a family of Swedish descent. I think it was set either in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but I'm not sure. I think the focus was on the girl's interactions within her family, as opposed to events in a town or city.

The holiday of St Lucia is coming up, and the girl wants to be the one to wear the crown representing St Lucia (a wreath on her head, with lit candles), for her family's celebration. For some reason she either thinks that she won't be allowed, that she might be too young, or there is some other problem.

I only remember one illustration (but there may have been more): the girl is coming down the stairs, dressed in a white gown with long sleeves, with the candle-wreath on her head. I can't remember if the picture was in color or black and white, but I do remember that it was realistic, not cartoony.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Yes! That's it! Thank you, Ayshe! Appreciated. That was a very quick answer to something that's been driving me nuts for months.

Thanks Angela, but no, not either of those. Ship of Dreams looked, promising, and when I checked the blurb, I realized I had read that one some time ago. The style of illustration is similar to what I remember, and it was a large-ish picture book with glossy pages.

However, the character in the book I'm looking for is definitely named William-Will-or-Willy.

I gave this picture book as a gift to friend's son, around '97- '99, because it was a beautifully-illustrated book, and the character had the same name as my friend's child: William (or Will, or Willy). I think it had just been published around that time, the late 90s. I'm positive about the main character's name, but don't remember other characters.

It was a children's fictional adventure tale, about a little boy flying around through his city or town, in a flying airship that was an actual ship: I think it had sails, or the ship might have hung from a hot air balloon (I'm leaning toward the sails). I vaguely remember that most of the pictures appeared to be nighttime- maybe the boy was dreaming these adventures?

The illustration that I remember most had the ship flying past a clock tower at night, and might have been on the front cover. I don't remember the plot: I don't recall having read the entire story, as I was giving it as a gift.

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

I'm trying to remember something that I read in high school English, that was required reading in the early 80s. It was a story or short play or short book, I can't remember which. The characters were described through the epitaphs on their headstones in a small town cemetary. I don't remember if there was other story text, or just the epitaphs. The author was well-known, I think male, but I have forgotten the name.
I think the point of the story was small-town America characterization & goings-on, painting a portrait of a specific culture with some light sarcasm, if I recall correctly. I don't remember any specific characters.
Does anybody here have the slightest idea what this could be?

Rosa, THANK YOU!! Wow! : )

Now I'm so excited to re-read this!

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Thanks, Andy!

Hi Rosa! I was discussing books with a ("real life") friend, and she remembered reading it also. She remembered the title. Now I just have to find it, since my library is not following through. Someone said it's available online, but I don't want to buy a copy, 'til I'm sure that I want to keep it. (My home bookshelves are overflowing!)

Still looking for this one... also still can't remember any further details. Other than that when humans colonized the planet, I think they came from a "seed ship," sent into space to locate habitable worlds. Possibly a small plot item where they would not have colonized this particular world, had they known about the intelligent ocean life. But the focus & the majority of the story was more on the main character, male, who was chosen in this "lottery-to-pick-a-president" system, unwillingly. Or whatever their leader was called; it may have been something other than "President."
I recently read half of an Anne McCaffrey book (a Pern book, I think titled Dolphins of Pern) about the first colonists there, and the intelligent dolphins, just to be certain it was not the book I'm looking for (it wasn't).

Yes! It was The White Plague! Thanks to everyone who helped. I'm still trying to find a copy. Sorry for the delay - I lost track of this post!
Not sure how to move it to Solved, now?

This is probably far too obvious, but it wouldn't be the book "Nell," based on the movie (starring Jodie Foster)?

Possibly Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater? Or another book from that YA series?

Thanks, Cupcakedoll, but that's not the one. I read someone's review, though, and there are similarities. The book I'm looking for was definitely not illustrated.

My book was aimed more at young adults/adults. I think I must have read just one "free first chapter" on kindle, since I have so few memories of the plot.

What To Do With a Box, by Jane Yolen?

I read this fantasy book 8-12 years ago, but I don't think I finished it. It may have been the first of a series. I think I must have read it on my kindle, because I can remember nothing about a front cover illustration, and those almost always stick with me. So, probably published no longer ago than e-books have been around.

The setting was a fae/faery world, and I remember at least two female protagonists. I think they were sisters and maybe rivals, possibly fae "royalty." This was definitely author world-building, and not based on any classic fae or fairy stories (like the Sidhe, etc).

One of the "sisters" must travel to the home of the other, I think. There is some element or problem with wings. I remember lots of description of wings, very tall, head-to-foot length, and unique to each individual. I think there was a plot bit where someone's wings either didn't fully grow, or had been removed or damaged?

There was some sort of in-fighting or rivalry among different factions I think, maybe of a fae court? Again, NOT traditional "Underhill," but I do think one of the sisters lived in an underground palace or court, and one did not.

I don't *think* there were any contemporary people in this world, as in modern humans interacting with Fae.

That's all I really remember, and I'm not sure how much is accurate, because it's very murky. I realize the details above sound like lots of fantasy novels: I have read far too much fantasy in my life and may be conflating or combining stories.

All help is appreciated!

This sounds familiar... I will check my sci-fi and fantasy shelves.
I'm remembering a main character who wants to commit suicide, and a mysterious man suddenly appears, maybe in an open window or on a balcony? Offers him a different life on another world (another planet or more likely an alternate universe). There were other people there though, a whole new culture, and maybe he became an assassin?
Any of that sound familiar?

Spindle's End, by Robin McKinley. A retelling of Sleeping Beauty, fantastic.

Not sure if anyone already mentioned it; this is a ling thread! Robing McKinley is a very talented author.

I can't believe I left these out! One of my all-time favorite series, involving an alternate Regency England & Brittany, and magic/fantasy:

Sylvia Izzo Hunter's trilogy...

1. The Midnight Queen
2. Lady of Magick
3. A Season of Spells

The series is called "The Noctis Magicæ" series, but it's easier to find them under the individual titles. They are fantastic!