Shanan’s Comments (group member since Dec 11, 2011)

Shanan’s comments from the Off The Shelf group.

Leann wrote: It seems so odd to me that people would read a book that is either fiction or nonfiction and raise a fuss about a genre switch or finding out when it is more one than the other. If you loved it, you loved it.

I was thinking along similar lines. I mean if you enjoy it what does it matter if it ends up not being the genre you expected. So that's where grouping books into genres fails us if we use them for preconcieved expectations and base our enjoyment of the writing based on that alone.

re: James Frey

So that makes me think that if we read a book because it's billed a certain genre and then it turns out that indeed it really didn't fit that genre but we still enjoyed it where does that put us and the book LOL???? For instance as you mention, if you enjoyed A Million Pieces (I vaguely remember it's popularity) and then you find out it was highly fictionalized so then you throw up your arms and say well that was a crock load.... you just lost something that you enjoyed only because of your preconceived ideas... which is in part what genres do to us. Yes they make it easier to find books we want to read but and I think that's a big but, it makes us miss out on some pretty incredible books if we are limiting ourselves to a certain genre... and I am so guilty of this myself.

Karen said: I wonder what our favorite genres reveal about our "personal needs and expectations". I think I'm afraid to find out!

me too!

thanks karen!

Karen wrote: BTW, I just read an interview with an eminent professor of history, who said that he often recommended books he didn't like, just for the great discussions! Now that's a man that likes to broaden his mind!

That's pretty cool. I have to agree with him that would make for great discussion!

I agree that genres are in place for the very reason of grouping them within a certain number of constraints making them what they are. And therefore we find ourselves attracted to reading certain genres for the needs and expectations we have. So if one ventures into a genre they don't normally read they may have expectations that won't jive with that book or it's genre and therefore the opinions they may form may not jive with say someone who is used to reading that genre and enjoys that genre very much. That person has had many experiences reading said books to have a different set of ideas to compare that book to. But if you haven't read a book from a specific genre ever or maybe it's been many years you may have only your (possibly limited) expectations and experiences to fall back on in forming an opinion.

;-)

Nope not ragging... to quote myself:
Maybe this is because it's a YA novel. It's only 212 pages. I imagine at 12-14 I would have been not so concerned about character developement.

I agree Kat if we were ragging it would have been an all out mudfest among other things. Also confused about 'getting carried away' I am pretty sure that wasn't carried away least ways for me.

But that being said I am pretty sure you are funning us right Leann? Because the alternative interpretation brings to mind

Rule #3 Think Outside the Box - be tolerant of others' views and preferences, ...

:-) :-) :-) :-)SMILES all around! Please not let my words be offensive as that is in no way my intention. Only trying to communicate via a handicapped means of communicating. :-) :-) :-) :-)

BTW Leann awesome on getting 3k done and hope you reach your January goal!

Kat wrote: "...They seemed to spend an awful lot of time moping around the castle, when I wanted them to hunt for the Red Bull to study him and find his weakness, then use it against him. (Is it too much to ask for problem solvers in a fantasy?..."

Maybe problem solving would have developed the characters LOL!

LOL I am the oddball. I have tried to read Janet Evanovich several times and I just don't like them. I can't get into them : ( I hear everyone saying wonderful things her books though : )

Robin I agree on that. The girls at work read her and will read some excerpts outloud... just doesn't interest me at all.

So glad you decided to join us and Welcome!

I've finished... It took me way too long for me to read it... I started on friday and finished yesterday morning. I am not sure what to think right now. I don't feel I entered this story with as much as abandon as I usually do. When I read I am usually right there, even when I am doing something and not reading I am thinking about the world in the book. This didn't happen for me. I felt more like I was parting a cloud and looking down on the events. I think this book could have been longer. I am not sure if the characters weren't developed enough. Am I crazy... it's so well thought of. Am I just not filling in the blanks well enough to give the characters more developement. I just don't feel I got to know the characters as intimately as I would normally feel. Maybe this is because it's a YA novel. It's only 212 pages. I imagine at 12-14 I would have been not so concerned about character developement. I do think it's my pet critiqueing topic. I seem to feel deflated when A book has an awesome plot but I just don't get enough of the character's thoughts feelings background that makes them as they are in the storyline etc. I think I may watch the movie and see how I feel afterwards!

more...

"I'm no man, I'm a magician with no magic, and that's no one at all."

"...Very confusing, especially when you've had a half turnip for dinner."

"The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart."

"Speaking of livers. Real Magic can never be made by offering up someone else's liver. You must tear out your own, and not expect to get it back..."

"You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart into green grass, and all you love into sheep. I'll turn you into a bad poet with dreams. I'll set all your toenails growing inward..."

I like this whole bit but the heart into green grass and all you love into sheep is the best.

I have my copy from the library on Friday, I got to page 22 the other day and just made some headway this morning since the kids are still asleep after staying up late. So I am on page 74.

Kat, I hadn't quite formulated this idea of all the negative with the majority of the females in the story, but I kept expecting to encounter a female with some likeable qualities (other than the unicorn) and hadn't yet.

Still hoping for Schemendrick to find his mojo (Captain Cully had me wondering if indeed he is the rumored son of Haggard and that he has ulterior motives for rescuing the unicorn) and maybe Molly will soften....

By the way I felt terrible about her being captured by Momma Futura... I was like 'NOOOOOO' but then I consoled myself by reminding myself that there would be no story worth reading without some conflict on the way towards the climax.

I think any book where you get dialogue from a sword would perk up my day...especially a humorous sword as opposed to a steely unrelenting sword.

...which reminds me I need to read the travelling pants series.

...and yes isn't 'Chain Reading' just cool, how better can one describe reading one book after another without even a chance to breathe in real life 'air'. (and how better for one to get through a bout of the droops, especially when one comes out of it feeling pretty good)

if this was FB I could just click 'like' on this quote but instead I have to use words LOL.... but I wonder does that mean if we have been young and a female we will turn into a silly old woman... oh that's right in reality all old women are silly.... I really do hope that if I become old I will be silly... what fun that will make old age. That looks much more inviting than bing a grumpy bum.

Hehehe.... they tend to all run together after awhile (or is it 'a while'?) I was trying to go off memory and some I probably never read I was thinking Ya I've read that... or I've thought nope can't remember that at all... and sure enough I've read it. I found a book list I created during a particular hard binge in 2005, I was pretty depressed that year so I just escaped with some heavy chain reading. So that helped me sort out my list here. I just wish I had the list I kept in my younger days. I used to list everything I ever read. There are some pretty cool books I'd like to re-read if I knew what they were LOL.

Karen wrote: "No blushing required, Shanan! We love what we love, and Victoria Holt and Catherine Cookson have an impressive body of work. I went through a Barbara Cartland phase once, and I still remember Mari..."

Thanks Karen, I am glad to know that I need not blush! I haven't read anything by Barbara Cartland yet. I would like to read more Phyllis Whitney and Catherine Gaskin, I think I've read a couple of each author. Also I would like to start reading Georgette Heyer. I will see about the two you recommended!

Nice to meet you Leann!

Hi I am Shanan, wannabe homeschool mum, crocheter, obsessive genealogy researcher, aspiring web designer, and I love to read (and I would love to write a book...) I have two children who make my reading a bit sporatic at times.

I remember when I was young how hard it was to read, I had trouble with reading comprehension so I remember hating to read. Then at about 10 or 11 I picked up a copy of The Babysitter Club and was hooked... I have loved reading ever since. I used make my dad so upset because I would read with a flashlight under my covers.

My favorite book is Moonraker's Bride by Madeleine Brent. I know it's not a classic or even amazing... but it's my fave and so is Madeleine Brent and 'her' 9 novels are all Gothic Romantic Suspense. Since I discovered her I've read Victoria Holt quite thoroughly. And in recent years I've picked up on Catherine Cookson. I would say my genre focus is pretty central. I've even went through spurts where I've devoured piles upon piles of Historical Romances. Which is rather embarrassing *blush*.

So I am looking forward to being shoved outside my box and read some books that are ones I wouldn't normally pick for myself and possibly find some new genres to focus on!

Oh and I am a part time bank teller...

It's lovely to meet you all!