Lyn (Readinghearts)’s Comments (group member since Apr 07, 2009)

Lyn (Readinghearts)’s comments from the Pick-a-Shelf group.

So - after making my list, it looks like I will actually be reading a book that is not on the list for my first translated book, lol. I will be reading The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning

I just put up the review thread for the November books. Sorry for the delay.

What are you all starting with? Just some things to think about while you are reading.

How is the translation of the book you are reading? Does it seem to flow well? Do you think it would be better to read in the native language?

In the past I read The Count of Monte Cristo, and I have to say, it took me about 3 tries before I found a translation that I liked.

BTW - The same holds for the authors initials in ALL of the author tasks (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) where it says the initials have to be in order in the word. not just 10. If you notice, too, in all of the examples in every task the letters are next to each other.

The only exception is task 12, and note here Tien just says that the authors initials must be found in the word, but not "found in order"

Unfortunately, I can't amend the post since Tien posted it, but I will send her a PM for when she returns.

Amy wrote: "Want to make sure I'm clear on task 10c. The author's initials have to be consecutive within either word, right? For example, I'm planning to use Marissa Meyer (MM) for HUMMDINGERS because the MM a..."

Tien is away, but I can answer the question. Amy is correct, the letters have to be right next to each other. Even though the task does not expressly say consecutive, that was the intent, as shown in the examples. By saying the letters do not wrap around, we mean that there are no letters in between them.

Sorry it wasn't clear.

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

YA fantasy novel about a witch hunter during "medieval" times. It was a good read with interesting characters, and it is also the first in a series or trilogy (not sure which). I liked it enough to continue with the next one, but there are others that I have liked much better, like Hunger Games and Graceling.

Bea wrote: "I wonder if I can get Anna Karenina done?

Just in case I can't...The Redbreast, The Ice Princess, The Bookseller of Kabul or [book:The Per..."

I have tried to read Anna Karenina 3 times and I just could not get through it. Good luck to you if you try it. I know a lot of people think that it is a beautiful love story, but I felt it was just too depressing.

You have never been able to be shelf picker, Tien? I didn't know that. But I have to say, I love this shelf. There are so many good books out there that were not originally written in English.

MY RECOMMEDATIONS
One of my top 10 books of all time (in fact, it is probably in my top 5) Is the Penguin Classics Edition of The Count of Monte Cristo. I have found that sometimes with translated works, the translator can make all the difference, and in the case of this edition of The Count, the translator did an amazing job of keeping to the original flow of the prose. Another all time fave of mine is The Shadow of the Wind, which is a beautifully written book. As for Russian Lit - The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a favorite of mine.

Here is MY LIST to pick from:

Blindness - I started this book early on in my sojourn in this group (I forget what shelf it was for) and never got a chance to really get into it. I have been trying to get back to it ever since.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Daughter of Fortune
The Bat
The Ice Princess
The Iron King
Faceless Killers
The Housekeeper and the Professor This comes highly recommended
The Keeper of Lost Causes

I hate when that happens Amanda.

Hey if you guys want to do John Adams next year (2016) I'd read it with you, but you are probably trying to use it for 2015 challenges, right?

Sorry everyone, and thanks Tien for putting this together. My hubby is going back to work on Monday so I should be more on top of things for the next few months. :P

Susan wrote: "Lyn (Readinghearts) wrote: "As for what I will read from the Supernatural shelf: ... Graceling ... ."

Lyn, I loved Graceling. Gave it a rare (for me) 5 stars."

Susan - I have had it on my bookshelf in the bedroom forever. I really need to get it read.

Rory wrote: "Was always a horror-lover until I discovered Clive Barker.

An awesome horror-writer, he wrote a book called Weaveworld, and a number of other similar fantasies that changed how I looked at the "fa..."

I have a lot of friends who read Clive Barker and love him. I have not read him yet, but he is definitely on my radar. Maybe I will start with Weaverworld.

Debi wrote: "I actually looked through 100 pages in this shelf to find something that appeals to me. But I found one and it sounds really good.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
I, too, read all ..."

I might read The Ocean at the End of the Lane, too. I really enjoy Neil Gaiman

D.G. wrote: "I read so much stuff from this shelf that I'll just post as I go. :)"

I could probably do the same thing, D.G.

Tien wrote: "Lyn (Readinghearts) wrote: "Well, I will weigh in on the other side. I am one of the few people who are serious readers, NOT a tweener, and LOVED Twilight. I read all four books and thought the f..."

I didn't think you all were judging at all. That is one of the things that I love about this group. I know, though, that among serious readers I am sort of in a minority on the subject of Twilight. In fact, my eldest son and his girlfriend are always giving me grief over the books because they don't like them at all.

It's funny in a way, I never thought about how annoying Bella is, and she is annoying and gets more so as time goes on, until people started pointing it out to me.

I did have one person, though, on another reading site, call me sick for liking them.

As for what I will read from the Supernatural shelf:

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker is on my list for next month already. There are also a few others on the list that I have and may read:

Graceling
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
American Gods
Evermore
Anna Dressed in Blood

Well, I will weigh in on the other side. I am one of the few people who are serious readers,not a tweener, and loved Twilight. I read all four books and thought the first and third were the best ones, the second was good, and the fourth was just one too much. There was just something about Edward that I liked, no not the sparkling thing or anything, but just something about his personality that drew me to him. I have had several people tell me that I am sick to like Edward and that I must like abusive relationships, but I just thought he was extremely loyal and am a sucker for love stories between people who society looks at as mismatches. (I've also been told I must be incredibly niave).

See, this category is fostering family reading time.....what a great bonus!

Tien wrote: "Well, I must say that I can't rave about Daughter of the Forest and Uprooted enough. I read the former a few years ago and it still haunts me today! Whilst I reckon [..."

OOh, I just realized that I have a galley of Uprooted, maybe I'll try to red that one and Daughter