What are U reading these days? (Part Five) (begun 3/12/09) Showing 701-750 of 1,049

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Werner wrote: "Having finished (and reviewed) New Moon recently, I've just started reading G. K. Chesterton's The Napoleon of Notting Hill. I was looking for a short read that I figured I'll finis..."

PS-Werner, are the "Tales of Alvin Maker" books for both young adult AND adult?
How does that work?
Anyway, I put the first one on my To-Read list.
_Seventh Son_ by Orson Scott Card

[Nina]

Nina wrote: "Boat names/were there any listed called Allegra or MOlly Brown? Our boat names; not golden vanity. nina"There were none named Allegra and four named Molly Brown; two in CA, one in MS and one in I forgot where...nina

[Nina]

Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Nina - Via the search page,
http://www2.10000boatnames.com/index....
I found 2 boats named Allegra and 4 named Molly Brown.
I had expected to find more."Hi, When I tried it they said there were no matches for Allegra. I didn't search by state or boat type. nina

[Werner]

Joy, thanks for posting those links! The Tales of Alvin Maker series wasn't marketed as young adult fiction --though it starts with Alvin's birth, and in the first two books, he's mostly 11-12 years old. (By the end of the third book, he's grown to 19.) Card's tone and style are sophisticated enough to appeal to adults, who are the primary audience; but I'm sure there are teens who'd appreciate it, too!

[Jim]

I never thought of the Alvin Maker series as YA, either.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I never thought of the Alvin Maker series as YA, either."

The Goodreads description says:
"American Library Association 'Best Books for Young Adults'"
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40...

Under "Literary Awards" (same webpage) it says:
"Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature Best Novel nominee (1988)".

I see that Werner says, adults are the primary audience.

[Jim]

What they pick for YA & don't doesn't boggle my imagination simply because I think the idea of YA is pretty ridiculous. The only time a person changes more than in their teens (YA) is in the first few years of their lives. Age appropriate & interesting material for a 13, 16 & 19 year old are all completely different.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "What they pick for YA & don't doesn't boggle my imagination simply because I think the idea of YA is pretty ridiculous. The only time a person changes more than in their teens (YA) is in the first..."

Good point, Jim.

BTW, I'm almost finished reading _This Immortal_. It has turned out to be an exciting story. Zelazny's descriptions are so vivid and he writes great dialogue. At times it wasn't too clear which person was talking, but I figured it out.

I liked the following dialogue.
Conversation before duel:
Hasan: "I do not want to kill you, Karagee.
Karagee: "I share the feeling. I do not wish to be killed."

:)

[Jim]

If you ever decide to re-read it, you'll really be thrilled, Joy. Many of Zelazny's books are better on a re-read because you don't have to figure out what is going on & can really enjoy the way the stories are being told. (Yes, plural. There are.) That's what makes it a perennial favorite of mine. I can read it every 5 or 10 years & get something more or different out of it.

I agree about the dialog. "Thanks, Hassan, but I'm not ready for the Bo tree, yet." The Bo tree being the one Buddha sat under for all those years while he meditated. Nothing crass like, he doesn't want to get wiped out, stoned or sloshed. No, it's much better.

One of my favorite pieces is when he puts his foot in his mouth early on with Cassandra. "My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by which time I've generally destroyed all basis for further conversation." I've often felt that way myself & he puts it so succinctly.

[Jim]

Did I ever mention to you that I started a group for Zelazny's works? There is a little bit of discussion of this book, although we're reading the Amber series first. You're more than welcome to join or just read. All books have a general & spoiler topic.

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "If you ever decide to re-read it, you'll really be thrilled, Joy. Many of Zelazny's books are better on a re-read because you don't have to figure out what is going on & can really enjoy the way ..."

Jim, thanks for explaining about the Bo tree. I had written the words down for future reference, but I've had no time to follow-up. I find that just writing down the item I need to learn about, allows me to go on reading, even though I haven't understood the reference. If I don't write it down, my mind will keep thinking about the reference, making it difficult for me to focus and continue with the reading.

Yes, Zelazny says so many things so well. However, I find that the pace of his writing is uneven. For example, I was on the last few pages of the book and suddenly (after I had been fully absorbed in the story) my eyes started glazing over. Zelazny loses me when he gets into subjects like Greek mythology; he presents too many details I'm unfamiliar with. So now I hesitate to pick up another book by him.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Did I ever mention to you that I started a group for Zelazny's works? There is a little bit of discussion of this book, although we're reading the Amber series first. You're more than welcome to ..."

Thanks, Jim. I've joined your Zelazny group
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...
so that I can go back and read the threads about _This Immortal_ when I have time.

Currently I have 4 books going at once and several audios (not to mention watching my Netflix DVDs), so I may not do it right away.

I find that I enjoy having a lot of stuff on the back burner. It keeps me rolling along,
trying to get to it all (like a horse who is falling behind in a race). :)

[Jim]

I don't find his pace uneven, at all. I've always loved mythology though, so "This Immortal" was a perfect fit for me. I think I mentioned that this book was filled with allusions & metaphors, more so than many of his other books, although all have some.

After reading "Lord of Light", I read up on Buddha & Hindu myths/legends because I knew I was missing references. I enjoyed it much more the second time through. Ditto with "Creatures of Light & Darkness" which features a lot of Egyptian mythology.

If you ever want to read a long short story by him, try "A Rose For Ecclesiastes". You're a Christian, I believe, & probably familiar with that book in the Bible, so that story will make a lot of sense. If you keep the gist of that book in mind as you read the story, then it makes the story hit home even better than if you're not familiar with it. Adds punch, but isn't a requirement.

"Doorways In The Sand" is a humorous mystery novel with an SF bend. It would be another good one for you to try, because it doesn't rely on a lot of allusion. Neither does "My Name is Legion" which is actually 3 short stories about a man with no name.

"The Last Defender of Camelot" is a short story & you can guess what it is based on. If you're even somewhat familiar with the legend, all of it makes perfect sense & manages to twist your view of 'right' & 'wrong' in different directions.

So don't be scared of reading another. Just a bit more picky.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I don't find his pace uneven, at all. I've always loved mythology though, so "This Immortal" was a perfect fit for me. I think I mentioned that this book was filled with allusions & metaphors, mo..."

Jim, to use your apt expression, some books are "a perfect fit". Of course it depends on which reader and which book.

I've taken your advice and have added the following to my To-Read Shelf:
"A Rose For Ecclesiastes".
"Doorways In The Sand"
"My Name is Legion"
"The Last Defender of Camelot"

Thanks for picking them out for me.

I joined Goodreads to expand my reading horizons. Thank you for helping me to do it.

[Jim]

Check your email, Joy.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Check your email, Joy."

Will do!

Just came in from sitting out in the sun on our deck. Temp is 61, but it's so comfortable in the sun. While I was out there cogitating, I thought about how we're all so different in our interests. And yet, our interests can be perked up... if they are perkable. :) You are the perker. I am the perkee. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

BTW, below is a link to the list of books I'm currently reading:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Thought I'd try this out as a once-in-a while short cut for posting info in this thread.

Note the shelf labels. They tell a lot.

[[deleted user]]

I'm still working on Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I've reread number's 1-4, and just yesterday received Number 7, An Echo in the Bone. Couldn't resist starting it this morning, in spite of not rereading 5 and 6. :D

[[deleted user]]

Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "BTW, below is a link to the list of books I'm currently reading:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Thought I'd try this out as a once-in-a w..."

I've read most of Hillary Clinton's book, frankly I skimmed the most political maneuvering parts in the middle, but the personal life is interesting. I have a copy of his as well, untouched for the moment.

I liked her book, she's an interesting woman to say the least.

[Werner]

Pontalba, I've read Outlander, and loved it, but I never had the heart to go on and read the rest of the series. I know it will deal with the slaughter of the Highlanders at Culloden, and the destruction of their culture and way of life, and I just don't have the stomach for that. (It was hard enough for me to see Boudica's Britons stomped into the dirt in Andrew Seddon's Imperial Legions!) I'm too much of a softie, I suppose; I'd rather leave them as they are at the end of Outlander, with their world still intact.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Pontalba wrote: "I've read most of Hillary Clinton's book, frankly I skimmed the most political maneuvering parts in the middle, but the personal life is interesting. I have a copy of his as well, untouched for the moment. I liked her book, she's an interesting woman to say the least. "

Pontalba, I agree with you about the book, _Living History_, and also about Hillary Clinton herself. I also enjoy peeking behind the scenes. I'm glad the audio version is read by Hillary Clinton herself. She did a good job.

I listened to an audio of Queen Noor's _Leap of Faith Memoirs of an Unexpected Life_. Someone else did the reading; she didn't have the charm or pleasant voice of Queen Noor. It affected my appreciation of the material.

[Nina]

Joy, I enjoyed perusing your list of books/read or to read in the distant past and present; wow over three hundred titles all in different catagories. Thanks for allowing us into your "library." I also am quite fond of Anita Brookner. Have you read, "Visitors," by her? I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover but after seeing the cover of that book I would have judged I would like it and I did! nina

[Nina]

Joy, I enjoyed perusing your list of books/read or to read in the distant past and present; wow over three hundred titles all in different catagories. Thanks for allowing us into your "library." I also am quite fond of Anita Brookner. Have you read, "Visitors," by her? I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover but after seeing the cover of that book I would have judged I would like it and I did! nina

[[deleted user]]

Werner wrote: "Pontalba, I've read Outlander, and loved it, but I never had the heart to go on and read the rest of the series. I know it will deal with the slaughter of the Highlanders at Culloden, and the dest..."

I take your point Werner, but I must add that in a real sense Culloden, while affecting the entire series, only actually takes up a small[ish:] portion, maybe a quarter of one book. To me the bit with Jack Randall and the wolves was far more harrowing.

By the time they reach the New World, it is heartening to see the Scottish contingent regrouping. The plaids are allowed, and there is a very wonderful re-gathering of the clans.

Just FYI. I'm not trying to talk you into reading the rest of them. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Pontalba, I've read Outlander, and loved it, but I never had the heart to go on and read the rest of the series. I know it will deal with the slaughter of the Highlanders at Culloden, and the dest..."

Werner, I enjoyed your review of "Outlander". Werner's review can be found at:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Exactly what is an Outlander? I've been confusing the title of that book with the title of the book, _Outliers_. Now I know what an "outlier" is, since I'm reading _Outliers_. But exactly what is a Outlander?

PS-I looked it up. The definition is:
"a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country"
http://www.onelook.com/?w=outlander&a...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Joy, I enjoyed perusing your list of books/read or to read in the distant past and present; wow over three hundred titles all in different catagories. Thanks for allowing us into your "library." I ..."

Nina, I haven't read Anita Brookner's _Visitors A Novel_ yet. But I will. Thanks for reminding me about it.

BTW, many of the books on my GR shelves are "To-Read". Of course, we've all read many more books than the ones on our GR shelves, but who has time or energy to do the data entry! LOL

[Werner]

Joy, glad you enjoyed my Outlander review! Yes, an "outlander" ("sassinach" in Gaelic, which becomes Jamie's pet name for Clare) is a foreigner, which, to the Highlanders, is any English-speaking lowlander.

Adding all the books we've ever read to our Goodreads shelves isn't only a matter of time --for some of us, there's the problem of memory. I'd love to have a complete record of my reading; but as a kid/teen (and even in my 20s), I just didn't try as hard to remember authors and titles as I do now!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "... I'd love to have a complete record of my reading; but as a kid/teen (and even in my 20s), I just didn't try as hard to remember authors and titles as I do now!"

Our library offers us an option which keeps a record of the books we borrow online. I can refer to it anytime. So nowadays it's easier to keep track of my reading history.

Most of my life I copied quotes from my readings on separate pages (and I also tried to keep a list of the books which didn't inspire me to copy quotes). So I have that record. Eddie computerized the listing of books for me a while ago. There are about 850 books on that list which doesn't include my latest readings.

Since many times in my life I wasn't as avid a reader as I am now (to my regret), I am not as well-read as I'd like to be. I'm sure most of the Goodreads member have read many more books than I have.

I'm so happy that we now have Goodreads to keep track of our reading history. And Goodreads does it so well. I'm thrilled with Goodreads!

[Werner]

I'll say a hearty "Amen!" to Joy's "I'm thrilled with Goodreads!" :-)

Well, Pontalba, one of these days I just might read some more of the Outlander series (maybe skipping over the book that deals with Culloden :-)). One of my Goodreads friends has read all the books of the series, and praises it very highly!

[[deleted user]]

Joy wrote: PS-I looked it up. The definition is:
"a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country"
http://www.onelook.com/?w=outlander&a...

Werner wrote: Joy, glad you enjoyed my Outlander review! Yes, an "outlander" ("sassinach" in Gaelic, which becomes Jamie's pet name for Clare) is a foreigner, which, to the Highlanders, is any English-speaking lowlander.

Yup. :)

I enjoyed your review too Werner, accurate in my eyes.
While there are necessarily many realistic and heart wrenching sequences in the rest of the series, the best part of it to me is the enduring love of Jamie and Claire, it grows, matures, and lasts through everything.

Joy, I only started keeping a list of my reading two years ago, and kick myself every so often for not doing it earlier!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Pontalba wrote: "Joy, I only started keeping a list of my reading two years ago, and kick myself every so often for not doing it earlier!"

Pontalba, I kick myself for not including the date that I read the books. Of course, now I do, but years ago I didn't. At least I have a fairly good idea of what I've read. But I regret that I didn't read much, much more!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I urge you all to read _Outliers_ by Malcolm Gladwell. No matter what you've heard about the book, you have to read it yourself to understand what he has to say. I find that there are quite a few people who misinterpret what he says. Their comments were very misleading.

I can't wait until our local library group discusses this book!!!

PS-From the book, p. 23:
"This is a book about outliers, about men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary."

From the book flap:
"Outliers will transform the way we understand success."

[Werner]

Thanks, Pontalba. Yes, the quality of the relationship between Jamie and Claire was the best feature of Outlander!

[Jim]

I've got to get Janny Wurts books in paperback. I'm reading To Ride Hell's Chasm & it's really, really good & exciting, but I have a signed, new hardback from her & I don't want to take it in the truck with me. I get 30 - 45 minutes reading in most lunch times, my steadiest reading time. Having to read another book really stinks.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I've got to get Janny Wurts books in paperback. I'm reading To Ride Hell's Chasm & it's really, really good & exciting, but I have a signed, new hardback from her & I do..."

Jim, you fantasy folks do make me curious. :) I went to the book's webpage and found an excellent review by a GR member named Kat. It was such a good review that I couldn't stop reading it. Kat gives a sampling of Wurt's writing. She says the prose is "heavy" (I agree) but she got used to it. Below is a link to the review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jim]

That's an excellent review, Joy. Thanks! Yes, Janny picks every word very carefully. She's so careful that when she misused a word once, I gave her hell for it & she agreed.

She's truly a wordsmith. Folks that are used to skimming through books have trouble with her style, as this reviewer pointed out. You need to read & savor each word because all are important. If you're used to candy books (most of us are) then her books can be a bit overwhelming.

Unsurprisingly, Janny loves Zelazny's books too. (She actually has signed first editions by him!) They're styles are different in most ways, but both use words the way a surgeon uses a scalpel; efficiently & with great effect.

One of the things I really like is that while she describes things well & as thoroughly as needs be, she doesn't overdo it. There is always a lot of action & she KNOWS what she writes about & is consistent with the fantastic things she makes up, like magic.

Horses are real horses - not cars with legs - such as they were in a recent fantasy I read. You can tell that she rides & owns them by the little things & as someone who was practically raised in a stable, believe me, I notice them.

I had no idea how much I noticed errors about horse behavior until I read a short line that was wrong. It jumped out & slapped me right out of the world the author had crafted so carefully & well. Janny doesn't do that, thankfully.

[Werner]

I read one eminently forgettable fantasy novel years ago, the author of which (whose name I don't recall) didn't know that horses can swim instinctively; he/she thought that any horse who fell into a river automatically drowned. Needless to say, that detracted considerably from the story's credibility. :-) It sounds like that's the sort of mistake that Janny would NOT make!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "That's an excellent review, Joy. Thanks! Yes, Janny picks every word very carefully. She's so careful that when she misused a word once, I gave her hell for it & she agreed. She's truly a wordsmith... ... she KNOWS what she writes about "

Jim, the advice often given to writers is to write about things they know about. Evidently Janny Wurts does that.

About skimming, I have found that hard to do. I've always been afraid of missing something. However, in order to survive through some books, such as overly descriptive ones, one has to learn to skim. I think it's the key to how some people accomplish reading huge numbers of books. It's a skill.

I've started a new topic about skimming. Below is a link to it:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "I read one eminently forgettable fantasy novel years ago, the author of which (whose name I don't recall) didn't know that horses can swim instinctively; he/she thought that any horse who fell into..."

Werner, that's an interesting comment. Makes me wonder why human beings can't swim instinctively as dogs and horses do. It's funny that even before our dog hits the water, I have seen his little legs start doing the swimming motion in the air, just before he hits the water.

It's also puzzling why some dogs love the water and others hate it and always try to avoid it.

[Jim]

In a psychology class I took many moons ago, the teacher argued that humans are the only animal without instincts.

Many horses enjoy swimming & it is used as therapy for them sometimes, but I'm not surprised that an author would goof something like that. Far too many of them have little or no experience with them, but they're important to stories.

Ours don't go swimming on their own, but one of them loves to play in the water. He's actually hurt himself digging holes to splash in. I'd call him an idiot, but since we suffer from similar problems (repetitive stress syndrome) & I regularly do the same thing, I guess I won't. My wife does though.

;-)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "In a psychology class I took many moons ago, the teacher argued that humans are the only animal without instincts.
Many horses enjoy swimming & it is used as therapy for them sometimes, but I'm ..."

Instincts... that's a whole book by itself! I wonder if there are any good serious books about instinct. I'm sure there must be.

[[deleted user]]

True Joy, what a topic!
It seems to me that humans stamp our a lot of instinctual behavior, or we grow out of it. :?: We bury our instincts under what we are taught sometimes. We don't listen to ourselves do we.

Joy wrote: that's an interesting comment. Makes me wonder why human beings can't swim instinctively as dogs and horses do. It's funny that even before our dog hits the water, I have seen his little legs start doing the swimming motion in the air, just before he hits the water.
Interesting thought. I've read that if you put a baby in the water, they instinctively swim, is that true?
It's certainly easier to learn languages when we are young children, could that be partially instinctual?

I don't see it on this thread, but it seems I read someone's comment earlier that they had learned to trust their first instinct about people. I've done the same, when I go against my first impression of someone, I am invariably wrong [to change:].

[Jim]

Two of my kids had no trouble swimming. One jumped into the water & stood on the bottom, although he seemed quite happy to do so before he was dragged out. He is an interesting child - well, he's in his mid-twenties now.

As I recall, it was the definition of an instinct that was important. It meant behavior that that wasn't reflexive but the being didn't have conscious control over, either. According to the teacher, there was no instinct that people didn't regularly over-ride. Like the 'instinctive' fear of falling. Lots of folks learn to enjoy that, as I did when I got to jump out of planes for a few years.

I'd think that we grow out of instinctive behavior. I don't think learning a language when young is in the same category, but I really don't know. Just a gut feeling.

(pun intended)

[[deleted user]]

LOL

You're right Jim, I guess I was thinking along the lines of what my mother used to call "the same difference". heh

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Pontalba wrote: "True Joy, what a topic!
It seems to me that humans stamp our a lot of instinctual behavior, or we grow out of it. :?: We bury our instincts under what we are taught sometimes. ...
... It's certainly easier to learn languages when we are young children, could that be partially instinctual?"

Steven Pinker addresses the subject of how we learn languages. I can't remember exactly where I heard him discussing it. He says that our mind is not a blank slate when we're born. Some quotes: "A learning system has to have the machinery that allows it to learn." ... There is "an abstract universal grammar." ... "What is innate would have to be highly abstract."

Of course there's Pinker's book, _The Language Instinct How the Mind Creates Language_, which I haven't read yet.

I must have gotten the quotes above from one of the following audios online:

An audio of Steven Pinker's book, _How the Mind Works_ at.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...

and

"Steven Pinker - The Genius of Charles Darwin: The Uncut Interviews" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIMReU...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "As I recall, it was the definition of an instinct that was important. It meant behavior that that wasn't reflexive but the being didn't have conscious control over, either. According to the teacher, there was no instinct that people didn't regularly over-ride. ...
... I'd think that we grow out of instinctive behavior. "

Jim, thanks for defining "instinctive behavior". I wonder if recoiling from bad odors is instinctive. Somewhere I heard that it protects us from the harm of potentially toxic materials.

I'm not sure I could ever over-ride my instincts without feeling vulnerable. Then again, do I know which reactions are instinctive and which are learned? Interesting to think about.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I just finished reading _Those Who Save Us_ by Jenna Blum. I found it compelling!!! The genre is historical fiction. It's about life in Germany during WWII and its ramifications on several characters. I couldn't stop reading it. For me it was a page turner. Jenna Blum has an extremely readable and intelligent writing style. I'd like to read more of her writings in the future.

Now I've started reading _Testimony_ by Anita Shreve. This one's another page turner! It centers around a sex scandal at a private boarding H.S. in New England. Again, it concerns the ramifications of the event on all the characters.

I can't believe I have found two page-turners in a row! All my other current books are now on the back-burner! LOL

[Werner]

Having finished The Napoleon of Notting Hill yesterday, I immediately started reading Haunted Lily: The Nightmare Ball, by Goodreads author Sidney Fox. That timing was perfect, since Sidney's book is the October common read in the Supernatural Fiction Readers group that I co-moderate. It's a tale of ghostly manifestations in a modern setting, and I'm enjoying it so far.

[Nina]

Some quotes you may or may not have:"A BEND IN THE ROAD IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD, UNLESS YOU FAIL TO MAKE THE TURN." AUTHOR UNKNOWN. "HAVE NO FEAR OF PERFECTION-YOU'LL NEVER REACH IT." sALVADOR DALI/ "WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF YOUR ROPE, TIE A KNOT AND HANG ON." FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT/ "WE LIVE IN A RAINBOW OF CHAOS."PAUL CEZANNE/"LIFE IS TOUgh, AND IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO LAUGH AT IT, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENJOY IT." SALMA HAYEK/ "AN INEXHAUSIBLE GOOD NATURE IS ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS OF HEAVEN, SPREADING ITSELF LIKE OIL OVER THE TROUBLED SEA OF THOUGHT, AND KEEPING THE MIND SMOOTH AND EQUABLE IN THE ROUGHEST WEATHER." WASHINGTON IRVING. "Nuff said," nina

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Having finished The Napoleon of Notting Hill yesterday, I immediately started reading Haunted Lily: The Nightmare Ball, by Goodreads author Sidney Fox. That timing was perfect, since Sidney's book..."

Werner, here they are for readers' reference:

The Napoleon of Notting Hill by G.K. Chesterton

Haunted Lily The Nightmare Ball by Sidney Fox

I love learning about what's out there in the reading world.
Is the G.K. Chesterton book difficult to read? I've never read anything by him except quotes. :)