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Series Read: The Dresden Files - Jim Butcher
I think listening to it fixes just about anything. Depression, restlessness, world hunger... James Marsters' voice is just that good :D
Nicole wrote: "I think listening to it fixes just about anything. Depression, restlessness, world hunger... James Marsters' voice is just that good :D"*giggles*
I agree.
The only thing it doesn't fix is Harry's pain. That is somehow enhanced. Maybe is Marsters inner Spike wanting to be "bad"
It *is* somehow enhanced! Ah well, I guess that that power to fend off world hunger had to come from somewhere ;)
STORM FRONT I'm 27% into book one, and I love it! Harry is much funnier than I expected, but for me his real charm is that he isn't better than everyone else. It seems like so often in UF books the hero or heroine is smarter/tougher/more powerful than everyone around them, even if it's latent. How nice to have an Everyman who has some actual vulnerabilities?
Mod
I have Grave Peril on audio ready to go, but I just want to finish Magic Burns first (yes, I'm early for that BR) as I prefer to have my audio book as a *completely* different genre to the physical book I'm reading
Oh Karen! After I read Magic Burns and Grave Sight buddy reads I'm reading Grave Peril! (If I can finish cuckoo's calling!!!)
Mod
I was going to do Grave Sight, but it just isn't going to happen. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat...lol
Oh I can't wait for Grave Peril! I'll be doing that one too.Meanwhile, I finished Summer Knight. And I got a really gorgeous copy of Cold Days hardback from the op shop the other day!
Nicole wrote: "Oh I can't wait for Grave Peril! I'll be doing that one too.Meanwhile, I finished Summer Knight. And I got a really gorgeous copy of Cold Days hardback from the op shop the other day!"
You mean you're doing Grave Sight, right? Grave Peril is Dresden book three, which you must have read already since Summer Knight is book four! :D
Oh oops, I meant the book that comes after Grave Sight, as I've already read that one before.
STORM FRONTFinished! I looooved it! Why did I wait so long to read these? Even though the baddie was a little obvious, Butcher kept me guessing with how it would all get resolved. I mean, (view spoiler) Does it get any more exciting? I echo Karen - if this is one of the weakest in the series then I am hooked for sure!
Yes! I hate those things and that would have majorly freaked me out!
Mod
Just started this (up to chapter 4). I'm a little confused! I feel like I've either completely forgotten a character from the last book (Michael), or have they just thrown him in to this one? Maybe I've just been reading too much Urban Fantasy / Paranormal / Mysery books recently
Oh oh Karen, I will start that one now too! :)))
I just got Fool Moon from the library. When were folks thinking of starting book 4? I want to make sure I catch up by then.
Probably not until next month, and probably later in the month, is when I'll get to it. I know Sonia was going to join us for that one, and then Nicole was going to jump in at book 5 I think. :)
Karen, Michael Carpenter is a key character in the series; he makes his first appearance (that I know of - but maybe he did earlier in some short stories?) - in Grave Peril. He is a Knight of the Cross, a carpenter by trade, and wielder of the sword Amoracchius (Sword of Love). He is married to Charity Carpenter and is the father of six (soon to be seven?) children, one of which is his oldest, Molly Carpenter. Charity (view spoiler)
He is able to sense where and when his abilities will be needed, often displaying an uncanny ability to show up at times of crisis. Partly for these reasons, Harry calls him the Fist of God.
Michael is a devout Catholic and a righteous man, worthy of wielding a Sword of the Cross.
Michael works in close association with Father Forthill at Saint Mary of the Angels.
As a Knight of the Cross, Michael wields holy power. For example, in Grave Peril, when Kelly Hamilton, (view spoiler) And again, when Mavra (view spoiler)
For me, his distinguishing characteristic is his unwavering faith in the Almighty. From my review of this book:
Harry is amazing with the big events in the book; however, he really shines in the little moments; such as when he is chagrin in his interaction with his friend Michael Carpenter, a Knight of the Cross, who is the voice of morality with his adherence to Christianity.
Mod
Yes he has just kind of suddenly turned up in this book, but I'm sure I'll get more back story soon
Torquemada-esque: Tomas de Torquemada was the Spanish Dominican friar who was appointed grand inquisitor by Pope Innocent VIII (1487). Under his authority, as thousands of Jews, suspected witches, and others were killed or tortured during the Spanish Inquisition.
EDIT: Sorry, I meant this for my other Dresden "buddy read."
I haven't read any of the short stories but I'm sure that Grave Peril was Michael's first appearance in the novel length books. If I remember correctly, the details of his friendship with Harry come out slowly but it is all there. While I like Michael's character, he does come across as a bit self-righteous at times.
Thanks, Lauren. I really like Michael. I like his unwavering faith.
I like him so far, ironically enough (I'm not even remotely religious), and I really love the concept that his sword has a nail from the Cross in it and coupled with Michael's faith, gives the sword its powers. Very creative concept!!!
uhmmm, maybe I should re-read this one since I can't remember that details... naaaa... too many books to read.Don't forget to warn me about
:o)
I also like the symbolism of the swords and I love Michael's daughter, Molly.
I think the amazingness of Michaels character, and also Butchers writing, is that most people who read this aren't particularly religious, I'd say. I mean, wizards running around in America. But Michael is still extremely accessible to everyone I've talked to about him in the past.
Steven wrote: "Very creative concept!!!"It is! And, really, Butcher pulls multiple things from different religions and mythology. As the series goes on and on, you realize just how imaginative he is.
Lisa Kay wrote: "Steven wrote: "Very creative concept!!!"It is! And, really, Butcher pulls multiple things from different religions and mythology. As the series goes on and on, you realize just how imaginative ..."
I agree LK. Just from the first three books, I can tell why the series has done so well. He's got good ideas for characters, plots, and twists, has created a really entertaining world and magic system, and is just downright funny AND dark at the same time.
I love them.
I should have been reading these during the read-a-thon, I'd have read even more pages. I read a TON yesterday in Grave Peril! :)
Nicole wrote: "I LOVE MURPHY!!"Me too! I love in Grave Peril when (view spoiler) I really like her.
Also, kinda reminds me of a paranormal Castle and Beckett (with a wizard instead of a writer hehe).
I loved that scene too, Steven - Murphy the (view spoiler) She's my favorite character in the series.
Lauren wrote: "I loved that scene too, Steven - Murphy the [spoilers removed] She's my favorite character in the series."I just love his reaction to it as well. :)
Oh, Steven. The first three are really just the start to the series... things really, really take off after them.I think that is key in a good series, keeping things fresh, funny, and interesting - but remain true to the characters. You realize how much groundwork he lays down in those first few books.
LK, your last comment makes me even more excited to continue on in the series. I just finished Grave Peril last night, and it was amazing! I couldn't put it down!!!
Steven, if you dare to start Summer Knight without me I'll cross the Atlantic on purpose just to kick you!!!
And btw, I used to do body combat, I can give some mean kicks on the ankles/knees!
Okay! I won't! X)When are we going to start it? :P
Today? :PWe have Harper on the 28th.
And I need to do a Pushing the Limits read-a-thon.
Lisa Kay wrote: "You guys will be passing me by!"You're doing a one book a month in your other group, correct?
I might pass you, but it'll take a few months, as you're quite a few ahead of me and I've got SO many series I'm in the middle of right now... Yeah, I'm a series addict. :P
Steven wrote: "Lisa Kay wrote: "You guys will be passing me by!"You're doing a one book a month in your other group, correct?
I might pass you, but it'll take a few months, as you're quite a few ahead of me an..."
Yeah, I know your pain.
Storm FrontI'm listening to audio, and I just loved the encounter with Marconi, very suggestive... I'm going to listen more today!
Anima wrote: "Storm FrontI'm listening to audio, and I just loved the encounter with Marconi, very suggestive... I'm going to listen more today!"
Yeah that beginning scene with Marconi really set the stage well for understanding Harry's place in his town. I loved it!
Mod
Karen wrote: "I just want to put a call out for Bob. Love his character!"Yeah, he's really funny. I love how he's a bodiless spirit, inhabiting a skull.... chock full of lust and no way to make it happen! haha
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Skin Game (other topics)White Night (other topics)
Proven Guilty (other topics)
Blood Rites (other topics)
Death Masks (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jim Butcher (other topics)Jim Butcher (other topics)
Chapter 27
You're right about Jimbo throwing everything at poor Harry!!
[spoilers removed]"
I agree. I miss Dresden... however there were some things that happened on third book hard for me to swallow... specially because they made some unfortunate spoilers of the series make sense. And I don't want them too.
Maybe if I read it instead of listening will make things easier?