Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 2,401-2,450 of 5,829

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Katie wrote: "OH my gosh. You liked the term? lol. Maybe I just didn't like it coming out of Bryce's mouth 24/7. Moderation girlie, lol"

LOL overuse can kill anything, very true. I think I enjoyed..."

There's two editions of Warhammer. Warhammer 40K is the science fiction one, and regular Warhammer is fantasy.
My family and I own a lot of miniatures for the fantasy Warhammer. It's fun to build and paint them. I still havne't played the tabletop game though. It's also a computer game and is one of my husband's favorites!

[Choko]

Emily, I totally agree with you and Nirkatze about the somewhat cavalier attitude towards suicide, and particularly the people left behind. But as you said, the series is about what different choices you would make if you have the chance to start over again and not about the devastating emotional wounds suicide leaves in the people left behind...

[Tonari no Emily]

I think a lot of emotional behavior, if it doesn't come "natural" can definitely be learned.. Some people can pick up on it easy like any skill, and some people need more learning... Some people just can't do it at all. For me, its definitely a learned behavior. I think I was very selfish as a kid/growing up, but along the way I recognized those behaviors and taught myself (whether through interactions with others or consumption of a mass amount of media through books, shows, movies LOL) to think more about others and how I relate to them and de-center myself a bit?
I've also gone down the self-diagnosis rabbit hole.. and realized too that a diagnosis doesn't really change anything so it doesn't really matter to me.

Nirkatze, you're right everything really is a spectrum, and I really do think that's true of just about all human characteristics!

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Been in a bit of a reading slump for a week because I was sick. Somehow it wasn't COVID even though someone I live with tested positive... Lots of people getting sick around me right now. But I'm f..."

So glad you're feeling better Emily!! I agree on your idea for an answer to a "start over"--I too would like to see something from the POV of those who are left behind by the folks who choose to do that. Maybe a short story or novella would be enough. But I also agree that it'd probably be depressing--I don't think I'd be happy if it was not depressing, weirdly.

I also loved the (view spoiler)[platonic love ending. A different collection of relationships in this book. It was a nice difference. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Katie wrote: "OH my gosh. You liked the term? lol. Maybe I just didn't like it coming out of Bryce's mouth 24/7. Moderation girlie, lol"

LOL overuse can kill anything, very true. ..."

Oh cool! Thank you for that clarification! It sounds like fun, on all counts.

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Emily wrote: "Been in a bit of a reading slump for a week because I was sick. Somehow it wasn't COVID even though someone I live with tested positive... Lots of people getting sick around me right ..."

Totally agree, it really should be depressing because suicide is.. devastating to those left behind.

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "I think a lot of emotional behavior, if it doesn't come "natural" can definitely be learned.. Some people can pick up on it easy like any skill, and some people need more learning... Some people ju..."

I think I remember reading a psychology study that examined selfish behavior in children--something about all children are selfish, and that empathy and more are learned behaviors as we grow and experience the world. Thinking of all the teens I work with--each and every one is the star of their own private YA book, and they're just starting to crack open to the idea that that is true for others as well.

[Choko]

About today's teenagers, since I can't speak of times before the 90's... Maturity does come, in general, quite a bit later, mostly because of the way we have structured our society. So yeah, if complete self-centeredness used to be considered a normal thing kids go through and eventually learn to grow their circle of empathy, it has been coming later and later in life nowadays... But we have the luxury of teaching them a bit gentler too:)

[Choko]

I started the Second book in the Starflight novellas, ReDawn ... When Alanik speaks about the first meeting of her people and the humans, she mentioned a book, where the humans mentioned them... Something about a Ring. Was she talking about Lord of the Rings, and if so, what people there would be hers???

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I started the Second book in the Starflight novellas, ReDawn ... When Alanik speaks about the first meeting of her people and the humans, she mentioned a book, where the humans mentioned them... So..."

I totally thought so when I read it! They're elves! Their language is Elvish!

[Choko]

That is what I thought as well, and the living in the trees thing too... I actually just finished it and loved it! This series is such a pleasure to read! I love how light it is and I like that the humans are starting from a lower level than the Superiority. I hope this teaches them to be more accepting of others... Jorgan's parents thought... That was very rough... :((( And his mother, telling him to do better than they did, it just made me so sad...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "That is what I thought as well, and the living in the trees thing too... I actually just finished it and loved it! This series is such a pleasure to read! I love how light it is and I like that the..."

I really really loved the novellas. It's so much fun to get to learn more about the rest of the Skyward Flight--there's a bunch of great characters there. And I also loved how each novella explores a different culture and set of cultural norms. (view spoiler)[Like how Alanik's world's politics are based on sports matches!! And the horrible way they twist words... ugh! (hide spoiler)] The end with Jorgen's parents was a tear-jerker for sure. And now Jorgen is left... (view spoiler)[with no mentors to guide his way... (hide spoiler)]

I'm sure you want to read Cytonic in your own posting, but if you want to BR on an old comment thread...here is the BR between me and Siobhan in February...

[Choko]

Thank you so much! And yes, I will read the third novella sometime this week, then Cytonic:) Can't wait!!!

[Nirkatze]

Wait! Read Cytonic first! read it first! Then #3!

Also, I'm going to start Golden Compass tomorrow. :)

[Choko]

I can start it with you tomorrow:)

[Nirkatze]

Yay!

[Choko]

Ch. 7 , King and Magnolia, just the beginning of the chapter... (view spoiler)[ I am so proud of Trey right now!!! Fighting with his twin over slavery! I want to hug him and tell him he is right so badly!!! As I said, I just started this chapter and I have no idea how it will work out, but at this moment I just love this boy!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I just finished the third novella of Starflight - Evershore ... (view spoiler)[ I think Janci did an amazing job in giving us the stories of the characters of Starflight! All three main POVs were likable before I read this book, but now I love them all! Poor Jorgen, loosing his parents, missing Spensa and now having all the responsibility of taking care of the humanity's defense on his shoulders, and their new alliance, this is a tremendous load for a young man... For anyone, really... I love the Kitsen, who I am sure are related to the Kitsune of Asian mythology, and probably a little with our heroes from Redwall:)))) I adore these little poet warriors!!!!

I do wonder what the overall repercussions are going to be with Detritus moving into the vicinity of the new planet, which is most like the old human Earth of all the habitats we have encountered so far... Also, since it changed its coordinates, will Spensa be able to get back home when she is able to??? Will the humans, given our nature, try to take over The Kitsun's world? Pretend we can live together and then, as always, push them into extinction, so we can accommodate more place for ourselves??? I hope this doesn't happen!

Speaking of Spensa, she seems to be lost... More than just place wise, it feels like she is loosing herself into the Nowhere, at least according to Doomslug's communication... I am very worried about her and M-Bot!!! Can't wait to get to Cytonic and see what is going on... (hide spoiler)]

Loved the whole collection of the novellas!!! And once again, thank goodness for engineers ❤️!!!:)))

[Choko]

Nirkatze, I just started His Dark Materials 0.5 - Once Upon a Time in the North... It is a short story, the first of two, before The Golden Compass...

So this one is about Lee and his balloon. He is only 24 years old and just saw the Bears, who are hated and demeaned by the humans in this town he just got to... I already feel like starting a campaign for protection of the Bears!!!:)))

[Julian]

I finished Sunreach last night. I'm really curious to see what happens with (view spoiler)[Cuna being amongst humans. That and I'm really curious to see how the DDF will take advantage of hyperdrives. Already they were using it in ways that the Superiority never did during dogfights which can give them a huge advantage. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Started TT Jack Rybicki #11

Another long first life one...

Chap 14 (view spoiler)[Again, I like how this series jumps around different types of families and people. Here we get a little taste of Polish immigrants. I wonder if Inmon will be brave enough to have any non-European minority characters coming up. (hide spoiler)]

Chap 15 (view spoiler)[All the fundraising--but they never tried company sponsorships??? If I were doing serious fundraising for a specific cause, and especially FBLA--I'd go around to local businesses and ask for donations.

Chap 18--(view spoiler)[Hey! This is the exact scene from #1. I keep meaning to to start keeping notes of where each person intersects. This one's during Thomas' second life, and I swear I heard one other person besides the people in Thomas' orbit. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I just finished the third novella of Starflight - Evershore ... I think Janci did an amazing job in giving us the stories of the characters of Starflight! All three main POVs were likable before I..."

I love the (view spoiler)[Kitsen (hide spoiler)]! So many different cool cultures and places!

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Nirkatze, I just started His Dark Materials 0.5 - Once Upon a Time in the North... It is a short story, the first of two, before The Golden Compass...

So this one is about Lee and his balloon. He..."

Oh shiny! I haven't read that one yet, I'll go back and read the prequels when I'm done with Golden Compass. :)

On Golden Compass right now. This is a reread for me but it's been at least a decade. However I probably read these books 10 times when I was in middle and high school.

Chapter 2--Lord Asriel (view spoiler)[comes across scarier than I remember. He grabbed Lyra's hand hard enough to hurt! And he's so cold with her--just using and discarding like he does any of his tools. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[
Lyra--the casual cruelty of children--what if she had sunk the boat on her outings? This makes me think back to the little conversation we had about empathy, selfishness, and self-centeredness, and how children need to learn to grow out of the latter and into the former. I think much of this book series is Lyra doing that psychological journey as much as the fantastical and physical one. She's a very bright child, to put that kind of heist together, and that intelligence and... slyness? will serve her well. But she has the potential to do a lot of harm when she doesn't think about the consequences of her actions.

"experimental theology"--A fun name! What would that look like in the world, I wonder?

Lots of bits of scattered foreshadowing throughout--the alethiometer's tidbits, and little sentences like "didn't know that at the time but..." or "eventually she would know more about Dust than anyone in the world"--lots to chase and wonder about.

Poor Tony--our first victim of the Gobblers. So much worse that Tony is one of the sweet ones who's just a little slow--someone that you feel hard wired to protect, who even as an adult would be everyone's little brother. What a way to pack a punch.

And now Billy, and maybe Roger are gone. That's one way to tweak Lyra's empathetic centers. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "I finished Sunreach last night. I'm really curious to see what happens with [spoilers removed]"

I love how FM (view spoiler)[becomes chief slug wrangler. She really works hard to get the slugs recognized as allies and companions rather than animals to be used. That companionship has the potential to really turn the tide, I think. And I keep thinking back to Spensa hearing the poor slugs screaming in Starsight.... (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

@Nirkatze I kept thinking the same thing! the Superiority forces them and aren't using them to their full potential

[Tonari no Emily]

Finally able to start the Princess Knight! These books are just great.. I'll probably try to read the rest of GA Aiken's stuff too cuz they make me happy haha

[Choko]

Julian, I am so glad you are enjoying them too! I fell in love with the slugs completely!

[Choko]

Nirkatze, I finished the two prequel shorts, and am in Ch. 11, I think... Half way, just about, of The Golden Compass. This is my first read of the series, but I have seen both the first movie and the HBO series and always wanted to read it, just always found something else to read first...

I don't know why some books never really become popular in some countries, but this one and Narnia were not big in Bulgaria... I had to come to the States in order to get to know them.

So, you are absolutely right. Lyra doesn't think about consequences at all. And our previous conversation is very relevant in this case. I guess experience will be her teacher, rather than actual role models and education. I love her reckless abandon and her passion and imagination, but despite those being her strengths, they are putting her and those around her in most danger...

I love the idea of the personal and separate spirit/soul animals! That would be awesome! No one would ever be really alone... And it would suck if you hate your own spirit animal, which would be also very possible... It also makes you very vulnerable to ill intent... But the concept is fascinating!

I was with the impression that this is more of a children's book, but it doesn't feel like that... I am not sure how old you would have to be to catch all the political, scientific and religious aspects of the writing so far... I am not sure you have to, since it gives a great veneer of "fantasy", but it feels much more like a commentary on society as a whole....

I wonder what is happening with Roger. In the HBO series, she is much more frantic to find him, and Mrs. Coulter comes off as much more evil. There is one thing that I don't remember to have been in the movie, and is not in the series, but is in the book ... I wonder what is (view spoiler)[ that metallic smell that gets stronger, coming from Mrs. Coulter, when she killed or at least knocked unconscious, the butterfly spirit animal of the journalist lady during the cocktail party... It was kind of brought up in the second prequel story, which I don't think of as a prequel, just a story... Is she also a witch? Can she actually do magic??? I am fascinated by her character and what made her the way she is...

I like the Gypsies:) River people... That is so different than what I grew up with:)

I just got to meet the Bear here... Let's see what happens;) (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Emily!!!! Any time you decide to do so, just let me know and I'll read them with you!!!

[Tonari no Emily]

Choko wrote: "Emily!!!! Any time you decide to do so, just let me know and I'll read them with you!!!"

Will do! :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I might, maybe, too... I've re-read 6 of the Pride books... almost done with the series... only 9 total...

In the meantime, I made it back to the Marla Mason ebook, and finished the snowglobe story... I vaguely remember it, I think...

On to the delusional fantasy world story... I definitely remember bits and pieces of this one... cool idea...

After this, I have Pale Dog and Pride is an Engine left, then it's on to the audiobooks, with a short return after book 1 for Grander than the Sea... then we're good until books 5 & 6...

[Choko]

Iain, those are the two I have left as well. I will try to read them before the weekend, and then start on the audiobooks:))) The one with the dream reality was very good!!!

[Choko]

The Golden Compass, Up to Ch. 16... (view spoiler)[ So it was the poor Tony boy, whom she found wandering around without his Ratter... It broke my heart, him holding on to that smoked fish for dear life!!! I wanted to cry... In the HBO series, that was Billy she found like that, and mother Costs took it really hard... In either case, just tragic! What is wrong with Mrs. Coulter?!?! And the Tartar raiders captured Lyra and took her to the center... Lyra is pretending to be someone else, and is finding out what they are doing and how she can possibly free the children... They found the spirit animals who had been severed from their children and freed them, but are they going to find them now, that their connection has been cut, and what about the kids that are dead? Are their daemons also dead or are they now free to live without them and how long, for ever? I have so many questions... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "Iain, those are the two I have left as well. I will try to read them before the weekend, and then start on the audiobooks:))) The one with the dream reality was very good!!!"

definitely one of my favorite shorter stories of the bunch, first time around, as well...

Once I get to the audio, and we mostly leave the ebook for the end (minus the 3 other short stories that are quite short, I think)... then we can go back to reading at a decent rate...

I just suck at making time for non-audio... even audio sometimes, these days...

Speaking of which, I started watching Evil season 2, so that's probably gonna eat my day... I watched season 1 forever ago, then had to wait for season 2 because of the pandemic... it's about skeptics and a priest debunking and/or exorcising demonic possessions... the actor that played Luke Cage, comedian Aasif Mandvi, and a Dutch actress star... and Michael Emerson from Person of Interest and Lost is the main antagonist... the show also has a number of demons (and maybe an angel in season 2) as characters/hallucinations, that may or may not be real... very interesting show that I stumbled onto... season 1 was on CBS, season 2 is on Paramount+

[Katie]

Ohh! How are you liking season two of Evil Timelord? I watched session 1 a while back as well. I liked the dichotomy between the two MCs. Sometimes it gets pretty dark though O.O

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Katie wrote: "Ohh! How are you liking season two of Evil Timelord? I watched session 1 a while back as well. I liked the dichotomy between the two MCs. Sometimes it gets pretty dark though O.O"

It's at times dark, and at times hilarious... it runs this fine line...

Mostly in how the demons/hallucinations act... season 2 has an Ifrit, and recently it was rubbing itself "sexily" since it's trying to get the psychologist to break her marriage vows (not that her mountain climber husband spends much time in the same country as her... it's easy to forget she's married)...

The actors are what drew me to the show, and the story sucked me in... the long wait between seasons almost made me quit, but the show's premise comes to mind sometimes, and makes me want to continue, and I finally did... the 3rd season is set to premiere in June, so there's more to look forward to...

The show also knows what it's fans like, I think... George (the demon that the psychologist was hallucinating in season 1) was an interesting character, especially between appearance and voice actor (British?)... season 2 is kinda structured like a storybook for kids... F is for Fire, Z is for Zombie, etc... and the opening scenes show a popup book before cutting to the plot... and at the end of each episode there's a teaser for the next episode/season, and it's done like George is flipping the popup book around and teasing the reader/listener...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm almost half done with season 2 of Evil already... it's been really good... I guess the show aired weekly on Paramount+, so there's a bit of a mid-season look ahead at the end of the current episode...

And George said Kristen (the psychologist) is gonna be "off the chain" at some point in the next couple episodes... feels like such dated lingo, lol...

[Choko]

I finished The Golden Compass... I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. (view spoiler)[ Lyra turned out to be extremely unlucky in the parents department, didn't she... They are both strong and smart and powerful, but as selfish and self-centered as could possibly be... Their passions rule them above all, and a kid is not even second in their thoughts... Let alone the lives of others and other children... I just accepted that Mrs. Coulter is broken somehow, and here at the end, Lyra's dad killed Roger!!!!! Didn't even think about it. As long as it is not his kid, which, I am sure, if she was by herself, he would have felt horrible about sacrificing her, but he would have done it... It was only her luck Roger was with her...

Love Yorick! He is awesome! He turned out to be the only one she could actually count on to stand up for her... His getting a duel with the King bear thanks to her "silver tung", was very dramatic and satisfying, although, I kind of felt sorry for the King, since he himself had been manipulated by Mrs. Coulter. He really, really wanted to have a daemon of his own... (hide spoiler)]

I liked it well enough to want to continue with the series, maybe next week... What do you think, Nirkatze?

[Choko]

TTJR#11 ... I am already half way through... This was probably the longest first life we got up to now. Ch 31 is when he restarted...

Up to Ch. 43... (view spoiler)[ Wow! I didn't see that coming! She got herself a man in California and broke up with him, despite him choosing her instead of getting famous in Hollywood... That's the thing, you can only control your own choices, but the people around you would do whatever they do despite of it... (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

I'm so sad that the third Scarred Earth isn't out yet! We have to wait till October, wah lol

In the meantime I will definitely be picking up some others... Will let you know when, probably not until next month!

[Choko]

Emily, so you liked it??? I am so happy!!!

[Tonari no Emily]

Finished TTJR! I'm still getting some enjoyment out of these short books, but kinda glad to be finished soon.. They are a little repetitive, but I do like they're a guaranteed satisfying/happy ending... The author is doing basically whatever he wants with the do-overs/ maybe I don't understand how his system works lol (view spoiler)[ The celestial Carrie was "set free" by Michael Hollister murdering her.. She's said that multiple times, but this life she gets to live with Thomas? Is anyone besides the main character in each book even real?

Are they all part of one "true family" or are there multiple within the series? (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Choko wrote: "Emily, so you liked it??? I am so happy!!!"

Yes! Just as crass and funny as the first one! Definitely stuff that I enjoy :D

[Choko]

I was confused about Carrie as well, but just like you, I decided that he just has way too many universes to count, and everything is possible, depending on which parallel universe you are in... I also enjoyed it, and also feel it is time to get to the end of those...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Nirkatze, I finished the two prequel shorts, and am in Ch. 11, I think... Half way, just about, of The Golden Compass. This is my first read of the series, but I have seen both the first movie and ..."

I do love the idea of daemons! I think I'd wish for mine to be some kind of cat, something cuddly. But then like the sailor said in a later chapter--when the daemon settles, you know who you are, and if you're not happy with it, that means you're not happy with who you are. What do you think you'd be?

The Golden Compass is currently marketed as YA, but it predates the YA genre, and Pullman himself is vehemently opposed to age-labeling books. His opinion is that whatever age you read and enjoy a book at is the right age for you, and it will be different for different readers. That said, his material is definitely accessible to younger readers, but he never talks down to anyone.

It's been about 20 years since I read this book, but I was also surprised that she wasn't more forceful in trying to find Roger. That said, (view spoiler)[she is taken in by Mrs. Coulter the day she realizes Roger is missing, is dazzled by her, and then escapes in I think only a day, and once she teams up with the Gyptians, she knows they are going to find the lost children, including Roger, so there's not much time to be frantic. She could be worrying over whether bad things are happening or not, but Lyra isn't much of a worrier--she lives in the present, or schemes, but has the child's immortal outlook. (hide spoiler)]

Regarding Mrs. Coulter (view spoiler)[Pan sees her daemon coming out of their room while Mrs. Coulter was with Lyra--at the very least, her daemon can go further from Mrs. Coulter than normal, which is a witch trait. But not the only witch trait. I always thought the metallic smell was like a warning--she's robotic, cold, unfeeling, not warm and loving like she seems. It would be interesting to see if there is a more specific reason. Lyra inherited her acting skills. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "The Golden Compass, Up to Ch. 16... [spoilers removed]"

I was thinking about changes from the book to series, and I noticed that one too. (view spoiler)[I also don't remember Farder Coram being in the HBO series, and John Faa's connection to the witches was turned into a romantic story with a dead child instead of a simple life saved. Little things though mostly, shifted for higher emotional impact.

Tony is such a poor tragic character. And the image of him clinging to that fish like it was his poor daemon... aw man, that's tough.

As for the daemon's--when Lyra finds them at Bolvangar, the cage with Tony's name on it is empty. So it seems that when the person dies, the daemon still has enough of a link to them that they disappear too. With the daemon's released, I think they would immediately try to find their people. Maybe being reunited would help keep the children from dying, even if they aren't connected in the same way anymore. How is the severing done at Bolvangar different from how witches daemons are? (hide spoiler)]

Only up through this point right now, probably finish tomorrow!

I'd be down for picking up the next one next week. I think I'll switch to audio for the rest--too many physical books on the docket right now, and the other two are available from the library by audio. :)

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I was confused about Carrie as well, but just like you, I decided that he just has way too many universes to count, and everything is possible, depending on which parallel universe you are in... I ..."

Ditto on you and Emily on the same thing. I was glad he pulled that Carrie part in though--as much as it was confusing I think it also clarified--like Choko says--parallel universes. Each possible life of each possible person overlaps with each possible person in a possible universe as each one lives their lives... and we get the overlaps the author wants to tell. So if he has Thomas #2 with Carrie #13 and Michael #1 with Jack #2 and then another universe with Jack #3, that's just Pixis designation 3012.4287.9 and 3012.4287.534.

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "I was confused about Carrie as well, but just like you, I decided that he just has way too many universes to count, and everything is possible, depending on which parallel universe yo..."

Yes, I like how you put that!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I read Golden Compass, and the whole trilogy, around the time the movie came out... so probably 2007-ish?... I think the rest of the trilogy died during the 2008 Writer's Strike?

[Nirkatze]

Yeah, I remember hating that movie because I loved the books. I like the HBO series though.