SA Book & Challenge Lovers discussion
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The mammoth that I heard about had food still in its mouth, which implies that an ice age occurred in a couple of seconds, because the poor thing didn't even have time to swallow :)Hmm, I was under the impression that the Babylonian account came first, I'll have to check my notes...
Emma, you should check this out: http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies...
I think you'll find it very interesting :) You can download the transcripts of all the lectures. I've read some of them, they're fascinating.
Will let you know how my class goes, I really want to ask the lecturer about the link to Noah and the Ark.
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Crusader wrote: "Trying to finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest but it's a slow read for me. I have to pause reading for a while before I lose total interest and then start up again."Hey Crusader, what did you think of The Girl with the Dragin tattoo?
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Currently reading Barry Eisler's Choke Point. Sort of like a Tarantino version of James Bond. Not really a fan of James Bond, but enjoying the book.
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Sounds interesting!
Crusader wrote: "Dragging tattoo... Boring with bits of brilliance."Completely agree Crusader, was tortuous! I might give the second book a try though just for Lisbeth Salander's sake...is it worth it?
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I strugged through the third Stieg Larsson book too. And I think the books were probably somewhat lost in translation. There was no flow at all- it felt stuttered.
I am currently reading Sultry Days by Shobha De (my first novel by this author- and I'm loving it!)and The Way of Shadows(Night Angel#1) by Brent Weeks (another first). Then there's The Vampire Diaries #4- Dark Reunion, which I'm reading in e-book format.While Sultry Days is light and laugh-out-loud funny at certain parts, The Way of Shadows is a gripping novel but complex in its detail. I find it hard to keep track of all the new terms, characters, fictional countries and political histories. But, it's enjoyable enough. The Vampire Daries #4- Dark Reunion retains it's usual charm for me!
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Emma wrote: "Well done Lu, you deserve a Medal :-)"
Thanks guys :) Let no one say i don't give it my all for challenges :P
I just picked up the first of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. Been awhile since I dived into proper fantasy, but will be a welcome break from the sometimes frivolous world of YA. :PI had no idea this was the guy who was continuing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I started off loving them, but the story got away with Jordan, I think. Plus, he had to go and add in those boring prequels. If he hadn't done that, he might have been able to polish off his series. Sigh.
Just finished Dead Until Dark. Starting Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, and half-heartedly reading Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason when I want something light.
Got bored with Bridget Jones, but I wanted something light in contrast to Cloud Atlas, so I'm re-reading Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams.I also realised that it has a sport theme, (cricket) so I can use it for Patchwork, yay! Was a bit worried about the sport theme, but this is one of my favourite books :)
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should be finished soon and watching the movie tonight :)
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Anyway I thought this was the next best place to vent. I do understand Beastly is a young adult novel and maybe at 28 I am too old an adult to be reading it, but I am so sick (and I am generalising here) of young adult authors dumbing down their writing for their "supposedly" teen audience. When I was 13 I was reading Anne Rice and Stephen King. I know its not Shakespeare but I do think we can safely assume that if a “young adult” has picked up a book and decided to read it they probably have a reading and comprehension level beyond a 3rd grader. If I were a teen reading one of these books I would feel like my intelligence had been insulted. My biggest problem with the whole genre comes in when there are some genuinely good books out there that really can be read by people of any age eg. My father who is 59 loved hunger games :D But you never know if you are going to get a “proper” book that can be read by a “grown up” or a corny, sad ass books written about a one dimensional characters who talk in clichés and text speak to there BFF. There should be a sub genre for these books- maybe Tweens With No Vocab (TWNV) so that unsuspecting people like me don’t accidentally end up reading them.
Disclaimer- Im only a few pages into Beastly, It might be great. But I have a strong suspicion things are going into TWNV territory fast!!
Oh, Lauren. It is dumb. And frustrating. There is a thread in the Book Discussions forum, I think, where I have posted my thoughts. :)
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True but i already got the profound parts from the book :P
Lauren wrote: "I notice we have no discussion up for our book of the month. Either that or the fact that I am a natural blonde and on a lot of new medications have somehow made me miss it?? OR maybe I am the only..."Lauren, I totally agree with you about YA writing. And unfortunately Beastly will never be great.
I also agree with the YA writing. By the way does anyone think my 6 year old niece is too young to be reading about Narnia? I got the the kiddies kiddies interactive one with hidden compartments and little pieces you pull so that Lucy moves the coats to find the entrance to Narnia and things like that but her dad put it away and said she can have it when she's older, much to my dismay.
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and most likely starting
or
if I get time :(
If your niece can understand what's happening in the Narnia books, I don't see why not. I guess there are things she might find a little scary, but all kids are different, she might really enjoy it. IMO, kids like things to be a bit scary anyway.If her dad has an objection to Lewis's Christian propaganda, that's another thing.
She was enjoying it when I started reading it with her and I doubt her father has an objection to Lewis's propaganda as he himself likes the series. I found out he's more worried about her damaging the book *rolling eyes*I just started Eat, Pray, Love
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It's just my opinion and I know as a book lover I shouldn't say it but it is only a book after all. The book sounds awesome and I know as a life long avid reader it all began with my pop-up books and the Ladybird fairytales (remember those) I read as a child. They my have ended up tatty but they taught me to love books.
Just finished FEED by Mira Grant last night and loved it! I have a dystopian thing going on at the moment and zombies are just a part of it :)
Lauren wrote: "Naz wrote: "It's just my opinion and I know as a book lover I shouldn't say it but it is only a book after all. The book sounds awesome and I know as a life long avid reader it all began with my pop-up books and the Ladybird fairytales (remember those) I read as a child. They my have ended up tatty but they taught me to love books. "I agree. If it's a first-edition signed copy it's one thing, but books are meant to be loved and enjoyed. If you really need to, you can always buy a new one.
Chriz wrote: "Just finished FEED by Mira Grant last night and loved it! I have a dystopian thing going on at the moment and zombies are just a part of it :)"Cool, dystopian fiction :) What else is on your reading list Chriz?
Oooooh, Feed! I've been dying (pardon the pun) to read this!
I gave up on Iain Banks - Player of games as it just doesnt interest me and nothing is happening. Maybe its just to slow for me. So I am currently reading:
Ender's Game
I am enjoying this book alot better.
A pity you gave up on Banks, I think you're missing out. I'll have to come up recommendations for the impatient for you :)Sci fi can be a difficult genre for you Emma, because there tends to be a lot of world-building at the start, and if new/alternative worlds don't interest you in themselves, you might not get to the action.
Ender's Game moves fairly fast though.
Reading Candide, a classic by Voltaire. I think this has to have the fastest moving plot I've ever read. It's an epic novel condensed into just 104 pages. Amusing satire, philosophy.Still reading Cloud Atlas.
I have been neglecting my reading quite alot the last couple of months. But slowly starting to get into it again. Just finished
and starting
Lauren wrote: "A pity you gave up on Banks, I think you're missing out. I'll have to come up recommendations for the impatient for you :)Sci fi can be a difficult genre for you Emma, because there tends to be a ..."
I wouldn't say I am giving up on Banks altogether Lauren, but you are right I am impatient and I normally have a 50 page rule whereas if the book doesn't grip me in 50 pages I move on to something else and The player of games just didn't pass the rule. There are books that have been slow but they have piqued my interest enough to continue with it. I am not finding any difficulty with Ender's game as it is fairly fast moving and I am eager to find out what happens. Maybe I will try another book of Banks in the future.
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.. is what I am reading.
And I'm thrilled my library has gotten in
... this to add to my zombie reads for my blog. Yay!
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and starting on
.
Lauren wrote: "Chriz wrote: "Just finished FEED by Mira Grant last night and loved it! I have a dystopian thing going on at the moment and zombies are just a part of it :)"Cool, dystopian fiction :) What else is on your reading list Chriz? "
I am looking at a short story next, just to lighten things up a bit - I am going to read "Lucifer's Daughter" by Eve Langlais.
NovelYear wrote: "Oooooh, Feed! I've been dying (pardon the pun) to read this!"I LOVED it - very good. Will be posting a review soon. There is two more books in the series which I will be reading soon. Just need something lighter to read in between . . .
SA Book & Challenge Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Duke and I (other topics)Twelve Slays of Christmas (other topics)
Storm Front (other topics)
Silverthorn (other topics)
Full Dark, No Stars (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charlaine Harris (other topics)James Clavell (other topics)
H.P. Lovecraft (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Jussi Adler-Olsen (other topics)
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The Historian Flavius Josephus mentions the flood in his accounts, and says that the reason that Nimrod built the tower of Babel was so that "If God ever had it in mind to destroy the earth again by water, that he would build a tower so high that the waters would not be able to reach.He also mentions that it was built with bitumen, which is water resistant.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is almost identical to the Biblical account.Although the writings of Moses was before the Babylonian account. Will be interested to find out what you learn next week.