What are you reading? Showing 651-700 of 1,151

[Lu]

It's a pleasure :)

[Lauren]

I'm reading Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper (based on Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales). Also re-reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis after going to see the movie the other day.

[Barbara]

Oh, Lauren. I've read Beauty many years ago when I was on an archaeological dig in the Caribbean and loved it. Its a book that I want to reread but I am afraid that it isn't as good as I remember. I do remember how I loved all the different fairy tales that are used and how they intermingle. Please let me know when you're finished what you thought about it.

[Tracy]

Reading Die geval van die Sadistiese swembad by Paul C. Venter... but I can't find it on Goodreads.

[Lu]

Reading and listening to

[Lauren]

How are you finding Inkheart Lu?

Barbara, I'm nearing the end of Beauty and I've enjoyed it so far, but the other Tepper novels I've read have made for better stories. On the other hand, she's not as heavy-handed with her eco-feminism as she usually she is. She's not subtle by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a bit more toned down.
Will give my final verdict when I'm done :)

[Lu]

So far liking it :)

[Lauren]

Ok, so I've finished Beauty and I still feel the same as I mentioned above. It's good but not great. The more I think about it the more I see interesting little connections and ideas, but on the whole it just fell short somehow.

I thought it was a bit odd that beauty tends to be associated with a lack of intelligence (especially in the Snow White incarnation, who is almost retarded, and even Beauty herself is said to be lacking smarts), and occasionally cruelty (Ella, Snow White's stepmother). At the same time beauty (the concept and the character) has to be preserved for life to go on. Any thoughts on this Barbara?

[Barbara]

Maybe it's time I do reread the book. Its been over ten years ago that I read it. All I remember is that I really loved the way the story incorporates different fairytales and weaves them into one story.

I don't remember thinking that beauty tended to be associated with lack of intelligence although now I write this I do remember thinking that Beauty was under-educated and knew less then she ought to but this was in my mind no way associated with stupidity. Maybe it is just another fairytale (I mean that beauty means stupid as many people especially men still believe) the author used in writing the book expecially because as you say she normally is more heavy on this point. On the other hand people in fairytales tend to be a bit on the simple side. Often you see the witch or the wolf coming for ages before the main character has a clue that something may be wrong. So she could be just staying in character and keeping the fairytale figures a bit simple.

If you liked the concept though of multiple fairytales used to make a new story you should read Snow White and the Seven Samurai. It does more or less the same thing but then in a Tom Holt manner.

[Lauren]

Beauty isn't associated with stupidity so much as not being particularly smart. In the beginning it's said that Beauty isn't all that clever, but she makes up for it by being practical. Other beautiful women - Beauty's mother, half sister, daughter etc. - range from normal to nearly retarded. But as you said, perhaps it's just a comment on fairytale characters. Snow White's stepmother tries to kill her 3 or 4 times and Snow Whites falls for the trick each time!

I actually started reading Snow White and the Seven Samurai a week or so ago :) It looks good.
Have you read Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett Barbara? That's my favourite fairytale mash-up so far.

[Barbara]

Yeah I did. I've read almost everything Terry has ever written and dread the day that he can't write anymore because his Alzheimers is getting to progressed. But fortunately we're not there yet.
I loved Witches Abroad in fact the books about Granny Weatherwax and Nanny ogg are my favorite only second to Death. Terry is I think more subtle in his use of the fairytales. For example he uses the story to fit his own characters instead of the characters to fit the story like Sheri Tepper or Tom Holt if you know what I mean. But Terry is brilliant. I consider myself fairly well rounded with a bit of knowledge of a lot of things and he always surpises me with the knowledge he has about almost everything. Especially when you start reading the classics like for example Shakespeare and then return to Terry Pratchett you see how he uses that in his books and I'm not just talking about Lords and Ladies but all his books, it's really amazing.
But I agree with you Witches Abroad is my favorite fairytale mash-up too.

[Emma]

I can vaguely remember picking up a Pratchett book years ago, but I dont think I read it. So For someone who has never read Terry Pratchett what would you recommend starting with? What are the absolute must reads?

There are quite a few Pratchett books in te library, but I never know which one to go for as I dont know whether his books are in a series or stand alone.

[Lauren]

Barbara - I know what you mean by Pratchett's encyclopaedic knowledge. I love picking up all the little references as well, especially if it's from something I recently read or learned. I want to re-read them ll one day, once I've learned more myself. Tom Holt and Robert Rankin seem to be similar, although not as good as Pratchett.

Emma, the Discworld books are all stand-alone, but since they are more or less in chronological order, it's better to start with one of the earlier ones. The books are set in different areas of the Discworld, with groups of recurring characters. For the later books, it's better to be familiar with those characters.

The very first book, The Colour of Magic, is one of my least favourite so I'm glad I didn't start with that. However, others have enjoyed it.
I started with Reaper Man or Hogfather (can't recall), but they remained two of my favourites. I'd also recommend Guards! Guards! (an important book for understanding The Watch (the police force) in later books) and Witches Abroad.

You will most likely find that you favour certain characters and you can pick the books that feature them.

[Lu]

Finished , and most likely starting

[Barbara]

Hey Emma, I agree wit Lauren.
Reaper Man or Hogfather are great to start with. I would start with the Hofgfather. It is the first book I read and is still one of my favorites. If you want to read Witches Abroad I would first read Wyrd Sisters though. It gives you a good introduction to the characters. Another nice book to start with I think even though it's a not as intertwined in Discworld as the others are and is in fact a children's book is the Wee Free Men. It is so funny. It really gets you acquainted with the way Terry Pratchett thinks and I just love the little blue men in the book.

[Emma]

Well just got back from the library and picked up Pyramids and Wyrd Sisters, there was such a great selection to choose from. I also downloaded 40 of Pratchets books in ebook format so I am hoping I will like him. I am one of those people that must read books in order, call me anal retentive, but thats just me. I have no idea of the discworld, world so I really do need to learn about the characters and then go from there.

Thanks for all your help Barbara/Lauren. I will let you know if Terry Pratchett is a hit or miss. :-)

[[deleted user]]

Emma! I'm currently reading Discworld 1 (The colour of Magic) its been going slow but I kind of like it.

Let me know how it goes :)

[Emma]

Thanks Niecole will do. Still not sure which one to start with yet.

Also are the Discworld books classed as series? I am only asking this to see whether it can be included in the Series Challenge.

[[deleted user]]

I'm not sure, but what I can figure from what Lauren said the books just seem to be in numerical order, but each has his own story.

I think the best is to ask Lauren, she'll know for sure

[Lu]

All the VA lovers out there, please help.

Where is the Royal Court?

[Lauren]

The Discworld books are a series in the same sense that the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books are a series, although the Discworld books all share a location rather than a main character. I'm not sure if that counts as a series for the purposes of the challenge.

[Crusader]

The Discworld is a series. It's just that each book is standalone with certain characters reappearing.

[[deleted user]]

Oooooh um I know this one, and now I cant remember!

[[deleted user]]

So could it be categorised as a series or a stand alone then?

[Lauren]

Well, you could say it's a series of stand-alone novels.

[Crusader]

Lauren wrote: "Well, you could say it's a series of stand-alone novels."

Or a series of novels set in the same universe!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Lauren :)

[Lauren]

No problem. Crusader's definition works well too.

[Emma]

Lu wrote: "All the VA lovers out there, please help.

Where is the Royal Court?"

Im almost positive its in Pennsylvania Lu.

[Lu]

Thank you so much!

Now I can put it on the A-Z list :)

[Barbara]

My "verdict" about Terry Pratchett is that it is definitely a series. Even though you can read the books seperately, it does help if you read them in order and since they do sometimes refer to stuff that happened in one of the other earlier novels I would name it a series and yes you can use it for the series madness challenge.

[Lu]

As long as its read in order :)

[Heather]

Happy New Year Everyone! Ive finally got my goodreads account to work normally again! Im reading the last of the Luxe Series, Splendour and am about to start with Shantaram , which a friend of mine recommended.

[Lu]

So glad its all working now Heather!

[Heather]

Thanks Lu! Me too! I was just about ready to cancel my account and start a new one.

[Monique]

Reading The Hunger Games again as well as the trash that is The Au Pairs by Melissa delaCruz.

[Emma]

Reading and trying to read

this one is hard to get into though but trying to persevere.

[[deleted user]]

What page are you on in the Pratchett book Emma?
Maybe we should buddy read it

I'm reading

(the series is going quickly for me, loving it)

Slowly reading these:

, ,

[Chanté]

Heather wrote: "Happy New Year Everyone! Ive finally got my goodreads account to work normally again! Im reading the last of the Luxe Series, Splendour and am about to start with Shant..."

Hi Heather, I've been wanting to read the luxe series and shantaram for so long but something keeps me back? will you keep us updated on if you love it/hate it? thank you :)

[[deleted user]]

I'm with you Chante!
Sonette sent me the whole series but she couldnt send me the first one (ebooks) so if anyone has them let me know
I'm going to search for it on the net, would you like me to email them to you?

[Emma]

Niecole wrote: "What page are you on in the Pratchett book Emma?
Maybe we should buddy read it

I'm reading

(the series is going quickly for me, loving it)

Hi Niecole, I am on page 203 of my 291 page ebook. If you want to chat about it then maybe we can make up a thread. If others want to comment then that would be great too. Plan on writing a review of the book aswell as Pratchett is a new author for me. Let me know what you think?

What ebooks are you looking for Niecole? I have luxe series if you want them.

Slowly reading these:..."

[[deleted user]]

Hi Emma

Wow, you're really far in the book already, I'll have to catch up :)

I think starting a thread would be a really cool idea. Would you mind doing it? You're really far already, or would you prefer me to do it

Pratchett is a new author for me to and I'd love to hear what the others think of him.

I got all the Luxe books now, thanks Emma :)
What other books do you have? I'm addicted to ebooks

[Chanté]

Niecole wrote: "I'm with you Chante!
Sonette sent me the whole series but she couldnt send me the first one (ebooks) so if anyone has them let me know
I'm going to search for it on the net, would you like me to ..."

That would be amazing if you could! wow, I'm excited now! Should I send you my email address or how does this work? Thank you so much!

[[deleted user]]

Yes send me your email address :)

[Emma]

Niecole wrote: "Hi Emma

Wow, you're really far in the book already, I'll have to catch up :)

I think starting a thread would be a really cool idea. Would you mind doing it? You're really far already, or woul..."


I do have alot of ebooks Niecole so if you are looking for something then maybe I have it or can get it. I made a thread under Author discussions, thought that might be best than having it under book discussions as there are so many of his books.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Emma

You dont perhaps have The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory?

[Lauren]

I'm reading another fairytale mash-up - Snow White and the Seven Samurai by Tom Holt.

[[deleted user]]

Sounds interesting

[Emma]

Niecole wrote: "Thanks Emma

You dont perhaps have The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory?"

will check it out for you

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Emma!