Introductions: In a nut shell…

[Fhal]

hehe, yeah. I'm from the Philippines. We go back to school when summer starts there on June. hehe

[Sashana]

Oh man, I take it back. That's such a short break.

[Fhal]

it's alright actually. We finished school last March 17 but it's only now that I was able to finally tell my body that I won't be going to school so that I can relax :)

[Sashana]

Well, it adds up to the same time. I'm just so used to everyone getting out in June or July. So do you guys get out for Christmas early? (If you have Xmas that is).

[Fhal]

yup we do get a two week vacation. it starts before Christmas and ends two days after new years.

[Anastasia]

My Favorite Book(s): Pride and Prejudice, Annie on My Mind, Romeo and Juliet, Jane Eyre, Almost Like Being in Love, Last Days of Summer, Wuthering Heights, The Hunger Games Trilogy and more...
My Favorite Movie(s): Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Tangled, How to Train a Dragon, How Harry Met Sally, Julie and Julia and more...
My Favorite Celebrity: Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock
My Favorite Author: oh dear... that's a hard one... Jane Austen if I have to pick one.
My Favorite Music: All kinds! I'm a variety type of girl.
Sign: Sagittarius
Day Job: Student until May when I graduate and go into the real world.
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Ireland
Weird stuff I’m into: Um... dunno?
Why I read: Because it's in my blood.

[Sashana]

Welcome to the group, Anastasia, I love your taste in movies.

[Fhal]

Hi, Anastasia! :D

[Sans]

Welcome Anastasia! I love How to Train Your Dragon and Jane Austen. Do you read any of the P&P re-tellings or continuations?

[Rachel]

Welcome Anastasia!

I just watched How to Train Your Dragon Tuesday night. I did nothing but relax that night. Preparing my students for TAKS (Texas state mandated tests) is running me ragged. It was sooo cute! I am almost ready to watch it again. :)

"Because it is in my blood" Tee hee. Probably one of the best answers I have yet to see for that question!

[Andrew]

Hello all! Here is part II of introducing myself. Enjoy!!

My Favorite Book(s): Anything romantic(The steamier the better!!!)
My Favorite Movie(s): Anything romantic
My Favorite Celebrity: Larry the Cable Guy
My Favorite Author: Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Danielle Steel, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Stephanie Laurens, Debbie Macomber, Etc...
My Favorite Music: Celtic Woman and soft rock/pop
Sign: The best sign of them all: ARIES
Day Job: Student
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Paris, France because it IS THE most romantic city on Earth.
Weird stuff I’m into: For being a guy, I guess reading romance books and decorating for parties. I LOVE decorating!!!
Why I read: So that I can live through other people. I have always loved to read and I will always love to read. I will even be reading a book on my "death bed"...
My Favorite Colors: Pink(LOVE IT!!), yellow, red, and purple
My Favorite Flowers: Roses and Tulips

Happy reading everyone!!

[Shadow Jubilee]

Ooh! I discovered Celtic Woman several years ago. I really like the group's singing. My favorite is Christmas Pipes though. Do you have a favorite song from them?

[Andrew]

niquae wrote: "Ooh! I discovered Celtic Woman several years ago. I really like the group's singing. My favorite is Christmas Pipes though. Do you have a favorite song from them?"


I do not have a favorite song but my favorite singer is Chloe.

[Sans]

Hi Andrew! It's wonderful to meet a guy who loves romance novels (and says so). You're in good company here. ^_^ I'll have to peruse your shelves, see if I can pick up any recommendations. Welcome to the group!

[Andrew]

Sans wrote: "Hi Andrew! It's wonderful to meet a guy who loves romance novels (and says so). You're in good company here. ^_^ I'll have to peruse your shelves, see if I can pick up any recommendations. Welcome ..."

My shelves are incomplete. I will be updating them today. I could use some recommendations beyond the books that I am reading for the "April Showers brings May flowers" challenge. Thank you for the help. ^_^!!

[Sans]

Feel free to take a look at my shelves. Unless it's specifically marked fiction, non-fiction or urban fantasy, my books are basically all romance or erotica (not sure if you're into that or not). I have a "rocked-my-socks" shelf for my all time favourite books. I need to catch up on the challenge threads!

[Andrew]

Sans wrote: "Feel free to take a look at my shelves. Unless it's specifically marked fiction, non-fiction or urban fantasy, my books are basically all romance or erotica (not sure if you're into that or not). I..."

I am BIG time into any romance(erotica and non-erotica). I will check your shelves today. Thank you for your advice.

[Shadow Jubilee]

Sans, I noticed you had PL Nunn's Bloodraven listed. Did you read Neko? It's available for free on her website. It is...stomach churning. I thought that I could handle the level of graphic violence but that really made me nauseous. I stopped reading after chapter 6, supposedly when things start getting better. Bloodraven is supposed to be a little more toned down.

I bring it up in case you were interested in checking it out.

[Sans]

Wow, no I haven't read that. Hmmm. I get squeamish when it comes to gore. I might have to leave that one off. Thanks for the heads up, Niquae!

[Shadow Jubilee]

It's not gore (err, gore = blood and guts?), exactly, but sexual degradation at a really high level which includes bestiality. As you may have been aware, it is highly non-consensual. Even thinking about the things Neko went through makes my stomach feel uneasy so I'll leave it at that. If that is definitely not to your taste, you're quite welcome and I'd probably be more cautious about P.L. Nunn's work. For myself, since I was told that Bloodraven is not as bad as Neko, I'm hopeful that that will be the case and I have left it on my TBR shelf.

:)

@Andrew: I'd invite you to have a look at my shelves but I too have not organized all my books - and am not likely to have finished organizing them in the foreseeable future. lol. Although, you could probably take a look at what I've got at the moment:

Erotic/Erotica

and just realized that perhaps I should have a broader "romance" shelf for all the sub-genres to fall under. I think I'll go do this now...

[Jex]

Ugh I'm surrounded by romance lovers. Maybe I need a new group ;-)

[whimsicalmeerkat]

NOoooooo!!! You're my fellow PAX-type! Don't leave meeee!!!

Was that sufficiently dramatic? ;)

[Jex]

Alright, alright you've convinced me. I'll stay.

[Sans]

We're everywhere, Jex. You can't escape us!

[Butterflycager]

Oops! Just getting around to this now:

My Favorite Book(s): It's a tie between The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and Moonheart by Charles de Lint
My Favorite Movie(s): Meet Me In St. Louis, A Room With a View, Sense and Sensibility, Return To Me, How to Steal a Million, You Can't Take It With You
My Favorite Celebrity: Alan Rickman
My Favorite Author: Charles de Lint
My Favorite Music:A little bit of everything: Elvis Costello, Beausoleil, Bell X1, Lizz Wright, Bruce Hornsby, Raul Malo, Aimee Mann
Sign: Pisces
Day Job: SAHM
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Sydney, Australia
Weird stuff I’m into: I'm fascinated by Jack the Ripper, vampire folklore, the Black Death, and volcanoes.
Why I read: Because that's just what I do. I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't reading.
My Favorite Colors: Anything bright and cheerful.
My Favorite Flowers: Coreopsis, gaillardia, lily-of-the-valley, violets, cleome, Queen Anne's Lace, scented geraniums

[Terry]

Wow Butterflycatcher, that's a first. I haven't read any of those books or seen any of those movies! I'd better get on that!

anyway, here's me:

MY FAVOURITE BOOKS: The Art of Racing in the Rain, Bitten, The Maze Runner, Entice, Julie of the Wolves, Island of the Blue Dolphins

MY FAVOURITE MOVIES: Master and Commander, Braveheart, The Last of the Mohicans, 28 Days Later

MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Gary Paulsen

MY FAVOURITE MUSIC: Melissa Etheridge

SIGN: Gemini

IF I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IT WOULD BE: right here - Northern Ontario

WEIRD STUFF I'M INTO: canoe racing, dogsledding, winter camping, archery, frogs

WHY I READ: to learn new things. Opens my mind.

MY FAVOURITE COLOURS: Blue, purple

MY FAVOURITE FLOWER: lilacs

[Butterflycager]

Gary Paulsen is really good - I read a few of his books for my young adult literature class in library school. I liked Dogsong the best.

[Terry]

That was his first book I read! Loved it. Especially love the fact he is a musher. There aren't many dogsledding books by actual mushers.

[Rachel]

Butterflycager- You would have loved the unit I just did with my 7th graders, it was all about the Black Death. Nasty pustules, smelly streets, pesky fleas, and everything else! ;D

Terry- I remember reading Hatchet in middle school and I loathed it. I read it again a few years ago and saw it differently. I must say I enjoyed it the second time around.

[Sashana]

Carol recommend Hatchet to me a few months ago. I should really get to it.

[Gayle]

My Favorite Book(s): don't have ONE favorite! Besides how can I choose just one when there are SO many that I like?!

My Favorite Movie(s): Excalibur, All of the Harry Potter movies

My Favorite Author: Mercedes Lackey

My Favorite Music: Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, other bands in that genre

Sign:Scorpio

Day Job: home maker/part time librarian

If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: somewhere warm where my allergies wouldn't bother me. Unrealistic, I know..........

Weird stuff I’m into: I participate in medieval re-enactment. I have a number of odd needle crafts that I do as well.

Why I read: Because I like the escape and I like learning about history.

[Sans]

Gayle, if you find that allergy-free utopia, can I move there with you?

[Butterflycager]

Hey, Gayle! I like Mercedes Lackey, too. I read The Fairy Godmother and The Fire Rose last year and really enjoyed them both. What's your favorite Lackey book/series?

[Tommie]

I've been part of the group for a while but hadn't done this yet. I think it's about time. :)

My Favorite Book(s): Ethan Frome, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Stolen, The Secret Garden, The Sparrow, Shiver
My Favorite Movie(s): Heathers, Waiting for Guffman, Stranger Than Fiction, Labrynth, Avatar, Legend, My Favorite Celebrity: Hmmm, I don't know that I have one. I guess Sandra Bullock, maybe.
My Favorite Author: Edith Wharton or Ernest Hemingway
My Favorite Music: My favorite band of all time is The Cure (I've dated myself now, haven't I?) but I listen to everything. A large portion of my music collection is hard rock/heavy metal.
Sign: Virgo
Day Job: Legislative and Communications Manager
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Somewhere with lots of rain and snow so maybe New England or Sweden.
Weird stuff I’m into: I do needlework/crochet. I love really strange science fiction stuff, the weirder the better. I have a primary immune deficiency (like the bubble boy) so I'm really into cleaning, hygiene, and being germ free.
Why I read: I love to escape. To see and experience things I wouldn't normally be able to see and experience. I love losing myself in a new world or relationship. I also love learning about new cultures and things from the past.
My Favorite Colors: Bright green, violet, turquoise
My Favorite Flowers: Blue iris, lilacs, hydrangea, lilies, daisies, tulips

[Sans]

Hi Tommie! Labyrinth was was and still is one of my favourite films as well. You can't go wrong when Bowie is in glitter makeup and tight pants. ^o^

[Tommie]

Amen to that. And when you include muppets, it's just cranks the awesomeness up a notch. And I love the music. I actually own the soundtrack too.

[Sans]

Same here. "Magic Dance" came on while I was commuting to work yesterday and I started singing along in the car. Good times! Also, hallelujah on loving rain!

[Gayle]

Butterflycager wrote: "Hey, Gayle! I like Mercedes Lackey, too. I read The Fairy Godmother and The Fire Rose last year and really enjoyed them both. What's your favorite Lackey book/series?"

I have loved every single book I've ever read by her. BUT, my all time favorite is her Valdemar series which spans, probably, well over 30 books so far. (Most of which we own. Well, we actually own most of her books. There's probably only a handful or so that we don't own at this point.) If you've not delved into the Valdemar series, I highly recommend it. She's jumped around while writing the series,actually started in the middle of the series and has done trilogies,duologies, stand-alones to fill in the history and the future from that point in time. (Does that make sense?)

Second favorite would be her Dragon Jousters series (4 books). Third favorite is the Elemental Masters series (5 books so far, 6th due out sometime soon.....I hope). She has other series and stand alone books out as well through various publishers. She's SUCH a prolific writer.

Any time a new book comes out by her, we can't wait to get our hands on it. (I say "we" because my hubby is just as much a fan of hers as I.) He reads must faster than I, so he always gets the book first and then I make him wait until I've read it before I'll let him talk about it. Sometimes, it's torture!

[Butterflycager]

Valdemar sounds good. I'll have to give it a try, plus I want to keep going with Elemental Masters. Where's the best place to start with Valdemar?

[Shadow Jubilee]

Butterflycager, most people recommend starting with . That is followed by and . Enjoy. I too love Valdemar. :)

[[deleted user]]

I was attracted to this group as it appears you are going to read and give updates on books from other countries?

My Favorite Book(s): The Twilight Saga, Penmarric and Afternoon of an Autocrat

My Favorite Movie(s): Out of Africa, Twilight, Stardust, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

My Favorite Celebrity: Michelle Pfeiffer and Kristen (duh, the star in Twilight) sometimes I have brain fog

My Favorite Author: Norah Lofts

My Favorite Music: Loreena McKennitt and the Soundtrack from the Twilight movies, I especially like Bella's Lullaby

Sign: Scorpio

Day Job: retired

If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: here in Colorado, it took me 25 years to get here but I finally made it. I am an Air Force brat who has lived all over the place and there is no place better IMO

Weird stuff I’m into: astrology

Why I read: I love it, I love the mental escape that reading gives me.

[[deleted user]]

Gaijinmama wrote: "My Favorite Book(s): Lord of the Rings trilogy, Outlander series, and too many more to list

My son is in Tokyo. Are the cherry blossoms still blooming?

[Janet]

He he, filling in this list is making me giggle and remember the very early days of social networking...

My Favorite Book(s): By the Sword Mercedes Lackey
(Don't you hate picking one? This is my most-reread)
My Favorite Movie(s): Billy Elliot
My Favorite Celebrity: Hellen Mirren and Steve Moffatt
My Favorite Author: Robin McKinley
My Favorite Music: swing, salsa, blues and gospel
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Graduate Student & Fitness instructor
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Maine, Seattle or Madagascar
Weird stuff I’m into: vintage dancing and muay thai
Why I read: To root for characters, think about human nature, and discover gorgeous turns of phrase.

[Sans]

Moffatt is a genius. As much as I adored David Tennant as the Doctor, Russell Davies' stories just didn't do much for me. And how awesome is Sherlock?

[Marissa]

My Favorite Book(s): Vampirates
My Favorite Movie(s):The Count of Monte Cristo
My Favorite Celebrity: Davey Havok and Johnny Depp
My Favorite Author: many
My Favorite Music: all kinds, AFI, Blaqk Audio, I could go on and on for days, but a lot of my collection is punk/rock
Sign: Cancer
Day Job: Student
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: I don't know I like where I'm living for right now.
Weird stuff I’m into: Define weird. I don't think I'm into anything very weird. I collect bags and CDs and I like to try out different make-up tutorials.
Why I read: It let's me escape from everything around me. I never know what to do with myself if I don't have a book to read.

[Rachel]

Hello, Sharie! I love The Count of Monte Cristo too. That is one movie I actually will watch. Welcome!

[[deleted user]]

My Favorite Book(s): Little Women, Dan Brown series, The Third Twin, and a bunch of other stuff.
My Favorite Movie(s): Sunshine, Amistad, Shawshank Redemption, Mulan 1 and 2, The Godfather series, and Pretty Women.
My Favorite Celebrity: Johnny Depp
My Favorite Author: Stephen King.
My Favorite Music: All the oldies.
Sign: Capricorn.
Day Job: Lazy Student.
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Milan, Italy.
Weird stuff I’m into: I'm a bit of a shopoholic. And OCD. And I absolutely love to watch and observe and analyze people. I'm into Charlie Manson too, a little.
Why I read: I'm trying to see how much knowledge I can retain before my brain puffs up like a marshmallow in a microwave. And to brag a bit.

ETA: Favorite Color: aquamarine, royal blue, pink.
Favorite Flower: Scarlet Lotus.

[Rachel]

Shawshank redemption is amazing. One of the only movies I love. I love Scarlet Lotuses too. I've always thought they would look beautiful for a wedding...obviously, mine! :)

[CαthεεBooks]

My Favorite Book(s): The Last Song, Matched, Vampire Academy serie, If I stay, Delirium and tons of other!
My Favorite Movie(s): The Last Song, Lemonade Mouth
My Favorite Celebrity: Selena Gomez, Bridgit Mendler
My Favorite Author: Richelle Mead, Lauren Oliver and tons of other!
My Favorite Music: Pop
Sign: Sagittarius
Day Job: Student
If I could live anywhere in the world it would be: Australia or London in United Kingdom
Weird stuff I’m into: Books, (Well, my peeps say it is weird that I am sooooo into books) School(Yep, I know, weird huh?)...
Why I read: Cuz I feel like I am traveling to a new world or being somebody else and I just love books!!!!!!

[Sashana]

Did you read Dear John or A Walk to Remember? They're really good.