Have You Read?

[Kathleen]

Rick Riordan wrote the original Percy Jackson series (whose first book was featured on post 549) for his son. Percy has ADHD and it proves an asset in this book.

My favorite Rick Riordan series is the Kane Chronicles about Carter Kane, a young African American youth whose father is an Egyptologist. My favorite character in that series is Bastet. I especially like how she interacts with her followers (our four-legged feline friends) and protects the human children. The first book is The Red Pyramid. I am definitely looking forward to The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1) that was recently released.

Our tree is just decorated with stuffed animals and lights. My husband likes theme trees and we found a use for all those stuffed animals left over from children's childhood.

HYR Paddington Bear by Michael Bond , a famous book about a stuffed animal come to life? Have you had a chance to see the movie?

[Julia]

I assume so, both as a child and as a book I read to my daughter, but she's 30, so I probably read it to her 25 years ago. I haven't seen the movie yet.

I was just hearing about a bear that we thought was fictional, but actually a Canadian soldier brought it to England, he bought the bear in a train station, during World War 1. He named it Saskatoon Winnie and it wound up in an English zoo, as Paddington or was it Pooh? Finding Winnie: The Story of the Real Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Lindsay Mattick . HYR it?

[Kathleen]

Thanks for the recommendation. I didn't know that story. It seems like there are several books about the real Winnie-the-Pooh including The Real Winnie: A One-of-a-Kind Bear by Val Shushkewich, published in 2005. I hope to track down a copy. Speaking of Winnie . . .

HYR Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie, Book 1) by A.A. Milne ? When my children were little we loved the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

[Julia]

I wouldn't go as far as calling it a recommendation. The author interviews well.

Yes, I've read Winnie-the-Pooh several times.

HYR Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne ?

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR any of the World of the Lupi books?

Tempting Danger (Lupi, Book 1) by Eileen Wilks

I am currently reading Mind Magic (Lupi, Book 12). Excellent, so far.

[Julia]

HNR any of the World of Lupi books.

HYR You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack by Tom Gauld ? It's not a graphic novel but a book of comics like used to be in the New Yorker, except always funny, but these tend to be about science fiction.

[Kathleen]

HNR, but it sounds interesting.

Have you read any of the InCryptid novels, Discount Armageddon (InCryptid, Book 1)

or the InCryptid short stories by Seanan McGuire? I enjoy reading about the adventures of Jonathan Healy and Francis Brown set in the early 1900's.

[Julia]

No, though I really liked the first three or so of Seanan McGuire's October Daye Rosemary and Rue novels, but I haven't yet picked up InCryptid series that begins with Discount Armageddon. I plan on it, sometime. And since I like historical paranormal novels especially, it's odder still. Someday!

HYR Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente ? (It's a brand new historical/ alternate history/ science fictional novel I bought for myself for Hanukkah.)

[Kathleen]

The InCryptid short stories are actually prequels to the first book (which is set in modern times).

HNR Radiance I don't care for Catherynne M. Valente's style. Probably won't read this book.

HYR The Body Electric by Beth Revis ?

[Julia]

HNR, but it looks like one I might like.

HYR I Sing the Body Electric! & Other Stories by Ray Bradbury ?

[Kathleen]

Read it many years ago.

HYR the Foundation series (Foundation, Book 1) by Isaac Asimov ?

[Julia]

I think so, many, many years ago.

HYR Childhood's Endby Arthur C. Clarke ? And, have you seen or will you see the mini-series based on it?

[Kathleen]

Read it many years ago. Don't want to watch the televised version -- way too sad to think of adults living on without any children.

HYR 2001: A Space Odyssey also by Arthur C. Clarke ?

[Julia]

Maybe, a long, long time ago.

HYR Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel ? It's a hopeful dystopia, which is unusual.

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR Horde* (Razorland, Book 3) by Ann Aguirre ?

*Horde is the last book in the Razorland Trilogy and it is a dystopian novel which also ends on a hopeful note.

[Julia]

HNR

HYR The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ?

[Kathleen]

HNR but enjoyed the movie version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.

HYR The Shadow Reader (Shadow Reader, Book 1) by Sandy Williams ?

[Julia]

Thanks, Kathleen.

HNR.

HYR Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen ?

I've read 45 pages and I think it's one of those rare books where the movie is/ will be better.

[Kathleen]

HNR, but I am looking forward to the movie.

HYR The Stars Never Rise (The Stars Never Rise, Book 1) by Rachel Vincent ?

[Julia]

HNR

HYR A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor ? I read it a few days ago & hated it!

[Kathleen]

HNR anything by Flannery O'Connor

HYR The Demon in Me (Living in Eden, Book 1) by Michelle Rowen ?

[Julia]

No, HNR.

For the Book Riot Read Harder challenge I'm supposed to read a guilty pleasure, plus 23 others. This comes close, but instead I think I'll read some of the UF I already own and haven't gotten around to reading yet. Thanks!

HYR The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyby Alexander McCall Smith ?

[Kathleen]

HNR yet, maybe soon.

HYR Zone One by Colson Whitehead ?

[Julia]

Not yet, but it's the horror book I plan to read for the BR Read Harder Challenge this year. I'm looking forward to it, and since I own it and haven't gotten around to reading it I will be glad to read something from my TBR shelves/ mountain range.

HYR The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin ?

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR The Body Electric by Beth Revis ?

[Julia]

No, but I've read Beth Revis' Across the Universe.

HYR Across the Universe by Beth Revis ?

[Kathleen]

Yes, I've read the entire series.

HYR Charming (Pax Arcana, Book 1) by Elliott James ?

[Julia]

HNR, but it looks like it might be fun.

HYR Sunshine by Robin McKinley ?

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR First Grave on the Right* (Charley Davidson, Book 1) by Darynda Jones

*I am currently reading Book 9 - The Dirt on Ninth Grave. The series is simultaneously funny and poignant.

[Katharine]

Not yet, but it is on my TBR.

HYR Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt ?

[Kathleen]

Sounds superb and I've added it to my tbr list.

HYR Naked in Death* (In Death, Book 1) by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) ?

I just finished Book 42 - Brotherhood in Death. It is a futuristic police procedural with excellent characterization and romantic suspense.

[Julia]

HNR, but Tell the Wolves I'm Home is better than you can imagine.

HYR The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Brontë by Laura Joh Rowland ? I'm not recommending it, yet, it's the next book for my RL book group.

[Katharine]

Julia is right about Tell the Wolves I'm Home.

Kathleen, I LOVE the In Death series; one of my all-time favorites.

HNR The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Brontë, but it is on my TBR.

HYR The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig ?
It's another one of my favorites.

[Julia]

No, I haven't read The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, and based on reviews here I probably won't, unless you can tell me why. (Romances aren't usually not my thing and I probably won't like Charlotte Bronte book, either.)

HYR The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore ? I read it last year and I think I put on my best of the year list. It's a biography of the odd man who created Wonder Woman and his unusual marriage and life.

[Katharine]

HNR, but sounds interesting

HYR The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy ?

Set during the French Revolution (I'm a big Francophile), it was my favorite required reading book in high school. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation has quite a few plot similarities/references to it. These similarities are what caused me to pick it up; otherwise, I wouldn't have because romances aren't typically my thing, either. There's a lot of time period shifting/travel, so there's a bit of fantasy to it as well, which I like.

[Kathleen]

Love The Scarlet Pimpernel. Have you seen any of the many movie versions? Do you have a favorite?

On the "In Death" series: Nora Roberts has hooked me into Eve and Roark's life story (after 42 books and numerous short stories it can't be called anything else but their life story). Roberts is getting older and my big concern is that one day she suddenly won't be here anymore. I hope there is a final book in draft, or completed, on file with her agent or publisher that resolves all the loose ends and we see an elderly Eve and Roark, contented and surrounded by children and grandchildren.

HYR The Duke and I* (Bridgertons, Book 1) by Julia Quinn?

*Both Best Regency and Best Romance series that I have ever read!

[Katharine]

I've seen a few of the movie versions, but my favorite so far is the version with Leslie Howard.

I feel the same way about Nora Roberts. I want to gobble up every book in the series, but I am trying to discipline myself to take it slow so I have an In Death to read until I die!

HNR The Duke and I. I will have to check it out.

HYR What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris ? It's another of my go-to historical series.

[Julia]

I haven't read The Scarlet Pimpernel, but I've seen the Leslie Howard, Raymond Massey and Merle Oberon version from 1934. And I think I've seen the series from 1999 with Richard E. Grant and Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora Crowley!)

No, I HNR either The Duke and I or What Angels Fear. They both look good, thanks. I appreciate suggestions for good romance novels.

HYR Binti by Nnedi Okorafor ? It's a very good science fiction novella about peoplethat I finished yesterday.

[Kathleen]

I like the 1999 BBC version of The Scarlet Pimpernel with Richard E. Grant. It is available on DVD on Netflix.

HNR Binti, and based on the plot description it doesn't seem like a book which would interest me.

On the other hand, I have added What Angels Fear to my tbr list.

HYR Breadcrumbs*, inspired by the Hans Christian Anderson story The Snow Queen?

*It has been recommended to me, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

[Julia]

Yes, I've read Breadcrumbs. I put it on my favorite books of 2012. I recommend it highly.

HYR The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey ?

[Kathleen]

HNR, and it seems too sad for my personal taste, probably won't read.

HYR Kiss of Steel* (London Steampunk, Book 1) by Bec McMaster ?

*Memorable characters in a believable steampunk London.

[Katharine]

HNR, but might give it a try. I've enjoyed some steampunk books and I LOVE London.


HYR The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss ?

[Kathleen]

HNR, but I have it on my tbr list and have heard good things about it.

HYR Charming (Pax Arcana, Book 1) by Elliott James ?

[Julia]

HNR, but it looks like it might be fun.

HYR Jane Slayre: The Literary Classic with a Blood-Sucking Twist by Sherri Browning Erwin and Charlotte Brontë ?

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR the hysterically funny Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1) by Molly Harper ?

[Julia]

HNR

HYR I'm the Vampire, That's Why by Michele Bardsley ?

[Kathleen]

HNR, and with a review that states ". . . darn right vulgar . . .," I definitely don't think that I will read this book.

HYR My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, Book 1) by Rachel Vincent ?

[Julia]

HNR

HYRMy Soul to Take by Tananarive Due ? My Soul to Keep is the first book in the series, which I have read and enjoyed.

[Kathleen]

HNR

HYR Shadowrun #1: Born to Run* by Stephen Kenson ?

*Amazon sent me a recommendation today that I would like this series, but I haven't heard of it or the author.

[Julia]

HNR.

According to the reviewers here, it's based on an old table top and possibly video game.

HYR George by Alex Gino ?