read any good books lately?

[mandoBob]

BESIDES the Lord of the Rings? :-)

I've been listening to Romans lately, but I was thinking more litterchur for this thread?

[sarah]

just a few minutes ago i read some poetry online that i really really liked. address to the devil by robert burns. i heard part of this poem on the tv show so weird. also 2 robert frost poems birches that i heard in the movie here on earth and stopping by the woods on a snowy evening heard from the tv show roswell. others, i am not the first by a.e. housman and fire and ice by robert frost i heard from the movie firestarter: rekindled based on the book by stephen king. i found this neat site with tons of poems and explaination footnotes on what all the weird words mean.

[matt the fiddler]

mmm yes- i just finished harry potter book #4.... waiting for the final 3 books in that series [long wait] very few books will hook me as much as the harry potter ones have-

also - screwtape letters by CS Lewis are a great - starting to be going through them right now

matt

[treciaht]

I am currently reading What If. It is a collaberation of historians reflecting on the minor details of past wars, that might have changed the course of history. It's quite interesting. I also read a book recently that will be published in August. My friend John Gibson wrote it. It's called Higher Heights. It's a book about the aviation industry, with a twist on racial ties and interracial relationships. It also has a good spiritual message.

[nitejule]

LOL i am actually reading lord of the rings. but not b/c of chris or anything, lol. i have been readin tolkiens books alot. trying to read them all and its kinda crazy b/c there are around 20 books to middle-earth. and it gets kinda rough to read them sometimes. but its really neat.
the next books on my list are the harry potter 1-3, then the books about micheal j fox, and dale earnhardt jr. and i think that will keep me busy for a little while.
if i am not listening to nickel creek i am reading, writing my poetry, or working on my art work in my room (which is my actual wall, it has become my canvas)

[NickelCreekFan1]

Ive been reaing alot of Anne Rice boks lately ^^ she is actually a very very ood writer! Ive rea 2 of the Vampire Chronicles and am on the third teehee al in all ive rad 3 completely and in the middle of 3 lol serves me right for being so uh..impacient?

[coffmanmolly]

The last fiction book I read was The Pilot's Wife, which I liked pretty well. While I was reading it, someone said, Hey, did you see that movie on TV? It was really good. But I didn't realize that it had been made into a movie. Anyway, the book was pretty good. The rest of the stuff I've been reading lately is nonfiction, mostly dealing with the teaching of reading and/or writing, so I doubt very many others here would be interested in those titles. After I finish some graduate work in June, I'll be brushing up on my British Lit because I'm going to be teaching 12th grade the next year instead of the 10th grade that I've been teaching for the past eight years. I haven't read Beowulf since I was in the twelfth grade!:eek:

[lruthie]

The last major book I read is Les Miserables, the unabridged version. I am currently reading Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte for probably the sixth time. I absolutely love that book! And in the Bible I just finished Ephesians and am on to the next. I love it. Every time you reread something, be it poetry, the Bible, or novels, you can discover some aspect that you missed the first time. :)

Ruth

[coffmanmolly]

Yes, Wuthering Heights is another one I'll be rereading in preparation for teaching 12th grade next year. I remember when I read it that I liked it, so I'm looking forward to it. I also liked Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, so it should be an enjoyble re-read as well. I've never read LesMiserables but I loved the musical!

[pyxilillymon]

Hahaha. I haven't read a book in forever! And I love to read, too. It's just that school really gets in the way as far as time goes. Now that I've graduated, I'm taking the summer off to read a bunch of books! Um, I love the Redwall series by Brian Jaques! I have a few of those i need to read. And a stack of Kurt Vonnegut books I got at a used book store in Utah last summer......Kurt Vonnegut is my hero!

[lruthie]

I have wanted to see LesMiserables for such a long time now, but it never works out. I hope to be able to go up to New York to see it maybe next year. That would be so awesome. I'd also love to see Phantom of the Opera. Okay, I know I'm sort of getting off topic here, but the book is good, the soundtrack is wonderful, so the musical has to top them all in my mind!

Ruth

[seannabelle]

I love to read, so I've always got a new favorite book. I read lots of Christian literature, and the books that I have loved lately are by Francine Rivers. They are novellas about women in the Bible, like Tamar, Rahab, Mary, and a few others. They're very, very good. I am reading The Weight of Glory right now by C.S Lewis (phenomenal author) and one book that I absolutely recommend by his is The Great Divorce. It will totally make you think about heaven and hell.
As for non-Christian lit, I recently read The Princess Bride, which was very good. I really love classic novels, like The Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye.
In the fall I am taking an Adolescent Literature class for my education major, and I'm looking foward to reading some of the classic kid novels that I never really read when I was younger. Should be fun :)

-seanna

[Sarah9230]

If there are any 'thinkers' out there, and I know it might be a little grade school but, my favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. You can find it in your local book store for about $5. This book will make you read it 3 or 4 times just to understand it.

My other favorite book is Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. She also has another great book out called The Silver Kiss. Her books are the most descriptive books I have ever read. If you have a great imagination then these books are for you.

If you want more details on any of these books PM me.

Sarah

[matt the fiddler]

ok. as i read more of this book by one of my fav authors, i have to say something more about it- the screwtape letters by cs lewis. [just happens to be an author very respected by creek]

it is pretty much a series of letters form a senior devil to a junior devil in the art of tempting and other things related to human affairs- kinda the flipside of what you are used to. very creative, and a very deep / makes you think book. i highly reccomend it!

[Johnny Do]

i'm reading , well it's not a book really but a comic book, but it's a series called Bone by Jeff Smith and I have to say, this is the most fun I've had reading any fiction in quite awhile! It's hard to explain, but its a really light-hearted humorous/fantasy story that can appeal to anyone and that has sort of the epic of a , well i was going to say lord of the rings but i'll probably get flak for that, but it's good, trust me. The series is still going for about a year, but I've read volumes 1-7 (covers about 43 comics) and its been a nice ride. The artwork is all in black and white with no inking which gives it a nice touch, also-- Has anyone else read Smith's work?

[mlhewett]

I just finished reading Daughters of Eve by Virginia Stem Owens. The background info on some of the Bible characters was very interesting. Her research was quite thorough.

In the Bible I am all over the place as I continue three different studies at once.

I read a couple of Young Adult Fiction books that I bought for my son for next year's Battle of the Books. Scribbler of Dreams and Rosey in the Present Tense.

I am in the middle of reading #5 in a series of 6 books by Jean M. Auel. I've been waiting 12 years for this book and am reading it very slowly in case I have another long wait for #6. The name of it is Shelters of Stone.

I just saw Les Miserable the movie with Liam Neeson and it has made me want to read the book. I'll get around to it sometime.

I'm waiting on the next Orson Scott Card book Rachel.

I know several kids who love the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and eventually I want to read one of them.

I love all things Bronte and almost named my daughter that.

Lowell

[pyxilillymon]

Originally posted by Sarah9230
[B]If there are any 'thinkers' out there, and I know it might be a little grade school but, my favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. You can find it in your local book store for about $5. This book will make you read it 3 or 4 times just to understand it.

Dude! I fergot about that book! I love that book! I think I even saw the movie when I was little...I absolutely adore the watch-dog! And I remember being stuck in the doldrums.....and so many times at school I have compared our activities to the 3 useless tasks like moving the sand & the thing with the well & the thimble....gee, I need to read that again...:)

[loquat]

I was reading through all the above posts going oh my gosh, that's such a good book, and so is that, and so is that etc, etc. I highly recommend anything by C.S. Lewis, Les Miserables (it was long, but excellent; I couldn't put it down), the Redwall series (I'm actually reading those out loud to my family right now - they make for good light reading), of course the Phantom Toll Booth, and who could do without the Lord of the Rings?

Right now I am reading the Silmarillion (basically the history of middle earth, up until the time of the Lord of the Rings). I'm also reading Twighlight of Courage, by Bodie and Brock Thoene. It's very good. It's about WWII, and it shows so many different perspctives.

I'm happy to see there are so many readers of great literature out there.

[matt the fiddler]

in some music mixing with tolkien news...
there is a ballet being written right now from the chapter about beren and luthien in the simirillian to be perfomed next year....
the guy who is writing it got the simirilian the day it came out- and is a very very avid tolkien fan:D - so, it will be neat to see what happens with the music. this guys music is very cool stuff- more late 20th centry modern type stuff, if you happen to like that style of music.

[loquat]

Matt-

That is so exciting about the ballet based on the chapter from the Silmarillion! Do you have any more info on it, or know of a wesite for it? I'd really appreciate it.

-Elizabeth

[matt the fiddler]

well- my symphony is on schedule to play the pit-

it is being composed by Dr. Frank Felice, his bio is here http://www.butler.edu/music/faculty/felice.html


i think it was comissioned by jordan college of fine arts, the butler ballet, and a couple others- i am not sure the details on that part of it.... i know several of the tolkien sites have mentioned it... i will have to dig to get the info there.....

[matt the fiddler]

http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/7/1019578258

there is the article on onering.net-

april 25th -28th is the dates of performance


this has been in the works for a long time, and it's just a happy coincidence that it will premier in the middle of Tolkein mania

[matt the fiddler]

http://www3.tolkienonline.com/docs/5282.html

a better article about the ballet- - talks a lot about cs lewis and tolkien.

[Fiddlechic Erin]

Wow, that's really neat about the ballet.

I was surprised and happy someone mentioned the Redwall series by Brian Jacques! They're written mainly for the elementary-middle school type, but I used to be a terrific fan of them (I got to meet Mr.Jacques-very nice!) and I still read them whenever the next one comes out, I recommend them.

I'm really into Jon Krakauer's work- like Into Thin Air and Eiger Dreams and Into the Wild. They're all VERY good..:D

[loquat]

Thank you very much for taking the time to find the info on the ballet. I really appreciate it.

-Elizabeth

[pyxilillymon]

I was surprised and happy someone mentioned the Redwall series by Brian Jacques! They're written mainly for the elementary-middle school type, but I used to be a terrific fan of them (I got to meet Mr.Jacques-very nice!) and I still read them whenever the next one comes out, I recommend them.


Right on! I've been a hardcore Redwall fan since I was in 6th grade! Now I'm going to college! I'm reading the Legend of Luke now & then I'm gonna read Lord Brocktree. Has anyone read the other book Jacques wrote? Castaways of the Flying Dutchman? I might read that too...

If anyone is a fan of the absurd, read.....well, anything by Kurt Vonnegut, but in particular, read Breakfast of Champions. And don't waste your time with the movie - it's awful! Nothing at all like the book.

Oh, & any one seen the Redwall tv show? It's pretty acurate, actually.

[loquat]

Right on, Pyxilillymon! I'm with you on the Redwall thing. I LOVE those books. I've read all that are out in paperback right now in the US. I read them aloud to my family, and they are falling in love with the books, too. We just finished Salamandastron, and now we're reading the Long Patrol.

[nod]

-Elizabeth

[Taipan]

anyone else like richard north patterson? although it's weird how all his books are linked....also john grisham is really cool (sorry if you already mentioned these!)

[NCroxmysox]

With all seriousness, I'm reading Lord of the Rings. I bought this HUGE book and it's got all three books in it. I admit, I bought it mostly because Elijah Wood is on it, but it really is good, even though it's taking me FOREVER to get through it. I have read The Hobbit-It's really good.

[nitejule]

i think alot of people are reading LOTR i am too. but i am reading all the tolkien books, and there are around 23 books to the middle earth saga. i just love tolkien!!

[Fiddlechic Erin]

About Redwall, yes I did read Castaways of the FLying Dutchmen, it was really great. That's actually how I got to meet Brian Jacques, because he was on the promotional tour for it. He talks like a hare! ^__^ When I correctlyanswered a question he asked the audience , he pointed to me and said Good gel, wot! Supposedly the next book is going to be about the first female to weild the sword of Martin, Triss. And then after that, as rumor has it, a book that talks about Loamhedge (ever-mysterious loamhedge ^_^).

[sarah]

have any of ya read the dead zone by stephen king? i just watched the first ep of the new tv series on usa about it. it's VERY GOOD! sci-fi channel is making a new tvseries on his book the firestarter and nbc is re-making a movie to his book carrie and from what i hear is really gory. the books are always better than the movies though!!!

[NCroxmysox]

Wow-I didn't know Tolkien did so many books about MiddleEarth.

I didn't catch the first episode for Dead Zone, but I found out the dates on when they are gonna re-run it on TV, so I'll catch it then. I heard it was really good.

[katiekind]

I'm reading The Baronet's Song which is a George MacDonald book in updated English. (I don't think I could make it through the original with all the Scottish dialect in it!)

But this is such a lovely book. I'm reading it to my son for bedtime story. It moves a little slow but it's really refreshing in a way, too, as if the author is in no hurry to unfold his story--he wants you to slow down and breathe deeply of the grace in the very air around us.

George MacDonald was an author who influenced C. S. Lewis. I've read many of his books; they are especially nice when you feel like you'd like to sit down with a spiritual mentor but there's no one around.

[pyxilillymon]

Fiddlechic Erin: now i'm all anxious for Jaques' new book!

[NCFan4Ever]

Has anyone ever read THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE by Forrest Carter? It is my absolute FAVORITE book of all time! And the funny thing is, I had to read it for school! How crazy is that? A book that I am FORCED to read actually being good?!

lol!

[lizbeth_marie]

Has anyone ever read The Giver by Lois Lowry? It's a young adult book, won the Newbery in the early 90's. I actually didn't read it till late college in a YA Lit class and was absolutely blown away by it. It's actually my favorite book. Followed closely by Catcher in the Rye.

[NCFan4Ever]

Yes, I have read The Giver....that book is awesome!

[pyxilillymon]

I, too read the Giver. Good book, that.

Anyone read Farenheit 451? That's a wonderful book. In my opinion, it's even a little religious. It shows what happens in a world without God. I sometimes feel that Kurt Vonnegut's books are like that, too. Like Cat's Cradle.....

[NCFan4Ever]

What about Watership Down? Anyone else read that? It's a really good book too!

[sarah]

washington irving sleepy hollow is good but the movie is lame. arthur conan doyle's the lost world is good and the tv series is ok. michael crichton's sphere and jurassic park are very very good and i just watched the movie to stephen king's novel carrie that is a freaky movie.


oh and btw uprising is another good movie to watch.

[alwayslisten]

I just finished a book called 'A Walk In the Woods' by Bill Bryson. It's a witty narrative capturing the ups and downs of two men (Bryson and his friend Katz) as they hike (part of) the Appalachain Trail.
It's great.
Really funny too.
Bryson has some other books out ('Notes From A Small Island', and some other one.....) and they all come greatly recommended from me!

So read up!

[dorm cripple]

Originally posted by NCFan4Ever
What about Watership Down? Anyone else read that? It's a really good book too!

Yes! Watership down was excellent, and I know there is a sequal to it although I have not read that yet. After rereading the entire Lord of the Rings series and the Harry Potters, I'm reading Dune and A Tale of Two Cities. So far Dune is much more fun to read, but I've heard Tale picks up a bit after a few chapters. Frankenstein is also good, not just the story but the way it's written is great - I just read it for school

And If you want something different, I recommend all of the Chretian de Troyes stuff, he many of the original King Arthur stories - and if you read between the line you can see that he's making fun of the knights and the king and queen, its kind of political

Jessi

[NCFan4Ever]

I just got done reading The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood....it was pretty good but now I have to go see the movie!

[Fiddlechic Erin]

Sarah- I love the picture! ^_^ *meow*

Anyways I loved Watership Down. And Farenheit 451 was, I think, genius. Right now I'm reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Greek Mythology. Mythology is really interesting.

[VL45fan]

I'm new here, but I just had to reply to this topic bc I love to read!!

I've read all 4 Harry Potter books, very well written I might add. I'm working on reading Lord of the Rings, but right now I'm reading Don Quiote (sp?) I saw a movie based on the book in high school and just had to read it. It's quite long, but compared to book 4 of HP, its not that bad, lol.

Farenheit 451, The Giver, and Dale Jr's book were all very good and interesting reads. I highly recommend them. My favorite book of all time (or one of them, anyway) is Troubling A Star by Madeline L'Engle. She is the one who wrote A Wrinkle in Time. Troubling a Star is the 4th in the series about the Austin family and their children. I really could relate to these stories bc the main character has the same name I do, lol :)

There are so many books that are fascinating reads, I couldnt even begin to name them all. Thats one reason why I'm happy to live in a country where its not illegal to read. There is a whole section on the American Library Associations' website about book censorship. Really makes you think. After reading the book ban list, I was appauled (sp?) You wouldnt believe the books that made the list: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chocolate War, Harry Potter series, The Bible, Webster's dictionary. This list goes on and on. I, for one, am planning to participate in their Read a Banned Book Week later on this year.

Sorry for such a long post, but I love to read and I am so glad I found others who enjoy it as much as I do :)

[NCFan4Ever]

Has anyone ever read Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy? I have to read that for school and it is killing me! It's SOOO boring!

[jaceyhomen]

Melanie Thomas Hardy...good grief. I was bored silly by him 50 years ago...and he's still boring people!

I'm re-reading all of John Steinbeck and loving it more the second time around. A truly American author. Of Mice and Men is awesome, IMHO.

Jacey

[NCFan4Ever]

Thanks jacey, it helps to know that others have been in the same boat as me! It always seems like the most boring writers write the longest books!