what are you reading?

[Luce NDs]

Crazyheart, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was (and remains) one of my all time favourite books. Certainly worth a reread every decade or so.
'Go Set A Watchman' was a big disappointment. I found it hard to believe that it was by the same author and about the same characters. (Well, some of the same characters - some of the main supporting characters in Mockingbird were missing altogether or briefly mentioned in Watchman - one had died, another moved to England, another never mentioned at all.)

I had to keep reminding myself that, although it is set 20 years later when Scout is an adult revisiting her hometown, the novel itself was a first attempt by Harper Lee written some time before 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Harper Lee never meant for it to be published.

I'm not trying to discourage you - just give my opinion. Go ahead and read them - then keep Mockingbird and donate Watchman to the next used book sale.

ps - I also loved Gone With the Wind and found the supposed sequel 'Scarlet' a big disappointment - but then it was picking up on the same two main characters but by a different author.

Always the role of Attica in the KKK as a mole ... you have to get in there to see what they're up to before you judge ... a wild observation! But could he be obvious about what he was doing virtually?

 

[BetteTheRed]

Usually riffs off an old favorite, written by another author, are a disaster. An exception is "The Wide Sargasso Sea", which describes the tragic history of (Jane Eyre's) Mr. Rochester's first wife.

 

[Mendalla]

Usually riffs off an old favorite, written by another author, are a disaster. An exception is "The Wide Sargasso Sea", which describes the tragic history of (Jane Eyre's) Mr. Rochester's first wife.

Yeah, we've been cursed with a lot of that in the SF field over the years, both authors revisiting their old classics (e.g. Asimov's later continuations of the Foundation series that went in a rather different direction than the original trilogy suggested) and other authors "continuing" their predecessors' works (e.g. the many post-Frank Herbert Dune novels, though even Herbert's suffered from diminishing returns once you get past Children of Dune or so).

 

[Luce NDs]

Yeah, we've been cursed with a lot of that in the SF field over the years, both authors revisiting their old classics (e.g. Asimov's later continuations of the Foundation series that went in a rather different direction than the original trilogy suggested) and other authors "continuing" their predecessors' works (e.g. the many post-Frank Herbert Dune novels, though even Herbert's suffered from diminishing returns once you get past Children of Dune or so).

Could it be possible the children of dune were Dunne in by a dark power ... as a stray John? In linguistic history this could turn up later as Jean D'arche ... wend space was warped!

 

[Hilary]

I just read "Fortunately, the Milk" by Neil Gaiman at @Mendalla's suggestion. The audiobook is read by the author and is deliciously funny. I have since purchased paper copies for myself, my Dad and my nephew. Thanks for the recommendation.

Now I'm reading "George" by Alex Gino about a child (10 years or so) struggling with her gender identity. A good piece of YA fiction so far!

 

[Mendalla]

I just read "Fortunately, the Milk" by Neil Gaiman at @Mendalla's suggestion. The audiobook is read by the author and is deliciously funny. I have since purchased paper copies for myself, my Dad and my nephew. Thanks for the recommendation.

I am not a fan of audio books, so I have never actually heard Neil do a reading but he is a bit of a legend for his skill at it. Aside from his own stuff, he's even done a reading of Dickens' A Christmas Carol in costume (which might be kicking around on Youtube).

 

[crazyheart]

Well I finished "To Kill A Mocking Bird" and "Go Set A Watchman". I enjoyed both of them.
I thought the latest book followed the Mocking Bird quite well. I did miss some of the characters
from the first book . Too bad she died, I think a 3rd book would have rounded it out nicely.

 

[Mendalla]

Finally got my hands on Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology so Frogkisser is on hold. Enjoying it so far, though maybe not as much as his original stuff. He does bring his love of Norse mythology (which has been very influential on his own stories) and facility with language to his retellings of the stories. It's a very rich tradition, too, easily comparable to the stories of the Greeks with which many of us are more familiar. The writing is more like his juvenile books (probably deliberately since I think this is aimed at all ages), so very clear English and straightforward storytelling.

 

[Pontifex Geronimo 13]

The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson. Very interesting read for anyone interested in eschatology. Find out how Islamic writings line up with the bible regarding how things will go down in the end days. Was written back in 2011, but wow. The way the left have become such Islamophiles and Islam is flooding Europe, and anti Semitic sentiment is global, the zombie apocalypse has begun.

 

[Luce NDs]

Re-reading Paul Davies The Mind of God ... a real controversy for some that believe god is all emotional and without intelligence as the bible states knowledge is evil ... perhaps an underhanded mode of getting the upper hand by earthbound gods?

This may be po'lier understood by those following the extreme dynamics ... inclusive of becoming as well as being, as stuck in a River of Stix ... tens' for those upset by the floe ('ve illumination) going by unobserved omnipotently ignored??

Tis a Dark Case like BH Phenomena ... awesome spot to be in ... as you are exposed to extreme dynamics and few periods of calm ... as I experienced last Monday when an oligarchic did his best to shoot the legs out from under one he thought of lesser power ... so I recessed ... encouragement to not share thoughts in intelligible ways ... thus legends, parables, metphors, and hypo-Ba'aL sometimes converted to hyperbola beyond comprehension of those avoiding stretch of the metaphysical ... primalily meaning sol ... as often connected to spirit except when scared right out of wits by earthy principalities and powers that are one-way ... mono Deus is really here in this space, time and light .. if not blind sided!?

Double vision or that second look in beta form allows adepts of perspective!

 

[Luce NDs]

Did you know the Holy Grail in Classic form is hyperbolic ? GOOGLE Daemons for an older look at thought as a virtue at one time ... it is a reciprocal form of sphere ... having Ba'aLs within? Some believe this an idea'r for relishing ... like salts and pickles that you'd like to escape ... life itself according to one expert on de athe wishes ... thus ID goes on ...

 

[Hilary]

I've been reading "Frogkisser" by Garth Nix. I was looking for something light in a fantasy novel and stumbled over it in my library's Overdrive e-book collection. Just not in the mood for dark or epic these days, which seem to be the default moods for fantasy any more. It riffs on fairy tales in much the same way as Princess Bride, with the hero being a teenaged princess (it is technically a YA novel) who must go on a Quest to save her little kingdom from her evil stepstepfather (Yes, you read that right. Her family is a bit complicated.) in time for her older sister to come of age and become the new queen. Features talking dogs, giant newts who used to be human, and a spunky heroine who I am becoming quite fond of.

I also recently read Frogkisser. (I'm on a YA kick right now.) I liked it overall but felt that the excitement and promise of the first few chapters weren't really realised through to the end. Solid four stars.

 

[Hilary]

I am not a fan of audio books, so I have never actually heard Neil do a reading but he is a bit of a legend for his skill at it. Aside from his own stuff, he's even done a reading of Dickens' A Christmas Carol in costume (which might be kicking around on Youtube).

A legend indeed. To the point that he's agreed to read a restaurant menu in exchange for a substantial donation to charity. Should be fun!

Neil Gaiman Will Do A Reading Of The Cheesecake Factory Menu If We Raise $500K For Refugees

 

[Mendalla]

A legend indeed. To the point that he's agreed to read a restaurant menu in exchange for a substantial donation to charity. Should be fun!

Neil Gaiman Will Do A Reading Of The Cheesecake Factory Menu If We Raise $500K For Refugees

Yeah, I follow Neil on Twitter and he's been all about this recently. He's a UNHCR ambassador for refugees (that appointment happened last year IIRC) so the cause is one near and dear to him. I don't know where he finds the time. Two TV shows (Executive Producer on American Gods and showrunner on Good Omens), a new novel apparently in the works, travelling to promote refugee causes, raising his second family (and Amanda is still actively touring so he has to take the baby sometimes) and more.

 

[paradox3]

Just learned a few weeks ago that I went to high school with the author Antansis Sileika & I am awaiting his latest book from the library.

In high school he was always known as Tony and he has discussed this in interviews. He went back to his Lithuanian name in university.

 

[Spirit Wind 7]

I am reading, "Embers" by Richard Wagamese. It's book where he writes memoirs and his own spiritual growth.
It's an amazing deep book of some of his spiritual journey. Noting what Elders have said and taught.
Since his death fairly recently, it has become more poignant.

What we have done to the Aboriginal Peoples and their spirituality hangs deeply in our continued taking
from them what is theirs, by speaking for them without consulting, and refusing to provide education
on their own terms.

Another book that is really one I refer to... poetry, my thing. It is "The Gift, Poems by Hafiz". The great Sufi Master.
A translation of poems from the 14th century all about Gods amazing love. Some I laugh with and some I have
wondered what would happen if I wrote like that today. Unafraid to speak of the love that makes us, in such terms.
If I did that I'd be getting a call from the Conference Personnel Minister.
Which makes it all the more tantalizing and maybe embarrassing to read. On the edge, but enlightening and freeing.
But that is what Love s ... freeing to be who I am.

"Children of the Broken Treaty" by Charlie Angus is going on here these last few weeks. I am going to hear him tonight.
A lot to take in and a lot to alter in our living with each other.

A question... anyone heard of 'The Moses Code' ? I saw a short film about it... that is another amazing thing that went on in 2008.

Singing thanksgiving....
Spirit Wind 7

 

[Jaebius]

For my current school course, I and II Chronicles, I'm currently reading the books I and II Chronicles, Abingdon Commentary: I and II Chronicles, and NIV Application Commentary: I and II Chronicles.

For my Quiet Time, I'm currently reading 2 Corinthians, and Luther's Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount.

 

[Luce NDs]

Crank your mine doubt a bit, read some Milton, Dante, or even Paul Tillich ... some Baptists tell me it cranked their minds into disbelief ... as they had trouble with the understanding bit (chit) that needed great emotion to shove them along in a deep dark tex't ...

Thus belief was initiated to "becoming" instead of just "being" ... stuck? One step at a time is rung out of the latter dais ... may appear as deb eL ... or deb'r 'a A' brae hams thingy ... when hubris descends ... one cannot speak of it hear as they do not like lo' English ... from aus quelle ... that's be the Saxon source .. to add feather touch to the dark and stormy myths ...

 

[BetteTheRed]

I'm currently reading a collection of Gaiman short stories, "Fragile Things".

 

[Mendalla]

I'm currently reading a collection of Gaiman short stories, "Fragile Things".

I almost like him better as a short story writer than as a novelist. Almost. Certainly, even his novels tend to be fairly short by contemporary standards, esp. since he does not insist on writing interminably long series like certain other current fantasy writer (Hi, George R.R. Martin).