I finished Kate pretty easily last night - there were a lot of commercials during American Idol. I did enjoy the book, and like Kate, I didn't figure out right away where the trouble between her dad and the rest of his family started, even though I should have guessed it. I'm a little disappointed with where the book ended - I'd like to see more of what happens. Oh well.
Having finished that I started the newest collection of Newford tales by Charles de Lint - Muse and Reverie. I have always loved his stories (both in Newford and elsewhere)- he is an amazing writer who I'd recommend to anyone. The first book of his I read was Jack the Giant-Killer (I was making my way through as many of the Fairy Tale Series, all written by different authors) and from there fell in love with his work and haven't stopped reading them since. It's always an exciting (but dangerous, for me) day when I find a new book of his at work. I'm enjoying the first story in this book so far, but I'm pretty sure I've already read it elsewhere - but I don't care - it was a good story, and I'll read it again anyway (won't be the first time I've reread a story of his, or the last, for that matter).
In the middle of this, I'm going to also read Maud Hart Lovelace's book The Valentine Box because it sounds interesting and will be short enough that I can quickly finish it and return it tomorrow.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Busy Days
I've gotten a fair bit of reading done so far this week.
Much of my time has been spent finishing/reading most of Phoenix Transformed. As I expected, it was fun to read - and easy to get lost in that whole world. Although there'd been hints at it, I wasn't actually expecting the Mageprice for Calling Kareta to be quite what it was. Both Harrier and Tiercel were keeping secrets from each other throughout much of the story, I'm not sure everything would have worked out properly if they hadn't; similar, I suppose, to the eventual correctness (most likely) to the Elves' official action/help. I suspected that Ancaladar would come back - but not quite the way he did. I like that though - surprises can be nice.
After finishing that book this afternoon, I decided that I wasn't ready to go downstairs and watch some of the TV show I have checked out from the library right now, so instead, I stayed in bed and started Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson. I've already read the first two books in this series and thoroughly look forward to the next one (or more likely two - as there were hints in this one that there were to be five books (or I suppose, at least five books)). The Smedry's are quite amusing people and Alcatraz gets into such trouble at times. Also, I love their Talents. This series seems a lot like a blend of Harry Potter and the Series of Unfortunate Events. I would recommend this to everyone!
Having finished that, I'm now in the middle of Kate by Jean Little. I'm enjoying it so far - even if it's not the book I was expected. I missed, when getting the book, that the back is describing the preceding book, not this one. I'm going to have to find the other one soon I think; I'm still interested in that story too.
Much of my time has been spent finishing/reading most of Phoenix Transformed. As I expected, it was fun to read - and easy to get lost in that whole world. Although there'd been hints at it, I wasn't actually expecting the Mageprice for Calling Kareta to be quite what it was. Both Harrier and Tiercel were keeping secrets from each other throughout much of the story, I'm not sure everything would have worked out properly if they hadn't; similar, I suppose, to the eventual correctness (most likely) to the Elves' official action/help. I suspected that Ancaladar would come back - but not quite the way he did. I like that though - surprises can be nice.
After finishing that book this afternoon, I decided that I wasn't ready to go downstairs and watch some of the TV show I have checked out from the library right now, so instead, I stayed in bed and started Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson. I've already read the first two books in this series and thoroughly look forward to the next one (or more likely two - as there were hints in this one that there were to be five books (or I suppose, at least five books)). The Smedry's are quite amusing people and Alcatraz gets into such trouble at times. Also, I love their Talents. This series seems a lot like a blend of Harry Potter and the Series of Unfortunate Events. I would recommend this to everyone!
Having finished that, I'm now in the middle of Kate by Jean Little. I'm enjoying it so far - even if it's not the book I was expected. I missed, when getting the book, that the back is describing the preceding book, not this one. I'm going to have to find the other one soon I think; I'm still interested in that story too.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Too long!
I've been gone way too long since the last post. I read a good number of books - some of them pretty quickly, but as I was starting to list what I've read, I realized I spent a bit too much time finishing movies I'd checked out from the library (Sinner, Dear J, Quantum Leap: The First Season, and one or two more that I can't remember) - I haven't actually read as many books as I thought I had.
I finished The Citadel pretty easily a few days after I'd started it. I was quite amused by one of the first "treatments" used in the book - blowing up the sewer seems a bit unorthodox, but it worked. I enjoyed this book thoroughly - even if I was a bit annoyed at Andrew a bit at times, and I looked forward to more of A. J. Cronin's works.
After finishing that, I decided I should read the next book that was due as opposed to the next book I'd actually checked out from the library (I had renewed The Keys of the Kingdom), so I read Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I enjoyed this about as much as I enjoyed the three previous books in the series. Although I hadn't expected any more of these books, I'm quite glad it came. Some of the Peter Pan story that I'd wondered about a bit was answered in this book. Also, although it had been offered that Captain Hook and crew were going to get off of the island of Neverland, I didn't quite expect success - Peter Pan wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
This book took me less than a day to read - so I was able to return it pretty quickly and move on to the next book in my list (again the next one due, not the next one I'd checked out), Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side by James Van Praagh. This book was relatively good, but it didn't have as many ghost stories per se as I was expecting. I was amused by some of his stories - most memorable for me is perhaps the woman who was followed by a man with dark glasses - he thought he should know who this man was, but just couldn't figure it out. Then, after talking to the woman (whose name I've forgotten - sorry) he found out she was the widow of Roy Orbison - he commented that he was glad Roy Orbison still had his "Pretty Woman." I thought that was a cute story and comment. I do think it would be rather interesting to ask James Van Praagh why he based Melinda's character on the experiences of a friend of his, rather than on his own - my main guess is that it's to match gender better - otherwise perhaps he thought there would be more story possibilities this way. Who knows (well, presumably, he does)?
Having finished that I moved on to The Keys of the Kingdom by A. J. Cronin. I enjoyed this story quite well too (although I wanted to yell at/complain about some of the characters at times). I had expected to enjoy this story as I'd already seen the Gregory Peck movie version of it - this also led to me picturing all (or at least most) of the characters as the actors from the movie. Again, finishing this story didn't take too long, but it took me a bit longer as I'd started making my way through the movies I had from the library.
Having finished that, I moved onto the book I'm currently reading, The Phoenix Transformed: Book Three of the Enduring Flame by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. I've read all five books that precede this one (although not quite in the proper order - first the first book of this trilogy, then the three books of the preceding trilogy, then book two of this one). I'm not quite sure what's going to happen, but I'm rather enthralled. Finishing up those movies, as well as watching the Olympics a bit has distracted me from finishing the book, but hopefully I'll get to finish it soon (I hope to return it to the library when I work next).
One more thing distracted me a bit from this book - the next Junie B. Jones book was returned on Saturday, so that afternoon I spent a little time reading Junie B., First-Grader, Shipwrecked by Barbara Park. It was about like the rest of the series so far. Her commentary and thought process are quite amusing at times, although I also quite understand the opinions of the adults in her life as well.
I finished The Citadel pretty easily a few days after I'd started it. I was quite amused by one of the first "treatments" used in the book - blowing up the sewer seems a bit unorthodox, but it worked. I enjoyed this book thoroughly - even if I was a bit annoyed at Andrew a bit at times, and I looked forward to more of A. J. Cronin's works.
After finishing that, I decided I should read the next book that was due as opposed to the next book I'd actually checked out from the library (I had renewed The Keys of the Kingdom), so I read Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I enjoyed this about as much as I enjoyed the three previous books in the series. Although I hadn't expected any more of these books, I'm quite glad it came. Some of the Peter Pan story that I'd wondered about a bit was answered in this book. Also, although it had been offered that Captain Hook and crew were going to get off of the island of Neverland, I didn't quite expect success - Peter Pan wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
This book took me less than a day to read - so I was able to return it pretty quickly and move on to the next book in my list (again the next one due, not the next one I'd checked out), Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side by James Van Praagh. This book was relatively good, but it didn't have as many ghost stories per se as I was expecting. I was amused by some of his stories - most memorable for me is perhaps the woman who was followed by a man with dark glasses - he thought he should know who this man was, but just couldn't figure it out. Then, after talking to the woman (whose name I've forgotten - sorry) he found out she was the widow of Roy Orbison - he commented that he was glad Roy Orbison still had his "Pretty Woman." I thought that was a cute story and comment. I do think it would be rather interesting to ask James Van Praagh why he based Melinda's character on the experiences of a friend of his, rather than on his own - my main guess is that it's to match gender better - otherwise perhaps he thought there would be more story possibilities this way. Who knows (well, presumably, he does)?
Having finished that I moved on to The Keys of the Kingdom by A. J. Cronin. I enjoyed this story quite well too (although I wanted to yell at/complain about some of the characters at times). I had expected to enjoy this story as I'd already seen the Gregory Peck movie version of it - this also led to me picturing all (or at least most) of the characters as the actors from the movie. Again, finishing this story didn't take too long, but it took me a bit longer as I'd started making my way through the movies I had from the library.
Having finished that, I moved onto the book I'm currently reading, The Phoenix Transformed: Book Three of the Enduring Flame by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. I've read all five books that precede this one (although not quite in the proper order - first the first book of this trilogy, then the three books of the preceding trilogy, then book two of this one). I'm not quite sure what's going to happen, but I'm rather enthralled. Finishing up those movies, as well as watching the Olympics a bit has distracted me from finishing the book, but hopefully I'll get to finish it soon (I hope to return it to the library when I work next).
One more thing distracted me a bit from this book - the next Junie B. Jones book was returned on Saturday, so that afternoon I spent a little time reading Junie B., First-Grader, Shipwrecked by Barbara Park. It was about like the rest of the series so far. Her commentary and thought process are quite amusing at times, although I also quite understand the opinions of the adults in her life as well.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Goals sort of met
As I was reading Footprints in a Darkened Forest on Friday evening, I started to think that I'd be able to finish before I needed to go to work on Saturday afternoon. So I set that goal for myself. Then, when I got up to my room to try to read it a bit more after the first half of my night prayer session, I decided I was just too tired. I finished night prayer and went to bed instead. I then woke up with plenty of time to finish it on Saturday morning, but was reading downstairs while Dad was watching TV and didn't focus as much on the book as I could have. I also chose to go grocery shopping with him, even though I didn't have anything I was looking to buy. Because of all of those factors, I didn't quite finish the book in time.
I had been enjoying the book quite a bit - even if some of the stories/ideas were repeats both from earlier parts in the book and from other books of his that I've read. I also enjoyed Sheen's references to Theilard de Chardin(sp?) (especially his book The Divine Milieu) - I was already a bit familiar with those ideas through my "Development of the Christian Tradition" class at college. I was a bit confused by some of the marginal notes placed by some previous reader of the book - I found it interesting that my basic thought was that it was a she, but my Mom kept saying "he" - I suppose one of us has to be correct, but I don't really know who, or even why we each chose the pronoun we did.
My next goal for myself was to finish reading this book, and the next one in my stack The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural (edited by Deborah Noyes) by the time I switched houses on Sunday. I didn't think I was going to make this goal, once I decided to play Heroes III on the computer instead of reading. However, I had too little left in the first book (30-ish pages) and they didn't take me too long. Then, after I'd finished a fourth game (I only won the third one - disappointingly), I finished packing up as much as possible, and then got into bed to read cozily - with a Tia pup snuggled next to me as well. The Restless Dead was a rather quick read - it only took me an hour and a half or so to read the first two-thirds or so of the book. I suspect much of this speed came from the fact that these are short stories, and therefore at least mostly not quite as complicated as some books can be.
I enjoyed the short stories pretty well, although I will admit that most were pretty strange. I was a bit amused to recognize part of one story - it's based on a historically documented haunting story (although the full validity of the story is still in a bit of doubt) that not only had I read an official (so to speak) account of it, but it also appeared in another book I'd already read (Barbara Michaels' book Other Worlds).
I did end up finishing both of these books by my (new) goal, and have now barely started A. J. Cronin's book The Citadel - so far I like the story, but I'm only one chapter in, so it's perhaps too early to tell for sure - but I did enjoy the movie based on another book of his (The Keys to the Kingdom).
I had been enjoying the book quite a bit - even if some of the stories/ideas were repeats both from earlier parts in the book and from other books of his that I've read. I also enjoyed Sheen's references to Theilard de Chardin(sp?) (especially his book The Divine Milieu) - I was already a bit familiar with those ideas through my "Development of the Christian Tradition" class at college. I was a bit confused by some of the marginal notes placed by some previous reader of the book - I found it interesting that my basic thought was that it was a she, but my Mom kept saying "he" - I suppose one of us has to be correct, but I don't really know who, or even why we each chose the pronoun we did.
My next goal for myself was to finish reading this book, and the next one in my stack The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural (edited by Deborah Noyes) by the time I switched houses on Sunday. I didn't think I was going to make this goal, once I decided to play Heroes III on the computer instead of reading. However, I had too little left in the first book (30-ish pages) and they didn't take me too long. Then, after I'd finished a fourth game (I only won the third one - disappointingly), I finished packing up as much as possible, and then got into bed to read cozily - with a Tia pup snuggled next to me as well. The Restless Dead was a rather quick read - it only took me an hour and a half or so to read the first two-thirds or so of the book. I suspect much of this speed came from the fact that these are short stories, and therefore at least mostly not quite as complicated as some books can be.
I enjoyed the short stories pretty well, although I will admit that most were pretty strange. I was a bit amused to recognize part of one story - it's based on a historically documented haunting story (although the full validity of the story is still in a bit of doubt) that not only had I read an official (so to speak) account of it, but it also appeared in another book I'd already read (Barbara Michaels' book Other Worlds).
I did end up finishing both of these books by my (new) goal, and have now barely started A. J. Cronin's book The Citadel - so far I like the story, but I'm only one chapter in, so it's perhaps too early to tell for sure - but I did enjoy the movie based on another book of his (The Keys to the Kingdom).
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