The Book Club, discuss your favourite/current read Options

[James]

So, like the title says, go ahead and discuss different books, also, recommending books is a wonderful thing!

[Crystal Talian]

Hmm~ This is sort of like the 'Favorite Books' topic in Town Square. But we don't have enough topics about books, and we do not have enough people who TALK ABOUT BOOKS! So, Crystal shall talk about the books she likes. Lessee . . .

There's the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. I'm a cat lover and these books are great for any cat lover. It's about these cats who live out in the forest and there's this whole belief system and social structure. There are different Clans and each clan has a leader, a deputy, warriors (who protect the clan and hunt for prey), elders (cats too old to be warriors), apprentices (cats training to be warriors), and such. It's got some other elements, too. There are prophecies and omens. It's really just this fascinating world.

There's the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. The author takes such an interesting view on the world. This is the series were the people have Daemons in the shape of animals that are their souls. But that's just in one world. There are actually a few different worlds in the book, each with it's own unique traits. Plus, going from the second book there's this beautiful romance~

There's the Inheritence Cycle by Christopher Paolini. Ah, a medieval world with dragons and magic! What more could someone ask for? It's got magic duels, sword fighting, a little romance, elves, dwarfs, all the good fantasy stuff. The author has given each race it's own unique language, which really makes things come alive!

There's the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. The author takes a comic, modern approach to the old Greek myths and legends. It's fascinating how he's adapted everything to fit in with a modern world, and with such a great sense of humor! Plus, he manges to keep the dramatic fights, well, dramatic . . . but funny at the same time. It's an interesting mix.

There's the Once and Future King series by T.H. White. Like Riordan, White manages to add a comic sense to dramatic times. But this series about King Arthur! I love reading about the legends and quests and the great deeds of chivalry! The author even includes a few quotes of old English, adding this lovely poetic sense in some places. But, if you read this series, you need to try to get your hands on The Witch in the Woods and The Sword in the Stone as stand alone books. They're very, very different from the versions you'll find when all four books are printed together!

There's the InkWorld series by Cornelia Funke. She has a lovely style and a good sense of romance. You've probably heard of this series, where one of the characters reads a book and the characters come alive. But that's only part of it. He can actually make any written word come true. In this series, words have real power. And from the second book, the story takes place in this fascinating world of the author's own design.

I think that's enough for now, but I could go on and on.

[James]

I read Inkspell and it was absolutely wonderful! same with the Warriors!! I'm not so much into the Seekers though, it's about polar bears

[Crystal Talian]

Actually, Seekers is about several different species of bears. By the end of the first book, we have the polar bear, the grizzly bear, the black bear, and one person who turns into a bear. It was quite interesting, but I haven't gotten around to reading past the first book.

[James]

Oh really? now I'm more interested in it. The whole human to bear thing kindof reminds me of that movie 'Brother Bear' though

[Crystal Talian]

Yep. And each species of bear has a slightly different history and belief system. I honestly can't remember/not sure whether that human is really a bear or really a human . . . I think he's supposed to really be a bear. >_< Confusing.

[James]

Oooooh I see lol

I should write about some of the books I enjoy too!

[Oscar]

Hey!

Well, I've been wanting to buy a book, but I have no idea which one to get! Can anyone help? I went to Barnes&Noble and walked around for an hour...-_-

I'm looking for something that's fictional, exciting and posiibly futuristic. Or something that isn't too kid-ish.

[Crystal Talian]

Not the person to ask about futuristic books. Half the stuff I read seems to have a medieval base. A realization I just recently came to, actually. I had no idea I liked medieval fantasy! 0_o

[James]

Well, Oscar, I could recommend a sci-fi-ish style futuristic book to you

It's called Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Although it isn't exactly university material, it is a wonderful book about the boy, Ender and his very adult struggle through childhood being a super genius that is sent to a outer space military school to prepare for intergalactic war. This book does have aliens, but not the typical kind. This is such a hard book to explain, but I know you would love it, you wouldn't even know you were reading a science fiction book if I didn't tell you.

[Oscar]

Crystal: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) Ya, your selection does reflect that.

James: Hey, I think they're making a movie out of this. I might just buy it! Thanks.

[James]

Haha, They have been debating it for a very long time :)

I hope you do because it is a wonderful book :_)

[Crystal Talian]

What? Nobody has any books to talk about? Well then, Crystal shall talk about even more books she enjoys!

There's the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Okay, there's no possible way not to know what it's about, so I'll go over what I like about in the series. I like all the magical history, Rowling was pretty accurate with the belief systems and whatnot there was about magic and mythical creatures in the old days. All the magical incantations have a real language base and if you look, you'll see that they actually make sense for the spell they work! Plus, I've been re-listening to the audio books lately, and there a myriad of little hints and mentions of future events and characters. It loads of fun going back through the books and spotting all that stuff!

There's the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Again, no way not to know what it's about. I like this series for the distinct world Lewis creates. I like the childish style and the beautiful adventure stories. I like how all the books tie to together so smoothly and seamlessly, even though there's such a big gap in years in Narnia. My favorite book in the series is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

There's Watership Down by Richard Adams, and it's sequel, Tales from Watership Down. Oh, I love these books! Adams creates such a beautiful world for the rabbits that are the main characters. I love how they have their own language and belief system. I especially love their legends! Their legends about the 'Prince with a Thousand Enemies' and all his adventures, and their legends of death and creation! Then there's the main story of the book, about the rabbits themselves and their adventure to find a new place to live. Everything's so fascinating.

There's White Fang and Call of the Wild by Jack London. I've read both of these books at least three times, I just love them so much! Jack London writes realistically and his stories are the kind you can actually believe. The animals don't talk, they don't act human, they are ANIMALS. They act like animals, they think like animals. I really feel like I'm getting into the minds of them. I also like how the books are almost opposite each other - one being about a wolf who becomes tame, and the other being about a dog who goes wild. The human characters are believable, too. Every character has such a distinct personality, ranging everywhere from cruel to kind. The time the books are set in is fascinating too, I think it's around the 1940s.

And in the 'books-from-when-I-was-a-kid' section there's the Bunnicula series by James (and Deborah) Howe. I remember reading these when I was younger, and I still read them sometimes nowadays. The characters are just so hilarious! There's Chester with his overactive imagination and dramatic flares, there's simple Harold who's not the sharpest tool in the shed, there's hyperactive Howie and all his puppy antics, and - of course - there's our vampire bunny Bunnicula. The books never fail to make me laugh or cheer me up when I'm feeling down!

--

Again, I think that'll do for now. ;p

Talk books with me guys~!

[James]

@Crystal

I own the Harry Potter series, and I love it, like most of the world haha! I also bought Rowling books called 'Beetle the Bard' and 'Magical Beasts and Where to find them' along with a book called 'The great Snape debate' a book on both views of Snape, Snape was a good guy and Snape was a bad guy :) Its by three or four authors that want to add their two-cents about Harry Potter. It's wonderful, and one bit is by my fav. Sci-Fi novelist Orson Scott Card <3

I haven;t actually read the entire series of Narnia as of yet. I actually bought the complete Narnia set for $2.00CND the other day :) I know I read one of the very last ones on accident in grade 5 or 6. I didn't know it was a part of a series and picked it up, it's the one with the Unicorn on the cover.

As for watership down, I never got to read the real books but on BBC I was able to watch the cartoon. The cartoon was hopefully true to the book, it was a rather scary cartoon back then!

I never got to read White Fang, but as a child I did get to see the cartoon, which must have been VERY off in comparison to the books :_(

I've never actually heard of Bunnacula? it sounds humourous though.

When I was in grade 4 or 5 I stumbled upon the book called 'The Dragon's Egg' I can't QUITE remember how the story line goes, but, I do remember reading it 7 or 8 times. I know it was a bout a young girl who found a dragons egg, she had to keep it in her fish bowl for a while I think

here:
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[Crystal Talian]

*laughs* The Narnia book with the unicorn is the last one in Lewis' prefered reading order. So you read the ending. Nice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

I actually own all of Rowling's books, but I tend avoid books where other author's pull apart someone else's work. I don't know why, I've read a few, and I thought they were okay. I just avoid them in general for whatever reason. =/

I've never seen the cartoon series, so I don't know how accurate it was. You should go read the book and find out! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) I did see the animated movie, though. It was a terrific movie, and did a pretty good interpertation of the book.

I vaguely remember watching the cartoon White Fang as well as the live-action movie. . . . Book was better, hands down, absolutely. Go read the book. ;)

Never heard of Bunnicula?! No way~! It's one of my favorite children's book!

Hmm, I actually can't remember seeing that book anywhere. Probably because I wasn't as interested in dragons when I was younger.

[James]

Yeah, I have a lot of books to read!!! God... I can't even COUNT how many I have to read... though, sadly, right now I am reading "New Moon" by Stephanie Mayer, I haven't actually read the first book 'Twilight' but, I don't want too, I'm only reading new moon because I want to have it done when the movie comes out in a couple weeks here. I am not a Twilight fan and I hate Edward Cullen and Bella.. I am just reading the twilight series for this sexy fellow:

I actually read one half of Twilight before it ever became popular, I didn't finish it because I was reading to Kill a Mocking Bird and that was WONDERFUL

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I can't help myself he is GORGEOUS. Uhg, I have a thing for pale blonds :) although, my hubby is brunette WHATEVER!

[Crystal Talian]

*twitches*

I'm can't bring myself to read anything in the Twilight series for whatever reason. I just am just so, so, SO sick of hearing about the movies and the drama surrounding the movies, and how Edward's so hot, and blah, blah, blah.

Besides that, I heard Stephanie Meyer did no research on vampires before she wrote her book. Grr. Stupid sparkly vampires. I mean, really? SPARKLY vampires?! What?

Maybe once the craze dies down I'll read the books to see if they're any good. I'm curious, I'd like to read them. But I just can't stand it right now if you know what I mean.

[James]

Yeah, I HATE Stephanie Mayer, she is very immature and also the main character can't just put on a jecket she has to dawn a jacket. Which is great, that is if Stephanie Mayer didn't finger f/uck the thesaurus button on Microsoft Word Haha! I don't particularly like the series, but I think Carlisle Cullen is hot (hes the dad of Edward)

Though, you know, the idea of a sparkling vampire seems naive and dumb, I think it is possible to write a good book about sparkling vampires.. I just don't think Stephanie Mayer was the woman for the job :]P