Outread Aubrey! Challenge discussion

Well if you are going to skip to the end anyway... =P

What ARE Cliff notes? I've heard of them, but never seen them or anything.

Not that I plan on using them, Corey. I just want to know what they are. :p

CliffNotes are heavily summarised versions of classic literature, often with notes about them. Professors hate them because then students will try to fake their way through class without doing hundreds of pages of reading.

Ah. That makes sense. Thanks!

I did remember I saw tons of those things at our library recently... but thought they might be edited versions or something, so I didn't look at them. Because I'm so picky. :p

There's websites for it too. Sparknotes, Cliffnotes. Very useful in a pinch when you've got too much homework . Because professors *never* understand that you do take 4 classes at once. lol.

I accidentally picked up cliffnotes versions of some plays at the library book sale. Sort of annoyed. I thought they were scripts.

Incidentally, if anyone here /does/ use cliffnotes, you can have them. I have "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and something else I can't find, possibly "The Crucible."

*comes back to the group for a few minutes* I still haven't read anything since the last time I was here. :P

*crosses arms* And...? What are you going to do about that? ;)

...well, I have a week and a half before college starts again, so I guess I'll try and read some more...

*scribbles out the phrase "I guess I'll try" and replaces it with "I will seize this valuable opportunity to"* Sounds good! ^_^

I'm reading the Wind Merchant, finally. I'm about 75% through and suddenly it is /riveting./

Katie wrote: "I'm reading the Wind Merchant, finally. I'm about 75% through and suddenly it is /riveting./"
*reads synopsis on GoodReads page* That looks like a good book.. o_o

It is a good book. I've been a fan from the day the author started writing it. And it's steampunk. ^^

Aubrey wrote: "*scribbles out the phrase "I guess I'll try" and replaces it with "I will seize this valuable opportunity to"* Sounds good! ^_^"

Okay, okay, I can take a hint. ;)

Well, I finished "A Purple and Gold Afghan" last night! :D

Katie wrote: "It is a good book. I've been a fan from the day the author started writing it. And it's steampunk. ^^"
*marks as To Read*

I've been making good progress in Pretties! I don't remember a lot of it, which makes for a great reread. Although I feel wary about letting people see me carrying it around because they might think I'm reading some YA romance or something. XD I mean, look at the cover. And with the title, Pretties...
But soon I shall be finished, hopefully, and shall begin Specials!

*laughs pleasantly at Shadow*

*quite wants to read "Wind Merchant"*

*was gifted a copy of "Merlin's Blade" and so will be reading that* O.O

That's a good girl, Renna. ;)

*grins* Me wants more stories about Joseph and Rachel... ^_^

*will be reading "Merlin's Blade" soon as well* :D

I know, right? Go tell Jordan that. ^_^

But... I never talk to him, I'd be scared! XD

Aubrey wrote: "I know, right? Go tell Jordan that. ^_^"

Heh. I'd like to do more of those, but they are a funny sort of story to write… They are very much drawn from the emotions and feelings of my own experiences in romance, so if I haven't been there, I can't really write it. And the three I've already written were hugely spaced apart. I wrote them in the space of about eight or nine months.

So… It's a slow process. But I do hope that one day Joseph will start talking to me again. :-)

(Renna, I don't bite.)

*nods* Right, I understand. :)

(I know you don't. XD I'm just a fraidy-cat.)

Now I'm reading "The Pirate Daughter's Promise" by Molly Evangeline. It's /very/ good. Fairly standard pirate adventure, but well-written with a compelling premise. Halfway through the prologue I decided I wanted to make the movie version someday.

*has all the Pirates & Faith series and needs to read them*

Yeah, I know, Jordan, but I'm still going to tell your fans to 'fess up so you know what kind of readership pressure you have. ;)

* pops back in to announce she has finished Peter's Angel (YES!!!! *fistpump* *melty puddle over Mark*) and is making great strides in Little Dorrit...also has started Alicia: My story...so much sad Holocaustness* *curls up in a corner to weep*

*dances about* Is my Annie going to tell me what she thinks of Peter's Angel? :D *eager smile*

Yush. ^_^ After she sends you the extremely-belated-half-written e-mail telling you what she thinks of Red Rain. *flush of mortification*

Oh, so I get two emails? I is luckiest author in de world! *keeps dancing about*

*giggles* *grins at the dancing Brey* Also one of the sweetest to not tell me off for NOT (as of yet) sending you ze e-mailness of Ephes- er, Philli! Yes...Philli. *nods* O.o ;)

*shakes head fondly* I'm too behind on my own email to get after you about yours, sweetness. So don't worry about it. It shall just be extra-special when it comes. ;)

Whew. *sags with relief* Thank you!! :) Glad I'm not the only one that's dreadfully behind on all that. *waves hand at various unfinished e-mails* I shall got on it this week, Lordwilling! *hugs* :D

Looking muchly forward to it, dear! *hugs back*

Read Rifle Pass, a so-so collection of Western novelettes by Max Brand, earlier this week. 'Twas on my to-read list for a while because the description looked good, and the Kindle version happened to go Prime while I had a free trial, so luckily I was able to borrow it!

I also just re-read Jane Austen's Persuasion, and rediscovered just how much I love it. Definitely one of my favorite Austen novels.

Currently reading "Angel Fall" by Coleman Luck. I'm almost done with it (could barely put it down since I started) and I think it's going to be placed in my shelf of favourite books.

*returns to book, sniffling slightly*

It's a very good book.

Jenni wrote: "It's a very good book."

It sure is! I think it will be some time before I quite get over it. :P

Corey wrote: "I still need to get that book. None of the libraries in ABQ seem to have it."

You should, Corey! :)

I've lately been re-reading books written by friends - I've been re-reading "Peter's Angel" lately. I now remember how much I loved it the first time. ^_^ Katrina reminds me so much of myself, it's scary. o_o

Really, Renna? *honored and delighted*

Angel Fall is my current all-time favorite book, and certainly my favorite modern book without a question. I have never read a book like that before. It impacted me on both a spiritual and technical level. :)

I finished "Angel Fall" yesterday while on the train on the way home. It's undoubtedly on my list of favorite books, and probably my current all-time favorite too as of the moment. I love how the author described the scenes, I love the characters (I could relate with a lot of them at a certain point), the plot in general--I could just go on and on. :)

*slow, pleased smile*

Aubrey wrote: "Really, Renna? *honored and delighted*

Yep! *grins* :)

I just read "Enchantress from the Stars" by Sylvia Louise Engdahl. Definitely one of my favorite books ever written now. So thought-provoking, and poignant, and painful, even in the joyous occasion of victory. I need to get a copy of it, because it is actually quite close to what I want for DSQ, despite not being fantasy at all, but rather a blend of the idea-school of science-fiction from the perspective of the MC (The Enchantress), a traditional quest/fairy-tale of the second MC, a young man who lives on the planet everything is happening on, and again, an ideas based sci-fi fro the third MC, a young doctor on the colonization expedition that taking over the planet. Just wow. I'll have to come back later once my eyes dry before doing anything further.

I'm still reading Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment and Kidnapped. Loving both so far. :)

I want to read Redshirts,but I started on "Throne of the Crescent Moon" instead. And staring at all the print books demanding my attention too.

Yup. He was the toastmaster at ChiCon7 last year, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Finally finished "Love Thrives in War" today!

I think I'd better read that book, Kaleb...

I'm reading manga at the exact moment, but my brother checked out "The Dark Lord Trilogy" for me (Star Wars books about ANAKIN! The only reason I really like Star Wars, lol) and thinks I should read it before it's due in three weeks, lol.

Aubrey wrote: "I think I'd better read that book, Kaleb...

I'm reading manga at the exact moment, but my brother checked out "The Dark Lord Trilogy" for me (Star Wars books about ANAKIN! The only reason I reall..."

Anakin?! *Iwillnotargue, Iwillnotargue* :p

Yes, I think you should.

He's a tragic figure, like Turin and Loki, but his actions are not excused by the backstory.

Don't worry, my brother does plenty enough griping about Anakin to cover our bases. ;) I still like him anyway. Not that I have a logical reason for doing so, although I think his conversion is realistic.

Aubrey wrote: "Don't worry, my brother does plenty enough griping about Anakin to cover our bases. ;) I still like him anyway. Not that I have a logical reason for doing so, although I think his conversion is ..."

Realistic. I can give you that.

Nice brother to gripe about it, but still check you out a book about him. Not sure if I would be QUITE that nice about it... :p