Outread Aubrey! Challenge discussion

Miriam wrote: "I read three Marvel comic collection thingymajigs, plus the Demon's Lexicon trilogy by Sarah Rees Brennan, which I enjoyed. (Not sure it's one for most people here.) Currently working through some ..."

Cambridge! My best friend's sister is there getting her doctorate. Congrats! That's quite the achievement! :)

Thanks, Hannah! It's been hard work but hopefully it'll be worth it.

Currently I'm reading The Worlds Of Arthur: Facts and Fictions of the Dark Ages. Made a good start when I couldn't sleep last night.

Currently reading By What Standard by R. J. Rushdoony and Finding God in The Lord of the Rings by Kurt Bruner and Jim aware.

I just set a goal for the year on Goodreads, and for some reason it says I've read twenty-nine books this year even though I've read sixty-two? Any ideas why?

Are you marking the day you read each book? Because otherwise it doesn't count as being read this year.

Kendra wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "I've been reading so sporadically, I only hope I can remember everything I've finished...

The Cinderella Theorem by Kristee Raven. I liked it overall - it was a clever take on the fairy-tale world. I am not a fan of teenage romance in books though, so I would have been happier if Lily were at least sixteen or seventeen.

I loved that book, very interesting take on fairy tales (something that I always have an eye out for), but I do agree that Lily should have been older. "

It really was the most original take on fairy-tales that I'd read in a long while. I'll likely want to read book 2 as well. :D

Original take on fairytales? *eyes brighten*

Oh? Are you saying reading the print version of the book was a significantly different experience, Rebekah? :)

Jenni made me sit down and catch up on Pandora Hearts, and I was babysitting at the library yesterday and decided to try reading Deathnote again, so that's two volumes of manga I've added to my shelf. Not much, but it's something. And it gave me an idea for a sprint that bends the rules a little... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Still reading about the dark ages. This historian seems to literally hate everyone who has written on the topic before, which is quite entertaining.

I got an idea for writing a cyborg King Arthur novella so I drug in literally every book on Arthur that I own, except the two I couldn't find and the ones I forgot I own and couldn't find. Dunno if I'm actually going to read them all.

I'm sort of halfway through "Apocalypses" by RA Lafferty, and "Annals of Klepsis" came while I was gone. I also picked up a book called "The Optimist's Guide to the Future" at the dollar store last night, which looks fascinating, and I brought home about a million titles of books at WorldCon that I couldn't bring home with me but still want. So I need to hunt those down and read as well...

I only got about 35% of the way through "Rogues" before it had to go back to the library, and I don't know when I'll get a chance to finish it. I got "Neverwhen" by Neil Gaiman but not in a kindle file format so I don't think I'm going to get that read either. And it's hard to get reading done when there's so much new experiences stuffed up in my head!

Katie - I don't advise the one I just finished (Worlds of Arthur: Facts and Fictions of the Dark Ages), since his main argument is primarily that Arthur didn't exist. But I, too, have an idea for an Arthurian story, although an intensely political one that'll be difficult to write.

Have either of you read Mary Stewart's Arthurian novels? I normally don't read that era, but grabbed one at the library sale because she's supposed to be so good. Apparently she wrote several.

I haven't, no. My reading of Arthurian novels has been limited, though I've read a number of history books etc. I do like Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve, though. It subverts everything you think you know about him.

I don't think I've heard of them, no.

I've toyed with the idea of trying Stewart's Arthurian novels just because I love her writing so much. But I think I'm going to start off with Tennyson's Idylls of the King before reading any fiction retellings, just to get a grasp on the basics of the legend which I do not really have yet. :)

The best source for basic legends is probably Howard Pyle's collection. Thomas Malory's "Morte de Arthur" is good, but the language is a bit of a struggle. Idylls of the King tends more towards, if I remember correctly, less mainstream versions of the legends and, being poetry, take some liberty with details. They're still gorgeous, though, and definitely more traditional than a fiction version.

I've yet to read any fiction versions of Arthur that I really like. The only ones that come to mind are actually "return of Arthur" stories, and those are "Heart" and "The Forever King." Mists of Avalon was actually pretty good, but I don't generally recommend it. I haven't read "The Once and Future King" so we'll see about that, but I didn't like Stephen Lawhead, didn't even finish Robert Treskillard, couldn't manage to start on John Whyte, etc, etc. I'm really, really picky about my Arthur stories, I'm afraid.

And here I sit...writing one...

Ah, Stephen Lawhead. My dad loves his Arthur books, but I didn't get on with them at all. And I grew frustrated with his Song of Albion series, partly due to historical / mythological accuracy red flags, and partly because of his poor treatment of female characters.

I remember enjoying Kevin Crossley-Holland's novels, but it's been years and I've forgotten all the details.

As for Morte d'Arthur, I've got it on my shelf but I haven't gone near it yet.

Morte d'Arthur is excellent if you've ever wondered what the heck half the legends have to do with the other half. It has a surprisingly coherent central narrative that focuses on the Holy Grail, gives legitimate backstory to Galahad's relics, and even ties the story of sir Tristram back in to the round table instead of being it's own independent stadalone adventure like it so often is. I think that if you studied it thoroughly enough you could even find the names of every single one of the 150 knights who sat at the round table, because any time a tournament takes place every contestant is listed. It's tedious and fascinating all at once.

Finished The Chocolate Soldier today.

Oh, yes, Howard Pyle. I knew there was a classic version slipping my mind. I see Roger Lancelyn Green did one too—have you ever read that? It's funny, both Pyle and Green did retellings of both King Arthur and Robin Hood. I've only read Green's version of the latter.

I own Green's version. ^^

It's good. It's different in its own way--Gawaine is a much more noble character, and he focuses a great deal less on Lancelot. I like it a lot, but Green's version of Robin Hood is my second most favourite in the world so that's not too surprising. :)

Aubrey wrote: "Original take on fairytales? *eyes brighten*

Oh? Are you saying reading the print version of the book was a significantly different experience, Rebekah? :)"

Quite a different experience, actually. It surprised me!

Hmm. Will you elaborate for me sometime, Rebekah? In PC if you'd rather. :)

Just finished a short "romance" story (pretty romance-free), "Exit Betty" by Grace Livingston Hill, and a political action-mystery (best way to describe it, I swear...very unusual plot), "Mollie's Substitute Husband" by Max McConn.

Got a library card from a nearby town and checked out The Maze Runner. It's interesting so far. :)

Hey, not to get all theological on y'all or anything, but do you think man has any inherent goodness? Even just a little? Even just enough to inspire him to do the right thing and read all the books he bought but never actually sat down to read?

Maybe we should test this theory with another Sprint... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Aubrey wrote: "Hmm. Will you elaborate for me sometime, Rebekah? In PC if you'd rather. :)"

Sure! I'll send you an e-mail. I owe you one anyway. :D

I finished Red Rain by the way. Focusing on Word Changers right now... :)

I'm reading "Raising Steam" by Terry Pratchett, but bizarrely, I'm really not getting into it. The writing just feels off, which is weird, because I love the Discworld books. Maybe it's me. I haven't been reading much recently and maybe my brain isn't working.

I read the Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, which was excellent. Now I'm weeping over the price of the sequel (which is the book with the best ever title) Before They Are Hanged. I'm working on a dollar store find as well called "An Optimist's Tour of the Future" which is also very good. My computer died so I've actually been reading, which is a nice change, albeit a highly unproductive one!

I've read lots of books for school. ^_^ I've read "Henry V" (Shakespeare), "Benito Cerino" (Herman Melville), "Life in the Iron Mills" (Rebecca Harding Davis), and "Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain). Huck Finn was by far my most favorite of these. Huck is adorable. ^_^

And on the side, I read Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." Disney did the worst book to movie adaptation! ;) But I did enjoy the story.

I'm still working through "Our Mutual Friend," and "The Throne of Fire," but school reading takes priority. This week I'll be reading Shakespeare's Othello and... some other American classic. I think "Washington Square," by Henry James.

I know, the original Little Mermaid is practically a tragedy, lol.

I've been re-reading War and Peace, and liking it even better the second time around. Almost done with it. And I just checked out Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War from the library, so I'll be starting that too.

Don't get me started on the Little Mermaid. You wouldn't like me when I'm talking about Anderson vs. Disney. >.<

I'm one chapter in to Code V.2 by Lawrence Lessig. Which is...kind of pathetic, honestly. I haven't read anything else that I can think of...too busy...

Katie wrote: "Don't get me started on the Little Mermaid. You wouldn't like me when I'm talking about Anderson vs. Disney. >.<


Same here. And their version of his Snow Queen has even more deviations ...

Finished and reviewed Five Came Back this week. I'm almost finished with War and Peace, and then I've got Tarkington's National Avenue (which I've wanted to read for ages, and finally found a copy!) and Howard Pyle's King Arthur (my library didn't have Roger Lancelyn Green's, so the decision on which to read first was easy) up next.

Hello! Don't like to be the obnoxious self-promo one so I don't do this very often, but if you've got any interest in reading poetry, I just released my third collection. It's called Broken Body Fragile Heart and it's out on Kindle today (paperback and other ebooks coming soon).

So, y'know, if you want a relatively quick read to add to your shelves, that exists? I would LOVE it if some people could check it out. I've written a post answering any questions anyone might have about it here -- with any luck that'll encourage you rather than put you off. :)

Okay, back to the topic of the post. I haven't been reading much because formatting is crazy hard work, but I've read a handful of non-fiction books ahead of going to uni at the end of this week (!!!!). So, that's what I've been up to.

I haven't been in here for a really long time. I recently added a could books I've read, Sandstorm and The Bad Beginning, and now I'm reading (and very much liking so far) Doctor Who: Engines of War.

(So that also means I added Sandstorm in a different month than when I read it, Aubrey. Idk if that affects giveaways or anything.)

I just watched Phantom of the Opera for the first time (the 25th anniversary performance, which is on Netflix) and I loved it. I'm curious about the book now, especially since it's free on kindle, but I'm a little hesitant. Has anyone read it? What is the level of adult content?

The book is old and weird, but not objectionable or offensive. There is no adult content. The phantom is a bit more vampire-ish then in the movie but since he's not actually a vampire there's nothing really creepy or dark. I actually recommend reading it as it gives some interesting back story that's glossed over in most of the adaptations.

I for myself have just finished reading The Name of the Wind and A Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, both of which were excellent. I then knocked out the third Harry Potter book, and am currently halfway through "City of Bones" with which I am decidedly unimpressed.

I'm also taking recommendations for urban fantasy from anyone who has them, since that's the genre I'm writing in for Nanowrimo.

I haven't read it... somebody I know complains about every existing translation ever and is working on translating it themselves, but I'm afraid I can't offer an opinion on content. It's old, so they tend to skirt around anything 'adult' and just insinuate everything instead of saying it outright, but that's just guesswork.

The fact that it's an old French book and Victor Hugo didn't shy away from adult content is what made me wonder, but if there isn't any, I may give it a try. I can definitely see the Phantom being darker in a book than in a musical, but I don't know if that would bother me any. I can't read or speak French, beyond some ballet words, so I'm stuck with a translation. :)

We may need to define "adult content." Victor Hugo certainly didn't shy away from serious material (most notbaly in the Hunchback of Notre Dame) but there wasn't any /content./ I read the unabridged Hunchback when I was fifteen.

That said, Phantom is a completely different type of book than Hugo's work. It's more similar to the gothic romance novels that were popular at the time, such as those written by the bronte sisters.

Well, there was a scene in Hunchback I skipped because it looked like it was going in a bad direction, and when my mom read it, she said it did. So, anything beyond some kissing would make me uncomfortable. For instance, Hunger Games is pretty much as far as I'm willing to go on content. I'm not willing to read Divergent.

I did read and very much enjoy Jane Eyre.

Katie wrote: "I'm also taking recommendations for urban fantasy from anyone who has them, since that's the genre I'm writing in for Nanowrimo. "

The one series I've read that I think could be described as "urban fantasy" that I could stand to finish was Diane Duane's "Young Wizards" series, beginning with So You Want to Be a Wizard. (Caveats: Later books, as books in YA series by non-Christian authors, pushed the "mature content" envelope a little. And the worldbuilding does a more creditable job than most of the "all religions are true" trope.) There's also a spinoff series with cats as its POV characters, The Book of Night with Moon and To Visit the Queen.

Most of my favourite urban fantasy novels are not that popular generally - a lot of them are early examples of the genre so now they seem like clichés. But I would always recommend Holly Black. Her more recent works - Curse Workers and The Coldest Girl In Coldtown - are not entirely urban fantasy. They're set in the modern day, but a kind of alternate version of this world where magic / vampires respectively are known and accepted. Her earlier ones, like Tithe, are very much more traditional: everyday world, plus fairies. However, particularly in Tithe she doesn't stay away from adult content (as far as I remember the others aren't so noticeable for that), as is often the case with urban fantasy. I love Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle and that's urban fantasy. Book three comes out this month.

Read a B M Bower book yesterday, "Sawtooth Ranch". (Don't tell anyone... I read the whole thing at work. I promise, I was working too.)

Anyone else here doing NaNo?

I'm doing NaNo.

Want to be writing buddies?

Sure! My username on there is delorfinde. :)

So how's everyone doing on their yearly challenges? I have to wait until finals week is over to update my goodreads, but I think I should hit my goal of 50 books this year! If not, I still have some time to catch up.

Surprised by Love - Julie Lessman

The Princess Spy - Melanie Dickerson

I beat mine, yay. Now that my uni term is finished, I actually have time to read, so I'm partway through my 99th book of the year.