Into the Forest discussion

I'm reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment. Tolkien is so awesome, I've just met Strider and the book is really sucking me in. I've seen the movie a thousand times but the book adds so much depth.

Lila wrote: "I loved Snow Child too! Has it really been 4 years already that we read it as a group read here?"

I rounded up since "3 years 10 months" might've made me seem slightly obsessed. LOL

Yes, for anyone in this group who hasn't read The Snow Child, read it! If memory serves, most of our members, who participated in the discussion, rated it 4 stars and up.

Margaret, a perfect fit for January; although, aren't you down south? I remember it was freezing and snowy outside when I read it, which definitely reinforced the book's atmosphere. If I didn't already have a gazillion books planned for January - March I'd re-read it during Winter 2017.

I just finished a terrific collection of fairy-tale retellings: The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales. Next up, The Nutcracker.

Leah wrote: "Margaret, a perfect fit for January; although, aren't you down south? I remember it was freezing and snowy outside when I read it, which definitely reinforced the book's atmosphere."

Yes, but the last few January's have gotten down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and have been incredibly icy. This winter is supposed to be more mild this time, though it's currently colder than the average temp.

I'm not far enough south for the mild weather, though I know it's not as cold here as in the North!

Leann wrote: "I'm reading The Snow Child and loving it."

I really enjoyed The Snow Child. It was a quiet sort of book, but lovely. I kept wondering though if there were myth/folklore elements that I was missing, because it had such a strong folklore feel to it.

Finished Station Eleven (very good indeed), and am not taking a fluff break to read Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries.

Robert wrote: "I'm reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment. Tolkien is so awesome, I've just met Strider and the book is really sucking me in. I've seen the movie a thousand times but the book adds ..."

Is this the first time you've read it? If so, I envy you coming at it fresh. I've read it so many times; I still love it, but now it's like an old comfy sweater as opposed to a shiny new toy :)

Leah wrote: "I just finished a terrific collection of fairy-tale retellings: The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales."

ooh, that looks good...

Michele wrote: "Robert wrote: "I'm reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment. Tolkien is so awesome, I've just met Strider and the book is really sucking me in. I've seen the movie a thousand times but..."

First time! Ive read the Hobit of course, but as good as that is it doesnt compare in the writing style. What a great book, I'm hooked, and where was Tom Bombadillio in the movieo? What a classic character!

I remember being sooo disappointed that they cut Tom Bombadil the first time I watched Fellowship! I couldn't process the rest of the movie I was so upset (that first time watching). I now understand why the story needed to be streamlined for film, but I love Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry!

Margaret wrote: "I remember being sooo disappointed that they cut Tom Bombadil the first time I watched Fellowship! I couldn't process the rest of the movie I was so upset (that first time watching). I now understa..."

I disliked the deletion of Tom Bombadil, but not as much as what was done with Faramir in the second film.

Shomeret wrote: "but not as much as what was done with Faramir in the second film. "

That makes me angry every time.

Finished Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries. Next up, I think, Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain.

Robert wrote: "What a great book, I'm hooked, and where was Tom Bombadillio in the movieo? What a classic character!"

Ha! I know, I was really disappointed that they didn't have time to include him. He's a fascinating character -- and every time I read that part, I want to chant his lines out loud :)

Michele wrote: "Finished Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries. Next up, I think, Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain."

Bridget Jones was on that list of 100 books you should read to be well read. Do you agree? I have not read it. I saw the movie and thought it was funny, but did not feel I had to read the book.

Please let us know how you like the science fiction from Latin America and Spain. We had Latin America on our challenge and it was not easy finding speculative or mythic fiction. Is it all pure Sci Fi?

Lila wrote: "Bridget Jones was on that list of 100 books you should read to be well read. Do you agree? I have not read it. I saw the movie and thought it was funny, but did not feel I had to read the book. "

I'd say yes. I thought the first book was tremendously funny and well-done. It's an updated retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which does not come through as well in the movie but is cleverly and amusingly done in the book. And of course it's a pithy and humorous and rather touching look at how hard it is to be single in your thirties :)

Please let us know how you like the science fiction from Latin America and Spain. We had Latin America on our challenge and it was not easy finding speculative or mythic fiction. Is it all pure Sci Fi?

So far, yes, although the very early ones (the book is arranged chronologically) from the 19th c. are a bit more like fantasy, since the underlying science hadn't really been invented yet :)

Margaret wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "but not as much as what was done with Faramir in the second film. "

That makes me angry every time."

It does and it doesn't for me. I get, on one level, why because the struggle is more internal so having Faramir struggle in the film makes sense from a film point. But the reader in me gets pissed off. Though I keep laughing at Sam's "we shouldn't be here" line. Now the lack of a thrush in the Hobbit when Bard shoots Smaug - I want an ax. Truly.

Chris wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "but not as much as what was done with Faramir in the second film. "

That makes me angry every time."

It does and it doesn't for me. I get, on one level, why beca..."

The lack of a thrush in the Hobbit infuriates me beyond measure. Half the time were in smaug's lair I kept thinking "You spent this much on CGI and couldn't spare a few extra $$ for the poor Thrush?" FAIL Peter Jackson. Big fail.

Lila wrote: "Michele wrote: "Finished Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries. Next up, I think, Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain."

Bridget ..."

I disagree that Bridget Jones's Diary contributes in any way to being well read. I did actually read it, waiting in an airport, it took less than an hour, I didn't so much as chuckle and found it to be poorly written.

If you come from a similar background to the main character maybe it is funny. For me, it was awkward and unfunny.

Interesting to see the comments on Bridget Jones! I'm skeptical of the book too, so I always cringe when I see it on a "You MUST read this right now!" type list... But then, I'm not generally a fan of funny books.

We're supposed to get a big cold snap overnight (It's 80 outside right now, but it's supposed to get down to freezing by morning!) and I'm crossing my fingers that it'll finally put me in the mood to read some of our Christmas themed reads...

For now, I've picked up Inferno again, and as much as I do want to finish it by the end of the year, it's not really full of Christmas cheer.

Deborah wrote: "Chris wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "but not as much as what was done with Faramir in the second film. "

That makes me angry every time."

It does and it doesn't for me. I get, on one l..."



I was mentioning "there better be a thrush" in a class once before the last Hobbit movie opened. A student who worked at a theater sent me an email with " and there were these people muttering about the missing thrush when they left, it must be really important."

Deborah wrote: "The lack of a thrush in the Hobbit infuriates me beyond measure. Half the time were in smaug's lair I kept thinking "You spent this much on CGI and couldn't spare a few extra $$ for the poor Thrush?" FAIL Peter Jackson. Big fail.
."

For me, that last Hobbit movie was almost unbearable to watch, the thrush being one of many reasons.

I'm only 50 pages in, but I think others here would enjoy The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson. The protagonist is a middle-aged woman on a quest to find a runaway student. She's on foot, travelling through some dangerous territory, her only companion a cat who saw Vellitt leaving and decided to follow her.

ETA 12/26: I finished this on 12/23; it's a really quick read especially if you get into it like I did. By the way, Vellitt is actually 55. Not sure if that's considered "middled-aged" or senior nowadays, but I love reading stories with characters over 30 having adventures. :)

For those of you interested in "reading" the visual arts, I highly recommend Portraits: John Berger on Artists. It's a wonderful book. In addition to discussing artists and their art, Berger shares his thoughts on life and a host of other subjects. It's a fascinating read. I've been dipping in and out of it for a few weeks while simultaneously reading other books. I finally finished it and posted my review on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my website at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com

Deborah wrote: "The lack of a thrush in the Hobbit infuriates me beyond measure. Half the time were in smaug's lair I kept thinking "You spent this much on CGI and couldn't spare a few extra $$ for the poor Thrush?" FAIL Peter Jackson. Big fail. "

+100 to this.

Leah wrote: "I'm only 50 pages in, but I think others here would enjoy The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson. The protagonist is a middle-aged woman on a quest to find a ..."

Kij Johnson is great. Didn't know about this one, glad you mentioned it!

Melanti wrote: "For now, I've picked up Inferno again, and as much as I do want to finish it by the end of the year, it's not really full of Christmas cheer."

Ha! No, not really. Though the plain of ice in the center would at least get you in the right weather frame of mind ;)

My reading's been all over the place lately, going from Kindred by Octavia E. Butler to Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip to In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton ( considered a classic in Canada on the indigenous Canadians), to Nutcracker and now Solstice Wood. the follow up to Winter Rose.
I've enjoying everything ,although The Nutcracker the least because of all the mice.

Lila wrote: "I also am looking forward to reading To the Bright Edge of the World. It's my understanding it's historical fiction and not fairy tale based, but regardless I enjoy Eowyn Ivey's writing style! ..."

I just started To The Bright Edge of the World and am loving it!

It does read more like historical fiction than The Snow Child did, but there's a folklore element to the story (animal people/shapeshifting). It's not central to the story like it was in her previous book, but it does exist.

It's also told in an epistolary style - diaries and letters, mostly - but also newspaper clippings, official log books, vintage advertisements, etc.

In retrospect, I probably ought to have waited until the weather is cool enough to not be wearing shorts and a tank top while reading it (which was the whole reason I didn't read it immediately), but reading about an Alaskan winter did more to put me into a Christmas sort of mood than anything else this year!

Hello, first-time poster Patrick Murtha here, hailing from Queretaro, Mexico, where I teach English in my semi-retirement. I'm 58, single, a graduate of Yale (BA in American Studies) and Boston University (Master of Arts in Teaching). I'm interested in traditional folklore as well as modern fantasy and horror writing that tends towards the literary side.

Patrick wrote: "Hello, first-time poster Patrick Murtha here, hailing from Queretaro, Mexico, where I teach English in my semi-retirement. I'm 58, single, a graduate of Yale (BA in American Studies) and Boston Uni..."

Welcome to Into the Forest Patrick! Here is the link to our Introductions thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm switching between a variety of books right now. My main read is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Absolutely loving it.

Also reading Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

and in between those I'm reading East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales From the North for some light reading.

Once those are up I plan to start Hungarian Folk Tales.

Lastly, I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Audiobook while cleaning/cooking etc.

I'd heard a lot about it and finally got to read Susan Sontag's Regarding the Pain of Others, a critique of photographs of war and human suffering. Not exactly a cheerful read, but well-researched, well-written, and thought-provoking. My review on goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my website at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com

Rachel wrote: "I'm switching between a variety of books right now. My main read is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Absolutely loving it."

Is it possible to do that subtly lol?!

Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I'm switching between a variety of books right now. My main read is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Absolutely loving it."

Is it possible to do that subtly lol?!"

My tactic is to smile, nod, and daydream. Alas, this is often too subtle. Scenarios in which I don't give a f*ck tend to repeat themselves...haha.

I am currently halfway through Hogfather (enjoying it, though not quite so much as some of his other Discworld novels) and about 2/3rds through The Boy Who Lost Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente. I'd put off reading The Boy Who Lost Fairyland because it has a new main character, but I actually think it may be my favorite of the series! I'm really enjoying it!

I have a stack of books I received for Christmas: The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales, Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology; Beyond the Woods: Fairy Tales Retold; A Monster Calls; The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home; and Fantasmas: Supernatural Stories by Mexican American Writers. Not sure which I'll read first, once I finish The Boy Who Lost Fairyland!

For my kindle, once I finish Hogfather I need to read Uncanny Magazine Issue 13: November/December 2016; In Calabria; and The Djinn Falls in Love & Other Stories.

So much to read!

Margaret wrote: "I have a stack of books I received for Christmas: ... The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home; ..."

I bought that when it first came out and STILL haven't gotten around to reading it!


I finished To The Bright Edge of the World yesterday, which I really, really enjoyed.

Now I've started In Calabria which will almost catch me up on Netgalley.


I was browsing around and I see there's a new Tanith Lee collection coming out - Redder than Blood. It's supposed to be a companion to Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer. It's going to be mostly reprints with a couple previously unpublished stories. I'm curious to see what's in it and if I'e read any of them.

Lila wrote: "My reading's been all over the place lately, going from Kindred by Octavia E. Butler to Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip to In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton ( considered a classic in Canada on the indigenous Canadians)..."

I discovered In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton last month. I happened upon "Celebrating Indigenous Book Club Month" and my TBR pile groaned because it could sense the number of books about to be added. :)

Michele wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I'm switching between a variety of books right now. My main read is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Absolutely loving it."

Is it possible to do that subtly lol?!"


Hahaha! As someone who grew up having to always be the "nice" person, it was so refreshing to read. Especially when dealing with things not going your way. One example in the book is about the guy who was fired from the beatles right before they went big. It emphasized how he dealt with that rejection (not only the fame and fortune, but from his friends too). Then talked about how he learned to move on with his life without it eating at him for decades more. AKA, no longer giving a f*ck.

Hi, I've just recently joined this group. I've a number of books on the go at present. The most relevant to this group is probably Once Upon a Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale

Leah wrote: "Lila wrote: "I discovered In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton last month. I happened upon "Celebrating Indigenous Book Club Month" and my TBR pile groaned because it could sense the number of books about to be added. :) "

Parts of In Search of April Raintree are hard to read, but it's very good! Just be sure to read the original. Beatrice Culleton later did a sanitized version in order for it to be read in schools but it was heavily criticized for losing its essence.

J.S. wrote: "Hi, I've just recently joined this group. I've a number of books on the go at present. The most relevant to this group is probably Once Upon a Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale"

Welcome JS!
Ever since we read From the Beast to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers I've been wanting to read something else by Marina Warner.

Over the holidays I read Solstice Wood by Patricia A. McKillip. It is the sequel to Winter Rose and really satisfied my craving for myth and magic!
Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished My Land Sings by Rudolfo Anaya, a delightful collection of tales from Hispanic New Mexico. I highly recommend it for everyone who wants to read tales that are a little different!

Margaret wrote: "I am currently halfway through Hogfather (enjoying it, though not quite so much as some of his other Discworld novels)..."

Yay Hogfather! Has some great quotes in it.

Currently reading Great Expectations for the first time and enjoying it greatly. Much funnier than I expected.

The group read polls are up!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

Finished Great Expectations, then re-read Sheri Tepper's Gibbon's Decline and Fall (SO good, though more frightening than I remembered, given current events). Tepper is one of my favorite authors; so sad that she died this year.

So now, Rage by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) which I have never read! He let it go out of print on purpose, apparently, and I can see why :/

Finished and and not moving onto and

Shannon wrote: "Finished and and not moving onto a..."


The Incredible Journey is a book!?! How did I never know that! I loved that movie growing up.

I just finished The Alchemist and am working towards finishing up Critical Conversations and East of the Sun, West of the Moon today.

I've started The Djinn Falls in Love & Other Stories.

The intro says is that the Gaiman story isn't actually a story. It's just an excerpt from American Gods, which is disappointing. IMO, excerpts generally don't stand alone nearly as well as editors seem to think they do.

Oh well. It's been nearly a decade since I read that, so I don't even remember the chapter in question, so maybe it'll stand alone wonderfully.


I've also started The Grass-Cutting Sword, which is the last novella I need to finish off Myths of Origin.

Then the last book I've got going is One Hundred Years of Solitude.

This year so far I've read Alex + ADA: The Complete Collection, which is a lovely graphic novel about a lonely young man who acquires a robot. It's lovely to look at, and very well written too.

Half the Way Home: A Memoir of Father and Son worked for me because I spent five days at the author and his father's Adirondack Great Camp in November.

Blind Man's Bluff was fun because I used to read the New Frontier series, which was never on television, though some of the characters have been in different Trek variations.

I'm currently reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I'm enjoying how much it is about the love of books. I'm reading it for my RL book group, but I think it will fit one of the Read Harder challenges this year: to read a book about books.

I also did not know the Incredible Journey was based on a novel! As a small child it was one of my favourite films!

I just finished To The Bright Edge of the World and although I think Eowyn Ivey's writing is brilliant, I am not as enthralled as other reviewers were. I much preferred The Snow Child. I was disturbed by the way the native Alaskans were treated by the explorers. I am well aware that the European settlers found themselves superior, and to have them depicted any other way would not have been historically accurate, nevertheless it left a bad after taste!

I am now reading The Falling Woman by Pat Murphy . Set in Yucatan, it's about an archeologist who see the ghosts at the sites she is working on and is able to hear their voices.

Lila wrote: "I am well aware that the European settlers found themselves superior, and to have them depicted any other way would not have been historically accurate, nevertheless it left a bad after taste! ..."

I think that might have been one reason to include the running commentary from the contemporary Walt & Josh - so that the historically accurate viewpoint didn't go completely unchallenged.