Flights of Fantasy discussion

Mods sleeping on the job again, I see... 9 days into August, and it just dawned on me we didn't have a new thread. ;)


I'm currently doing a reread of the Ranger's Apprentice series, thanks to Felina, and I'm on Book 5.

I had put it aside for a short while, though, to read The Steep & Thorny Way. I'm a bit torn on this book.

In the good side, while it's billed as a re-imagining of Hamlet, it definitely goes it's own way after about 25%, and what I thought was going to be tres predictable actually took some turns... so that's to the good.

It deals with a lot of societal issues, particularly racism, as Hanalee is a child of mixed heritage in 1920s Oregon, when the KKK was in the forefront of politics.

The downside is kind of the same issue I've had with all of Winters' books, though. The characters never feel fleshed out enough, and the dialogue often fails the tin ear test.

Winters is one of those authors that I like, but unless her writing style improves, I'm afraid I'll never love her and always be hesitant in recommending her books...

Currently concentrating on Catacomb (Asylum #3). This series is strangely addicting, considering how little I thought of the last two books (mostly because the series keeps supplying more questions than answers).

Nicki wrote: "I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I'm going to save my commentary for the group discussion next month, particularly since I think I need some time to organise my thoughts on..."

I'm reading it now for a challenge. I'm very "meh" about it. I'm dying to talk about it!

I'm reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planetand enjoying it very much. Fun fast read.

I'm getting scared to read Cursed Child...

I think I'm gonna treat it like fan fiction, if I do read it.

I just need to read it asap, or stay off Goodreads until I do. Especially with the new layout. It's like waiting two weeks to watch a current Walking Dead episode and trying to avoid spoilers.

Nicki wrote: "I think going in with that mindset is a good approach. I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I'd done that, and not gotten too caught up in the 'Rowling says it's the official eighth story' hype."

Agreed!

Chris wrote: "I just need to read it asap, or stay off Goodreads until I do. Especially with the new layout. It's like waiting two weeks to watch a current Walking Dead episode and trying to avoid spoilers."

I know this is not the place to bitch about the new layout, but the new feed is the worse for spoilers! I'm trying to give it a chance, but I really hate it.

Nothing's been spoiled for me about it, though I'm seeing more reactions that I would have preferred before reading. I'm looking away quickly or hitting the "Discussions" bookmark I made when I see this image splattered all over my screen:

Cool tip, Nicki....

I am currently reading Time Siege (sequel to Time Salvager) and enjoying it. I also am reading through some of the essays in The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction.

I'm having a hard time getting to the new HP because once I start it will then be over...again. Too sad.

There's always the movies coming out...

colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "I'm getting scared to read Cursed Child...

I think I'm gonna treat it like fan fiction, if I do read it."

You might like it more than most. I enjoy reading screenplays (when well written).

I finished reading Gridlinked this morning - it's a good science fiction novel cum thriller and was a four-star read for me. Although it has a slightly James Bondesque feel to it, it's set far into the future and on different planets.

I'm considering returning to The Other Nineteenth Century, a collection of weird short stories set in an alternative nineteenth century that I'd abandoned waaaay back in 2003. But I might start something else instead....

So far in August I've read Heir of Novron, Midnight Tides, Schindler's List and A Crucible of Souls.

I'm halfway through the main Malazan series! I can't believe it, but I'm really loving the series and I'm sure it will easily be my favourite series, but I have to read all of them before saying so. :)

As for all the Cursed Child talk, I can't say I'm very interested to read it. I liked HP and thought the ending of the series was good. After that, I haven't been impressed with any reviews I've seen for Rowling's other books and I feel like she's only returning to HP because she hasn't had success with her other projects (again, based solely on reviews I have seen - I haven't read any of her newer stuff). Has anyone read her other books (either published under her name or as Galbraith)?

I haven't read any of Rowling's non-Potter stuff yet, but have 2 of them on the to-read list.

I'm currently reading The Aeronaut's Windlass . I've had some trouble with steampunk in the past--I find the ideas interesting but the execution has been another matter--but so far, I'm liking this. Butcher is so good at creating interesting characters.

So...

Out of curiosity...

Is anyone using the catch up month to actually catch up on any past group reads?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Oh, and I've read all of Rowling's non-Potter stuff.

The Casual Vacancy isn't really my thing, as I don't tend to read "social consciousness" books, but I thought she developed the characters really well, and it was a very touching and emotional book - though the set-up was definitely on the slow side, as she gave us glimpses into all the character's lives.

I enjoy the Galbraith, Robert books, though straight mysteries aren't generally my thing, either. As with much of her stuff, she develops really good main characters, and following the story with them and relating to them helps with some of the slower parts of the mystery.

That said, I really enjoyed the third book in the series. My face of the lot, so far - probably because it was a bit more suspense thriller and a bit less procedural.

Umm, I'm catching up on reading...

colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "Oh, and I've read all of Rowling's non-Potter stuff.

The Casual Vacancy isn't really my thing, as I don't tend to read "social consciousness" books, but I thought she developed the..."

Hubby plans to read those, I think. He prefers old "gumshoe" style mysteries but I'm clueless as to how to find those.

MrsJoseph wrote: "colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "Oh, and I've read all of Rowling's non-Potter stuff.

The Casual Vacancy isn't really my thing, as I don't tend to read "social consciousnes..."

I never know how to pick mystery books when I feel like reading one. My aunt loves mysteries and when she goes to the library, she chooses the ones with the funniest titles.

I really liked Casual Vacancy and the first Galbrath book. I've been meaning to get back to that series.

Jenna wrote: "I never know how to pick mystery books when I feel like reading one. My aunt loves mysteries and when she goes to the library, she chooses the ones with the funniest titles. "

I tend toward cozy mysteries and "historical" fiction ones. I like the ones which are sort of part mystery and part comedy of manners. In that regard, going for the funniest titles can be a winner. :>

SPeaking of comedy of manners - I started reading Penelope and I *think* it was (blurbed) to be something like that.

Instead it feels like historical slap stick and I've stopped.

End of Watch

colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "So...

Out of curiosity...

Is anyone using the catch up month to actually catch up on any past group reads?

Inquiring minds want to know!"

June set me way back on reading progress.

July sent me tailspinning down.

August shut it down to a slow trickle.

I'd like to say that Wesley is the reason my reading has slowed but for that t make sense he'd have to be 3 years old and not 5 months old.

Actually, I found it harder to read much when they were that young. Because sleep. And lack of makes for closed eyes on open book.

Felina wrote: "I'd like to say that Wesley is the reason my reading has slowed but for that t make sense he'd have to be 3 years old and not 5 months old."


There's also the fact that you were always slow... :P

I'm very lucky in that Wesley only wakes up twice a night. Around 2am and about 6am. So if I go to bed at a decent hour I can get a hot 5 hours in before he wakes up the first time then a nice little nap after. Last night he went 9 hrs on the first leg. The NICU was good for some things. Ha ha.

I started Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two this morning.

About 50 pages in: (view spoiler)[I'm trying to sympathize with Albus. I am. I mean, I am the child who doesn't relate well with my parents. Who my parents don't understand and I know they wish I was different... more like them.

But that doesn't change the fact at one point when I was reading it I was like, "Wow, and I thought Harry was a brat in OotP... "

I think maybe it just needed to be developed more - show us more about how they don't really relate to each other, aside from Albus being all put out at being "Harry Potter's son" (though I get how that could be annoying). (hide spoiler)]

colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "I started Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two this morning.

About 50 pages in: I'm trying to sympathize with Albus. I am. I mean, I am the child who doesn't relat..."


Regarding your spoiler:
(view spoiler)[ I didn't quite get this though. Albus's feelings seem to stem more from the legacy of his name than anything else. James, being the first of HP's son, you would think he would have more pressure on him, but they seem to get along just fine. Plus, James seems more well adjusted. I agree that Albus comes off as a brat right from the start and it made it hard for me to sympathize with him. (hide spoiler)]

I sort of agree, Jackie. But (view spoiler)[I think it's not as much an issue for James because him and Harry are more similar - or at least they seem to be. Even Harry says he wishes Albus was more like James and Lily, because he understands them. (And that line had me fucking confused for a second, 'cause I was thinking he was wishing Albus was more like his mom and dad. These fucking names, man.) (hide spoiler)]

Oh man I want to read those spoilers.

I have been enjoying The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories. I love his writing style and story ideas.

Act III: So (view spoiler)[Cedric gets "humiliated" at the Triwizard Tourney, so turns into a Death Eater? WTF? (hide spoiler)]

colleen the fabulous fabulaphile wrote: "Act III: So [spoilers removed]"

LOL. Yeah, I know.

Also, what is up with (view spoiler)[McGonagall being headmistress and Hermione being Minister for Magic?

Rowling said in the past that McGonagall didn't stay headmistress after the battle because she was getting old, and Kingsley Shacklebolt is meant to be Minister for Magic!

If this book is meant to be canon, the least it could do is follow the stuff Rowling's already established! *grumble grumble* (hide spoiler)]

Ugh, the reply to spoilers seems not to be working for me right now...

Anyway, (view spoiler)[ I totally agree as I read the same thing too about McGonagall not staying headmistress. I believe that I had read Hermione was heading the Magical Creatures department or something along those lines, which made sense after finishing the series. It fit in with her character. Hermione as Minister for Magic didn't make sense to me. She's smart, but she didn't seem the type to want to be in charge like that.

The whole thing about not following Rowling's already established world is what annoyed me the most about this book. It frustrated me and pissed me off every time the characters would come into Hogwart's using floo powder!!! NO, JUST NO! How many times Hermione repeated the rules during the original series and now they're just coming in as they please?

To me the whole play just seems very inconsistent to the world Rowling established and that's why I had such a hard time with it. If this were fan fiction, I could let it pass. I would still think it's bad, but it would get a pass but to call this the 8th HP book is just a travesty, IMO. (hide spoiler)]

Yes! The (view spoiler)[floo powder thing annoyed me too, especially since when it happened in the original series it was very specifically mentioned to be a special one-time only thing.

(OF course, there's also the inconsistency that Sirius could floo his head into the Gryffindor fire... ) (hide spoiler)]

Felina wrote: "Oh man I want to read those spoilers."

LOL I was thinking this too!

What do you want to bet when we actually do the book in September that this thread ends up with a huge discussion and that one has naught but crickets? hehe

I started a thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Then y'all won't have to repeat yourselves too much when the group "officially" reads it :)

Thanks, Chris. I thought about doing that, but didn't want to step on any toes. :)

Chris wrote: "What do you want to bet when we actually do the book in September that this thread ends up with a huge discussion and that one has naught but crickets? hehe"

LOL But don't the mods close these monthly reading threads at the end of each month? If that happens, I could see lots of linking to this thread in subsequent topics.

Heh. Since it was my mod pick, they're my toes I guess.

Yeah, Greg. That's part of why I made a new thread for it.

Thanks, Chris! I really was trying to be good about not talking about it, but the frustration is soooo fresh. :(

<- Not trying to be good. Needed to vent.

Chris wrote: "Heh. Since it was my mod pick, they're my toes I guess.

Yeah, Greg. That's part of why I made a new thread for it."

Good idea! Only saw your post about that after posting my comment.