What Books Are You Reading?

[Justine]

I'm reading a romance book called A Magical Moment to review for the site. It's about these three best friends and when one of them dies, a hidden life is discovered! It kinda blows, so the review should be fun But maybe it will get better...

[Talon Karrde]

Having completed The New Jedi Order series, I have now moved on to Finity's End by C.J. Cherryh. I received this book long ago when I purchased a huge box of hardcover science fiction novels for a little under a dollar a book. Finity's End is one in a series of novels. Unfortunately, I only have this one. However, the author is not one to leave someone new to the series lost, so I am following along fairly well.

In this novel, the long war is at an end and war hero Captain James Robert Neihart returns to Pell to search for his lost cousin. But Fletcher Neihart is no longer on Pell Station. After much hard work and perserverance, he has received appointment to Downbelow. It is at Downbelow where Fletcher feels like less of an outcast, the native people (known as hisa) having saved him from himself when he was on Pell station.

When the Neiharts find Fletcher, he is reluctant to join them and resents them removing him from what he considers home. What's worse, Captain Neihart's journey will take Fletcher into danger as they try to create an uneasy truce between worlds.

The novel was a tad slow at first, but is picking up speed. So far, Fletcher is an intriguing character and I feel compelled to learn more about him.

[Talon Karrde]

Wow - haven't posted here in a while. So, I finished Finity's End. Was a pretty good read. I'm now in the middle of Star Wars: Book One by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids. This is a kids' book that was published in 1992. Book One contains three stories, complete with pictures, that continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker and the heroes of the rebellion.

The Empire is in a shambles after the death of the Emperor. In an effort to unite the Imperial powers, Grand Moff Hissa brings forth a man claiming to be the hidden son of the Emperor, a three-eyed mutant named Trioculus who has been ruthlessly running the space mines of Kessel for years. However, several factions of the Empire refuse to take Trioculus' claim to be the next Emperor seriously. To gain their respect and pledges of loyalty, Trioculus must perform several trials, the first of which is finding the Glove of Vader. It has been forseen by the Dark Prophets that the new dark leader will be the one to wear the glove from the severed hand of the sith lord. Trioculus' search for that glove puts him at odds with Luke Skywalker and thus begins the long-standing grudge Trioculus has against the young Jedi.

I'm midway through the book and I find that it's a fun read for kids and a great way to introduce the younger generation to the characters we all know and love.

[Talon Karrde]

Well, finished that Star Wars book, so I'll be rereading a blast from the past: Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I first read this book when I was in the fifth or sixth grade and I loved it. For those who don't remember, it is a book about censorship among other things. The main character, Guy, is a fireman, but in this day an age, a fireman doesn't extinguish fires. Instead he creates them, burning books per order of the government. Guy lives in a world where trivial knowledge is encouraged and thoughts and ideas are frowned upon. But Guy starts to wonder why it is so imperative to burn these books - what's in them that is so inflamatory that they must be destroyed. Guy begins to experience a change of heart...a yearning to save some of the books he is ordered to destroy. He begins hoarding some books and gets himself into a world of trouble. On the most wanted list, Guy goes into hiding and stumbles upon an underground ring bent on the preservation of knowledge.

I can't wait to read this book again!

[jpmessiah]

I am reading A Purpose Driven Life. It is a great book. There are 40 short chapters and you are supposed to read one chapter a day. By the end of the book, you should have a better understanding of what your purpose is on this world. So far, I have read four chapters and some of them are real eye openers. The first chapter was ok. It is basically telling you not to be self centered and that we live for God, not ourselves. So we should stop asking self centered questions. The second chapter really got me, because it is about how God made us the way we are for a reason so we should not be upset with our personality traits, looks or anything of that nature and it asks the question of you. Knowing that you are the way you are for a reason, that God made you this way, what part of your personality and so forth are you bothered by? That was a deep question. Chapter three was ok. It basically asks what drives you in life. What things do you find yourself driven by? And the fourth chapter basically explains that we are not living for an earthly life, but an eternal one and that the things we do today will greatly affect where we are eternally at the end of our earthly journey. This is a great book and I actually look forward to reading it each day. I can't wait to see the changes and what I feel like when my 40 days are completed.

[Talon Karrde]

Moving right along - I finished rereading Fahrenheit 451 and I must say that I'm glad I chose to read the 50th Anniversary Edition. There were items included at the end of the book that weren't in the original issue that I read. I especially enjoyed reading the interview with Ray Bradbury - truly insightful.

Time to move on to another new book. This time I've chosen I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. This novel is an autobiographical account of Maya Angelou's youth - the first in a five-part series. When Maya Angelou's parents decide to divorce, her father sends her and her brother to live in Arkansas with their grandmother. Life in Arkansas is not easy, but the lessons learned in those early years are ones that Maya carries with her into adulthood.

I've just begun reading this novel. It's an extremely fast read. It draws you in as completely as the poetry Maya Angelou is famous for.

[Talon Karrde]

I've begun a new book, just in time for the holidays: A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, and The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens. Did you know that Charles Dickens actually wrote 5 Christmas stories? I had no idea until I saw this book in the store. I just started it yesterday and am still in the middle of the fascinating intro. Reading about Dickens' history gives incredible insight into his characters and stories he created.

As a child, I'd read abridged versions of A Christmas Carol. I can't wait to read the full version. The only Charles Dickens novel (full version) that I've read is A Tale of Two Cities and that was incredible!

[Talon Karrde]

Yup, you guessed it. I'm reading a new book! I've now moved on to Star Wars: Book Two by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids. This is the sequel to the book I was reading in the beginning of December. In this children's Star Wars trilogy, The Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side has declared himself the new Emperor, proving himself extremely cunning. So far, I'm half way through the first story, Mission from Mount Yoda. The Supreme Prophet has decreed that all Duro artifacts shall be brought to him. The people of Duro beg the Alliance for help, fearing that their culture will be wiped out. Luke Skywalker and his friends embark on a mission from the Alliance's new secret base on Mount Yoda to stop the Dark Prophets from wiping out an entire race.

[Justine]

I've moved on to Wildwood Road, a book by my fave horror author Christopher Golden. As always with this author, I find that I am completely attached to the book thus far...and damn...why are children so DAMN creepy!

[arthurcross]

Blood Angel by Justine Musk. picked it up because my wife and the author have the same first name. The book, so far, not bad. Horror book. I'll let you know more when I'm done.
Pay it forward.

[Talon Karrde]

I am reading the Goats comic series by Jonathan Rosenberg. These are web-based comics compiled into 3 large books (4 volumes worth). I am currently reading volume 2 and finding it hillarious. Can't wait to review them! You can check out Jonathan Rosebberg's brand of humor at www.goats.com.

[Talon Karrde]

Well, finished the Goats books (all four volumes) and got quite a few good laughs out of them. Needing a lot of levity this week, I also read The Funny Thing Is... by Ellen Degeneres, The Book of Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley and the compelling sequel, Return of the Bunny Suicides.

Now that I am in quite a jolly mood, I have begun reading Take a Theif by Mercedes Lackey. This is a novel of Valdemir set during Queen Selenay's reign. Skif is a street urchin, stealing what he can to survive. He soon joins a band of thieving boys, and by the age of twelve, becomes a skilled cat burglar. However, it would seem that the Companions of Valdemir have a different future planned for Skif, a plan he discovers when he makes an attempt to steal one.

[Justine]

I'm actually in between books at the moment--I JUST finished reading Wildwood Road by my favorite horror writer Christoper Golden yesterday. Be ready for a review coming soon!

[shadowwalker]

Currently reading "Otherland" Vol2 "River of Blue Fire" very interesting read, just like vol 1. Part of why i like it is that a few of the characters are from South Africa, and Tad Williams (author) has done some awesome reasearch into South Africanisms and traditions.

[Justine]

Hey SW! Nice to see you here!!!

I'm currently reading many textbooks! LOL-Back to school is a bitch. But I am reading the Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, which is a great 80 page essential for any writer. Me LOVE!!