What Books Are You Reading?

[Talon Karrde]

Been reading The Spirit of St. Louis: A HIstory of the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns by Peter Golenbock. This book is about 600 pages and kinda hard to lug around, so I read it every opportunity I get. So far, I'm 250 pages into it and loving the book. I love Golenbock's style of writing. Being a big baseball fan, I love reading about the old greats and recent favorites. This book spans from the Browns inception to the Cardinals of today (well, of 1999 anyway - that's when the book was published).

Just finished reading a hillarious side dish - Sex Kittens: Single Cats Seeking Same by Chris Akins. Imagine if cats put out singles ads. Between the pictures and the creative writing that accompanies them, this book is non-stop laughter for every page turned!

[Justine]

I am currently reading Farscape Forever! a collection of essays analyzing my favorite television show. It is very good and very clever...and since most of the people writing are science fiction writers themselves, I think I'm going to look into their work!

[Talon Karrde]

Finished The Spirit of St. Louis and have now moved on to the third installment of the Star Wars: Dark Nest series, The Swarm War by Troy Denning. In this installment, Luke Skywalker seeks to unite the Jedi Order whose members have become ever distant from each other due to differing opinions about the Killiks, the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi's role in the universe at large. In addition to this, Luke still seeks more information about his mother and her death. The answers are still locked in R2-D2's files, but a gift from an old friend promises to reveal the truth. In the midst of all of this, Luke discovers that Jacen has changed drastically. In his five year search for guidance and knowledge, Jacen may have begun a journey toward darkness that could threaten the entire galaxy.

So far, this is a fast read - I've just begun the book and am already on page 91. Unfortunately, in addition to the pesky Killik traits exhibited by some of our favorite Jedi, Denning has decided to bring back the equally annoying Squibs. So far, I'm thoroughly absorbed in the story, but will the Squibs and the Joiner-like Jedi be annoying enough to make me hate this book? I certainly hope not!

[Talon Karrde]

Like I said, the Star Wars book was a quick read. I have now moved on to Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. It's the story of a young girl who, after the death of her mother, is forced to leave her home town of Yoroido, Japan and move to Kyoto. Here, she learns the art of being a geisha and becomes one of the most reknowned of her time.

The book is intriguing to say the least...and well written - within a few pages, you find yourself caring about this child's outcome and what the future has in store for her. The book does an excellent job in explaining the Japanese culture. So far, I've only read forty or so pages, but I'm loving this book.

[Talon Karrde]

Breezed through a couple of small books this week before starting a fairly large one. I read One World, One Heart, a poetry book that preaches unity through humanity, written by Susan Polis Schutz. I also read Pets' Letters to God as translated by Mark Bricklin. That was extremely cute and rather funny.

Now, I have begun reading Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. I just started it yesterday and I must say, it's quite a fast read. I love Dicken's sarcasm and wry sense of humor. Poor orphaned Oliver Twist has never known happiness...never known anything but pain and starvation. When he brashly asks for more food, his parish offers him out for apprenticeship, actually paying someone to take him on and relieve them of their burden. He begins an apprenticeship with the local undertaker. Though the job is not exactly pleasant, Oliver finds he has the skills to succeed, but treachery seems to follow him wherever he goes. I am now on the part when Oliver leaves his apprenticeship and tries striking out on his own.

[Talon Karrde]

Moving right along, I am now reading yet another Star Wars book. This one is a compilation of 5 Young Jedi Knight stories entitled The Rise of the Shadow Academy. It chronicles the Solo children's adventures while at the Jedi Academy on Yavin. Right now, I'm about halfway through the first book, Heirs of the Force. So far, we have been introduced to new young Jedi that are staying at the Academy with the Solos. One of the new Jedi trainees, Lowbacca, has made an interesting discovery out in the jungle - an Imperial TIE Fighter believed to have been shot down when the first Death Star made its approach on the rebel base at Yavin.

It's a young adults level book, but I'm reading it anyway since it's part of the continuum and many of the events that occur in these novels have profound affects on how these characters act as adults in later novels. So far, it's a quick read. The characters are quirky and there are a couple of laughs here and there. Hopefully, things will get better as I go along.

[Justine]

I am reading a collection of essays from BlackBook magazine entitled "The Revolution will be Accessorized!" It is very witty and thought provoking. Some essays from it were assigned for my English class that just concluded, but I found it so interesting, I decided to read the whole thing!

[Talon Karrde]

I have begun reading The Twelfth Card by Jeffery Deaver in between stories from The Rise of the Shadow Academy to sort of break things up a tad. Mr. deaver has an incredible way with words. The reader is instantly captivated by his writing. After reading the first page, you're instantly hooked. This is yet another in the Lincoln Rhyme series - I just love this series! In this installment, someone is attempting to kill a 16-year-old girl in an attempt to keep her from searching for the truth about her ancestry. I'll be interested to see why someone would want a teenager dead just for researching an ancestor who lived in the 1800s.

[Talon Karrde]

Wow! Haven't posted here in a while!

Well, I finished The Twelfth Card - terrific Lincoln Rhyme book! Maybe the best one of the series!

I went on to read the second story in the Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights: The Rise of the Shadow Academy. That installment, entitled Shadow Academy, is about the rise of a new Dark Jedi Academy begun by Brakiss, a spy for the Empire and former student of Luke Skywalker. Dathomir's long-banished Nightsisters are also involved in this Shadow Academy. This can only spell trouble for our Young Jedi as members are being kidnapped by the Empire in an effort to swing them to the dark side. The tale was interesting - we got to see more of Tenel Ka, who is always an intriguing character. And it was nice to learn more about Brakiss as well.

While I was reading The Shadow Academy, I also read the Birds of Prey: THe Battle Within trade paperback - awesome!

Now, I'm reading Teacher Man by Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes and 'Tis. This is the third installment of Frank McCourt's infamous memiors. I've only just begun and I can tell that this book is going to be just as enjoyable as the others.

[Talon Karrde]

Just finished reading Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones and have moved on to The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow by Fuyumi Ono.

In Sea of Shadow, high-schooler Yoko Nakajima considers herself to be ordinary, despite the shock of red hair that cascades down her back. She was ordinary, that is, until a recurring dream comes true and she is swept away to another land where she supposedly is a great warrior with a magical sword.

The Twelve Kingdoms is a highly popular series of books in Japan. This is the first book to be released in America. I have just begun to read the +450-page novel, but it appears to be a fast read. So far, I'm enjoying it.

[Talon Karrde]

Wow! I forgot to post in here!

Finished reading The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow and moved on to Blood Ties Book Two: Possessions by Jennifer Armintrout. In Possessions, Carrie, once a promising doctor until she was turned, is starting to become accustomed to life as a vampire. That is, until her second sire becomes possessed by his own demons and her first sire is raised from the dead. Add to that the fact that her first sire's father is doing his damnest to complete a spell that will make him some sort of God. Oh, and let's not forget that the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement has sent an assassin out to hunt down Nathan (her second sire) to prevent him from harming anyone else. Yeah, Carrie's having a bad day. This was a great book - lots of action, steamy in all the right places, and plenty of drama. The book's ending is open, letting you know that those unresolved issues are probably going to be taken up in Book Three.

Now, I'm going back to reading more Star Wars Young Jedi Knights: The Rise of the Shadow Academy.

[Talon Karrde]

Going through books like water here!

Read three already since I last posted:

The Beast House by Richard Laymon - Located in Malcasa Point, California, Beast House was toted to be one of the most horrific haunted houses of all time. It is said that the beast who has killed countless residents and visitors still roams within the house in search of his next victim. Controversial horror writer Gorman Hardy receives some inside information about the house which leads him to believe that a book about Beast House would be an immediate best seller. He travels to Malcasa Point to check it out. Meanwhile, Tyler and Nora are traveling to Malcasa Point to find an old flame. They are directed to Beast House by an old drunken codger who assures them they can find their man there. Are the occurences at Beast House for real? Does a beast still reside within? Or are the stories about Beast House just that - stories?

Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights: The Darkest Knight - The Young Jedi head off to Kashyyk to assist Lobacca in aiding his sister in her Wookie trials. Unbeknownst to them, newly trained Dark Jedi Zekk is on his way to the same planet to raid it of computer components...and to rid the galaxy of the Young Jedi!

Catwoman: The Life and Times of a Femme Fatale - a tongue in cheek look at the DC comic character Catwoman - her career as a master thief, her history with Batman, and more.

I've just begun reading Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: The Second Summer. So far, it's just as fast a read as the original. It would seem that the girls had been planning to spend this summer together, with the exception of Tibby who was going to take media classes out of state. However, mistress of the spur of the moment Bridgette turns their summer on its ear by announcing that she is traveling to see a grandmother that hasn't been in her life in years.

[Talon Karrde]

Oops! Been so busy that I forgot to post here! Well, I finished the Second Summer of the Traveling Pants and moved on to You on a Diet by Doctors Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz. You on a Diet is a new, more humorous and easier to understand view of how to go on a diet. The book explains how food is digested and where certain ingredients end up, etc. Was interesting and a fairly fast read.

Then, I moved on to the final story in The Rise of the Shadow Academy compilation entitled Jedi Under Siege. In this tale, the Shadow Academy attacks Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. As Luke's young jedi fight to survive the onslaught, hidden potentials are realized, secrets are revealed and lives are forever changed. Finished that in a couple of days.

Now it's on to Bums by Peter Golenbock about one of my favorite baseball teams, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

[Talon Karrde]

I just finished reading Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers by Peter Golenbock. That was a fun read! Loved Golenbock's style - he supplies facts mixed in with quotes from players, fans, members of the organization, reporters, etc. That way, you get the whole picture, not just a one-sided portrayal of the team.

Now, I'm on to Star Wars: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn. This novel is set a short time after the destruction of the first Death Star. Han Solo is trying to decide just where his allegiances lie as the Rebellion continues to request his assistance on various missions. Luke Skywalker has thoroughly thrown in his lot with the Rebellion and continues to fawn over the beauty of Princess Leia. Meanwhile, a stormtrooper contingent suddenly defects from the Empire after a series of massacres that have them wondering what happened to the Empire they signed on with. And while all of this is going on, newly appointed Emperor's Hand, Mara Jade, is tracking down the rest of a cache of stolen art that she discovered at a corrupt Moff's headquarters. I love Timothy Zahn's writing and am already 61 pages into this novel. This is one fill-in novel that I can't wait to get back to!

[shananigan]

SoBeLoVer - if you like Dan Brown, I think "Deception Point" is his best work.

Also, if you like Dan Brown, Steve Berry is just as good. "The Amber Room" is good, but "The Romanov Prophecy" is brilliant.

I am currently reading "You on a Diet" for me. Very interesting and easy read.

"Mizora: A World of Women", "Walden Two", "Woman on the Edge of Time", "The Handmaid's Tale", and "Herland" for my feminist utopia/dystopia literature class. Let me tell you, these books are interesting, but also dreadfully dull and so hard to get through. Maybe it's because I have to read them for class? I dunno.

I can't wait to reread the Harry Potter books so that I can read the final installment. I like to have continuity between books.