Fantasy galore! I'm on a reading kick, and these are the first three books I've read of seven that I borrowed from my trusted friend Ricki's personal stash.

There is a books vs. movies rant I made today in newsong, as well.

[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title: The Great Good Thing
Author: Roderick Townley
Genre: Fantasy/Reality crossover
Date: Fall 2007 (today in fact.)
Plot and/or Comments: So this was a good read. I felt like I wanted to improve it and change the direction of the story, which is not unusual for me. But I do really love the characters and the concept. For anyone who has read the book - I think my favourite character is Fangl. He made me smile every time. And I liked the characterizations of the King and Queen, but that's all I'll say so things don't get spoilery. It was really beautiful. It's a book I could see myself reading to a kid. There are a lot of death-related themes, which make the book very interesting on a philosophical level. Definitely worth a read for every Reader and Writer out there.

[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title:Howl's Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynn Jones
Genre: Fantasy
Date: Fall 2007
Plot and/or Comments:This is a book that needs to be read two or three times before comment. Partly this is because I read it too fast and too late and in too many parts, it's kind of patchwork in my head, so I can't tell if the things I feel like I missed were there or not... Even without that it's an excellent, well-crafted book. After one read, I am totally hooked on the storyline, and greatly desire a pair of seven-league boots. And possibly a moving castle? Calcifer was really neat. I want a sequel!!

[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title:Ella Enchanted
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Genre: Fairy-Tale Remakes
Date: Fall 2007
Plot and/or Comments:Really this is the kind of book that makes you "want one of him." The prince is truly Charming, and the girl is much more exciting than the original. The fairy book is a cool way to make everything omnicient... I loved everything except the shoes, even if it was done well. *sigh* I re-read the proposal letter about eighteen times. Please, readers, tell me I'm not the only one! What a beautiful bride you will be, whomever you marry at whatever age. And what a queen if I am the man! *heart flutterings*

All in all, three very good books. I am pleased in my book afterglow.

[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title: Thank You For Smoking (incomplete)
Author: Christopher Buckley
Genre: Novel, anti-heroes
Date: Partial read at McNally, end of Summer 2007
Plot and/or Comments: Dude, I was not expecting this book to be totally amazing. I read about forty pages of it in the store and I was hooked, but too poor to purchase the copy. I hope I can find time to read it. It dealt with a lot of neat issues, and the main character was fascinating. Definitely a solid member of my "To Read" list.

EDIT: Finished in Sept 2007 - I love, love, loved the ending. It was crazily wack, and yet I was thinking the whole time I should have seen it coming. I want to see the movie!!

[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title: Eclipse
Series: Twilight Series
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Vampire/Werewolf Fantasy
Date: Fall 2007
Plot and/or Comments: Um... I didn't really like a lot of the characters before reading this... and now I don't like anyone. I used to like Alice, now I hate her. I have always liked Jacob better than Edward, and perhaps it was just the mood I was in, but I really understood and in some cases took a perverse enjoyment in his vindictive bad attitude. My dislike for Rosalie is not quite as bad after hearing her backstory. But if the only parts I liked in the whole thing were backstory, well, there was precious little of that. I have to admit the tent scene was interesting... I just... HATE Bella! A love-lorn, vampire-breath baited idiot. Ugh. This story is so 15-years-old. I still like it just enough to read the next story in line. Maybe.

Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Postmodern Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Date: Fall 2007
Plot and/or Comments: Okay, this book was alright, there were a lot of really neat moments in it... But I can't help but wonder what all the fuss is about Neil Gaiman? This book is average at best, with a couple of more surprising twists that make it a little above average momentarily. To me it's postmodern, it's like recycled paper - everything has been rehashed too much. It's possible to write a really, really outstanding Fairy Tale. And Gaiman just doesn't cut it for me. I realize that he's cult classic, but I just don't see why. I think this would be a really good movie, though, so I hope to see that in theatres.

I have been reading. Hmmmm...

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[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Titles: Moon Called, Blood Bound
Series: Mercy Thompson Series
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Vampire/Werewolf/Shape-shifting = Fantasy
Date: Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments: I got into the vampires and werewolves genre slowly, and most of the slog you wade through the first few pages of is absolute crap, recycled and stupid stories that aren't worth my time. Not so for this series! Nothing like a coyote-shapeshifting lady auto mechanic raised by werewolves with friends in the Fae collective and Vampire seethe to make a good novel. Also fascinating about these is the fact that Mercy believes in God, in Christianity specifically. A little heavy on the romantic interests, but I like that. I am eagerly awaiting the third novel, Iron Kissed.

Titles: A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels
Series: Gemma Doyle's Series
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Victorian times, Portals to Fantasy worlds = Fantasy
Date: Summer 2006, Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments: Some of the greatest Fantasy novels I've read in recent months. Secrets, young love, and breathtaking descriptions of imaginative scenes make this series a page-turner - perfectly drawing the line between a historical novel and a fantasy novel. Definitely recommended.

Titles: The Thief, Queen of Attolia, King of Attolia
Series: Gen's Series
Author: Megan Whelan Turner
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Date: Winter 2007
Plot and/or Comments: With lovable characters, amazing scenes, and surprises around every corner, this series had me gasping with shock or delight and bouncing with glee while I turned the pages. It's one of those series that ruins all the mediocre books for you for WEEKS. As is my usual, I liked the middle book of this series best. I was a bit disappointed by the third one for being too much of the same honestly, but most people really liked it, so I don't know. It's a page turner, and the addiction to it ruins all other books for a while.

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[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title: The Blue Helmet
Author: William Bell
Genre: Novel
Date: Spring 2007 (yesterday, actually)
Plot and/or Comments: As always with William Bell, who has remained for years one of my favourite authors, this novel was short but well constructed. It's about a kid who struggles with violence and meets an eccentric friend... If you looked at the plot outside of the novel it's strange and completely implausible, but you learn to love the character. I recommend anything by Bell, but this isn't his best work. Speaking of which:

Title: Alma
Author: William Bell
Genre: Novel
Date: Winter 2007
Plot and/or Comments: This is the story of a young girl. It's nowhere near my story, and I can't say it jumped out at me as one of the best stories ever told, but it's a good story. If you're in the mood for an interesting read, go ahead and try this book out for size. It's in Bell's distinctive style... Not his best work, either, though.

Titles: Me, Myself, and Bob
Author: Phil Vischer
Genre: Non-fiction, Auto-biography
Date: Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments: This is probably one of the most interesting and thought provoking books I've read in some time about and by the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer. And how he lost the business by selfishness, bad business decisions, and too much of "letting the business run itself" - sure he's still involved, but he wanted to create the new Disney. And he failed. But at least he's admitting it and letting people learn from his mistakes... I was profoundly disappointed in this book. I didn't like the ending. But it's been one of the most influential books on me these past few months...

Title: The Frog King (uncompleted)
Author: Adam Davies
Genre: Novel
Date: Partial read at McNally, Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments: This is a story about a guy living illegally in a shared apartment in New York, a copywriter who has a lot of girl issues. But the writing style is actually really good. I'd like to finish it.

Title: The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette (uncompleted)
Author: Carolly Erickson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Date: Partial read at McNally, Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments: This was a fascinating diary, giving a different perspective on Marie. I think this is what the movie was based on? Maybe not. Either way, I haven't finished it yet, but you really get a taste for the character's naivete. I'd like to read her other novel, The Last Wife of Henry VIII as well. It might get old fast though, I don't know.

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[AMAZING (5) | YAY (4) | MEH (3)]<-Recommended
Not recommended-> [NAY (2) | UGH (1)| SICK (0)]

Title: The Historian (uncompleted)
Author: Elizabeth Kostova
Genre: Vampires/Fantasy/History
Dates: Attempted in Spring 2007
Plot and/or Comments:  I kept trying to read this book and I haven't succeeded yet. I've seen vastly differing accounts of it. I find it at turns boring and spine chilling, but I can't stay focused on it. This is a book I haven't finished yet and mean to finish eventually. Someday. When it's not overdue at the library. I'll have to be in a Tolkien or Dune-esque mood though, because it takes forever for anything to happen, and inside that forever all kinds of important stuff happens that I need to keep track of. This is a book to read in one sitting over an entire day, and I don't have the time for that now. It gives me a headache to try and keep track of all the information. It has potential, perhaps?

This is a continually updated list of some of my favourite authors.



Who are yours? Please comment here with authors you want to recommend to me. If you are not a LiveJournal user, please use the subject line of the comment to say who you are in a way that I'll recognize you. Thanks!

These are books I'm interested in reading in the near future that I've found on my own. Friend recommendations will be put in the friendly recommendations post.

Please comment here with books you want to recommend to me. If you are not a LiveJournal user, please use the subject line of the comment to say who you are in a way that I'll recognize you =)

Here's the form so you don't have to type them. If you're recommending a series longer than a trilogy, please give me the title of the first book, but if it's two-three books, please give all the titles.

Author:
Title(s):
Series:
Genre:
Plot/Comments:

Welcome to the semi-temporary list post.

The following are a mishmash of books I've read in the past. If I didn't like them, I wouldn't have remembered them enough to post here, however the bolded ones are books and Series that I might re-read and/or post about. I shudder to think just how many I can't remember well enough to post here. This post will be continually edited.