|
|
 From Wendi at Wendi’s Book Corner:
Questions (yes – there are a bunch – answer one or two . . . or all of them!): What is your least-favorite book(s)? Is your least-favorite book listed in your LT library? If it is listed, do you have anything special in the tags or comments section? How have others rated your least-favorite book?
This is a tricky one. I have read several books that I despised at the time, but which I suspect I would really enjoy on another reading. These are books like The Grapes of Wrath, The Scarlet Letter, or Silas Marner, and since I know I have a much greater appreciation for classics now than I did in high school, I’d probably like them. As such I can’t count any of them as my least favorite book. I went looking through the lists of books I’ve read in the last 3 or so years and I managed to find one that I think I liked the least. That book is Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. There are several reasons why I dislike this book, not all of which are the book’s fault:
- I didn’t like it while I was reading it. It was confusing and while I liked the characters, I couldn’t even figure out what they were supposed to be doing, where they were, or how the magic system worked. I read it in February 2007 and it took me so long to read that I only read 3 other books that month, which is very unusual for me.
- Everyone raved about the series so I was absolutely certain I was going to like it when I bought it, especially when they recommended it for fans of George R. R. Martin, one of my favorite authors.
- I was so convinced that I should like the series that I bought books 2 and 3, forced myself to read book 2, and hated that. Now I have the third book hanging around and I know I’m never going to read it.
- Actually, I still think that I *should* love this series, so I’m always tempted to reread the first two to see if they improve on further reading. I’ve kept them for this very reason. How stupid is that?
This book is in my LT library, but it’s not tagged as anything special. It annoys me that the hype made me go back to the series when I should have been done with it, but I don’t seem to have added anything to suggest that to someone looking at my library. Others have rated this book very highly and labeled it as the best in epic fantasy, which is why it frustrates me so much that I might be missing something, even though I hated the books.
What’s your least favorite book?
Some of you on Twitter may have noticed that I spent yesterday out with my parents picking up my mom’s new baby rabbit and getting her outfitted for her new life at my parents’ house. I thought that everyone could do with a few adorable bunny pictures, so here’s the new addition to my family, although I won’t be seeing her too often. Please ignore the fact that I’m not a great photographer and she’s quite an active subject!
In her carrier on the way home, not too pleased with the car:
 And in her temporary home trying desperately to escape:
Wondering what that big silver thing is:
Violet is an orange Netherland Dwarf rabbit, the same breed my Chocolate was. While we were at her breeder’s deciding between her and a baby red rabbit, she was perfectly calm. Now that we’re home, she’s very active and doesn’t just want to sit on anyone’s lap, she’s ready to explore. I think she’ll settle down once she is in her permanent home later today and has a chance to exercise and get acquainted with all the funny smells around here. We have two other rabbits, so I’m sure she’s getting accustomed to their smells too.
Now, since I’m home making sure she doesn’t escape while my parents are off getting more equipment for her, I also have a chance to get some reading done. Today I’m planning on finishing The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins, a historical novel set in New York City during the Revolutionary War. I’m really enjoying it so far. I have a huge stack of ARCs to read soon, but this has been at the top of my list for so long that I had to read it first.
Next I’m planning on reading Serendipity by Louise Shaffer, a book I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer’s program, and then The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, the sequel to Garden Spells which I read last August and enjoyed very much. I also have to start Chivalry by Maurice Keen for my dissertation, but that is definitely less fun. I’m sure I will not manage to get all that reading done today, especially not after my parents get back, but it’s worth a try and gives me a schedule for the week.
Have a great week everyone!
Thanks to my messed up time schedule, I’m awake early enough that I have some time to spend in the Salon. I spent yesterday traveling from the UK to the USA through France. It was a decent trip except for the hour we spent landing at the very end. I absolutely hate flying and I hate it even more when we’re not landing when I’ve been told we’ll land but flying around in circles in turbulent air dropping 100 feet at a time, especially when the pilot is communicating in French rather than also translating into English like he had been before. I need to learn more languages! Then my second suitcase took half an hour to turn up after I thought they’d finished with the baggage, which was very stressful. I always worry that they’ll have lost my things on a connecting flight but I escaped this time, albeit with a ripped suitcase. Never mind, I have my things and that’s all that matters.
I had four books on the flights with me, but I only managed to get through half of one, Moonheart by Charles de Lint. I’m not totally in love with it, but I like it quite a bit. I don’t normally bring books for review to read on my flights because I know I’ll be so stressed that I’ll have no chance of focusing. The rest of the reading I brought reflects this:
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Her Secret Fantasy by Gaelen Foley
So, with nearly 12 hours of traveling, why did I only read 300 pages? Easy, I was watching movies. I’m a little too poor to go to the cinema very frequently these days (although Keith’s unexpected bonus meant we went to see The Young Victoria last week!), so I always go for it when it comes to seeing movies like Slumdog Millionaire included in the price of my flight. I loved that one, by the way. I also watched Australia which was lovely but not exactly spectacular and just a little too long, so I can see the validity of its rating.
Today I’ll be reading Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn and very possibly Kitty Goes to Washington. The blog tour for the last two books, Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand and Kitty Raises Hell will be stopping here on Wednesday. I’ve come home to 37 ARCs. I’m not behind on any of them yet but I need to get cracking. I also have 4 books to get through for my dissertation, need to study for my Latin and palaeography exams and at least think about my source analysis essay in the next two weeks. Oh, and I’m behind on reviews! I have some absolutely fabulous books waiting for me here though, like The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins and The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham, so I’m not complaining!
Have a lovely week everyone!
 I’m editing an essay that is due in tomorrow! I’ve been trying to visit a few blogs, but have no real time to compose a Sunday Salon post myself. Thank goodness I have lots of reviews on the back burner. Next Sunday I’ll be in the air heading back to the US for a brief holiday, so I’m not sure I’ll be posting then either. So, have a good couple of weeks and I do hope to be back in the Salon soon!
 What book do you think should be made into a movie? And do you have any suggestions for the producers?
Or, what book do you think should NEVER be made into a movie?
Good question. I very rarely think of books as films because I know much would be changed and because I’m not a visual person. I don’t tend to picture what I’m reading in my head, not even the characters. I do have one fantasy series that I think would make a fantastic movie, and that’s the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Fantasy series are fairly popular in cinemas right now and dragons are a universal draw. I think these books, particularly the first one, have a good mix of characterization and personal moments and potential for flashy battle scenes. They’re relatively small, so I don’t think much would need to be cut, either.
I’d also love to see one of Sharon Kay Penman’s historical novels make it to the big screen, just so I could visualize it, but so much would be cut out that it may not be worth it. A miniseries could do better. I also think The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson would make a great, if REALLY graphic, movie. Overall, though, I’ve never actually read a book and thought, “This would be a great movie.” It’s only upon reflection that I can consider it.
As for what should never be a movie? Well, my first thought is the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. I adore these books, but not only are they long, they are also way too graphic and too complex for any of them to be crammed into 3 hours or less. I don’t think they could include everything that is relevant to the rest of the series. I also think that Carey’s writing style is exquisite and in part makes the book, and you can’t get that in a movie. I’d go see it, but would be very uneasy about it.
What about you? What book would you make into a movie, or not?
Today’s Question: Were you aware of the Member Giveaways Program? Have you posted any books in the giveaway? If so, what are your thoughts on the program? Have you requested any books, and if so, did you win any?
I’m a big fan of the LT blog and I head over there every time my home page tells me there is a new post, so I’ve been aware of Member Giveaway since it started. I think it’s a neat idea. It’s another way to get books into the hands of readers who really want them and I like that it’s completely random. I think it will be more useful for people with small or odd libraries who struggle to get books from the regular Early Reviewers program. Of course, that hasn’t stopped me from requesting. So far I have won two, the second one just yesterday. I’ll admit that I go there about once a week and request the ones I’m interested in. I don’t mind reviewing, as I review everything anyway, and I can’t resist free books. Of course, given the state of my TBR pile, I probably should learn to resist, but we’ll save that for another day.
I haven’t posted any to the giveaway and I don’t plan to. In fact, I don’t really understand why ordinary people do. I can see the benefits for an author to get a little extra publicity for their book, but for the rest of us, there are many swap websites where you can get a new book in exchange for the one you no longer want. It makes sense if you are simply clearing out your shelves and do not want to acquire new books, but I suppose that mindset is completely foreign to me! I’d also post some to support LibraryThing, but I think I’d rather do that without giving up my precious books. If I wanted to give some away, I’d just hold my own contest here. It’s been a while!
We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.
What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?
Well, this question had me going back through my LT library to figure out just what I have (as I scroll through I’m thinking “I have SO MANY books, is this a blessing or a curse?”). Usually I’ll remember what I have if I’m in a shop and not buy duplicates, but just cold recall doesn’t work out too well for me. So I do have one author whose works I should read, and that is Virginia Woolf. I have both To The Lighthouse and Orlando. Now, I absolutely adore Mrs. Dalloway, so that’s why I should try some others. I have plenty of other worthies waiting about, including a gazillion prize winners and classics, but I have little excuse for not reading one of these two considering my rereads of Mrs. Dalloway! I think I’m just worried that they’ll be less accessible to me now that I’m more than a year out from studying literature.
Have you read either of them? What did you think? What is the best book you’re not reading?
Question: Were you aware of the Early Reviewer Program? Have you received any books from the program? If you have, how have you liked the book(s)? Any other thoughts on the LTER program?
I’m quite fond of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program! I’ve actually received 9 books so far and have been incredibly lucky. I’ve been in the program from the beginning though, sometime in 2007, so I’ve had many more opportunities than most people, who seem to be newcomers. It took me a few months to get my first book and I’ve had some substantial gaps, but I love choosing and waiting for the notification.
I’ve received:
Luminous Cities by Eduardo Garcia Aguilar
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris
The Venetian Mask by Rosalind Laker
Sweetsmoke by David Fuller
Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
Serendipity by Louise Shaffer
The Red Siren by M. L. (Marylu) Tyndall
If you do click through to the first few – be kind, my reviewing career was in the very early stages back then! And the last two link to LT because I haven’t read them yet. I know, I’m horrible, I don’t even have them in my possession. To be fair, I didn’t expect to get any after I left because The Piano Teacher was the first in months! That might be why I didn’t get one this month, though!
As far as how I’ve liked them, it varies a lot. Looking at my list, I’ve only really loved two. I have moderately enjoyed two more. I disliked two, and I absolutely hated one. So my success rate is really not fantastic, very even actually, but I love the program anyway. It’s also led me to do a few cold requests for books I didn’t win, and I’ve enjoyed those. I think this is a great way to get interested readers in touch with new books. I love looking at the list because it means I know what’s coming out soon and I have gone to bookstore tables and remembered all the ones that were offered. I’ve even purchased books that were offered on the program because I still wanted them. Overall, I’m a fan!
I have no history on the brain for all of you today. In fact, I’ve, quite frankly, had enough of history right now. I’ve spent the past three days writing an essay on Henry V, which is now ready for editing by my supervisor, and researching for my dissertation proposal, tentatively titled Chivalry in the Reign of Edward IV, not to mention the reading I’m doing for class on Monday. I’m considering starting a weekly historical feature, and I do have to prepare some posts for Early Medieval Britain, but I just don’t have it in me to do either of those things this weekend. So I will be focusing my post on other things.
Aside from Edward IV: A Source Book today I plan on finishing two things; Watchmen by Alan Moore and Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase. I think Watchmen may have been a little too heavy for my mood, in all honesty, but it’s really interesting. It’s my first graphic novel and I didn’t really know what to expect from it. I like how I can almost use the pictures to make a movie in my head. It definitely makes up for lack of text, although I had to spend some time getting used to it first. I think a lot of the meaning has gone over my head due to my mental focus right now, but I can certainly pick up some. I’m looking forward to foisting it on my brilliant fiance and getting him to tell me what it means, and then we’ll go see the film.
As for Mr. Impossible, let’s just say I need that fluff pretty desperately. It’s not good enough to keep me up at night but it lets my brain go off on a nice vacation. It’s also set in Egypt, which makes it more interesting right now. My romances are exclusively historical and in large part set in England, which I prefer, but it’s nice to travel somewhere else when the rest of my life is about England. Mostly, I am really looking forward to Wednesday, because then I will be handing in both the proposal and the essay (for editing) and I won’t have to think about them for days, or at least until my supervisor tells me what he thinks of them. It’s also Keith’s birthday, so we will be celebrating!
This week, I have reviews coming up for Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn (I will finally be getting to her next two books after Wednesday) and The Witch’s Trinity by Erika Mailman. I really enjoyed both of them. I read The Witch’s Trinity the same day that I received it in the mail, in fact. I’d written 3/4 of my essay and decided to take a break. It was a good break! I’d also like to do a monthly wrap-up post for February, but that will probably be on Thursday.
Wishing everyone a lovely week and see you back here next Sunday!
- Hardcover? Or paperback?
- Illustrations? Or just text?
- First editions? Or you don’t care?
- Signed by the author? Or not?
I do tend to think I collect books. I like to own them. I think it’s because I’m a re-reader at heart, even if I don’t have much time for doing so these days. I might want to read them again, and then I will have the ones I liked nearby. As for the rest, I’m not too picky about what exactly I’m collecting. I don’t keep a special edition of certain books just to have a good one. My mother does this and I’ve never quite understood. Books are made for reading, not sitting prettily on a shelf. I even prefer paperbacks because they’re easier to read. Hardcovers may look nicer, but I want to be able to enjoy the story. I love older books, but at the moment I’m happy to let them exist in the library where they belong, unless of course they are being sold for 20p, at which point I consider it my duty to save them from recycling.
I do love books that are signed by the author, though. I’ve only been to a single book signing and it was a mandatory one of a book I didn’t like in college. Every year, they send a free book to all incoming undergraduates to read and then have the author speak at orientation. Great idea, and the book wasn’t that bad, but the fact that the author’s presentation consisted mostly of him reading the book over again in a monotone voice put me off ever looking at it again. I have a number of books and ARCs that have been signed by authors which I received in the mail, though, and I love those. It’s one of my favorite parts of book blogging, especially when one of those authors is one of my favorites.
Do you collect books?
|
|
Recent Comments