Reading Books For Pleasure

[seela]

Did you enjoy?

Hmm. It was an okay experience as a whole. I liked the last book, barring the major twist at the end which felt a little like a cop out. Some of the early books were just not at all my thing, but I plowed through. The books generally got better as the story went on, but I didn't love #5, which is sad because it was a huge book.

I liked Snape a lot, an interesting character that felt a lot more fleshed out than, say, Harry. Which I found a little odd.

All in all, not a horrible experience, but also not something that will stick with me and I doubt I'll ever want to reread the books. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I truly didn't get what the big fuss was. I probably would have loved the crap out of the series if I had read it as a whimsical kid, grown up with the story etc. But now it was just an okay read.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I also didn't know about Dumbledore or what else she has said. Clearly she has said or done something questionable before as well, based on Bramblethorn's answer. Like I said, JKR or HP aren't really on my radar.

Yeah, the anti-trans stuff was what I was talking about. AFAIK the recent stuff on Twitter is the first time she's been that obvious about it, but somebody had pointed out a while back that JKR seemed to be very pally with a bunch of anti-trans activists there. So for those of us who'd seen that conversation, it was unsurprising.

Hmm. It was an okay experience as a whole. I liked the last book, barring the major twist at the end which felt a little like a cop out. Some of the early books were just not at all my thing, but I plowed through. The books generally got better as the story went on, but I didn't love #5, which is sad because it was a huge book.

I liked Snape a lot, an interesting character that felt a lot more fleshed out than, say, Harry. Which I found a little odd.

All in all, not a horrible experience, but also not something that will stick with me and I doubt I'll ever want to reread the books. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I truly didn't get what the big fuss was. I probably would have loved the crap out of the series if I had read it as a whimsical kid, grown up with the story etc. But now it was just an okay read.

That was pretty much how I felt about it. I had issues with some parts, beyond that it was mostly "that was okay, I can see why kids like it, but I'd rather read something else".

My partner writes HP fanfic so I've absorbed a lot of it via osmosis and beta-reading her stories, and if anything I find the fandom more interesting than the original material. She would definitely agree with you on Snape v. Harry.

 

[seela]

Yeah, the anti-trans stuff was what I was talking about. AFAIK the recent stuff on Twitter is the first time she's been that obvious about it, but somebody had pointed out a while back that JKR seemed to be very pally with a bunch of anti-trans activists there. So for those of us who'd seen that conversation, it was unsurprising.



That was pretty much how I felt about it. I had issues with some parts, beyond that it was mostly "that was okay, I can see why kids like it, but I'd rather read something else".

My partner writes HP fanfic so I've absorbed a lot of it via osmosis and beta-reading her stories, and if anything I find the fandom more interesting than the original material. She would definitely agree with you on Snape v. Harry.

Yeah. I niece loves Harry Potter. It's actually fun to talk about it with her, because I read the books in English and she's reading them in Finnish. As someone who has infinite respect and appreciation for quality translation, I'm really enjoying the conversations, because I'm learning all the names and words used in the Harry Potter world. Some of them are really so great and have opened a new way of looking at things to me.


I finished the first book this year, and not a day too soon. I already started it last year, but now I'm done with it. It was a good book with really beautiful language, but it was so heavy and sad. It dealt with alcoholism and how it affects the entire family. Beautifully written, but it really wasn't a good book to read before bed. It was in Finnish and by a Finnish writer, hasn't been translated, so I doubt sharing the name or writer matters here.

My reading goals for 2020 are to read more non-fiction and also at least one book in every language I'm able to read in well enough to be able to enjoy reading. I'm also always trying to read writers from diverse backgrounds, even though last year was not at all good in that regard. I'll do better this year.

 

[sally_sparrow]

as i can see a lot of series here i wonder what it is Y/you all find interesting in series

You become invested in the characters and the need to know what happens to them. I always am a little bit sad when I complete a series because it's like saying goodbye to old friends. I have read many series, and though I enjoy re-reading books individually, for some reason I cannot bring myself to re-read an entire series that I have enjoyed.

 

[twister947]

You become invested in the characters and the need to know what happens to them. I always am a little bit sad when I complete a series because it's like saying goodbye to old friends. I have read many series, and though I enjoy re-reading books individually, for some reason I cannot bring myself to re-read an entire series that I have enjoyed.

This. I begin to feel like a part of their world.

 

[seela]

Book 2 of 2020: Another local author, one of my favorite writers actually. But nah, I didn't like this book although I really, really tried. Not her best work by a long shot.

I went to the library and checked out books in various languages. Time to get cracking on my self-set reading challenge of the year, which was to read a book in every language I can read a book in and still enjoy it.

 

[sally_sparrow]

I am reading too many books right now it's ridiculous! I've just started a book recently that I am enjoying called The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell and it is surprisingly very good. I thought it had a religious feel at first but it is turning out to be very unique.

 

[Lothario1956]

I love when I discover a new author who has a series of books, and trying one I know I'll like the rest. However if its a series I'll always want to read them in order and wait until I find the first book before reading any others. I did this with Terry Pratchett amongst others.

 

[barefootgirl69]

My youngest bought me a book for my birthday. I hadn't read anything by this author prior to this, but enjoyed the style. Since then, I've discovered her other books and I'm ordering them through my local library. One the second one now.

 

[Stillrandy]

You become invested in the characters and the need to know what happens to them. I always am a little bit sad when I complete a series because it's like saying goodbye to old friends. I have read many series, and though I enjoy re-reading books individually, for some reason I cannot bring myself to re-read an entire series that I have enjoyed.

A word from the master:

For myself, there are several series' of books I have reread more than once:

-C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" (7 books)

-Bernard Cornwell: "Sharpe's Rifles" (about 13 books)

-Alan Furst: "Night Soldiers" series (about 12 books)

They are like old friends....

 

[sally_sparrow]

A word from the master:

For myself, there are several series' of books I have reread more than once:

-C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" (7 books)

-Bernard Cornwell: "Sharpe's Rifles" (about 13 books)

-Alan Furst: "Night Soldiers" series (about 12 books)

They are like old friends....

It's funny because I can watch movies over and over, but I cannot read a book again after the first time. Actually the only book I've read over and over and would again is Pride and Prejudice. I that book.

 

[FurryFury]

Monster Hunter Vendetta (Monster Hunter International #2) by Larry Correia 4/5

Guns, action, monsters, fighting and some character development. Yes!

Monster Hunter Alpha (Monster Hunter International #3) by Larry Correia 4/5

See above

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson 4/5

Much better book about eliminating clutter than most. It has the word death in it which really caught my eye.

Winter According to Humphrey (According to Humphrey, #9) by Betty G. Birney 4/5

Too cute, juvenile novel

The Paper Magician (The Paper Magician #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg 2/5

Not my cup of tea

 

[Stillrandy]

It's funny because I can watch movies over and over, but I cannot read a book again after the first time. Actually the only book I've read over and over and would again is Pride and Prejudice. I that book.

Sally I am with you on watching movies repeatedly. Can't tell you how many times I have watched "Casablanca", if nothing else for the dialog . For some reason an old war movie called "The Guns of Navarone" keeps capturing me. And Star Wars of course. Too many others to mention, but yes old movies are like old friends.

 

[Stillrandy]

No Tolkien? FIE!

Fara, I have tried really hard to get into Tolkien , Lord of the Rings, etc. Truthfully, I really did try. I saw the first movie, but it wouldn't "take". My grandsons loved all that and they don't understand me either Part of it was I just could not see what was so all fired important about that ring; so it makes you invisible , is that a reason for kingdoms to go to war ? Another part of it was that I was so immersed in Lewis and Narnia that I did not want another fantasy world to intrude.

But I do like Sean Bean, does that count?

"One does not simply ...."

 

[Stillrandy]

That’s a given. We all love him.
The books, man. Not the movies. The books!

In my defense...I did read The Hobbit once. As for "Lord of the Rings".... perhaps when I am grown up I will tackle them.

 

[Acktion]

~snip~ Part of it was I just could not see what was so all fired important about that ring; so it makes you invisible , is that a reason for kingdoms to go to war ? ~snip~

Uuuuummmmmm...

It does a little more than just turn the wearer invisible.

"Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie"

Note that it is my understanding that some newer additions leave out the first two lines. But, the ring effectively makes the wearer King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. And the invisibility... well, what is really happening is that the wearer is transferred to the realm of shadow.

Sorry. I'll shut up and go back to reading my current mind candy.

 

[Blase]

Note that it is my understanding that some newer additions leave out the first two lines. But, the ring effectively makes the wearer King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. And the invisibility... well, what is really happening is that the wearer is transferred to the realm of shadow.

It's a little more complex than that. The rings given to Elves, Dwarves and Men conferred power on those who had the strength and knowledge to wield them (for example, the Elven sanctuary of Lothlórien was made possible by Galadriel's use of a ring), but all the other rings were subject to the One kept by Sauron, and they had a corrupting influence on unwise or unwary wielders. Remember that the Nazgûl, the Ringwraiths, began as humans, but became Sauron's monstrous slaves because they were corrupted by their rings.

Also, as Bilbo, Frodo and Sam eventually learned, the One made its bearer immortal. That was why ultimately all three of them left Middle Earth along with the departing remnant of the Elves.

 

[Stillrandy]

See me after class.

OK, dear teacher, I admit (after reading some more posts) that I have pretty much missed the point of what the rings meant, the scope of the work, etc.

Please don't make me wear the Gandalf hat in class...

 

[seela]

I needed to disengage my brain and started to read something or other by Marian Keyes. It disengages my brain so well that so far I've fallen asleep every time I've started to read it and I can't remember the name of the book, either.

So. Dunno. I might have to skip this book.

 

[Cumference]

Or save that book for sleepless nights.

Far fewer side effects than sleeping pills.

(I have used a textbook on Fourier transform for that very purpose. In made me fall asleep when studying..... it was not a bug, it was a feature!)

 

[Cumference]

Welcome back, BTW. You haven’t been around much, lately.

Thanks



Everything is fine, the last year(+) has just been bloody busy for both Lady C and I.
But things are working, we have had good impact and neither dead nor wounded (on our side of the line). The situation is far more stable now.

Hopefully there will be more time for naughty business in the time to come.

 

[seela]

Or save that book for sleepless nights.

Far fewer side effects than sleeping pills.

(I have used a textbook on Fourier transform for that very purpose. In made me fall asleep when studying..... it was not a bug, it was a feature!)

It's a library book, which is good, because I'd hate to have bought this giant of a book (something like 600 pages) that I don't even like.

 

[Dreamliner]

Sit back, look, close your eyes and relax

 

[sally_sparrow]

Sit back, look, close your eyes and relax

I could spend days in there

 

[Dreamliner]

Once I have finished reading this tome I will be a Masterful Man! [Watch out].