Reading Books For Pleasure

[bholderman]

I dont think there should be any embarrassment to enjoying junior literature. Even though the intennded age range is different, some of it is still quite good and fun. I've often sat down to read Carroll's Alice's stories or Baum's Oz material, not just for the enjoyment but it takes me back to the turn of the century when these stories were new. A lot of the "way people thought back then" spills out of them and Im taken back in time.

I heard an interview with Native American writer Sherman Alexie talking about his first book for young adults. He's hilarious! And the book sounds like a riot! I don't have any children, but I HAVE to read this book. Then I'll give it to one of my siblings' brood.

Here's a synopsis:

Writer Sherman Alexie is out with his first book for young adults. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tracks the misadventures of a young teen, Arnold Spirit, Jr., who decides to leave the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. Alexie, who describes the book as semi-autobiographical, speaks with Renee Montagne.

If you can, listen to the interview on the NPR website. I guarantee Mr. Alexie will make you smile.

 

[subkitty72]

I adore Sherman Alexie. Read everything he's ever written.

I'd never even heard of him, but he sounds amazing. If you read him, that's good enough for me.

That's it!

I'm heading to B & N after work to go check 'em out, sit in one of those big overstuffed chairs and read.

Then it's off for margaritas...

 

[Recidiva]

I'd never even heard of him, but he sounds amazing. If you read him, that's good enough for me.

That's it!

I'm heading to B & N after work to go check 'em out, sit in one of those big overstuffed chairs and read.

Then it's off for margaritas...

He's great. "Smoke Signals" also had a movie made, which is good too.

 

[bholderman]

Kitty in big comfy chair, that worth a picture...

I'd never even heard of him, but he sounds amazing. If you read him, that's good enough for me.

That's it!

I'm heading to B & N after work to go check 'em out, sit in one of those big overstuffed chairs and read.

Then it's off for margaritas...

 

[FurryFury]

I don't tend to follow trends. If something is hot or popular it's unusual for me to bother with it. I sort of assume if the "crowd" likes it, it's probably crap.

So I read the first Harry Potter book because folks were trying to get it banned. I liked it so much I passed it along to my daughter, husband and son.

At that time I worked for just one library and in my job I was trying to read or listen to more of what we had so I'd be more familiar with it when patrons asked.

I really enjoy pictures books. I enjoy some novels as well. A great deal of it feels a bit too surface and unfinished even up through teen books.

Right now I'm running a Teen Book Club. I'm looking for those reads that teens like and adults will enjoy.

Both my kids were pretty good readers right up until the public schools they were going to started forcing them to read a certain amount of time each day and "accelerated readers."

They basically ruined reading enjoyment for both my kids. My daughter (16) is finally coming out of it. My son (14) hasn't yet. I hope he will somewhere down the line.

 

[graceanne]

Mine's got Asperger's. He WILL kick my ass at those video games. Physical space is just a lot more interesting to him than emotional concepts. And he's KING there.

D's ADHD, heavy on the H. To tell the truth I can't imagine him sitting still long enough to read more than he has to. Maybe when he gets in his teens he'll sit still that long. I'm not real worried about it, to tell the truth. He has different gifts. He has awesome hand-eye coordination, he's incredibly smart and curious. *shrugs* Frankly as long as his brain and body are busy he's fine.

 

[FungiUg]

I kinda wonder though. If all the people with issues with Harry Potter had kept their mouths shut, would Harry Potter have been as popular?

Reading to see what the controversy is about might get you into the first book. Reading all the way to the end of book seven is because they're damned good reads.

Oddly, the reason I picked up Lord of the Rings (evil, satanic apparently) was to see what all the fuss was about. So yeah, it can be a good intro to a book.

 

[graceanne]

Reading to see what the controversy is about might get you into the first book. Reading all the way to the end of book seven is because they're damned good reads.

Oddly, the reason I picked up Lord of the Rings (evil, satanic apparently) was to see what all the fuss was about. So yeah, it can be a good intro to a book.

Um, I've never heard Lord of the Rings called Satanic in any Christian circles. Evidently their's all sorts of biblical undertones and all that. K's read the books three times and personally doesn't see any biblical undertones, but LOR is very popular in Christian circles.

And I don't know why everyone's taking my comment on Harry Potter so seriously. I'm not disputing it's a good book. Geez. And whether you kept reading it cause it's good or not is beside the point. You wouldn't have known it was a good book, unless you read the first one. And if you read the first one cause of the controversy, then you're one of the people who'd never have read Harry Potter if their wasn't a controversy.

 

[Recidiva]

Um, I've never heard Lord of the Rings called Satanic in any Christian circles. Evidently their's all sorts of biblical undertones and all that. K's read the books three times and personally doesn't see any biblical undertones, but LOR is very popular in Christian circles.

And I don't know why everyone's taking my comment on Harry Potter so seriously. I'm not disputing it's a good book. Geez. And whether you kept reading it cause it's good or not is beside the point. You wouldn't have known it was a good book, unless you read the first one. And if you read the first one cause of the controversy, then you're one of the people who'd never have read Harry Potter if their wasn't a controversy.

I don't know why you're taking me taking you seriously, seriously...

Okay, hopefully that's spun it back full circle.

 

[EmpressFi]

Um, I've never heard Lord of the Rings called Satanic in any Christian circles. Evidently their's all sorts of biblical undertones and all that. K's read the books three times and personally doesn't see any biblical undertones, but LOR is very popular in Christian circles.

And I don't know why everyone's taking my comment on Harry Potter so seriously. I'm not disputing it's a good book. Geez. And whether you kept reading it cause it's good or not is beside the point. You wouldn't have known it was a good book, unless you read the first one. And if you read the first one cause of the controversy, then you're one of the people who'd never have read Harry Potter if their wasn't a controversy.

Actually, a lot of the people in my hometown church felt that Lord of the Rings was "evil" because of the magic.. after all.. Gandalf was a wizard.. I guess it depends your particular belief system. These were the same people who burned albums in the late 80's because rock and roll music was of the devil and could lead to demon possession. The felt the same about the Harry Potter series, to the point of not even reading them to see what it was about. Sad, really

 

[graceanne]

Actually, a lot of the people in my hometown church felt that Lord of the Rings was "evil" because of the magic.. after all.. Gandalf was a wizard.. I guess it depends your particular belief system. These were the same people who burned albums in the late 80's because rock and roll music was of the devil and could lead to demon possession. The felt the same about the Harry Potter series, to the point of not even reading them to see what it was about. Sad, really

I've been confused as to the difference in beliefs between, say, Harry Potter and LOR. I know that magic is a sin, and all that, but it's ok if it's written by a Christian?

As far as I'm concerned their's a HUGE difference between fantasy and real life, and their's a large group of Christians who need to develop a sense of humor and fun.

AND, I believe that God has a sense of humor and imagination. Who knows, he's probably 'read' Harry Potter and LOR. *shrugs*

 

[Recidiva]

I've been confused as to the difference in beliefs between, say, Harry Potter and LOR. I know that magic is a sin, and all that, but it's ok if it's written by a Christian?

As far as I'm concerned their's a HUGE difference between fantasy and real life, and their's a large group of Christians who need to develop a sense of humor and fun.

AND, I believe that God has a sense of humor and imagination. Who knows, he's probably 'read' Harry Potter and LOR. *shrugs*

Chronicles of Narnia had magic, and it was written by a Christian.

I don't think Jesus said much about not reading Harry Potter, and he's the guy I listen to most.

LoTR is not Christian at all, it's based on epic poetry in the Nordic tradition. It's also mostly an example of his love of linguistics, and provided a framework for him to develop imaginary languages.

These books have nothing to do with Christianity, but with other traditions. It's ridiculous to see them somehow end up being "all about Christianity." That's just what I was referring to as the incredibly silly part.

 

[EmpressFi]

Chronicles of Narnia had magic, and it was written by a Christian.

I don't think Jesus said much about not reading Harry Potter, and he's the guy I listen to most.

LoTR is not Christian at all, it's based on Epic poetry in the Nordic tradition. It's also mostly an example of his love of linguistics, and support for him developing all those imaginary languages.

These books have nothing to do with Christianity, but with other traditions. It's ridiculous to see them somehow end up being "all about Christianity." That's just what I was referring to as the incredibly silly part.

Actually LoTR was based on his experiences while serving in WWI and the industrialization of England in the early 1900's. Many of the lands were places that he knew, that he remembered that were changed as the countryside became more industrial.

I correct myself, I hadnt heard about the references to Nordic mythos, but as I research more I see that it was also an influence to the background of the series.

 

[graceanne]

Chronicles of Narnia had magic, and it was written by a Christian.

and most Christians will talk about the analagys between Chronicles and the bible. (You know, Aslan dies for someone else's sin, then comes back to life.) Like I said, I guess it's ok to write about magic, as long as the writer is a Christian.

I don't think Jesus said much about not reading Harry Potter, and he's the guy I listen to most.

LoTR is not Christian at all, it's based on Epic poetry in the Nordic tradition. It's also mostly an example of his love of linguistics, and support for him developing all those imaginary languages.

As I said, K's read it three times and he doesn't see any biblical analogy's. I tried to read it and just could NOT get into it, but I watched the movies with him and don't see any biblical analogy's either. I also know that JRR Tolkien said that he was not planning on any biblical analogy's when he wrote the books. I, personally, think that people say they see it so that they won't ahve to admit they're reading a book with magic in it that was not written by a Christian.

 

[Recidiva]

Actually LoTR was based on his experiences while serving in WWI and the industrialization of England in the early 1900's. Many of the lands were places that he knew, that he remembered that were changed as the countryside became more industrial.

I correct myself, I hadnt heard about the references to Nordic mythos, but as I research more I see that it was also an influence to the background of the series.

He said specifically and uncategorically when he was alive, that it wasn't an analogy for his experiences in the war. He hated analogy. That's at least his vehement response to that being said. He used a framework, definitely, and he used heroic templates from the epics, but he didn't want it read as an analogy to WWII.

 

[Recidiva]

and most Christians will talk about the analagys between Chronicles and the bible. (You know, Aslan dies for someone else's sin, then comes back to life.) Like I said, I guess it's ok to write about magic, as long as the writer is a Christian.

As I said, K's read it three times and he doesn't see any biblical analogy's. I tried to read it and just could NOT get into it, but I watched the movies with him and don't see any biblical analogy's either. I also know that JRR Tolkien said that he was not planning on any biblical analogy's when he wrote the books. I, personally, think that people say they see it so that they won't ahve to admit they're reading a book with magic in it that was not written by a Christian.

Christians in my opinion are hugely magical. What's more magical than Jesus's miracles, his resurrection and the symbolism of bread to flesh and wine to blood?

It seems that they want magic to only belong to that one person in one moment of time, and be all attributed to God, rather than the idea that life itself is magical, mysterious, and we're surrounded by miracles daily. Miracles are, in fact, common.

Lourdes is a hugely magical place. Christians believe in miracles and magic. They just don't want it called that.

 

[ShyVixen]

Just finished Lover Unbound by J.R Ward. She has certainly outdone herself with this book.

 

[graceanne]

Just finished Lover Unbound by J.R Ward. She has certainly outdone herself with this book.

I love her books. i've read all of them but lover awakened.

 

[ShyVixen]

I love her books. i've read all of them but lover awakened.

I love her books too, and she is a lovely lady.

Rhage's book (Lover Awakened) wasn't my favourite. Lover Unbound, though, has very very strong BDSM elements. After all, Vishous is a sexual Dominant.

 

[shy slave]

Hmm I think this is my first post in this thread.

Just finished a book by Jim Fergus called 'One Thousand White Women'

Based on the idea that 1000 white women were given to the Cheyenne as a part of a peace process.
I have heard that historically it is said the Cheyenne asked for the women in exchange for 1000 horses, but the trade was never made.

The book is in the form of fictitious journals written by one woman who was part of the trade.

The writing is expressive without being 'flowery' and the imagery he conjures up regarding the landscape made me able to immerse myself in every word.
The book focuses on the difficulties of integration between cultures and the lead up to the battles with General Custer.

As a Brit who has little knowledge of this part of US history (unless John Wayne and James Stewart films count), this book was entertaining.

 

[FurryFury]

Hmm I think this is my first post in this thread.

Just finished a book by Jim Fergus called 'One Thousand White Women'

Based on the idea that 1000 white women were given to the Cheyenne as a part of a peace process.
I have heard that historically it is said the Cheyenne asked for the women in exchange for 1000 horses, but the trade was never made.

The book is in the form of fictitious journals written by one woman who was part of the trade.

The writing is expressive without being 'flowery' and the imagery he conjures up regarding the landscape made me able to immerse myself in every word.
The book focuses on the difficulties of integration between cultures and the lead up to the battles with General Custer.

As a Brit who has little knowledge of this part of US history (unless John Wayne and James Stewart films count), this book was entertaining.

That sounds like a very interesting book!

*makes a note to self*

 

[EmpressFi]

I'm awaiting the next in the Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I'm thinking of re-reading the last Harry Potter, but havent decided. I'm having surgery on Thursday so I'll have some time.. Perhaps I'll try that one about the Cheyenne

 

[graceanne]

I'm awaiting the next in the Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I'm thinking of re-reading the last Harry Potter, but havent decided. I'm having surgery on Thursday so I'll have some time.. Perhaps I'll try that one about the Cheyenne

I'm ANXIOUSLY waiting the merry gentry book. I'm also waiting the next Kresley Cole, and I think I'm behind on Christine Feehans books.

 

[EmpressFi]

I'm ANXIOUSLY waiting the merry gentry book. I'm also waiting the next Kresley Cole, and I think I'm behind on Christine Feehans books.

Frost is my favorite character, well other than Galen, in the Merry series... I've also read all of the Anita Blake series.. how could I not.. hello.. vampires.. BDSM.. /purr

 

[graceanne]

Frost is my favorite character, well other than Galen, in the Merry series... I've also read all of the Anita Blake series.. how could I not.. hello.. vampires.. BDSM.. /purr

Eh. I think Frost is the sexiest of her regulars, but I prefer Doyle over all.

I've also read all the Anita Blake books. They rock.