Posty #2: Book report and a book meme
Jul. 9th, 2007 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jon_chaisson1)I FINALLY finished His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman last night. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be, but in the end it wasn't that bad at all. The pacing was a bit too slow, and Pullman's habit of using full names whenever possible, even if totally unnecessary, was a bit irritating, but for the most part it wasn't bad at all. It had some pretty neat ideas and had a very well-built world (or should I say "worlds") in which the characters moved. I'm actually interested in seeing how the first book will translate onto the big screen and how they'll attempt the other 2 books as well.
2)
A Book Meme snagged by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ebonypearl
Recommend 3 books you believe everyone needs to read and say why people should read them.
I always suggest House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski to as many people as possible because it's the most MESSED. UP. book I've ever read and yet I can't stop looking away. I absolutely adore this book, partly because it's a great read, and partly because the writer in me still says "buh...wha...how did he write that?!??"
Also, the Carlucci trilogy by Richard Paul Russo is always suggested to SF and mystery readers. One of my favorite writers ever. Gritty, creepy, and the man has no problem killing off the characters you don't want killed.
Lastly, in the nonfic department, I always suggest the books Mark Lewisohn wrote about the Beatles. One of the very few writers blessed to hear everything the Fab Four committed to tape, he exhaustively wrote a handful of books about them.
Name three books you’ve never been able to finish and explain why.
There are many books I haven't been able to finish, but mostly because of boredom with the story. I can't think of them offhand, but I'm sure if I saw them on the shelf I'd tell you. Although Lord of the Flies comes to mind, which I didn't finish because it frustrated the hell out of me.
Name three books you want to read, but haven’t yet.
Where do I start?!?? There is a pretty sizable group of books already here in the apartment that I'll eventually get to.
Are there any books that you’ve loved, but been disappointed by the film/TV adaptation?
Heh--you mean "oh shit, we've spent 2 hours on the film already but we're only 2/3 of the way through the book? Quick, let's tack on an implausible ending!", aka The Firm. Oh, and "let's Disney-fy a creepy novel!" aka Jurassic Park. Other than that, I usually give Hollywood the benefit of the doubt. I can deal with variations, but please, PLEASE don't do a hack job.
Which books do you re-read the most?
I read House of Leaves, Carlucci and The Children's War (by J.N. Stroyar) back-to-back at least once every couple of years. I think I reread those the most.
Which books do you remember most from your childhood?
All the Dr. Seuss books, of course...and Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends...and a book my sister had called My Sister the Horse (okay, so it's more for girls but I read it anyway and thought it was fun). And of course Dragon Fall, which I credit as being one of the books that inspired me to write in the first place.
Are there any books that you are proud to say you have read?
Uh...proud? Hmm. Not quite sure what that would mean. I could say I'm proud to say I've read a number of books on the infamous banned-book list, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? ;)
Are there any books that you are ashamed to admit reading?
Not ashamed, per se, but how to explain that I actually enjoyed reading YA books that had strong female characters instead of YA books featuring guys trying to make the team? Meh, I chalk it up to enjoying a good story. :p
Are there any books that have had a big emotional impact on you? List 2.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, because it's beautifully written and is very much like life in a small town when I was that age (albeit a few decades later...).
And the end of Carlucci's Heart (part 3 of the Carlucci trilogy) has such a heartwrenching ending that I've never experienced before or since. And again, the reason I love Russo's books so much. ;)
2)
A Book Meme snagged by
ebonypearlRecommend 3 books you believe everyone needs to read and say why people should read them.
I always suggest House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski to as many people as possible because it's the most MESSED. UP. book I've ever read and yet I can't stop looking away. I absolutely adore this book, partly because it's a great read, and partly because the writer in me still says "buh...wha...how did he write that?!??"
Also, the Carlucci trilogy by Richard Paul Russo is always suggested to SF and mystery readers. One of my favorite writers ever. Gritty, creepy, and the man has no problem killing off the characters you don't want killed.
Lastly, in the nonfic department, I always suggest the books Mark Lewisohn wrote about the Beatles. One of the very few writers blessed to hear everything the Fab Four committed to tape, he exhaustively wrote a handful of books about them.
Name three books you’ve never been able to finish and explain why.
There are many books I haven't been able to finish, but mostly because of boredom with the story. I can't think of them offhand, but I'm sure if I saw them on the shelf I'd tell you. Although Lord of the Flies comes to mind, which I didn't finish because it frustrated the hell out of me.
Name three books you want to read, but haven’t yet.
Where do I start?!?? There is a pretty sizable group of books already here in the apartment that I'll eventually get to.
Are there any books that you’ve loved, but been disappointed by the film/TV adaptation?
Heh--you mean "oh shit, we've spent 2 hours on the film already but we're only 2/3 of the way through the book? Quick, let's tack on an implausible ending!", aka The Firm. Oh, and "let's Disney-fy a creepy novel!" aka Jurassic Park. Other than that, I usually give Hollywood the benefit of the doubt. I can deal with variations, but please, PLEASE don't do a hack job.
Which books do you re-read the most?
I read House of Leaves, Carlucci and The Children's War (by J.N. Stroyar) back-to-back at least once every couple of years. I think I reread those the most.
Which books do you remember most from your childhood?
All the Dr. Seuss books, of course...and Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends...and a book my sister had called My Sister the Horse (okay, so it's more for girls but I read it anyway and thought it was fun). And of course Dragon Fall, which I credit as being one of the books that inspired me to write in the first place.
Are there any books that you are proud to say you have read?
Uh...proud? Hmm. Not quite sure what that would mean. I could say I'm proud to say I've read a number of books on the infamous banned-book list, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? ;)
Are there any books that you are ashamed to admit reading?
Not ashamed, per se, but how to explain that I actually enjoyed reading YA books that had strong female characters instead of YA books featuring guys trying to make the team? Meh, I chalk it up to enjoying a good story. :p
Are there any books that have had a big emotional impact on you? List 2.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, because it's beautifully written and is very much like life in a small town when I was that age (albeit a few decades later...).
And the end of Carlucci's Heart (part 3 of the Carlucci trilogy) has such a heartwrenching ending that I've never experienced before or since. And again, the reason I love Russo's books so much. ;)
