Books moral and immoral

[galaxygirl]

After years of hearing about how wonderful it is, I've uploaded Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale. I'm trying to decide whether to read it right away, or wait for a nice snowy day (which could be as soon as 4 weeks from now, given that I live in Minnesota).

Let us know what you think of it when you're done. I bought Winter's Tale when it was the Nook Daily Deal but I've put so many ebooks on hold at the library that I haven't had time to read any of the books I've bought lately.

[skatesindreams]

As for JKR, she could have written Hamlet and it would have been universally panned; I didn't expect critics to like it.

Agreed,
I suspect that there is great jealousy/envy over her success, which might influence their opinion about anything she writes.

[kwanfan1818]

JK Rowling's new book is everywhere in Copenhagen, because everyone here reads English.

because it was over or because it was bad?

because it was delicious, and I wanted it to never end.

[rfisher]

I'm glad I didn't plan to put A Casual Vacancy on my nook as apparently there are major glitches with the e-version of the book.

[PrincessLeppard]

Agreed,
I suspect that there is great jealousy/envy over her success, which might influence their opinion about anything she writes.

Or, hey, they might just think it sucks.

[galaxygirl]

Today's Nook Daily Find is Room by Emma Donoghue for $2.99.

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail by Hunter S Thompson is also $2.99 today.

[made_in_canada]

Room is a gripping, disturbing book. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

[Artemis@BC]

Room is a gripping, disturbing book. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

I read it in two sittings. Probably not good that I started it at nearly 11:00 at night -- but had to keep reading it until the point where

Spoiler

they got out.

. I picked up a 2nd hand copy for .50 a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to re-read it one day at a more leisurly pace.

[Nan]

I read Neverwhere by Neil Gaimann this past weekend. Loved the characters and the story (about the REAL London Underground! ) moved along at a wonderful pace.

[Prancer]

Or, hey, they might just think it sucks.

Nah, there must be some kind of underlying agenda. It can't simply be a straighforward, honest response.

Room is a gripping, disturbing book. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

Room is one of my favorite recommendations from the books threads.

[Lara]

Just picked up Room - sounds like it's worth the shot!

[made_in_canada]

I read it in two sittings. Probably not good that I started it at nearly 11:00 at night -- but had to keep reading it until the point where

Spoiler

they got out.

. I picked up a 2nd hand copy for .50 a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to re-read it one day at a more leisurly pace.

I also started reading it late at night. Not smart

[Erin]

After years of hearing about how wonderful it is, I've uploaded Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale. I'm trying to decide whether to read it right away, or wait for a nice snowy day (which could be as soon as 4 weeks from now, given that I live in Minnesota).

Let us know what you think of it when you're done.

Yes, I'm curious too. I'm pretty sure that I have a paper copy of this book hanging around, and I remember reading the first few pages and never got into it so I gave up, but I also don't feel like I really gave it a fair shot. I keep forgetting to try it again.

On the topic of JK Rowling...trying to decide whether I should give the Harry Potter books a shot. Yes, I know I am several years too late. I'd never been very interested because I don't like fantasy. But I just got back from a vacation with several HP fans who assured me that they aren't into fantasy either, but really like HP and that they're just very well-written books. Any thoughts?

[galaxygirl]

Yes, I'm curious too. I'm pretty sure that I have a paper copy of this book hanging around, and I remember reading the first few pages and never got into it so I gave up, but I also don't feel like I really gave it a fair shot. I keep forgetting to try it again.

On the topic of JK Rowling...trying to decide whether I should give the Harry Potter books a shot. Yes, I know I am several years too late. I'd never been very interested because I don't like fantasy. But I just got back from a vacation with several HP fans who assured me that they aren't into fantasy either, but really like HP and that they're just very well-written books. Any thoughts?

I think you should give them a shot. When I first read them, I wasn't into fantasy and I wasn't into young adult books and I loved them. Keep in mind, though, that the first two or three books are written for a younger audience than the later books. I think she wrote them to correspond to the ages of the characters so that the books become more adult as Harry and the readers grow up.

I agree that the books are very well written. She does a very good job of drawing you in and making it feel like you are experiencing what the characters experience.

[PrincessLeppard]

Room is a gripping, disturbing book. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

Agreed. I had a student who had never finished a book blow through it in two days.

I read the first Harry Potter book and liked it. Not sure why I never picked up the rest, but there's always stuff I wanted to read more.

[made_in_canada]

On the topic of JK Rowling...trying to decide whether I should give the Harry Potter books a shot. Yes, I know I am several years too late. I'd never been very interested because I don't like fantasy. But I just got back from a vacation with several HP fans who assured me that they aren't into fantasy either, but really like HP and that they're just very well-written books. Any thoughts?

I agree with your friends. I didn't read them until a couple of years ago mostly because of the hype, and I also don't like fantasy particularly. They are very well written and JK Rowling obviously put a ton of effort into the details of the characters, the setting and the story. They are totally worth a read, imho

[Zemgirl]

Yes, I'm curious too. I'm pretty sure that I have a paper copy of this book hanging around, and I remember reading the first few pages and never got into it so I gave up, but I also don't feel like I really gave it a fair shot. I keep forgetting to try it again.

On the topic of JK Rowling...trying to decide whether I should give the Harry Potter books a shot. Yes, I know I am several years too late. I'd never been very interested because I don't like fantasy. But I just got back from a vacation with several HP fans who assured me that they aren't into fantasy either, but really like HP and that they're just very well-written books. Any thoughts?

I can read some fantasy, but it's not my thing for the most part. But HP doesn't start out as hardcore fantasy, more like a combination of classic English boarding school books with fantasy - though it does become darker and less school-oriented as it goes on. I enjoyed the earlier books in the series; later on I think Rowling's editors were afraid to tell her that even she needed editing. Anyway, I'd say it's worth a try.

[michiruwater]

Rowling herself has said that OOtP needed a lot more editing than she gave it

[Zemgirl]

Rowling herself has said that OOtP needed a lot more editing than she gave it

That is exactly the one I had in mind; it needed to have about 200 pages worth of text cut out... a pity Rowling did not do anything about it at the time OotP would have also been vastly improved if she'd written Harry as anything but the most stereotypical teenager imaginable.

[Artemis@BC]

OotP would have also been vastly improved if she'd written Harry as anything but the most stereotypical teenager imaginable.

I actually thought that was one of the strengths. Here's a boy who's had the most unusual and unpleastant upbringing, lives in a fantastical world, has seen death, has met his parents' killer face to face, has a crushing destiny ... but is still an ordinary teen with ordinary teen trials & tribulations. Perhaps a bit less of the teen angst would have been a good thing, but not a complete rewrite.

For Erin, be aware that the series gets more complicated and sophisticated as it goes on -- growing with the age of the characters and the readers (and, I think, as Rowling learned her craft). The Philosopher's Stone is somewhat juvenile in its tone, but don't let that turn you off. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to be juvenile or unsophisticated, but if you don't read a lot of children's/YA lit you might get turned off by that more than the "fantasy" content.