Book a Week 2021 - BW2: 52 Books Bingo - Antihero

[Robin M]

Happy Sunday, dear hearts. I have anti-heroes on my mind today and have been thinking about the differences between the antihero and the villain, or between the hero and the anti-hero.  My son and I have been watching you-tube videos by Harry Potter Theory about the Harry Potter series and they've posted several videos discussing Severus Snape. You never quite know whether to trust the man. What are his motives?  Is he good or bad, working for or against Harry?  

Joe Bunting from the Write Practice says:  "Snape, like all Anti-Heroes, represents what society detests: cruelty, cowardice, self-interest, and dishonesty. He is the opposite of the hero, a villain, and yet somehow he’s a villain on the good guys’ side."   

We love to hate them, but then again we have to trust that the good side will outweigh the bad side and they'll redeem themselves in the end. 

Since one of our 52 Books Bingo categories is the Antihero, your mission is to read a book with an antihero. 

Anti-heroes: The good bad boys of literature

Blurring the Lines: What Are Anti-Heroes and Anti-Villains?

Modern Literature's Greatest Anti Heroes And Unreliable Narrators

10 Literary Anti-Heroines That Make Their Male Counterparts Look Conventional

Best Anti-Hero Fantasy Books

The 20 Best Anti-Hero Books Ever Written

The Top 10 Fictional Antiheroes

Who is your favorite anti-hero? 

Thanks to the theory videos, I'll be looking at Snape in a whole new light while rereading Harry Potter. 

Happy Reading! 

 

**********************

Link to week one

Visit  52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini and perpetual challenges, as well as share your book reviews with other readers  around the globe.

[Robin M]

I’m currently sipping from Sharon Kay Penman’s When Christ and Her Saints Slept and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I didn’t get too terribly far in either book when I was distracted by life events and turned to comfort reads.  Nora Robert is one of my favorite authors and her Key Trilogy drew my attention this week.  I think a Nora Roberts reread is in order for the year as she provides not only comfort, but creativity as her writing inspires me.   

Decided with ebooks I’m going to go alphabetical A to Z and I finished And Then There were Nuns as well as Baking Bad and even managed to write reviews for them. Started My Christmas Number One by Leona Mack.   

 Craft wise I’m sipping on Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic process edited by Joe Fassler as well as James Scott Bell’s Just Write.   In the middle of John Strelecky’s Café on the Edge of the World and for some reason this story strikes me as an advertisement for something else. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but something is missing in the narrative.  For some reason it reminds me of Amway. 😊

I don’t have just one favorite anti hero. At this point in time, Roland from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and Severus Snape from Harry Potter are my two favorites. Lizbeth Salander from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo runs a close third.  She was an odd duck. 
 

[mumto2]

Thank you Robin!  I need to think about the antihero......

I am trying to clear out a couple of audiobooks that I already had checked out before diving into Rex Stout. I spent last night trying to get to know David Baldacci’s female main character, Atlee Pine, who seems to be growing on me. A new book in this series was recently released so he obviously is continuing this characters ongoing story.     https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39088984-long-road-to-mercy.  

I am reading the second book in a Space Opera series series by Kristyn Merbeth by the nam of the Nova Vita Protocol. I had a really hard time getting into the first book in the series and actually switched to audio because it made me sleepy. This time with Memoria I am having no problems keeping the characters strait! These aren’t the best ever but enjoyable if you read this Sci Fi genre.     https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53019382-memoria. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by mumto2

[Kareni]

16 hours ago, Arctic Bunny said:

*raises hand* First time poster in the BaW threads.....

Welcome, Arctic Bunny!  I look forward to hearing about your reading.

6 hours ago, Robin M said:

Who is your favorite anti-hero? 

My favorite series that features a character who straddles the hero/anti-hero line is Anne Cleeland's mystery series featuring Acton and Doyle. The first book is Murder in Thrall. Some here have read and enjoyed it; others have tossed it across the room!

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts ~

(Language warning) A Romance Reader’s Recap of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Everyone Deserves a Mother Figure Like Juniper from “Wise Child

https://electricliterature.com/everyone-deserves-a-mother-figure-like-juniper-from-wise-child/

5 SFF Books About Flawed Gods

https://www.tor.com/2020/10/13/5-sff-books-about-flawed-gods/comment-page-1/#comment-887959

TROPICAL COZY IS THE BALM WE NEED FOR TRYING TIMES

https://crimereads.com/tropical-cozy-is-the-balm-we-need-for-trying-times/

Regards,

Kareni

[Junie]

Last year's last read: Madame Bovary.  Over the past few years I have been trying to catch up on classics that I had never had the opportunity to read.  Yes, from a moral standpoint this is a terrible story -- a moral failure -- but I thought it was well-written and actually a cautionary tale.  I understand why it was so risque at the time, but it is actually nothing compared to modern literature and media.

This year's first read: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (a re-read after 365 days of no repeats!)  Dd16 received the Harry Potter movies for Christmas, so we have been having a movie marathon.  We will finish tomorrow night.  And, so, of course, they want to read all of the books.  Many years ago I read books 1 through 5 before I lost interest.  Since I always pre-read the books I give my minor children, I am starting at the beginning of the series before I plunge into the later books in the series.

When the Harry Potter books first came out, they were very much frowned upon by the evangelical community.  Somewhere along the line I decided to read them and decide for myself -- and I realized that they are not really that much different from Star Wars or LOTR.  We did have a discussion about one scene from the movies -- the reading of tea leaves and of palms; that this is actually a form of witchcraft that some people IRL actually participate in -- but for the most part there isn't really a huge jump from wands and Latin-sounding words to light sabers.

Also this week I read Foundations of Design by Jeff Davis.  This was a really quick read but very informative.  Dd18 lent it to me -- it was one of her art textbooks from last semester.

[Lady Florida.]

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

Some bookish posts ~

(Language warning) A Romance Reader’s Recap of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

 

That was great! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 

[Kareni]

Late last night I finished a reread of SK Dunstall's Linesman which I enjoyed once again. I was inspired to reread this since I gave it as part of a wedding gift to a long time friend who just married his partner of twenty-five years. (It's not bookish, but I also gave this in two different heights.) Since we have newcomers who may not yet know about one of my favorite books, I'll include the description.

"The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he’s crazy…

Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level-ten linesman like Ean. Even if he’s part of a small, and unethical, cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he’s certified and working.

Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship’s secrets, but all they’ve learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy—and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius.

The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force—and reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them, forever."

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

My favorite series that features a character who straddles the hero/anti-hero line is Anne Cleeland's mystery series featuring Acton and Doyle. The first book is Murder in Thrall. Some here have read and enjoyed it; others have tossed it across the room!

You are so right!  I like Acton some of the time ....... now that I have read a half dozen of these books.  They are so addictive.

[Kareni]

Some currently FREE books for Kindle readers ~

The Art of Rivers: A Coastal Hearts Novel by Janet Ferguson

Material Witness: a Romantic Suspense Novel (Heroes of Providence Book 1) by Lisa Mondello

The Girl Without Magic (The Chronicles of Maggie Trent Book 1)

The Choice of Magic (Art of the Adept Book 1)

by Michael G. Manning

Fall to Earth (Pillars of Fire and Light Sci-Fi Book 1)

ETA one more: 

The Cardinal Gate (An Eleanor Morgan Novel Book 1) by Amy Cissell

Regards,

Kareni

[Negin]

I read 501 Time-Saving Tips Every Woman Should Know - 3 Stars - too lazy to post my review here, so sharing the link. 

[Mothersweets]

17 hours ago, Kareni said:

Some bookish posts ~

(Language warning) A Romance Reader’s Recap of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

 

This was hilariously spot-on! Thanks, @Kareni

@Dreamergal, Island of the Lost just went on my TBR list - thanks!

I've finished three books so far this year:

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - from GR: On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein, a girl at the periphery of schoolyard games and her distracted parents’ attention, bites into her mother’s homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother’s emotions in the cake. She discovers this gift to her horror, for her mother—her cheerful, good-with-crafts, can-do mother—tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes a peril and a threat to Rose. 

 I thought the premise was terrific but overall the story was melancholy and a bit of a downer.

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. From GR: thriller about a vigilante on a Native American reservation who embarks on a dangerous mission to track down the source of a heroin influx.

I really enjoyed this. It was fast-paced, the main character was likable, and it's set in an area that I wasn't familiar with. I also belong to a knitting group that makes hats, sweaters, mittens, etc. for children on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations and it was eye-opening to read what life is like there.

The Things They Fancied  by Molly Young. Short, witty book (almost a pamphlet really) detailing how the rich of past centuries spent their money. Loved it!

Edited January 11, 2021 by Mothersweets

[Kareni]

5 hours ago, negin said:

I read 501 Time-Saving Tips Every Woman Should Know - 3 Stars - too lazy to post my review here, so sharing the link. 

You're not lazy, Negin; you're saving time!

Regards,

Kareni

[Junie]

I thought I would get a head start on the Count of Monte Cristo -- and I realized that my copy is abridged.  I'm usually not a fan of abridged works, but 600 pages seems a lot less daunting than 1200, especially after reading Les Mis last year.  So I'm trying to decide whether to go with the version or get a different one.

The version I have is this one from Barnes and Noble's classics series:

[mumto2]

Since I was somewhat enthusiastic about my David Baldacci audiobook featuring Atlee Pine I need to report I finished it but do not care for the character. Actually I may be done with the author too.......the main character just plain irritated me and the storyline was beyond belief.

[Arctic Bunny]

I chose Sula as an anti-hero book. I am almost positive I have read this book before - everything seems very familiar - but I couldn’t tell you what happens next. Very strange. While reading, I am spending a lot of time pondering this.

[Negin]

Kindle books on sale today. 

Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House

The Invisible Bridge

  

[Maus]

I seem to be starting the year on a bit of a dark streak. Cathartic, maybe?

6. "The Cases That Haunt Us" by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Audible book. I think I read this in book form years ago. DH and I have been binge watching Criminal Minds, so it's cool to know they are at least using the correct terminology and basic concepts.

5. "From Here to Eternity: Travelling the World to Find the Good Death" by Caitlin Doughty. Fascinating!

4. "Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth" by Dr. Everett Piper. Audible book. I assume his target audience is the parents of the students who attend his college? The last chapter is pretty specific to Wesleyanism, I thought. Otherwise, I thought he was spot on on many of the issues on campuses today, and his take is remarkably similar to Jonathan Haidt's "Coddling of the American Mind" from the other side of the political aisle.  I've got a Junior and a Senior this year, and I'm beginning to wonder if college is the best option. 

3. "The Innocence of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton. Audible book read by Frederick Davidson. 

2. "St. Peter's Fair" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.

1. "The Mysterious Mr. Quin: A Harley Quin Collection" by Agatha Christie. Audible book.

[Excelsior! Academy]

This week we finished The Amazing Dr. Ransom's Bestiary of Adorable Fallacies: A Field Guide for Clear Thinkers by Douglas Wilson.  I studied it with my school age children upon recommendation from a friend and as part of our morning basket time.  The examples are not always appropriate for younger children nor are they intended to be.  The wording is quite clever, but was somewhat lost on my children.  If I were to recommend an informal logic study book, then I would choose the Bluedorn's Thinking Toolbox and Fallacy Detective over this one.

Edited January 12, 2021 by Excelsior! Academy

[Robin M]

Finished my C book for a to z - My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack. I was in the mood for a cozy romance and what I got instead was a poignant story about two characters, singers from different cultures, both affected by long term grief, brought together to create a Christmas song.  Cara, who was injured in the car accident where her mother and sister died years ago at Christmas time, struggles with anxiety and self consciousness about her scars and prosthetic foot.  Javi, who has a playboy reputation, a failed marriage, a daughter who doesn't like him, and is still holding on to the grief when his brother died around Christmas time. 

The two are brought together, the English Songwriter and the Latin playboy, when Cara's record label contract requires her to record a single written by another artist on the label.  Cara expects it to be quick.  She'll record the song, go back home and the song will die from obscurity and she can go back to ignoring Christmas and dealing with her life the best she knows how.  Little do the characters realize what the power of the song will accomplish and both their lives are changed forever. My Christmas Number One is a wonderful story of two characters working through grief and other issues without being overly sappy and I highly recommend it. 

(Ebook category: be still my heart  Setting: London/South America   New to me author)

[Kareni]

29 minutes ago, Robin M said:

Finished my C book for a to z - My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack.....

 My Christmas Number One is a wonderful story of two characters working through grief and other issues without being overly sappy and I highly recommend it.

Yes, this was a very good read; I'm glad you enjoyed it, Robin.

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts ~

ALL EPISTOLARY NOVELS ARE MYSTERIES by Amy Stewart

EVERY MYSTERY WRITER KNOWS, YOU CAN KILL ANYONE BUT THE DOG by Sulari Gentill

And on the same theme:

From reddit:

Fiction about dog friendship where the dog DOESNT die

https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/kgm286/fiction_about_dog_friendship_where_the_dog_doesnt/

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

Speaking of anti heroes, if anyone's read Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, I believe we can say he's definitely an antihero. I was reminded of Reacher during my web wanderings today:  Lee Child and Paraic O'Donnell on moral codes, punching Nazis, and human evolution

The Millions posted Most Anticipated: The Great First-Half 2021 Book Preview I was just reading about George Saunders, can't remember where, and now I want to read his Swim in the Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

[Miss Tick]

5 minutes ago, Robin M said:

Speaking of anti heroes, if anyone's read Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, I believe we can say he's definitely an antihero.

Oh, i don't know, he does seem to care about other people. Many of his stories start with him going the extra mile to help a random stranger. There does seem to be variation in the definitions of antihero, though.

Edmund Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo), Okonkwo (Things Fall Apart), Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre), and Alonso Quijano (Don Quixote) all make the Wikipedia list, though , which may mean my recent reading has been skewing dark! They also have James Bond, though, who in the recent movies strikes me as more akin to Jack Reacher than Okonkwo. Maybe this is like the fun of explaining to middle schoolers why many things they call fruits are not, technically fruits. I often feel like a middle schooler in many discussions of literary matters!

[Robin M]

On 1/10/2021 at 1:54 PM, Junie said:

When the Harry Potter books first came out, they were very much frowned upon by the evangelical community.  Somewhere along the line I decided to read them and decide for myself -- and I realized that they are not really that much different from Star Wars or LOTR.  We did have a discussion about one scene from the movies -- the reading of tea leaves and of palms; that this is actually a form of witchcraft that some people IRL actually participate in -- but for the most part there isn't really a huge jump from wands and Latin-sounding words to light sabers.

Yep, it was all the fuss about the book that made me decide to buy and read it, found it thoroughly entertaining and my lurve affair with Harry Potter began.  Same as with Da Vinci Code. I loved the book and reread a second time when folks kicked up a fuss and looked up all the things that made people mad.  Nothing to see here, it's only fiction, people. Geesh! 

On 1/10/2021 at 4:43 PM, Dreamergal said:

Finished

It was my selection of Non-fiction from New Zealand in my read-around-the-world challenge. It was one of the strangest books I have ever read and I had to double check to make sure if I made a mistake in choosing a fiction book instead of a non-fiction because it was so unbelievable. But truth is really stranger than fiction and this book is proof of that. 
 

Looks like my kind of book and adding to my wishlist. Thanks!

On 1/11/2021 at 2:22 AM, negin said:

I read 501 Time-Saving Tips Every Woman Should Know - 3 Stars - too lazy to post my review here, so sharing the link. 

Great reviews. I love mashed potatoes so make weekely.  Have used Idaho, creamer, and the red, although the red are better baked with an all in one dish.   All good.   My hubby introduced me to Bar Keeper's friend ages ago and it's all we use now.   Clean my toaster regularly but never thought to  use an old toothbrush.  

19 hours ago, Junie said:

I thought I would get a head start on the Count of Monte Cristo -- and I realized that my copy is abridged.  I'm usually not a fan of abridged works, but 600 pages seems a lot less daunting than 1200, especially after reading Les Mis last year.  So I'm trying to decide whether to go with the version or get a different one.

The version I have is this one from Barnes and Noble's classics series:

I have the Penguin classics one which is the most readable for me. 

18 hours ago, mumto2 said:

Since I was somewhat enthusiastic about my David Baldacci audiobook featuring Atlee Pine I need to report I finished it but do not care for the character. Actually I may be done with the author too.......the main character just plain irritated me and the storyline was beyond belief.

I kinda liked the character but can see how she would irritate you. He has so many different series and stand alone books which are great so don't give up on him altogether.  

2 hours ago, Maus said:

I seem to be starting the year on a bit of a dark streak. Cathartic, maybe?

6. "The Cases That Haunt Us" by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Audible book. I think I read this in book form years ago. DH and I have been binge watching Criminal Minds, so it's cool to know they are at least using the correct terminology and basic concepts.

5. "From Here to Eternity: Travelling the World to Find the Good Death" by Caitlin Doughty. Fascinating!

4. "Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth" by Dr. Everett Piper. Audible book. I assume his target audience is the parents of the students who attend his college? The last chapter is pretty specific to Wesleyanism, I thought. Otherwise, I thought he was spot on on many of the issues on campuses today, and his take is remarkably similar to Jonathan Haidt's "Coddling of the American Mind" from the other side of the political aisle.  I've got a Junior and a Senior this year, and I'm beginning to wonder if college is the best option. 

3. "The Innocence of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton. Audible book read by Frederick Davidson. 

2. "St. Peter's Fair" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.

1. "The Mysterious Mr. Quin: A Harley Quin Collection" by Agatha Christie. Audible book.

Yes, you seem to have a theme going here. 

[Robin M]

Just now, SusanC said:

Oh, i don't know, he does seem to care about other people. Many of his stories start with him going the extra mile to help a random stranger. There does seem to be variation in the definitions of antihero, though.

Edmund Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo), Okonkwo (Things Fall Apart), Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre), and Alonso Quijano (Don Quixote) all make the Wikipedia list, though , which may mean my recent reading has been skewing dark! They also have James Bond, though, who in the recent movies strikes me as more akin to Jack Reacher than Okonkwo. Maybe this is like the fun of explaining to middle schoolers why many things they call fruits are not, technically fruits. I often feel like a middle schooler in many discussions of literary matters!

Yes, I thought it was odd that James Bond was on the list as I don't see him that way.  Nor could I understand why Jane Eyre made the anti heroine list. But everyone has their own ideas and perceptions which is what makes discussing literary matters fun. But also like you said, there are some conversations in which just go right over my head. I scratch my head and think huh? How'd they get that out of that.  😁

[melmichigan]

I started the year reading Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1), but the library returned my ebook before I was done!  I just got it back after a wait and am 60% done.  I finished Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews this morning, yes I was up at midnight waiting. 😉 This is Aurelia Ryder #1 set in the world of Kate Daniels. 

"Atlanta was always a dangerous city. Now, as waves of magic and technology compete for supremacy, it’s a place caught in a slow apocalypse, where monsters spawn among the crumbling skyscrapers and supernatural factions struggle for power and survival.

Eight years ago, Julie Lennart left Atlanta to find out who she was. Now she’s back with a new face, a new magic, and a new name—Aurelia Ryder—drawn by the urgent need to protect the family she left behind. An ancient power is stalking her adopted mother, Kate Daniels, an enemy unlike any other, and a string of horrifying murders is its opening gambit.

If Aurelia’s true identity is discovered, those closest to her will die. So her plan is simple: get in, solve the murders, prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, and get out without being recognized. She expected danger, but she never anticipated that the only man she'd ever loved could threaten everything.

One small misstep could lead to disaster. But for Aurelia, facing disaster is easy; it’s relationships that are hard."  
 

[Kareni]

Currently FREE for Kindle readers ~

Hans Christian Andersen: Complete Fairy Tales Collection

Border Series: Books 1-3 (Border Series Boxset Book 1) by Cecelia Mecca

The Star Series: The Complete 7 Book Sci-Fi Romance Boxed Set by Susan Grant

Irresistible: A Small Town Single Dad Romance (Cloverleigh Farms Series Book 1) Melanie Harlow

ETA one more: 

Past Crimes: A Compendium of Historical Mysteries

 by Ashley Gardner/Jennifer Ashley

Regards,

Kareni

[Shawneinfl]

10 hours ago, Maus said:

 

 

  I've got a Junior and a Senior this year, and I'm beginning to wonder if college is the best option. 

 

 

My fourth child is a Senior this year and I feel exactly the same way.

[Arctic Bunny]

9 hours ago, Dreamergal said:

Currently reading

Seeing the White Tiger trailer, brought forward a book that was in my TBR list. Since Aravind is an Indian Australian and I am still stuck on Australia, I thought I should give it a go. He also ticks a lot of my author boxes,  Desi writer and Indian diaspora author who lived, studied and worked in multiple countries around the world. Most of all, it deals with immigration, especially undocumented, something I want to learn more about and the protagonist is a refugee from Sri Lanka denied asylum. This is a fiction book though.

I am pairing this with this book

From the blurb 

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • One of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard reveals the hidden lives of her fellow undocumented Americans in this deeply personal and groundbreaking portrait of a nation.
 

I love doing something called analogous reading where I take one book from western literature, similar themed from eastern literature and read them together. An example would be To kill a Mockingbird from the US and God of Small things from Arundathi Roy from India. I've never done a fiction and non-fiction before and I have some hesitation about reading a fiction book when the author's experience is not lived while the non-fiction book is a lived experience. Aravind has lived a lot of his life in western society or Australia, but he has a very strong voice I think when he narrates the plight of someone else in less fortunate circumstances, he would do justice to it. But I would take care not to read authenticity into Arvind's book though I am sure it will be well researched based on my experience with his other books like I would in Karla's book. I am a little sensitive to it especially after American Dirt.

I however think that stories need to be told and not everyone is a good story teller even if they have a good story. So while the experience may not be lived, it can still be an important story to tell and I can learn about.

Interesting, because that is how I prefer to read non-fiction books! Right now I’m reading non-fiction about Alexander Hamilton, but also fiction about the history of NYC. The fiction helps give me context for the non-fiction. And then when reading fiction, it often leads me to non-fiction about the time or place!

[Mothersweets]

On 1/11/2021 at 5:41 PM, Junie said:

I thought I would get a head start on the Count of Monte Cristo -- and I realized that my copy is abridged.  I'm usually not a fan of abridged works, but 600 pages seems a lot less daunting than 1200, especially after reading Les Mis last year.  So I'm trying to decide whether to go with the version or get a different one.

The version I have is this one from Barnes and Noble's classics series:

Hi Junie, I read the unabridged Count of Monte Cristo a few years ago and loved it. Never thought I would like it as much as I did BUT I actually listened to it with the Craftlit podcast - it's like an annotated audiobook. The host talks about the book and what is going on in the chapter(s) that are read that week and explains a few things - like archaic word use, etc.- and reading it this way made the entire book so so so enjoyable! Just thought I would throw this out here as a way to read the unabridged (yeah, it's insanely long) version without having to slog through it all. 

The entire book is still up - it begins with episode 402 - I use Stitcher for my podcasts - here's the link ep 402 The Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas prequel

 

[Matryoshka]

16 minutes ago, Mothersweets said:

Hi Junie, I read the unabridged Count of Monte Cristo a few years ago and loved it. Never thought I would like it as much as I did BUT I actually listened to it with the Craftlit podcast - it's like an annotated audiobook. The host talks about the book and what is going on in the chapter(s) that are read that week and explains a few things - like archaic word use, etc.- and reading it this way made the entire book so so so enjoyable! Just thought I would throw this out here as a way to read the unabridged (yeah, it's insanely long) version without having to slog through it all. 

The entire book is still up - it begins with episode 402 - I use Stitcher for my podcasts - here's the link ep 402 The Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas prequel

 

That sounds really cool... Audio for really long classic books is a tactic I've used before.  What English translation did they use, and when was it from? 

And I'm curious- archaic word use? Are they talking about why a translator would use an older word?  I thought that there hadn't been any unabridged translations till fairly recently. 

I did go to the link, but I couldn't find info on the translation. 

ETA: and for the print version, while 600pp does seem less intimidating than 1200, I think cutting out half the book is ... a lot. Im not sure I could really feel like I read the author's work rather than a plot summary.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Matryoshka

[Junie]

11 minutes ago, Matryoshka said:

 

ETA: and for the print version, while 600pp does seem less intimidating than 1200, I think cutting out half the book is ... a lot. Im not sure I could really feel like I read the author's work rather than a plot summary.

This is kind of what I'm thinking, too.  Although, the book is quite a bit larger in length and width, so hopefully more words on a page.  I think I'm going to do a bit more research before I decide...

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today - historical fiction

 

[Kareni]

Mumto2, you mentioned a pig ~ 

On 1/8/2021 at 3:09 PM, mumto2 said:

If I could talk to animals .......is where I plan to put books with things like hedgehogs,pigs, moose.  ...

I saw this review earlier today and thought of you.

The Worst Duke in the World by Lisa Berne

ETA: This book might also be of interest ~ Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Last night I finished a rather lengthy fantasy which I quite enjoyed. I'll be looking with interest at what else this author might write.

Wild Sky by Zaya Feli

"Tauran Darrica has been retired from the Valreus Sky Guard for four years following the Battle of the Broken Wings that resulted in the death of his dragon. Now, all Tauran wants to do is spend his days forgetting the past and gambling his way to an unsteady income.

So when his old general from the Sky Guard hunts Tauran down to request his help with staving off the increasingly aggressive wild dragon population, Tauran refuses. But a fire ruins his rented room and leaves him without a place to stay, and Tauran finds himself on the road to Valreus, after all.

Tauran is determined to stay as far away from dragons as he can get, but a starry-eyed young man from Sharoani, land of the wild dragons, might just ruin his plans.

Kalai Ro-Ani has spent his life watching the stars, knowing he could never reach them.
With his wild dragon Arrow, he sets out for the city of Valreus in the hope of building himself a better future than he could have stuck at the foot of the Kel Visal dragon temples.

But nobody told Kalai that only the Sky Guard is allowed to own dragons, so when Arrow kills a guard in Kalai’s defense, it looks like his adventure might be over before it can begin. But a chance encounter at the old Valreus archive offers Kalai the future he’d been hoping for. In the span of a single day, he has a home, a job, and a purpose.

In Valreus, something much bigger falls into his lap – along with a tall and striking Valrean man with a rather strange disposition."

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

Mumto2, you mentioned a pig ~ 

I saw this review earlier today and thought of you.

The Worst Duke in the World by Lisa Berne

ETA: This book might also be of interest ~ Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

Regards,

Kareni

The Worst Duke in the World does look like a good fluffy read!  I just recommended to my library.......I think it is actually being released this week as I saw it on a new releases list earlier today.

i seem to have immersed myself in an Amish cozy series about a quilt shop that I can’t even honestly class as awesome in a cozy sense.  I am simply hooked https://www.goodreads.com/series/102467-amish-quilt-shop-mystery.         .  It has a silly dog and a goat.....I am on the third one already!   

Edited January 13, 2021 by mumto2

[Mothersweets]

12 hours ago, Matryoshka said:

That sounds really cool... Audio for really long classic books is a tactic I've used before.  What English translation did they use, and when was it from? 

And I'm curious- archaic word use? Are they talking about why a translator would use an older word?  I thought that there hadn't been any unabridged translations till fairly recently. 

I did go to the link, but I couldn't find info on the translation. 

ETA: and for the print version, while 600pp does seem less intimidating than 1200, I think cutting out half the book is ... a lot. Im not sure I could really feel like I read the author's work rather than a plot summary.

They used the Penguin Classics edition , May 2003 reissue with Robin Buss translating. 

As for archaic word use - what I meant was when Dumas used a word that has come to mean something different nowadays or if it was a word that we, living in the 21st century, don't really use any longer. 🙂

[Kareni]

This evening I finished In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren.

I found this to be a really fun read; I did a lot of laughing. 

"It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe."

Regards,

Kareni

[Matryoshka]

43 minutes ago, Mothersweets said:

They used the Penguin Classics edition , May 2003 reissue with Robin Buss translating. 

As for archaic word use - what I meant was when Dumas used a word that has come to mean something different nowadays or if it was a word that we, living in the 21st century, don't really use any longer. 🙂

So, they were talking about a word choice in French? I would think translating would take care of that - after all, you translate for meaning.  Or words referring to things we don't use anymore, like some kind of horse-drawn carriage or clothing item?

[ladydusk]

Hi Friends. Just popping in to say hello 🙂

I've been reading The Great Tradition (edited by Gamble), A Wrinkle in Time and Sold Into Egypt (both by L'Engle), I have read one chapter of Oliver Twist (and need to keep going). I listened to Steven Mitchell's version of Gilgamesh (excellent - not for young listeners, though) and started The Iliad (read by Jacobi) 

I see some of you on GoodReads and was doing some internet cleanup so I thought I'd pop in here and say hello.  Hope you're all well ❤️ 

[Mothersweets]

11 hours ago, Matryoshka said:

So, they were talking about a word choice in French? I would think translating would take care of that - after all, you translate for meaning.  Or words referring to things we don't use anymore, like some kind of horse-drawn carriage or clothing item?

Yes to the bolded. Sorry for not being clear!

[Kareni]

7 hours ago, ladydusk said:

Hi Friends. Just popping in to say hello 🙂

And hello to you, too!

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

And I finished another book today.

Stray (Touchstone Book 1) by Andrea K. Höst

This is a book that @Eliana recommended to me long ago; in fact, I see that I've owned it since mid-2014. I know that @Ali in OR read this and two sequels some time ago. (Did you know there are five works now in the series, Ali?) It's currently FREE for Kindle readers. It's a fine read for teens as well as adults. I enjoyed it and plan to read on in the series. The entire book is written in diary format.

"On her last day of high school, Cassandra Devlin walked out of exams and into a forest. Surrounded by the wrong sort of trees, and animals never featured in any nature documentary, Cass is only sure of one thing: alone, she will be lucky to survive.

The sprawl of abandoned blockish buildings Cass discovers offers her only more puzzles. Where are the people? What is the intoxicating mist which drifts off the buildings in the moonlight? And why does she feel like she's being watched?

Increasingly unnerved, Cass is overjoyed at the arrival of the formidable Setari. Whisked to a world as technologically advanced as the first was primitive, where nanotech computers are grown inside people's skulls, and few have any interest in venturing outside the enormous whitestone cities, Cass finds herself processed as a 'stray', a refugee displaced by the gates torn between worlds. Struggling with an unfamiliar language and culture, she must adapt to virtual classrooms, friends who can teleport, and the ingrained attitude that strays are backward and slow.

Can Cass ever find her way home? And after the people of her new world discover her unexpected value, will they be willing to let her leave?"

Regards,

Kareni

[AnneGG]

I binge read Hope’s Highest Mountain by Misty Beller. I really enjoyed the fast paced historical. Some of the action was cheesy and the ending was predictable, but the characters were like able and the plot entertaining. I find most Christian historical fiction rather sleepy, so this was a nice change. 
 

I have two Hoopla books getting ready to expire, so I need to get on that. Still working on Joyce Meyer’s book. We’re reading books like crazy in history right now so it’s hard to find the energy after school time. A ThriftBooks order I placed in November(!!!!) finally showed up, yay!! I picked up All the lights we cannot see by Anthony Doerr from library yesterday. Hoping that’s a good one. 

[Robin M]

On 1/13/2021 at 7:26 AM, Mothersweets said:

The entire book is still up - it begins with episode 402 - I use Stitcher for my podcasts - here's the link ep 402 The Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas prequel

Oh this is awesome! We could probably match it up with our weekly reading.  Listening now. Thank you! 

[Robin M]

10 hours ago, ladydusk said:

Hi Friends. Just popping in to say hello 🙂

I've been reading The Great Tradition (edited by Gamble), A Wrinkle in Time and Sold Into Egypt (both by L'Engle), I have read one chapter of Oliver Twist (and need to keep going). I listened to Steven Mitchell's version of Gilgamesh (excellent - not for young listeners, though) and started The Iliad (read by Jacobi) 

I see some of you on GoodReads and was doing some internet cleanup so I thought I'd pop in here and say hello.  Hope you're all well ❤️ 

Waving hello! Great to see you Dawn! How is everything going with you? Everyone well and happy?

Edited January 15, 2021 by Robin M

[ladydusk]

10 hours ago, Robin M said:

Waving hello! Great to see you Dawn! How is everything going with you? Everyone well and happy?

We're doing very well. Husband working from home which all of us love and just keep plugging away at AO.  I'm busy working for Pam Barnhill and kids are now mostly high schoolers, so ... there's a lot going on.  Nice to see you, too, Robin.  Are things well in your world? I was happy to see the thread continues on 🙂 ❤️ 

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today. My friend loves this book and this is what she said: "This book was originally published as three separate novels. What you might want to do is not pressure yourself to read the whole thing through in one go, but to take breaks and read other books. That’s actually what I did." 

Creators: From Chaucer and Durer to Picasso and Disney

   

[Dicentra]

On 1/10/2021 at 9:25 AM, Robin M said:

I’m currently sipping from Sharon Kay Penman’s When Christ and Her Saints Slept and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I didn’t get too terribly far in either book when I was distracted by life events and turned to comfort reads.  Nora Robert is one of my favorite authors and her Key Trilogy drew my attention this week.  I think a Nora Roberts reread is in order for the year as she provides not only comfort, but creativity as her writing inspires me.   

Decided with ebooks I’m going to go alphabetical A to Z and I finished And Then There were Nuns as well as Baking Bad and even managed to write reviews for them. Started My Christmas Number One by Leona Mack.   

 Craft wise I’m sipping on Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic process edited by Joe Fassler as well as James Scott Bell’s Just Write.   In the middle of John Strelecky’s Café on the Edge of the World and for some reason this story strikes me as an advertisement for something else. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but something is missing in the narrative.  For some reason it reminds me of Amway. 😊

I don’t have just one favorite anti hero. At this point in time, Roland from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and Severus Snape from Harry Potter are my two favorites. Lizbeth Salander from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo runs a close third.  She was an odd duck. 
 

I love the idea of sipping from books.  Every time I read that phrase, I smile. 🙂

Severus Snape is one of my favourite literary characters.  I'm not great at identifying literary devices or themes or character attributes (I had an abysmal English/writing/reading education in high school on top of the fact that my brain simply doesn't seem to be wired to "get" literature or poetry) but I know who/what I like and don't like. 🙂  When I went to look at the list of anti-heroes on Wikipedia, I recognized a fair number of characters from literature and film that I've liked over the years so I apparently have a thing for anti-heroes.  I think it's the depth and darkness that appeal to me.

I've still only finished one book for 2021 but I'm almost finished the Yrsa Sigurdardottir book and I've started on the final Fairacre book.  I've also made the decision last week to deactivate my Facebook account.  The amount of time I was spending on the endless scroll was ridiculous - there has to be a better use of my time than the dang endless scroll that just NEVER ENDS.  This last week has been a real eye-opener for me. I actually felt anxious when I wasn't logging in for the first 3 or 4 days which tells me that there was a bit of addiction to social media happening there. 😉 🙂 My attention span is getting longer (even just in a week!) and I have more time for serious reading, exercising, and other pursuits. I think I like the "non-FB me" better than the "FB me".

Edited January 16, 2021 by Dicentra