Discussion Post #2

[torigates]

It's that time again, folks!

Before we get to the fun stuff, I just want to say that empressearwig and I are thrilled at the number of people who have joined and are participating in this comm! Keep it up, we love it

Comments

[otempora42]

I finally got my printer cable! Now I don't have to run to the library to print things out anymore.

Also, are any of you guys Chekhov fans? I'm rereading the Richard Ford edited collection of his short stories, and I love them so much.

[torigates]

That is exciting! My printer is packed away in my basement so it's hard for me to print stuff, and it can be a pain (of course, I just use my parents' haha).

Did Chekhov also write plays? I feel like I might have read a play by him at one point.

[otempora42]

Yeah, he did, but I haven't gotten the chance to read his plays yet. His big ones are the Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, and the Seagull, IIRC.

[torigates]

Cherry Orchard! That's the one I read. It was decent, but depressing as fuck.

[empressearwig]

My favorite Halloween costume was either Jem (of Jem and the Holograms) or Princess Leia. I'm an 80's baby, what can I say.

I read/and or finished three new/newish releases this week! Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas, The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig, and Great House by Nicole Krauss. I liked CEaFH a lot more than Kleypas's previous contemporary titles, but I'm glad I didn't buy it because it's way too short for a hardcover release. And TMotM was everything I could have ever wanted in a romance for Turnip and now I'm dying for the next official book in the series that's coming out in January.

Also, on a scale of one to ten, how dumb am I for planning to take the second day of NaNo off to read? Look, I've been waiting for the release of the new Nora Roberts book since April. I can't not buy it and read it the day it comes out.

[torigates]

Those are awesome costumes! I think my favourite was when my friends and I dressed up as the gang from Wizard of Oz. I was the scarecrow.

I have been seriously slacking on the reading in October, I'm a little ashamed of myself. I don't even know what I did instead. (That's a lie, I watched TV, hahaha). But good for you!

I'd say about a 7? But still do it! My prof gave me a huge reading list if I plan on doing PhD applications, so I'm going to be doing a lot of juggling in November, methinks.

[empressearwig]

Oh, that's a good one! My sister dressed up as Luke when I was Leia, which was oddly appropriate.

I feel like I've read a ton this month, but part of that was that I read so much YA that I could get through it more quickly. I think I was getting through two Tamora Pierce books a day for awhile.

I'm strongly considering cheating and writing tomorrow to make up for it. But even if I don't, it's one night (because I will finish it the same night I get it, that's like science), and I'll be too distracted if I tried NOT to read it.

[torigates]

Haha, that is seriously adorable!

And yes, reading YA does help the book count go up. I say go for it, it's only one day and you can make it up later if necessary (or start early, I won't tell!) If I'd been waiting that long, no way I could wait another month.

[sugarpromises]

I'm currently reading the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon. I'm really enjoying it. It's written in such an amazing style, I kind of want to cry and hold my hand out for the narrator (so that our fingers and thumbs could touch) every time a simple sentence breaks my heart. The story is unfolding in a decent manner... sometimes the narrator goes on tangents but it's getting good now.

Tonight I'm dressing up as Knives Chau from The Scott Pilgrim book series. Last year I was She-Ra which I think is the costume I'm most proud of since I made the cape, tiara, and emblems myself. Definitely my favourite... too bad I'm Asian and don't have the long flowing blonde hair.

[torigates]

You know, I've seen that book in Chapters so many times, and I've always been intrigued by it, but I've never actually picked it up. I should check it out next time. I love books that make you want to weep.

Those are awesome costumes! Are you going to a party? trick or treating? ;)

[sugarpromises]

I bought it years ago and only now have managed to get around to it. My co-worker had warned me that because of the way it's written, it's not for everyone. But I'm always intrigued by "grown-up" stories written in the voice of a child. And this will make you want to weep, not in a sad "The End of The Alphabet" by C.S. Richardson kind of way, but it still pulls at my heart.

I'm going to a party tonight... or maybe two parties. The biggest appeal to Knives Chau is that I get to wear pants. Wearing pants on a cold October day is just such a bonus!

[torigates]

I will keep that in mind next time I'm shopping for books (not that I need new books, mind you. I have about 50 sitting in a box waiting to be read, but it's not like that's ever stopped me before, haha).

That's awesome! Pants in October are always a good thing. I swear, I remember the days of trick or treating with my winter coat stuffed under my costume.

[torigates]

Hey, congrats! That's an achievement! I myself need to start using the library more often because I end up spending way too much money on books.

That sounds like a lot of fun! I'm sure I'll end up handing out candy with my parents (one for me, one for the kids...)

[empressearwig]

Finishing is good! I've been reading books on deadline like crazy lately because of library due dates, so believe me, I know how you feel. But my library stack would be down to like, eleven books, if I returned everything I'm done with, which means I'm about to make myself crazy and check out a million more.

Those are my plans for Halloween, too. I'm pretty happy about it.

[katayla]

Okay, here's what I'm reading right now:

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig (Adorable! Will go finish it as soon as I get done with the internet)
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund (Wasn't a huge fan of the first book, but seems to be a case where the sequel is stronger and addresses some of my concerns for the series. Might even have found something to request for Yuletide, depending on what happens in the rest of the book!)
Hunger by Michael Grant (Not entirely won over by this series, but probably interesting enough for me to at least finish the books that are already out.)
The Way of the Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Good, but 1000 pages and I've been lazy. But I'm almost ready to go back to it.)
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (Re-read. The first book actually sadly didn't hold up super-well for me, but this one is going better

[empressearwig]

I wanted to dance around my office when I finished The Mischief of the Mistletoe. TURNIP. ARABELLA. JANE AUSTEN. RECURRING CHARACTERS. I love everything this world chooses to be. I'm definitely offering to write this for Yuletide.

I think I'm going to give Brandon Sanderson's series a try once NaNo is over.

[katayla]

The reoccurring characters! I haven't met too many yet, but I know more are coming.

Yay! Hope you enjoy him. So far I haven't found him as emotionally engaging as I'd like, but his books are SO SO intelligent, which is something I appreciate a lot.

[empressearwig]

They're in the back half of the book, and oh, SO MUCH HAPPINESS ON THE PAGE.

Epic fantasy can be hard to get emotionally engaged in, but intelligent world building is so hard to find.