tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post7298112051680595387..comments2023-10-31T11:24:41.986-05:00Comments on Stuff as Dreams are Made on: Giving Back *Sticky Post*chrisa511http://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-23611532441346965002007-11-04T00:01:00.000-05:002007-11-04T00:01:00.000-05:00N, Yay! So glad you're entering this one :) I real...N, Yay! So glad you're entering this one :) I really think you'd love Card. Particularly this book, it's just amazing. I've been wanting to read Invisible Cities for awhile. It's one of those books that just seems in a league of it's own. And to hear you praise it so highly, it must be good!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-84427006330077596432007-11-03T23:48:00.000-05:002007-11-03T23:48:00.000-05:00You know, I'm going to do this! I've wondered a l...You know, I'm going to do this! I've wondered a lot lately if I had anything that qualified as a "favorite book" anymore, grad school being what it is. And I'm not going to be boring and say Tolkien. So I'll take two of the books that I teach when I really need something that will make teaching fun for me: Huxley's <I>Brave New World</I> and <I>Invisible Cities</I> by Italo Calvino. Especially <I>Invisible Cities</I>. When I describe it to people, I get goosebumps. Seriously. Calvino was nothing short of genius. So I'm going to throw my hat in for Orson Scott Card, because I've never read anything by him and because I'm very, very curious. And I promise that if I win it I will actually make the time to read it!! :)Literacy-chichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925734773412633965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-54705828177175475702007-11-03T23:03:00.000-05:002007-11-03T23:03:00.000-05:00Gautami, I LOVE Alice in Wonderland. Such a great ...Gautami, I LOVE Alice in Wonderland. Such a great book and so quirky. I know exactly what you mean. I could pick that book up at any time. I love all the different artists who have done illustrations for it throughout the years too! Got you in the draw for Speaker! Good luck :)chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-78272316206257115052007-11-03T22:05:00.000-05:002007-11-03T22:05:00.000-05:00Two of my all time favourites..it is not easy to a...Two of my all time favourites..it is not easy to answer. There are simply too many books.<BR/><BR/>Still, I can always pick up these two any time:<BR/>1)Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome.<BR/>2)Alice in Wonderland.<BR/><BR/>Both are funny but for different reasons.<BR/><BR/>Well, as I already own American Gods, can I be entered for Orson Scott Card's Speaker For the Dead?<BR/><BR/>I love to win books!<BR/><BR/>:DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-11105082961712738282007-11-03T13:42:00.000-05:002007-11-03T13:42:00.000-05:00CJ, It's not too late at all ;) Still have til noo...CJ, It's not too late at all ;) Still have til noon tomorrow. I'll toss you in! Hope you enjoy Ender's Game, it's an amazing book!!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-67231848500807638382007-11-03T12:48:00.000-05:002007-11-03T12:48:00.000-05:00Hey! If it's not too late, I'd like to toss my ha...Hey! If it's not too late, I'd like to toss my hat into the ring for Speaker of The Dead.<BR/><BR/>And thanks a lot, Chris. I broke down and bought Ender's Game and I really, really didn't need somethng to take my attention away from my writing.<BR/><BR/>cjhCJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07798965643027904154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-35667379825824283882007-11-03T03:12:00.000-05:002007-11-03T03:12:00.000-05:00Lightheaded, Glad to have you in the draw! I've be...Lightheaded, Glad to have you in the draw! I've been wanting to read some A.S. Byatt for awhile now, so I'll read Possession in honor of you ;) I've heard quite a few people talk about how great of a book it is actually.<BR/><BR/>Sorry Ender's Game wasn't for you :( I've heard the same from others who guessed the ending during the middle. Speaker for the Dead is a totally different kind of book though, so hopefully you'll like that one! I've got you in both of the drawings!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-8769924779374327852007-11-03T01:10:00.000-05:002007-11-03T01:10:00.000-05:00Oh gee, I just stumbled into this. It's November ...Oh gee, I just stumbled into this. It's November 4 already tomorrow! Hahaha! And believe it or not, it's hard to narrow down two favorite books but here's two:<BR/><BR/>I absolutely prod my friends to read Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. It's funny. It's not preachy. And it's set in Discworld. It's such an easy read but is not shallow at all. <BR/><BR/>And to go the other way I've read Possession by A.S. Byatt countless of times. And each time is always a pleasure. It's a love story but not quite. Most friends told me they found it absolutely boring. Maybe there's something wrong with me for liking it so much.<BR/><BR/>And obviously I could go on and on and on. I see you love Gaiman as well so I won't add anything to that. But the two books I mentioned are lovingly placed on my shelf and reread every so often. Which somehow reminds me I need to reread them again. I hear Brutha (from Small Gods) calling me. Hahaha!<BR/><BR/>-----<BR/>Oh and if I'm still part of the draw you can enter me in the Speaker for the Dead book. Or even the Scar Night. I've read Ender's Game a couple or so years ago. It's not a favorite, sorry. I guessed what's happening midway to the book already and that somehow spoiled it for me.Lightheadedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15438507601416513826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-22012675804629400512007-11-02T13:52:00.000-05:002007-11-02T13:52:00.000-05:00You're in Nymeth :)You're in Nymeth :)chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-3954869914276290962007-11-02T12:03:00.000-05:002007-11-02T12:03:00.000-05:00I finally got around to writing my post: here.I al...I finally got around to writing my post: <A HREF="http://thingsmeanalot.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-favourite-books.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/>I already have American Gods, so please enter me for the other two :)Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-89134675865592833472007-11-01T13:25:00.001-05:002007-11-01T13:25:00.001-05:00JP, I totally understand wanting to take down the ...JP, I totally understand wanting to take down the TBR pile. Mine is ridiculous right now! I should really give away more than just 3 books! American Gods really is a phenomenal book. That's definitely saying something for the book that people want to reread it seeing how long it is!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-56502287895800291632007-11-01T13:25:00.000-05:002007-11-01T13:25:00.000-05:00JP, I totally understand wanting to take down the ...JP, I totally understand wanting to take down the TBR pile. Mine is ridiculous right now! I should really give away more than just 3 books! American Gods really is a phenomenal book. That's definitely saying something for the book that people want to reread it seeing how long it is!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-31849038717194823842007-11-01T10:58:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:58:00.000-05:00ooh! and i meant to say, great choice on american ...ooh! and i meant to say, great choice on american gods. what a book! <BR/><BR/>what a book!<BR/><BR/>(have to say it twice)<BR/><BR/>not THAT is the way to draw a reader in...<BR/><BR/>its one of the few books that i want to reread one day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-28520205292529604232007-11-01T10:56:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:56:00.000-05:00ooh wow! what a cool idea!hmmm... i'll be making a...ooh wow! what a cool idea!<BR/><BR/>hmmm... i'll be making a post about the books, but you don't have to enter me in for the draw. while i am very curious about speaker, and will be reading it in the not toooooo distant future, i simply can't take on any more books at the moment. <BR/><BR/>i am DETERMINED to take down my tbr pile. and i do mean "take down". it sounds militaristic, and it is!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-59573220781043873682007-10-31T08:27:00.000-05:002007-10-31T08:27:00.000-05:00Booklogged, Got you in for Speaker for the Dead! I...Booklogged, Got you in for Speaker for the Dead! I think I'm going to go ahead and joing Joy's YA challenge and sign up for The Book Thief. I've heard so many wonderful things about that book and I'd really like to read it! I'd also like to read Anne of Green Gables..It seems to be a favorite of many. And as sad as it is, I've never read Jane Eyre :/ I should probably do that some time too!chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-33848742175594405832007-10-30T23:33:00.000-05:002007-10-30T23:33:00.000-05:00Oh, gee, I'd like to win the 2nd in the Ender's se...Oh, gee, I'd like to win the 2nd in the Ender's series.<BR/><BR/>My most favorite books of all: Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, Jane Eyre by charlotte Bronte, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Barons Orckzy, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and both my husband and I love Anne of Green Gables. There's more, but this gives you the cream of the crop.Bookloggedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00651016653247142255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-22630215050306157062007-10-30T16:04:00.000-05:002007-10-30T16:04:00.000-05:00Rebecca, You don't have to name your two absolute ...Rebecca, You don't have to name your two absolute favorites, just two books that you love, and you named one, American Gods...so one more and you can toss in for the drawings ;)chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-5579409665357504072007-10-30T07:34:00.000-05:002007-10-30T07:34:00.000-05:00I cannot possibly pick one favorite book,or even 2...I cannot possibly pick one favorite book,or even 2 but I have to say that I LOVE American Gods. It was the first Neil Gaiman novel (non-graphic form,I mean) I read and I was hooked.It is indeed a beautiful bookJupiterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12989813022281702079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-30303199447232976682007-10-29T16:45:00.000-05:002007-10-29T16:45:00.000-05:00Debi, So cool! No problem at all, just sent you an...Debi, So cool! No problem at all, just sent you an email :)<BR/><BR/>Abookworm, You're in! Wodehouse! I have to read this guy...Can't believe I've never heard of him, everyone seems to enjoy his stuff. I've heard great things about Temeraire..I'll be checking that out as well. Thanks for sharing :)chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-13380880757710585052007-10-29T15:31:00.000-05:002007-10-29T15:31:00.000-05:00Count me in for all three! My faves (like everybod...Count me in for all three! My faves (like everybody else's) are Jane Austen and P.G.Wodehouse. I also love Jeffrey Archer. His "Not a penny more...." is one of the best novels I've read. More recently, Naomi Novik's Temeraire series captured my imagination.Rashmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04697648988688059076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-16945997151476477232007-10-29T14:22:00.000-05:002007-10-29T14:22:00.000-05:00Today's better, thank you; yeah, October seems to ...Today's better, thank you; yeah, October seems to be a bad migraine month for everyone. And, I wholeheartedly agree with Carl. Wodehouse never, ever lets a reader down. I haven't read that particular title, but give him a go. His writing is fabulous.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-41166142681836234152007-10-29T14:17:00.000-05:002007-10-29T14:17:00.000-05:00Hi Chris. Sorry to bother you, but I've got a ques...Hi Chris. Sorry to bother you, but I've got a question for you if you don't mind. Annie really wants to host a reading challenge of her own. I've been trying to figure a few things out, but I'm a total technological moron. Looked into Mr. Linky, and frankly, I was totally baffled. So I thought I would just have her post her challenge with a sticky post, and I would just add links to any participants (if there are any!) and to the reviews right in her post. But I don't have a clue how to make the post a "sticky post". Is it difficult? If it's not too big of a pain to explain, would you mind e-mailing me?<BR/>rdagmstevens (at) frontiernet (dot) net<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Chris! And if it's too much of a hassle, I honestly do understand!Debihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15429881953804634592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-64817263061479733382007-10-29T11:20:00.000-05:002007-10-29T11:20:00.000-05:00Bellezza, I've been sworn to secrecy :/ She told m...Bellezza, I've been sworn to secrecy :/ She told me that I can of course write a review, but I can't release it until after the first of the year...but she always has some kind of contest going on her blog to win an ARC, so if you stop by there you may win one! Or since you read the books for the RIP Challenge you may win one there! Isn't Carl giving away an ARC? I'm going to try to read Anna Karenina this year! I read The Death of Ivan Ilyich earlier this year and fell in love with Tolstoy's writing. So I may join the Russian Reading Challenge eventually..or I may just unofficially do it. Either way, I plan on reading more Tolstoy and this sounds like the one to read! Got you in for the drawings :)<BR/><BR/>Bookfool, Sorry to hear about your headaches :( I hope they're better today. It sounds like October is just a bad month all together for migraine sufferers. I've heard so much goodness about Remains of the Day...I'll have to read that one sometime. Why do I do giveaways like this, lol...It just makes my wishlist grow longer and longer and longer!<BR/><BR/>Carl, I've done that so many times on other peoples blogs! That's why I hated to put word verification, but the spam got ridiculous...sorry :( Just when I think I have your reading tastes down, there you go! You're one eclectic reader. Those both sound like incredible books. I've never heard of Wodehouse before, but I just read the blurb on Amazon on Something Fresh and it sounds like something I'd enjoy...I'll check it out. Galileo's Daughter sounds amazing! I'm glad you told me that book is out there. I love stumbling upon little treasures like that. It feels almost magical to peek into the personal letters of someone like Galileo.<BR/><BR/>Stephanie, Ok, that's two votes already for both The Count of Monte Cristo AND The Stand! I guess that's a sign that I should read those, huh? I already have plans for The Stand next year, and if there's another Classics challenge I'll be sure to sign up for The Count of Monte Cristo. Glad to find another American Gods lover ;)chrisa511https://www.blogger.com/profile/05793512698366676453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-43329250041366852692007-10-29T10:33:00.000-05:002007-10-29T10:33:00.000-05:00Well...I have to say American Gods ranks right up ...Well...I have to say American Gods ranks right up there as one of my favorites as well!! But you can definitely put me in the running for the other 2. I'm really looking forward to reading Card soon!<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm...it's really hard to break it down by favorites cause I love so many!! But I'd have to say To Kill a Mockingbird....and maybe The Count of Monte Cristo. Both are Classics and totally deserve the title. (Of course, American Gods is going to be a Classic too!) <BR/><BR/>Of course, I can't finish the post without mentioning The Stand by Stephen King. It is such a good book and truly one of my very favorites!!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055676171075203563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315611891697079859.post-91274916058206997632007-10-29T09:50:00.000-05:002007-10-29T09:50:00.000-05:00Okay...I typed this once, hit submit, and automati...Okay...I typed this once, hit submit, and automatically went to close this only realizing too late that I screwed up the damn word verification. So here goes again. Urg!!!<BR/><BR/>Two favorites...that isn't as easy as it sounds. Limiting it to two, that is. Here are a couple that aren't ones we usually discuss:<BR/><BR/>#1. Something Fresh by P.G. Wodehouse. I don't think I've ever read a Wodehouse that I didn't love, but this is still my favorite. The quirky, comical, farcical romance in this book is terrific. Wodehouse was a comedic genius, and you cannot help but falling for his characters. This is the book I recommend for first time Wodehouse readers. <BR/><BR/>#2 Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel. Told in narrative form from the actual surviving letters between Galileo and his daughter, a cloistered nun, this book had me rivited the first time I read it. I have always been fascinated with the stars, and this biography of one of the men who had so much to do with our knowlegde of the heavens is fascinating. The story focuses on his discoveries and how these enhanced his faith, but caused division amongst the Catholic Church because of their interpretation of the scriptures. Both Galileo's faith and his scientific endeavors were important to him and the struggle with not wanting to dishonor his faith by standing against the church is part of what this book is about. Galileo eventually had to stand before the Holy Order of the Inquisition. It is a gripping book for those interested in this sort of thing. <BR/><BR/>You can leave me out of the AG drawing, of course, because I already have it. <BR/><BR/>I'd be interested in Speaker. I've read most of Ender's Game (not finishing yet isn't an indictment on the book, just a sign of my bad reading habits). I too ordered the other book with the McKean cover, so put me down for Scar Night as well. If I win I'll give it the old college try like you did.<BR/><BR/>Great idea Chris!Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.com