^ Oh, then she’s spoiled in a bad way 
What do you mean Spirit?
If she has seen the movies, then she has been spoiled, which means she’ll know the plot points and stuff when reading the books.
Getting back into the Norse Mythology book again.
(The title is “The Pengin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings.” I must admit upon re-reading the introduction Loki sounds like a rather fascinating character, though I’ve yet to get into the actual myths. (I’ve just read some background information in the Introduction so far).
Loki himself apparently was mainly just an ‘antagonist’ in some stories and resulted in some lives changing for the better- but in later myths becomes darker and more sinister if the introduction is to be believed. I did already know one of his darker myths- where he killed a blind son of a god with mistletoe poison, but I’ll be interested to see the details as well as the other myths. I also already heard of how he was punished. (A snake I believe in ‘Hel’ was supposed to drop poison/venom on him, whichh is wife sometimes caught in a bowl- but eventually she’d have to go to empty it so some would fall on him while she was away- and his writhings in pain I believe were supposed to be earthquakes- but my memory is fuzzy).
I’ll be interested in getting into this- while I like mythology I only really know some Greek as well as a bit of Egyptian and fair amount of Celtic. (Though not in great detail).
I’m reading The Elephant Man by Christine Sparks right now. It’s really good and really said. What I love his story is that he went through so much, yet he didn’t turn into some bitter, angry at the world kind of guy. He was passionate, a dreamer and kindhearted. His story makes you stop and think about if whatever is bothering you and turning you bitter really all that bad.
I’m almost done with The Elephant Man. I can’t decide if I should read Watership Down or Out Town next.
^ Yes, it’s a novelization of the David Lynch movie of the same name, which I love.
Currently also reading ‘Magic Study’ by Maria Snyder in addition to the Norse mythology. It’s the 2nd in a three book series. The first one was called ‘Poison Study’. It’s not fantastically deep literature, and there are some issues with the first. (Slight whiffs of Stockholm syndrome in the romance? I guess?) Though it’s more of a grey morality series in some ways which is better and is really one of the interesting things about this so far. I’m about half way throught the 2nd book. In the first the female protaganist killed the son of a man who experimented on her (as did the son), because she had magical powers. And she had to be a food taster for the head of state (the Commander) in the first book because it was either that or be executed for her crime. In the second [spoil]she’s now a fugitive, and has had to run away to the south where magic is allowed, having to learn to control the gifts forced upon her soon or else she’s dead basically. So far. Her birth brother isn’t really all that welcoming and there are other issues and drama and some dark bits I won’t get into, but there is a bit more world building on top of what we’ve already been told, which is always good. Also in the first book the Commander is (apparently) FtM transgender- which is surprising but interesting as well.[/spoil]
It’s not utterly perfect literature, but it’s an easy read for the most part and hardly stupid and I think if I stick with the series to the end I might eventually get something to take away from it- but I have to say I’m more interested in some of the more minor characters, like the two soldiers she becomes friends with in the first book who we’ve yet to see again. I also have to admit, I roll my eyes at the romance aspect of it too, even though I guess it’s ‘dramatic’ in the sense it’s someone her birth family and native country hates- someone really loyal to the Commander. But still… a part of me thinks it would be better if they were just friends or something like that and it was one of those ferociously loyal friendships fanfic writers would love to sink their teeth into. Ah well. (I know weird, I’d probably ship it if it was purely fanon or something, the friendships while, she could go more in depth regarding them, are better and more entertaining and sweet. The romance isn’t S.Meyer terrible but… yeah still could use some work and less eyerolling dialogue).
Also decided I couldn’t wait until christmas and bought ‘War of the Worlds’ today in addition to some christmas presents. I’ll get to it later.
I saw the movie recently. I loved it too. I was looking for some books on Joseph’s life, and when I saw the book I’m reading now, and how it was based on the movie, I knew it would flesh out the characters, so I decided to get it. It won’t be the last book I read on Joseph.
Still reading Norse mythology, am going to start War of the Worlds soon.
However also have started reading this book called ‘Time Riders’ by Alex Scarrow it’s technically for teenagers, but whatever. I am utterly unimpressed all the same. It’s an interesting premise, time travel. And the points and kids in time sounded interesting- one kid from the past (1912- an Irish boy… heck maybe even from my part of Ireland because that’s where the titanic and all was built and everything), one from our time (2010- American girl) and one in the future (2026- girl from India). However they don’t act like REAL characters to me. I’m not sure how I can describe it. Also the idea of New York suffering that amount of suffering from economic downturn in just 16 years time according to the future kid. Also I’m not sure WHY they chose these kids. (Then again early days- got to give it a chance). I mean why kids to begin with (I think the American girl is the oldest at like 16/17!)
To be fair, the first chapter was GOOD. I liked it when they picked up the kid from 1912. But as of right now, I don’t hear them asking really asking and begging why the other people in the accidents they were couldn’t be saved all that hard. (I would at least internally no matter what the ‘time-travel rules’ say after I got saved. It would seem grossly unfair- sure there’s some token phrases but not one seems to be acting out or at least thinking and stewing a lot over how unfair it is and it doesn’t seem to be natural behaviour- it’s an unfortunate predicament, and sure a character would have to accept it eventually… but to do so a little too quickly is kind of irritating). Granted this is early days. But still this is rather throwing me. Maybe their minds will be changed or they’ll think on this? (I hope.)
Also the fact their ‘office’ point in time they HAVE to stay in - basically the eve of and the day of 9/11 New York just seems kind of stupid just so ‘people won’t notice’. If they need a pocket of time to not be noticed in, there could have been various other ways , a different point in time which people could be distracted from without you know, severly traumatising/ desentisising these kids by having them to witness it over and over again. And someone could still notice in any case.
It just seems like a cheap way of trying to gain a shock tactic almost out of the reader.
-Sighs-
I’m going to give this a try, but as of right now I’m a bit disappointed, given the pretty good first chapter. I think the author could do better than this and could have done better. To be fair, this is also fairly early on in the book so maybe I’ll eventually be eating my words. ( I hope).
Sweet, I hope you’ll like War of the Worlds. It’s one of my favorites!
For Christmas my friend gave me a book “Voices of a People’s History of the United States”
Boy, is it a fat book! It’s the second edition. It is a book full of letters, speeches, and diaries from American HIstory. From the beginings of the American Revolution and also includes stuff from the Iraq war. I can’t wait to jump in!
The Pixar Touch by David A. Price. Good reads.
I have that book, it’s a good one. I’m glad you like.
I got that book for Christmas last year. I loved it. But the beginning with all of that computer talk bored me to death. It was a lot more interesting to see it during the special that was a bonus feature on the Walle home release.
Has anybody read a book called The Men Who Would Be King? It’s about the creation of DreamWorks. It talks about Jerry Katzenberg, Steven Speilberg and David Geffen and all they went through from the beinning up until the fall of last year (I loved that it stopped a little over a year ago). It was very interesting to read behind the scenes stuff to some of great movies, actors and Jeffery and Steven. The David stuff wasn’t as interesting to me. Pixar is also brought up quite a bit in the book. Especially during the times when Antz and A Bug’s Life were coming out. I would have loved to have been in the Pixar meeting mentioned in the book when John Lasseter really went off about Dreamworks and Jeffery when Antz was coming out. In the book, it says how the meeting was very mean spirited. I can’t imagine John being that way. I never knew much about Oscar campaign’s until I read this book. All I can say is wow! And the part where Jeffery was going after Disney after leaving the company was very interesting. And although he was dirty, I couldn’t help but admire Jeffery’s ways. He had Michael Isner paranoid. And a lot of animators benefited from it. It was a great read.
I’m currently reading Watership Down. I’m loving it so far. It’s such a page turner. There are some characters that I have funny feelings about. I can’t wait to see if I was right or wrong.
theoutsider1983: I’ve been wanting to read The Men who would be King. It would be nice to get a different perspective, and I know very little about Dreamworks compared to the knowledge I have of other studios (such as Warner Bros and Disney for example)
As for that meeting you’re talking about, I’d be upset and mean spirited if I was Lasseter too! Antz was such a total ripoff, and Lasseter trusted Katz back when they both were at Disney, it’s such a shame. But I’ve only read Disney point of views, so that’s why I always want to read the Dreamworks book.
I read The Pixar Touch! I have it on my dresser in my room 
And same as eje said, I’ve only ever read Disney point of views. But I don’t really see how it can be twisted make DW seem faultless. I think it was their wrong.
I’m reading To Infinity and Beyond, which is about Pixar. Kinda a lengthier version of The Pixar Touch. I’m in love with it
I didn’t even know this book existed. Adds to Amazon wishlist
Evangeline: Yay! And I’ll have to give that “To Infinity and Beyond” book a looksie.
Has anyone here read a book called Lion’s Blood by Steven Barnes? I want to know if it’s any good. It’s an alternate history novel set in a world where Rome was defeated by Carthage in 200 BC and now Islamic Africa is the dominating power as Europe never made it past tribalism.
Finding POC spec fic is a hard task. Finding good POC spec fic is even harder.
At the risk of asking the obvious…have you read Octavia Butler? Big fan here of Dawn, Kindred, and The Parable of the Sower.
I’ve been meaning to. TBH, I’m just getting into this part of the genre. I’ve been doing a lot of Internet studying and a lot of books just sound so interesting. I just heard about a book called Crystal Rain and that just seems fascinating.