Reading Thread 2: Pagemasters

[flowersofnight]

Double Post: just ordered this off Amazon:
In Sorcery's Shadow
By an anthropologist who moved to Niger to do field research, and ended up becoming a sorcerer He was apparently serious about the whole thing.

 

[PureElegance]

After neglecting this for far too long, I'm getting back into it

Are you enjoying it? It's the only one I haven't read so far despite having it here. A nice attorney I worked with gave it to me as a gift XD

I'm still working through the Disney "Illusion of Life" book. It's really amazing and I'm getting through each principle of animation and reflecting on each as well. ^__^ I didn't realize how far animation had come and how it was transformed with these movies. There are also many good lessons to be learned about storytelling in general and behind-the-scenes actions.

 

[flowersofnight]

Are you enjoying it?

Yeah, I just finished with the chapters that "Chin P'ing Mei" was based on XD
But there's no overarching plot yet, it's more like a series of loosely connected adventures by different heroes. Some are more interesting than others.

 

[sanctum]

Picked up 'The Gospel of Filth' recently and have been slowly digesting it!

 

[faith]

i'm on a Shirley Jackson and Ray Brandbury binge.
In English. One does not read Jackson and Bradbury in translation.
Fahrenheit 451 was interesting enough, but I prefered "Something Wicked this way comes" (even with the religous didacticism).
And neither were as good as "We have always lived in the castle".

I didn't know Bradbury wrote "The Halloween Tree"...my brother and I grew up on Halloweens of that cartoon lol

Is anyone else a Jackson fan?

Edit: Can't be bothered to go make a new post in the random thread so here is this too
http://i.imgur.com/lSMIBk4.gifv

 

[flowersofnight]

Finished "Outlaws of the Marsh"... and ordered the DVD series
Fun book, but with 108 main characters I could only keep about 20 of them straight in my head, max XD I'm curious which parts of the book, and which characters, are considered "main".

Also newly arrived: "The Nightless City" by J. E. DeBecker - a Meiji-era European's documentary of the "pleasure quarters" of Tokyo. I had a copy of this before, but it was only the first of 2 volumes. Gave up on finding a second half and just got an all-in-one edition from 1905 or thereabouts.

 

[sanctum]

Currently reading 'Introduction to Magic: Rituals and Practical Techniques for the Magus' and 'A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook'.

I've been craving a good storybook lately though, I've been tempted to just re-read Harry Potter, but I have an itch for something new, maybe I should finally get around to reading Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'?

 

[flowersofnight]

finally get around to reading Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'?

Here you won't find a single high school student who hasn't read it. And why is that? Because it's short and lends itself well to being written about in terrible 5-paragraph standardized test essays My sister sleazed her way through AP English writing every single essay about Frankenstein

Anyway, forget Harry Potter, maybe it's time for the classical novels of China

 

[Jae]

Just finished Asa Nonami's 'Body'

It was an interesting concept, but the writing seemed a little rushed.

 

[sanctum]

Here you won't find a single high school student who hasn't read it. And why is that? Because it's short and lends itself well to being written about in terrible 5-paragraph standardized test essays My sister sleazed her way through AP English writing every single essay about Frankenstein

Anyway, forget Harry Potter, maybe it's time for the classical novels of China

Yeah it was the same here.... Frankenstein and Dracula (along with others) were the set texts for the 'Study of English' classes, however I wasn't allowed in to that class, so I went through 'English Communication', we watched exciting documentaries like 'Banged up abroad' and learned how to make resumes.

The annoying thing is, that Dracula was set as a text at my recommendation as well! I'd been reading it the year before and the teacher asked me if I was enjoying it, I said yes, so pop, on it went.

 

[flowersofnight]

'Banged up abroad'

That probably doesn't sound as bad in Australian XD

 

[sanctum]

That probably doesn't sound as bad in Australian XD

I always found the title quite funny.

Hey look, a Wikipedia page on it! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banged_Up_Abroad

 

[flowersofnight]

Now I'm tempted to check out the episodes about Venezuela, the kids in question must have been suicidally dumb XD

 

[sanctum]

Now I'm tempted to check out the episodes about Venezuela, the kids in question must have been suicidally dumb XD

From what I remember, the show was entertaining enough.

Also worth noting is that Schappelle Corby and the Bali Nine were very recent topics too (and very local! one of my teachers had taught a member of the Bali Nine), so they were trying hard to drill into us not take drugs into countries etc.

 

[flowersofnight]

New arrival: "Arden of Feversham" - supposedly by Shakespeare in collaboration with another author. It's a ripped-from-the-headlines story of adultery and murder - I guess it's the 16th-century equivalent of a made-for-TV movie XD

 

[Jae]

I guess it's the 16th-century equivalent of a made-for-TV movie XD

I suppose the real question is: does the book feature a 16th-century equivalent of Meredith Baxter-Birney in one of her pivotal Lifetime movie roles

 

[sanctum]

Recently finished reading Ryu Murakami's 'In the Miso Soup', thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it was a bit intense in parts.

 

[Jae]

Revisiting an oldie but a goodie - 'The Metamorphasis' - Franz Kafka

 

[PureElegance]

I'm reading Emma: A Victorian Romance by Kaoru Mori. I've been curious about this manga forever and now, thanks to Christmas, I finally have it!

I'm already close to the end of Book 2. It's pretty nice. I haven't read manga in years, and I forgot how many... dramatics there usually are XD And all the, "EH!?" confused and embarrassed faces.

But overall I really like it so far.

Calling upon his former governess, William Jones, gentleman, is startled when his knock is answered by an uncommonly beautiful servant, the soft-spoken Emma. Throughout his visit, William's eyes drift to the maid whenever she enters the room, and he contrives to meet Emma socially as she goes about her errands. But London society is a web of strict codes and divisions. For the son of a wealthy merchant, seeking out a working-class girl is simply not done! William's father plans for his son to marry into the peerage and elevate the Jones family to greater heights, but although William says and does what is expected of him, he longs only for Emma's company...

It just simply isn't DONE!!! What's going to happen!?! I'm a sucker for these types of romances though XD And it's in 1800s England. Which means all the men are dressed amazingly well. How can you not like it?
(One must marry into the peerage!!!)
I really like the references to things in England though. Cultural sights, traditions, etc. It seems very real. If I had to critique it I would say that I don't get what the point of some scenes/characters are. XD Or I think some people are too dramatic. I really enjoy the interactions between the lower classes/staff. They seem on point and the most real to me. The art is nice too and the author's notes are funny.

I think there's a Jane Eyre vibe to this though besides being from around the same time period. Oh and Emma happens to go to HAWORTH, where the Bronte sisters lived!

EDIT: I finished book 2 and I'm hooked~ XD

And there's been an introduction of some new characters. I really like this woman with the dark hair on the right (with her husband and kids). She's coooool. It seems like things get steamy later on between her and her husband, but I'm not sure if it's the main series or some spinoff:

Oooooh yeaaaaah~ XD I KNEW SHE WAS AWESOME!

Anyway, I'd recommend it! I'm asking for the rest of the books for my birthday... XD

 

[flowersofnight]

Currently starting to work through: The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action
It was a Christmas present