Book Love or Book Lust? Fun Blog!

[vicki]

I really enjoyed this blog (http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266/post/690013469.html) listed in the PW newsletter. It reminds me of how I felt when I first encountered the Russells (and I'm still gaga for them after all this time). Anyone had a book-crush lately?

[jtb1951]

Over the years there have certainly been many books, or series, that I have fallen hard for, but one of note was Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books; the exploits of the Haldanes, and the mysteries of Camber of Culdi knocked my socks off!! I guess they count as a book crush at the first readings, but a real book love years later!!:)

John.

[vicki]

Oooh--I haven't heard of those! <Makes a note>

I did notice that one of the commenters on that blog annoyed his girlfriend by ignoring her in order to read His Dark Materials (one of my major book-crushes, too!), and that now--several years later--the girlfriend is history, but the characters of the trilogy are his life-long friends! That made me laugh.

[Smurrey]

My Mom thinks I need counseling because I do not want to catch the bouquet at weddings, don't get sentimental over many "real" love stories (how many love stories that you hear about sound "real" seriously,) but books, a good movie, and the occasional Maxwell House commercial tear me up. I just find that its easier to connect with characters in books than with real people in my life. So ok, she might be right, but it is certainly not the only reason I need need couseling I tell her... and those guys usually find a way of blaming her so... ;)

[AmyLizzie]

Hi everyone! It feels like I haven't been on here for ages! Work is getting very busy as we approach main enrollment at the college, autumn is approaching here in sunny (!) England and its all a bit exhausting! Just to say one of my biggest and most major book crushes has to be His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman. I absolutly love the books! Also Sherlock Holmes has to be in there!! :) :) xxx

[jtb1951]

Hi everyone! It feels like I haven't been on here for ages! Work is getting very busy as we approach main enrollment at the college, autumn is approaching here in sunny (!) England and its all a bit exhausting! Just to say one of my biggest and most major book crushes has to be His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman. I absolutly love the books!

Good to hear from you, Amy; don't let the work overwhelm you! Pullman's His Dark Materials is a very well done and enjoyable read; I hope the movie is faithful to the books!

John.

[vicki]

My Mom thinks I need counseling because I do not want to catch the bouquet at weddings


If they just threw books instead, you'd be out in front, all gimlet-eyed and ready to jump. Of course, they'd have to be mass-market paperbacks, or someone might wind up with a concussion.

<Waves to AmyLizzie> Hey, girl! I was thinking I hadn't seen your font in a while. RL is so pesky, isn't it? It greatly interferes with our reading and biblio-discussion time. :)

Count me as another hopeless book-crush victim of His Dark Materials. I'm really jonesing for The Golden Compass movie. It's out this December, and there was a cool article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/movies/30comp.html?_r=1&ref=movies&oref=slogin) on it and the anticipated sequels in the NYT a few days ago. I'm so glad they made it live action w/CGI elements, rather than animated. Iorek looks great! And the casting is fabu--Kidman as Coulter and Craig as Asriel are excellent choices. and And I love Sam Ellliot as Lee Scoresby. I was hoping the could get Holly Hunter to do the voice for his daemon, Hester, but I don't see any mention of her on the cast lists. Oh, well--can't have everything, I guess. :)

[AmyLizzie]

I know!! It does look good, Nicole Kidmanwill be great as Mrs. Coulter! And I am soooo in love with DanielCraig and he looks really good in this, overall I am a bit excited about it, you might have guessed!! :):)

[AmyLizzie]

Good to hear from you, Amy; don't let the work overwhelm you! Pullman's His Dark Materials is a very well done and enjoyable read; I hope the movie is faithful to the books!

John.

Thanks John, I'll try not to, life is a great inconvenience sometimes....:rolleyes:

[mamaocllo]

Some years ago, when I was taking typing tests at the local university's personnel office in order to try out for jobs that mostly didn't require a typing speed (i.e., library), they kept administering a test whose text was something about how dreadful it is that some people substitute books for Real Life, whatever that may be. I got so annoyed that my already pitiful typing speed slowed down even more. But I am happy in my book-filled house, accompanied by all my book crushes - and the as-yet-unread materials for developing more.

[Jennifer]

Sheri,
Please don't think I am a cyber-nut or anything but I just read your post and wowy-zowie! I didn't think anyone else but me had read Norma Johnston! I loved "The Keeping Days" and "Glory in the Flower!" I memorized the poem that title came from I was so ga-ga over that book!!! So many good memories they bring back. I couldn't get my daughter interested in them a few years back. Maybe it's not to late to try again. Thank you for bringing back memories of at least 2 really great books!
Jen D.

[Bachi]

Sheri,
Thanks for bringing this one up again.

From youth my biggest crush was the Lord Peter Wimsey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Peter_Wimsey) by DL Sayers

I also fell in love with “Portrait of Jennie” (sorry couldn't find a review for the book only for the movie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Jennie) )by Robert Nathan. This book can be read online at
Questia online publication of Portrait of Jennie (http://www.questia.com/read/78284178?title=Portrait%20of%20Jennie)


“Silas Minor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silas_Marner)” by George Eliot

“Forgotten Beasts of Eld (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forgotten_Beasts_of_Eld)” by Patricia A McKillip

“The Ship who Sang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ship_Who_Sang)” by Anne McCaffrey

And for my DD (when she was little) and now my Grandgirls (GG’s) The Serendipity Books (http://www.dreamfollow.com/lilypad/serendipity.html)

And now, of course all LRK’s books for one reason or another.

[kriddle]

How did I miss this thread during my first flush of love with this site?:eek::D My book-crush extends to this site as well.:p

My most recent crushes were Austenland (though that was more of a one-night stand...after a couple of days I could see it's flaws. Now, if I met it again at a party, I might be overcome by it's charms again...) and Ghost Riders by Sharyn McCrumb. Talked about them to everyone.

For longevity, Laurie's Russell series has my vote. They are the ones I recommend to everyone - including complete strangers. The Little House on the Prarie series had a huge impact on me as a child. I would have traded anything to be in Laura's shoes. Reading it as an adult, I can see how she graded to towards children...The First Four Years has more gritty reality to it and is harder for children to read (at least me as a child). I never counted it as part of the series.

Sheri, have you reread any of the Nancy Drews? During the final run of my pregnancy with DD I reread them and some of the authors were SO BAD! I couldn't believe it. One kept on and on about her 'sporty little car'. Things I never noticed as a kid, but then, I was too busy putting myself into the story to notice things like that.:D:o:rolleyes:

[Bachi]

I got my two older GG’s (who are 9 and 11) the 1st few of the ND series in print and CD for when we are in the car. They seem to like them enough in the car, but they haven’t read more than a few pages in print. I find them terribly out dated and didn't even think they would continue their interest, even in the car, beyond the 1st two. But they seem to really enjoy them, that is, until they fall asleep.

[Jennifer]

If we are pulling out our old dusties, how many of you cut your reading teeth on "The Box Car Children?" I love them! And I read the earliest ones to my daughter. She wasn't hooked as I was but I found they are still enjoyable even after all these years. My first grade teacher read them to us after lunch. How many lives have been changed by a teacher reading to a group of children? That activity caused my daughter to jump quantum levels in her reading ability. She'd fall in love with the current book (Harry Potter, The BFG, Danny, The Champion of the World, for instance), ask me to get it at that library and then plow her way through it to find out "what happens." Oh yes, if we want to talk girl sleuths, how about Trixie Belden? I helped with chores every Saturdays so that we could go get a new one at the dime store after Sat. night supper. A big 89cent purchase!....Those were the days...
Jen D.

[tangential1]

And for my DD (when she was little) and now my Grandgirls (GG’s) The Serendipity Books (http://www.dreamfollow.com/lilypad/serendipity.html)

OMG!! I totally had all the Serendipity books! I had forgotten about them. Those and the Mercer Mayer (http://www.littlecritter.com/) books. Although they all got passed on through the family so I don't have them anymore.

I can't remember having too many book crushes as a kid. Narnia, of course. And I was enamored with Jean Craighead George (http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/books.html) (she has a lot of titles under her belt) and Gary Paulson (http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/) (especially Hatchet and Dogsong). I had a major thing for adventure stories.

Other major (and more recent) book loves include Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Amelia Peabody, and Mary Russell, of course;)

[Millie]

I loved both of these as a kid. I also vaguely remember a series about a group of boys who solved mysteries and had their club house in a car wreckers yard - they had to crawl though wrecked cars to get to it. One of them may have been called Jupiter (or maybe I'm making that up?) and they may have had a connection to Alfred Hitchcock. Did I imagine this series or does anyone else remember it?

[kriddle]

So, they are the one's written by Carolyn Keene. The one's that came out while I was in highschool although they have her name on them, we not written by her. If I remember correctly... and no haven't done an internet search... she had passed away by then.

I did try to re-read a few... as an adult... the don't hold much appeal. But I'm not parting with them either... too many memorizes.

Sheri

I think she only passed away recently. I recall reading a story in the newspaper about her. Her contract ran out so she stopped writing them. I can't recall her real name, but she lived a life every bit as adventurous, if not more, that what she wrote about in the books.

OK, broke down and actually looked it up. Here is the Wikipedia version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_Wirt_Benson

You won't catch me getting rid of mine, either - even though I won't read some of them. You ALWAYS keep mementos of your first crushes! It's just funny to look back and see them with their flaws when, at the time I thought they were the best things on earth.

[Roxanne]

Millie:

You are not imagining things:

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/3invest.html

The Three Investigators series is about three boys, JUPITER JONES (the smart one), and his buddies, BOB ANDREWS and PETE CRENSHAW, who set up a detective agency, their secret headquarters is in a housetrailer buried in a junkyard belonging to Jupiter's uncle.

[Millie]

Thanks Roxanne! No one I'd asked had ever heard of it, so I truly thought I'd had some bizarre dream as a kid and remembered my dream. It's nice to know I'm not losing my mind. Or at least, not over this! If they're that hard to get hold of in America, though, I don't like my chances of getting them here. Oh well.

[Roxanne]

Millie:

Do you currently have any of The Three Investigators?

Roxanne

[Millie]

Hi Roxanne,

No, I don't. I don't think I ever owned them - I remember reading them on holiday at the beach, and we always joined the local library, so I think that's where I got them from.

Camilla

[Roxanne]

Millie:

I don't know what time it is there in Australia (isn't it strange to think we are all operating in such different spheres?), but I should be in bed. I am waiting on a taxi as it is late and I am too lazy to make the hour trek home tonight.

If I come across any of The Three Investigators, would you like them? Since I am without a car, I don't get around much, but I would be happy to keep my eyes out for any of the series for you.

Good night (at least, here on the East Coast of the USA),
Roxanne

[Millie]

Hi Roxanne,

It's lunchtime here. I'm quite jealous of you being about to go to bed - it's a long way off for me!

Yes please, I'd love them if you find any. We'll have to work out how I can pay you, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

Thankyou very much for thinking of it!

Camilla

[Roxanne]

[We'll cross that bridge when we come to it]

Bridge? Hmmmm. thinking. (Can you smell the smoke?)

On another thread we were speaking of online friends as Real or Not Real, etc., and I was repining about the geographic distances and barriers that separate us from each other. My glass half empty mentality, I think.

Rather, the focus perhaps should be on bridges--ether(eal) bridges that serve to connect us all together. How lucky we are that we live in an age where, with the right equipment, we can talk with anyone anywhere anytime.

I am thankful for the blessing of bridges ...

Roxanne

[2bnallegory]

That was one of my favorite series when I was growing up. Every time we went to the bookstore, an hour away from where we lived, I was forever finding a new book to take home. I have a big stack of them on my shelves but sorry, not giving them up, I keep books forever, and like to reread them.

[Millie]

[QUOTE=Roxanne;8466
My glass half empty mentality, I think.

My take on the glass being half empty is that there's always room for more!

And Sheri, thanks for the link - I'll check it out properly when ds is in bed. And if you'll excuse me, a gentle (not so much) aroma is wafting my way courtesy of Mr 9 months old...TMI I know! see you all later!