American GOds-decent so far. But I am not a huge fan of Gaiman. The Evil Dead Companion-Really good.
Got the horror fiction hookup yesterday. Had seen that someone locally was giving away 5 boxes full of horror fiction. For free! So contacted the guy and arranged to meet up with him. From the pictures he had posted I saw 12 or so novels I wanted.
Met up with him yesterday afternoon. And loaded 5 huge and heavy boxes into my car. Managed to go thru one box with my lady and some friends. Gave them all the books that I already owned.
Here is a list of all the other stuff in the boxes. The books with a * at the end are ones I already own.
Clive Barker-Mister B. Gone Ray Bradbury-The October Country Ray Bradbury-Something Wicked this way comes Gary A. Branbeck-Coffin County Gary A. Branbeck-Far Dark Fields Gary A. Branbeck-In Silent Graves Gary A. Branbeck-Keepers Gary A. Branbeck-Mr Hands Ramsey Campbell-Creatures of the Pool Ramsey Campbell-The Darkest Part of the Woods Ramsey Campbell-The Overnight Mike Carey-The Devil You Know Hugh B. Cave-the Restless Dead Simon Clark-Blood Crazy Simon Clark-Death's Dominion Simon Clark-Ghost Monster Simon Clark-In this Skin Simon Clark-Stranger Simon Clark-Vampyrrhic Douglas Clegg-The Abandoned Douglas Clegg-The Attraction Douglas Clegg-The Halloween Man Douglas Clegg-The Hour Before Dark Douglas Clegg-The Infinite Douglas Clegg-Mischief Douglas Clegg-The Nightmare Chronicles Douglas Clegg-Nightmare House Douglas Clegg-You Come When I call You Matthew Costello-Missing Monday Guillermo Deltoro&Chuck Hogan-The Strain Robert Dunbar-The Pines Robert Dunbar-The Shore B.K.Evenson&Rob Zombie-Lords of Salem John Everson-Covenant John Everson-Sacrifice John Everson-The 13th Robert Fleming-Havoc After Dark Tales of Terror W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Bluff W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Gambit W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Trap Ray Garton-Loveliest Dead Ray Garton-Ravenous R.Patrick Gates-The Prison J.F.Gonzalez-Survivor Leopoldo Gouti-Ghost Radio Walter Greatshell-Xombies Daryl Gregory-We are all Completely Fine Stephen Gregory-Wakening the Crow Lori Handeland-Shakespeare Undead Rick Hautala-Bedbugs Grady Hendrix-HorrorStor Steve Hockensmith-Dawn of the Dreadfuls Tobe Hooper-Midnight Movie Alex Irvine-The Supernatural Book of Monsters,Spirits,Demons and Ghouls Anthony Izzo-Evil Harvest Lisa Jackson-Born to Die Shirley Jackson-Hangsaman Brian Keene-Blood on the Page the Complete Short fiction of Brian Keene Brian Keene-Dark Hollow Brian Keene-Darkness on the Edge of Town* Brian Keene-Dead Sea 2 copies Brian Keene-A Gathering of Crows Brian Keene-Ghost Walk* Brian Keene-Ghoul* Brian Keene-The Rising Brian Keene-Unhappy Endings Brian Keene-Urban Gothic* Damien Kelly-The Christmas Gifts Nate Kenyon-The Bone Factory Nate Kenyon-Sparrow Rock Jack Ketchum-Red Stephen King-On Writing M.J.Konevich-The Rousseau House Michael Laimo-Deep in the Darkness Michael Laimo-The Demonologist Joe R.Lansdale-Bumper Crop Joe R. Lansdale-High Cotton Stephen Laws-The Wyrm Richard Laymon-Beware Richard Laymon-The Cellar Richard Laymon-Darkness,Tell Us Richard Laymon-Flesh Richard Laymon-The Midnight Tour Richard Laymon-Resurrection Dreams Richard Laymon-Savage Tim Lebbon-Berserk* Tim Lebbon-Desolation Tim Lebbon-The Everlasting Tim Lebbon-Face Tim Lebbon-30 Days of Night Edward Lee-City Infernal Edward Lee-The Golem Edward Lee-The Innswich Horror Edward Lee-Monstrosity Bentley Little-The Collection Bentley Little-Dispatch Bentley Little-The House Bentley Little-The Revelation Bentley Little-The Vanishing Michael Logan-Apocalypse Cow Adam Lukeman-Fangoria 101 Best Horror Movies You've never seen Michelle Lundy-Christmas Coffin John Maberry-Bad Moon Rising John Maberry-Dead Man's Song John Maberry-Ghost House Blues John Maberry-Patient Zero Ronald Malfi-Snow Hilary Mantel-Beyond Black A.Lee Martinez-Gil's All Fright Diner A.Lee Martinez-A Nameless Wind Graham Masterton-The Djinn Richard Matheson-Button Button Uncanny Stories Richard Matheson-Hell House L.H.Maynard&M.P.Sims-Night Souls Robert McCammon-Swan Song Shane Mckenzie-Infinity House Joe McKinney-Dead City 2 copies Graham McNeill-Bones of the Yopasi Paul Melniczek-Frightful October Tales of Halloween Horror Brent Monahan-An American Haunting James A. Moore-Blood Red James A. Moore-Deeper James A. Moore-The Pack James A. Moore-Rabid Growth James A. Moore-Writ in Blood Kim Newman-Jugo Scott Nicholson-The Farm Scott Nicholson-The Harvest Scott Nicholson-The Manor Norman Partridge-Johnny Halloween:Tales of the Dark Season Sarah Pinborough-Breeding Ground Sarah Pinborough-Feeding Ground Preston&Child-Still Life with Crows Z.A. Recht-Plague of the Dead Gord Rollo-Strange Magic Al Sarrantonio-Halloweenland Al Sarrantonio-Hallows Eve Al Sarrantonio-Horrorween Al Sarrantonio-Orangefield John Saul-House of Reckoning John Saul-In the Dark of the Night Hank Schwaeble-Damnable John Shirley-Crawlers John Shirley-Demons John Skipp&Craig Spector-The Bridge Bryan Smith-Depraved Bryan Smith-The Freakshow Bryan Smith-House of Blood Bryan Smith-The Killing Kind Bryan Smith-The Late Night Horror Show Scott Smith-The Ruins Alexandra Sokoloff-The Harrowing Jeff Strand-Dweller Jeff Strand-Pressure Peter Straub-A Dark Matter Koji Suzuki-Dark Water Tim Waggoner-Pandora Drive Bill Warren-The Evil Dead Companion Michael West-Spook House Wrath James White-The Resurrectionist Conrad Williams-Decay Inevitable Conrad Williams-One F.Paul Wilson-the Keep
----------------------------------------------------------- Anthologies ---------------------------------------------------- Alone on the Darkside Arkham Tales Legends of the Haunted City Best Horror of the Year vol 6 The Black Spiral The Darker Side Generations of Horror Harvest Tales & Midnight Revels Horrorscape House of Fear Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 14,15,17,18,22 Mammoth Book of Monsters The Middle of Nowhere Horror in Rural America Night Frights Collection Octoberland Read by Dawn Volume 2 A Walk on the Darkside Visions of Horror Writers Workshop of Horror World's Greatest Horror Stories
Finished Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Currently reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Peter Pan - what a great book! I absolutely love almost everything about it. I recommend reading this to your kids.
The problem with it: Peter Pan is written like games little English boys would have played in 1900. The Indians are called Redskins throughout and are a stereotype of Indians (think the movie, only they are braver, smarter, craftier and Tiger Lily is the leader). When reading to my daughter I just replace the word with Indian. I also replace Silly Ass with Silly Donkey. Context & culture and a little editing, goes a long way.
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Indeed. It took me a really long time to get into Pratchett because of that. The Colour of Magic is okay, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and get the next book. It was years before I picked up anything else by him, and now he’s a favorite. I think my favorite of the Discworld books are the Tiffany Aching stories, by crivens.
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Indeed. It took me a really long time to get into Pratchett because of that. The Colour of Magic is okay, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and get the next book. It was years before I picked up anything else by him, and now he’s a favorite. I think my favorite of the Discworld books are the Tiffany Aching stories, by crivens.
I just got those on the nook.
I've read 4/5 Discworld books before I read Colors of Magic; it was my least favorite. I'm glad I started in different places.
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Indeed. It took me a really long time to get into Pratchett because of that. The Colour of Magic is okay, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and get the next book. It was years before I picked up anything else by him, and now he’s a favorite. I think my favorite of the Discworld books are the Tiffany Aching stories, by crivens.
I just got those on the nook.
I've read 4/5 Discworld books before I read Colors of Magic; it was my least favorite. I'm glad I started in different places.
I am a major Pratchett fan. I've re-read all the Discworld books at least once --except-- The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic.
It wasn't until Granny Weatherwax showed up in Equal Rites that Discworld really became Discworld. She pretty much refused to be a silly character and the world adapted to fit her personality. (Which is pretty much how Esme worked from then on.)
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Indeed. It took me a really long time to get into Pratchett because of that. The Colour of Magic is okay, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and get the next book. It was years before I picked up anything else by him, and now he’s a favorite. I think my favorite of the Discworld books are the Tiffany Aching stories, by crivens.
I just got those on the nook.
I've read 4/5 Discworld books before I read Colors of Magic; it was my least favorite. I'm glad I started in different places.
It wasn't until Granny Weatherwax showed up in Equal Rites that Discworld really became Discworld. She pretty much refused to be a silly character and the world adapted to fit her personality. (Which is pretty much how Esme worked from then on.)
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Indeed. It took me a really long time to get into Pratchett because of that. The Colour of Magic is okay, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and get the next book. It was years before I picked up anything else by him, and now he’s a favorite. I think my favorite of the Discworld books are the Tiffany Aching stories, by crivens.
I just got those on the nook.
I've read 4/5 Discworld books before I read Colors of Magic; it was my least favorite. I'm glad I started in different places.
It wasn't until Granny Weatherwax showed up in Equal Rites that Discworld really became Discworld. She pretty much refused to be a silly character and the world adapted to fit her personality. (Which is pretty much how Esme worked from then on.)
Is Equal Rites the first of the witch books?
It introduces Granny. Nanny & Magrat join the fun in Wyrd Sisters.
Almost done with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the little girl.
I'm slowly making it through Howl's Moving Castle and picked up Be Pure! Be Brave! Be Vigilant! by Pat Mills, about the founding of 2000AD and Judge Dredd.
I am on Dead Beat of the Dreseden files. I have been reading the books back to back as I get time to read. One of my favorite series I have ever read. I am going to re-read Ready Player One before the movie comes out, but for the most part, I will be reading the Dresden Files until I can get completely caught up on the series.
If you read and enjoyed Gaimans Norse Mythology, you’ll be sure to like Stephen Fry’s Mythos. Half way through and loving his retelling of Greek mythology.
Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - on the scale of books we have read at bedtime, this falls on the bottom end. I thought it was good, but the little girl really only liked parts. Current night reading Lafcadio by Uncle Shelby
Finished The Wizard of Earthsea. That was a really good book, after I finish Be Brave by Pat Mills I'm going to continue the story.
If you read and enjoyed Gaimans Norse Mythology, you’ll be sure to like Stephen Fry’s Mythos. Half way through and loving his retelling of Greek mythology.
Thanks for the Mythos shout out. Grew up reading (and reading, and reading, and reading) D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths - so I'm always looking out for new viewpoints/books on the subject.
If you read and enjoyed Gaimans Norse Mythology, you’ll be sure to like Stephen Fry’s Mythos. Half way through and loving his retelling of Greek mythology.
Thanks for the Mythos shout out. Grew up reading (and reading, and reading, and reading) D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths - so I'm always looking out for new viewpoints/books on the subject.
I've worn out 3 paper back copies of The Greek mythology. Those spins just couldn't take the abuse.
I love D'Aulaires Norse mythology and my daughter loves the troll book.
I just read Lungbarrow by Marc Platt. I had to settle for reading a pdf the book, which is not something I normally do or advocate. But considering how much the physical book retails for... uh, yeah.
Not strictly a novel, but currently reading Slugfest: Inside the epic 50-year battle between Marvel and DC. Not far through, but so far so good. Interesting read. If you liked or read Marvel: The Untold Story you’re sure to enjoy this too.
I just finished Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. I've been a fan of hers since Animorphs. She's always been an author who's pulled no punches with her children's literature and this is no exception.
The book is about a fifth grade boy named Jackson and his family's struggles as working class poor who are facing homelessness for the second time in their lives. Jackson's imaginary friend from years ago, a giant talking cat named Crenshaw, returns to help Jackson through these difficult times.
This book really resonated with me on many levels. I've been where Jackson has been (although the cars I've slept in were a little less roomy than his family's minivan, not to mention the fact that they didn't belong to me, but I digress). Also, the school district my wife teaches at has a lot of kids who bounce around between homes and shelters.
This is an honest and sincere novel that presents a very real problem in our country in a way that's easy for any person, regardless of age, to relate to and understand. It doesn't have a happy ending. In fact, it doesn't have an ending at all. That's refreshing to me. Life just goes on for the characters just like it has to for all of us. We, the readers, are simply allowed the privilege of getting to know them for a little while and hopefully learning something along the way.
Just finished Erik Larson's In the Garden of Beasts. It's a non-fiction piece focusing on the first ambassador to Germany after Hitler took power. It was an incredibly compelling read.
No on the latest offering for the Malazan books. Deadhouse Landing by Ian C Esslemont. I really dig the world building and mythos of all things Malazan. This time around it's prequel work building to the characters largely featured in the early books from Steve Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. On the surface, this one feels like things are tying together a bit too neatly, however, convergence seems to be a central theme for Esslemont and Erikson so it's consistent.
I just finished The Last Policeman by Ben H winters.. so good!! Book 1 of a trilogy about a cop who is trying to solve a murder even while a planet killer asteroid is hurtling towards the earth . A great noirish mystery with allot of existential crisis while people are coping with impending doom and the futility of work and daily life. Allot of humor , great dialogue and a snappy fast read -350 pages. I am most certainly gonna read the next 2 - but first i must start and finish the new Victor Lavalle novel The Changeling for my book club meeting in early april :) Oh and finally , I just picked up a book titled Renegades by Marissa Meyer ( author of the YA Vampire academy books - which i adored) this new one of hers is a superhero novel!! I will always read a genre superhero novel when i hear about one because they are few and far between in my searchings.
Bedtime reading with little people: Lafcadio by Uncle Shelby - a fun Shel Silverstein book and a must read.
Through the looking Glass and what Alice found there by Louis Carroll - it's a fun nonsense book that is very much not fun to read aloud. This felt like it took forever to get through. It has parts that are fantastic but difficult for a 4 year old to follow.
We just started Princess Bride S Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure abridged by William Goldman ;). I'm really excited to read this, and watch the movie with her.
Comments
American GOds-decent so far. But I am not a huge fan of Gaiman.
The Evil Dead Companion-Really good.
Got the horror fiction hookup yesterday. Had seen that someone locally was giving away 5 boxes full of horror fiction. For free! So contacted the guy and arranged to meet up with him. From the pictures he had posted I saw 12 or so novels I wanted.
Met up with him yesterday afternoon. And loaded 5 huge and heavy boxes into my car. Managed to go thru one box with my lady and some friends. Gave them all the books that I already owned.
Here is a list of all the other stuff in the boxes. The books with a * at the end are ones I already own.
Clive Barker-Mister B. Gone
Ray Bradbury-The October Country
Ray Bradbury-Something Wicked this way comes
Gary A. Branbeck-Coffin County
Gary A. Branbeck-Far Dark Fields
Gary A. Branbeck-In Silent Graves
Gary A. Branbeck-Keepers
Gary A. Branbeck-Mr Hands
Ramsey Campbell-Creatures of the Pool
Ramsey Campbell-The Darkest Part of the Woods
Ramsey Campbell-The Overnight
Mike Carey-The Devil You Know
Hugh B. Cave-the Restless Dead
Simon Clark-Blood Crazy
Simon Clark-Death's Dominion
Simon Clark-Ghost Monster
Simon Clark-In this Skin
Simon Clark-Stranger
Simon Clark-Vampyrrhic
Douglas Clegg-The Abandoned
Douglas Clegg-The Attraction
Douglas Clegg-The Halloween Man
Douglas Clegg-The Hour Before Dark
Douglas Clegg-The Infinite
Douglas Clegg-Mischief
Douglas Clegg-The Nightmare Chronicles
Douglas Clegg-Nightmare House
Douglas Clegg-You Come When I call You
Matthew Costello-Missing Monday
Guillermo Deltoro&Chuck Hogan-The Strain
Robert Dunbar-The Pines
Robert Dunbar-The Shore
B.K.Evenson&Rob Zombie-Lords of Salem
John Everson-Covenant
John Everson-Sacrifice
John Everson-The 13th
Robert Fleming-Havoc After Dark Tales of Terror
W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Bluff
W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Gambit
W.D.Gagliani-Wolf's Trap
Ray Garton-Loveliest Dead
Ray Garton-Ravenous
R.Patrick Gates-The Prison
J.F.Gonzalez-Survivor
Leopoldo Gouti-Ghost Radio
Walter Greatshell-Xombies
Daryl Gregory-We are all Completely Fine
Stephen Gregory-Wakening the Crow
Lori Handeland-Shakespeare Undead
Rick Hautala-Bedbugs
Grady Hendrix-HorrorStor
Steve Hockensmith-Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Tobe Hooper-Midnight Movie
Alex Irvine-The Supernatural Book of Monsters,Spirits,Demons and Ghouls
Anthony Izzo-Evil Harvest
Lisa Jackson-Born to Die
Shirley Jackson-Hangsaman
Brian Keene-Blood on the Page the Complete Short fiction of Brian Keene
Brian Keene-Dark Hollow
Brian Keene-Darkness on the Edge of Town*
Brian Keene-Dead Sea 2 copies
Brian Keene-A Gathering of Crows
Brian Keene-Ghost Walk*
Brian Keene-Ghoul*
Brian Keene-The Rising
Brian Keene-Unhappy Endings
Brian Keene-Urban Gothic*
Damien Kelly-The Christmas Gifts
Nate Kenyon-The Bone Factory
Nate Kenyon-Sparrow Rock
Jack Ketchum-Red
Stephen King-On Writing
M.J.Konevich-The Rousseau House
Michael Laimo-Deep in the Darkness
Michael Laimo-The Demonologist
Joe R.Lansdale-Bumper Crop
Joe R. Lansdale-High Cotton
Stephen Laws-The Wyrm
Richard Laymon-Beware
Richard Laymon-The Cellar
Richard Laymon-Darkness,Tell Us
Richard Laymon-Flesh
Richard Laymon-The Midnight Tour
Richard Laymon-Resurrection Dreams
Richard Laymon-Savage
Tim Lebbon-Berserk*
Tim Lebbon-Desolation
Tim Lebbon-The Everlasting
Tim Lebbon-Face
Tim Lebbon-30 Days of Night
Edward Lee-City Infernal
Edward Lee-The Golem
Edward Lee-The Innswich Horror
Edward Lee-Monstrosity
Bentley Little-The Collection
Bentley Little-Dispatch
Bentley Little-The House
Bentley Little-The Revelation
Bentley Little-The Vanishing
Michael Logan-Apocalypse Cow
Adam Lukeman-Fangoria 101 Best Horror Movies You've never seen
Michelle Lundy-Christmas Coffin
John Maberry-Bad Moon Rising
John Maberry-Dead Man's Song
John Maberry-Ghost House Blues
John Maberry-Patient Zero
Ronald Malfi-Snow
Hilary Mantel-Beyond Black
A.Lee Martinez-Gil's All Fright Diner
A.Lee Martinez-A Nameless Wind
Graham Masterton-The Djinn
Richard Matheson-Button Button Uncanny Stories
Richard Matheson-Hell House
L.H.Maynard&M.P.Sims-Night Souls
Robert McCammon-Swan Song
Shane Mckenzie-Infinity House
Joe McKinney-Dead City 2 copies
Graham McNeill-Bones of the Yopasi
Paul Melniczek-Frightful October Tales of Halloween Horror
Brent Monahan-An American Haunting
James A. Moore-Blood Red
James A. Moore-Deeper
James A. Moore-The Pack
James A. Moore-Rabid Growth
James A. Moore-Writ in Blood
Kim Newman-Jugo
Scott Nicholson-The Farm
Scott Nicholson-The Harvest
Scott Nicholson-The Manor
Norman Partridge-Johnny Halloween:Tales of the Dark Season
Sarah Pinborough-Breeding Ground
Sarah Pinborough-Feeding Ground
Preston&Child-Still Life with Crows
Z.A. Recht-Plague of the Dead
Gord Rollo-Strange Magic
Al Sarrantonio-Halloweenland
Al Sarrantonio-Hallows Eve
Al Sarrantonio-Horrorween
Al Sarrantonio-Orangefield
John Saul-House of Reckoning
John Saul-In the Dark of the Night
Hank Schwaeble-Damnable
John Shirley-Crawlers
John Shirley-Demons
John Skipp&Craig Spector-The Bridge
Bryan Smith-Depraved
Bryan Smith-The Freakshow
Bryan Smith-House of Blood
Bryan Smith-The Killing Kind
Bryan Smith-The Late Night Horror Show
Scott Smith-The Ruins
Alexandra Sokoloff-The Harrowing
Jeff Strand-Dweller
Jeff Strand-Pressure
Peter Straub-A Dark Matter
Koji Suzuki-Dark Water
Tim Waggoner-Pandora Drive
Bill Warren-The Evil Dead Companion
Michael West-Spook House
Wrath James White-The Resurrectionist
Conrad Williams-Decay Inevitable
Conrad Williams-One
F.Paul Wilson-the Keep
-----------------------------------------------------------
Anthologies
----------------------------------------------------
Alone on the Darkside
Arkham Tales Legends of the Haunted City
Best Horror of the Year vol 6
The Black Spiral
The Darker Side Generations of Horror
Harvest Tales & Midnight Revels
Horrorscape
House of Fear
Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 14,15,17,18,22
Mammoth Book of Monsters
The Middle of Nowhere Horror in Rural America
Night Frights Collection
Octoberland
Read by Dawn Volume 2
A Walk on the Darkside Visions of Horror
Writers Workshop of Horror
World's Greatest Horror Stories
Colors of Magic by Terry Prachett this was a good start, but I've found his latter books much better. I really like the Discworld books.
Currently reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Peter Pan - what a great book! I absolutely love almost everything about it. I recommend reading this to your kids.
The problem with it: Peter Pan is written like games little English boys would have played in 1900. The Indians are called Redskins throughout and are a stereotype of Indians (think the movie, only they are braver, smarter, craftier and Tiger Lily is the leader). When reading to my daughter I just replace the word with Indian. I also replace Silly Ass with Silly Donkey. Context & culture and a little editing, goes a long way.
I've read 4/5 Discworld books before I read Colors of Magic; it was my least favorite. I'm glad I started in different places.
It wasn't until Granny Weatherwax showed up in Equal Rites that Discworld really became Discworld. She pretty much refused to be a silly character and the world adapted to fit her personality. (Which is pretty much how Esme worked from then on.)
Almost done with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the little girl.
I'm slowly making it through Howl's Moving Castle and picked up Be Pure! Be Brave! Be Vigilant! by Pat Mills, about the founding of 2000AD and Judge Dredd.
Current night reading Lafcadio by Uncle Shelby
Finished The Wizard of Earthsea. That was a really good book, after I finish Be Brave by Pat Mills I'm going to continue the story.
I love D'Aulaires Norse mythology and my daughter loves the troll book.
This year I want read more pulp characters like Doc Savage, Tarzan and John Carter.
I know this is the novel thread, sorry. I've got such a backlog of comics I haven't picked up a novel in a while. Not sure what I'll read next.
I had to settle for reading a pdf the book, which is not something I normally do or advocate. But considering how much the physical book retails for... uh, yeah.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0426205022/ref=tmm_pap_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr=
The book is about a fifth grade boy named Jackson and his family's struggles as working class poor who are facing homelessness for the second time in their lives. Jackson's imaginary friend from years ago, a giant talking cat named Crenshaw, returns to help Jackson through these difficult times.
This book really resonated with me on many levels. I've been where Jackson has been (although the cars I've slept in were a little less roomy than his family's minivan, not to mention the fact that they didn't belong to me, but I digress). Also, the school district my wife teaches at has a lot of kids who bounce around between homes and shelters.
This is an honest and sincere novel that presents a very real problem in our country in a way that's easy for any person, regardless of age, to relate to and understand. It doesn't have a happy ending. In fact, it doesn't have an ending at all. That's refreshing to me. Life just goes on for the characters just like it has to for all of us. We, the readers, are simply allowed the privilege of getting to know them for a little while and hopefully learning something along the way.
The Incredibly Strange Film Book by Jonathan Ross
Was a fun read. Not much info I didn't already know. But was worth the few bucks it cost me.
Lafcadio by Uncle Shelby - a fun Shel Silverstein book and a must read.
Through the looking Glass and what Alice found there by Louis Carroll - it's a fun nonsense book that is very much not fun to read aloud. This felt like it took forever to get through. It has parts that are fantastic but difficult for a 4 year old to follow.
We just started Princess Bride S Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure abridged by William Goldman ;). I'm really excited to read this, and watch the movie with her.