tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post2466777078169153652..comments2024-03-09T16:32:09.227-05:00Comments on The Edge of the Precipice: My Twenty-Five Favorite AuthorsHamlette (Rachel)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-36938373753799370022013-05-16T17:03:17.773-04:002013-05-16T17:03:17.773-04:00Well, maybe I've just been reading the wrong D...Well, maybe I've just been reading the wrong Dickens! I'll try another some time, maybe "Bleak House."<br /><br />The library has zero George MacDonald books. But they have "Flipped," so I added it to my to-read list.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-55543124188659076162013-05-16T10:22:12.923-04:002013-05-16T10:22:12.923-04:00Oh I haven't actually read most of those Dicke...Oh I haven't actually read most of those Dickens! Maybe you just picked the wrong ones! I loved A Christmas Carol. The other ones I've read are: Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, and Little Dorrit. All three are fantastic! I rave on and on about Bleak House. I even got a fellow blogger who hated Dickens to read it because of my enthusiasm, and she ended up loving it! So if you ever feel the urge to try another Dickens, go for Bleak House. It's hilarious, and wonderful! :)<br /><br />I hope the library will have some good selections! Let me know if you find any. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-100387484195904132013-05-16T08:30:42.492-04:002013-05-16T08:30:42.492-04:00Yup, I'm pretty sure the reason I like "T...Yup, I'm pretty sure the reason I like "Two Cities" best is because it's very non-Dickensian. Admittedly, I've only read "A Christmas Carol," "Great Expectations," "Hard Times," "Oliver Twist," and "A Tale of Two Cities," and I do really like "A Christmas Carol" too. I have several of his books and just haven't read them yet, but I need to be in the right mood to read Dickens, sort of a muddle-through-at-all-costs mood, lol.<br /><br />I'll have to see if the library has any of Goerge MacDonald's books. And "Flipped."Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-63661475343802351352013-05-15T16:37:36.235-04:002013-05-15T16:37:36.235-04:00RLS is just that good... !
Well, I'm not one...RLS is just that good... ! <br /><br />Well, I'm not one of those types who think anyone should be ashamed of not reading this or that by any particular author! So no need to hang your head for me! :) I just love all the Brontes, and went on a binge and read all their stuff at once. <br /><br />That's funny, A Tale of Two Cities is the least Dickens-like of the Dickens novels, so that makes total sense! (It's my least favorite Dickens that I've read so far :) )<br /><br />George MacDonald is fantastic. I've heard he was super popular during his time, though many haven't heard of him now. He wrote a ton of stuff and was a big influence on C. S. Lewis. He wrote a lot of fantasy and a lot of children's but he's also written many adult novels. A bunch of those were actually edited by Michael Phillips and sold on the Christian market quite successfully. I think this is a sacrilege and a travesty, but... that's actually where I first heard of him. I read a bunch of his edited books in high school and loved them. At that time I didn't read any classics, so I didn't know how much I was missing by not reading the original text! I'm dying to get my hands on some of those books in non edited form, but they are hard to find. Someday! I'm not entirely sure if you would like his writing or not, perhaps you would like the children's but not the adult, or vice versa. But anyway, I love him! Sorry for the novel...<br /><br />And Wendelin is a modern author of juvenile fiction, most notably the Sammy Keyes mysteries, but she also wrote Flipped, which is awesome and is now a movie! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-27543783416960657132013-05-15T16:14:26.297-04:002013-05-15T16:14:26.297-04:00Hey, look, RLS made it into both of our top tens! ...Hey, look, RLS made it into both of our top tens! I actually haven't read anything but <i>Jane Eyre</i> by Charlotte Bronte yet ::hangs head:: but I have a couple on my list at the library. Will get to them one day. I'm not a huge Dickens fan, though I adore <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>. I've never read anything by George MacDonald, and never heard of Wendelin Van Draanen, though with a good Dutch last name like that, I should try to find some of her stuff :-)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-34742472259151516922013-05-15T13:35:50.542-04:002013-05-15T13:35:50.542-04:00I thought about writing a post like this on my blo...I thought about writing a post like this on my blog, but I don't think I'm going to, so I thought I'd share my favorites. Don't worry, the list isn't long. :) My definition of a favorite author is someone whose works I'm almost guaranteed to enjoy!<br /><br />Favorite authors: Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, George MacDonald, Wendelin Van DraanenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-90265302537675691722013-05-10T09:48:51.678-04:002013-05-10T09:48:51.678-04:00Indeed, they are! I'd place Awdry a close thi...Indeed, they are! I'd place Awdry a close third after A. A. Milne and Beatrix Potter in the realm of British children's authors... Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-89668373501850604802013-05-09T14:54:47.165-04:002013-05-09T14:54:47.165-04:00Aw, that's neat trivia, Hamlette! Those are &q...Aw, that's neat trivia, Hamlette! Those are "classics" of their own right. :) Rissihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378400717440822186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-604865203065447192013-05-06T13:59:26.663-04:002013-05-06T13:59:26.663-04:00Kara -- I might have known you'd be sympatico ...Kara -- I might have known you'd be sympatico :-D<br /><br />Birdienl -- I've added both FFTMC and UtGT to my library list. I'll get to them... some time! :-DHamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-61907055722161937662013-05-06T04:56:52.961-04:002013-05-06T04:56:52.961-04:00Yes, I would definitely recommend FFTMC! It's ...Yes, I would definitely recommend FFTMC! It's by far less depressing than any of the better known Hardy books (Tess of the D'Ubervilles etc), I really love the main male character (Gabriel Oak!) and I love that it takes place in a rural setting and shows you some of the goings on on a Victorian farm. But you could also start with Under the Greenwood Tree, it's a very small volume (FFTMC is Victorian-full length, so to say) and very light in it's subject matter etc.Birdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240886179336298463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-10857762816979617312013-05-05T20:30:00.803-04:002013-05-05T20:30:00.803-04:00I had to add my two cents to this conversation. Be...I had to add my two cents to this conversation. Because I recently experienced really liking the writing but not the story. It was the <i>Across the Universe</i> trilogy by Beth Revis. Such great writing but I still didn't really like the story. So you're far from being alone, Hamlette! :)Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-70783057319002644522013-05-05T16:18:08.789-04:002013-05-05T16:18:08.789-04:00You know what? I have yet to read anything by Tho...You know what? I have yet to read anything by Thomas Hardy. Would you recommend "Far from the Maddening Crowd" as a good place to start?<br /><br />Also, yay! I'm glad someone understands what I mean by the difference between liking the writing and liking the books. Thank you! I was a little worried I was weird or something. Oh, wait...Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-21876454631215984982013-05-05T06:59:33.513-04:002013-05-05T06:59:33.513-04:00I know a bit what you mean about loving the writin...I know a bit what you mean about loving the writing, but not the books. I have the same with Thomas Hardy. I don't really like most of his books (apart from Far from the Madding Crowd), I hate his endings and his treatment of many female characters. But his writing is just so good! Birdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240886179336298463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-41000962296575094252013-05-03T14:08:09.116-04:002013-05-03T14:08:09.116-04:00I've actually only read a couple of Dumas'...I've actually only read a couple of Dumas' books: <i>The Count of Monte Cristo</i>, <i>The Three Musketeers</i>, and <i>Twenty Years Later</i>. I've also read part of an English translation of his French translation of <i>Hamlet</i>, which is actually hilarious (available <a href="http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/stories/hamlet.php" rel="nofollow">here</a>). But I love <i>Monte Cristo</i> so much, he had to be on the list.<br /><br />It's funny, because some of these authors, I've read everything they wrote and loved it all. Others, I've read one or two books and they were so amazing I had to include them. And two of them, Hemingway and Fitzgerald, I've read quite a few things by, and I don't love any of their books, but I love their writing so well, there they are.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-39376143540694574962013-05-03T09:07:34.843-04:002013-05-03T09:07:34.843-04:00Very interesting list! I totally agree with puttin...Very interesting list! I totally agree with putting Jasper Fforde high in the list, he's one of my absolute favourites as well. For the rest, I've read books by 10,14,20 and 21 and once started on an Alexander Dumas book, but never finished it. But that was >5 years ago now, so maybe I should try again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-57960576846062842822013-05-03T08:12:34.184-04:002013-05-03T08:12:34.184-04:00WONDERFUL! I was so hoping that was the one you g...WONDERFUL! I was so hoping that was the one you got. <i>Apprentice</i> is in my top 10 fave books ever, and I adore the whole series. I've read LRK's other books too, and I'm not so fond of her Kate Martinelli series (though I loved one book), and some of her stand-alones I just like okay, but I really enjoyed <i>Folly</i> and its sequel <i>Keeping Watch</i>. But the Russell/Holmes books are awesome. I can't wait to hear what you think of it!!!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-8482769660808327462013-05-03T00:20:19.747-04:002013-05-03T00:20:19.747-04:00I have The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I read some...I have <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i>. I read some great reviews of this series, so I thought I'd start with book #1 and see what I thought. Did you like the series? Or at least that particular book?Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-7834877351906802292013-04-29T08:21:02.571-04:002013-04-29T08:21:02.571-04:00As a writer and a lit major, I do enjoy dissecting...As a writer and a lit major, I do enjoy dissecting a story now and then. However, unless you're really into the story or author, line-by-line analyzations are tedious and annoying.<br /><br />Which Laurie King book did you get? I've read all but two (one of which she published under a different name).Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-17228358153107786392013-04-29T02:46:33.779-04:002013-04-29T02:46:33.779-04:00I've only read (and loved!) numbers 10 & 2...I've only read (and loved!) numbers 10 & 21. But this is a great list! As for Fitzgerald, I was traumatized by my high school english teacher who forced us to read one of his stories and then analyze every single line in the thing. (Well. It sure <i>felt</i> like every single line!) So I haven't wanted to touch any of his stories again. <br /><br />But I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder when I was younger! I suppose I technically still do, but I <i>really</i> loved her back then. I also just got a Laurie King novel from the library. So hopefully pretty soon, I can say whether I like her writing or not. :)Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-2695300583123220112013-04-26T17:23:03.781-04:002013-04-26T17:23:03.781-04:00Lol, thanks! And some that aren't terribly &q...Lol, thanks! And some that aren't terribly "literary" that I love too. (The Rev. W. Awdry, for instance -- he wrote the original "Thomas the Tank Engine" books.)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-2036217351861849732013-04-26T17:21:56.277-04:002013-04-26T17:21:56.277-04:00There are some authors whose books I love, but who...There are some authors whose books I love, but who don't write brilliantly, just well enough. Jim Kjelgaard, the Rev. W. Awdry, and Jan Burke come to mind. Love their books, but I don't go nuts over their writing.<br /><br />I might have to expand this to thirty, at some point.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-4947117620577382582013-04-26T16:51:47.508-04:002013-04-26T16:51:47.508-04:00Hello, great literary authors. :)Hello, great literary authors. :)Rissihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378400717440822186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-49940366369835392402013-04-26T16:09:25.815-04:002013-04-26T16:09:25.815-04:00Oh, this is so interesting! Especially the liking ...Oh, this is so interesting! Especially the liking of an author's writing, but not liking their books! It seems that one would guarantee the other, but I suppose that's not always the case! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com