Some of the best fantasy books I've read lately have been by Kristin Cashore. For those of you finding a lack of character development in your books, you'd probably love her. She's written two books so far and is working on a third.

I just finished reading Fire. The more I read, the more I like her writing. I'm very much looking forward to her book about Bitterblue.

Riskia- That's how I feel about it as well. It's an interesting concept and take on vampires, and had potential, it's just that the way the author went about getting it across was not good. To me personally, at least.

Shadowfoot- I love books with lots of character development! I'll look for her.

Reading the Gorey book I was reminded of the Archy and Mehitable poems, so I just reread the first book of those. Well, I probably never read that edition of them, in any case, just whatever compilation my mother owned, when I was a kid. It reminds me how much I like poems with some humor in them.

You guys should all check out the 50 Book Challenge Hangout I made in the event forum. :yes:

I was so happy to see that thread, Knerd! <3 I totally stumbled on it unexpectedly.

That's too funny! Enjoy reading it! You'll have to tell me what you think.

I had a friend loan me the series- it sat in my house for months and months untouched - I finally caved and started reading them.

I compare the books to a car crash - they're pretty terrible, but I can't look away.

The writing makes me cringe sometimes, the characters are so . . . bland. I know I'm on the last book and I still pretty much hate Bella and I don't care about Edward at all - to me the only character in the books that has even a touch of personality is Jake. It's pretty bad when you don't like/ care about the main characters :lol:

I have 200 or so pages left in the last book - I still would not recommend the series to anyone looking for a good book to read- but I better understand the desire to read them (but I still don't get the obsession)

Welcome Laniparis. =D

@siaasgn -- I think the Twilight books already have plenty of readers without worrying to recommend or not. D= Perhaps file this phenom under the "At least they're reading" category. Like every generation has to about something, whether it's Judy Blume books or Harry Potter, or whatever.

After only 3 moths I am finally done with that accursed book 'Covenant with the Vampire'. Now I'm off to read something much more fun.

Siti's Book List of Dec 29,2oo9-Dec 29,2010

Books: 2/50
Pages:606/15,000.

Some of the books I'm reading is in Malay. In this case, I will put the English translation next to it.

Currently Reading:
1.Series #1-13 in "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket

List of series of "A Series of Unfortunate Events".
Haven't finished or read/Already finished before Dec 29,2009 /Finished this year/Currently reading.

1. The Bad Beginning
2. The Reptile Room
3. The Wide Window
4. The Miserable Mill
5. The Austere Academy
6. The Ersatz Elevator
7. The Vile Village
8. The Hostile Hospital
9. The Carnivorous Carnival
10. The Slippery Slope
11. The Grim Grotto
12. The Penultimate Peril
13. The End

Finished reading:
1.Harta Itu Aku Punya! ( That Property is Mine!) by N.J.Neri
Pg:283/283
2.The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket
Pg:323/323
3.The End by Lemony Snicket
4.The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
5.The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket
6.The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
7.The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

(Trying to figure out the number of pages)

Welcome Say! =D It's always fun to hangout and talk about what you're reading in any case, and goals are good.

I just finished Alex and Me, the memoir of Irene Pepperman regarding her Avian Language experiments.

@say-i-love-you: You know, I still think the sparkly vampire thing really could've been an interesting idea. It's just that instead of using it to add any kind of depth to the story/vampires she used it to make them more pretty. =\ That's how it came off to me, anyway.

I just finished my first book of my fresh challenge. ^^ It was Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams. It was alright, but I ended up reading it to finish it rather than reading it to enjoy it... Not my favorite animal-centric book, I'm afraid.

True - I was actually talking about Twilight with my brother last night- he really enjoyed the books and movies - and he asked me what i thought.

I explained that I couldn't call them good books - because that would imply good writing and character development- but they are compelling books.

He agreed and pointed out that they would be a good first step for non-readers because they are so easy to read and after someone who is not a reader finished the thick thick books they get a confidence boost and are less intimidated by page count - and he also pointed out that he wasn't much of a reader and after finishing the series he pretty much always has a book in his hands- and I have to admit that his taste in books is getting better (I want to borrow a few he has and he is starting to borrow mine - or at least borrow some of my recommendations from the library)

I Just updated my book list with my final book of the year - I'm at Total Books: 55/50 and Total pages: 18,715.

I wonder if I'll be able to keep up this pace next year >.<

Yes, it would help set good habits just at an age when it's easy to stop reading for pleasure (High School.)

I know I have way too much time on my hands at the moment myself, fairly easy to keep up a good reading pace.

@Say -- (I hope you don't mind me calling you 'Say', lol. ._.) I haven't read My Life in France by Julia Child, yet. Now I feel compelled to. =D As far as my personal experience goes (my family is full of francophiles, peeps who have lived and worked in France, etc.) the French don't look down on Americans as long as they make an attempt to learn French culture and more importantly, speak French.

Good god, I have a hilarious story about a trip to France that my grandmother and step-grandfather took. My step-grandfather (don't ask me what my grandmother saw in him) thought that everyone could understand him if he talked to French people in English with like this weird fakey French continental accent, lol. Like, he asked for a glass and they brought him ice (glace) ... Anyway, that's just one example.