N o Child Left behind killed my school. Because it was so large, mostly a poor area, half didn't do so well on the state tests... So we lost funding. I had one teacher thoroughly break the mold and he wound up having the class with the highest grades. Because of him I started writing, and I still call him up to just talk about books we've read.

My boxes of books got here! ^_^ I'm already halfway through one.

Originally Posted by Cherry Flavored Antacid

Oh, I'm so glad someone else is reading it! Max Barry has such an intelligent style, doesn't he?
If you feel like it, go to his website (it's just maxbarry.com) and you can read his blog, too. It's pretty funny.

I just finished; I'm so glad that you recommended this! I agree with you completely. His style really is wickedly intelligent, and his focus on the marketing industry gave me a happy brainstorm for a research paper that I have to write this year.

He has posted an entertaining coincidence on his blog. As an aside, and this may be horrifically ironic: I'd kinda be for a Syrup movie. There could be great joy in the witnessing of such a thing. Double points if he could actually manage to pull in Pitt, Cruise and Paltrow, just for giggles.


Let me know if you have any other recommendations! :)


@Dream: I'm sorry that your school got the proverbial death sentence! At least you had one teacher who was brave enough to go against it.

He's got two other books out, if you're interested. Jennifer Government and Company. I haven't read them yet, but I have Company and will be reading it next. My boyfriend has read them all though, and he assures me that they're all good.

I haven't found much else like Max Barry's style, but I enjoyed Orwell while in the same "mood." Orwell is darker and less modern, but every bit as intelligent, even more so. If you haven't, I'd recommend reading 1984.

Wow this is an interesting covo. I've never read anything by barry.
I like a lot of older writers... most of which are dead. XD

I don't know if I have a favorite writer. I haven't read many books by the same person. Mostly just Stephen King and Orwell. And I've only read two of Orwell's books. xD;

I don't like stephen kings writings. It seems like alot of the same.
I read all of hemingways books cuz I love his writin style & imagination...
I don't remember ever reading anything by orwell, what kind of books does he write?

Ah man. I finally bought Twilight. MONTHS after I should have bought it, back when I didn't even know people liked it this much.

And now the movie is sneaking up on me. EEK. As I was buying it I saw the exclusive calendar with the actors on them. owo;

Bah. Who cares. I wonder how college will get in my way of reading it? 8D

@Dream- That's really sad about your school. My old grade school lost it's principle, and many teachers because of No Child Left Behind.

Yay, I love when a box of books comes.

@Platinum- I was the same way. Didn't read Twilight until everyone else I knew had.

Thoth - Well, if I say that they're mostly political statements, you'll probably get turned off, right? xD
I've only read Animal Farm and 1984. He has a few other books, but I haven't really read them.
I'll link you to the wikis and let you decide for yourself. They're really good books, trust me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm

I like George Orwell OwO


OMGGGGGGGGGGGG. THE ELECTION WILL MAKE ME EXPLODE.
http://election.cbsnews.com/election2008/

Have you read any of his books aside from those two? I'd like to read more of his works, but I've heard next to nothing about them as to whether they're good or not.

INORITE? I'm so nervousss.

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten the chance D8

My hands are cold! (a sign of nervousness for me). So far Obama's winning, and my state is pro-Obama, as far as I can see, but I really want to see what happens.


Ah. They're talking about "godless" on the news.

Curses. ><

I almost asked who you were for before I remembered your signature. xD *facepalm*
I live in Missouri, so I'm unsure about how my state's going to do. I have a feeling it might turn blue, though! :D

Is purple my signature color, Cherry? (that was sort of rhetorical XD)

Hurray for Blue!

I just realized how extremely democratic my outfit is XD

Hm.. I'm doing HW but I want to get back to Twilight ;_;

Oh yay, you started it! Twilight > Homework. Fo sho. :P
Well, if your homework is due tomorrow, then do it. xD But if it's not for a few days, you may be able to get away with reading some. I zipped through that book so quickly.

Edward sounds very drool-worthy XD

I'm on page 50 now .. o.e

Originally Posted by Lilith W

I always wanted to own a bookstore too (and like you I wouldn't make money) but instead I'm going to be a teacher who owns a small library of her own. (And one for my students ^^ )

Sounds a lot like me. I have thousands of books and a room (which normally would be a bedroom) as a library, complete with a huge table with old latin maps inlaid in it. Of course my books overflow into almost all the other rooms in my house...:sweat: I also keep a library in my classroom.

@Bishie: We've struggled to keep things interesting and new but still be able to learn the material for the test...it's pretty annoying.

Platinum: I hate Edward with a horrible flaming passion. He's really one-dimensional. And Bella just about drove me crazy. XD It isn't 'till the last book that she becomes an interesting character.


8D I'm so happy! I went to the doctor today for my physical and they were selling books for .50$, so I bought a bunch.

Plat - Ohhh, he is.
Have you seen the actor they have to play him in the movie? Reading the book with RPattz as your mental image of Edward will make the movie less irritating (as in "THAT'S NOT WHAT EDWARD LOOKS LIKE!")

Well, I saw the poster XD

And I got over trying to make the perfect book character from an actor. I mean, Harry Potter does not have blue eyes..

I won't get into Eragon because that was just horrid.

Well, RPattz isn't the absolute most perfect Edward, but it's nice to have a solid image in your head of Edward, rather than something sort of foggy.

but I'm pretty good at imagination~ XD

The movie is going to be terrible, I can already tell. x_X
I realized...I don't like Meyer's descriptions of her characters. XD Their appearances don't suit them in my mind.

@Cherry: I definitely intend to check out his other books. He also has a list of recommended books on his website, which is lovely; I was particularly happy to see Fight Club listed.


I'm actually alright with Robert Pattinson being cast as Edward, although I'm not particularly violent in my opinion one way or another. I thought the response of the Meyer fanbase to that particular casting was a touch too vehement. His aesthetic fits: I've always found him a touch too chiseled.


@Bishielurfawesomeness: Yes! I also found many of the characters in Twilight too one dimensional. I basically read the books for the one-liners. :sweat:

If schoolwork didn't get in the way, I'd have this book finished by tomorrow XD; But I've been procrastinating long enough and now I must go to sleep >w>


Goodnight/whatever time of day it is for you~