What you consider the 10 best books ever

In article <IXqbc.1410$Sh4.1246@edtnps84>,
D. Gascoyne <chumleybee.RemoveThis@netscape.net> wrote:
  >> Enchantress From The Stars (or her Children of the Stars trilogy) by
 >Sylvia
  >> Louise Engdahl
  >>
 >I always loved The Far Side of Evil - I'm not sure if it's one of that
 >trilogy, but I think they're all connected.

FSOE is a sequel to EFtS. The third book in the Children of the Star
triology make it clear they are all set in the same universe.

I always think it a terrible shame that Engdahl stopped writing
fiction.
--
"I couldn't believe this was a book. It didn't even give me a
headache." -- Chris Crutcher on _To Kill a Mockingbird_
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 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

In article <106n4bph11ap936.DeleteThis@corp.supernews.com>,
Anita Wilhelm <wilhelm.DeleteThis@megsinet.net> wrote:

 >Mine For Keeps (or Home From Far) by Jean Little

I meant to mention a Jean Little book, though I would choose
_From Anna_ or _Look Through My Window_ or _Stand in the Wind_ or
um.... damn, what's it called.... the one about the girl whose aunt
buys her a private island... _One to Grow On_?

Jean Little is the most neglected children's author I know of. Every
time I read a book on children's literature I check for her in the index
and so rarely find her. Our libraries were always full of her books, so
I have no idea why she is given so little consideration.

 >The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (or the Riddle-Master trilogy, or any other book
 >she wrote) by Patricia McKillip

Not a huge fan of anything else, but I think TFBoE is one of the
greatest fantasies ever written.
--
"I couldn't believe this was a book. It didn't even give me a
headache." -- Chris Crutcher on _To Kill a Mockingbird_
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 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

"Wendy E. Betts" <web.TakeThisOut@deeptht.armory.com> wrote in message
news:406f57e8$0$438$8eec23a@newsreader.tycho.net...
 > In article <106n4bph11ap936.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>,
 > Anita Wilhelm <wilhelm.TakeThisOut@megsinet.net> wrote:
 >
  > >Mine For Keeps (or Home From Far) by Jean Little
 >
 > I meant to mention a Jean Little book, though I would choose
 > _From Anna_ or _Look Through My Window_ or _Stand in the Wind_ or
 > um.... damn, what's it called.... the one about the girl whose aunt
 > buys her a private island... _One to Grow On_?
 >
 > Jean Little is the most neglected children's author I know of. Every
 > time I read a book on children's literature I check for her in the index
 > and so rarely find her. Our libraries were always full of her books, so
 > I have no idea why she is given so little consideration.

She's much more highly regarded here in Canada - kind of a "grande dame" of
children's literature. You'd probably find any book on Canadian children's
lit, or by a Canadian critic (like Michelle Landsberg) would mention her. I
like her early books more than recent things, though.
 >
  > >The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (or the Riddle-Master trilogy, or any other
book
  > >she wrote) by Patricia McKillip
 >
 > Not a huge fan of anything else, but I think TFBoE is one of the
 > greatest fantasies ever written.

With the possible exception of the Riddle Master trilogy! I don't think
she's written anything else quite as good, although I find everything of
hers to be enjoyable. Eld is amazing, though.

Debbie<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

"Anita Wilhelm" <wilhelm.TakeThisOut@megsinet.net> wrote in message
news:106slp9ojhkccca@corp.supernews.com...
 > Hi Debbie!
 >
 > I've always known from your postings that you and I were soul sisters when
 > it came to sharing the same taste in books. I didn't realize you were a
 > McKillip fan

Oh heavens, yes! I think I've read the Riddle Master trilogy almost as many
times as I've read The Lord of the Rings (which at one time was about once a
year). I took them with me when I was living in China - the equivalent of
desert island books! Have you read _Alphabet of Thorns_ yet? I just
finished it...
 >
 > I've still kept up with K.M. Peyton and just received from England a title
 > that was hitherto unknown to me: Small Gains. Did you read Blind Beauty,
 > Who Sir, Me Sir?, and Firehead?

The only one of those I even KNOW about is Who Sir, Me Sir? !! When I was
in the UK in 2002, I bought another one... oh brother, I can't remember the
title... it was a romance with ghostly bits. Not startlingly good, but
readable. I think my all-time favourite of hers is _A Pattern of Roses_.
 >
 > Also, do you have any info on Elizabeth Marie Pope? Is she still living?
I
 > was always dying to read more of her books.

No - I don't know anything about her, even if she's still alive. Wouldn't
it be nice if there were three of four more books that we didn't know
about??
 >
 > Did you enjoy Sally Watson's books as a child? The hero in Lark, James
 > Trelawney, was one of the first book heroes I fell in love with.

I liked the one about the girl who runs away and dresses up as a boy to take
part in Shakespeare's theatre company - Mistress Malapert? Funny to
describe it now - shades of "Shakespeare in Love!"
 >
 > Any current favorite YA or middle fiction reads? I just finished A Great
 > and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray and Robin McKinley's Sunshine (although
it
 > is shelved in adult science fiction); and also got the sequel to Saffy's
 > Angel from my sister as a gift, Indigo's Star. It is due to be released
in
 > the U.S. in October, I think.

I don't know Libby Bray, or Saffy's Angel! I'll have to look out for them.
I did read Sunshine, though, and liked it a lot - what did you think of it?
I don't have any other real finds recently - I liked the Thief and its
sequel. I've been feeling a bit grumpy, though, because there doesn't seem
to have been anything really really good for a long time.
 >
 > Did you like Mary Stewart's romantic novels of suspense as an adolescent,
 > just out of curiosity?

Oh, yes!! I loved them (and, I have to admit, have been known to read them
still... in fact I re-read _This Rough Magic_ just recently. They are a bit
dated, now, but still stand up quite well).

If you liked all the other things we've been talking about, have you read
_The Beacon at Alexandria_ by Gillian Bradshaw? How about _Thursday_ by
Catherine Storr?

Debbie<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

Hi Debbie and Everyone,

Debbie and I started talking about various authors we like, and this post is
mostly responding to her comments.

 > Have you read _Alphabet of Thorns_ yet? I just
 > finished it...

It's on my TBR pile! I'll let you know.

 > I think my all-time favourite of hers is _A Pattern of Roses_.

There aren't any K.M. Peyton books I don't like. With the exception of
Flambards Divided, which I try to ignore as much as possible since it gets
me so angry. I thought Pattern of Roses was so sad and fatalistic.

 > I did read Sunshine, though, and liked it a lot - what did you think of
it?

I liked it, of course! I have to admit I'm a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan,
and I like honorable vampires! I thought it ended rather abruptly, and
wondered if McKinley intends to write a sequel. What about Mel for
instance? Con is way cool, but Mel was such a nice boyfriend, and there is
obviously more to him than we've been told so far. All those tattoos must
have significance. How did you interpret the ending?

 > I don't have any other real finds recently - I liked the Thief and its
 > sequel. I've been feeling a bit grumpy, though, because there doesn't
seem
 > to have been anything really really good for a long time.

I am a total fan of Megan Whalen Turner and I hope she will write another
novel where we see how Gen manages his first 6 months in Attolia.

 > in fact I re-read _This Rough Magic_ just recently. They are a bit
 > dated, now, but still stand up quite well).

Although they are a bit dated, my sister and I both think they stand up
quite well too. We still refer to that fabulous restaurant that Charity is
taken to in Madam Will You Talk. The Moon Spinners, The Ivy Tree, and This
Rough Magic are also favorites.

 >
 > If you liked all the other things we've been talking about, have you read
 > _The Beacon at Alexandria_ by Gillian Bradshaw? How about _Thursday_ by
 > Catherine Storr?

No--but I will try to get hold of them now on your recommendation!

Anita<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 03:43:00 -0500, "Anita Wilhelm"
<wilhelm.RemoveThis@megsinet.net> wrote:

 >Hi Debbie and Everyone,
 >
 >Debbie and I started talking about various authors we like, and this post is
 >mostly responding to her comments.
 >
  >> Have you read _Alphabet of Thorns_ yet? I just
  >> finished it...
 >

So, what did you think of it?

I liked it quite a bit. In fact it's nagging at me for a third
reading....

I really liked the way she wove everything together.

 >It's on my TBR pile! I'll let you know.

And do let us know.



 >
  >> I did read Sunshine, though, and liked it a lot - what did you think of
 >it?
 >
 >I liked it, of course!


I've been avoiding it, after having been disappointed by McKinley's
last couple. So it's good, huh?

 >
  >> I don't have any other real finds recently - I liked the Thief and its
  >> sequel. I've been feeling a bit grumpy, though, because there doesn't
 >seem
  >> to have been anything really really good for a long time.

The last really good new stuff I've found across was Garth Nix's
trilogy. And that was a while ago.


  >>
  >> If you liked all the other things we've been talking about, have you read
  >> _The Beacon at Alexandria_ by Gillian Bradshaw? How


You do know that Bradshaw wrote at least three juveniles, I hope?

--
Elaine Thompson <Elaine.RemoveThis@KEThompson.org><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

In <106vikqm8r0937c.DeleteThis@corp.supernews.com> "Anita Wilhelm" <wilhelm.DeleteThis@megsinet.net> writes:

 >There aren't any K.M. Peyton books I don't like. With the exception of
 >Flambards Divided, which I try to ignore as much as possible since it gets
 >me so angry.

Aha. Have we talked here about the theory that Peyton wrote that largely
because of her response to the actors in the Flambards series? A friend
and I developed that idea in college (that she couldn't stand to have
Christina end up with the wooden guy who played Dick), and it turns out to
be an idea that many people have independently developed. No way of
proving it, of course, but at least that would help explain an otherwise
inexplicable event.

--
Deborah Stevenson
dstevens.DeleteThis@OBSTACLESuiuc.edu
[eliminate OBSTACLES to email me]<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

"Deborah Stevenson" <dstevens.DeleteThis@OBSTACLESuiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:c4pa49$cf1$1@reader1.panix.com...
 > In <106vikqm8r0937c.DeleteThis@corp.supernews.com> "Anita Wilhelm"
<wilhelm.DeleteThis@megsinet.net> writes:
 >
  > >There aren't any K.M. Peyton books I don't like. With the exception of
  > >Flambards Divided, which I try to ignore as much as possible since it
gets
  > >me so angry.
 >
 > Aha. Have we talked here about the theory that Peyton wrote that largely
 > because of her response to the actors in the Flambards series? A friend
 > and I developed that idea in college (that she couldn't stand to have
 > Christina end up with the wooden guy who played Dick), and it turns out to
 > be an idea that many people have independently developed. No way of
 > proving it, of course, but at least that would help explain an otherwise
 > inexplicable event.

I had wondered about that myself, based on Peyton's dedication of the book
to the two actors. Could one read that as a hint? I wondered if they had
fallen in love in real life or something.

Debbie<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

"Anita Wilhelm" <wilhelm.DeleteThis@megsinet.net> wrote in message
news:106vikqm8r0937c@corp.supernews.com...

  > > I think my all-time favourite of hers is _A Pattern of Roses_.
 >
 > There aren't any K.M. Peyton books I don't like. With the exception of
 > Flambards Divided, which I try to ignore as much as possible since it gets
 > me so angry.

Oh, me too, but then I was furious that Christina ended up with Dick. I
think the hopeless romantic part of me (influenced by having seen
Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet at the age of thirteen) wanted her to spend
the rest of her life mourning for Will - noone could ever be better than he!

I thought Pattern of Roses was so sad and fatalistic.

Well, only in the same way as _A Traveller in Time_ or _Requiem for a
Princess_ - more much loved books!
 >
  > > I did read Sunshine, though, and liked it a lot - what did you think of
 > it?
 >
 > I liked it, of course! I have to admit I'm a Buffy the Vampire Slayer
fan,
 > and I like honorable vampires! I thought it ended rather abruptly, and
 > wondered if McKinley intends to write a sequel.

I've heard that she doesn't, but I agree that the ending of the book cries
out for a sequel. There are so many unanswered questions.

What about Mel for
 > instance? Con is way cool, but Mel was such a nice boyfriend, and there
is
 > obviously more to him than we've been told so far. All those tattoos must
 > have significance.

Yes! I had my own suspicions that there was more to him than met the eye...

 > How did you interpret the ending?

Not sure what you mean,
I'll add some spoiler space before I say any more...

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

Did you take it to suggest that she goes off into the sunset (or dusk,
perhaps...) with Con never to return?? I think I thought that she was
somehow going to balance her two lives. Somewhere along the line, though,
she's going to have to choose between Con and Mel... or do you think she has
already??

Debbie<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

  >> If you liked all the other things we've been talking about, have you read
  >> _The Beacon at Alexandria_ by Gillian Bradshaw? How about _Thursday_ by
  >> Catherine Storr?
 >
 >No--but I will try to get hold of them now on your recommendation!

I don't remember _Thursday_ very well, but I love _The Beacon at Alexandria_.

--Helen<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

<< I don't remember _Thursday_ very well, but I love _The Beacon at
Alexandria_. >>

About a year ago there were some enthusiastic postings about Thursday on this
newsgroup, so I checked it out of the library. I'm not a fantasy fan, but
ended up loving this one, maybe because much of the story was grounded in "real
life." Just hearing about it now almost makes me want to read it again.
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 19:10:18 GMT, "D. Gascoyne"
<chumleybee.DeleteThis@netscape.net> wrote:

 > I had wondered about that myself, based on Peyton's dedication of the book
 > to the two actors. Could one read that as a hint? I wondered if they had
 > fallen in love in real life or something.

No, they didn't--or if they did, it didn't last. Steven Grives lives
in Australia now and was in the BEASTMASTER series. (You'd never
recognize him if you didn't know it was him.) Christine McKenna just
did a play in England a few months ago.


S
P
O
I
L
E
R


I hated FLAMBARDS DIVIDED. I couldn't believe Dick turned into such an
idiot who suddenly wanted Christina to sit by the fire and breed
babies. But I really hated that Christina ended up with Mark; I always
loathed Mark. I wanted him to fall off a horse and break his neck.

Linda
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"...What they say, don't believe;
Every hope needs room to breathe.
Show me where it says
I can't keep dreamin'.
Ain't no law that says
I can't keep dreamin'..."
......Rupert Holmes, "Show Me Where It Says"<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever 

Deborah Stevenson wrote:

 > Anita Wilhelm wrote:

  >> There aren't any K.M. Peyton books I don't like. With the exception of
  >> Flambards Divided, which I try to ignore as much as possible since it gets me
  >> so angry.

 > Aha. Have we talked here about the theory that Peyton wrote that largely
 > because of her response to the actors in the Flambards series? A friend and I
 > developed that idea in college (that she couldn't stand to have Christina end
 > up with the wooden guy who played Dick), and it turns out to be an idea that
 > many people have independently developed. No way of proving it, of course,
 > but at least that would help explain an otherwise inexplicable event.

I never thought it was inexplicable. Not the outcome I wanted, but (as in
The Owl Service) understandable in terms of social class, education and so
forth.

Stephen.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What you consider the 10 best books ever