Tweets for Today

[rj_anderson]

• 13:43 Hobnobbed with local librarians today. Looking good to use their auditorium for book launch. Also came back with a LOT of books. Yum. #
• 14:09 reading Howl's Moving Castle #
• 14:09 is reading Howl's Moving Castle #
• 14:09 want to read: Sapphique #
• 14:09 want to read: Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox #
• 14:10 reading Castle in the Air #
• 14:11 reading Loving Will Shakespeare #
• 14:11 reading Twisted #
• 14:11 reading Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie #
• 14:11 reading Dragon Slippers #
• 14:11 reading House of Many Ways #
• 14:12 reading The White Darkness #
• 14:12 reading Gregor the Overlander #
• 14:12 reading Beast #
• 17:16 read Howl's Moving Castle #
• 18:08 @lauram68: I really did love HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, yes! #
• 19:59 read Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies #
• 19:59 read Secrets of Truth and Beauty #

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Comments

[kerravonsen]

I really did love HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, yes!
Yay!

[olmue.livejournal.com]

Howl is wonderful to read aloud. I'm 3/4 of the way through House of Many Ways, a new sequel to Howl's Moving Castle (or at least, it bills itself as a sequel, only it's really more of a companion book).

I really liked Dragon Slippers, too.

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

Goodness! I picture you surrounded by stacks of books.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Two down, eleven to go!

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

Now I'm picturing you surrounded by the vanquished corpses of your enemies.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Loving William Shakespeare? *is curious*

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That would be this book (http://favoritepastimes.blogspot.com/2008/07/review-loving-will-shakespeare.html).

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, THAT book. Did you enjoy it? An aspect of that time period has provided the launching point for my YA fantasy. Because of that I have a shelf devoted to non-fiction books on Shakespeare and the times but had passed on that one--I think I'll snag it though, as I'm at point where I'd like to see what someone has done with fictionalizing that time.

Thanks!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh and just read Bryony's first chapter, really enjoyed it. Was disappointed to see it will be forever before it is released here. :) I enjoyed it quite a bit--but am not quite so convinced as Thorn that Bryony will behave now...

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually got to reading it yet, but I'll try to let you know what I think when I do!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I am really curious. I should just pick it up myself. Am especially interested in how the author depicted the time period.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I liked it! I thought the historical stuff was done very well -- the author has obviously done a great deal of research. I'm no authority on Shakespeare or his times, but she certainly put in a lot of little details of language and culture that sounded convincing.

I also appreciated the way that Carolyn Meyer made Anne spirited and intelligent while still allowing her to be flawed and making her a believable product of her time -- while she's smart, she doesn't display an improbable degree of learning or interest in literature, and though she chafes at the restraints her society puts on her, she knows better than to think that she can just take off and be an Independent Woman with any success. And she makes some pretty big mistakes, or near mistakes, along the way -- but not the kind that make you smack your forehead in exasperation that anyone could be that stupid (or that the author could insult the reader's intelligence to that degree in the effort to contrive an exciting plot).

And since I am rather fond of romances which involve an age gap, I thought the Will - Anne relationship worked well. But at the same time bittersweet, because we know how little time Will *really* spent with his wife and family as compared to his acting and playwriting life.

I would recommend it. It's quite well done.

[owl]

I'm glad you like Howl's Moving Castle! It's one of my favourite children's books.