Books for Christmas?

[Guest]

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I got 4 of O’Brian’s Aubry-Maturin novels. I’ve been buying them one by one and now with these four I have 16 out of the 20. (Is there something wrong with reading books 3 or 4 times in two years?) I also got two third-party guidebooks to the series, a glossary to go with the books and a book of maps, and another book on the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars.

I also got a book of reprints from “The Journal Of Irreproducible Results”, which is like the scientists’ version of The Onion, and one on the IgNoble prizes for dubious science.

Then, to go with the Royal Navy books, I got a book on knot tying and marlin-spike seamanship. Given my interest in rope, I thought that was not as inappropriate as it sounds.

---dr.M.

 

[Sabledrake]

Books! Love getting books.

I got the first two in Robert Sawyer's Neanderthal series and have read them both already -- good stuff, very interesting parallel universe in which the Neanderthals survived and became civilized.

I also got the 3rd and 5th of the O'Brian books (so I'm going to rush out and buy myself the 2nd and 4th so's I can read them in order).

And Sharyn McCrumb's newest, Ghost Riders, in hardcover. Read it enjoyed it.

And two ElfQuest books I didn't have, plus the Essential X-Men #3 and 4. Read them already, too

And the entire series of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum bounty hunter books, which I had read before and are just a total hoot! I'm looking forward to reading them all again.

dr. M -- hey, I re-read all my favorites every couple of years, so I sure don't think there's anything wrong with it. I've lost track of how many times I've read through my shelves of King, Koontz, McCammon, Laymon, and Little.

Sabledrake

 

[MathGirl]

Anyone get books for Christmas presents?

Dear Li,
Oh, yes, I got a book. A soft cover Sunset book, no less: "Bonsai: An Illustrated Look at an Ancient Art" Since I have never expressed the slightest interest in the subject or given a bonsai plant a second look, it seemed somewhat less than appropriate. It appeared to be new, but the publication date is 1976.

I surmise that the giver either bought it for 25 cents at a rummage sale or found it, forgotten, in the back of a closet. She has no interest in bonsai, either. It's okay, though. She's an elderly (53) aunt. I didn't give her anything.

MG

 

[gauchecritic]

I read a book once. Didn't like it. Never read another since.

Gauche

P.S Latest Discworld: Monstrous Regiment. As good as all the rest, excitement, humour galore, pathos, bathos and very difficult not to read in one sitting.

 

[Guest]

I always give and get books as gifts. One brother gave me three books on my currently revived interest in Mexican history and culture, and three CDs to match . A friend gave me a huge photo book on the Grand Canal (of Venice) and a novel, Kabuki Dancer, about the woman who founded Kabuki.

Perdita

Maths, the comment on your elderly aunt stung.

 

[The_Fool]

I received a Gift Certificate to Borders and promptly bought a De Lint and Modesitt that I did not have. Does that count?

I also received a Sherlock Holmes Anthology.

Dr. M. - I often go back and read favorite books. I am currently rereading one by Guy Gavriel Kay for the fifth or sixth time. I like the way he does language. I read fast though, so it isn't near the cost for time. I can read a standard novel in 2-3 hours. Janet Evanovich would be closer to an hour and a half except for the laugh breaks.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Being a bookworm I rarely get anything othe than books for christmas. My brothers gave me some Louis Lamour westerns. Mom and dad gave me a Thomas Kinkaid illustrated bible (wonder if there was a hint in there somewhere ). From my roomate I got a huge book on Ancient Egypt and from various other relatives books on the U.S. Navy, Stargazing, World politics, Cats and a new copy of watership Down since my old one is falling apart from over use

-Colly

 

[Guest]

<snip>

dr. M -- hey, I re-read all my favorites every couple of years, so I sure don't think there's anything wrong with it. I've lost track of how many times I've read through my shelves of King, Koontz, McCammon, Laymon, and Little.

Sabledrake

You have great taste in fiction, Sabledrake!

Laymon is my favourite author, as I'm sure I've mentioned many times. I'm a very active member of the late, great man's official message board. I've read and own most of his books, and received a couple more for Christmas. Adam gave me Night in the Lonesome October - which I've already read, and loved to bits. I'd put it up there with his best, in my opinion: Island and The Traveling Vampire Show. He also gave me No Sanctuary, which I've also already read. This, too, was a good book, but not one of his best.

A few more of the books I received for Christmas were:

I Am Legend - Richard Matheson. This is an awesome book and a must for any horror fan. It was written back in 1954, and is seen by contemporary horror authors as the most ground-breaking book of its time. King as much as admitted that this book was his inspiration for The Stand. I Am Legend was subsequently filmed as The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston.

Dark Terrors 6 (The Gollancz Book of Horror) - Edited by Stephen Jones and David Sutton. This anthology includes stories by: Ramsay Campbell, Christopher Fowler, Graham Masterton, Tim Lebbon and many other masters of modern horror. I haven't read this book yet, but I know I'm in for a treat when I do.

Fatal - Michael Palmer I haven't read anything by this author yet, and he's stated as being a writer of medical suspense. It looks an intiguing book, and I'm always looking to try out new authors.

Nobody True - James Herbert I LOVE this author, and, 100 pages into this book, it is living up to my expectations. My favourites of his, that I have read so far, are The Dark and Domain (the third book in The Rats trilogy) it seems like Nobody True will be up there with those. Herbert is the master of Britsih atmospheric horror.

We bought our daughters "The Complete Collection of Roald Dahl" for Christmas and C (our seven year old) has already read, and enjoyed, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits. She's a bookworm, just like us. I'm currently reading James and the Giant Peach to G (our five year old) and it's wonderful hearing her chuckles and enthusiasm as we read it together. I'd happily read all of Dahl's books over and over again.

Lou

 

[oggbashan]

I was given:

"The Writer's Handbook 2004" and

"Fiction First Aid (Instant Remedies for Novels, Stories and Scripts)" by Raymond Obstfeld.

I think there is a message somewhere in this present.

Og

 

[dee1124]

Oddly, I only got one book this Christmas, one of the "Duct Tape" series. Amazing stuff, duct tape. That being the case, I went out with my lady on the Saturday after, brandished my Barnes & Noble discount card, and got:

A couple of sci-fi novels, one of which was merely okay, the other I haven't read yet.

Barbara Tuchman's The Proud Tower , her work on the world from 1890 to 1914.

Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit.

The Beginnings of Rome, a nice, fat, scholarly work on the City from about 1000 BC to 264 BC, right before the First unic War started.

I've been carrying a couple of them around the house, now reading one, now the other. God, I love books!

Dee

 

[dee1124]

Oddly, I only got one book this Christmas, one of the "Duct Tape" series. Amazing stuff, duct tape. That being the case, I went out with my lady on the Saturday after, brandished my Barnes & Noble discount card, and got:

A couple of sci-fi novels, one of which was merely okay, the other I haven't read yet.

Barbara Tuchman's The Proud Tower , her work on the world from 1890 to 1914.

Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit.

The Beginnings of Rome, a nice, fat, scholarly work on the City from about 1000 BC to 264 BC, right before the First unic War started.

I've been carrying a couple of them around the house, now reading one, now the other. God, I love books!

Dee

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Sabledrake,

I got one book for my B-day. It's called THE KEY: How to write damn good fiction using the power of Myth. Since Ihave enjoyed your stories set in mythic times I'll let you know if it's worth picking up

-Colly

 

[Guest]

 

[Octavian]

I got a very nice book indeed, but at the risk of sounding ungrateful I was rather disappointed.

I was unable to colour it in because no-one thought to get me any crayons!

Octavian

My Stories

 

[Black Tulip]

I did not get any books.

The size of my house prohibits any more additions to the collection right now. This is not my opinion, but that of my nearest and dearest. They think I need more bookshelves first.

But I happily read a lot of books again, and again, and again.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I got...

Two Dean Koontz books; By the Light of the Moon and The Face .

Great Mysteries - Spectral animals, poltergeists, ghostly ladeis & lovers, firnedly ghosts & fierce ghosts

Lighting for Photographers by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz

A comprehensive guide to digital portrait photography by Duncan Evans

How you can make $25,000 a year with your camera by Larry Cribb (internal joke between my friend and I).

Brick Lane by Monica Ali


I haven't managed to start any books apart from the photography ones. Hopefully they'll be good!

 

[AngeloMichael]

"Legends II" is out in the U.S. Hooray!!!! (It came out in the U.K. last September) but it didn't come out until a few days after Christmas.

I just got it and of course the first story I went to is George R. R. Martin's sequel to "The Hedge Knight", "The Sworn Sword". I devoured the story in one sitting and loved it!!! But it just made me hungrier for his new book! I hope it comes out soon.

But while I'm waiting I still have a book full of new short stories by wonderful authors including Robin Hobb, Raymond E. Feist, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, and Anne McCaffrey all based on their famous works. So I'm a happy camper.

 

[Guest]

 

[sweet T]

Anyone get books for Christmas presents? If so, any opinions/reviews of what you received?

I got the (relatively) new Patricia Cornwell "Blow Fly" and having read all of her others, I found it disappointing in that there were just too many convenient circumstances that destroyed the suspense. I won't say more for those who may yet read it.

Also, got the new Clancy "The Teeth of the Tiger" but just started it yesterday.

Lime

We are huge gift giving book fans around here.
I am sorry to tha Cornwell's newest book is not up to par.. I really like reading her books.