November 2010: What Are You Reading?

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed November 24th, 2010, 5:55 pm

Yesterday, during the power outage, I finished "The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum" by Rebecca Loncraine (311pgs, 2009). A very good book, gives loads of insight into what made Baum the author he was, and I learned things about the Oz books I read and loved as a kid that I didn't know before. It's a little sad to know that he felt trapped by writing the Oz books, but after he became bankrupt he had to go back there and write more. Also Baum never meant for his stories to be considered dreams, so he would have been very disappointed in the ending of the 1939 classic!

SM

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Wed November 24th, 2010, 8:07 pm

I've now gone back to the start of the "True Blood" series, interesting to see how the TV show differs from the books.

Leo62 · Post by **Leo62** » Wed November 24th, 2010, 9:12 pm

Just started Heartstone by CJ Sansom. Been looking forward to this one for ages.

emr · Post by **emr** » Wed November 24th, 2010, 10:14 pm

Just finished Funeral Games by Christian Cameron. I think I'm going to be crying the rest of the week. That scene with the boy riding alone through the battle and the elephants is memorable. And well, "that" last scene that I cant spoil. This is real time travel. I want more of this. Is it february yet?
Next I think I'm reading Uprising by Scott G. Mariani. Vampire wars and such...

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri November 26th, 2010, 10:05 pm

Meriwether by David Niven. I was computerless for a couple of days and banged out The Jade Alliance by Elizabeth Darrell, Glory by Janice Young Brooks (Klondike Gold Rush) and Gentleman Captain by JD Davies (Restoration England, naval theme).

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sat November 27th, 2010, 1:52 am

Finally got around to starting this one, which someone here recommended: The First Heroes: New Tales of the Bronze Age compiled by Harry Turtledove. Liking it very much, just what I was looking for - stories about a time I wanted to know more about, by authors I've enjoyed in the past.

javagirl · Post by **javagirl** » Sat November 27th, 2010, 4:56 am

Currently reading Thomas B Costain's "The Black Rose". My first Costain.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Sat November 27th, 2010, 5:14 am

[quote=""javagirl""]Currently reading Thomas B Costain's "The Black Rose". My first Costain.[/quote]
That's a good Costain to start with -- nice and fast-moving, although he can get a little too into period jargon. One of my favorites.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat November 27th, 2010, 6:47 am

There's a movie of The Black Rose. The novel is probably better, but Orson Welles does a nice turn as "Bayan of the Thousand Eyes," the semi-barbaric leader of a Mongol horde. The actress who played the cute little heroine Tyrone Power picks up in China was utterly dreadful - probably directed that way, so likely not entirely her fault.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sat November 27th, 2010, 12:40 pm

[quote=""SonjaMarie""]Yesterday, during the power outage, I finished "The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum" by Rebecca Loncraine (311pgs, 2009). A very good book, gives loads of insight into what made Baum the author he was, and I learned things about the Oz books I read and loved as a kid that I didn't know before. It's a little sad to know that he felt trapped by writing the Oz books, but after he became bankrupt he had to go back there and write more. Also Baum never meant for his stories to be considered dreams, so he would have been very disappointed in the ending of the 1939 classic!

SM[/quote]

I loved reading those as a youngin'. I had mom's copies, all dated back to the 30's with those gorgeous illustrations.