Next Book to Read?

Hey guys, been a little while since Redwall was finished, was thinking maybe I could present, I guess, a book for those who are interested to read?

I want to add, there's no rush at all for this. Its August still, for some of us school is starting (whether that means through jobs or our children), for others its vacations, and so on. I myself have my Fall semester starting up in two weeks, so I'll be getting busy myself. So, basically, just want to test the water about this, wouldn't be putting it up for a while still.

Anyway, after giving it a lot of thought, I was thinking the next book could be Dreamsongs, Vol. 1, by George R. R. Martin. It is, admittedly, a rather large book (and there is a second, as the presence of "volume 1" makes clear), but it has some advantages, despite its size.

Specifically, Dreamsongs (both vol. 1 and 2) is a collection of short stories by the author GRRM. The books are tied together in a vaguely autobiographical way, with each section of short stories bordered by small bits about his life, from childhood to where he is now. His short stories range from science fiction to fantasy to a sorta horror to superheroes and the like.

I figured you guys may like it, both for its variety, and also the fact that its all short stories. It'd make it a lot easier to read through, just spend a bit of time, read one or two, and so on.

I'm in no rush about this, like I said, I know people can be busy around this time. Lord knows I'll be shortly. Was thinking of starting it up sometime mid-September if anyone's interested. Let me know!

Redwall-Section 3

The intensity heightens, Matthias makes a dangerous gamble, and meanwhile Cluny resorts to underhanded means to get a foothold in the Abbey...the final section of the book is action-packed and has a bit more graphic description of battle scenes than most would expect of a book often marketed to children. Thoughts on the battle descriptions and the give and take of the Abbey-dwellers and the vermin? For being peaceful creatures, the Redwallers come up with some rather frightening schemes for stopping Cluny...from a giant crossbow to boiling water. Thoughts on the fact that Jacques isn't afraid to let characters die, such as old Methuselah and the Abbot? Thoughts on the book in general?

Redwall-Section 2

By the time you've finished this section, you've been introduced to the majority of the main cast. How did everyone like the various creatures and their mannerisms and especially their dialects? Hearing this on audio, especially the mole speech, is really quite hilarious. Plot-wise, thoughts on the search for the sword, and the lengths Matthias goes to, as well as the growth as a character, in his quest? Thoughts on Cluny, his plotting and scheming, and his cast of vermin? Things are getting heated as the battle for Redwall continues.

Redwall-Section 1

I apologize for the late post, but I'll admit to having slacked a bit this week and not finishing reading until today. Any first impressions of the world of Redwall, the magnificent Abbey, and the order of mice? So many different types of animals are represented, and in later books almost all of them get their time in the spotlight, but I'll admit right now that my favorites have always been the hares, the otters, and the badgers. The mice are great, but these other species and their mannerisms and ways of life have always intrigued me. Thoughts on the writing style, description, or the poetry and music? What about the story, our young hero Matthias, Abbot Mortimer, and Cluny the Scourge? I know not everyone has finished reading, so feel free to post as you get there.

Redwall Reading Schedule

Here we go with Redwall. As I said, it's an easy enough read, and the book itself is divided into three sections, so we can just do one section at a time. To give everyone a chance to get the book and get the first section read, I'm going to suggest that we discuss the first section next Friday, July 1st, the second section on the 8th, and the third on the 15th, if that works for everyone. Not that there's a huge amount to discuss, but pay attention to the detail of the descriptions. Jacques wrote the first book to read to children at a school for the blind he worked at as a janitor, so he tried to paint as vivid a picture of the world as he could for them. Also might be fun to talk about the Redwall occupants as a religious(?) order and how they serve the community of Mossflower Woods. The songs and poetry are always enjoyable, as is the story of Martin the Warrior. Also, if anyone is interested, there's a beautiful unabridged recording of Redwall and many others of Jacques's books available on iTunes, read by him and featuring a full cast including music. Wonderful way to read the book, if it grabs you.

Our Next Reading Selection

Hey guys, we've had a little break since finishing Uglies, and I think it's time to choose our next book. I know it's summer, people are busy and may be traveling, but I don't want to let the blog fade again. If anyone wishes to step up with their selection now, go for it, and if not I'm willing to do Redwall, which is not at all heavy, is a fun and easy ready, and probably won't spark a lot of heavy discussion, it's mostly for enjoyment. I figure with the season folks might like that kind of read rather than something that requires a lot of time and effort. Let me know your thoughts and we can get started.

Uglies Part 3: Into The Fire

In this final section, we learn a little more about the demise of the Rusty civilization - that all the oil became infected by a bacterium and combusted upon contact with oxygen. There are at least two messages we can take from this exchange between Tally and David as they discussed the downfall of the Rusties. The first is that every civilization has its weakness, and David suggests that perhaps even something intangible as an idea can be the catalyst for a society's downfall. The other message is environmental.

Just like the spores that infected the oil, an idea can spread throughout a population. What idea do you think David is referring to? What do you think is the weakness of Tally's society? Is there only one weakness? What would you do if you were in Tally's or David's position?

The Rusty civilization - our civilization - relies primarily on fossil fuels for energy. Do you agree with David that this reliance could be our downfall? Do any of the environmental messages in the book resonate with you?

Unfortunately, by the time Tally and David manage to rescue what few they can that were taken from the Smoke, Shay has had the pretty operation against her will. What is your reaction to the changes in Shay? What do you think of Tally's choice to turn pretty? Special Circumstances knows that there is a resistance brewing. Why don't you think the New Smokies have been flushed out yet?

It may be disappointing that there isn't concrete resolution to the story by the end of the novel. Uglies is part of a quartet, but I chose it because I think it can stand alone. The issues it raises about physical beauty, self-reliance, and the functions of society, provide opportunities for discussion and debate. I hope you've enjoyed the novel, and if you are curious to read the rest of the series, it's worth checking out. At times, the story can get formulaic, but it's still a fun, worthwhile read. Thank you for the insightful discussions!