Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in The Bibliophile's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, June 11th, 2009
7:41 pm [chroias]	Summer Reading During the school year my time for my own pursuits are severely limited. And I mean severely. So during the summer I like to dedicate myself to something done strictly for myself. This year in particular, I haven’t read a book that doesn’t have SOMETHING to do with my classes since start of quarter (which was Helen of Troy by Margaret George. So I have a reading list I’m working on for summer vacation. Here is what I have so far, as well as a few stats that may help in case anyone would like to suggest their own favorites!   Brains Are Sexy!   ( Lists Are Sexy... ) Current Mood: contemplative (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 18th, 2009
1:45 pm [ebast]	The Giver by Lois Lowry This was a really great book. Automatically one of my favorites. Jonas lives in a world where there is no pain, no diversity. Only pleasantness and what they call Sameness. When he turns twelve, like all the other kids his age, he gets assigned to a job in the Community. Only Jonas, instead of getting one of the more common jobs gets selected to be the next Receiver. The Receiver of Memories-memories from the time when the world did not consist of Sameness, when there was pain and joy, war and love. This book brings up the question of whether world peace is worth the sacrifice of true feeling. It's a quick read and really well written. I love it, and I hope y'all will check it out and love it as well. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, March 30th, 2009
10:04 pm [perthro]	Looking for Codex Rosae Crucis Hi. I am hunting for copies of the Codex Rosae Crucis, preferably the 1970's run with the red hardcover for under $30. My ex picked up a copy at the used bookstore for about $10 and never read it... really, I should have taken it when I left, but what's done is done, right? So if anyone is selling a copy for less than $30, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
1:32 pm [apxubapiyc]	Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate  Selling the back issues of the Russian version of the "Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate", years 1947 thru 1990.  A couple of issues are missing, but other than that - it is all there and in an excellenct condition.  The magazines are a little dusty since they were kept in a church basement for the past decade. The price for the set of all issues 1947-1990 is $200. The issues can also be sold separately.  Separate issues can be mailed at your expense, but should you wish to purchase larger amounts - they are available for pick up in Manhattan, NYC. Please, reply here, or at deprecorlentesco @ mail. ru (Comment on this)
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
11:20 am [sugar_shrapnel]	Challenges! I'm starting my Mission 101 (101 things to be done in 1001 days) on 01JAN2009 and some of the goals might be of interest to this community: 022. Read War And Peace (More info) 028. Wild release 150 more books (More info) 037. Attempt to read or re-read every book I own (More info) 058. Keep reading the 1001 books (More info) 069. Visit every library in Leeds (More info) 073. Recommend-to-me month (More info) 075. Visit bookcrossing meets in 10 different towns (More info) 093. Own less than 100 TBR books (More info) I've got a lot of reading to do, huh! I'm really looking forward to actually getting to grips with all those books I own but haven't got around to reading yet. :) I'm also excited about going to all the libraries in my city (there's 53) which makes me a total bookgeek. My 101 adventure can be followed on http://101ofawolf.blogspot.com/. Current Mood: excited (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
5:46 pm [revolution_grrl]	Teh most amazing library EVAR I stumbled upon this article from Wired on Jay Walker's library, which I think is certainly the most amazing personal library of our time. Just looking at the pictures causes a visceral reaction not unlike... Well, anyway, read the article, see the pictures, enjoy your own reactions. (Comment on this)
5:36 pm [perthro]	Hi! New here. Hi! New here. I'm mostly an occultic/nonfiction reader. An epicurean of occultic stuff, I guess you could say. I favour Crowley books, and one in particular by Judika Illes- "5,000 Spells". It's no longer printed here in the U.S., probably because it contains so much information American's don't want their kids reading. "5,000 Spells" is not some self-written book of poetry the writer thinks might work for their readers because they themselves used it, but is rather a compendium of documented spells and practices across many cultures. It's heavy in research, including documented spells that require blood, poisonous plants, and other things some people may find objectionable. She does (unlike Fiona Horne, famed Australian "witch") include warnings throughout, and explanations about ingredients. Wonderful author, if you ever have the inclination to seek out a copy. I also have a question that has been bothering me for years. I am looking for a book- not such a tough question, until this part: I have no idea who the author is or what title is, and don't know the publication date. It's an odd children's puzzle book. Not one of those easy, happy, friendly-looking publications. The cover was mostly yellow, pages black and white. Contained puzzles such as visual illusions, pictures that are one thing straight up and upside down are another. Characters, little men with large noses and black clothes were throughout the pages. Last saw it around 1993-4, but had a definite 70's feel to illustration. I've already searched Harvest Books, and am still searching the 250,000 hits on Amazon. Any suggestions? (1 Comment |Comment on this)
5:34 pm [revolution_grrl]	Will the wonders never cease?? The Hidden Library I have found this amazing blog called The Steampunk Home. Almost every entry is filling me with equal parts glee and greed. Check out this hidden library! Current Mood: awed (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
3:44 pm [mysticknyght]	Review: Osprey M-A-A #448: Irish-American Units in the Civil War This is my latest purchase from Osprey Publishing's "Men-at-Arms" series.  It's a new release I learned about from the company's mailing list.  I'm not a big student of the War Between the States, even though I grew up here in the South.  A title about the Irishmen in the war caught my attention, however, because of the large Irish community that lived in ante-bellum New Orleans. Being the second-largest port city in America (behind NYC) for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, New Orleans naturally attracted a large number of immigrants.  The Irish, escaping famine and oppression at home, found New Orleans and the areas of the Louisiana Purchase offered a lot more than home.  The Irish took on many of the dirty manual labor jobs on which slave owners wouldn't risk their property, such as construction of the navigation canals that connected New Orleans with Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico.  When North fought South, it was natural that Irishmen on either side would take up arms and defend their homes, even while thinking back to their Homeland. Irish-American Units in the Civil War offers a state-by-state overview of the Irishmen serving with both the Union and the Confederacy.  The section on Louisiana's Irish troops to be fascinating.  The Louisiana Tigers, dressed Zouave-style in blue  jackets with red-and-white striped pants are legendary, and their Irish heritage is detailed here. Because it deals with the Civil War, there are many more photographs than illustrations and paintings throughout the book, providing accurate views of uniforms.   The eight pages of color plates, four Union, four Confederate, show the preponderance of green that Irish volunteers wore as part of their uniforms on both sides.  Two of the plates show some of the ante-bellum uniforms of Irish volunteer companies.  These are great examples of how the influence of mid-Victorian styles in Britain filtered over to the US, complete with high bearskin caps.  The plates stir the imagination, as one wonders what would be on the mind of an officer of the Montgomery Guard of the NY State Militia, as he walked through Manhattan on a leisurely Sunday afternoon in 1859. As always, the book has a Selected Bibliography, which makes a great starting point for more in-depth research on the subject.  Current Mood: dorky (Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
8:13 am [bloodcurdling]	Hey everyone. I started a book club community angiesbookclub and it'd be great to get some people to join.  I really want to focus on discussions.  Our first book is 1984 by George Orwell.  2 week or 1 month time spans depending on how large or in depth a book is.   PS, if I need to delete this post just let me know. Thanks. (Comment on this)
Monday, September 1st, 2008
3:10 pm [deadache139]	Tomorrow begins my first semester of uni (and good luck to everybody else starting school!), so I'm guessing that as a music major, this has been the last chance I have to read very much until Christmas break. :( Ah well! Here's a list of my August reads, with summaries/review of each. ( August Book List ) Discussion is welcome! Current Mood: calm (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 4th, 2008
12:50 pm [friggasgirl]	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson I finally read this book. Yeah, I know. I'm 35 and probably should have read it in 6th grade. I think I would have enjoyed it more. Toward the middle of the book it started to slow down. I guess after all the pirate movies of the last few years, anything that doesn't have Davy Jones himself, Jack Sparrow and daring swordfights every 4 minutes would seem dull. Now, as one of the first real pirate novels, I tip the ol' cap. That in and of itself was why it was worth picking it up. The story itself was good and the characters were fantastic. It just...well, dragged a bit. It's probably more suited to kids and teens...as an adult I wanted just a wee more action. Xposted to my reading journal: book_goddess73 (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
10:31 pm [deadache139]	July Books Here's all the books (I think) that I read in July, with mini reviews/summaries. Only one more month of Summer reading! :( ( July Book List ) Discussion is always welcome! Current Mood: hungry (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
1:25 pm [xcpublishing]	Fantasy Web Serial - Free Chapter Each Week THE GAUNTLET THROWN by Cheryl Dyson & Xina Marie Uhl A Free Web Serial New Chapters Every Tuesday We've just published Chapter 5 - join us for more! Brydon's quest was simple. Borrow the fabled Gauntlet of Ven-Kerrick, bring it home to prove his worth, marry the princess, and ascend the throne. He had planned for the dangerous terrain and Redolian assassins, but he did not count on slavers and werewolves.  He did not expect the Gauntlet to be missing, nor to find the Kerrick royal family murdered, and he definitely did not anticipate the distractions of a sultry thief and a rescued slave girl.   Luckily, his worst enemy was there to help him out. To receive free chapters of the entire novel - one per week -  friend us or  join our newsletter here.  (Comment on this)
Monday, July 28th, 2008
8:51 am [vitovixa]	Review - Jumper novels; Steven Gould Jumper Novels (Jumper, Reflex, Jumper: Griffin's Story) Steven Gould Speculative Fiction I am sad to say, that I did not discover Steve Gould's Jumper prior to the announcement of the film. But, for the record, I did read the books prior to seeing the movie. I can say without hesitation that the movie is a prime example of what group consensus (a la Hollywood treatment) can do to practically murder a story. Okay. So the premise of Jumper is fairly simple: an abused boy learns that he has the power to teleport himself whenever he wants to wherever he wants as long as the wherever is a location he has visited before and can remember salient details (specifically sensory details) of the location. The story follows Davey as he learns about his talent and how to use it to his advantage. It is a fairly linear story and follows him as he grows up and learns about the world. He eventually tracks down his mother and learns that she had left home due to Davey's abusive father. When tragedy strikes (no spoilers here!), he becomes a hero (superhero, almost) using his very unique talent to deal with terrorists. Jumper works because it is not pretentious. The first half of the story matter-of-factly follows the protagonist as he grows up and uses his teleportation power to survive. What I appreciated most is that Davey never sees himself as a superhero, but rather a grieving son seeking revenge. I categorize the novel as "speculative fiction" because in a very real way, Gould simply presents a "what would happen if" scenario and we follow his character on his voyage of discovery. How many adolescents, after reading a super hero comic book, have wished they had some supernatural ability? This novel answers that question. While the crux of the story is definitely the "superpower", the actual driving forces of the story are the characters; they are not two dimensional, but have a depth, desires, and even flaws. Reflex, the sequel to Jumper, picks up several years later. Davey is actually working for the government and he is attempting to live some semblance of a normal life with Millie (girlfriend from the first novel, now his wife). Davey's talent has not gone unnoticed, however, and during a meeting with a contact, he is kidnapped by unknown persons. Millie, who is stranded in their hideaway (a secluded cliff dwelling with no regular means in or out but via teleportation) begins to worry. In a moment of danger, Millie learns that she too, has learned how to teleport and must piece clues together to find her missing husband. While not as personally endearing as the original story, it has its moments where you genuinely feel for the protagonists.  You are angered with injustice visited upon them, frustrated when they fail, and also feel the sense of accomplishment and relief when they succeed. Griffin's Story is written, as the author notes, on a different premise than the two previous novels, but rather built to be a background for the movie. It takes place in a world where Jumpers are not a unique phenomena, but rather something more approaching a genetic anomaly (ala X-Men?) with an organization of Paladins who hunt down and kill them. The novel gives the background story for Griffin (one of the characters in the movie) and ends somewhere prior to where the movie picks up. Enough said. The movie versus the books: I can't let this go without commenting on this.  The movie takes the basic premise of the novel, and its characters, and puts them in the world of Griffin's Story. The Paladins -- the Jumper Killers -- do not exist in the novel; they were inserted, presumably by someone with a Hollywood mindset, in order to dumb-down the plot and have clearly defined "bad guys" as foils to the protagonist. The Paladins therefore, kick-start conflict for their story so they can jump into action sequences, rather than develop the story as the book does.  You see, the understanding in Hollywood is that the movie-going world collectively suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder and requires dumbing-down and simplification (can anyone say "Lowest Common Denominator"?) in order to have mass audience appeal. It was sad to see, but honestly, expected. Okay, this is supposed to be a book, not a movie review.  Here endeth the rant. Current Mood: apathetic (Comment on this)
Friday, July 25th, 2008
11:37 am [vitovixa]	Review - Twilight; Stephenie Meyer. Twilight Stephenie Meyer Fiction; Romance (Vampire Fiction -- sort of) As if the world doesn't have enough reviews of this one.  I finally took the plunge and read the first of the Twilight books. At it's heart, Meyer's first novel taps into teen angst and many of the typical social concerns that a teenage girl might deal with or be afraid of.  At the same time it is a teen girl's fantasy come true: meeting the perfect boy and having those feelings reciprocated. I have no issues with the novel per se, as I take the story for what it is: a teen romance.  If I were to look at it in any other light (such as horror), I might blast the novel because I love horror and not so much care for the entire romance genre.  That said, because I'm admitting this, I'm being nice.  I hesitate to classify it as Vampire Fiction.  While the entire vampire thing is certainly central to the plot, it is less to do with vampires and more to do with relationships and the feelings (passion, jealousy, anger, frustration) associated with that relationship. The story progresses at a relatively even pace as our protagonist, moves back in with her father and attempts to acclimate in the new town at a new school.  Far from being the social outcast she was previously in the "big city", everyone likes her in the small town (where her dad is the local law and knows all the families of the kids she interacts with) and she has no trouble fitting in and making friends. I won't spoil the story by revealing any plot points, but needless to say she meets a boy and spends a considerable amount of time wondering about the feelings she has and what his own reactions to her mean. Would I recommend the novel?  Yes.  It's not a difficult read, but at times seems to drag when the protagonist is reflecting on what has transpired...but perhaps that is why the novel and series have seen such a tremendous success in the teen girl demographic; they can relate to the girl's thoughts. If I had any complaint, it would be that Meyer spends an inordinate amount of time talking about her feelings.  But I doubt that would be a turn off for her target audience. Current Mood: blah (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 17th, 2008
4:44 pm [funnel101]	Required Reading Feel free to make this into a meme... But I was just thinking that there are a few books I've read in the last year that I wish everyone--okay, let me rephrase: everyone at least in USA, as these books might not apply to people who live elsewhere--would read. Here's the list: "Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women", by Virginia Valian "Lifting the White Veil: An Exploration of White American Culture in a Multiracial Context", by Jeff Hitchcock "The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics", by Riane Tennenhaus Eisler "Bridging the Class Divide: And Other Lessons for Grassroots Organizing", by Linda Stout I'd like to include a book about ableism and homophobia, but I haven't found ones I've liked so far... What would be on your list? (Oh, and if the books on your list can be found via inter-library loan, I'll promise to read them at some point, too.) Current Mood: curious (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
1:45 am [deadache139]	June Books Here's a list of my June reads with short summaries/reviews of each. Since it was my first full month off school, it's mainly fluff. I'm currently working on the Harry Potter series and Lolita. ( June Book List ) I can't get enough lively book discussion, so feel free to discuss! Current Mood: sleepy (Comment on this)
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
9:45 pm [lemurkat]	June Book Dump *** means these are stand out, memorable titles *** Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Fictionalised Fact) *** A fantastic blend of fiction and fact. This monster of a novel draws you deeply into the sights, sounds and smells of India and nabs you tightly in the clutches of the underground culture. From the amazing lifestyle of the slums to the darkest reaches of frigid Afghanistan, this book will immerse you. With intelligent, philosophical discussions, subtle subterfuge and even a few laughs, this is one story not to be missed. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix (Young Adult Sci-fi) (book 6 "Keys to the Kingdom") Nothing spectacular. Another fairly blah tecchno-adventure in a series that is starting to drag on rather a lot. Not one of Nix's better novels. The Host by Stephanie Meyer (YA/Adult Sci-fi) A rather enjoyable, if rather light and fluffy, sci-fi-esque novel exploring what it truly means to be human. The characters are easy to identify with, distinct and (for the most part) likeable, the plot intriguing and the pace steady. My only disappointment was that it could have been a little more gripping and a little less fluffy. But then again, we all need a bit of romance, right? *** Small Favor by Jim Butcher (audio) (Supernatural Thriller) *** (Bk 9, Dresden Files) James Masters read this to me on audio book. And it was good! Butcher's dry, wry humour really shines through and his word-play is so much more evident when heard aloud. The plot is typically filled with little twists, surprises, nail-biting excitement and more quirky characters and events than you can shake a blasting rod at. Another wonderful addition to the most addictive detective series ever. *** We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (Literary) *** A haunting and lingering book - this is not a novel to be taken lightly. It explores deep into the human psyche of what it means to be a parent and asks the time honoured question "can a child just be born bad?" The ending is both spine-chilling and frightening and I have now almost been put off having children. Of course, one has got to wonder how reliable a narrator Kevin's mother can be, but I found her both frank and candid, so I'd gather she's not embellished the truth too much. Still, it IS fiction so it's all in my interpretation anyhow! Troll Mill by Katherine Langrish (audio) (YA fantasy) Another light, fun, fast-paced adventure aimed at the young reader. This suffers a little from too many plots entwining with little relevence to one another, but is still an enjoyable read. Or in m case, listen to - although the baby troll's whining voice became insesscently annoying. 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell (Chicklit) Sappy and light, but rather fun with it. This was a perfect follow-up for a heavier read. A little like "Amelie" and "Hunting and Gathering" - a group of misfits brought together and the person, equally a misfit himself, who tries to help them make their own lives. Quite delightful. Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong (Fictionalised Fact) Lyrically written and devastating, this is the heart-breaking tale of the death of an ancient ecosystem, thanks to the selfishness of human behaviour. It is the breaking away from custom and natural lore, the bitter triumph of civilisation over the wild spirit. The plight of the Mongolian grassland is set alongside the tale of a young Chinese student, who strives to raise a young wolf but ends up destroying its spirit instead. If it were not for the somewhat tedious drawn-out nature of the story, this would be a novel of stark tragedy and as I closed that final page I had tears in my eyes. Whilst classed as fiction, it reads like fact and is based on true events and experiences. Cat o' Nine Tails by Julia Golding (YA historic) (bk 4, "Cat Royal" series) Another fun, far-fetched advnture this time taking young Cat Royal on a mighty frightening sea voyage to the wilds of America. With its fast pace and delightful characters, these books are filled with charm. *** The Fade by Chris Wooding (Scifi) *** Fans of China Mieville shuold look no further than Wooding's "The Fade". In its beneath-a-burning-earth setting of sprawling cities, dark conspiracies and conflicting races, this is fine sci-fi writing. The protagonist is a young female assassin, captured by the enemy during a disastrous battle. For all her pragmatic and rather brutal approach to her work, she is loyal to those she would label her friends. As such she is easy to identify with, and also to like and even admire. This is a girm, gritty read, and most certainly worth it. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (audio) (Literary/historic) For all its fragmented and occasionally confusing structure, I found this an extremely enticing and lyrically evocative "read". It highlights potently the struggles of Judaism throughout the centuries - from the "clensing" of World War II, and back to the witch trials. Educational and enlightening, one must remember that much of it is fiction. It is essentially a string of short stories, running backwards through time, showing significant events in the lifetime of a very special book, the Hagadah. (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
12:56 pm [april_fan]	Here's a great summer read for teenage girls - I read first it in seventh grade and loved it; now I'm entering college and I still think it's brilliant. Everything is written in free verse, with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended. (The video is only a minute long; make sure to turn up the sound.) Happy reading! (2 Comments |Comment on this)