Well, it's taken a bit of juggling, but I've currently narrowed things down. I've still got half of Fevre Dream to go, but I've put down Beagle and Salinger and finished both Jackson and Patricia A. McKillip's The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, which I've already recommended. As my chief focus, I've picked up Dumas's Musketeers again (I'm now halfway through it), restarted Dickens's The Pickwick Papers and FINALLY made substantial headway on it (REALLY enjoying it), and started the big one, the mother lode - Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, complete and unabridged (I was worried, but I never knew I would enjoy it so much - currently got 167 pages behind me already).

I think the most significant thing to come out of this selection is that I really enjoy the process of reading - I'm completely entranced with my choices, and none of the three are fantasy related.

I've always liked the movie Ladyhawke. Almost wish we'd get a remake.

Hey Coir,

Do whatever you like. It's pretty much free rein at this point.
I just ordered a bunch of used books, actually. Should be here in one to two weeks. Some sequels and such, mostly fantasy. I want to get reading again. I was doing some professional educational work this winter and my pleasure reading basically stopped, but I want to get going again.
I'm really interested in the recent direction some current fantasy writers have taken away from the grand epic adventure and to a more close-to-earth take on individual people. I've read a couple heist stories set in fantasy worlds and enjoyed them.

Well, May is here, and, like it or not, it looks like we might still be staying indoors for a while. So, until the restrictions pass, here are a few recommendations to pass the time. Some you might have seen before, but I'm kind of running out of titles myself, and it's never a bad thing to revisit classics. I still want to open up the scope of the recommendations to make up for my shortcomings, but until I get the word to do so, I still have a few titles left right now.

Reading: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (1974) by Patricia A. McKillip

Sybel, daughter of the wizard Ogam, lives on Eld Mountain in Eldwold, surrounded by beasts of legends past - except one, the Liralen, which she desires most to possess - and cares nothing for the world of men...until a young knight brings an infant to her doorstep. Reluctant at first, she takes the child as her own and grows fond of him, but when his father, the King of Eldwold, comes to claim him, this sets off a chain of events that will send her on a path of bitterness and vengeance that may bring war to the world. The inaugural winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1975, McKillip's first novel, published at age 26, is an extraordinarily natural work, a fantasy of what seems an effortless, otherworldly nature; ostensibly for young adults, it is hailed as a modern classic by some and continues to draw new readers in to this day.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616962771/?coliid=I1FA5GE5JCG3R&colid=8VP4IOWRKQ0&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Beasts-Eld-Patricia-McKillip-ebook/dp/B083G6HS76/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=I1FA5GE5JCG3R&colid=8VP4IOWRKQ0&qid=&sr=



Viewing: Ladyhawke (Richard Donner, 1985)

From the director of The Omen, Superman, The Goonies and the Lethal Weapon franchise comes this medieval fairy tale about two lovers cursed by a jealous bishop to live out half-lives - the woman by day as a hawk, and the man by night as a wolf. Into this mix comes a young thief, newly escaped from the dungeons of the bishop, who soon finds that he may be key to breaking the curse. Beautifully shot with wonderful acting (see Leo McKern as the jovial, penitent friar Imperius), period-appropriate costumes, and an interesting yet blatantly anachronistic soundtrack (courtesy of progressive rock outfit The Alan Parsons Project), it's a quite underrated film that probably deserves more than just a cult following.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Ladyhawke-Rutger-Hauer/dp/B01LTHXLWQ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=ladyhawke&qid=1588382191&sr=8-4
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Ladyhawke-Blu-ray-Rutger-Hauer/dp/B00W81K9C8/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ladyhawke&qid=1588382191&sr=8-4
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Ladyhawke-Rutger-Hauer/dp/B000PY6BBI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ladyhawke&qid=1588382191&sr=8-1

So that's it for May. I hope to hear good things from you all very soon!

I've been thinking about things recently. I'm not going to stop doing the recommended reading or my blog series (although the latter is on hiatus due to me not prioritizing it), but here's the thing: I want to expand my horizons somewhat, and, to be honest, I'm only a slow-to-average-speed reader - it usually takes me a while to complete a book, and since I tend to pick up or put down depending on what strikes my mood, I can have 3 or even 5 books going at once now. Therefore, I'm having a bit of difficulty delivering the right recommended reading on time, since I still keep to the rule of recommending only those books which I have personally read or started myself.

So, to broaden my choices, here's what I want to ask. Would it be alright if I recommend and blog about books that don't really have to do with speculative fiction? By that, I'm talking about titles that don't have any fantasy/science fiction/horror elements to them. It kind of goes against the unspoken purpose of this site, I guess, but when I think about the common themes in the books I read and the movies and video games I've experienced, a couple things seem to be present in all of my favorites: a sense of adventure, definite thrills, and a strong attachment to history. Thus, I would like my future choices for recommendations and blog entries to include:

-adventure fiction/romances (stories of quests or incredible happenstance filled with danger and/or excitement)
-thrillers (action, suspense, mystery and related subjects)
-historical fiction (stories explicitly dealing with the subjects of the near/distant past)

While I know Raven has given me a lot of freedom in what I've focused on so far, I don't want to go forward with this without the explicit approval of everyone else who participates on this site (which usually means just Raven). Would you accept these subjects in the recommended reading and the blog, or do you think I'm going too far and I should just stick to fantasy and fantastic themes?

We had a family movie night and watched Pixar's Onward (2020). Best animated movie I've seen in a while, not just because the world was up my alley (fantasy themed), but also because it was a well-told story. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed the book, Peter Pan. It's a fascinating piece, especially in its historical context.

Well, it's April already, and Spring is here...as well as a new viral pandemic, which is discouraging public socialization and will probably have lasting consequences for the world economy. In other words, it's dire times. Many of you are probably staying at home now and are in need of entertainment. Well, it may be a last minute choice for me, but given the circumstances, maybe you may need it right now.

Reading: Peter Pan a.k.a. Peter and Wendy (1911) by J. M. Barrie

One of the most famous stories of the 20th century, the brief tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up is now so ingrained into the public consciousness that it needs no introduction. Will all the various adaptations over the years, it's still worthwhile to check out the original novel, which Barrie tells with delightfulness and charm. Everything is there as one would remember it: sprite-like Peter Pan whisking away the Darling children to the dreamlike Neverland, where they meet mermaids, Indians (an unfortunate racial stereotype), and pirates led by the malicious Captain James Hook - a villain if ever there was one. A simple story on the surface, subsequent critics have ascertained deeper, more mature themes peeking out of the narrative. It's a great tale whether you're 1 or 101.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/081297297X/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1585710507&sr=8-2
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Modern-Library-Classics-ebook/dp/B000FC2IQW/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=peter+pan+modern+library+kindle&qid=1585716977&sr=8-2



Viewing: Peter Pan (P. J. Hogan, 2003)

Less well-known than the Disney animated film and Steven Spielberg's "sequel" is this adaptation from the Australian director of romantic comedies such as Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding. A box office disappointment upon release, having tragically gone up against The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kings, the film nevertheless was praised by critics for its general faithfulness to the source material. Managing to balance lighthearted humor with darker, almost frightening fantasy material and buoyed by a terrific cast, this may just be the best cinematic version of Barrie's story released to date. If you have the time and you want an alternative to the more popular titles, check this one out.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Widescreen-P-Hogan/dp/B0001HAISG/ref=tmm_dvd_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1585710527&sr=8-7
Blu Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Blu-ray-P-Hogan/dp/B004GXKBFQ/ref=tmm_mfc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1585710527&sr=8-7
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Jason-Isaacs/dp/B002EX7GBC/ref=tmm_aiv_swatch_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1585710527&sr=8-7

Hopefully, this will keep you pleasantly occupied. Stay safe and, as always, remember to wash your hands!

Those Who Dwell are a tiny people who live in a large, frightening world. Fir's tribe shelters with their squirrels in a great earthen mound beneath the towering oak. When members of two tribes go missing, Fir must set off into the unknown in the hope of stopping a war. He never expected to discover that there's more to the old story of how his people came to dwell beneath the oak — and it could change everything.

Purchase on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1671744632

I've watched the Secret of Kells before. It's got lovely animation. Some of my favorite art is medieval Christian illumination and iconography.

By the way, Coir, I did some upgrades in the forum and it appears your name issue is resolved. Let me know if anything else isn't working correctly.