Recently, I've been thinking about things. While I kind of want to make a large post about it, it's usual for my interest to peter out as I get going, so I'll just try to say what I can. It pertains mostly to reading, though other forms of media fall under it too.

As you may have noticed from my constant posts on the subject, I have a particular obsession with books. Buying books has pretty much replaced my childhood/adolescent fixation on video games, though I'll admit that I still treasure video games and long to get back to them at some point. It's been slow going, what with budgeting myself and even replacing some of the books I previously got with what I feel are nicer, more informative editions. But in a short period - in the span of a couple recent weeks, it seems - books have won me over in a different way, though it's been some time coming, I guess.

You see, I've been spending a lot of time surfing the Internet not just looking for books to buy but reading ABOUT books. I feel that the more I know about the history of a book and its author, the more I enjoy it, which is why I guess I get so enthusiastically excited about getting new books. I'd also like to draw attention to a quote from the last episode of the popular yet controversial Game of Thrones TV series, spoken by the character of Tyrion Lannister:

"What unites people? Armies? Gold? Flags? Stories. There's nothing more powerful than a good story. Nothing can stop it. No enemy can defeat it."

Whether it's movies, video games, books, television, or anything else, nothing beats stories. We can't live without stories. Both directly and indirectly, I've been raised on stories, and I love finding them. As a result, I find that, as much as a good video game, there is an inestimable joy to reading - the pleasure of getting lost in a good tale well told (because I feel a good story depends on how it's told). I've made posts and topics in the past talking about my love of fantasy, and while that hasn't abated, I can't say that I don't favor any other genres any less. No matter what kind of book it is, I can get completely enthralled by it. To speak of some of my most recent selections, it's been wonderful to get pulled into Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and island survival adventures, or the rollicking bravado of Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers, or Charles Dickens's satirical genius in The Pickwick Papers, or even the sheer epic romantic ambition that is Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Even now, I'm thinking of what I'm going to read next, and I'm excited for it. I just can't get enough of it, and it's taken me so long to fully appreciate it, if I really have reached that point.

But the joy of stories can't be forced. While my high school education was inevitable, the concept of "required reading", though I guess it serves a purpose, rather irks me because I don't think you can make someone enjoy reading - it has to be something you find for yourself. What's more, I really do greatly enjoy old books, but that might not be to everyone's taste, so I would say that it's important to read books that interest YOU personally. Don't necessarily depend on what a bunch of old men have deemed worthy of the "Western Canon" - read whatever you can get your hands on, but do it with caution. Spend your time on good books.

I think there was more I was going to say, but I believe I've forgotten it already. Oh well. At least you have what I've started to get a discussion going, if you should so choose.

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