I recently read Phantastes, by the Victorian novelist and theologian George MacDonald. It’s the story of a first-person narrator who finds himself in the land of Faerie and encounters assorted strange beings and adventures. I’ve read that MacDonald was a major influence on a number of noted fantasy writers. You can see that here. The dreamlike plot and changes of setting are reminiscent of Lewis Carroll. The use of symbolism sometimes resembles that of C.S. Lewis, who acknowledged MacDonald as his greatest influence. There are also some things that remind you a bit of J.R.R. Tolkien.

More than any other writer’s work, though, it makes me think of what I’ve seen of Neil Gaiman. I could just about see Phantastes being done as a Vertigo comics adaptation—except there’s nowhere near enough four-letter language, and Vertigo’s muddy colors wouldn’t fit the vividly-described settings.

We are at the point in Rivendell where Bilbo is to tell his story. I've never read the Hobbit and the wife kind of skimmed it for a class and since we will end up reading it anyway, this seemed like a good moment to pause and actually read Blibo's story.

So we're going to read The Hobbit and then go back to LOTR.

When reading The Hobbit I have to watch myself to keep from sounding like this:

I am just at the end of the Lies of Locke Lamora and I have really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

Read it. enjoyed it, but I wasn't one of those who swooned. Lynch doesn't do much for me as a prose stylist. I'm sure he's a better writer than me but nevertheless.

On the other hand, it was clear, unlike anything I've tried to read from G.G. Kay.

But I like the characters and the setting. It's apparently an alternate Europe for whatever reason and I'm hoping the series lasts a long time and we get to see some of that.

Fantasy is what I like but I like so little of it that it's good to have something to look forward to.

You'll enjoy the second one. It has some choice bits. You'll know 'em when you're in 'em and that's a good thing and to Lynch's credit as a storyteller.

Plus: PIRATES!

Now available in paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887448/?tag=imwan-20

I finished Replay by Ken Grimwood. TOTALLY ENJOYED IT. Check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/068816112X/?tag=imwan-20

Read the author's bio on Wikipedia. Some of the parallels between the story and the author's life are kind of creepy. Even more cool, it is reported that Zemakis will be making this into a movie. So, read it now and brag to your friends!

Been reading this most of the day.
An addictive read.
Thanks, Jay.

Due to being busy most of week, I have only been able to read on week-ends.
Finished it today. Will give it to geek friends at work.

Recently I found all three volumes of English poetry from the old "Harvard Classics" series. Looking forward to having a chance to begin reading through these.

I started this last night.
From 1978.

I read that one, way back when I think.

Do you not think now?

I think now, way back when.

Just read two Patrick Quinlan novels in quick succession - The Hit and The Falling Man. I enjoyed them a great deal.

'Just read' ='I'VE just read' not an imperative for YOU to.

But, you know, - do.

Were those listed in reverse order? Seems to me the hit would come after the falling man.

As it happened, yeah, I read them in The Falling Man and then The Hit order - but none of the characters or events were related so it didn't make any difference.....OR DID IT???

Probably not. It's likely not a literal falling man, or a literal hit, either, but I wouldn't know. I'm just typing.

I started reading this book, but I've been putting off continuing because it's rather upsetting stuff.