nia_kantorka (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nia_kantorka) wrote2014-09-16 12:27 am
nia_kantorka) wrote2014-09-16 12:27 am
10 Books Meme
I was tagged by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
anemonen and isinuyasha - as if I ever could resist some book talk.
Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. Tag ten friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!
1. The Hobbit by John R. R. Tolkien
The first book I read on my own. I was six years old and blame Tolkien for my fantasy obsession. I didn't get the tragic or the depth of the book, but remember that I LMAO about the one dwarf after the other knocking on Bilbo's door. Well, I was only a kid but I wanted to go back to Middle Earth the moment I closed the book for the first time. You can't fathom my delight when my mum finally told me about it's sequel (because I was pestering her like nothing else)- I was eight years old at that time...
2. The Lord of the Rings by John R. R. Tolkien
Yay, what can I say. I read this book more than thirty years ago for the first time. Wasn't the last time either. There was I time I read it yearly during Winter. And no, I was never tempted to learn Sindarin, Eldarin or Entish but I totally adore the crafting of this world with thousands years of history, politics, maps, songs and everything. At eight years I got lots of nightmares about Nazgûl, Kankra, and, yes of course, Sméagol (god, how I hated him as a child). The old German paperbacks were lime green and the colour alone was able to rise my heartbeat at that time. Now I'm a lot calmer about LotR but it never fails to make me cry at the end. Only one other book can make me cry like a that- like a fucking cry-baby always at the same time/page.
3. All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
That's the second book that always makes me cry. About the death of a machine, a harpner and a fire-lizard in combination with the most wonderful quote of all: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". I love the whole series, especially the books about Jaxom and Ruth. Today I might wish for an unrealisable dose of Polyjuice (to do some naughty things) but during my teenage years I just wished for a fire-lizard or a dragon who I could talk to mentally. I would have loved to be near one of Ramoth's eggs. One can dream, right?
4. Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
It's the first book of Alanna's adventures. And this little knightess made me realise an important message: Girls (women) can do everything they want, even the things only men seem to do. I can't tell you how often I read these books. And whenever I was down and thought about not being able to do something I just thought about these books. Isn't that great?
Yes, they are books for children but they can teach you one or two things. Next to aforementioned message for girls, these books show that one is able to love more than one person at a time, they show the true value of friendship and the characters in these books have always felt real to me. And I love Faithful and Alanna bantering all the time.
5. Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon by Gerdt von Bassewitz
Probably you don't now this one because it's a German book. Here's what the English wiki says about it:
'Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon' is a German children's tale of imaginative fantasy and adventure tells the story of how Little Peter and Anneli help Mr. Zoomzeman, a June Bug, bring his leg back from the Moon. Long ago, a thief, stealing wood in the forest, has accidentally cut off Mr. Zoomzeman’s great-great grandfather’s leg and was banished to the Moon. Unfortunately, he took the leg with him and, since then, the family of the Zoomzeman in search of goodness finds Peter and Anneli.
The three then set off together on an astonishing journey, filled with marvelous encounters, fantastic beings, and exciting events. Finally, reaching the Moon, they must challenge the ferocious Moon Man and, with the help of the Nature Forces, they restore the missing leg to Mr. Zoomzeman.
I can't wait to read this story with my little one, like my mum read it to me. It's wonderful and the drawings in it are amazing. My copy looks as old as the one on wikipedia. :)
6. Havenstar by Glenda Larke (former Noramly)
I fell in love with Havenstars heroine Keris right from the start. She is smart but no beauty. She is talented as a card painter but that is no career choice for women in her world. She falls in love with a doomed man and loves him even more for the choices he has to make. She is brave, passionate and a really good friend. She is gorgeous.
And the world she lives in. Malinawar. It's unbelievable with it's colours, it's untypical magic and such a complex mediaeval-like society. I re-read it regularly because it's one of the best books I know.
7. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Ha, you thought I'm reading only fantasy, didn't you?
If you haven't read these books by Armistead Maupin you should go and buy them. This series (nine books) is the most wonderful and hilarious about a town and a bunch of people, you are going to fall for hard: Michael (Mouse), Brian, Anna, Mary Ann, Mona and their lovers and loved ones. I never laughed so much while reading. I re-read them ever so often and they never fail to lift my mood. Armistead Maupin is a hero of mine because he is not only able to write about love in every form and colour but to point out all the flaws of human nature with a twinkle in his eye. These books are the reason I'll want to visit San Francisco once in my life.
8. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
This book. It's so much more than just contemporary romance. It's also not just a young adult book. This book is true perfection. I've never seen two timelines fitting better together than here. There are so many things in this book I love. Even it's harsh heroine, Taylor Markham. You start to read it and you don't have a clue what it's all about until you are one third into Jellicoe Road. Then you start to get a hint and miraculously it all comes together at the end. Jellicoe Road made me laugh, cry, swoon, sigh, google. You won’t believe how easy Melina Marchetta pictures sadness and brightness in the same chapter, sometimes even in the same sentence. It's magic. I only read it once in 2013 but am planning to read it again and again and again...
Btw. Melina Marchetta worte a wonderful fantasy trilogy as well. The Lumatere Chronicles.
9. Dune by Frank Herbert
Yep, I'm into Science Fiction too. And I adore Dune's cooky little hero, Paul Atreides. He ran away from a prophecy, just to get trapped in its claws and become more than one person could ever handle. I loved the whole world building and all the great thoughts about politics, philosophy and religion one could extract from Dune and it's sequels (yes, I read them all). And I loved the clash of cultures and the sandworms. They never fail to amaze me, not even though I've read this book for at least 25th times.
10. Harry Potter by Joanne K Rowling
Surprise, surprise.
They are amazing. The were amazing when I read them for the first time. And all seven books will always be amazing. We could talk about them again. LOL
I lost track who has been tagged already. If you want to do this meme, just do it. You could say, you were tagged by me. :D
anemonen and isinuyasha - as if I ever could resist some book talk. Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. Tag ten friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!
1. The Hobbit by John R. R. Tolkien
The first book I read on my own. I was six years old and blame Tolkien for my fantasy obsession. I didn't get the tragic or the depth of the book, but remember that I LMAO about the one dwarf after the other knocking on Bilbo's door. Well, I was only a kid but I wanted to go back to Middle Earth the moment I closed the book for the first time. You can't fathom my delight when my mum finally told me about it's sequel (because I was pestering her like nothing else)- I was eight years old at that time...
2. The Lord of the Rings by John R. R. Tolkien
Yay, what can I say. I read this book more than thirty years ago for the first time. Wasn't the last time either. There was I time I read it yearly during Winter. And no, I was never tempted to learn Sindarin, Eldarin or Entish but I totally adore the crafting of this world with thousands years of history, politics, maps, songs and everything. At eight years I got lots of nightmares about Nazgûl, Kankra, and, yes of course, Sméagol (god, how I hated him as a child). The old German paperbacks were lime green and the colour alone was able to rise my heartbeat at that time. Now I'm a lot calmer about LotR but it never fails to make me cry at the end. Only one other book can make me cry like a that- like a fucking cry-baby always at the same time/page.
3. All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
That's the second book that always makes me cry. About the death of a machine, a harpner and a fire-lizard in combination with the most wonderful quote of all: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". I love the whole series, especially the books about Jaxom and Ruth. Today I might wish for an unrealisable dose of Polyjuice (to do some naughty things) but during my teenage years I just wished for a fire-lizard or a dragon who I could talk to mentally. I would have loved to be near one of Ramoth's eggs. One can dream, right?
4. Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
It's the first book of Alanna's adventures. And this little knightess made me realise an important message: Girls (women) can do everything they want, even the things only men seem to do. I can't tell you how often I read these books. And whenever I was down and thought about not being able to do something I just thought about these books. Isn't that great?
Yes, they are books for children but they can teach you one or two things. Next to aforementioned message for girls, these books show that one is able to love more than one person at a time, they show the true value of friendship and the characters in these books have always felt real to me. And I love Faithful and Alanna bantering all the time.
5. Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon by Gerdt von Bassewitz
Probably you don't now this one because it's a German book. Here's what the English wiki says about it:
'Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon' is a German children's tale of imaginative fantasy and adventure tells the story of how Little Peter and Anneli help Mr. Zoomzeman, a June Bug, bring his leg back from the Moon. Long ago, a thief, stealing wood in the forest, has accidentally cut off Mr. Zoomzeman’s great-great grandfather’s leg and was banished to the Moon. Unfortunately, he took the leg with him and, since then, the family of the Zoomzeman in search of goodness finds Peter and Anneli.
The three then set off together on an astonishing journey, filled with marvelous encounters, fantastic beings, and exciting events. Finally, reaching the Moon, they must challenge the ferocious Moon Man and, with the help of the Nature Forces, they restore the missing leg to Mr. Zoomzeman.
I can't wait to read this story with my little one, like my mum read it to me. It's wonderful and the drawings in it are amazing. My copy looks as old as the one on wikipedia. :)
6. Havenstar by Glenda Larke (former Noramly)
I fell in love with Havenstars heroine Keris right from the start. She is smart but no beauty. She is talented as a card painter but that is no career choice for women in her world. She falls in love with a doomed man and loves him even more for the choices he has to make. She is brave, passionate and a really good friend. She is gorgeous.
And the world she lives in. Malinawar. It's unbelievable with it's colours, it's untypical magic and such a complex mediaeval-like society. I re-read it regularly because it's one of the best books I know.
7. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Ha, you thought I'm reading only fantasy, didn't you?
If you haven't read these books by Armistead Maupin you should go and buy them. This series (nine books) is the most wonderful and hilarious about a town and a bunch of people, you are going to fall for hard: Michael (Mouse), Brian, Anna, Mary Ann, Mona and their lovers and loved ones. I never laughed so much while reading. I re-read them ever so often and they never fail to lift my mood. Armistead Maupin is a hero of mine because he is not only able to write about love in every form and colour but to point out all the flaws of human nature with a twinkle in his eye. These books are the reason I'll want to visit San Francisco once in my life.
8. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
This book. It's so much more than just contemporary romance. It's also not just a young adult book. This book is true perfection. I've never seen two timelines fitting better together than here. There are so many things in this book I love. Even it's harsh heroine, Taylor Markham. You start to read it and you don't have a clue what it's all about until you are one third into Jellicoe Road. Then you start to get a hint and miraculously it all comes together at the end. Jellicoe Road made me laugh, cry, swoon, sigh, google. You won’t believe how easy Melina Marchetta pictures sadness and brightness in the same chapter, sometimes even in the same sentence. It's magic. I only read it once in 2013 but am planning to read it again and again and again...
Btw. Melina Marchetta worte a wonderful fantasy trilogy as well. The Lumatere Chronicles.
9. Dune by Frank Herbert
Yep, I'm into Science Fiction too. And I adore Dune's cooky little hero, Paul Atreides. He ran away from a prophecy, just to get trapped in its claws and become more than one person could ever handle. I loved the whole world building and all the great thoughts about politics, philosophy and religion one could extract from Dune and it's sequels (yes, I read them all). And I loved the clash of cultures and the sandworms. They never fail to amaze me, not even though I've read this book for at least 25th times.
10. Harry Potter by Joanne K Rowling
Surprise, surprise.
They are amazing. The were amazing when I read them for the first time. And all seven books will always be amazing. We could talk about them again. LOL
I lost track who has been tagged already. If you want to do this meme, just do it. You could say, you were tagged by me. :D
no subject
Now I want to read about Mr Zoomzeman! Too bad i don't know German.
no subject
I just had a look. The English version is available but it's expensive. Maybe you'll find a second hand version one day. Thinking about your SftFT- I'm sure you'll love it.
no subject
I have picked up a couple of German words because
I also love Guy Gavriel Kay, like you said below - and The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman, and Sabriel and Lirael by Garth Nix, and so many others.
Here is the Emily Dickinson poem, though she is never an easy poet:
These are the Nights that Beetles love--
These are the Nights that Beetles love --
From Eminence remote
Drives ponderous perpendicular
His figure intimate
The terror of the Children
The merriment of men
Depositing his Thunder
He hoists abroad again --
A Bomb upon the Ceiling
Is an improving thing --
It keeps the nerves progressive
Conjecture flourishing --
Too dear the Summer evening
Without discreet alarm --
Supplied by Entomology
With its remaining charm --
Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886) (poem #1128)
no subject
Btw. I just recognised they did a mistake with the beetles on wikipedia. In the German version of the book Mr Zoomzeman is a may bettle not a june bug. I didn't get it first because I'm not so firm with beetle names (neither in English nor in German). I hope you're not disappointed now.
Holla die Waldfee is a lovely compliment. I've seen on your LJ that your fics have been translated but didn't read them in German. Did google translate get the meaning of most comments?
Oh yes. How could I forgot Garth Nix and Philip Pullman. Just talked about Nix books on firethesound's meme. Awesome author. Pullman too.
no subject
Don't worry about the poem - she is a difficult poet but I think here she was just having fun using big words to talk about this beetle that made sounds like thunder or a bomb.
no subject
May beetles are Cockchafers or Melolontha species like Melolontha melolontha and June bugs are Amphimallon solstitiale. They look different too. Sorry, I tend to get carried away when something grabs my attention. :D
But all in all I'm thinking of the fat clumsy bettle too. LOL
no subject
no subject
The Hobbit AND LotR had both a huge impact on my life so they are both on this list.
no subject
Loved Dune, I sort of remember no caring much for the 2nd or 3rd in the series, but didn't care all that much for the 2nd or 3rd book in the series, but the first was spectacular.
I thought I was fairly up to date on the Weyr books, turns out I've a love more of them to read. Have you read any of the ones written by her son yet? They're supposed to very well done.
no subject
Dune. I read the 6 original books by Frank Herbert(Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune). I didn't read the ones by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson though FH wanted to write a seventh one.
Pern. I read all books by Anne and a few they wrote together. I tried one by Todd alone but he couldn't catch me with that (set in an early era which another plague infecting the dragons).
But I'm planning to read the sequel to The Skies of Pern which is still in progress because it's set after the 9th path (era of Lessa/Flar/Jaxom...) and I want to know what happens to F'lessan and these ruins he found.
Ah, it's so good talking to you. ♥