Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine So what are you READING?

I am just about finished with Shogun, which I haven't read in about 20 years or so. What a great story!

I re-read a two part Fear Street story called "Fear Hall". I didn't recall that much about it, only that it involved a girl whose boyfriend began killing guys whom her roommates had been going out with because he kept mistaking them for her.

The series is about Hope Mathis, her roommates Angel, Eden, and Jasmine, and her boyfriend Darryl. The first book shifts the narrative from Hope to her friends, as they try to convince Hope to turn Darryl in to the police after her murders two boys that Angel and Eden have gone out with. Darryl apparently mistook them for Hope and got insanely jealous. Throughout the first book, there are subtle hints that show that something is off with Hope and her friends. Three girls who live in the same dorm as Hope, Melanie, Marge, and Mary, are perceived as snobs by Hope and her roommates. They're usually seen staring at Hope, or one of her roommates, and speaking in hushed voices around her.

We also learn that Hope had grown up with a horribly abusive mother. Emotionally, that is. Probably because Hope had always been a bit chubby and her mother was thin. She once handcuffed herself to her daughter to stop her from seeing a boy.

We eventually learn that, Hope doesn't actually have any roommates, or a boyfriend. Angel, Eden, Jasmine, and Darryl are all split personalities that Hope developed as a result of her mother's treatment. The first three, actually. Darryl manifested after she learned that the aforementioned boy she went out with in high school only went out with her as a joke (although it's my belief her mother was the one who told her this). Whenever the narrative shifted, it was merely one of the other personalities becoming dominate. Hope actually killed those boys while Darryl was in control, although when he kills a second time it's seen through the Eden personality's eyes. Those times people were concerned about her, or the three Ms speaking in hushed tones or asking if Hope was alright, was because they saw her talking to herself or heard her arguing. Or she was acting like a different person or, from their perspective, she was referring to "Hope" as a different person.

In the first book, Darryl actually winds up killing the Eden personality. Those three had been trying to convince Hope to "break up" with Darryl, which could be interpreted as her mind trying to get a better control on her violent impulses, similar to the way some of Crazy Jane's personalities in Doom Patrol had been trying to fix Jane's splintered mind while the others were content with just acting as buffers and were afraid of merging.

The sad thing is, Hope doesn't even realize she's sick

The second book has Hope and her "friends" on the run after the police have labelled her the number-one suspect in the previous two murders. The narrative shifts between Hope, the Darryl personality, Melanie of the three Ms, and a new character named Chris who Hope begins seeing under a false name, "Karen". This book expands on Melanie and her friends and we see that they aren't that snobbish. Darryl begins targeting them because "he" is doing it to please Hope because they called her crazy, even though Hope doesn't want anything to do with "him". We also learn that, when Darryl first manifested, he "saved" Hope from her previous relationship by killing said boy, so this isn't actually a new thing for Hope.

I felt sad for Hope, in that the abuse she suffered from her mother was so bad her mind fractured to create a support group for herself, and that she'd been living with these split personalities for years without any help.

For an R.L. Stine book, this made me wonder, will a person go to hell for something their split personality committed. And, do split personalities have souls of their own?

I actually have read a couple of good ones over the past few months. One was "The Seven Percent Solution" by Nicholas Meyer. This one was a Sherlock Holmes story. (Used by permission.)

One of the best I have read lately was "Little Fuzzy" by H. Beam Piper. I read all 3 of Piper's Fuzzy books, but the first one was the best. At the center of the story is the age-old question, "What makes a person a person?" I highly recommend the first book!

I really enjoyed both of these.

I am currently reading a triad of William Gibson books. I thought Neuromancer was pretty dull. I am reading Count Zero now, and am quite bored. I don't know if I am even gonna try Mona Lisa Overdrive.

Just finished "Leaving Las Vegas". Very good, but pretty soul crushing. I was surprised how faithful the movie was to the parts it covered (about the last third of the book), but how little of Sera's story was in the film (which made the relationship that much more tragic).

"Count Zero" has become one of those books where I resolve to read at least one chapter each day so I will eventually get through it. I am now reading my very old copy of "The Wizard of Oz." Didja know in the book the slippers are not ruby, but rather are silver?

"Just Kids" by Patti Smith. It's her memories of her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. My partner, David, and I have both had a love and admiration for the works of Smith and Mapplethorpe for years. One of my most prized possessions is a framed Mapplethorpe print of an iris that David bought me for my 30th birthday.

One of his nurses saw the print when she was at the house a few months ago. It started a long conversation about Mapplethorpe and Smith. The nurse later bought the book and gave it to David as a gift.

He has been taking it to his chemo sessions for a couple of months. About four weeks ago, I noticed that he was just pretending to read because he was holding the book upside down. I gently asked him about it. He admitted that he really can't read very well any more and asked me if I would read it to him. I agreed. At first I was a bit self conscious, because it is such a personal thing, and the cancer center is so public. But the book is beautifully written. We quickly got into the friendship, feelings, and memories of bygone days conveyed by Smith's words. We read a couple of chapters each week during chemo, and always end up with an audience of other patients and staff stopping by to listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uK2FoKdEh4&feature=related

I just got on a James Bond kick, so I am reading the Ian Fleming novels. I finished "Live and Let Die" yesterday, and "Casino Royale" today. Currently working on "Moonraker."

Have now finished "Diamonds are Forever," and "From Russia With Love." These books are quite good, and go quick. Kinda like Funyuns.

Currently reading "Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead". Love William S. Burroughs.

Stay away from the arrows, Dave...

I just finished "Mona Lisa Overdrive" by William Gibson. I'd tell you what is was about, but I have no idea.

Just finished 'Ghost Story' book 13 in the Dresden Files. Just started reading My childhood copy of 'The Land of Oz' aka 'The Marvelous Land of Oz'. Had never noticed how creepy and disturbing many of the illustraions were before. Never thought about the fact that it is probably the first American novel to feature a Transsexual ... and in a children's book no less! Noticed that a poster above read 'The Wizard of Oz', and yes, I was aware that the slippers were silver and Dorothy's hair was blonde (not the biggest changes from the book!).

I recently finished reading the first Thomas Covenant trilogy. I have to say, I loved reading these 20 years ago. After reading them today, I found them...a little dull. I don't know if that means I have matured, or if they just didn't stand up to a second reading.

Currently, I am reading several books containing short stories while I wait for a copy of "Dance With Dragons" to become available from the library. One of the short stories I just read - Philip K. Dick's "The Father-thing" - was downright creepy. Brrr....

Got "Suerpgods" by Grant Morrison for my Birthday. Only just into the introduction, but it sounds like its going to be great.

finally came around to reading Bond of Brothers by Wes Yoder. my girlfriend had brought the book for me awhile back.

I just heard this will soon be released as a movie, directed by Scorsese. The title is being shortened to "Hugo" for the film, and it has some Oscar buzz.

I just finished "Gateway" by Frederick Pohl. This is one of the best books I have read in quite awhile. Actually, I think it is a very different science fiction story.

This is what I've read so far this year

Game of Thrones Jan 2011- Feb 2011
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Feb 2011-March 2011
The Book of Three March 2011
The Lost Symbol March 2011-April 2011
Stormwatch: Dresden Files April 2011
Captain Courageous May 2011
The Gunslinger June 2011-July2011
Fool Moon: Dresden Files July 2011
The Black Cauldron July 2011
Catch 22 July2011-August2011
The Adventures of Robin Hood Aug2011-Sept2011
Heart of Darkness Aug 2011
Grave Peril: Dresden Files Aug2011

Currently reading Ripley Underground and I am loving it. Also reading Ivanhoe...i am hating it. I thought Ivanhoe was going to interest me more. Thanks to the Adventures of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe I am caught up with the Anglo-Saxon hate for the Normans.

After reading all fourteen completed Dickens novels from May to September, I'm trying to make October an ALL-Gothic month.

So I started with Frankenstein, which is really disappointing so far.

I didn't care much for either Frankenstein or Dracula. Or Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, for that matter.

I am currently reading an old copy of Pinnochio that I own. Next up is Tom Sawyer, which I haven't read in a very long time. I vastly preferred it over Huck Finn.

There's bits of Frankenstein that I've really liked, but there's just so much melodramatic whining in it! I'd much rather watch the old Universal flicks with groovy stuff like "It's Alive!", "Fire Bad!", and the one-armed constable or burgermeister or whatever he was!

Wow that's alot of Dickens! (pun not intended). I read Tale of Two Cities...and there was a ton I liked...I just couldn't get into it. But good for you. I wish I liked the author more.

In between the second and third book of King's Dark Tower series, Mom threw a Jodi Picoult book my way-- House Rules. It's about a young man with Aspergers syndrome who's been accused of a murder... and many of the symptoms of his disease make him look guilty in the eyes of law enforcement.

The chapters are each told by one of five characters: Jacob Hunt, the kid with Aspergers; His younger brother Theo; His mother, Emma; Rich, the local police Captain; and Oliver, an inexperienced lawyer who takes up Jacob's defense. The switching from person-to-person could have been clunky, but Picoult does a good job giving everyone their own voice. She put alot of research into Jacob's condition, but the story never feels bogged down by it. Indeed, there's tons of comic relief from Jacob's idiosyncracies and how others need to deal with them.

It's an enjoyable read. And now I'm back to King's DT with The Waste Lands; Solunds promising

Went and read "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Moby Dick", then dug up some old Sherlock Holmes stories.

Also reading a lot of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple by Agatha Christie, and Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardner. Love trying to figure out whodunit.