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Bear Cub (Chachorro) Bully Child I Never Was, The (Leben lang kurze Hosen tragen, Ein) Harry and Max Twist B_O_B

Sadly I haven't seen the movie because I live in a cultural wasteland and it never made it to the theatres, so I will have to wait for the DVD. I have read the book, however, and would recommend it to anyone. B_O_B

Way back in February, you recommended the Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling to me. I just thought I'd send you a quick note that I finally got around to reading it, and really enjoyed it. I've finished that series and also read the first two books in her Tamir the Great series. I've really enjoyed that series as well (although now I have to wait a while for book three to come out oh well) Anyway, I just thought I'd say thanks for the recommendation. They were great books. B_O_B

I hope you have a great day B_O_B

Hi, I just read a great book last night - North to Freedom by Anne Holm (originally known as I am David - I don't know why they changed the title). It's a story about a twelve year-old boy named David who has spent his entire life in a Eastern Bloc prison camp. One night he is given the opportunity to escape and told he must find his way to Denmark. He travels alone and on foot across Europe enjoying his freedom, but all the while fearing that "they" are waiting to recapture him and return him to prison. It's a great chronicle of his experiences, his hopes and fears and how he learns about the world of which he knows nothing. The author's descriptions of his emotions thoughts are very well written. This was a great book that once I stared reading I couldn't stop. I'm horible at writing reviews, and what I said above didn't do it justice, but, if you're looking for a wonderful book about a boy's courage, then I encourage you to read it. B_O_B P.S. There's also been a movie made about this book, but I think it's only in limited release, so I'll doubt I'll ever get to see it. Which might be OK, though, because the movie is usually never as good as the book.

Cool Thanks Myr. B_O_B

I just called up a bibiolgraphy of her books on her webpage and there are over 90 listed. That's quite a daunting task to get through. Are there any you would recommend staring with? B_O_B

There was a story by Twisted Dreemz called "Escape to Neverland" about two boys from different backgrounds, but he seems to have stopped writing it after only one chapter It's too bad. I thought his dreamstreet work was excellent. B_O_B

I'll have to check out the Nightrunner series some time. B_O_B

Personally I don't usually care for fan fiction (and very rarely read any). I usually imagine the parts of the characters the author doesn't cover in my head, and find that what others write doesn't usually match my own ideas. B_O_B

I like characters who are intelligent and resourceful. They don't necessarily set out to be heroic, but find the strength necessary to deal with what life gives them when they need it. There's nothing wrong with them being a little vulnerable, but they need to be able to cope with life, and find reserves of strength when they need them. My all time favourite fictional characters: Billy Straight in Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman Fitz in the Farseer Trilogy and Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb Polijn & Nimnestl in Rouse a Sleeping Cat by Dan Crawford Harry Potter in the Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling Alex Delaware in many books by Jonathan Kellerman Darin in Children of the Blood by Michelle Sagara Menolly in Dragonsinger and Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey Peter Redinger & Tirla in Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey Tobias in the Animorphs Series by K.A. Applegate Now that I look at the list I've made (3 homeless people, 2 orphans, a prostitute, a slave, a quadrapalegic, a bastard child, and a boy trapped in the body of a bird), I guess the best way to look at it is underdogs (only Nimnestl & Alex Delaware don't fit the pattern). I guess I like people who make their life better despite what's given to them. B_O_B

I like novels. I read them all the time so I voted for that. I agree with FT that you need time for good charcterization and plot development. I always feel sad when I'm approaching the end of a book I have really enjoyed (unless I know that the author has/will write more with the same or similar characters). I suppose everything has to end though and it's the sign of a good author that they can leave you wanting more. B_O_B :2hands:

I think magic is a great story device, if used properly. I think it needs to have rules and limitations (which are best if the author decides them clearly in his own mind before using magic). If there are no limits, it risks becoming a story crutch that can be used as a quick fix when the author writes himself into a corner (a once favourite story of mine has become less so since the major characters have become so insanely powerful that there's no dramatic tension - you know ahead of time they can kick everybody's ass). When I look at some of my favourite mainstream authors who use magic in their stories (I used to be a very heavy sci-fi/fantasy reader although that has been tempered into a wider selection of reading material now-a-days), I notice some trends I like. If you've ever read any of Lawrence Watt-Evans Legends of Esthar books he uses one of the widest variety of magics I've seen, and I think he handles it quite well. All of the magics he uses (6 different kinds I believe) are very well defined. They all have their strengths and weaknesses and rules. I think this is imporant since it prevents the author from using a quick "solve" button, but allows the characters traits that make them interesting and can give them a necessary advantage from time to time. Another author that I believe effectively uses magic is Robin Hobb. The way she uses it is to keep it limited in scope (and even make the users of some forms persecuted), and to keep it mysterious. In her novels, even those that possess the magic do not fully understand it (due to lost knowledge, but nonetheless a limitation). This keeps magic as an element of the plot and character development rather than have it completely dominate the story. J.K. Rowling has a different approach and I also like her novels. Usually you find a world where there a special few with magic and the story concerns them and their interactions with the wider normal world. In Rowling's books, because of the point of view from which the story is told, it's more of a case of all of the charcters having magic with very few non-magic folk involved (and then only periferally). This keeps a level playing field. She keeps the few non-magical characters from being put at too much of a disadvantage by making laws around magic use and muggles. With either approach, I think it imporant to keep things realtively even. I have no problem with some characters having more magical abilities than others (like any human ability, some will naturally be better at it than others), but it should not carry any major character above the other major characters (or even the main supporting characters). There are many other authors I've enjoyed who use magic, but I won't get into the nuances of each one. The above are just three that I thought I would mention. B_O_B

Well I chose modern, because most of my favourites fall into that category, but it's usually more of a case of how well the author writes the story and develops the plot and the characters rather than the genre. B_O_B

I never watch Reality TV :wacko: It just doesn't appeal to me. So I guess I won't see the cute Red Head Hope he wins, though. B_O_B