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What are you Reading?

The basic question: What are you reading now (pagan themed or not!) ?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hana Chappell on July 16, 2009 at 3:07pm

I am spending part of the summer re-reading MZ Bradley's "Mists of Avalon." I originally read it more than a decade ago, and while the story remains fascinating and inspiring - it is amazing to me how much *I* have changed since the last time I read it!

Permalink Reply by Canace Silvering on December 20, 2009 at 4:05pm

Is Mists of Avalon like the movie? How many books are there? Please tell me more.

Permalink Reply by Canace Silvering on December 20, 2009 at 4:04pm

Right now I am reading both The Host by Stephenie Meyer and The Shack by WM. Paul Young. I've read The Host before, but it is so good that I had to do a reread. There isn't anything really pagan about it, but it has a theme about the connection between the mind and body. How much of what we feel is genuine? Are we a product of the body, or our soul? I guess when we delve really deep this book could be taken into a spiritual level. Afterall, Wanda/Wanderer is called a Soul. Anyone else read this and consider the spiritual side?

The Shack is a Christian book, but it is different. God appears as an African American woman and informs Mack, the main character, that God is both male and female. Jesus tells Mack that God is in other religions, and there is hinting that humanity is a part of God and not a separate entity. It is very interesting. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this originally until someone left it at work and I took a thumb-through to see what it contained. It's all about opening the mind and getting out of the fixed Bible ideas. But, I haven't finished it yet . . .

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on December 20, 2009 at 4:24pm

I'm in the middle (literally) of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth saga--6 books in, need to get ahold of the remaining 6, looking to maybe get them for Yule or my birthday, which is in January. It's very Witchy, Magick oriented, with a lot of Pagan themes as well, IMHO. I also am nearing the end of Diana Gabaldon's "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," which is part of her Outlander series. It has some Pagan themes, but also how they relate to Protestant and Catholic themes, as well as time travel, so-called "witchcraft," which is more medicine than true witchcraft, but how it is viewed in the time (nearing the Revolutionary War). It's very intriguing, and I just love her stuff. Both of the series and writers I love so much, so I'm very drawn in. I can't wait to pick up the books and read more!

I'm also reading a medical book about CFS and FMS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia), but while I'm finding some decent tips, I'm not finding it any more instructive on either condition than anything I've read previously. It's not exactly what I was hoping for or expecting. But it'll be good for my library, I suppose.

That's about it for me--but I usually have 3 or 4 works in progress. I'm not really ADHD or anything, but I like to be entertained! LOL
Hugs and BB,
jen :)

P.S. I find some of what you guys mentioned interesting, think I may take a look around for more stuff! Despite the fact I have a million books hanging around waiting to be read! ;)

Permalink Reply by Symposia on December 25, 2009 at 2:47pm

I've been thinking of reading Terry Goodkind's series. I love the television series, so... The books are better, right? ;)

<3, Symposia.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on December 31, 2009 at 2:03pm

Oh, heavens, yes! Much, much better. I'm still trying to get my hands on the last 1/2 of the series. I've asked for it for my b-day, so hopefully I'll have the next 3 books in my hands soon (my b-day is in January! LOL). The thing about the books is that they are very graphic. I have had the opportunity to meet Craig Parker, who is Darkhen Rahl, and he's described how Disney kinda went, "oh, this is great, let's make this into a series... they do WHAT?!... No, no, we'll have to rewrite that!" So... yeah, it's quite different. Very good series, we watch it, love it, but very different in the books and much better.

I will say that it's GREAT to have faces and voices to go with the books, though, because (and IDK how to describe this any other way) when I read, the words kinda stop flowing from the book and a movie sorta starts playing in my head. I hope you can understand what I mean by that. I start seeing it play out in my head, rather than simply reading it. I hear it, I see it. So, having a frame of reference is great. Definitely, definitely get the books. You'll laugh at how different the stuff is!

Hugs and BB,
jen :)

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on December 31, 2009 at 2:06pm

I have finished Diana Gabaldon's "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," and oh, is it ever good. Can't wait to get the next one!

I got Tori Spelling's book "Mommywood" (don't laugh! She's a peer, k?!) for Christmas, so I'm about halfway through that, will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow, then I'll finish up the FMS and CFS book, then read magazines. I also forgot, but I'm halfway through Christopher Paolini's "Eldest," but I may start it over, as it's been a while since I read it--I lost it, then my hubby got the trilogy in a hardback special at the bookstore for me last Christmas, but I can't figure out exactly where I am, so I didn't start it back up. Geez! LOL So that's next on the list.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on January 15, 2010 at 6:25pm

Well, I have an update! I have finished "Mommywood," "Eldest," and Diana Gabaldon's "Outlandish Companion." I received for my birthday the final 6 books in the Sword of Truth series and read the one that was meant to be a prequel, called "Debt of Bones," and it was really good. All the books listed so far actually were really good! I also received the "Twilight" series for my b-day, but haven't started in on them. With a gift card I got, I picked up the next book in the "Dragonriders of Pern" series by Anne and Todd McCaffrey, and I also picked up a double book by romance writer Christina Skye. That one is a Draycott Abbey book, called "Draycott Everylasting," which includes an early novel, "Christmas Knight," which is out of print (no more!) and a new one, "Moonrise." I am currently about 2/3 of the way through "Christmas Knight," and hope to get through it soon enough.

Believe it or not, I even have been studying my classes here at WSI, though not as often as I'd like, and I'm still writing for the CNT--finding time for research and everything! LOL ;)

Hugs and BB,
jen :)

Permalink Reply by Reny Halywell on January 15, 2010 at 3:56am

I've just finished reading the secon book of Nora Roberts' Born in trilogy (Born in Ice). It has nothing to do with paganism, but what I really liked about it was the way she portrayed Ireland, especially County Clare and whereabouts. I'm Irish, and I've never gone out of Dublin (sad but true).
I'm waiting for four books to arrive at home and in the meantime I'm trying to go on through a giant book with all of Shakespeare's work, even the smallest sonnets. I'm currently reading King Richard the Second.

Permalink Reply by Rev. Liz Hamilton on January 18, 2010 at 10:22pm

On the booklist - college books, Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr... Just finished the Black Jewels Trilogy by Ann Bishop, AWESOME and much-recommended trilogy! Also I'm reading (again) R. A. Salvatore's Drizzt books, i'm on Homeland right now... Oh how I love libraries!

Permalink Reply by Boudica )o( on May 22, 2010 at 10:24am

I'm reading the solitary witch and "My Story By Marilyn monroe" )O(

Permalink Reply by Belisana on January 31, 2011 at 9:24pm

My Story was one of my favorite Monroe books. You can get such an insider's view of what was going on in her mind. Let me know how you like it!
Belisana