Welcome to the Library Review Saloon! (name subject to change? what should we call it?) First installment! I hope it flies! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

The library is open and there are over 2000 librarians!!!
What book?...say again?...Someone must have read it! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/noncgi/smiles/eek.gif

Have some drinks...all kinds...those ones in a coconut...we got em!

Book review! Book review! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

Memnoch had a fantastic idea for book reviews in Jabidas' Noooooo!! thread.
So I will try to give it a go...please offer your opinions and thoughts too.

All of this is IMHO! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

I read Siddartha by Herman Hesse outside yesterday. Is only a short
read (150 large print pages) and I would highly recommend it.

It is about life. From start to finish. The journey of a man
through out life as son, and as father. As greedy man
and as loving man, as rich man and as poor man...smart man and foolish
man. The gamut of emotions...and done in a way that gives it credibility.
This book really makes me feel good...it fills my hollow heart
with love for life and offers me a vision of the way things are
that really hits home. Probably the fourth time I have
read it but the first time in several years, and frankly I will never
wait that long to read it again.
I feel that this is a book that all schools should have as courseware.
Required reading for everyone...all ages too.
Herman Hesse the author has also wrote several other good but a lot deeper
books. Magister Ludi (also called Glass Bead Game) is good and has a lot
to offer but is also dry. I think he won noble prize for it and wrote it
while in an asylum...but I could be wrong, can't remember.
Thank you for reading this post...please read this book...is very short and easy to read and it could change your life. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif
http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...les/DRUIDD.gif
I can think, I can fast, and I can wait...

P.S.
I know this book is not of the fantasy genre and I apologize if
you are offended...just can't limit myself though...sorry.
The Library Bar is well stocked after all! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

Also the Library has taken a lot of effort. Constant
'page cannot be displayed' 500 - Internal Server Errors yesterday and today. Djinn Raffo has cast 'Submit New Topic' 101 times and even as I write hope is fading...awwwww. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...les/crying.gif

The Lioness enters the library and greets Djinn Raffo with a smile. She proceeds to tell him about her fav series:

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http://members.aol.com/lasttrueprinc...s/lioness1.jpg
Official teaser and ranger of the HADB Clan
"Evil round every corner...careful not to step in any."-Minsc
"Gimme a sword, I'll win this war for you!"-Mad Martigan

The Song of the Lioness Quartet, by Tamora Pierce
(based of course, on yours truly http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif )



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http://members.aol.com/lasttrueprinc...s/lioness1.jpg
Official teaser and ranger of the HADB Clan
"Evil round every corner...careful not to step in any."-Minsc
"Gimme a sword, I'll win this war for you!"-Mad Martigan

Alanna of Trebond's dream is to become a knight of
Tortall.

To do this, she is forced to disguise
herself as a boy for 8 years as she trains for
knighthood.

During this time, she makes many friends
including Prince Jonathan, the heir to the throne,

George Cooper, the king of theives, and Myles of Olau,
an elderly scholar.

Alanna's courage and wisdom
help her free the kingdom from an evil sorceror and
find a place for herself in Tortall.

Sounds cool Lioness...thanks for posting! http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif
It must have took a lot of dedication to post (i'm assuming) during
the strange server three lines to a post crisis...if you could post at all.
http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...les/DRUIDD.gif

Excellent idea, Djinn! Well, I'm in a ranting sort of mood, so I've decided to review an author - the (in)famous Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms campaign world. Lately Ed's been busy writing Realms novels, mostly about Elminster, but sometimes about other characters. Well, IMHO, he should just stick to designing modules and stay away from writing novels.

People say that a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away he used to write books that were at least mediocre rather than outright pathetic. Well, I challenge you to name one.

Having trouble thinking?

I think it's because there are NO novels he has written that meet this criteria! Have a read of Spellfire and Crown of Fire and you'll see what I mean. His prose is turgid and completely lacking in originality and evocativeness. Honestly how often does he have to repeat the phrase "motes of light" before it stuck in his memory? Or didn't he have Roget's Thesaurus at hand when scribing his missive?

And this is what REALLY gets me. Why, may I ask, does EVERY SINGLE FEMALE in his book have to be half-naked, naked, or naked and frolicking in the out of doors? His use of sex and sex scenes is totally unnecessary to the plot. Shandril Shessair certainly shares this exhibitionistic tendency, dropping her clothes at any given moment. Of course, these nubile, oversexed, uninhibited young temptresses always fall in love with Ed's alter ego Elminster, who happens to be a geriatric and 900+ years old. Read the Temptation of Elminster - a book that has NO plot - but is good for a laugh and as toilet paper and you will see what I mean. And while you're at it - look at the artwork of Elminster on the cover and then flip to the inner back cover of the book and check it against Ed's photo. Do you see a SIMILARITY??

Take Silverfall for example. I was so looking forward to a book about the famed Seven Chosen Sisters of Mystra. Elaine Cunningham, Bob Salvatore and Lynn Abbey had whet my appetite with tantalizing entrees about Laeral, Alustriel, the Simbul et al. When Ed finally comes up with a novella, lo and behold! it only took till page 32 before he turns Dove Falconhand into an adolescent youth's wet dream. And he doesn't stop there - Qilue Veladorn, Sylune, Alustriel and Storm all get the same treatment. He describes Storm thus: "I see her negotiating peace while she bathes, unashamed." I actually got confused halfway through the book and wondered if it wasn't a Mills and Boon romance novel I was reading.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but suffice to say I was quite disappointed. There aren't many authors where the reading experience is akin to having a root canal, but Ed comes very close. http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...les/mad111.gif

Ok, rant over!


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