I 've started The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.
Thoroughly enjoying it so far. Will read it to my daughter and son.
I finished The Dollmaker. So sad! I tried to tell myself that Gertie was just adapting to her new life when she gave up the wood and she was going to be okay, but I know she wasn’t. I’m mad at her mom and Clovis forever.
After that, I read Exile, the second in the Garnethill series. Just as in the first book, I tended to lose the thread of the plot at times, but I was really only reading to hear more about Maureen’s life anyway (and enjoy the accents of the characters). I have to read the third book now to see how her family situation turns out.
Then I read Not Quite What I Was Planning : six-word memoirs by writers famous and obscure, by Rachel Fershleiser. Exactly what you would expect from the title. I think it took me about twenty minutes.
Started Test, by William Sleator. He’s one of my favorite YA authors, but very uneven, and though I’ve looked forward to this book I don’t really expect great things.
Dung Beetle, re the stuff in the spoiler box – me too. I couldn’t help but think of that saying from the 60’s – a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle. Clovis was so useless. Gertie was strong and had a good sense of right and duty, but look where it got her. Do you think you might try Hunter’s Horn or The Weedkiller’s Daughter? If your library doesn’t have them, I’ll send them to you. I also have an Arnow biography, and Seedtime on the Cumberland.
Let me know how things turn out in the third Garnethill book with Maureen’s family, because I probably won’t read it.
A friend sent me the three Twilight series books by Stephanie Meyer. I guess they’re paranormal romance. Not my cuppa but I’ll try them.
Oh, Pam, I rather like vampire books, but even I haven’t stooped to reading those yet. Let me know if they’re better than I think they’ll be.
I read *The Dollmaker * a long time ago, for a freshman ethics class. I don’t remember the topic we were discussing, but I remember liking the book.
I’m going through my Georgette Heyer books like crazy, and I’m going to knock out another David Weber book before my copy of *Cryptonomicon *gets here.
I’ve been on travel the past two weeks, so managed to get through quite a few of my books.
I finished re-reading Red Seas under Red Skies, the second of the Gentleman Bastard series. I didn’t know that the author intended there to be a total of 7 stories in this series. While I like it, I don’t know that he’ll be able to keep it going that long. There was a large dip in quality from the first book to this one.
I also ran through Magic Bites and the new one Magic Burns which are both pretty good. I like the author’s idea of “magic works and technology doesn’t” and vice versa when the pendulum swings the other way. A good series so far and I look forward to reading more by that author.
Let’s see…what else… Oh, I want to thank the dopers here, I wouldn’t have even known about the latest Dresden book if someone hadn’t mentioned it in this thread. So I read Small Favor pretty quick. Good book and so far the quality of the series has stayed remarkably smooth.
Embrace the Night was ok. I think that series has wound down now, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. A bit much on some of the sex/romantic side of things, but not enough for me to not finish the series.
And lastly I finished Serpents Kiss the latest in the Rouge Angel series. I like that the author has returned the protaganist to the kiss ass woman she was in the first books, and gotten away from the simpering mess she was during the last couple of books. Light action fluff with some archeology settings in remote locations. Probably why I like the series so much.
I picked up the latest Feist book: Wrath of a Mad God but I can’t remember enough of the story to read it. So I have to go back and re-read the rest of the series to remember what the hell is going on.
Dung Beetle I’ve tried…I really have…but I just cannot get through The Ruins. The style of writting just grates on me somehow. I can’t get past the first 15 pages. For what it’s worth, I did like the movie.
No, no, that’s fine! Actually, I had some trouble remembering who was dating who in that book because of the lack of characterization. I think I came up with some rule like, “Those whose names begin with a consonant may only date those whose name begins with a vowel” in order to keep it straight. So I didn’t care about the characters, but I found the situation interesting. Glad you liked the movie.
AuntiePam, no need to send the books! My library does have them. As to whether I’ll read them, I’m not sure. I’m going to gobble up some fluff and YA books for a while until I regain my optimism! 
I’ve had a huge craving for philosophy lately.
Bertrand Russell’s Conquest of Happiness, Richard Dawkins’ Devil’s Chaplain and The Marquis de Sade’s Letters from Prison, with TC Boyle’s Budding Prospects and Mil Millington’s Love & Other Near Death Experiences thrown in for fun.
Atrael I had no idea that there were 7 in Lynch’s series. I may stop reading them now that I know. I keep thinking it is a great idea, but as I mentioned when I reviewed his last book, it always disappoints.
I snagged a couple of the others you mentioned and they should arrive this week.
I gave up on Castle Rackrent. There was no plot and no point. I forgot what relation the narrator was to the rest of the characters halfway through the book–that’s one of the top ten signs that it’s time to give up on the story.
I finished Daisy Miller and Other Stories. I understand “Daisy Miller” a lot more now than I did in high school. That doesn’t mean that I like it any better, though.
Here is May’s thread: Link
Well since it is the last day of April I better jump into this thread! 
I’m currently re-reading the Dune series - this time backwards. I’ve read this series many times but I have always struggled to understand WTF was going on with the last couple books (Heretics of Dune, Chapterhouse Dune). So I had deciced that perhaps if I read them in reverse order I may begin to understand what the heck Herbert was getting at.
It didn’t help… 
MeanJoe
I finished Tony Hillerman’s The Shape Shifter. Already my reading time is limited these days, but I read it REAL slowly trying to extend the book as long as possible. I always try to savor a Tony Hillerman book. It’s over so quickly, and then you have to wait two more years for another one! 
But he reminds me of when I lived in Albuquerque, where he also lives. Exiting the plane at the airport, I’d always see racks of his books for sale. For sale everywhere. Very popular locally.
In a couple of days, we’ll be up North. I checked out some trash reading from the library for the trip. Next I start Destination: Morgue! by James Ellroy. A series of novellas about the gritty side of Los Angeles.
I love those books. I discovered Hillerman only last year, and I read all of the Leaphorn/Chee books over a few months except for one I missed (The Ghostway) that I’m saving for a rainy day. I even bought Tony Hillerman’s Indian Country Map & Guide, which is coded to show you where the action in each book takes place.
Double post.
Tony Hillerman rocks!