The Book Stacks

Thursday 13 #7

This week I bring you 13 SciFi/Fantasy Books That I Recommend. When I was younger, this was the only genre that I would read books from. I have branched out a bit since then, but I am still much more likely to choose new books to read in that area. For the record, the definitions for both Sci Fi and Fantasy are somewhat fuzzy. Some folks feel that SciFi is only differentiated by its used of futuristic gadgets. For me, Fantasy has always included stories with kids that have ESP and stories with faeries, not just whole new worlds. However you look at it, here are some books that I have enjoyed. If you have any recommendations from this genre, be sure to tell me about them.

1. The Time Garden by Edward Eager
2. Mind-Call by Wilanne Schneider Belden
3. For Love of Mother Not by Alan Dean Foster
4. Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key
5. The Children of Morrow by H. M. Hoover
6. The People: No Different Flesh by Zenna Henderson
7. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
8. So You Want To Be a Wizard by Diane Duane
9. The Green Rider by Kristen Britain
10. Sabriel by Garth Nix
11. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
12. The Hunter’s Moon by O. R. Melling
13. Hannah’s Garden by Midori Snyder

The Time Garden, Edward Eager, Mind-Call, Wilanne Schneider Belden, For Love of Mother Not, Alan Dean Foster, Escape to Witch Mountain, Alexander Key, The Children of Morrow, H. M. Hoover, The People: No Different Flesh, Zenna Henderson, Over Sea, Under Stone, Susan Cooper, So You Want To Be a Wizard, Diane Duane, The Green Rider, Kristen Britain, Sabriel, Garth Nix, Alanna: The First Adventure, Tamora Pierce, The Hunter’s Moon, O. R. Melling, Hannah’s Garden, Midori Snyder

I spend a lot of time commuting, although not nearly as much as a used to, thank heavens. I know that lots of folks out there travel longer than they’d like to get from home to work and vice versa. What better way to multi-task and stay awake in the land of boring traffic and no songs that you want to listen to on the radio, than to listen to an audiobook? That way you can find time to read even in the busiest schedule. The only down sides to this idea that I have encountered so far are: 1) encountering really boring productions and 2) finding a book that is so good you don’t want to get out of the car. For the record, don’t try to listen to the Silmarillion on tape. It spends a lot of time jumping back and forth in the storyline, and the reader doesn’t have a very “keep you awake” kind of voice, if you know what I mean. To help you avoid the pitfall of the really boring production, I offer you a list of audiobooks that I think are well done. By the way, if Barbara Rosenblat is reading it, you want to listen to it. Period.

13 Well Done Audiobooks

1. All-American Girl by Meg Cabot (read by Ariadne Meyers)
2. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (read by Anne Hathaway)
3. Sabriel by Garth Nix (read by Tim Curry)
4. O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King (read by Jenny Sterlin)
5. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (read by Barbara Rosenblat)
6. Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (full cast audio production)
7. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (read by Diane Warren)
8. Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (read by Randy Travis)
9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (read by Jim Dale)
10. Sharpe’s Rifles by Bernard Cornwell (read by Frederick Davidson?)
11. Justice Hall by Laurie R. King (read by Jenny Sterlin)
12. Sandry’s Book by Tamora Pierce (full cast audio production)
13. Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham (read by Francis Matthews)

Do you have any audiobooks that you love? Please let me know, as I need something new to listen to on my commute.

Everybody loves a good mystery. You may be a fan of the cozy. You may prefer a thriller. Whatever your preference, it’s always nice to get a recommendation for a new mystery you might enjoy. For this week’s Thursday Thirteen, I offer you 13 mysteries that I recommend. If you want to know what mystery comes next in the series you are currently reading, or you would like a read-alike for your favorite mystery, may I suggest Stop You’re Killing Me (a website with a wealth of mysterious information.) What is your favorite mystery>?

1. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King
2. The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry
3. Fear Sign by Margery Allingham
4. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
5. Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton
6. Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross
7. The Unforgiving Minutes by Mary Monica Pulver
8. Crewel World by Monica Ferris
9. A Pint of Murder by Alisa Craig
10. The Family Vault by Charlotte MacLeod
11. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
12. Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod
13. The Grub and Stakers Move a Mountain by Alisa Craig

Thursday Thirteen, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, Laurie R. King, The Cater Street Hangman, Anne Perry, Fear Sign, Margery Allingham, Crocodile on the Sandbank, Elizabeth Peters, Aunt Dimity’s Death, Nancy Atherton, Cut to the Quick, Kate Ross, The Unforgiving Minutes, Mary Monica Pulver, Crewel World, Monica Ferris, A Pint of Murder, Alisa Craig, The Family Vault, Charlotte MacLeod, Whose Body?, Dorothy L. Sayers, Rest You Merry, Charlotte MacLeod, The Grub and Stakers Move a Mountain, Alisa Craig

Do you have books that you love so much that you have read them several times? I certainly do. One might go so far as to call some of my favorites my “default books.” Sometimes when I am in need of something good to read, and I can’t find anything good that strikes my fancy, I’ll just default to one of my favorites. There are some books out there that I have read more than fifty times over the years. I suppose that it’s like having your favorite meal at a particular restaurant. You always know it’s going to be good. Anyway, here is a list of thirteen books that I have read more than once. Do you agree with any of my choices? Do you have any of your own favorite multiple reads to suggest?

1. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
2. Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton
3. The Black Dudley Murder by Margery Allingham
4. Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key
5. The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry
6. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
7. Sabriel by Garth Nix
8. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
9. The Moon Singer by Clyde Robert Bulla
10. The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
11. For Love of Mother-Not by Alan Dean Foster
12. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
13. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King

The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley, Aunt Dimity’s Death, Nancy Atherton, The Black Dudley Murder, Margery Allingham, Escape to Witch Mountain, Alexander Key, The Cater Street Hangman, Anne Perry, Crocodile on the Sandbank, Elizabeth Peters, Sabriel, Garth Nix, Over Sea, Under Stone, Susan Cooper, The Moon Singer, Clyde Robert Bulla, The Girl With the Silver Eyes, Willo Davis Roberts, For Love of Mother-Not, Alan Dean Foster, The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, Laurie R. King, Thursday Thirteen

Last week I offered you 13 Filmed Children’s Books, so for this week’s Thursday Thirteen I’m following up with 13 Filmed Non-Children’s Books. Yes, I love lists, why do you ask? Has your favorite Book been made into a film or tv series? Did you like the adaptation? Let me know.

13 Non-Children’s Books That Have Been Filmed:

1. Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey (I need to get around to seeing this.)
2. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (The film is better than the mini-series…and the book.)
3. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (This has been filmed several times, actually.)
4. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (I love this film.)
5. Emma by Jane Austen (Filmed at least 13 times…perfect for Thursday 13.)
6. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (Interesting film.)
7. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Yes, it’s a play, but I have it in book form…so there.)
8. Firestarter by Stephen King (It didn’t stray that far from the book.)
9. Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham (Several of her “Campion” books have appeared on “Mystery!”)
10. The Sheik by E. M. Hull (I love Rudolph Valentino. A very scandalous book when it came out…and I can see why.)
11. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (Filmed twice. One spoof, and one not. The only James Bond book I have read.)
12. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (Became Blade Runner, home of my favorite movie quote.)
13. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (Filmed twice. The original version was closer to the book. I liked the recent film a bit better.)

Thursday Thirteen, Riders of the Purple Sage, Zane Grey, Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons, Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott, The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien, Emma, Jane Austen, Catch 22, Joseph Heller, Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare, Firestarter, Stephen King, Sweet Danger, Margery Allingham, The Sheik, E. M. Hull, Casino Royale, Ian Fleming, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner, The Bourne Identity, Robert Ludlum

Those of you who read this blog regularly may have noticed that I have a slight obsession with filmed books. Okay, major obsession. So, I thought that you all might enjoy a list of filmed books for this week’s Thursday Thirteen. There are so many films out there that originated as books. This time around I will concentrate on Children’s Books. I love children’s books, and some of the most entertaining films have come from that age-range.

13 Children’s Books That Have Been Filmed:

1. Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key - (Ignore the second version of the film. Ew.)
2. Return From Witch Mountain by Alexander Key - (One of the closest adaptations I’ve seen.)
3. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot - (Different from the book, but fun all the same.)
4. Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren - (Filmed as “Mio in the Land of Faraway.”)
5. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White - (One live action and one animated adaptation.)
6. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg - (Also filmed as “The Hideaways.”)
7. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans - (The live action version is quite well done.)
8. Lisa and Lottie by Erich Kästner - (That would be “The Parent Trap.” Yes, it’s been done at least twice.)
9. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander - (It has the name of the 2nd book of the series, but contains some of the the first 2.)
10. The Borrowers by Mary Norton - (This seems to have been filmed 4 times.)
11. Chocky by John Wyndham - (I saw this one on Nickelodeon ages back.)
12. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett - (Filmed several times.)
13. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - (I still need to read that book…)

Has your favorite Children’s Book been made into a film or tv series? Did you like the adaptation? Let me know.

Thursday Thirteen, Escape to Witch Mountain, Alexander Key, Return From Witch Mountain, Alexander Key, The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot, Mio, My Son, Astrid Lindgren, Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, E.L. Konigsburg, Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans, Lisa and Lottie, Erich Kästner, The Black Cauldron, Lloyd Alexander, The Borrowers, Mary Norton, Chocky, John Wyndham, A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine

Well, I had so many nice folks pop by to admire my Thursday Thirteen last week that I thought I’d do it again this week. This time around, I thought you all might enjoy something a little more informational. Since I was home sick yesterday, I had a little fun with the Biography Resource Center (a database that my library subscribes to) and the results you see before you. One author that I did not add to my list is “Carolyn Keene.” For the record, Ms. Keene is actually a corporate author, and several folks have written under that name over the years. Well, I hope you find my list useful. Enjoy!

13 Pseudonyms and their Corresponding Authors:

1. Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
2. Elizabeth Peters (Barbara Mertz)
3. Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)
4. Jenny Carroll (Meg Cabot)
5. Alisa Craig (Charlotte MacLeod)
6. Victoria Holt (Eleanor Hibbert)
7. Barbara Michaels (Barbara Mertz)
8. Monica Ferris (Mary Monica Pulver)
9. J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)
10. Currer Bell (Charlotte Bronte)
11. Jean Plaidy (Eleanor Hibbert)
12. Anne Rampling (Anne Rice)
13. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Thursday Thirteen, Pseudonym, Richard Bachman, Stephen King, Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Mertz, Lemony Snicket, Daniel Handler, Jenny Carroll, Meg Cabot, Alisa Craig, Charlotte MacLeod, Victoria Holt, Eleanor Hibbert, Barbara Michaels, Barbara Mertz, Monica Ferris, Mary Monica Pulver, J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts, Currer Bell, Charlotte Bronte, Jean Plaidy, Eleanor Hibbert, Anne Rampling, Anne Rice, Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens