Is anyone interested in a great books thread?

[AndyWan Kenobi]

has anyone heard about the new Hitchhiker movie that's in preprod? jim henson company is working on it...

I've been hearing about it for some time--they were having difficulty adapting it, right? I read a recent story at AICN that they are going ahead with it, so I'll be looking forward to it!

 

[Beebers]

Has anybody read Ruth Rendell?

Very creepy because they're about Mr./Miss/Mrs. Everyday, in that you could easily imagine a neighbor, well, you know. Read in sunshine and return to actual life as quickly as possible after reading.

 

[Whatever]

I just re-read the Sea Wolf by Jack London. Good stuff.

 

[Whatever]

And the more I read Jane Austen, the more I like her!

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

I read "Sense and Sensibility" a couple years back, and it took me a little while to get into it but once I did I loved it!
Erin

 

[Jennifer12]

Left Behind on 60 Minutes

Did anyone see the story 60 Minutes did last night on the Left Behind series? I haven't read the books, but I know some people on this forum really enjoy them.

For anyone who missed it, the story was about the authors of the books and the following the series has of evangelical christians who believe that the events in the books will actually happen. They're just waiting. Now, if I have the synopsis wrong someone can correct me, but apparently there is a theory in evangelical circles that the end of the world is coming soon and before it happens all children under the age of 12, and all adults who have "accepted God into their hearts" will go on to another plane of existence. Everyone else will be "left behind" to die in the apocolypse.

Now, hopefully the people featured in the story on 60 Minutes represent an extreme, and not the average reader of these books. These people they spoke to really believe this will happen! The only thing they are not sure of is wheather or not their clothes and jewelry will remain on earth or will go with them into heaven.

After watching this, I can see why some people want to ban books. If they take every word of the Bible to be true, and every word in this Left Behind series to be true, no wonder they are so afraid of books. I worry about people who are so easily swayed. And these authors are raking in their money!

Before anyone gets upset, I have no problem with religion. Believe whatever you want to believe, but also use some sense.

Anyway I just thought I'd throw this out there and see what people think. What is it that is so appealing about these books? Non-fanatic people must read them also. The folks on 60 Minutes can't be representative of the millions of folks who have read these books.

Anyone.....anyone?

Jen

 

[Beauregard]

I don't believe the bit about everyone under twelve, but the rest, I believe. I believed it before the books, and they only helped to increase teh belief.

In regard to what is so appealing, it is the boks themselves. The overall story, and the smaller stories are so gripping, were so gripping. Although as teh authors have started churning the books out, they have grown strangly less exciiting, unless you are like me and read the whole thing in an afternoon I can see why people are dropping the books after about book 6, or 7.

Now though, I can't wait for the final in teh series. *excited*

 

[electricmayhem]

Anyway I just thought I'd throw this out there and see what people think. What is it that is so appealing about these books? Non-fanatic people must read them also. The folks on 60 Minutes can't be representative of the millions of folks who have read these books.

My mom read them and she really enjoyed them. She's not fanatical or anything, she just liked them as interesting, good stories. Makes me think of 'The Stand' by Stephen King.

 

[lili]

wow, i guess those ones haven't quite broken in australia yet... i work in the book industry and have Never heard of them...

just listening to descriptions puts me in mind of 'Survivor' by Chuck Palhanuik (the guy who wrote fight club), which is about the last survivor of a heaven's gate-style cult who thought the apocalypse had come...

i think one of the most interesting things i've read recently concerning religion is philip pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy (the first one is The Amber Spyglass, or The Golden Compass if you're in the US). it's one of the most profound and thought-provoking criticisms of The Church that i've ever read.

plus they're some of the freshest and most innovative and entertaining fantasy i've read in a looooong time.

 

[Jennifer12]

My mom read them and she really enjoyed them. She's not fanatical or anything, she just liked them as interesting, good stories. Makes me think of 'The Stand' by Stephen King.

Stream of consciousness, anyone? Stephen King's "The Stand" makes me think of Robert McCammon's "Swan Song," also about survivors. If I remember correctly, "The Stand" was about an illness, right? Swan Song is about the survivors after nuclear war.

Jen