A Sounis Milestone!
Nov. 13th, 2009 10:51 pmFour years ago Queen
To mark the occasion, let's get to know everyone a little better. Whether you're a shy lurker, could simply never think of something to say, have only commented a few times, or post in every thread and never leave Chatzy, introduce, (or re-introduce) yourself in a comment. You can talk about anything - where you found the books, why you like them, how you found
Let the Wild Rumpus (and the many comments into my inbox) begin!
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Date: 11/14/09 04:38 am (UTC)I have become a much quieter presence here on the comm than I used to be--partially because when I first got here I was a scared college freshman who didn't know how to leave her dorm room, and now I am a scared college senior who doesn't have time to go back to her dorm room. So things are not so different after all.
I am procrastinating on NaNo! I am also a good 16Kish behind where I ought to be. Oops.
I found the books through QoA in eighth grade--read it once, enjoyed it, read it twice and realized that my life had been changed. Still puzzling out just how that happened (an overabundance of cool aloof female figures in my works?), but it's definitely left a mark.
Checkers, I have been meaning to email you about a comm-wide readalong leading up to the premier of Conspiracy. Remind me to do this.
So anyway, I used never to leave Chatzy, and the friends I made here pretty much sustained me through my first semester of college, and I know they're still around whenever I need them, and they are absolutely lovely people because MWT fans are the best. And I have a deep and abiding love for Sounis as one of the coolest places on the internet.
Also, in the land of quasi-reality, I'm married to Costis and have septuplets. See Checkers's aforementioned crack.
All right, all right, it's back to the Word document...
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Date: 11/14/09 07:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 11/14/09 05:48 am (UTC)I don't post on the comm as much as I'd like, due to Real life Nasties trying to munch on me most of the time nowadays, but I think when A Conspiracy of Kings comes out I will NEED to talk about it with the fury of a thousand suns, so expect me here with popcorn and a manic expression.
I started reading the Attolia books through
recommendationcoercion from Viviolo. I read The Thief first and was not enthused, but finally read the Queen and was utterly HOOKED. HURR HURR.The Sounis fandom is one of the few I really love--it's filled with cool, smart, awesome people, there's no drama (other than fights over who gets to marry Costis, but man, who can blame anyone for that?), and it's just really sweet.
I'd like to someday publish books (non-crack ones, at that!), and while my current NaNoWriMo progress does not make me hopeful on that front, I'll keep on trekking and my real book (halfway done! \o/).
So, yeah.
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Date: 11/15/09 02:57 am (UTC)I also enabled Mira to marry Dite, so I seem to be Sounis's resident matchmaker as of now
Ha Ha!
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Date: 11/14/09 06:42 am (UTC)Intrigued, I put them on my birthday wish list. I enjoyed The Thief, but *loved* QoA and KoA. I then spent weeks re-reading my favorite parts (basically everything) thus becoming hopelessly obsessed. A moment of clarity eventually interrupted this frenzied state, when it occurred to me to search online for discussions and/or fellow fans. Hooray for Sounis! Such clever people here, with impeccable taste in books.
What an amazing night, when I met some Sounisians at our first Utah ThiefCon! We had a blast talking Gen for hours and hours. (Our second meeting was even more spectacular.)
I like these books for so many reasons: They're well written; Great plot, characterizations, symbolism, irony; And I don't tire of them because the themes resonate with me, and because I relate to some of the characters, or at least some aspects of the characters. I can relate to Gen, because I've experienced loss that will never be "okay", and had to get past it and move forward; I can relate to Irene, having to be harsh and strict when I don't really want to be, and feeling the weight of duty and responsiblity smothering me; I can relate to Costis, fumbling along trying to do what's right and honorable, trying to understand the world around me. I am so excited for CoK it's making me crazy! I have no idea what will happen, and I don't even try to guess. I prefer to let MWT surprise me.
I'm proud to say I've recommended these books to 17 friends who have read them and loved them. (#18 is half way through The Thief right now.)
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Date: 11/14/09 08:17 pm (UTC)...I wonder what the record is for converting people to MWT?
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Date: 11/14/09 07:45 am (UTC)Anyway, this community is amazing. I love the discussions and book recommendations and crack. And of course, the people! I had the privilege of meeting several Sounisians at a
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Date: 11/16/09 04:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 11/14/09 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 11/14/09 10:23 am (UTC)I really can't remember how I found this community. It was possibly just by clicking on various of my listed interests, and seeing what came up. I don't post much, but I do enjoy reading the discussions.
By the way, I know that the Lymond series often comes up in discussions here, but I don't remember any mention the Niccolo series by the same author. I'm deeply immersed in that series at the moment, and am really enjoying it. I found the first book slow, confusing, and often unengaging - and, indeed, I gave up about 100 pages into it on my first attempt to read it - but it picks up marvellously by book 2. The hero's very much in the Lymond (and Eugenenides) vein, in that he's super-intelligent, sneaky, a master of masks and secrets, and excellent at manipulating everyone around him. He's also constantly misunderstood, and obligingly gets himself wounded or captured or fevered in each book, which is a characteristic I like very much in a hero. ;-)
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Date: 11/14/09 02:06 pm (UTC)I'm a writer (not terribly successful) and a martial artist, and I'm usually pretty opinionated, so I comment fairly often if it's a matter of textual interpretation, or, say, of guessing first lines of books. I hope not obnoxiously often.
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Date: 11/14/09 03:44 pm (UTC)I'm ilysia, and I'm not here nearly as much as I would like... but things happen, yah? So my presence here has degenerated into mostly lurking and bemoaning the fact that Real Life is such a slave driver sometimes. BUT.
When CoK comes out, things will change. Oh, yessss, precious, they will. Ahem.
I first found MWT's books at a library booksale. My little sister showed me The Thief and I bought it on the offhand chance that it might be good. HAH. When I fell in love with Gen, I forced half my family and entire gaggle of friends to read it, too.
I really don't remember how I found sounis, only that I did, and for that there was much rejoicing and sacrificing of goats.
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Date: 11/14/09 04:32 pm (UTC)Here's the story of how I discovered the books:
I was almost eighteen, and about to go away to visit a friend for a week, and I needed something to read on the train. I was in Chapters (basically the Canadian version of Barnes and Noble or Borders) and I saw King of Attolia. The cover immediately jumped out at me, and when I read the back I knew that I would love the book. But for some insane reason I didn't buy it. It must have been a stroke of fate, because I went home, googled it, and realized it was part of a series. So I went back to Chapters just before my trip, and bought the first two books.
(On that note, it must have been another insane stroke of fate that I somehow hardly remembered anything from the back cover of KoA, and was therefore hardly spoiled for it.)
I wasn't crazy about The Thief at first, but I think that's mostly due to the fact that I was reading it every night when I was half-asleep. However, when I got to the big twist, I was completely shocked, in a good way... and I decided that I loved the book. And that was the beginning of the end. I was addicted. XD
So I read The Thief when I was seventeen-about-to-turn-eighteen, and Queen of Attolia and King of Attolia when I was eighteen. And now I'm 21.
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Date: 11/14/09 05:41 pm (UTC)I read The Thief shortly after it first came out, after Lois McMaster Bujold recommended it on the Bujold Mailing List. I loved it, and was very excited when QoA came out and the series went from a fun adventure with great characters and world-building and some political intrigue to all that and a hard-hitting examination of life's tough questions.
I spent a little over a week in Greece this summer, and I kept on taking pictures that I've been meaning to upload and post links to because I kept going, "Ooh! Olive trees! Landscape! Atmosphere! That looks like Gen's brother's watches!" (Unfortunately, the "Ooh! Costumes!" day was a day without a camera.)
My name is Styromgalleries. I just met you. And I love you.
Date: 11/14/09 07:25 pm (UTC)Re: My name is Styromgalleries. I just met you. And I love you.
From:Re: My name is Styromgalleries. I just met you. And I love you.
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Date: 11/14/09 05:57 pm (UTC)Happy birthday!
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Date: 11/16/09 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 11/14/09 06:42 pm (UTC)I'm currently working towards my Master's degree in English literature (I live in the Midwest of the U.S.A.) and even though I don't really have time to read outside of class...somehow I still find myself picking up the QT books in times of idleness, stress, and pure enjoyment.
I found The Thief in my local public library when I was in junior high or maybe high school--read it, enjoyed it thoroughly, got totally thrown for a loop by the ending. Then I found QoA next to it on the shelf and was IN LOVE.
I re-read them obsessively for the next several years until I found, in my first year of college, that KoA was due out that year. (Talk about excitement! I stumbled upon it online late at night and am still amazed that my roommate did not wake up, what with my squealing and practically hyperventilating.).
That was about the time I started watching Sounis, though I didn't officially join until much more recently. I have a great time hearing about all the various aspects of these books that people love, all the great insights that we keep finding, and all the fun we have with them. (Plus lots of good book recommendations.) Keep it up, Sounis!
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Date: 11/14/09 07:07 pm (UTC)I'm a senior (ACK! ACK! FLEE!) English major. Not exactly sure what I'll be doing after college, but probably moving back to the midwest and hopefully finding a library job that pays enough for me to decrease my student loans. *crosses fingers*
Sounis is definitely my favorite community--everyone here seems to genuinely love the books and care about having intelligent discussions. And I've gotten some awesome book recommendations! Besides the fact that it's funny and MWT comments.
I'm looking forward to many more years here.
EDIT: Oh, and I managed to hook my entire family on the series. Muahahahah.
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Date: 11/14/09 07:37 pm (UTC)I'll be graduating from college next semester, which is exciting but also nervewracking. Pressure, much? The plan right now is to go to grad school in Aberdeen, Scotland for a masters in library science. If that doesn't work out, I'll dig a basement under my parents house here in Alabama and live there the rest of my life.
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Date: 11/14/09 08:24 pm (UTC)I discovered the first book in my school's library way back in the sixth grade. I remember taking it up to the checkout counter, where the librarian said, "Oh! This is a good one, you'll love it! We've had it for a while, too bad no one's read it yet." I was the first person to get a checkout date stamped on the book slip.
I enjoyed the whole thing, but basically fainted dead away from delight when I got to the twist ending. I'd never met a character as fascinating as Gen and I wanted more. Unfortunately, it was the only book the library had of MWT's, and I didn't have easy Internet access back in the sixth grade, so I didn't know there was a second book until fully a year later, when I was trolling the shelves and stopped to admire one of my favorites and consider rereading it. I noticed there was a new book sitting next to it that had the same author's name on it... I took one look at the cover, and raced up to the front desk to check it out. That was when I became addicted.
I found this community round about the time the third book came out (which I had in my hands within days of its release). Like I said, I've been an on-off lurker since then but fully enjoyed reading everyone's wonderful insights into the books and laughing at the periodic crack (of which I agree there is certainly not enough!). As for my interests outside of the world of QT... I'm a first-year college student concentrating in Linguistics with a possible second concentration in Computer Science, I did martial arts for a few years back at home, I am also pilfering away my spare time with NaNoWriMo, and of course I read. A lot.
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Date: 11/14/09 08:51 pm (UTC)In real life I am a scientist, recently relocated to No. Cali, and I spend most of my time reading, working with horses, hanging out with my dogs, watching sports, and keeping up a friendly argument with my husband as to whether QoA or KoA is better.
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Date: 11/16/09 04:54 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 11/14/09 10:09 pm (UTC)I first discovered the books back in middle school (between 6th and 7th grade, I think...) when I got a five-pack of Newberries from Costco. The one I really wanted was Robin McKinley's "The Blue Sword." I eventually got around to reading "Thief," went "meh" and went on my way. In eighth grade I saw a friend reading QoA and I checked it out from the library (raper cover). I think I was a little immature when I read it because most of the romance and politics went over my head, so it was another "meh." Years passed and I forgot about the books, until one day I was poking around on the library's website looking for some summer reading between my junior and senior years of high school. There was KoA...and I thought the Attolia part sounded kind of familiar. So, I checked it out and LOVED it and promptly dug up my old copy of "Thief" and checked QoA back out from the library and read them three times each. I believe I found Sounis because I wanted to find out if there was a place where I could find out about future books.
Since then, I have gotten seven people to read the books (the seventh is on the verge of starting book three. I don't think it is helping that I and all of our roommates are telling her how awesome it is). I think I managed to convince them of their awesomeness by just the right combination of "strong-female characters," "interesting politics," "good writing," "amazing characters," "but it was a wooden sword."
And now I am a crazy, stressed college senior who is keeping those roommates up to date by running around squealing whenever new CoK news comes out. We are all anxiously awaiting the next installment.
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Date: 11/14/09 11:33 pm (UTC)I bought The Thief in a bookstore because I liked the way the cover looked. Love the dirty hands and the Gift. Anyway, I really loved it. I saw TKoA in the same bookstore, but saw that it was not the second and finally ordered QoA from Amazon because I've never found it in an actual store. QoA is the first book I literally could not put down. I walked around the house with it open in one hand. When it was done I closed it with a smile and went straight to King. I've been a rabid fangirl ever since.
Happy Birthday, Sounis! This is a fun place. I especially like seeing all the fan art/fiction that people share. Keep it up!
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Date: 11/14/09 11:57 pm (UTC)I like to tell people that I found these books by magic. Or you could say that they found me. The Thief appeared in my house one day when I was in junior high or high school, and no one could say for certain where it came from. Since no one was claiming it, it just laid around the living room for a while until on morning I got bored and decided to try it. I finished it that same day, and as soon as I closed it on the final page, I flipped it over to read it again. It is still my favorite.
I found QoA almost by mistake as well. It never occurred to me that there could be a sequel, but I was walking through the YA section of the bookstore and saw the word "Attolia" and instantly stopped and bought the book. After that, I knew to keep an eye out of news of a third book, and I'm fairly sure that's how I found you guys.
And to conclude, you are all awesome. Happy birthday, Sounis!
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Date: 11/16/09 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 11/15/09 12:17 am (UTC)I found The Thief in Borders when I was maybe in my 40's, as I always check for new YA. I loved it immediately. Then maybe a year later I found QoA at the same Borders. It took me longer, because I think I don't understand all the political machinations, so I tend to skim important parts (big dumb girl), then get kinda lost and have to start over. But I still loved it. Then maybe a year later I was in a wifi place with my brother's laptop (and my brother) cruising around Amazon (because I could) and I found KoA. AWKWARD, jumping up and down and screaming in a public place! I ordered all 3 books so as to have new copies. I read KoA in one sitting.
I love MWT; and so I love her fans. I have seen only a few other communities, but this one is the best of all, along with History Haven. People are warm, thoughtful, kind, funny, intelligent beyond belief, just as I imagine MWT must be.
*HUGGLES ALL OF SOUNIS* I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!!!
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Date: 11/15/09 02:49 am (UTC)*gets all warm and fuzzy inside*
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Date: 11/15/09 02:03 am (UTC)I read an online booktalk for QoA in October 2004 and walked out in my library to take a look at the book. The booktalk spoiled the chop-chop part and didn't mention that it was the second book in the series--lame. Our one copy of The Thief was checked out and I thought QoA sounded great, so I went ahead and got it. I took it to the gym after work and started reading it while on the elliptical machine and 20 minutes later was cycling like crazy as Gen was captured by Attolia. I almost had a heart attack on that darn machine.
I finished QoA in no time, and was amazed at the writing and the romance, and I distinctly remember going "Holy Crap" when Attolia said, "Not those." And when Gen said he wanted to be King of Attolia, too. Anyway, I finished it and took it to my colleague, waving it in her face and insisting she read it. She's not a fantasy-lover, but she read it because I made her, and she didn't love it. I was sort of crushed and couldn't understand how that book wouldn't affect everyone the way it did me. I read The Thief, then read both books again, then went online to find other fans, and found the Allscifi site and Megan's website. In 2005 there was a fabulous discussion of the books at the now-defunct Readerville and that kept me going for awhile.
Several months later there was a new cover on MWT's website--The King of Attolia! I read an ARC in October 2005 and started desperately searching for an online discussion. That's about when Sounis started up. I was pretty shy for awhile, mostly because I was the only one at that time who wasn't 18 or so. I was going through some major changes in my life that year and Sounis was my comfort place, where I could immerse myself with all these online friends and talk about books to my heart's content.
Since then lots of people have come and gone, and I've met up with several people in real life (including Megan, which has been great) and Sounis remains something that is very, very dear to me. I love all you guys and am so proud of the wonderful place that Sounis is. I can't wait to read A Conspiracy of Kings and hope Sounis can stay as awesome as it is now, as membership continues to grow.
I've gotten one family member hooked on the books and at school have gotten dozens of students (and some teachers) to read them. I keep singing their praises and adding additional copies of the books to the library. Just last week I had to take a copy of The Thief out of circulation because it was so worn out. Not a bad problem to have, at all.
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Date: 11/15/09 07:17 pm (UTC)That is a moment I will always remember with intense fondness :)
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Date: 11/15/09 02:04 am (UTC)I've just now started my son on the series via audiobooks, and he's at this very moment listening to QoA.
I haven't listened to any of the audiobooks yet, but I want to get through them all again before book 4 comes out.
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Date: 11/15/09 02:36 am (UTC)I first discovered Sounis a little over a year ago via a link on Mrs. Turner's Wikipedia article. I lurked for about six months before I joined last March. My first post being the translation of the alternate Japanese titles.
I'm often busy with my history comm, History Haven, and therefore don't post on Sounis as much as I used to, but I'm sure to keep on eye on things.
I've really enjoyed this comm, and have been honored to get to know some great people.
Viva la Sounis!
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Date: 11/15/09 02:45 am (UTC)I must have found Sounis sometime last January, and I started posting once I finished the books. Part of what was so interesting and wonderful for me was the closeness and camaraderie of this group. Before now, I had really only been involved with vast fandoms like Harry Potter or LOST, and while Queen's Thief more than deserves equal fame and fanfare to these larger forces, the fact that we are comparatively small fosters such an amazing intimacy between we fans, and even with MWT herself. I know it's silly for me to say, given how lots of my fellows have been following Gen for years, and I've barely wiped my feet on the Mede's beard, but our fandom seems to unified-- Sounis is where things happen, and I'm so happy to be here!
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Date: 11/16/09 12:34 am (UTC)...I've barely wiped my feet on the Mede's beard...
Nice! lol!
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From:Intro!
Date: 11/15/09 05:21 am (UTC)I read QoA WITHOUT reading the Thief first, which I guess is kind of weird, and the first time I started it, (around age... 11? 12?) went "Meh..." around page 20 and chucked it. But the second time ("Maybe I should give this another shot, there's nothing else to read...") was MAGIC, and I've been hooked ever since.
And I've been lurking around Sounis for... the last two years-ish? My account here on livejournal is a glorified diary (private), so I always felt like I shouldn't get involved in groups, since they can't even creep on MY blog, and that doesn't seem fair now, does it? But I am also a big traitor and have a (public, this time) blogger account! (http://violet-echoes.blogspot.com/)
Also, I am SUPER pumped about more Sophos time (SO MUCH SCRUFF!!), and more Gen (obviously) and maybe more Helen??? Because I missed her in KoA, not going to lie.
Re: Intro!
Date: 11/15/09 06:10 pm (UTC)Re: Intro!
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 11/17/09 04:19 pm (UTC) - Expand