While She Knits

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Gosh, it's been quiet around here!

What great things have you read recently that are totally obscure?  Something other people are unlikely to ever find on their own?

I'll go first:

Boris by Cynthia Rylant - if you've ever loved a pet, you'll like this one.  So sweet!  And, it's told in verse.

A teen sci-fi series that you'll like if you're a Star Trek nerd * - the Galahad series by Dom Testa.  A comet has infected the earth with a disease that is killing off all the adults.  As a last-ditch effort to save the human race, scientists build a spaceship to travel to another planet, and choose 251 disease-free teens who must learn how to get the ship there, and colonize the planet.  Lots of fun.  The first book is The Comet's Curse.



* No, not me.  Not a bit.

Comments

[zephyranthia.livejournal.com]

I've not met many people who know of What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci. It's not my usual cup of tea, but I absolutely love it. It makes my head spin and my heart hurt every time I read it.

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I know! I love that book!
And I have to ask....did you waste time researching that fictional book they were reading in the book? I so wished it was real -- I wanted to read it!

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Not recently, but The Last of Danu's Children by Alison Rush. Twentieth-century teenager Kate is worried about her older sister Anna's obsession with her new boyfriend, Edward Kelly (yep, it's him, and that's hardly the strangest thing that happens in this novel) and enlists her friend Matt to help figure out what's going on. Kelly, it turns out, has pledged Anna to Cernunnos in return for his own freedom from an old debt to the Horned God, so Kate and Matt set out to save her. It's not a straightforward quest story by any means, though, neither in the plotting nor the resolution. If you like Alan Garner and Penelope Lively, this will be right in your wheelhouse, I think.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

The first thing that comes to my mind is The King's Shadow by Elizabeth Alder, and I'm not sure if it's really obscure so much as I just don't come across many people who have read it. I loved it when I was younger!

Also Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. Obviously she is not an obscure author, but I think the book counts because it's tremendously overshadowed by The Giver, and again, I haven't met too many people who have read it or are even aware of it. Which is a shame, because in my humble opinion, Gathering Blueis the better book!

Lastly, one for fans of the Inklings (Tolkien, Lewis, Sayers, etc.): The Company They Keep by Diana Glyer. It reads like a research paper in places, which is maybe why it's not a popular biography, but the information contained within just sang to this fangirl's heart. :) Enjoyed it so much.

[readingisgoodforyou.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

Did you know that Lois Lowry has just released/is about to release the fourth book in that series? It's called Son and let's just say things come back full circle to the characters in The Giver. It sounds wonderful and I'm hoping my library will order it. Maybe I will put in a purchase request.

[meltintall3.livejournal.com]

I read The King's Shadow ages ago... I remember liking it, but it also gets mixed up in my head with The King's Swift Rider which is another time period so I don't remember details. XD

And I loved The Company They Keep. <3

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Oh, I liked that book! And I'll have to look for The Company They Keep; I'd not heard of that one.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Hooray for While She Knits! I haven't been able to read much lately as I've had lots of homework, but I've been getting through Les Mis very very slowly... which isn't obscure at all. Its very very long too. I'm maybe halfway, almost?

Oddly, the first obscure book to come to my head (and the only one I can think of right now... agh) is a picture book called The Ice Cream Cone Coot which I absolutely loved as a kid. I has no plot, its just a book in verse about different "kinds" of birds. I haven't really met anyone else who is familiar with it though.

Have I mentioned that Les Mis is long? Its long.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think any of my recent reads count, really, so here are a few not recent, but hopefully obscure enough.

The Man Who Lost His Head, by Claire Huchet Bishop, illustrated by Robert McCloskey--children's picture book. He lost it. Literally. So he tries to find a replacement.

Are Women Human? by Dorothy L. Sayers--she didn't just write mysteries. A short little book on the role of women in public life.

The Complete Stories, by Flannery O'Connor (short stories)--Ok, probably not obscure enough. But how many have read anything of hers apart from the one or two stories they may have encountered in a high school or college class? Well, the others are worth reading too.

Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs--Also not actually obscure...but if you've only seen a movie version, read the book, as they say. Definitely requires some suspension of disbelief (he teaches himself to read without any help, or even knowing English), and there's some racism to wade through. But it's a very rollicking adventure and coming of age story (the last page or two is very surprising in a good way), and one can certainly see why it has survived for the past 100 years (this year is its centenary).

The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov--I've mentioned this on here before, but I'll do it again. Kind of weird, definitely unorthodox, but four years after I read it, it still stands out in my mind.

~~~~~and...
Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset--I haven't actually read it yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it, got it for my birthday, and it is patiently awaiting me. The author became a Nobel Laureate.

--Handmaiden

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I remember loving Tarzan, when I read it long ago. 8th grade teachers at a school where I used to teach did a unit on it.

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Wow! I fell completely in love with Flannery O'Connor's writing in my teens, and I think I've read all her fiction. I still love it! And "The Master and Margarita" is pretty brilliant -- have you read "White Knights?" "Are Women Human" is actually one of my all-time favorites!

I read Kristin Lavransdatter a few years back -- I understand there's a newish translation out now that's supposed to be good. I think people either love that book or hate it -- I thought it was fascinating. :-D

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I just read SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen, and it ended up being my favorite Robin Hood retelling in... actually, probably ever.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Oooohh... A Robin Hood book I haven't heard of...!

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to read this.

[readingisgoodforyou.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

I guess the problem that I have is that what would be obscure to most people I know, definitely wouldn't be obscure to you all, since I get a lot of my reading recs here. I have to say, though, that I finally got around to making my way through the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett and I'm loving it so far. I'm really bad about skipping ahead in books and that has not been too good for me in this situation. I've accidentally stumbled upon the death scenes of several beloved characters by doing that and I've made myself quite upset in the process.

Most of what I've been reading lately has been not so good, unfortunately, well, except for The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and Rae Carson's Crown of Embers, both of which are definitely not obscure. Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst showed potential at the start (trickster gods are always win in my books), but it crashed and burned pretty quickly. Rock On by Denise Vega definitely skewed towards the younger end of the Young Adult spectrum, so my interest kind of petered out after a while. Now I'm just waiting with baited breath for my copy of Quintana of Charyn to arrive from fishpond -- I cannot wait to dig into it.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I got to meet Maggie Stiefvater at a book signing a couple weekends ago. But I couldn't afford the shiny brand-spanking-new copy of The Raven Boys... bummeration! (Yay libraries!) So you thought it was good? I'm excited. The Scorpio Races is one of my favorite books of all time.

[1221bookworm.livejournal.com]

Well, recent reads include finishing Mockingjay, but that isn't exactly obscure!! :) I have found, however, that there isn't as much discussion love for THG series as there is for our beloved QT series. Just an observation and another reason to love you guys!! :)

More obscure books I've read (or re-read) somewhat recently (or not ...):
The Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell I know some Sounisians have read it, but it is a great series, and not that well known/loved. It has some of the political manueverings of QT, and there is definetly alot of action/adventure, but most important, there is character growth, including the side characters. The three main characters have a lot of issues to work out, and, at the end of the series, they have all grown over alot of their problems, though they are by no means perfect :) This series also includes a legend taken right out of Persian mythology, and there are some twists to it that are really great. Also has insight into how legends and myths are created, and the mindset of the people behind them. No epic romance, though there is a hint if you chose to look for it. I highly recommend this series. (disclaimer: If you read the first book, and do think it is a little dull I promise that the second and third books make up for it. That's the biggest flaw with this series, that the first book takes a lot of time to set it all up, but it is worth it in the end. I promise.) It's also one of those series that gets better with re-reads.

The Healing Wars by Janice Hardy Aimed at the younger end of YA these books pit some young folks against the oppressive government bent on destroying their homes, their families, and eventually the young folk themselves. With a heavy dose of magic, these books discuss when it's "right" to do the "wrong" thing, and who really decides what's "right" and "wrong." Definetly a romantic aspect to this book, but in a sweet, friend to lover sort of way.

The Glassmaker's Daughter by V. Briceland This is actually the first in a series, though I haven't read the second and third book becuase the library doesn't have them :( However, the first one was a sort of fun, light read that moves along at a nice pace, without brainwracking political problems. A great book to read when your sick, and want to be entertained without really having to think. (I know that from experience:)

Thanks for the post, Checkers!! :)

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

I second all the reccs, *especially* Farsala...It has alot of elements that I think would appeal to QT fans - Action, politcal intrigue, sneakiness, military stuff, and on and on and on...
The character growth is also very realistic - it's not like some revelation that come and whack them up side the head. It's gradual, and the characters have setbacks. Kind of like Gen in QoA.

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Yay, Farsala! I'm a big fan (as I think most of you know)

My sister and I were talking the other day about why some wonderful books are "cult classics," instead of just classics.

One of my all time favorites in that category is Maria Dermout's "The Ten Thousand Things." Which I'm not going to try to describe -- I just love it! And I reread it recently.

Does anybody else like Sherryl Jordan's "Winter of Fire?" I loved that book so much, I read it 3 times in a row. It's very different from the Queen's Thief series or Farsala, but I still loved it. :-D

I was just rereading "The Comforters" by Muriel Spark ....but I love everything by Muriel Spark. She rules!

Also G. K. Chesterton's "The Man Who Was Thursday." (I always wonder who was lucky enough to see that New Leaf Theater production with the great trailer -- but I know I've posted that here before, so I will refrain).

I'm slowly making my way through Libba Bray's "The Diviners." "Beauty Queens was really awesome -- I'm having a harder time getting into "The Diviners," because it has really creepy horror. But it's still well done.

I don't know why more people don't read Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Demon's Lexicon" series. I think its funny, touching, gripping, .....all kinds of good things. Not a perfect series, but a really, really good one.

I also read "Team Human" recently -- so much fun! I definitely recommend it.

Finally -- not obscure at all -- but I've been reading Dante's The Divine Comedy. My Dad has been a huge fan all my life (and longer), but one of my sisters told me the comedy was really gruesome, so I avoided it for years. Such a mistake!

And I'm rereading "The Thief," so I can continue my dissection :-D

[zephyranthia.livejournal.com]

I love Libba Bray. Going Bovine will forever be one of my favorite books.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I love Ysabeau Wilce's Flora Segunda books, especially the first two! Also Frances Hardinge, who I think is better known in the UK?

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

I actually read Fly by Night just before school started, and I must say it was quite a treat. The plot and writing were great, although I found the characters... just okay. I think I'll hop onto The Lost Conspiracy instead of moving on to the sequel. But really, Hardinge's writing is very unique.

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Well, almost everyting I've rad this year I read on the reccommendation of a fellow Sounisian, so I don't neccessarily have anything y'all havent already head of. And actually, there were a few series I considered obscure before I joined Sounis. Then I met Sounisians who had readthem, which justgoes to prove how well read Sounisians are! XD

Otherwise, I've just finished reading The Hunger Games, ad right now I'm reading "Throne of Glass" which is OK - altough I cold have told the main character on page 80 what she's just now figuring out on page 310...Seriously, Celaena, who told you you were an assassin? And I also read te first two books of te Ryria Revelations by Michael Sullivan. The read alot like The Legend of Eli Monpress, but a little more to the epic fantasy side. It's best not to compare the two series though, because the RR thief and swordsman are very similar to th LoEM thief and swordsman - if they swapped personlities....It can be a little distracting!

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

I must apologize for the atrocious spelling on my first comment - my computer was so slow yesterday that it was not even typing properly, skipping every few letters. I really can spell better than that! *blushes*

[(Anonymous)]

Has anyone read the Montmaray Books by Michelle Cooper? I can't remember where I read a recommendation for them, but I saw the second book at the library and picked it up even though I hadn't read the first one. I thought it was fabulous.

~mwt

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of this series. Looks like it got some great reviews, which made the second book sound better than the first one. Will you go back and read the first one, now?

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I just finished the Griffin and Sabine trilogy, which isn't obscure, but it is different from most of the things we talk about here. Actually, that's not really fair --it's different from most things in general! If you haven't read it, it's made up of removable postcards and letters, which are reproduced in the books (envelopes and all). It is a most mysterious correspondence between two people who have never met, but know each other...

One book series which is sadly obscure at my library is the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. I adore them, but nobody at the library has even heard of them --including all the kids librarians I've asked! Of course, they are Finnish... I read them as a child but have no idea how known they actually are. Are there any Moomin fans here?

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, yes! Did you know there's a moomin graphic novel?

~mwt

[hapaxnym.livejournal.com]

If it isn't too late to chime in, I've been reading -- GLOMMING -- Rachel Aaron's Eli Monpress books, and I can't recommend it too heartily, especially too Sounisians. (The first in the series, THE SPIRIT THIEF, starts with Our Hero thrown into the king's deepest dungeon, after boasting of his skills a bit too brazenly -- sound familiar? -- but he escapes when he literally sweet-talks the door into falling apart; how awesome is that?)

The series is much more traditional fantasy-oriented (and less political intrigue and romance) than the MWT's, but... well Eli Monpress is a rascal and a silvertongued charmer and a hella powerful wizard, but above all he's a THIEF; and he's short and dark and almost as good as he thinks he is and I love him madly.

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

and I love him madly

Hee! Anything that someone loves madly is worth checking out. Thanks for the rec! :)

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

I just finished to first two Time-Traveling Fashionista books, On Board the Titanic (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12847314-the-time-traveling-fashionista-on-board-the-titanic), and In the Palace of Marie Antoinette (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455459-the-time-traveling-fashionista-at-the-palace-of-marie-antoinette). If you're a fan of breathtaking descriptions of vintage clothing and time travel than this is the book for you!

It does read more like a Middle Grade book than a YA one, as it's marketed, because the protagonist is only twelve and deals with some very Middle School type issue (not in a bad way); however, I really enjoyed Louis's travels into the past. Through discovering history, she comes to better understand the problems she's dealing with in the present. It would definitely be refreshing for fans of historical fiction, as it's a very different take on how to teach a history lesson and make it pertinent to the present. All around, very entertaining and lovely

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Adding one more in a new comment, because LJ is being weird!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Regina Doman. You'll probably never see her books in a store; because she's published through the independent publishing company she runs. Nevertheless, she's written some of the best modern fairytale reduxs I've ever read. My favorite is her trilogy retelling Snow White, Rose Red; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; and Sleeping Beauty.

The Shadow of the Bear (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6146985-the-shadow-of-the-bear)
Black As Night (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6013686-black-as-night)
Waking Rose (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1912546.Waking_Rose)

Mystery, murder, intrigue, and suspence set in, surprisingly enough, a New York Catholic community. Check it out!

[theorangethief.livejournal.com]

I don't know about any of you guys but my friends have never heard of the book King of Shadows by Susan Cooper.
(Actually none of my friends have heard of Susan Cooper other than me shoving books in their face telling them to read them((which they never do)) )
But King of Shadows is awesome. There is no other way to describe it. I've read it about 35 times (not exaggerating!) and learn something new from it every time I do!! Sound familiar?

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

This is a great discussion, and I'm hoping it isn't too late for me to jump in. Like Deirdre, I'd also like to plug The Ten Thousand Things, the Man Who Was Thursday, Sherryl Jordan, and the Farsala trilogy. But also-

1. An online friend has written a book I've mentioned before, which might appeal to us Megan Whalen Turner fans. It's called His Own Good Sword, and her name is Amanda McCrina.

2. A book that had a powerful effect on me when I read it as a teenager: I am David by Ann Holm. This is the story of a young boy given the chance to escape from a Communist labor camp, and told only that he must travel north through Europe to Denmark.

3. I don't know why no one reads the Ranvan series, by Canadian author Diana Wieler. They're really kind of great, even though, when I try to describe them, they can sound like they've got everything but the kitchen sink. Comics! Videogames! Destiny! Superpowers! Abuse survivors! Cancer! Aids! Neonazis! Teenagers acting crazy! - ;)

You get the picture. But seriously, this is an underrated set of books that should be better known. Especially the final one in the trilogy, Ranvan: Magic Nation.

4. I also love Sally Prue's Cold Tom. It's a remarkable book; short but intense. But somehow I've never come across a bad retelling of Tam Lin. This may be one of the most troubling and original retellings. As a teen reviewer said, don't let the fact that it's short and seems to be aimed at young kids stop you from reading this one.

5. Speaking of retellings of Tam Lin, I shouldn't forget The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope.

6. And childhood books that still touch me deeply - The Singing Tree, by Kate Seredy

7. Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis - I think this is his best book; a wonderful character study of an intelligent, passionate, physically ugly woman.

8. And I will always, always love L.M. Boston. Deirdrej introduced me to her books when we were both small children.