Serpent Eye

I have that book and I didn't really get into it. I can't remember how far I got, maybe 1/4 or 1/2 through but it never fully captured my interest and I just had little desire to stick with it :( It certainly isn't my favorite Crichton book (that would be Jurassic Park, followed by The Lost World) but it is definitely really high up there. I love his other books -- Congo, Disclosure, Eaters of the Dead, etc. -- very much... but when I read Pirate Latitudes, it instantly surpassed them all. I do have to say that it didn't "feel" like a Crichton novel, really in the sense that he wasn't talking about computers, gene technology, etc., but his story telling was excellent as always. You should give it another go at some point. :P It gets good once the gunpowder is brought into play. :twisted:

I reread Jurassic Park and The Lost World every four months or so... :-w If you're a Crichton fan, you have to read Pirate Latitudes. (An assistant found the manuscript saved on his computer, and his publisher -- HarperCollins -- published it posthumously.) Michael Crichton. Pirates. Enough said.

You never know :) The Varrock Library could potentially pick up the pace quite a bit now that we're allowing literature discussion. I think the topic is doing really good because people are interested in the topic, and not so much because it was in Off Topic. Yes, Off Topic ensures that there is more traffic involved in people viewing or reading the topic, but for the people who show a geniuine interest in the subject matter -- aka the handful of people who bother to post -- I don't think they'll mind hopping over the Varrock Library to discuss something they love. Imagine trying to make a new topic in OT about the Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels. I would think it would get locked pretty quickly for being out of place. :P

I'm just going to Copy+Paste an old blog from my MySpace. :P [hide]10. Interview with the Vampire by ANNE RICE - This book is amazing! It was the first book that I ever read about vampires, and every single new vampire book I read I find myself comparing it to "Interview." The entire "Vampire Chronicles" series is amazing, and I only narrowed it down to this book, simply because it's the first in the series. Please read it if you haven't already, and DON'T come to it with images of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in your head… gag. (But do read Queen of the Damned with images of the movie in your head, because it… is just a great movie to make fun of… they adapted the book so… ew. I can't type any more.) 9. The Blade Itself by JOE ABERCROMBIE - I first read this book for the first time quite recently (within the year) but it already found it's way onto my list! Once you read the book, you might find it odd to see me refer to it as "beautiful," but it really is one of the greatest fantasy books I've ever read (and that's ALL I read!) It contains everything that I think a great action book should: drama, amazing characters -- horribly cynical characters at that -- epic battles, magic, and a unique setting (among other things.) Besides, the characters drop the f-bomb like no other, and it makes me giggle just thinking about it. Oh, Nine-fingers..! (Please immediately read, and then go buy the sequel, "Before They Are Hanged." And you should probably just pre-order the third installment, "Last Argument of Kings." NOW.) 8. A Density of Souls by CHRISTOPHER RICE - It's no wonder why this book is so amazing: it's written by Anne Rice's son! Now, Chris Rice is NOT his mother, and their writing styles are on opposite ends of the spectrum. (So if you're not a fan of Anne Rice, don't come to this expecting it to be like her stuff.) This is the first of four books that he has written, and it's my favorite out of the four! This book is about murder and sex and relationships and glorious, glorious things, and it is so terribly dark (I think) that it affected what types of books I like to read! This was one of the first "real," non-fantasy books that I read. 7. The Thief Lord by CORNELIA FUNKE - This book makes me go "aww." But not really. Well, yes it does. It's an amazing tale of two boys who, upon a visit to Venice, decide to run away from their aunt and uncle (their parents died, and they're under their care.) In the twisting alleys of the city, they encounter a "gang" of other cast- and runaways hiding out in an abandoned movie theater. The group is led by a masked figure called the Thief Lord, a young boy whose ultimate dream is to become grown-up. That's the BASIC gist of the tale, without giving away the juicy twists. This book, while it was no doubt intended for people around age twelve (*sigh*) was an easy pick for my list! Please go read it. (…you'll find it in the children's section at Barnes and Nobles…) 6. First Test by TAMORA PIERCE - To clarify, this book is the first of the "Protector of the Small" quartet. The quartet as a whole is my second favorite by Tamora Pierce (see 4 for my favorite quartet.) Quick rundown to get the back story: it's recently been decreed that girls are now allowed to step up to the plate in trying to become knights of the realm. Pierce's most famous character, Alanna, was the first girl to achieve the rank of Knight. Since that day, no other girl has taken the challenge. Enter Keladry of Mindalen - Kel isn't like other girls: instead of sewing and housekeeping, she wants to become a fighting knight! Many trials follow Kel on her journey, and she easily became one of my favorite Tamora Pierce characters! Poor description of a book, I guess… but you should just read it… 5. Book of Shadows by CATE TIERNAN - YAY. That's the first thing I think of when I see this book on my shelf. The second is "Enya," but that's a long story in itself… This book is the first in Cate Tiernan's "Sweep" series. (I highly recommend reading the entire series - it's only 15 books long, at about $6.99 a pop. Not too bad.) This book follows the life of Morgan Rowlands, your average high school girl entering her senior year. Then Morgan meets a new student named Cal, and he changes her life forever! When you get down to it, "Sweep" is a series about a group of high school students who study Wicca, and they eventually form their own coven. All of the characters (it switches POV throughout the series) encounter their own hardships, and the relationships between all of them are ever-evolving, dissolving, and re-forming. This series is one of my top three favorite series that I own! (You should have seen me, years ago, trying to hunt down all fifteen books… I was in a blood-frenzy! Those damn elusive tomes!) 4. Sandry's Book by TAMORA PIERCE - This was the first book I ever read by Tamora Pierce (my favorite author.) It literally changed my life! This is the first book in her "Circle of Magic" series, and it focuses on four young kids -- Sandry, Briar, Trisana, and Daja -- who each find out that they can harness and use magic. While the title might imply otherwise, the book jumps around from character to character. It's such a great tale, that I can't really describe it too well! It keeps me on the edge of my seat (bed) every time I've read it, even though it is probably my second most-read book/series that I own. I highly, highly recommend reading ANYTHING by Tamora Pierce, and especially this book. 3. Jurassic Park by MICHAEL CRICHTON - I… I love this book. I read the book after watching the movie (one of top five favorite movies off all time, coincidently!) so unfortunately whenever I read it, I'm always visualizing Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. But aside from that fact, it was the first book that I wrote down when creating this list! I have a sick obsession with this book, and whenever I can't choose a new book to read, my usual plan is to just re-read this one! I can't really count how many times I've read it, but I literally don't need to any more… I know what happens chapter by chapter, nearly scene by scene… If you like dinosaurs, you should read this. And if you don't like dinosaurs, you should read this so you CAN like dinosaurs. Because then you can go out and read "The Lost World" as well. Michael Crichton is one of my top-four favorite authors. 2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. ROWLING - My favorite Harry Potter book! I could write endless amounts of paragraphs about this book, but I'll spare you the somewhat embarrassingly juicy details (I have a twisted obsession with Remus Lupin… -- Moony, where are you?! COME BACK!! *chases after his ghost.*) 1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. ROWLING - While this book, in comparison to the other six, is smaller and less exciting (in a way) I still need to pay tribute to it. I bought this book in sixth grade, at the book fair at Wilson Elementary School. My life literally changed forever that day! I went from having a vivid imagination, to becoming a reader. As far as I can remember, this was the first book that I ever bought! It set me on the path to become a lover of fantasy fiction, and it inspired me to start writing my own fantasy fiction. Although there are a gazillion fans of the Harry Potter series, there are still many who don't like it at all. Well, I'm here to defend it, damn it, and to say that it's more than just a book. This book, no, this series, defines my child/teenhood, 1999-2007. When I look back at all of the friends I had during those times, especially my pen pals, our relationships were greatly fueled by Harry Potter. So, while it might not be my favorite Harry Potter book of the series, it earns its place as 1 by making me who I am today! (That's the power of the written word, people!)[/hide]

<3: <3: <3:

Probably because of the Ron and Hermione lovemaking scene. I sincerely hope that they don't show any lovemaking -- between anyone -- in this movie. :-w I think, from what I've gathered on reading about the locket scene in the woods, it just will show Hermione and Harry embracing with no clothes on. But I'm pretty sure it's getting it's sterner rating due to all of the violence that takes place in 99% of the film, rather than a quick bare shoulder that we'll see on screen for like ten seconds. :P And I'm sure Molly screaming out, "Not my daughter, you [bleep]!" doesn't do anything to help, either. ;) Also, who else is excited that Warner Bros. pulled the plug on releasing Part One in 3D? I for one am very happy that they decided against it. As we'll all remember, a previous 3D movie of theirs -- Clash of the Titans -- was released after going through a shoddy 2D->3D conversion process, and the film was ridiculed endlessly for it's poor visual effects. While I am still not so sure how I feel about watching Part Two of the movie in 3D (they still plan on releasing Part Two in 3D and 2D both), at least they will be able to dedicate more time to making the second half look as best as possible in this format.

Not to keep bugging you or anything... :-w I should have posted this in my last post (I didn't notice at the time) but in the spreadsheet, Cadantine is spelled incorrectly. I really do like your guide, I swear I don't come here just to nit-pick. <3:

There seems to be a problem regarding Lantadymes in your Goggle Herb Calc spreadsheet... :unsure: Maybe just a misplaced decimal point.

OHAI. 99 Firemaking October 17, 2010 Also got 1900 Total Level with this level! I didn't really tell anyone before I got this, didn't really feel like a party. But thank you to everyone who congratulated me in HYT Clan chat! <3: - Serpy

Yes, MTK will still run even if your membership expires. :thumbup:

Finally finished The Fellowship of the Ring, and have cracked open The Two Towers. It's really odd because like I said a few posts ago, I read both the first and second books of the trilogy before -- and half of Return of the King -- but I literally remember NOTHING of reading The Fellowship, haha. Maybe I was so bored with it at the time that I blocked it out of my memory. I may randomly stop reading Two Towers in order to read something a bit quicker first -- probably Betrayal at Falador :P

Progress! :thumbsup: As someone who frequently posts in the current OT Literature thread, I am terribly excited. :P

I haven't visited the Varrock Library very often, but I think it would be an appropriate place to add some sort of "Reading Room" subforum. I think it's important that it be separated into its own subforum regardless of where it would get added, that way users wouldn't have to filter through what is original content/work from forum users versus published literary discussions.

A few of us did voice our concerns about this in this (really old!) topic here: http://forum.tip.it/topic/120162-books/ I still think it would be a good idea to have an individual subforum devoted to Literature discussion. This way we could create individual topics for books, authors, genre discussion, etc. Rather than having a discussion about horror, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, young adult, etc., books thrown into one big discussion, I think it would be a lot simpler to just click on the "J. R. R. Tolkien" topic and be able to discuss that, rather than having to scroll through three pages of discussion about philosophy. Etc., etc.

Book shopping today. :twss: Bought: The Two Towers The Return of the King Betrayal at Falador (!!!) and The Lost Hero I really am enjoying the LotR, but I think I may read The Lost Hero before I start The Two Towers. So excited to go back into the world of Percy Jackson. :D

Good times. :thumbup:

;_; I do haz moar. :3 Did an Evil Tree today, so I'm up to 15,034,225 EXP now. :3 <3

Nearly finished with The Fellowship of the Ring. I went to Barnes and Nobles today to order my copies of The Two Towers and Return of the King. All they had in-store were the horrendous editions with pictures from the movies on the front. :thumbdown:

Well, the bulk of the EXP you gain in Sawmill Training comes from completing the jobs, not the EXP you get from cutting up the planks along the way; the Crystal saw only doubles the EXP you get from cutting up the planks, so I'm fairly confident that using a regular saw won't be that much of a downside. At his Woodcutting level (86) he would still be getting 8,649 EXP for completing each Large job, regardless of if he uses a Crystal or a regular saw, and this amount will only increase as his Woodcutting level increases.

:thumbup: When Sawmill training was first released, I did a lot of research while working on the Tip.It Woodcutting Guide. In addition to that, when I was getting 99 Woodcutting myself, the only training methods I used were two Evil Trees per day and the rest of the EXP I gained through Sawmill training. It can be a bit repetitive, but if you concentrate it is definitely faster EXP than Ivy. People are under the impression that Ivy is faster only because they prefer the AFK-ability of Ivy, and they usually haven't tried out Sawmill Training themselves. Like I said, it can be a bit repetitive (I still really enjoyed it though, hence doing it all the way to 99 Woodcutting) but you won't really know until you try it out yourself! :) Edit: As far as actual tips go for Sawmill training (if you're interested) Only take on Large jobs Use a Crystal Saw if you can as it doubles the EXP you get per plank cut Have nothing in your inventory except for your saw If you make more planks than your current task requires, Remove them from the Cart and save them for your next job

Huzzah! :twss:

How could you imagine a language you don't know? Your brain draws from your experiences, you couldn't magically know how to speak a language just because you were asleep. Why are you asking me? It's Serpent Eye that asked the question. I think you'd either use the bits that you picked up from experiences, or just perceive gibberish as whatever language you imagine yourself thinking in. I was asking SerpentEye, I just clicked reply on your post because it was the same discussion. Well, I don't know. I did just say I was only wondering. :-w

I wonder if there have been instances where people dream or think in languages that they actually don't know? I only speak English (I do remember a handful of words and all my numbers/letters in Spanish) but what if I woke up one day and in my dream I had been speaking fluent French? But I suppose in my dream if I were fluent in French, I wouldn't actually recognize that I was speaking in French, since it would sort of auto-translate in my dream-self's brain? ...or something... ?

Well, her voice is always flawless... I just hated the song I guess. It was pretty much the same for when she sang "...Baby One More Time." Amazing voice, but wasn't the right singer for the song.

Here. :P The Catcher in the Rye has been banned in the past for its: Sexual content Offensive language Mild violence/references to suicide Use of alcohol and smoking