HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLES' CHICKENS!!
Ok everyone, this month was the month that we founded this blog! To be exact, March 28th, 2009 was the official date.
Fun facts:
1.) Darles' Chickens is Charles Dickens with the first letters reversed.
2.) We've had one official discussion - two, come Saturday.
3.) The Hobbit has been on the booklist since the original booklist.
4.) After two comments, usually they aren't about the book anymore.
5.) In one year, we've managed to have the love/hate relationship of the decade.
6.) 22 of the 47 posts have actually been on books.
7.) The most number of comments was 34, on The Tempest and Out of the Silent Planet. The least was 1, on Fabiola.
8.) We have 19 followers- 3 of which have never commented.
9.) There has been at least one post every month.
10.) "Poetry" has the most tabs with 9,- the next highest number being 5 for "Romance."
Can anyone think of anything else? Thanks to Tini who started this and to everyone else who had kept it alive with comments and posts for the last year! May the next be as good!
~DC Board
P.S. Let me know if the info is wrong. I did the best I could.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Roughing It
Hey people,
This time I read Roughing It by Mark Twain. Now believe me, this was a big surprise for me, but I didn't really like it. I usually like Mark Twain's stuff, but this failed to intrigue me. I was really sad about it too. I had made up my mind that I would probably like it, just because it was Mark Twain, but I was wrong. :(
The story was basically a semi-autobiographical account of Mark Twain's adventures in the Wild West from the years 1861-1867. Sounds alright, right? Wrong. I dunno what was up, but it just seemed really random and disconnected. He spent wayyyyyyyy too long on a stagecoach and felt it was necessary to explain everything. Everything he explained had some connection to the story of course, but was it really necessary? For instance, when traveling through a dreary section of nothingness somewhere in the middle of the United States, he made the comment that it was dangerous robbery territory. Then, he expanded upon the subject and told about a famous outlaw who used to roam the territory and how he wanted revenge in some guy blah blah blah blah blah. You get the point. He spent a whole chapter on it. He expanded upon everything from jackrabbits to Indian outlaws. Did this advance the story? I didn't think so, but maybe I missed the point.
In my opinion, if you would like to try Mark Twain, don't start with this one. Try Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County or The Prince and the Pauper.
Considering that this book wasn't poorly written, but just rather not my style, I rate it a 3/5.
Tony
3/5 recommendation
This time I read Roughing It by Mark Twain. Now believe me, this was a big surprise for me, but I didn't really like it. I usually like Mark Twain's stuff, but this failed to intrigue me. I was really sad about it too. I had made up my mind that I would probably like it, just because it was Mark Twain, but I was wrong. :(
The story was basically a semi-autobiographical account of Mark Twain's adventures in the Wild West from the years 1861-1867. Sounds alright, right? Wrong. I dunno what was up, but it just seemed really random and disconnected. He spent wayyyyyyyy too long on a stagecoach and felt it was necessary to explain everything. Everything he explained had some connection to the story of course, but was it really necessary? For instance, when traveling through a dreary section of nothingness somewhere in the middle of the United States, he made the comment that it was dangerous robbery territory. Then, he expanded upon the subject and told about a famous outlaw who used to roam the territory and how he wanted revenge in some guy blah blah blah blah blah. You get the point. He spent a whole chapter on it. He expanded upon everything from jackrabbits to Indian outlaws. Did this advance the story? I didn't think so, but maybe I missed the point.
In my opinion, if you would like to try Mark Twain, don't start with this one. Try Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County or The Prince and the Pauper.
Considering that this book wasn't poorly written, but just rather not my style, I rate it a 3/5.
Tony
3/5 recommendation
Saturday, February 27, 2010
MY MISTAKE
Hey guys, sorry if I confused anyone; I just posted that the Romeo and Juliet discussion is today. It is NOT today, but next week!! I was confused and out of sorts, so I am VERY sorry about that. My mistake. Please forgive me.
Hopefully there will be a post before the talk, but if not, I will talk to you all next week.
Thank you for being patient with me :)
Arwen
Hopefully there will be a post before the talk, but if not, I will talk to you all next week.
Thank you for being patient with me :)
Arwen
Friday, February 19, 2010
Which Cartoon Character Are You?
Hey guys,
I know this is completely irrelevant, but I was bored. It is a test to see which cartoon character you are. Let me know who you are! Have fun!
See ya,
Tony
p.s. let me know if it doesn't work
naucon.net | Fun Stuff | Thuy's Fun Tests Collection | Which Cartoon Character Are You?
I know this is completely irrelevant, but I was bored. It is a test to see which cartoon character you are. Let me know who you are! Have fun!
See ya,
Tony
p.s. let me know if it doesn't work
naucon.net | Fun Stuff | Thuy's Fun Tests Collection | Which Cartoon Character Are You?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Romeo and Juliet Discussion
Hello everyone,
Because of the marked intrest in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, it has been decided to have an open discussion about it. In order to allow our followers time to read it, our discussion will begin on Saturday, March 6th. The time- TBA. Maybe we won't restrict it to a specific time, because of possible time differences? While you read, here are some questions to think about:
1. What effect does the accelerated time scheme have on the play’s development? Is it plausible that a love story of this magnitude could take place so quickly? Does the play seem to take place over as little time as it actually occupies?
2. Compare and contrast the characters of Romeo and Juliet. How do they develop throughout the play? What makes them fall in love with one another?
3. Compare and contrast the characters of Tybalt and Mercutio. Why does Mercutio hate Tybalt?
4. Apart from clashing with Tybalt, what role does Mercutio play in the story? Is he merely a colorful supporting character and brilliant source of comic relief, or does he serve a more serious purpose?
5. How does Shakespeare treat death in Romeo and Juliet? Frame your answer in terms of legal, moral, familial, and personal issues. Bearing these issues in mind, compare the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Mercutio, and Mercutio and Tybalt.
So, of course these don't have to be answered by each person individually, but it should hopefully give a direction to our discussion. If you'd like, here is a quiz about Romeo and Juliet that I found. It's a good way to see how much you know!
SparkNotes: Romeo and Juliet: Quiz
Anyway, talk to you all on the 6th!
~DC Team
Because of the marked intrest in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, it has been decided to have an open discussion about it. In order to allow our followers time to read it, our discussion will begin on Saturday, March 6th. The time- TBA. Maybe we won't restrict it to a specific time, because of possible time differences? While you read, here are some questions to think about:
1. What effect does the accelerated time scheme have on the play’s development? Is it plausible that a love story of this magnitude could take place so quickly? Does the play seem to take place over as little time as it actually occupies?
2. Compare and contrast the characters of Romeo and Juliet. How do they develop throughout the play? What makes them fall in love with one another?
3. Compare and contrast the characters of Tybalt and Mercutio. Why does Mercutio hate Tybalt?
4. Apart from clashing with Tybalt, what role does Mercutio play in the story? Is he merely a colorful supporting character and brilliant source of comic relief, or does he serve a more serious purpose?
5. How does Shakespeare treat death in Romeo and Juliet? Frame your answer in terms of legal, moral, familial, and personal issues. Bearing these issues in mind, compare the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Mercutio, and Mercutio and Tybalt.
So, of course these don't have to be answered by each person individually, but it should hopefully give a direction to our discussion. If you'd like, here is a quiz about Romeo and Juliet that I found. It's a good way to see how much you know!
SparkNotes: Romeo and Juliet: Quiz
Anyway, talk to you all on the 6th!
~DC Team
Sunday, January 31, 2010
All Creatures Great and Small
Hey people,
Gracious it has been a long time since I posted, I apologise for my absence. The book I read this time was All Creatures Great and Small, By James Herriot. It is the true story of a country vet named James Herriot who went to school in the city and then was sent to the Yorkshire Dales to practice his profession. Things are a little bit rough for James at first but he soon falls in love with His partner Siegfried Farnon, Siegfried's crazy brother Tristan, the simple people of the Dales, and the beautiful country around him. It is the story of the troubles that a country vet goes through told in a humorous and entirely relateable fashion. Walking through life in the mind of James, hearing every thought and working through every problem is laugh out loud hysterical. You could call it a documentary, but I prefer to think of it as the life of a poor vet who just can't win. You really have to read them to understand. It is a 4 book series starting with All Creatures Great and Small, then All Things Bright and Beautiful, All things Wise and Wonderful, and finishes with The Lord God Made them All. I just have to say I love them! I don't really like reading about animals, and I don't generally care for documentary type things, but these are different! He is so simple in the way he puts things, I guess you can say he speaks right to the heart of the average Joe. The countryside where he is sounds so beautiful, it makes me want to go to the Dales. Hopefully by know you have all gathered that I highly recommend these books, so please read them and let me know what you think! James Herriot has also written Children's Treasuries which are very good as well, but go for the real thing.
Thanks for listening and happy reading!
$ The Artful Dodge $
5/5 Recommended
Friday, January 22, 2010
Shadow Hawk
Hello all,
Gee, it seems like it has been forever since I posted on something. Well, this time, I read Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton, which was recommended to me by a friend who hated it. Well, I don't know if she hated it, but she didn't really like it either.
Set in Egyptian times, this book follows the adventure of a guy who is the captain of a group of desert scouts. He has no land to call his own, because his evil brother kicked him off of it or something like that. (I skimmed through some of it) :/ The story follows how he rises in the favor of the pharoah, and gradually earns all that he deserves.
That sounds really general, but I'm telling you, that is almost literally all that happened. There are several moments of suspense that either were too short or lasted too long, ruining the whole "suspense" device. Also, several threads of the storyline that started in the beginning were never followed up later, which might have given the story more depth. I guess the best way to put it is that it was boring. Also, it was disappointing because none of the main characters died. That sounds horrid, I know, but seriously, how realistic is it that all of the main characters take part in a battle, and the worst thing that happens is someone got a scratch!? Come on!
One thing that did catch my attention was that the desert scouts were all archers, which definitely produced some cool stuff. I think archery rocks. So yeah, that part of the whole thing was cool. Other than that.... I don't think I'd read it again by choice.
To sum it up, some parts were cool, but as a whole, the book really wasn't that interesting.
~Tony
1/5 Recommended
Gee, it seems like it has been forever since I posted on something. Well, this time, I read Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton, which was recommended to me by a friend who hated it. Well, I don't know if she hated it, but she didn't really like it either.
Set in Egyptian times, this book follows the adventure of a guy who is the captain of a group of desert scouts. He has no land to call his own, because his evil brother kicked him off of it or something like that. (I skimmed through some of it) :/ The story follows how he rises in the favor of the pharoah, and gradually earns all that he deserves.
That sounds really general, but I'm telling you, that is almost literally all that happened. There are several moments of suspense that either were too short or lasted too long, ruining the whole "suspense" device. Also, several threads of the storyline that started in the beginning were never followed up later, which might have given the story more depth. I guess the best way to put it is that it was boring. Also, it was disappointing because none of the main characters died. That sounds horrid, I know, but seriously, how realistic is it that all of the main characters take part in a battle, and the worst thing that happens is someone got a scratch!? Come on!
One thing that did catch my attention was that the desert scouts were all archers, which definitely produced some cool stuff. I think archery rocks. So yeah, that part of the whole thing was cool. Other than that.... I don't think I'd read it again by choice.
To sum it up, some parts were cool, but as a whole, the book really wasn't that interesting.
~Tony
1/5 Recommended
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