Has anyone read ACACIA, by David Anthony Durham? I'm going to have to return it to the library unread for lack of time to read it. My holds list has been attacking me the last few weeks--books where I wasn't even that near the top of the list kept suddenly bumping into "in transit" status (which means it's too late to freeze them), so I've been getting 6 new books a week instead of a nice manageable two or three. Anyway, is ACACIA worth putting back on the list after I turn it in?

I've seen excellent reviews of Acacia, Susan, FWIW. I have not, however, read it myself.

Speaking of books, Empire of Ivory, the latest Temeraire novel, is out in paper in the US today.

Speaking of books, Empire of Ivory, the latest Temeraire novel, is out in paper in the US today.

t rushes off to amazon.com

Squee! My preorder shipped yesterday!

Speaking of books, Empire of Ivory, the latest Temeraire novel, is out in paper in the US today.

I went to B&N after work today to get it. I'm about halfway through, and am enjoying it immensely.

okay I just finished the first book in the Dark is Rising series. I read it because there was such an uproar about the movie adaptation and I had to see what people were being so passionate about. And I have to say I just don't get it. It was quite a slog.

Is the first book just a dud and the rest are more exciting? I was totally skimming at the end just to finish it.

And I figured maybe it had come out in, like, the mid 80s so none of my generation would have read it as kids but it was published in the 60s? Who are all these people who are fans of the series???

The first book is not actually the book that was adapted for the movie. The second book introduces new characters, though everyone eventually comes together.

And I would say if you don't like the first book, you won't like the rest.

And I would say if you don't like the first book, you won't like the rest.

ah, good to know! I was sad that I didn't like it because if I had there'd be a whole bunch of books in the series to enjoy.

I think the first book is more in the vein of an Enid Blyton adventure than a match with the rest of the series. It's about plucky children, whereas the rest of the stories are about very serious children.

I mean, there's some overlap, but I definitely think it wasn't till the second novel that Cooper realized where she was going with it.

There's certainly much more mythology in the later books, if that's your thing, lisah.

I know I started with the second one (The Dark is Rising) first, and it wasn't until much later that I even realized that Over Sea, Under Stone was part of the same series. I reread the whole series a few years ago and found them lacking, though I'd adored them as a child, but The Dark is Rising is still compelling and my favorite of the series. You might at least give that one a try, lisah, if you're still interested. I think it's different enough from Over Sea, Under Stone that you might like it. (I find it's best read at midwinter, though, for the full effect.)