With Tabby Tom's permission, I have decided to make a Children's Book Club. We read a certain book, and then discuss it on this thread. The book for the month of June is:

Book One: "The Bad Beginning" from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Ok, once you read the book, you can come and post on this thread to discuss the book. If you want a certain book for next month, you can private message me, and I'll think about it.

Okay, what about "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone"?

I said to PM me about it, but the Harry Potters will be on the list. It already is. ^_^ Oh, and I might have a seperate thread for the HP and the Philosipher's Stone (British) and US, depending on how different they are.

Yeah, you're right.

What a great idea!

If you'd like suggestions for some stimulating books to get your teeth into, then the thread Best Teen Literature is an excellent source for ideas.

Good luck with this new venture.

Great idea!

Unfortunately, being a teen myself, I've already read the two mentioned We'll have to come up with some highly reccommended, not well-known books too.

I just love the style of writing used in The Bad Beginning, kind of like Roald Dahl.

What do you guys think of how the author defines the really big words? Do you find it educational or just plain annoying?

Both. Also, I did have on the list the "His Dark Materials" books. The Westing Game is a sure one. If you haven't read either the Westing Game or His Dark Materials, believe me, you'll love 'em.

Errm, etar. Can we have, er....Lord Of The Rings Trilogy please.

That was one of them, but for the people who haven't read the LOTRs already, please hurry up. They take a while to read.

Do you think the author kind of hides things in the book? He lets the book go on slowly, but in a well, un-boring (:P) sort of way. It's funny when Sunny (that rhymes! ) is stuck in a bird cage ^__^

Has anybody read the book and decided to discuss it yet?!?!???

///COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS\\\



I guess "The Bad Beggining" didn't put up a lot of conversation (i.e. none).

Book 2 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix...

Who is your favourite/least favourite new character in it?
What do you think about the new arrangment of prefects and did any surprise you?
What do you think about the "couplings" in this book?
And of course, any other opinions...

TOTAL SPOLIER!!!

The prefects didn't suprise me that much, but one of them could have been better at his job. Percy reached an all time low in this book, I mean, he's a complete traitor. For couples, Ron+Hermione, probably. What happened to Harry's Firebolt?

Well, have you read the book, which I'm guessing you have?


Harry's Firebolt was *cough* confiscated by *scream* Headmisstress Umbridge. I got the book yesterday and I'm almost done, although I don't care about spoilers.

That isn't what I meant, sigh, at the end of the book Harry still dosen't have his Firebolt back. And yes, I finished it a while ago.

Ok. That explains it

WARNING SPOILERS Look, I've read the book and enjoyed it. My favourite new character is Tonks. Least favourite is Professer Dolores Umbridge. I was a bit surprised at Malfoy and Pansy being prefects, but otherwise OK. I liked the Cho Chang and Harry relationship but I wish it would'nt break up so much. Last view is Dumbledore was excellent in this book. The Firebolt has got to be given back to Harry, so I would'nt worry about that so much.

Yeah, you're right, but still ,it sort of leaves you hanging. The whole story slightly depressing, but it still had a lot of inner magic. Is it just me, or did anybody else notice that Harry yelled at praticulary everyone throughout the course of the book? I mean, he even started throwing things at Dumbledore!
I mean, what happened?!?!?

Well,Pearl, this was a real frustrating year for Harry. I mean the fact that it was he who saw Voldemort coming back but can't get any information on that was real frustrating. And the Cho Chang melodrama was the last straw for him. So he shouted at a good lot of people. Come on, he's just 15. It's really difficult to control frustration at this age. He got mad at Dumbledore because Dumble never looked at him or spoke to him during the book. And remember it was just after Sirius had died. Imagine Harry's state of mind.

Anyway, this has gone too long. I rest my case.

Just a quick question - sorry I'm an adult, but kid's lit rules - I'm sure JKR said that in this book [doing] magic would come to someone late in life. Is it just me, or did everyone else miss this??

Altogether I thought the book was very good. JK had to write a lot of background stuff for this book to fill us all in and answer a few questions for us. I especially thought the view of James and Sirius as 15 year olds was very telling, and gave a real insight into the tortured soul that is Snape.

Remember also that 15 year old boys and girls have hormones raging and sometimes that can make you very angry, other times you just get spots (me!!). Harry also had to put up with being ignored, not being told everything and people deciding what's best for him - I'd be shouting and screaming too.

It's just whetted my appetite for 6 and 7 now.

True, you guys are right. By the way, was anyone else suprised about Mrs.Figg?

No, not at all. J.K. told us in the 4th book.

Yeah, she vaguely mentioned it.

It was not at all vague.

Not really vaugely, but how could Ms. Figg help if she's a squib? She could be a Secret Keeper, but that's all. And if Dumbledore already had a certain "ancient charm" on Harry, why would Ms. Figg need to watch him???

You're right E Tar. But I really could'nt understand the humans-becoming ghosts part. Can anyone here explain it to me ? And what really was behind the veil ?