Snakenaps

I agree in repeating because if enough people praise a book, I tend to pick it up. I assume most people are the same way. I shall make my point by saying Snow Crash is EXCELLENT. I'll back you up on that book. Probably one of the weirdest books I've ever read and thoroughly enjoyed. I just never know how to describe that book to someone...

We took a five mile walk this morning and he gets LOTS of cuddles. I'm hoping enough love and activity will distract him for a few more days. @Robinski, Steve-O is named after the actual person from a particular series of movies/TV shows. Unlike the real Steve-O, this cat has six toes on each foot and isn't prone to wacky stunts.

Books I Have Heard Good/Great Things About From Other Sources: American Gods by Neal Gaiman The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers The Nevernight Chronicle by Jay Kristoff

Books recommended to me in past threads (some of which I have already read): @ILuvHats @Ixthos @Quantus @GoWibble @Karger @Wander89 @FantasyFanitic

If there's one thing I'm good for, it's book recommendations. What's frustrating is that I know that there are more that I should have mentioned! Books I have personally read and highly recommend: Fantasy with Dragons: The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffery - Absolute classic! This is what got me personally into dragons. Temeraire series by Naomi Novik - What if the Neapolitan War had dragons? Fantasy with Lots of Magic: Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab - Won Goodreads fantasy book of the year a few years ago for good reason. The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud - I agree with @Nameless on this one. Sarcastic jinn! The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (not to mention the movie!) - Absolute fantasy classic. Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden - Russian folklore, slow to get into, then rushes you through the next two books before you've blinked. Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima - This one has romance, but it's rather well written and I've reread this series multiple times. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - Steampunk. What if the printing press was never invented, and the Library of Alexandra became a world power? Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan - A YA classic for good reason. My pick-me-up series when I'm in a foul mood. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - Need I say more? Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - Fantasy classic I've read more times than I can count. Fantasy with a Touch of Magic: The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whaler Turner - Full of twists and turns, and a quick read. Very witty, I plowed through the entire series in a week. Last book is coming out this August. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - In 1899 New York, a Golem and a Jinni must find their place in the world or risk discovery and destruction. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke - Another YA classic, my go-to whenever I travel. My Inkheart book is falling apart. Sci-Fi: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - YA - Has romance, lots of it, but they are thoroughly enjoyable books. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card - A sci-fi classic like Dune by Frank Herbert. The Martian by Andy Weir - Hilarious and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Has a faithful movie adaptation. Books I have personally read and thoroughly enjoyed: Fantasy with Dragons: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman - What if dragons could turn into people? Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland - A young YA series that is massively popular right now. Fantasy with Lots of Magic: Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto - Forget dragons, people ride phoenixes in this series. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang (I actually barely got through this book because it is grimdark fantasy. Not for me, but a good book for others) Simon Snow series by Rainbow Rowell - Not much in the way of plot, but has some of the best written characters of any author I know. Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer - Young YA classic Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - Witty urban fantasy that pulls no punches on its poor protagonist. The Seeds of Dissolution by William C. Tracy - Aliens and magic! The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A circus that mysteriously arrives at night, and is gone by morning. Fantasy with a Touch of Magic: The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz - A YA book with religious overtones, about three children believed to be saints. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - A baby who escapes his family's murderer is raised by ghosts. Girls of Fire by Natasha Ngan - Two girls struggle to find love in a caste system run by demons. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennet - A bizarre mix of sci-fi and fantasy. The Shape of Water by Guillermo Del Toro and Daniel Kraus - Written after the movie, and has one of those ways with words where you keep hearing the book after you set it down. Gentleman Bastard series (aka Locke Lamora series) by Scott Lynch Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - Need I say more? Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan - A YA historical fiction about a magical harmonica Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Sci-Fi: Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor - African sci-fi! Dune series by Frank Herbert - A sci-fi classic, but it is a thick read. Other: The Help by Katherin Stockett - Recognizing that everyone has a voice. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - Now I'm addicted to old timey circuses, thanks. Anything by Sarah Dunant, who writes Renaissance historical fiction

Alright my friends, many of us quarantined, but that doesn't mean this is necessarily a bad thing. Why not share some photos of the ones who are most likely thrilled at this whole situation: our pets? I don't know about you, but animals always cheer me up. I'm currently housesitting for a family and taking care of a golden retriever, two cats, two bearded dragons, and three tortoises. Here is a photo of Steve-O the six toed cat and Duncan, the gentlemanly golden.

You have my sympathies, as I'm way behind as well. I'm currently housesitting for a family who decided to not cancel their trip to Hawaii. Thanks to the shelter in place going down in California, and a bunch of other things, I've been trying to figure out if I'll be continuing housesitting longer than planned. Any tips for cheering up a smart, old golden retriever missing his family? I can't take him out to hang out with my friends' dog anymore. He's used to being with an entire classroom of kids all day and he's becoming a wee bit depressed despite our long daily walks. I've never owned a dog and I feel bad for him. I relate too, as I'm missing my own family. Picture of Steve-O the cat and Duncan the dog for anyone who needs some cheering up.

My state, California, is now entering shelter in place beginning tonight. We were already quarantining anyway, but it's just an extra nail in the coffin. Yay.

I have not because I want to see it without any expectations or spoilers!

My city has nobody tested positive with COVID-19...but that's because we literally have no tests. The local colleges have made classes online through the rest of the semester, and the elementary schools have closed for spring break and one week after, and may follow the colleges. As a substitute teacher, I'm probably out of work until August. Unlike most, I've been lucky and have been able to save up a little nest egg from years of extreme frugality, so I won't be happy, per say, if I am unemployed until August, but I'll still be able to pay rent. Just no more horseback riding lessons Shopping is fascinating. My local WinCo closes at 11pm and reopens around 8am. The line is about a block long and they only let 50 people in at a time. Toilet paper is indeed gone, but the supply chain is still working, so there's plenty of food (even if some of the available items aren't someone's first choice). I've met cattle ranchers, mountain folk, and all sorts trying to get groceries before heading back up the mountains. Great people to talk to. My city says if we get a single positive person for COVID-19, the city is going to go under shelter in place. Good news about that, is I'm still allowed to take walks and hikes under shelter in place. Bad news is, I'll only have my roommate and her cat for company, which stinks, because my roommate (who I adore) sleeps during the day and is awake at night. She may be a vampire. Anyway, due to her sleeping schedule, I'll pretty much be living alone for 4-8 weeks with no DnD, no public library, no farmer's markets, nada, zippo, nothing. So I'm making a list of all the things I want to do: Catch up on all the books I want to read before the World Fantasy Convention. I want to read a book from every single guest author going (already have Sanderson out of the way ) Not to mention, I have all of the excellent recommendations from when I did my introduction here. Book recommendations are ALWAYS welcome. Practice yoga every morning. I fell out of practice when the school year started. Learn how to bake bread. I've always procrastinated by telling myself it takes too much time. Guess what I have plenty of now? Paint and post more often on my Instagram @worldofalturas Catch up on all Writing Excuses podcasts (on season 4/15) in time for the World Fantasy Convention in October. Write. Write. WRITE. I want to be a professional writer, so now's a good time to pretend I am one. Time to get the stupid book revised (how I hate revising...) Walk. Map out the neighborhood. Listen to podcasts while walking. Walking a lot. Learn how to play more than one song on my ukulele... I'm a goal oriented person. I need a plan. So, in true Katie fashion, I'm making one. Heck, I'll schedule out each of my days if I need to. In all honesty, I really miss my kids. There are several classes I sub regularly for, and I'm really going to miss them. Even if they drive me freaking bonkers.

Welcome! I don't know about you, but I'm eagerly awaiting Friday for the newest episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Welcome! You've just stumbled across a bright new world! If you've only read Alcatraz, I personally recommend reading the Mistborn trilogy next (which is Kelsier's series). It's the series that introduced most of us to Sanderson, so it will give you something in common with nearly everyone on here, plus it's an incredible read and a part of the Cosmere. The first book is The Final Empire.

Hello! I hope you have fun contributing to the insanity here!

Welcome! I hope the Shard will be a great place for you to further your enjoyment of everything Sanderson!

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time here! There's a little something for everyone!

Welcome back! Thanks for everything you do for the Coppermind!

Oh man, you got a good laugh out of me! Welcome!

My school district just announced school closures through March 27th. Our grocery stores have empty shelves. This is so different yet so alike from the fire that raged through my community last year. And, yet, despite it all, my DnD group - my miraculous, wonderful DnD group - is still meeting. I may have lost my income from subbing and tutoring, but now I suppose I have plenty of time to get caught up critiquing writing, and writing for myself. Not to mention all those books I've been wanting to read. Hope everyone who's being affected by COVID-19 (and who isn't at this point) is finding the bright spots of life right now.

Welcome! It doesn't matter if you are a chatterbox or prefer to hide in the shadows, we're happy to have you here!

Welcome! I agree with you on using this quarantine as a time to read! What a time to be alive!

I'm glad you found our advice and thoughts helpful! Can't wait to see what your next submission will be like!

Welcome! I'm sure you'll find more theories than here than in your wildest dreams, and I hope you'll have a blast contributing!

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time here at the Shard!

Welcome! Enjoy adding to the pool of knowledge and theories!

Welcome! I hope you have a blast adding in your own theories and opinions to this passionate, friendly group!