Into the Forest discussion

The theme Animal Transformations has won for our May 15-July 14 Group Read!
Now it is time to nominate books. Everyone can nominate one book in each category:
Adult, Young Adult and original tale/collection.
I have a feeling there will be lots of interesting books to choose from!
The polls will go up in about a week.

Someplace to Be Flying has been on my TBR shelf for a bit now. I'll nominate it. I haven't read it, but looks like it would fit this theme.

The Coachman Rat. Cinderella from the rat's pov.

Kathy wrote: "Someplace to Be Flying has been on my TBR shelf for a bit now. I'll nominate it. I haven't read it, but looks like it would fit this theme."

That's a perfect book to nominate for this theme Kathy! I am seconding Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lintbecause I always wanted to re-read. I've forgotten a lot, but I remember it's one of my favorites and there are a lot of animal transformations in it!
For original tales I nominate East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
I am still deciding for a YA

I'll nominate Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce for YA. I haven't read it, but the descriptions sounds like it should fit our theme.

I was given Wild Magic as a gift by my aunt when I was 12 and loved it. I ended up reading and enjoying numerous books by Tamora Pierce during my teens. If I remember correctly, the central character, Daine, has the ability to communicate with animals (via a kind of telepathy). There are fantasy animals too. However, no people turn into animals or vice versa

If I'm not allowed to do this, I apologize, and go ahead and nix this comment, but based on the chosen theme of animal transformations, I would love to suggest my novella OPAL or my newly released novel CHAR. Opal is a Snow White retelling with shape-shifting main characters! The main character is born an owl, in fact, and finds it a struggle to reclaim her humanity. Char is second in the series but can be read as a stand alone novel, and again, has human to animal shape-shifting main characters and retells a bit of Hansel and Gretel and also touches on The Seven Ravens. I would be so honored to have either considered, but I understand if this is against the rules. Either way, lots of great book suggestions, happy reading! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Also, both are considered YA.

I realize now why I nominated this theme the first time around--I have sooo many books with animal transformations! And I love animals, so that makes sense.

For adult, I'll nominate The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness.

For YA: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan.

For original: Tsuru no Ongaeshi (The story of the Crane Wife). This can be found easily on the internet.

I had a ton I could nominate, and was really torn. I also wanted to nominate The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint and Bear Daughter by Judith Berman. I went with the books I owned that it looked like many group members had yet to read.

Both The Crane Wife and Bear Daughter are on my tbr

Zanna wrote: "Both The Crane Wife and Bear Daughter are on my tbr"

I saw that! I definitely plan to read both this year, regardless.

Jalilah wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Someplace to Be Flying has been on my TBR shelf for a bit now. I'll nominate it. I haven't read it, but looks like it would fit this theme.".."

The title lists this as "Newford #5", so would the characters/story make sense if books 1-4 haven't been read?

Kristina wrote: "If I'm not allowed to do this, I apologize, and go ahead and nix this comment, but based on the chosen theme of animal transformations, I would love to suggest my novella OPAL or my newly released ..."

Actually this really hasn't come up before so we don't have a hard and fast rule. So, my gut reaction for future nominations is to say don't nominate your own work. However, since we didn't have that rule in place, I will nominate OPAl for YA.

Kristina, if you haven't already, please free feel to promote the books in the author promotion section and you can also add the books to the author self in the group's bookself.

Chris wrote: "Kristina wrote: "If I'm not allowed to do this, I apologize, and go ahead and nix this comment, but based on the chosen theme of animal transformations, I would love to suggest my novella OPAL or m..."
Thank you, Chris! I wouldn't normally weedle in to try to promote my own books outside of the promotion section except that it fit your theme so perfectly! But the other recommendations sound really good as well and I will have to check some of those out!

Zanna wrote: "I was given Wild Magic as a gift by my aunt when I was 12 and loved it. I ended up reading and enjoying numerous books by Tamora Pierce during my teens. If I remember correctly, the central charact..."

Bummer. Oh well, we have some other good nominations. Thanks for letting me know.

This is the description I was using to nominate,
"The Immortals by Tamora Pierce, is the story of Sarrasri (known as Daine), a parentless girl with an extraordinary talent. Daine finds a job that takes her and her pet Cloud from her home country of Galla to the kingdom of Tortall where she finds a new life and a new family, and learns that she has the magical ability known as "Wild Magic," which enables her to speak to animals, heal them, and take their shape as well as bend them to her will. She makes new friends with creatures, including the black-robe mage Numair Salmalin, a young dragon named Skysong (nicknamed Kitten), the lioness, Alanna of Trebond, King Jonathan, and Queen Thayet of Tortall. (powerofdreams)"

Well maybe my memory is amiss :-)

Monica wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Someplace to Be Flying has been on my TBR shelf for a bit now. I'll nominate it. I haven't read it, but looks like it would fit this theme.".."

The titl..."

Yes, it would make sense! That's just the order the books are written in. Newford is not a conventional series, rather books that all take place in the same universe. Sometimes there is an overlap in characters, but nothing that gets in the way of the story telling. Charles de Lint has since updated his website correcting this misunderstanding. All his Newford books are stand alone except the last 3 The Onion Girl, Spirits in the Wires and Widdershins would be better appreciated read in that order. Actually, Someplace to Be Flying is a book that's often recommended as the best place to start. It's all new characters.

Chris wrote: "Kristina wrote: "If I'm not allowed to do this, I apologize, and go ahead and nix this comment, but based on the chosen theme of animal transformations, I would love to suggest my novella OPAL or m..."

Kristina wrote: "If I'm not allowed to do this, I apologize, and go ahead and nix this comment, but based on the chosen theme of animal transformations, I would love to suggest my novella OPAL or my newly released ..."

I agree with Chris! It could be problematic when authors only come here to promote their works, however Opal but does seem to really fit the theme!

We have a several authors in this group and it's great! As long as people don't come for the sole purpose to self-promote and also participate now and then in the other discussions I think it's fine!

Shall we keep the theme animal transformations for a year and read everything? Seriously!

So up to now we have:
Adult
Someplace to Be Flying
The Coachman Rat
The Crane Wife
Young Adult
Tender Morsels
Opal
Wild Magic?? ? Can anyone please confirm if there is animal transformations in it?
Original tales
East 'o the Sun West 'o the Moon
The Cranewife

So keep those great nominations coming in!

Zanna wrote: "Well maybe my memory is amiss :-)"

Or maybe it happens in a later book in the series? :)
I'll withdraw my nomination just in case it doesn't actually fit the theme.

Margaret wrote: " I had a ton I could nominate, and was really torn. I also wanted to nominate The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint and Bear Daughter "



Did we not read The Cats of Tanglewood Forest here in this group already? It's great and totally fits the theme, but I remember discussing it here. It might have been in the What Are You Reading? thread.
Bear Daughter is one of my favorite all time novels. I don't know if I'd re-read now because I recently read it for the second time, however I'd definitely participate in the discussion.
I'd just recommend checking to see if it's available first, because it is out of print. My library has a copy , but I remember awhile ago when the Endicott group did a group read for it a number of people could not find a copy.

Jalilah wrote: "I'd just recommend checking to see if it's available first, because it is out of print. My library has a copy , but I remember awhile ago when the Endicott group did a group read for it a number of people could not find a copy. "

I found a copy at the bookstore I work at!

Did we not read The Cat..."</i>

<i>Jalilah wrote: "Did we not read The Cats of Tanglewood Forest here in this group already? It's great and totally fits the theme, but I remember discussing it here. It might have been in the What Are You Reading? thread."</i>

I don't think so (at least, not while I was a member). We did read [book:Seven Wild Sisters, I believe, or else that was on the What are you reading thread too! However, I have read Seven Wild Sisters.

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I'd just recommend checking to see if it's available first, because it is out of print. My library has a copy , but I remember awhile ago when the Endicott group did a group read fo..."

I have no idea why my post went all italics like that!

Margaret wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I'd just recommend checking to see if it's available first, because it is out of print. My library has a copy , but I remember awhile ago when the Endicott group di..."

That happens to me sometimes to and I never know why.!
Just did a search and we discussed The Cats of Tanglewood Forest both in the What are you reading thread and the Seven Wild Sisters thread. It was never a group read, so someone should definitely nominate it!

I'm going to have to read Bear Daughter regardless, that sounds really interesting!

I just realized with Margaret mentioning whether or not libraries have a copy that this may prove a challenge for Opal. Perhaps we should un-nominate my book based on availability. I am working to get it in more libraries, but it is published through a small press, so it isn't readily available in most libraries or bookstores (and while it is readily available from amazon and online retailers, I don't want anyone to feel they have to buy it in order to participate in the group read). I hate to un-nominated my own book, but I wanted to let you know availability might be an issue! Thank you all though for the support, it sounds like there are lots of great reads in this category, so we won't be without some good choices.

Jalilah wrote: "No that's just the order they are written in but Newford is not a conventional series, rather books that all take place in the same universe. Sometimes there is an overlap in characters, but nothing that gets in the way of the story telling. "

Thanks for the info, Jalilah...good to know for my reading list.

Draw One in the Dark by Sarah A. Hoyt for adult (In print in the omnibus Night Shifters)

Changeling's Island by Dave Freer for YA. (The changeling of the title is not the shape-shifter. 0:)

Mary wrote: "Draw One in the Dark by Sarah A. Hoyt for adult (In print in the omnibus Night Shifters)"

And that one is free on Kindle! Picked it up.

Kristina wrote: "I just realized with Margaret mentioning whether or not libraries have a copy that this may prove a challenge for Opal. Perhaps we should un-nominate my book based on availability. I am working to get it in more libraries, but it is published through a small press, so it isn't readily available in most libraries or bookstores (and while it is readily available from amazon and online retailers, I don't want anyone to feel they have to buy it in order to participate in the group read). I hate to un-nominated my own book, but I wanted to let you know availability might be an issue! Thank you all though for the support, it sounds like there are lots of great reads in this category, so we won't be without some good choices.."

It's okay, Kristina, I'll leave it in. People can find out themselves if it's available to them and if they want to buy it or not. It does very much fit the theme.

Any other nominations?

In particular we need more original tales.
I'd like to put up the polls tomorrow or the following day.

Hmm.

Beauty and the Beast Tales from Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner has a whole slew of original animal transformation tales.

Mary wrote: "Hmm.

Beauty and the Beast Tales from Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner has a whole slew of original animal transformation tales."

Thanks! Sounds great!

So can anyone confirm please if Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce has animal transformations in it or not.
Going by the description I would say not, but I don't know!

I will add Bear Daughter as it also fits the theme. People can check first if it's available to them before voting for it.
Both Bear Daughter and Someplace to Be Flying work in First Nations/Native American Mythology of Animal People into the story. Bear Daughter is set in an alternative universe that resembles the pre-Columbian Pacific Northwest and Someplace to be Flying is set in the contemporary world.

I un-nominated Wild Magic, because it sounds like a no-fit. I think we have plenty others that do fit better.

Kathy wrote: "I un-nominated Wild Magic, because it sounds like a no-fit. I think we have plenty others that do fit better."

Oh okay! I missed that! I have not nominated a YA book yet. I'll look around

For YA

What about Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones?

or Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

or Fudoki by Kij Johnson

I'll nominate the one you all think might fit our theme best.

There's The Wild Swans, by Hans Christian Andersen

Free versions are available on the internet.
http://hca.gilead.org.il/wild_swa.html
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32572...

Kristina wrote: "I just realized with Margaret mentioning whether or not libraries have a copy that this may prove a challenge for Opal. "

Last year I bought my copy of Opal in paperback online direct through publisher for a very reasonable price, but I haven't read it yet (eek). It's also available in an ebook version too if I remember correctly. (If anyone's read Wolves and Witches it's from the same publisher, World Weaver Press.)

FYI The Coachman Rat is an excellent reimagining/retelling (weird in a good way) but it may be kind of hard to get a hold of if you don't already have a copy.

For adult I'd like to nominate The Fox Woman. I know a few of you have already read this, and we've nominated it for the group read multiple times in the past.

For YA I have about a gazillion nominations but this time around I settled on The Swan Maiden.

Margaret wrote: "I have no idea why my post went all italics like that!..."

It happens when you quote someone and it cuts off one of the book titles.

Easy way to fix it is if when you quote someone and you see it only has a partial book link, either add an ] at the end or remove the link entirely since it won't work anyway.

Lots of great nominations! I'll have to browse through my shelves and see what else I have to add

Kathy wrote: "For YA

What about Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones?

or Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

or Fudoki by Kij Johnson

I'll n..."

The Fox Woman definitely fits, but it's adult, not YA so we can add it to that category.
Beast is YA also fits.
The only one IMO that doesn't is Dogsbody because it's not really about a human transforming into an animal, rather it seems to be about a star that dies and is reborn into the body of a dog. I don't have really strong feelings about this however, so if anyone really feels it should go in I'll put it in!
Just let me know!

Also now that there are more adult novels perhaps I should leave Bear Daughter for another time?

The Updated List

Adult
Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint nominated by Kathy seconded by me
The Coachman RatThe Coachman Rat by David Henry Wilson nominated by Chris
The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness
Nominated by Margaret
Draw One in the Dark by Sarah A. Hoyt nominated by Mary
The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson nominated by Leah
Fudoki also by Kij Johnson nominated by Kathy

Young Adult
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan nominated by Margaret
Opal by Kristina Wojtaszek
Changeling's Island by Dave Freer
The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson nominated by Leah
Beast by Donna Jo Napoli nominated by Kathy
The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint nominated by me

Original tales
East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen nominated by me
The Crane Wife by Sumiko Yagawa
( is this the one? ) nominated by Margaret
Beauty and the Beast Tales from Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner nominated by Mary
The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen nominated by Monica

Jalilah wrote: "The Crane Wife by Sumiko Yagawa
( is this the one? ) nominated by Margaret ."

It looks like the same tale. I found a bunch of free versions online, but this looks the same, plus has illustrations :)

For original tales, Ovid's Metamorphoses would be a great fit, but it's rather long.
But if Mary can nominate one of Heiner's books, then I can nominate that! And we can read selections from it, rather than teh whole thing, and just focus on the animal parts rather than the ones where people are turned into plants and such.

I'm going to nominate Patrick Ness's version of The Crane Wife for the adult read, and Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan for the YA pick. "Tender Morsels" is based on "Snow White, Rose Red," and is one of my favorite retellings ever.

Lacey wrote: "I'm going to nominate Patrick Ness's version of The Crane Wife for the adult read, and Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan for the YA pick. "Tender Morsels" is based on "..."

Those are exactly the nominations I made, haha. :)

I could read all of these. I am thinking I want this theme & the books to last several months so that I can actually read them all.

And I have had Bear Daughter on my TBR list forever. I do want to read that one also!

Melanti wrote: "For original tales, Ovid's Metamorphoses would be a great fit, but it's rather long.
But if Mary can nominate one of Heiner's books, then I can nominate that! And we can read selections..."

Good idea.

Kathy wrote: "I could read all of these. I am thinking I want this theme & the books to last several months so that I can actually read them all.

And I have had Bear Daughter on my TBR list foreve..."

We can certainly keep on talking after the month.

We can do group reads of the ones that don't get chosen.

Melanti wrote: "For original tales, Ovid's Metamorphoses would be a great fit, but it's rather long.
But if Mary can nominate one of Heiner's books, then I can nominate that! And we can read selections..."

Oh my! Beauty and the Beast Tales from Around the World has 830 pages! And Metamorphoses 723!

Kathy wrote: "I could read all of these. I am thinking I want this theme & the books to last several months so that I can actually read them all.

And I have had Bear Daughter on my TBR list foreve..."

I feel the same way! Should I put Bear Daughter in?

Jalilah wrote: "Oh my! Beauty and the Beast Tales from Around the World has 830 pages! And Metamorphoses 723! ..."

They're not just books, they're doorstops!