NationStates Jolt Archive

I was orignially going to post this as a response to the thread asking about good books, but I realized this was its own topic. So, first off, are there any books you read in the past, and now can't remember/can't find them? I particularly have this problem as I read a lot from my school library, and they had some real random books sometimes (lol).

So, here are my 'forgotten books:'

1: It follows a young boy(elementary, I think) who lives in a troubled household and is impoverished. He is a nice kid, though, and gets picked on in school. The only thing I can truly remember is that somehow a plant is involved...like he takes care of a potted flower or something.

2: This one might be a short story, but it follows a high-schooler (a boy) who's jaded and a bit...off. He reminds me of Holden Caulfield(Catcher in the Rye). The only element I remember from the story is that he's typing a paper (on a typewriter, mind you) in an hourglass shape, mimicking a woman's figure. I think he's being observed by a girl(a girl is the one telling the story)...but i'm not sure.

So, if anyone can help based on these horibble synopses, much is appreciated. Feel free to post your own, as well.

1: It follows a young boy(elementary, I think) who lives in a troubled household and is impoverished. He is a nice kid, though, and gets picked on in school. The only thing I can truly remember is that somehow a plant is involved...like he takes care of a potted flower or something.James and the Giant Peach?

James and the Giant Peach?

Uh, no. That's like, way off. Um, I think the kid lived in N. York or some urban sprawl city...

I read a story about a man who developed psychic powers by staring into a candleflame for an hour every day. I wish I could remember what it was called. I think it was by Stephan King.

Uh, no. That's like, way off. Um, I think the kid lived in N. York or some urban sprawl city...
Zack n da Beanstalk, fo' shizzle?

I once left a copy of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising on a bus. Does that count?

Platin Flawers fo Gangstas?

I once read this book and in it something happened, but I can't remeber the name or what happened or what the book was about.

Can't help you with yours, but perhapsyou can help me with mine.

I read it at school in English. It was about the American civil war and one solider traped behind enermy lines, he slowly come to change sides, it had a big bloke with the nickname Heifer in it?

I once left a copy of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising on a bus. Does that count?

Aww, the poor book.

And I can't help you, Peep. I'm not a big Civil War book fan (I loathed Cold Mtn).

Peep was it Gods and Generals? It was probably by Jeff Sharah or Michael Sharah, they made the best Civil War books ever.

1) Story about a cheese-making elf. I remember that my fascination with cheese started with this book...he made cheese with raisins, peaches, dill, etc...it was a mouthwatering description. Some other action-type things happened in this book but mostly I remember the cheese. There was some sort of flying contraption on the cover.

2) This was a discard from a bookstore, so no cover...fantasy book, and they would cut the head off people who were about to die in order to preserve their memories and knowledge etc...then house the heads in warehouses. This is very pre-Futurama btw. Anyway, the protagonist was a woman whose job it was to go cut the heads off just before death. Don't remember much more but I'd like to read it again.

2) This was a discard from a bookstore, so no cover...fantasy book, and they would cut the head off people who were about to die in order to preserve their memories and knowledge etc...then house the heads in warehouses. This is very pre-Futurama btw. Anyway, the protagonist was a woman whose job it was to go cut the heads off just before death. Don't remember much more but I'd like to read it again.

Wyrms by Orson Scott Card (http://www.curledup.com/wyrms.htm)

Good book.

I read a story about a man who developed psychic powers by staring into a candleflame for an hour every day. I wish I could remember what it was called. I think it was by Stephan King.

Argh I can remember just that much too

Wyrms by Orson Scott Card (http://www.curledup.com/wyrms.htm)

Good book.x2, I really enjoyed that one too (have a hardcover copy on the shelf, actually).

Ok, mine is a short story. There is a magic(?) act where the owner has a midget get inside of a robot body and move it around. After doing this the man puts a cover over the robot case thing. One time the man puts the cover over the air-holes accidentally and kills the midget inside. When he discovers this he freaks out and throws the midget and robot-suit into the ocean. But then the robot-suit comes back and kills the owner that killed him. Anyways, it was written in a very serious style; perhaps if you've read "Deep Breathing Exercises" by Orson Scott Card you'd have an idea of what I mean. I've been trying to find this story for YEARS but haven't been able to figure out what it was!