How/when did you start reading Isobelle's books?

[Ceirwan]

mysterikat said:

it was one of those defining moments, listening to her talk, and it made me realise that i needed to write my storied and my poems. i had been feeling a bit weird about writing all the time (no one in my family writes, none of my friends wrote) but listening to IC made me realise that it was okay to be a writer.

I've never met IC in person, but reading the first book was certainly a defining moment in my life as well, for exactly the same reason.

[MajiKat]

i hope you get the chance to meet her Roz - she is so inspirational!

[Pippin]

MysteriKat, I must have started reading obernewtyn about the same time as you (about year 7, 1992). Scruffy, you were lucky cause you got enlightened earlier Unlike you MysteriKat, I met Isabelle then read the books instead of the other way around so I didn't have any books to get signed . I think I might have her autograpraph tucked away on a bit of paper tho, my memory has ran away regarding that.
I'll have to scuffle around my boxes of old stuff to see if I do have it...
*scuffle scuffle*

[Lucy]

Wow, Mysterikat that's such a great thing to hear. I always hope that IC might make her way over here at some point, but I don't suppose that's very likely!!
I used to write a lot when I was younger, but now I can never find the time, or have an idea but can never seem to develop it. It's nice though, because I can read an IC book, and it's kinda like that;s what I would've written so I get a certain satisfaction from it. Scatterlings, the first IC book I read, was just like that. It was as though it had been written just for me!! Everything I wanted in a book (at that time) was there. I still read it to give me a boost or escape sometimes!! My little fix of IC in only a few hours

[Emma-Jayde]

I was given Obernewtyn for Easter when I was in year 3, in 1996, so I would have been 7 at the time.
I too thought the book was ugly and the blurb boring... I didn't read it until after my 8th birthday, and I read it only because I'd read everything else in my bookshelf many times over.
I'm glad I did read it... I got The Farseekers for my 9th birthday and Ashling for the Christmas after.
I was given The Keeping Place just before I went into hospital for spinal surgery in 1999, so that was great to keep me entertained for about 2 days of the few weeks where I wasn't actually allowed to do anything.
Actually, I read the whole series again after I'd finished it..
And then my Mum bought me Darkfall and Scatterlings, and my IC collection has been expanding ever since.

[Ceirwan]

Wow, you must have some fairly powerful memories attached to the books, Emma-Jayde!

Lucy, here's a quote from an author that you might appreciate (it's from Alain de Botton): "For me, the finest books are those where an author has put his or her finger on emotions we recognise as our own but could not have formulated on our own. We have a feeling that the author knows us - perhaps better than we know ourselves."

That's how I've always felt about the Obernewtyn Chronicles...

[arielli]

Hmmm ok I first read Obernewtyn in...I think 2002 or 2003 which would make me either 15 or 16.
A friend of mine was a big fan and once when I was at her house I picked up her copy and asked if it was any good. Straight away this excited look broke out over her face and proceeded to tell me how she'd been meaning to recommend this book to me for some time because there was a character in it who reminded her of me. I'll mention at this point that the character in question was Ariel...yeah I'm still not sure if she meant it as a compliment or not either. Anyway I borrowed the book from my school library (because my friend point blank refused to allow her copy out of her sight...can't say I blame her; I have a penchant for dog earing) and set to reading it. My first impression of Ariel was less than favourable. I got a description of a small, girlish boy with a high pitched, piping voice and a sadistic nature and promptly started to berate my friend for comparing me to him. She just laughed and told me to wait until I reached the third and fourth book and then I'd understand that what she'd said was a good thing.
Well I've since read all 4 books several times and while I think what my friend meant by "you remind me of Ariel" was "you look like Ariel is described as looking like (high praise indeed)" I'm still a little irate about being equated with the sadistic little bugger.
Although I can't deny that the character doesn't fascinate me. I've said it before but if I could play any character in an O-chron film it'd be Ariel. I've become quite fixated on the idea. Of course I'd probably be too old (19 going on 20) to play him as he's described in the first book but with some creative mental editting on my part, every time I now read Obernewtyn, age is no longer an issue.

And that's my story.

[Ceirwan]

arielli said:

I'm still a little irate about being equated with the sadistic little bugger.

Ha! That made me laugh.

But I think Ariel is one of the most interesting characters. Someone said on another thread somewhere that the books are really almost a chronicle of two characters' stories: Elspeth and Ariel. I think that's a very good point. And you never know... they've made a movie of Eragon, and having just read that book (nowhere near as good as the OC!) I figure they can probably turn anything into a movie nowadays!

Just wait.... after the release of The Sending the whole series could undergo a revival in popularity - imagine if there's a worldwide explosion of its success (like Harry Potter or something like that). Won't we on this website feel pretty chuffed?

[alwayslove]

One day, months and months into the past... like.. January. I happened upon a rather small library. I've always been a fan of fantasy, and I'd heard from Diana Wynne jones' fans that IC was pretty good too. So I grabbed the first book I found in this library, by IC, which just happened to be Obernewtyn.

and so my love affair began. I now own all the books, after the library, which turned out to be crap (is it just me, or are they trading in books for more computers these days. ) At my old school, they tried to stop us calling it a library, instead it is now a Library Resource Centre.

The place I got the books from is awesome For people who live in WA, go check out a place called Books and Beans --- truly great book store.

seeya

[Lina]

Roz, Arielli's quote made me laugh too

I picked up my first OC book back in yr 6, along with another fav author of mine Diana Wynne Jones. I first read Obernewtyn and Farseeker, yes by a good way to pick reading a book: the covers looked pretty! Of course, the blurb on the back sounded great too, but the covers! You know the detailed ones, about what the 3rd printing where the first one had Elspeth outside, prolly just about to go into Obernewtyn and the Farseekers had the one where she is in those red rocks sitting up on the groud with the Agyllians. They looks so pretty!

It wasn't until highschool that I picked up the series again... this time The Ashlings (I saw it was the 3rd in that series... and it was the HUGE version... but with the same pretty pictures as Elspeth as a Gypsy) and at first I didn't like it so I stopped about a quarter of the way through. It HAD been a long time since I had read the first two so I was a bit lost. Later on towards the end of the year... I think I started reading the 1st 2 again before continuing on with The Ashlings and later The Keeping Place... I have a funny feeling too that I picked that at and stopped at the start... I'm sorry but that just had a WAY too long of an opening sequence for me.

I have this trend with IC's books, I start them... stop them (cause I got bored with it - yes I know don't bite my head off) and then start them again I did it once again with Darkfall, the series which I like more than Obernewtyn. I've done it with Billy Thunder and the Night Gate... and haven't picked it up to continue it since, though I'm considering buying it, cause I do love all IC's books.

It's funny, but I've realised that Isobelle's worlds are really complex and the start sets up the setting for it all. Once you get past that it's pure gold!

[Deleted]

Oh gods, everyone else's reasons for reading IC are either inspirational or totally normal. It makes me pretty ashamed that I picked up Obernewtyn when I was in grade 6 because the boy I had a crush on once recommended it to his friend within my hearing. So my pathetic 11 year old self borrowed them from the local library and during one of our class's silent reading sessions, I was called up to read a few passages out loud to the teacher in the corner of the room and I made sure he could hear me by raising my voice and putting a slight emphasis on all the names. He turned around and gave me the thumbs up when he realised what book it was and I swooned! ;D Well, not really. But it gave me a sad (in hindsight) sense of satisfaction nevertheless. Ha, I can't believe I still remember this. *buries head in hands*

Yeah. But I did actually enjoy the books a lot! ...she said trying to justify her sad prepubescent experiment with centering her decisions around what might impress a guy. Plus he lent me his copy of Ashling which had only just come out and was already on loan from the library when I went looking for it. Too bad I'd progressed onto innocently lusting after purely fictional characters like Matty by then. I suppose if we ever had a primary school reunion, I would have to thank him for being the catalyst for my IC fixation. ;D

[Lina]

Lol I love Matty too! Aww that's so cute!! We both started reading it in the same year too Although, mine wasn't for a guy, nooooo the guy that I liked back then was too interested in my friends to notice me... well that and I doubt he would have picked up a book to read just for fun unless it had pictures in it.

Yep - I pick all them good ones

[alwayslove]

That's hilarious! / really really cute. I love funny memories like that.

Isn't it funny when you look back on the guys you used to like when you were in primary school, and they don't seem very impressive at all.

i can understand why you turned to fictional characters, they stay impressive/wonderful/attractive forever. ;D

[Lina]

Yes - makes hard standards for real guys to live up to doesn't it

Then again, it also makes life a bit depressing

I look back on all my former crushes and laugh (well, most of them I laugh at ). Fond memories though... again of most of them

[deb]

OK now I feel really old. I first read Obernewtyn early 1988. It was given to me by my older sister. I was 23, now I'm 41 and have been waiting for 18 years for the outcome. I read the books on average twice a year so that makes it about 36 times for Obernewtyn. I own most of IC's books including Little Fur which i have yet to be able to get into and send copies to people in America when I get extras. (My sister has friends who work at the printers and occasionally throws a few copies my way.) I am slowly going (gone) crazy waiting year after year for the next installment, three years for farseekers, a couple more for Ashling, you get the picture, and on top of that I have had to wait for Darksong and the third Billy thunder as well. I totally agree that there should be a sequel to Alyzon Whitestarr but please not until the sending and darkbane have been released. cheers.

[Min]

Aw, Deb, don't feel old! The greatest thing about IC is that all her books have such beautiful messages I don't think they should be restricted to a certain age group.
1988 - you must have been given the first edition!! *is envious*

Galli - that's the best story I've ever heard!!! LOL!!

[guanette]

I've met IC, and she signed a copy of "The Gathering" (which is my fave book of hers after Obernewtyn) when she was judging a writing competition at my school. My story won a prize (this was in yr 8, I was ecstatic) and she told me she liked the humour in it. I also received a (handwritten) page of comments about my story.

I started reading Obernewtyn in year 7, just because it looked like a cool book. Then I continued reading it because Elspeth is one heck of an awesome, STRONG female character. And the series simply rocks.

[LinJa]

Oh Fudgey! I was sure I'd written in here about how I'd first picked up Obernewtyn. Drats ... [So much for my exploration of the outside - not very thorough, indeed]

Anyways, I first saw the book on the table infront of my friend at school. I remember seeing the cover of a gypsy-looking girl riding a black horse and pulling carts on a VERY HUGE book. (Chocs to anyone who can guess which book of OC it is )
I asked my friend if the book was any good (I love reading, eversince I was little - like yr 4-5? I won a certificate for borrowing the most books in my class, 257 books, in a year in yr 4, I think. Still have the blue paper till this day), so naturally, I wanted to know. She said "YES!" but I can't remember what else she said ... this was like in yr 10, 1998-1999.
I'd forgotten about it later on. But I think it was in that year, or the next, that I was running my fingers through the books in the library to find something to read when I noticed the book again. So I opened it, first thing I saw was that it wasn't the first book, so I looked for the first book, and so on etcetera .. OC fan, I became. Lucky for me, I didn't have to wait long for the Fourth Book. But, oh the wait on The Fifth one is soooooooooooooo0oooo0ooooooo0oo0oooo0ooooo00oo00oo000oo00o long!!

Good thing I like to read and can occupy that time of waiting with other books and life AND watching anime! ^_^

[Gahltha~]

I started reading IC books in grade 6 (2000). Billy Thunder and the Night Gate was on our shelf of random books in our classroom so i decided to read it. I loved it, then we went on a trip and went to this huge book store, and i brought Darkfall and that was so good, my aunty brought me Obernewtyn for that christmas, and in the next 2-3 weeks i brought every IC book i could find Legendsong Trilogy is still my favourite to this date, probably because i read them first ^^ Though Scatterlings comes close

[Ashta]

crazyauro said:

My grandparents got all four of the Obernewtyn books for my birthday one year on a recommendation from the store assistant at Angus & Robertson.

Hehe, I work for Angus & Robertson now, and I'm the kind of assistant who recomends Obernewtyn ALL THE TIME! lol.

I began in about 1999, when a friend of mine bought me scatterlings for my birthday. It was pretty cool and I lent it to my mother to read as well. Then I began reading Obernewtyn after that and the rest is well, history!

[voidboi]

Hrmm, I had a copy of book 1 sitting around for about half a year, and only about a month ago decided to start reading it. Of course, several people from here have hinted elsewhere I should read it for a while. Halfway through book 4 but my woman has run off with it to read it.

[Ceirwan]

mornirkirara said:

Roz, Arielli's quote made me laugh too

I first read Obernewtyn and Farseeker, yes by a good way to pick reading a book: the covers looked pretty! Of course, the blurb on the back sounded great too, but the covers! You know the detailed ones, about what the 3rd printing where the first one had Elspeth outside, prolly just about to go into Obernewtyn and the Farseekers had the one where she is in those red rocks sitting up on the groud with the Agyllians. They looks so pretty!

Yes, I've got those editions of the books and I love those covers as well. Actually, I adore them. I'd love to get the cover for Obernewtyn as the wallpaper for my computer *looks for anyone that knows how to do that*

I know some people had an earlier version with an ugly cover, but I still see the covers of the versions I have and instantly get lost in that 'other world'

[Ceirwan]

pip said:

So I guess I’ve had about a 14 year wait for the series’ completion now… sad isn’t it?!

Yep, there are definitely a few of us who have had just the same experience! I'm 25 and I started reading the books in 1993.

I'm also glad that I've found this site and found there are people who are just as obsessed about the books as I am... or for whom the books have been just as life-changing as they were for me.

Keep posting on this site and you'll find that we're all good fun and extremely supportive of each other as well, not to mention budding writers! You'll have to come along to one of our meets someday.

[Lauren]

I first read Ober in...it must have been 2004. When I was in grade 6 and 7 (2002-3) my friend read them, I remember seeing her head over the top of the Obernewtyn cover. In grade 6, I entered Nestles Write Around Australia, and won Zone Champion, so I got $500 worth of books, among them being Obernewytn. None of them seemed very interesting, except Obernewtyn, but I never got around to reading it. Then one day, I was sick, lying in my sisters bed, and I started to read...and read...and read...
I finished Ober, went onto Farseekers. I read that whole book in one day, when I was sick again, and lying on the couch with my cat. Rusty and I have shared many an hour reading together. I then ordered in both Ashling and TKP from our local Angus & Robertson (bless them), and then continued to read and read and read and read...most people, when in trouble, get banned from the TV/computer/etc, but I had my book taken away from me It was so sad.

So thats my story! Galli, yours is awesome

[shahrazad]

I found Obernewtyn and the Farseekers together in my school Library in the autumn term of the academic year '99/2000, I remember because it was the same academic year that I became obsessed with the works of one JK. Rowling, and that I saw The Mask of Zorro at the cinema (I finished the Farseekers on the same day). I initially thought it was a trilogy, but could find no sign of the third book at any local libraries or bookshops, and pretty much thought they'd never be finished as the Farseekers was published in the Early 90's. Fast-forward through six years in which nothing Carmody related happens in my life - aside from reading 'The Scatterlings' - to my 19th birthday, my sister gives me an amazon gift certificate which I use to buy Ashling. Imagine the disappointment I felt when nothing was really resolved, and as far as I could tell, there was no way to get a copy of The Keeping Place for less than £40. Fast-forward to this February and my 20th birthday, after months of leaving hints and post-its, and outright instructions I believe that my sister is going to buy me TKP, I join this forum one night while trying to write an essay in my excitement only to be disappointed again. The story has a happy(ish) ending though, I got TKP for £15 from an Australian internet bookseller (thanks for the heads up whoever advised me to do that!) And now I am a mere 50 pages from finishing the book.

Bring on the sending!


Too much information?

I just read the rest of the thread, and apparently not! some people have fantastic memories. I don't remmeber any of the boys I had crushes on in primary school, I had to block all of that out to remain sane. Now to work on erasing high school...