I’m reading Anno Dracula and really enjoying it, in no small part because of the literature/pop culture references, such as Lord Ruthven (of John Polidori’s The Vampyre) is the PM of Dracula’s British Empire, one of the main characters attending a gathering of London criminal masterminds, including a Chinese Doctor (Fu Manchu) and a Mathematics Professor (Moriarty), and a minor appearance by an American reporter “in a rumpled white suit and a straw hat” (Carl Kolchak, best known from the TV series Kolchak: the Night Stalker).

Has anyone heard of The Somnambulist? Because I just finished, and was quite honestly, very disappointed, considering what could have been. (like that’s fair). I’ve been thinking it might be interesting/instructive to do a review on the main site though, just because what went right before going wrong.

I just reread Pride and Prejudice. So much love.

Also, just reread the first few All Creatures Great and Small books. Much love too.

That’s the original, All Creatures Great and Small. Oh, Tristan. Fun fact: the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, got his start playing Tristan on the BBC adaptation of All Creatures.

...actually I’m still going to hold out hope that it’s good.

Well, if it helps, it’s not bad. But there’s plenty to talk about…so I guess I have an assignment! (I think you’ll have plenty of time to read it Steph, it’s been awhile since I’ve tried to write something suitable for other people to read.

It’s been so long since I read All Creatures Great and Small! I still remember my mom’s old paperback, with a bright blue spine. Reread The Irish Country Doctor book/s last year, so maybe I should cycle all the way back. I watched the show with my aunt, now I want to watch it too. Wonder if it’s still on Netflix?

Let’s not complain about this.

Let’s not

Mmmm

Handling the Undead is a creepy book.

:) Brits. Classic.

... why are we talking about TV in the Book Thread?

I finally checked out A Game of Thrones and Storm Front, just so I will no longer have to be the only one who hasn’t and can’t be told to read them all the time anymore. AGoT I haven’t started yet, but I can’t say that I’m all that impressed by SF yet. Then again, I’ve heard it doesn’t get really awesome until the fourth book. It seems to be a pretty quick read, and I’m being on my reading challenge at Goodreads.

Also, has anyone heard of Bloodthirsty? I thought it was a lot of fun. Terribly shallow, but enthusiastically so.

It’s Yr Life by Tempany Deckert and Tristan Bancks.

It’s really good. It’s realistic and it addresses a couple of issues in life. Down to earth AND IT COMBINES AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA :D

Thank God the librarian decided to put this book in the school library. Perfect for teenagers. :D

I finished ‘The Rogue Crew’ a few days ago.
Not as good as Old Redwall (up to Rakkety Tam), but better than most of New Redwall (High Rhulain onwards).

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT!!!

I LOVE Skulduggery Pleasant! It’s quirky and everyone should read it. Two of my best friends are even more of a fan of Skulduggery Pleasant, and they’d probably go on about it more than I would.

But I wouldn’t blame them. I mean, come on, the series has magic, original gods, some good character development, lovable characters, fiendishly funny but still chock-full of actions and it has a living skeleton as one of the main characters. So cool.

Derek Landy (the author) is refreshingly funny. :D

I remember reading a few CHERUB books and thinking they were like Alex Rider, only better. Not sure if all of them made it over to America though.

edit after reading the Wikipedia page: I guess they haven’t. I got as far as Divine Madness a few years ago, it looks like I haven’t missed much.

I bought two collections of Lovecraft’s short stories (and a really tiny one of his poems). So good.

Pfft, I don’t read books as they come out. That would be the trendy thing to do. We don’t have all the books at the shop, so I’ll have to get some of them out of the library.

I’m still looking for a book in the CHERUB series

Hold on one little minute there. These books are meant to be 12+, missie. :P

thinking they were like Alex Rider, only better.

I wouldn’t say better, honestly, different. But the author seems to forget that his main character is 12.

These books are meant to be 12+, missie

Dude, I’m 14. I’m pretty sure 14 is a little older than 12.

Dude, I’m 14. I’m pretty sure 14 is a little older than 12.

Last time I knew you were 12, and “it’s been so long…” implies a little longer than two years. :P

Wish that Fitz was a companion on the series proper.

OHGOD, I couldn’t stand him. Drove me up the bloody wall.

Ok, confession time. I’ve only read Earthworld… and I didn’t finish it because I had no clue what was going on, I wasn’t enjoying the story or any of the characters.

Maybe I need a new perspective – which is his best book?

No One, are you really 14? I thought… well, I thought you were eleven. And that you were amazingly mature.

I don’t know how I got that.

And yeah, EarthWorld didn’t make a lick of sense.

Oh thank goodness. I thought it was me – I mean, I picked up the book and felt I was dumped in the middle of an ongoing story – the Doctor has amnesia, these companions I hadn’t heard of and a weird park that didn’t make sense. I’m not a regular reader of oldWho books, but ones I have read I’ve generally managed to pick up as I go. The King of Terror was a good one, if a little depressing.

Did you know/do you remember the BBC had a bunch of oldWho free eBooks up on the DW website a while back? Including Human Nature (Paul Cornell’s original). THEY TOOK THEM DOWN. I am so disappointed, I stupidly didn’t download them all.

If No One wants to be 14, leave it be.

“wants to be”? No, it’s a case of me not keeping track of time. I still think Puppet’s 12, and if I engage my brain, I remember that he isn’t anymore. Heck, I still think Spanman is either 13 or 16.

@Steph, because you’re as bad as me. :D

“wants to be”? No, it’s a case of me not keeping track of time. I still think Puppet’s 12, and if I engage my brain, I remember that he isn’t anymore. Heck, I still think Spanman is either 13 or 16.

Aww, Jeni, THIS. The people I have the most problem with remembering age are Puppet and SWQ (oddly enough).

Yes, I’m really 14.

Well grins sheepishly thanks for clearing that up :D

but the hell called school prevented me from reading as much as I would’ve liked.

Gets worse.

The people I have the most problem with remembering age are Puppet and SWQ (oddly enough).

Wait, how old do you think I am?

Book related: AP Lit! Oh my god it’s been two (and a half) days and I already love this class. We get to pick what books to read and write a 15 page journal. I’m doing Lolita, because I really wanted to reread it. :)

Eh, I always forget how old everyone is. I just sort of assume everyone is somewhere between mid-teens and twenty-something.

Agreed. Books are sacred, man. (well, published ones. self-published is a different story). Besides, reading on a screen is for hipsters and internet-addicts.

Project Gutenberg is the exception, because there’s often no other way for most people to access them.

Good, good and more good.

I shall smile for the rest of today.

Project Gutenberg

A massive collection of texts (all formats, including one available for eReaders) that are out of copyright – a good way of reading the classics.

You need an Apple Device of a Kindle SWQ. Best bit of money you can spend, just for Gutenburg!

Currently reading The Phoenix Conspiracy by Richard Sanders.

You need an Apple Device of a Kindle SWQ. Best bit of money you can spend, just for Gutenburg!

But I don’t really like reading long pieces on the screen. It’s just uncomfortable for me. Also, I like books. :)

It’s just uncomfortable for me. Also, I like books. :)

Hmm, well there is that, though the Kindle screen is as un-screen-like as can be, purposefully for people like you!

But yeah, I totally understand that.

Oh dearie me, a Hermione-wannabe!

Just listened to Bean read Jonathon Livingston Seagull out loud.

shudder

Now I remember why I hate that book so much.

I miss reading Flowers for Algernon. I’ve only read one little bit of it since school started, and that was the night of the first day of school. :(

Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer? It was pretty good.

There are a couple of sci fi mysteries I’m currently reading, but it’s all spaceships and stuff as well so she might not like it as much. The mystery stuff is top-notch though.

Oh, not a young-adult then?

Hmm, Bourne Trilogy was amazing. A bazillion times better than the films. Maybe too much action?

How about Stieg Larsson? He’s written some pretty awesome stuff.

Hmm, Bourne Trilogy was amazing. A bazillion times better than the films.

I read Bourne Identity and it made me want to rip my hair out. I suppose some parts of it could have been better than the film, but so much of it, mostly relating to Marie, was so bad that I couldn’t see past it.

I miss reading Flowers for Algernon.

I love that book so much! :D

While some of you may not like reading on a computer screen, here are two legal collections of books for you to read.

I just bought the final Alex Rider book, which is curious because I thought Crocodile Tears was meant to be the last. I mean, I saw it when it was released and it made my brain go “huh?” but I mostly ignored it until now.

I think I must be in the mood for snotty teenage super spies at the moment.

Still! For shame. :( When’s it released in paperback?

I’M IN LOVE WITH IT ALL.

D:

I read all of the Alex Rider books up to… I think the one before the one before the one you guys are talking about. I liked them, but I quit reading for two reasons. One, at that time, there weren’t any others out. And two, too many plot contrivances. Going to space may have been what made it jump the shark for me.

I’ll check the next time at the library, though, and if they have the new ones, I’ll probably check them out. :D I did like the books, even if they did get kind of contrived at times.

That’s the whole reason I read them.

And Alex’s sexy one-liners.

I’ve read all of them, they’re a big part of my childhood

Heh.

And Jeni, the ending is really sad, at least, I really wanted to rage at Horowitz for what he did.

SHUT UP YOU DIRTY SPOILER WHORE. SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.

NO BE QUIET.

I haven’t even read the blurb. I don’t want to spoil anything. :D

Hmmmmmm.

Good point.

However will you know what you’re about to read, whether it’s good or not?

Because it’s an established series that I already enjoy. I’m going to read it whether it’s good or bad.

Just read Herbert Mason’s rendition of The Epic of Gilgamesh this morning. It’s really short.

Currently halfway through the lyrical beauty (hurr hurr hurr) that is Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf.