Kell

I know this is a double post, but it's back to discussion of the book, rather than the cover, so I wanted to separate them. This time a couple of observations/questions regarding Chapter 4:

Would that be THIS cover then? And I think yours looks like THIS. It's quite interesting looking at all the different covers and trying to work out the target audience of each of the publishers from it... From what I can gather, there were actually three different versions of the novel published at various times and it's said that the 2nd version is the most explicit. I'm now wondering which version I have!

My copy is one of the Wordsworth Classics series and looks like THIS. I'm part way through Chapter 3 and have an observation to make, so I'll put it in spoiler tags for those who haven't got that far yet: Of course, if you're past that point or don't mind seeing my thoughts before you read that point in the book, feel free to take a peek!

Actually, you've just reminded me of another nark about novels. When a film is made of a book, they tend to reissue the book with a movie tie-in cover and plant such words on it as "Now a major motion picture!" on them. It was a book first - isn't that good enough?!

Best of luck with the award Stephen - keeping everything crossed for you!

I have The Time Machine on Mount T-B-R - looking forward to it more than ever now!

Another thing that's bugging me lately about novels is when the author's name is larger than the title of the book - it really narks me for some reason!

I'm only a few pages in (I sneaked a peak while I was in the bath), so I'll not be giving away any plot points (hence no need to use spoiler tags), but I just wanted to mention that the instant impression that has come to me is that D. H. Lawrence had a profound respect for women, seeing them as intelligent, rational, capable creatures with an innate sense and love of freedom. One quote that really leapt out at me from page 2 and gave me a warm chuckle was in mentioning the youth of Constance and her sister: "The had been sent to Dresden at the age of fifteen, for music among other things. And they had had a good time there. They lived freely among the students, they argued with men over philosophical, sociological and artistic matters, they were just as good as the men themselves: only better, since they were women."

Hello & , Laura! I hope you'll enjoy sharing your favourite books and authors with us!

I don't mind that so much as it's usually out of the way, down by the ISBN number. Also, there are a lot of books written as if they are factual, so it's handy to have on them somewhere that they're actually works of fiction. I actually don't mind too much about the "a novel" bit when it's in such cases as "an illustrated novel" - some folks don't like them and might be miffed to get a book home only to find it's full of pictures. Other people actively seek out graphic novels, and it's nice to be able to see at a glance which are graphic / illustrated novels. In cases where it's just "a novel" though, it seems a bit pointless. "A novel of... " however, can be pretty good, for example, "The Winter King - A Novel of Arthur" by Bernard Cornwell - folks might not realise it's part of a series at first sight if it weren't for that addition...

I hope you enjoy The Time Traveler's Wife - we read it as our Reading Circle choice in November 2005 - I hope you'll nip along to the Reading Circle thread and add your thoughts.

Well, tomorrow is the last day of the month, and I just wanted to say a huge "thank you" to Kelley for being here to answer our questions - it's been a real pleasure having you here, Kelley, and I hope you'll still visit from time to time and keep us all posted on all your new releases (or even just to say, "Hello!").

For those who are interested, you can get your mitts on both these titles for free, as they are out of copyright and in the public domain: Free Audio Books from Librivox: Carmilla by J. Sheridan LeFanu Dracula by Bram Stoker Free E-Books from Project Gutenberg: Carmilla by J. Sheridan LeFanu Dracula by Bram Stoker So, you don't even have to go out and buy copies if you'd like to try them - how's THAT for a good deal?! I hope we'll all enjoy discussing these two novels.

I know it's a couple of days early, but I thought I'd set up the thread for discussing our Reading Circle choice for July - a hot and steamy novel to raise the temperatures for those of us having a not so hot British summer! Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence Constance Chatterley feels trapped in her sexless marriage to the invalid Sir Clifford. Unable to fulfill his wife emotionally or physically, Clifford encourages her to have a liaison with a man of their own class. But Connie is attracted instead to her husband's gamekeeper and embarks on a passionate affair that brings new life to her stifled existence. Can she find a true equality with Mellors, despite the vast gulf between their positions in society? One of the most controversial novels in English literature, Lady Chatterley's Lover is an erotically charged and psychologically powerful depiction of adult relationships. Some questions to consider: 1- Who was your favourite character and why? 2- Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? 3- Was this the first book you've read in this genre/ by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? 4- Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? 5- Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? (You do not have to answer all, or indeed, any, of these questions, they are meant only as points for you to perhaps mull over as you read, and provoke more discussion. Please feel free to ask and answer any questions that come up as you read.) I hope you'll all enjoy reading Lady Chatterley's Lover - I'm sure it will be a real conversation-starter!

They ARE good - start with Bitten and go on from there - you won't regret it!

I have this on my Wish List - now I'm really looking forward to getting it!

That's sounds great, Wrath - I think I'll look out for that one.

LOL - I'm about to get the three Jasper Ffordes too - I've read the Jack Spratt ones and the first Thursday Next, so now I'm dying to get my mitts on the rest of them!

I think I might give that one a try then - I loved Labyrinth!

I know exactly what you mean - not enough hours in the day (or night!) for all those lovely books yet to be read!

Not all of them, Lovesreading - King has been classified as a horror writer all these years, but really, I think he's more an observer of the human condition. If you read his collection of novellas under the title Different Seasons (which includes The Body, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Apt Pupil and The Breathing Method), you'll find a collection that concentrates more on people and how they react and interact with each other, and that they have profound moments of beauty and drama within them. The Stand looks at a possible end-of-the-world scenario, where the majority of the human race is killed off by a virus. Those people left are divided into two groups - one led by Mother Abigale (who is an old woman who talks to God), the other led by Randall Flagg (who is a rum character who could be in league with the devil). Again, it's more about the relationships between the people and how they cope with the situation in which they find themselves. Personally, i don't consider King a horror writer in the traditional sense - I just consider him a bl**dy good writer.

I'll be starting my 48th book from this list next - The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy - I've borrowed it from Purple Poppy (you're so kind, PP!).

Yes, I thought it was easier than leaving it all in the nominations thread, which will get archived shortly - otherwise we'd get the question asked again later on - LOL!

Thanks, Kelley.

A few of us here have read this one as it was our Reading Circle choice at one point. I think the general consensus was that it was pretty good - I certainly enjoyed it. You might enjoy it more if you've already read Dracula by Bram Stoker and perhaps have a little background knowledge on Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), but that's not essential - just related reading that might mean you get more out of it. It did seem to drag a little in the middle, but it was worth getting past that point and continuing with it.