Scarlette
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Posts posted by Scarlette
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I'm having a very nice and juicy mango.
I'm trying to combat the heat by eating more fruit. 
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I agree with you, Fi. I think what I'm most afraid of is missing out on a great read. Which is why I'll try any book within my favourite genres, without paying attention to reviews, etc. I'm generally so out of tune with whatever is "in" at the moment, anyway, that it doesn't really affect me.
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I've noticed a lot of comments along the lines of "I dislike/won't read so and so book because everyone else is reading it", etc. And I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are concerning the hype that tends to surround a lot of books these days - and I'm not just referring to the T-word... If the fact that a book is overly popular make you feel less inclined to read it, why so? And why should we care what "everyone else" is reading, anyway?
Thoughts.
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I really loved being scared by novels as a child. I devoured any creepy looking thing I could find in the library. These days, though, I very rarely find a good, scary story. In fact the only two novels that come to mind that frightened me as an adult, giving me that oh-so-good chills down the spine feeling, was Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire and Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. Especially good ghost stories seem to be a minority these days, anyway. I wish someone would have a go at that specific genre and give me something that will make me afraid to walk down my own corridor at night. I suppose no one gets a kick out of being scared of things that go bump in the night anymore.
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I'm really looking forward to Elizabeth Kostova's Swan Thieves which will be available in February at my local bookstore.
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In a way I have to disagree with you (sorry!) I think it is rather respectable that she has decided to put aside the almost guaranteed money and success that Midnight Sun would have given her in order to follow what she believes is right in her heart. As an author, to have your work displayed in such a way can be such a violating experience. To me, it shows a lot of character in her to go against her publisher and the fans and decide not to publish something that she doesn't feel as emotionally connected to anymore. It is a nice change from the writers out there who are only in it for the money and fame.
I agree with you, completely, CaliLily. I almost feel sorry for Meyer, because all the fame this Saga has brought her came with just as much (if not more) criticism. I have to wonder about the series in general: what if the world didn't go Twilight crazy about it? Would she and series still be seen in the same light it is now? I doubt it. I think this is a good example of fame and fortune gone wrong.
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Looking cool..... well I know what I WOULDN'T read and that's Twilight.
Come now, Nollaig, all the cool kids are doing it...
I think a book that gets me interested in reading it myself - whether it's a title, cover, or just seeing the reader enjoy it - would be something cool.
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Nolliag, I almost want to say that you'll have to watch it to appreciate how the books play a part, but Rory is definitely an admirable bookworm and book titles and quotes play a (I feel) big role in the series - it surely makes for witty dialogue, anyway.
I have already read a few books on the list. I would like to participate in the challenge if I have the time.
That being said, and to answer one of CaliLily's questions, I think if I do participate I'd like to select the books myself. There are a lot of interesting reads on there, but also a lot that doesn't appeal or spark my interest at all. -
I haven't read any Matthew Pearl, before, no, Peacefield. But I have heard good things about The Dante Club, so if The Poe Shadow turns out to be to my liking, I will certainly give that one a try, also.
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I read (struggled through more like it) a few more pages of The Colour of Magic. Things will go better once I have my glasses...
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Welcome to the forum, Graham!
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Actually, Scarlette, you could just delve into my bookshelves - there's, like, three books I've not got...
How're you doing, chum?
When can I come over?I've been more or less alright, thank you.
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The Wish List
- The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James
- The Reader, Bernhard Schlink
- Oscar Wilde and the Chandlelight Murders, Gyles Brandreth
- The Behaviour of Moths, Poppy Adams
- Perfume (The Story of a Murderer), Patrick Suskind
- The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks
- Love In The Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- The Resurrectionist, James Bradley
- La Cucina, Lily Prior
- The Godfather, Mario Puzo
- House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski
- The Swan Thieves, Elizabeth Kostova
- The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
- White Oleander, Janet Fitch
- The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle
- The First Detective Collection, Edgar Allan Poe (found and bought in a different compilation)
- Vampire Stories, Arthur Conan Doyle
- Tales of Terror and Mystery, Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Sign of the Four, Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Hound of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Valley of Fear, Arthur Conan Doyle
- Soul Music, Terry Pratchett
- Hogfather, Terry Pratchett (and with that I would have read all the 'Death' novels in the series)
- The Child Thief, Brom
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I watched Chess in Concert, today. I thought it was rather brilliant.
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Oh, oh - I've got another one:
4. Wherever possible (that is to say, unless a book is out of print or similar), I shall always buy books first-hand in actual bookshops. This will be good for:
- the bookstore's survival in this technological age
- the size of authors' royalty cheques
- my sanity, compromised as it is by books in poor condition
- my general wellbeing, as it means exercise and braving public transport
I'm adding this one to my own resolutions.
Secondhand books are all well and good, but I don't mind paying a bit extra for a book in order to be the first one to read it. -
Probably best to check with them first, as I know my library aren't allowed to accept donated books - something to do with budgets and spending, or some such nonsense.
Hmm, yes, I didn't even think of this.
I'll go by there when I have a day off again and ask them. Either way, those books are being donated to some or other place or person. -
I want to try not to buy so many books again, this year, and to reduce my TBR pile to zero. In fact, I'm aiming to only buy new books once mount TBR is out of the way. Also, this year, instead of taking my old unwanted books to the secondhand store to swap for other people's old unwanted books (
), I'm going to donate them to my local library. -
I just remember I need to add this to my reading list this year, since I haven't finished it, yet. I don't think I was in the right mood for it the first time around.
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You can always get a flashlight and read under the bed covers in the middle of the night while mom is fast asleep, Lit_Driven_Girl.
I adore the Vampire Chronicles - I haven't found a vampire novel that comes anywhere close to what Anne Rice have achieved with these.
To contribute to current discussion: I thought Lestat's interest in Dora in Memnoch was quite refreshing, actually.
Also in Blood Canticle and The Body Thief he had a more average love interest.
I quite like the way he sees beauty in even just everyday, boring humans.
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Oh, you're in for a treat with Donna Tartt's The Secret History.
That was one of my favourites last year and it's stuck with me all the way since reading it. -
Retail.. customers.. what can you say...
I've returned a book to a bookstore, once. I read the first few pages and disliked it. It was still in perfect condition, so the store didn't have a problem exchanging it for me.
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Hello and welcome to the forum, Michael.
You're sure to have tons of fun here and find many new books to add to that TBR pile. -
I read ten or so pages of Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic, today. But my mojo's down and the heat is making me not want to do anything requiring concentration. Blegh.
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I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on Dracula The Un-Dead (which I have on my own list) as well as The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein (which I've been tempted to buy, twice, but am still uncertain of whether I'd enjoy it or not).
A question of popularity
in General Book Discussions
Posted
Perhaps it's a matter of getting tired of seeing a book shoved into the limelight and kept there even after the novelty wears off?