Dusky

Just thought I'd come and add my two-pence here.... I read Twilight and New Moon a while ago, when they first came out. At the risk of getting eaten by fangirls, I have to say I can't really see what all the fuss is about. They're not awfully written, but nor are they literary masterpieces. I really wasn't moved to get the third one when it came out. Bella is a 'Mary-Sue' and Edward....vampires should not sparkle. It's not right I guess the werewolves were sort of cool but, then again, lots of people do werewolves. I think to write of the age old battle between the lycanthropes and the vampires, and write it well, one needs an original take on it. While there were some inventive bits in Twilight, like the sparkling (as odd as it was) to me it just felt like an average vamp vs. werewolf book of no particular speciality. What makes the books attractive besides hot guys and an angsty love triangle? (To you, I mean. I dislike angsty romance.) Feel free to throw things at me now. Just nothing too sharp or that will stain, please.

It was darker, most definitely. Breaking bones and the ickiness of the mines...but it was good. I'm going to have to go out and buy it, methinks. I also love the one where he's in Britain again with the younger of Helena's brothers (his name escapes me right now) and there's that bit with the big bull. Who's your favourite character?

Ah yes! I went back and re-read the ending I think I have to agree - that was a great ending! I quite liked Scandal takes a holiday, and the Silver Pigs. I must go back an re-read that one.

Plus, he has the most awesome hair! ^^ (He's very good-looking too) I have seen The Hat in person! And it's just as...hatty...as in the pictures Although it was balanced on a bottle of whiskey when I saw it. I think I'd marry... well, I'd have to agree with you, Nicola!

It is indeed, our one claim to fame. Most of the time when I tell people I'm from Hayling they look at me blankly and go "huh, where?". Even a few people from Portsmouth are like that, and they can see us across the water! I can't see that we'd be all that exciting to visit. There's a sometimes-sandy beach and a falling-apart funfair, and that really is about it. Did you stay in a caravan or hotel/B&B?

Many cooking mishaps I'm surprised I'm still allowed in the kitchen. The most recent was when I was trying to make mint ice cream and oreo smoothies with my boyfriend and we had a classic blender-explodes-over-absolutely-everything moment. It got everywhere: on the ceiling, cupboards, cooker, floor and us. I've also tried to make bannoch (spelling?) bread and put too much salt in and then burnt it so I ended up with a disgustingly salty rock-solid frisbee.

Gosh, I read that one ages ago! Is it the one with the soup, or someone being eaten by lions? Or something totally different? She has worked incredibly hard on them. People who pick up on the tiny things are just petty. I've read all but the brand new one, which is still a little out of my price range for the moment. I'll get it when it comes out in paperback I'm not sure which is my favourite from the series. I'll have to re-read them all and tell you I started the series almost three years ago, so you'll have to excuse my bad memory.

England - wee little Hayling Island. I bet none of you have heard of it

That particular twist rather weirded me out XD I was on a coach on a college trip in Greece while reading it - the girl beside me was zoning out listening to my ipod, and the others in our group were sleeping or reading and I suddenly disturb them all with a resounding "OH MY GOD!" and then go quiet again for the half next hour until I finish the book. They tried to ask me what it was and I just threw my shoe at them to make them be quiet. Said boyfriend has been trying to make me read The Wasp Factory but it sounds rather disturbing and scary (I can only read scary books when I'm in a very happy mood) so I'll wait until exam stress is over for that one.

When I get more time again after my exams, I'll try and make some pwettiful bookmarks that people can print out and use. I like an artistic challenge as much as a literary one ^^ However, right now I should be studying Archaeology, so I'm going to go slink back off to that...heh....

He'd got permission from his boss for a half hour break to get his and his boss' books signed, but ended up being there for five odd hours like us!XD

To Lucybird: They're fantabulous! Imaginative and very funny. You should give them a try - Storm Front is the first one. To Kylie: It is indeed my own work, but I did copy it from a Dargonology book. Copy though, not trace! To Suzanna Addison: My favourite books by him are those featuring Odd Thomas (I've read all but the prequel to the main series), but I've also read Ticktock, Velocity, Fear Nothing, Watchers, and Seize the Night. To loopyloo100: I know the feeling. I've got maybe a quarter of the book left to go, and while it's both entertaining and unsettling, I think I will have to read the sequel too. To all others: Thank you so much for such a warm welcome! Makes me feel right at home

I forgot to mention my copies of Going Postal and Hat Full of Sky are signed!! For Hat Full of Sky, my friend and I waited in line for a good five hours in the freezing cold. Thankfully there were some lovely people in the line around us, one of which did hot chocolate runs if we held his place in line. Apparently we were the two youngest people Mr. Prattchett had seen all day (We were 15 at the time) XD He had his wonderful hat and a bottle of Irish Whiskey on the table by him. For Going Postal, my mother was at some sort of convention or other and came down out of an elevator to find his stall a few meters away. The message in my book reads, "Dear Jasmine, your Mum had to wait 5 minutes! TP". To launch Nation, he came to our little Island bookshop. I unfortunately wasn't able to get tickets but it was apparently a great hit.

I've read Use of Weapons It was fantastic! I spent a whole evening ignoring my boyfriend (who had lent it to me) in favour of it. I've also read Excession - that was the first of his that I've read. I guess I'm reading them in a bit of a random order, but I'm reading them in the order my boyfriend throws them at me. He's a big Iain Banks fan. I'll read Consider Phlebas when he buys it

I'm a 30-something bear of a man who's been kicked out of my high-end psychology job, spilt up with my wife and put in a mental institution in America for letting chance and the Dice rule my life. (In my real opinion, he's just a liiiittle bit odd. And, given that it's based on true events - albeit embellished somewhat, it makes it even odder)

Already Read (This will be updated henceforth - no books before the posting of this post are included)

Currently Reading 1. The Diceman - Luke Rhineheart 2. The Dark Half - Stephen King 3. Mirror Dreams - Catherine Webb (for the bazillionth time) (Yes, I can have several on the go at once ) To Be Read 1. The Stand - Stephen King 2. The Rats - James Herbet 3. V for Vendetta - ? 4. By Royal Command - Charlie Higson 5. Alexandria - Lindsey Davis 6. Furies of Calderon - Jim Butcher 7. The Riven Kingdom - Karen Miller 8. Hammer of God - Karen Miller 9. Dragon Flight - Anne McCaffery (again), followed by the rest of the Pern books again. 10. The Doomsday Machine: Another Astounding Adventure of Horatio Lyle - Catherine Webb 11. The Algebraist - Iain M. Banks 12. Matter - Iain M. Banks 13. Uglies - Scott Westerfield

'84, I think it's called? That one really did freak me out, but I enjoyed it immensely. And I have The Rats lined up to read soon, too.

It's very strange. I can appreciate some of the psychological values, having studied psychology, but I find the style of writing very odd. It seems to be whenever the author feels like writing in one style he'll switch for a chapter - there's such a range of them in there! However, I think I am overall enjoying it. I didn't realise there was a sequel? I'll have to investigate once I'm done with this one. What did you think of it?

Do you have any habits about/while reading? Do you use a book mark, if so, where do you put it when you're reading, what do you use instead? (If you bed the corners of pages I might have to eat you) Do you sit very still or jiggle and fidget or tap your fingers etc etc? Must your books be kept a certain way on the shelves (if you do indeed put them on shelves), in an order or upside down or something? Can you have background noise while reading or do you need total silence? Do you have to stop reading at the end of a chapter/paragraph/sentence or can you stop anywhere you like and pick it straight up again later? Anything else or particularly odd, e.g. do you read upside down? I always tent to put whatever I'm using as a bookmark (train ticket, clothing tag, receipt) inside the front or back cover of the book I'm reading. I'll generally sit still but occasionally jiggle my feet. Books are kept roughly in author groups but there's so many of them they do tend to get jumbled up. I can read with background noise as long as no one is nattering in my ear. I can stop at the end of a sentence but not in the middle of one.

Only 17! I need to get my provisional driver's licence.... 17 isn't a very exciting age, apart from driving.

I've read all but the latest of both series. I think I prefer the Bond books - they were a little more complex than the Rider ones, and Bond seems a bit more human, somehow, not a fairytale hero. Saying that, I got halfway through the latest Rider one and got a little bored. I've yet to start the newest Bond one, it's sat on my bedside table in the middle of a pile waiting to be read. Charlie Higson's writing style is just more my cup of tea, I think - it's more satisfying.

I studied it a few years ago, and remember quite enjoying it. But I can barely remember it - I spent half that class writing my own storied. It did pique my interesting in the story of Sweeny Todd, and the scene with the ghostly footprints also was kinda cool. Not pique, I wrote the word in the wrong window XD I meant capture my interest.