Hayley

Being a pretty strange series of short stories I wondered what other peoples thoughts were on this one? For example what was your favourite story in it? I think mine was 'The Erl King' although I'm not completely sure why since I never did understand the ending properly! (if anybody else did by the way, particularly the bit about the fiddle, please tell me!)

it has a sequel??

Well that's a good sign I wanted to read some Neil Gaiman books since I read 'Good Omens' which he did with Terry Pratchett. Are you doing literature at university too?

I've just recieved my book list for this year from my university and thought making this might help me organise what I need to read! (while still reading my own books. of course!) Also I've read very few of the books on here so if anyone has any tips about them please let me know! First of all the books I've got lined up to read myself are: Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum Neil Gaiman. Stardust Neil Gaiman American Gods Then for uni: 19th century literature... Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre Charles Darwin, On the origin of species Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D'Urbervilles Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Oscar Wilde, The picture of Dorian Grey (and selected poetry which isn't specified yet) 18th century literature... Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's travels Frances Burney, Evelina Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (also poetry and short prose pieces from John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Jonathan Swift, Aphra B ehn, Thomas Grey and Charlotte Smith) American Classics... The Norton Anthology of American literature (for Nathaniel Hawthorns The Scarlet letter, short stories from the latter and Edgar Allan Poe, Poetry from Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman and slave narratives by Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs) James Fenimore Cooper, The last of the Mohicans Henry James, the American Herman Melville, Moby-Dick Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth Major Authors... (This ones about Austen and Dickens) From Austen; Lady Susan, Emma, Northanger Abbey Persuasion (and 'memoir of Jane Austen' by Austen-Leigh) From Dickens: A Christmas Carol and other Christmas writing Hard Times David Copperfield Oliver Twist (The two I crossed out are the two that I've read by the way, and a Christmas Carol is crossed out without the rest of the book because I havn't read the other 'Christmas writing') All help and advice appreciated!

I loved this book! I literally couldn't put it down. Might re-read it actually after spotting this thread

I'm thinking Narnia would be cool. but If I had a choice of any, I'd be with Cookie in Discworld!

I think there are two great things about classics: 1) they're classics because they've survived the 'test of time', so you already know there must be something good about them! They create a list of histories greatest authors. 2) The history behind them makes them even more interesting (for example Dickens portraying Victorian England and Gatsby Americas 'boom' years)... well it does in my opinion anyway

I only read a book review if it's in front of me anyway, like if I'm ordering off Amazon. Usually though I just look around in a bookshop until something jumps out at me. I think it's better though sometimes to read a book without any preconceptions

Oh yeah, I didn't think of that, I've never gotten anything other than books from my library! Its only small in there so they probably wont have it but I suppose it's worth a try! Thanks Kell Also I can't believe there's been absolutely no negative comments on the book so far, it must be worth a read!

Oh right! I was wondering why it was so much!! Thank you Raven

I had a look for the radio series on Amazon but it's £50! (and reduced from £80!) I don't suppose any of you know where I could get it cheaper? Your recommendations have made me really want it now! haha

wow, I had no idea it was a radio or tv series as well. It's looking like I might have to order it so far Although I am starting to worry that reading the book will make me hate the film! Oh well, I'll always love that cute little robot

I've been thinking of reading the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy for a while now, I liked the film (particularly the depressed robot, which made me laugh constantly). I was thinking it might be a little bit like the Terry Pratchett books in its humour. Would anybody recommend reading it? (or not reading it)?

Reading your requirements, 'The Philosophers Apprentice' by James Morrow might be a good one, it definitely represents an innovative idea and I doubt anyone could guess the ending! It really makes you think. For another really good book which is very difficult to tell the ending to, I'd recommend Carlos Ruiz Zaphon's 'The Shadow of the Wind' which is one of my favourites

I'm enjoying it thank you. It got me reading things I never would have otherwise, like Beckett's Endgame and Wuthering Heights. I'm looking forward to getting my reading list for next year. Thank you for all the lovely welcome messages by the way everyone

Hi, I actually joined this forum about a week ago but only just found the introductions section! So I thought I'd better go back and start from the beginning My names Hayley and I'm 19. I'm studying English Literature at university at the moment, which I suppose isn't going to be particularly surprising to anyone. I read a lot of different genres of books but my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and probably Carlos Ruiz Zaphon. Not a lot of my friends enjoy reading, as much as I try to persuade them, which is what led me to google search 'book clubs' where I found the 'bookclubforum'; after reading a few posts, I decided you all seemed like very nice people and I'd give it a go Still not entirely sure what I'm doing on here but I've made a few posts and I think I'll get the hang of it soon, I hope to have some interesting discussions with you all

I was wondering if anyone else had a character in a book who they aspired to be like, either as a child or now? I think mine was Matilda, it was one of the first Roald Dahl books I read and I watched the film to death when I was younger, I had the blue ribbon for my hair and everything

I thought exactly the same thing until I had to do an essay at uni for it. Doing the research made me realise the amount of detail that had gone into such a short story. There are entire journals just on the use of colour (e.g Gatsby is often associated with gold, Daisy always with white); my tutor told us that in a short story, every word has to really mean something and I think it does in Gatsby! I still wouldn't put it up there with my favourite books but Fitzgerald definitely deserves the prestige the book has gained in my opinion

Have you tried Trudi Canavan's The Black Magician Trilogy? It's more fantasy than sci-fi but it is a little like Harry Potter, only with more adult themes etc. Definitely worth reading if you havn't already

I might be completely over thinking this but while reading David Copperfield recently, a quote brought Alice in Wonderland to mind, which was 'she could not relent towards the London smoke, which, she said, "peppered everything"'. This reminded me of the pig and pepper chapter in Alice in Wonderland, where the Duchess sings "I speak severely to my boy, / I beat him when he sneezes; / for he can thoroughly enjoy / the pepper when he pleases!". In relation to London smoke, I thought there was a chance this particular chapter was referring to the child labour and industrial revolution which was so big an issue in Victorian England. I don't know if anybody else can see the link here but I'd be interested to see if you do

One of mine has to be Ed Kennedy from Markus Zusak's 'I am the messenger'. He is sort of forced to go around helping people but when a girl asks him if he's a saint, he replies 'no, just another stupid human'. This has stuck with me for years as it reminds me what us stupid humans can actually achieve. Also Roald Dahl as I used to have 'the Roald Dahl treasury when I was younger and there was a quote near the front which I'm pretty sure was 'watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.' As I got older I realised this could be applied to real life and the fact that you have to appreciate the world around you and believe in yourself to be happy. Both truly amazing authors.

I once went on holiday to Spain and stupidly left my book on a sun lounger, when I came back I assume the glue on the spine must have melted as all the pages started falling out as I picked it up :/

I think it would be a really nice thing to own first editions of your favourite books, just the same as if your very into films its nice to have film memorabilia or if your a big pottery fan you might pay a lot for a collectable piece. I really would love to have a first edition Terry Pratchett so very jealous! maybe once I'm not on a student budget I can

First book that ever made me cry was Phillip Pullmans 'The Amber Spyglass' but I wont say at which part because it would be a real spoiler if you haven't read it!I wouldn't avoid a book because it's sad, but if one is particularly sad, I read a Terry Pratchett book afterwards and it cheers me up