What are you reading at the moment?

[HEPZIBAH]

What are you reading at the moment? (Well ofcourse I don't mean literally at this moment because hopefully you are reading this! )

I'm reading Colleen McColough's The Independance of Miss Mary Bennet (of Pride and Prejudice fame). Whilst it's OK, it's not the best book by this author I've ever read and although I don't want to give up on it altogether I do hope I can finish it soon and move on to one of the other books that are piling up. I'm soon going to need library steps just to reach the top book in the pile!

[DJKeefy]

OH Hepzi..

I was going to put Im reading your post but now i cant after reading the first line of your post.

Im getting confused with myself here, what do I meen I cant, I can, ive just put the line above..

Go to sleep Keefy

[Horus]

What am I reading at the moment?
Well in my case it is the electric meter, I now do it online as it saves me around £120 per year if I do it myself and submit the figures to them.

But on a more serious note I have just downloaded all of the Anne Rice series of vampire books on to Mrs H's new Kindle. They are particularly well written and have a good story with a thread running through each one that links to the next book. Several have already been turned into films such as 'Interview with the Vampire' which starred Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Much like the original book Dracula by Bram Stoker was a much more intricate and in depth book than could ever be assumed by just watching a 'Hammer Horror' screen version.

Hepzi, to avoid all those piles of books and the clutter, you must invest in a Kindle.

[Kiya]

"It Had To Be You" ( A World War II Romance)....Kindle

It Had to Be You is a sweeping novel set in southern California in the 1930s and 40s. Dianne Castle, small town girl from Texas, arrives in the fast-growing city of Los Angeles with an unusual ambition for the day--she wants to be a journalist.

As the story opens, Dianne witnesses a small plane crash. The tragedy changes Dianne's life, providing her with introductions into both the newspaper world and the Japanese community. These connections bring her into the orbit of the charismatic owner of Club Borneo, Johnny Honda. Passing events pull them together--and drag them apart.

The novel paints a vivid picture of Hollywood before World War II, as Dianne meets Humphrey Bogart at a poker game, spends a weekend visiting Marion Davies at San Simeon, and even rates an occasional mention in Louella Parson's gossip column.

On a more serious note, It Had to Be You follows the prewar bigotry and wartime persecution against the Issei (Japanese-born immigrants like Johnny's mother) and Nisei (first-generation American-born Japanese like Johnny and his contemporaries) in California.

A very good story so far...........

BTW Horus my very Christopher first Kindle book I read was The Borgias by Hibbert
Warlords, Popes, Poisoners – the true story of the Borgias, the first family of the Italian Renaissance.

The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame – Lucrezia Borgia, his daughter, whose husband was famously murdered by her brother, and that brother, Cesare, who served as the model for Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. Notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder, the dynasty’s dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to its occupation of the highest position in Renaissance society forms a gripping tale.

[Kiya]

Ok had to continue here....

The Borgias was a very interesting read & although I know some of you down south watched the drama on telly, it hasn't been shown here yet but I' will be watching when it does.

[Horus]

You will enjoy the TV series Kiya it was very well made.

[Morgita]

Hepzi, what is your view of the current trend of "extending" the world of novels such as Pride and Prejudice? I think I am turning into a curmudgeon as I grow older but I am disappointed by the lack of originality. Books are being "extended" and movies remade. Doesn't anyone have an original thought anymore? There is very little new in the world of music. I hear my son listening to the same songs that I listened to when I was his age and the newer covers have little to recommend them. On the other hand I am also a devotee of classical music and opera and always open to listen to a new voice or a new interpretation providing they are faithful to the music. Perhaps classics like Pride and Prejudice are being given new life and readers by these tribute writers?

[LovelyLadyLux]

I just started TWO new books in as much as I just downloaded them from our library onto my computer. The first is "Warriors of God" (Inside Hezebollahs 30 yr Struggle against Israel) by Nicholas Blandord and the second is "This Time Together" by Carol Burnett (Female Comedienne). I am thinking/hoping this is her autobiography. Will report back as I get into each of these books.

I'm a bit with Morgita on the "expansion" of story lines. My own personal gripe are the "pre-quels" that are written. I can get my mind around sequels but now we also get "pre"quels......where did all the originality go?

BTW Hepzibah - the "Kindle" or "Nook" is the way to go nowadays....the ONLY way to read!

[jewel]

I cannot get to grips with the kindle at all, I also have books on my iPad but somehow they lack the feel, smell and sensual pleasure I get from handling a book. A bit like a bath and a shower .....one is functional, the other a luxurious pleasure, maybe it's just me.

However, currently I have 2 books both from the library, both by A S Byatt. The first, Ragnarock tells the story of the Norse gods A bit like wagners ring cycle.
Ragnarok is a clever, lucid, lovely book. But it isn't a novel, or even a story in the usual sense. It's a discourse on myth, woven in and around a polemic about pollution and loss of species diversity: Yggdrasil the World Tree reinscribed as a doomed ecosystem. Byatt's ideas lie close to the surface; moreover, the author herself is waiting patiently at the end of everything, to make sure we take her point.
It is a very compelling read.
Also by her, to read next is "unruly times", a superlative portrait of the relationship between Wordsworth and Coleridge, and a fascinating exploration of the romantic movement, and dramatic events that shaped it. I am so looking forward to reading it
:nod:

[Phantom]

Currently reading book two of the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child - Die Trying to Horus

[Horus]

Morgita, that secret wink has now let everyone know that I am in reality the author Lee Childs, enjoy the books.

[Horus]

On the subject of keeping true to the original books, we have recntly had a couple of examples of people trying to update or add to the classics. The recent Sherlock Holmes adaptations on the TV were in my opinion very good and brought several of the old classic stories into the modern world. Many people including myself enjoyed them, but many others were critical of the treatment that was given to modernise the storyline. We also had a good adaptation of the unfinished last novel of Charles Dickens entitled ‘The mystery of Edwin Drood’ which I thought was a very dark brooding who dunnit produced with the usual skill of the costume drama that we expect from the Beeb.

[Kiya]

I really enjoyed watching both

[Morgita]

@ Horus, you know I actually went and googled Lee Childs, ya git!

[Horus]

@ Horus, you know I actually went and googled Lee Childs, ya git!

I suppose you will also be wanting free copies of my Jack Reacher books now

[LovelyLadyLux]

Well if you're fanning out books I wouldn't mind some H! AND - don't forget I've read some of your writing and you really DO have quite a talent for telling a story! You should be writing books if you're not already!!

And - @Jewel - I think I've missed something really BIG re: books I've read.......WOW - most of the books I've read sure haven't been like the books you're reading Are you getting them perfumed or printed out on some sort of sexy paper?

[HEPZIBAH]

Kindles - I've had a love/hate realtionship even to the thought of one.
I love books. I love the feel of them. I like the smell of new books (although some from the library leave a lot to be desired). I like to see the book covers. I enjoy turning the pages. I like that they become friends in my home and many of mine have been with me since childhood. If I am travelling I tend not to carry a book with me that I will be upset if I lose it.

On the other hand Kindles are more portable, whilst the initial cost outlay is quite high it would soon be recouped by not buying so many books.

Up until yesterday I would have said that the purchase of a Kindle is still way in the distance for me....however...Tesco have got a special offer on at the moment which, although it's a general offer, would knock another £10 off bringing it down to £79. That does make one a little more attractive! But.....still thinking!

[HEPZIBAH]

OH Hepzi..

I was going to put Im reading your post but now i cant after reading the first line of your post.

Beat you to it!

[HEPZIBAH]

Hepzi, what is your view of the current trend of "extending" the world of novels such as Pride and Prejudice? I think I am turning into a curmudgeon as I grow older but I am disappointed by the lack of originality. Books are being "extended" and movies remade. Doesn't anyone have an original thought anymore? Perhaps classics like Pride and Prejudice are being given new life and readers by these tribute writers?

I have slightly mixed feelings about them. I've often wondered what happened to certain characters after the book has ended, and in the case of some characters wondered what their history was before they made it into the storyline. I have sometimes thought about trying to have a go at writing about them myself (for my own amusement).

You make a valid point though about the possibility of new readers who may, having read a (unauthorised) sequel, go back to the original source of characters.

[Horus]

Hepzi, re the kindle at Tesco, that is a very good price, I doubt if they will drop much more if anything at all. They tend to have a universal price tag so you can buy them almost everywhere at the same price that Amazon dictate, so I reckon that Tesco are taking the £10 hit which is good and dont forget you can also get your 'divi' on that purchase. It is the same warranty and registration proceedure regardless of where you buy it from so go for the cheapest deal.