Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

http://www.amazon.com/Martian-Chronic...

Thanks Melanti ! :o)
that's still showing up as unavailable for me
maybe it's somehow detecting that I'm in the UK
probably best to just ignore my comments! [blush_smiley]

One of these decades they'll start being reasonable and every publisher will buy worldwide publication rights and these issues won't happen any more.

Thank you very much for the heads up, Melanti!

I just read from an online news page (local, reliable one) that Harper Lee has died. I just wonder who benefitted for the most of the new book now. It's a sad thought indeed :/.

Just yesterday I checked out/downloaded "To Kill a Mockingbird" from library to listen for my daily commute for our bingo challenge.

Very sad news indeed.

Also Umberto Eco. What a day...

Oh wow.

It's been a week for reflection with both Harper Lee and Umberto Eco passing away. It appears that we may end up with one of their books chosen for April. If so, I will do my best to arrange my reading schedule in order to participate - especially if it is Umberto Eco. I love his books and have always looked forward to his next publications. So sad. :(

Hello Everyone,

I didn't know where to post this but wanted to let you know that Amazon US has the complete works of H.P Lovecraft available for Kindle for $2.99 this month. Here's the link:
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...

Bat-Cat wrote: "Hello Everyone,

I didn't know where to post this but wanted to let you know that Amazon US has the complete works of H.P Lovecraft available for Kindle for $2.99 this month. Here's the link:
http:..."

Lovecraft is out of copyright you don't need to pay for it, and i doubt it's a complete work.
In any case here are links to free collections, just scroll down to the attachments:
Complete Fiction
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/show...
Complete Juvenilia
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/show...
Complete Collaborations
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/show...
Complete Essays
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/show...
Complete Poetry
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/show...

I also recommend http://hppodcraft.com a podcast where they discuss Lovecraft and other weird fiction, all their Lovecraft episodes are free and on itunes.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Bat-Cat wrote: "Hello Everyone,

I didn't know where to post this but wanted to let you know that Amazon US has the complete works of H.P Lovecraft available for Kindle for $2.99 this month. Here's..."

Thanks, I didn't know that. I'm not a fan of Lovecraft but I know lots of folks here are so just thought I'd give the heads up.

Does anyone have any idea which translation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is considered the best? Or, has anyone decided what translation they will be reading? I am considering the read but have not completely made up my mind yet.

Bat-Cat wrote: "Does anyone have any idea which translation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is considered the best? Or, has anyone decided what translation they will be reading? I am considering the read but have n..."

Oh good question. I will be reading because that is the copy that is sitting here at home. I hadn't even thought about best translation and I hope this one will be good.

Thank you Kathy, now I just need to decide whether or not to take the plunge. Actually time and other reading commitment are the deciding factors.

The copy on my shelf is , which I picked up from the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, just after visiting Notre Dame a few years ago. I picked it solely for this reason and have no idea who the translator is! Mind you, I'm not definitely joining in for the group read as I'm snowed under with all of my challenge books right now.

Pink wrote: "The copy on my shelf is , which I picked up from the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, just after visiting Notre Dame a few years ago. I picked it sole..."

Thanks Pink, I am attempting to keep myself from getting snowed under but it appears to be quite the momentous task. My top priorities at the moment are Kristan Lavransdatter and The Idiot for April (I have been wanting to read that for forever). If I get a bit of a break after those two I will seriously consider this one - but by then there will probably be more shiny books that attract my interest, the TBR list is truly endless.

Same here! I'm reading 2 big books (Ulysses and Don Quixote) and I'm trying to fit in shorter books around them until they're finished.

Pink wrote: "Same here! I'm reading 2 big books (Ulysses and Don Quixote) and I'm trying to fit in shorter books around them until they're finished."

Don Quixote is another one I want to get to this year - I'm beginning to wonder if it will actually happen.

I'm listening to it, which helps me get through as I can play a few chapters while I'm doing housework, it doesn't feel so daunting doing it this way.

I know how you all feel. I'm focusing on Kristin Lavransdatter and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, but feel like I really need to get started on The Idiot. KL is just amazing. I don't want to rush through it, but I can't put it down! One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is great, but it's not the same kind of "escape into another world" book feeling I get from Kristin Lavransdatter.

I am thoroughly enjoying KL too. It is hard to imagine that a book set in Medieval Norway would be a page turner. ;-) What a fabulous read.

Yes, The Idiot is starting to loom large on my screen as well. I may think of starting it as soon as I get maybe halfway through KL (I'm at 37% - Book 2, The Wife; Part 2, Husaby

I'm still only on The Wreath. She just got to the convent and met that roommate of hers that hasn't stopped talking. So good!

I need to finish off One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest before The Idiot. Luckily it's fairly short, so that will get done soon.

AnneGordon wrote: "Has any one here read much Henry James.? I have not. I read The American years ago and liked it though I remember little of it now . I've just finished The Turn Of The Screw and was quite glad to b..."

I have only read two. The Spoils of Poynton was good, an interesting plot, but not great. It has been a long time since I read it, but I think I'm safe in highly recommending Washington Square.

I've heard great things about The American, and hope to read that too.

AnneGordon wrote: "Has any one here read much Henry James.? I have not. I read The American years ago and liked it though I remember little of it now . I've just finished The Turn Of The Screw and was quite glad to b..."

I like Henry James and I have two of his on my reading list. But, I have only read "The Aspern Papers" and "The Turn of the Screw" so far. On my list are "The American", and "The Bostonians". I'm enchanted with late 19 Century writers.

Happy Easter All!

Kathy wrote: "Happy Easter All!"

Thank you Kathy! Happy Easter to you as well!

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and was wondering if anyone had any favorites of hers that you would like to recommend. One of my favorite books of all time is And Then There Were None which turned me into a Christie fan, so I'm hoping to read more of her work to get me even further hooked. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

I'm totally useless here, but I'm gonna add And Then There Were None to my TBR :) I haven't read any Agatha Christie books yet! Perhaps it's time soon.

Thanks for the rec Meg, and I hope you get some good recommendations yourself! :)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Read it before you get spoiled. I wouldn't recommend reading the reviews, either, or anything else. I don't remember have I actually read it myself, I was about to but then... you know.

I just finished And Then There Were None last night and loved it. That was the first Agatha Christie I've read, so I'm eager to read more of her books too. Thanks for the recommendation, Tytti!

Nargus wrote: "I'm totally useless here, but I'm gonna add And Then There Were None to my TBR :) I haven't read any Agatha Christie books yet! Perhaps it's time soon.

Thanks for the rec Meg, and I h..."

Nargus I've never read any Agatha Christie either. I do have And Then There Were None on my TBR list, but haven't gotten around to it yet! Maybe some time soon! :)

I have read several of Christie's books and have enjoyed them all. Earlier this year I read The Murder on the Links, a very good mystery.

Tytti wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Read it before you get spoiled. I wouldn't recommend reading the reviews, either, or anything else. I don't remember have I actually read it myself, I was ..."

I'm with Tytti! Read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but really be extra careful that you won't get spoiled. It will definitely ruin the whole book.

Crooked House is a good one too!

My favorite is Murder on the Orient Express.

Loretta wrote: "Nargus wrote: "I'm totally useless here, but I'm gonna add And Then There Were None to my TBR :) I haven't read any Agatha Christie books yet! Perhaps it's time soon.

Thanks for the r..."

Then it sounds like we're both in for a treat! Haha, I'm excited to give Agatha Christie a go. I don't read much mystery, or haven't read any at all actually (had to start the sentence like that, cos otherwise it sounds so deficient ... well, apart from having read kid's mystery books when I was a kid).

And if it's important to keep up the mystery not glancing at anything, suits me fine, paranoid reader that I am anyhow :)

Nargus wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Nargus wrote: "I'm totally useless here, but I'm gonna add And Then There Were None to my TBR :) I haven't read any Agatha Christie books yet! Perhaps it's time soon.

..."

I do read a lot of mysteries but for some reason she just never appealed to me. Not until I came to Goodreads and saw how many people were raving about her! I'm going to make a point of reading And Then There Were None because I actually bought the book! And maybe Murder on the Orient Express.

I tried "Murder on the Orient Express" last year for our bingo game--my first experience reading AG.

I think AG has the distinction of being #1 best selling author of all time--very interesting!

But alas, I didn't care enough for the book to read anything else.

I like investigation and detective, police etc., but I didn't care for Poirot's methods--though I admit those methods were interesting.

I can still see why her mysteries remain popular.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I tried "Murder on the Orient Express" last year for our bingo game--my first experience reading AG.

I think AG has the distinction of being #1 best selling author of all time--very interesting!

..."

So, Andrea, I'm not the only coming late to the Agatha Christie party! Everyone is making her books sound so intriguing! I'll have to fit one of her books into my ever growing pile of books! :)

Loretta, I'm glad that I finally tried one of AGs books.

Maybe you can fit one in for bingo next year!

:)

I'm not a big Agatha Christie fan. I prefer authors that put a greater emphasis on the characters rather than just the mystery.

But a friend told me to try The Hollow next since it has more memorable characters.

I might eventually try Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None, just because they're the ones "everyone" reads - but realistically, that'll probably only happen if there's a group read.

I just got And Then There Were None from the library. I am happy to join in.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I too love Murder on the Orient Express. And Murder of Roger Ackroyd was great-and Tytti you are right, definitely better to read without knowing the ending. Makes it so much better! I taught And Then There Were None last year to my 9th graders and they loved it. A new movie just came out this year of the book as well, I highly recommend watching it. It's very well done. But if anyone is interested in an Agatha Christie group/discussion, I'd be happy to join!

I'd also join the discussion/group. Thanks for idea Meg.

I read some Agatha Christie when I was really young, and don't remember it. I plan to read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd very soon, so I appreciate this advice. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts, and I'll watch for your discussion!

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Loretta, I'm glad that I finally tried one of AGs books.

Maybe you can fit one in for bingo next year!

:)"

Here's hoping Andrea! :)

I just found out that I've won five free, recently published books from Finnish book publisher's Facebook contest. I'm actually quite surprised, because I thought I don't have any chances with it, since one had to list the five books one wanted to win from their list of books that are/will get published this spring and there were 86 books to choose from (if I remember correctly). So yeah, now it's just waiting game to see when the package arrives (could be next week, could be later, can't say for sure).

Maarit wrote: "I just found out that I've won five free, recently published books from Finnish book publisher's Facebook contest. I'm actually quite surprised, because I thought I don't have any chances with it, ..."

That's great Maarit! Hope there's a few good books in the package for you!

Well, there should be, as I chose the books myself :D Few of them might be a bit of a hit and miss type of books, but still they were interesting enought to catch my attention and be chosen.