Basically Books! discussion

Mr Darcy, Vampyre was poop. If I could go back and change the past, I wouldn't bother reading it. The style was ok, with some nice descriptions of the Continent, but Elizabeth kept angsting about Darcy not having "visited" her, she couldn't see the vamps when they were staring her in the face, there was some weirdass mechanism to remove vampirism and Darcy was about as Darcy-ish as the new Torchwood is Torchwood-ish. This one isn't humour, it takes itself very seriously and is just cashing in on the vampire craze.

I might read Zombies if I ever get my hands on it. I did go through a phase a while ago where I was reading parodies of everything (Barry Trotter, Bored of the Rings, the Snobbit, The Va Dinci Cod, etc.) but I got bored and stopped. There seem to be numerous parodies out now. I'd quite like to read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, though I'm not sure why!

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Jeshu wrote: "I want to read that book too!!"

Haha. I've had it on my TBR pile for ages. I'll let you know what I think of it. =D"

I've kept seeing those parodies but they've never really appealed to me. I'll keep an eye-out for your review.

I'm reading at the moment. I would never usually go for book with a bare-chested man on the front but I read a review in one of the other groups I'm in that made it sound interesting so I thought maybe I should challenge my prejudice. I've been put off from reading for the same reason but I keep seeing people rave about the series.

Perhaps that would be a good new topic - 'Judging Books by their Cover': which books had a cover that was way better than the content and vice versa?

Rea wrote: "Mr Darcy, Vampyre was poop. If I could go back and change the past, I wouldn't bother reading it. The style was ok, with some nice descriptions of the Continent, but Elizabeth kept angsting about Darcy not having "visited" her, she couldn't see the vamps when they were staring her in the face, there was some weirdass mechanism to remove vampirism and Darcy was about as Darcy-ish as the new Torchwood is Torchwood-ish. This one isn't humour, it takes itself very seriously and is just cashing in on the vampire craze."

GAH! Don't say that! Seriously don't get me started on new Torchwood! I'm not going to read that one until next year, that's how big my TBR pile is. I really need to stop buying books. =)

Also the guy who wrote Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunteris the same guy that wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies so it would be nice to compare notes on the two different books.

Emma wrote: "Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Jeshu wrote: "I want to read that book too!!"

Haha. I've had it on my TBR pile for ages. I'll let you know what I think of it. =D"

I've kept seeing those parodies but the..."

I'm drawn to these things, I have no idea why. I have City of Bones on my TBR, unless it gets chosen as September group read I won't get around to reading it until next year though.

Oh, in that case I might have to try both! As you say, it'd be interesting to compare them.

I have a few books with bare-chested studs on the front. Not that I will ever, ever read them anywhere other than my sofa. I'd rather not read than read something with that sort of cover on the train / bus! Bare-chested males seem to be a cover choice at the moment, as well as headless / foreheadless people. I really want to know why the cover designers cut off the cover models' heads!

I'm not really feeling Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ATM but I'm only on page 69 and the cat being a lunatic probably didn't help. I'd have to buy Abraham Lincoln so I might just wait until I've got a Kindle.

I'm not sure if I have any books with semi nekkid men on the cover. I get embarrassed taking them to the counter. XD

Yeah, wait and get it cheap. I doubt it'll be all that good. A lot of people have said P&P&Z is a bit ridiculous, even for a parody, which makes it a hard read.

Ah, but I don't take mine to the counter, I click a button and someone I shall never see ships them off to me! :D I'd never buy one from a counter, either. I don't even buy romance from the shops most of the time unless it's in the bargain bins.

It's only £1 on the Kindle and a tenner in paperback, I'm definitely waiting. Well I'm definitely going to finish it. I'm reading the prequel next.

That's a very good plan! Nobody has to know of your secret obsession of buying books with semi nekkid men on the covers. =D I'll buy any book if it's cheap enough and sounds interesting.

Rea wrote: "I really want to know why the cover designers cut off the cover models' heads!"

Maybe it's so the reader is more open to imagining what the character looks like?

I never even thought about how embarassing it would be to read those books on the bus or the train. I sometimes get embarassed by buying/reading YA in public though because I feel too old to be indulging in them...not that I'm going to stop!

Emma wrote: "Rea wrote: "I really want to know why the cover designers cut off the cover models' heads!"

Maybe it's so the reader is more open to imagining what the character looks like?"

But surely logic dictates that if you want the character to have a bit of mystery you just don't put the character on the cover but a nice bit of scenery or something? I think it's a bit silly to chop off half of someone's head. =)

There's a whole listopia on here just for foreheadless cover models!

I think I agree with Char and I'd prefer a bit of scenery or an animal to half a person.

I'll read almost anything in public, even children's books, but I won't read books with mostly undressed people on the cover!

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "But surely logic dictates that if you want the character to have a bit of mystery you just don't put the character on the cover"

Half of someone's head I agree with, that's just pointless, but I can see what they might be going for with a totally headless figure. The body can show things like the gender, age and social status of the character (through clothes) which probably grabs the attention of readers who like, say, women's fiction and are looking for a character they can relate to.

I've got a bunch of books with the back of someone walking away as well. The background is usually all washed out and the figure is a little splash of colour. They definitely go through trends.

Lol, I love the name of that list. XD

I get that but sometimes I imagine a character to be completely different to the one on the cover, I like being able to form my own opinion on the appearance of the character.

They do. Gothic half-heads seem to be the trend at the moment. The covers are either gothy or have a half-headed model. It really makes you wonder.

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "I like being able to form my own opinion on the appearance of the character."

The name of that list is brilliant.

I have to admit, my visualisation of a character is rarely influenced by a cover - sometimes it's not even influenced by the way the author has described them!

The way they act in the story usually builds a picture of them for me, rather than if the author has said they have blond hair or brown eyes etc. Even if I'm reading a book after I've seen a film adaptation, I don't picture the characters like the actors. Is that weird?

I know what you mean, sometimes I don't ever see their face I get more of their personality. I think that the way a person behaves is often reflected in the way they look. It's all about image. I don't think it's weird, mainly because I seem to do the same thing. =D

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "I don't think it's weird, mainly because I seem to do the same thing. =D"

Oh good, lol!

Looking at that list the forehead problem seems to be afflicting a lot of historical fiction too. My book is being edited at the moment and I need to start coming up with ideas for the cover - it's really hard. I will make a note though - no decapitated models and definitely no half-naked people.

Emma wrote: "I will make a note though - no decapitated models and definitely no half-naked people."

And under no circumstances go for a half-naked, decapitated person. =P Let me know when you're book is published. I really want to read it. =)

Emma wrote: "My book is being edited at the moment and I need to start coming up with ideas for the cover - it's really hard. I will make a note though - no decapitated models and definitely no half-naked people. "

From what I've heard about your book, I think a cover like that of
(but obviously with a more Indian theme) would look really nice on it! I agree, though, no decapitated people and no half-naked people!

I also agree that I rarely visualise the characters as they're portrayed on the cover and that my vision of them is influenced by their personality and actions in the book rather than the descriptions of their physical attributes.

That's a pretty cover. Yes maybe have the woman in a sari. I like saris. I think they look really pretty. =) Don't mind me, I've had some Lucozade and now I'm just going to ramble on while listening to The Beach Boys. XD

Ooh, that is pretty. I'll add it to my mood board and I'll look up some sari patterns too. Thanks for the ideas :D

I'm so happy that the group is active again XD

Jeshu wrote: "I'm so happy that the group is active again XD"

Me too! I've been trying for days. If I'd known all it would take is reading a Jane Austen parody I'd have done it earlier! XD

Wow, its active again :)

Im currently reading

Yup we have been all day.

I cnt go on till 6 from now on , so i aint as active :(

Gutted. This is why I have my own computer, I just switch it on and I'm good to go. I don't normally cone on until the afternoon though.

Its my mum, shes stopped me going on till 6, though i tried to tell her about goodreads and that, but she wont listen :(

I think she has a point about not being on the computer all the time, I only use mine in the afternoons. Goodreads may be good but it's hardly educational.

Yeah i know, so now its 6 till i go to bed

I am getting ready to read Im Am Number Four

ITS GREAT :) just thought i'd say it :)

Fair enough. What time do you normally go to bed?

You won't believe this but I Am Number Four is on my TBR. (I think just about every book in the world is on my TBR lol.)

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Fair enough. What time do you normally go to bed?

You won't believe this but I Am Number Four is on my TBR. (I think just about every book in the world is on my TBR lol.)"

You do seem to have a massive TBR list. Do you stick to a strict order or jump around to whatever you fancy?

I normally go to bed late, and my hates that, i got to bed 1:30 am, and then , i sleep in late, and my mam, says i should start to get a routine but i cnt :(

Emma wrote: "You do seem to have a massive TBR list. Do you stick to a strict order or jump around to whatever you fancy?"

My TBR pile is massive. I have two piles on my bedside drawer. 2 bookshelves and an additional box and 5 piles. I have a specific rder at the moment to try and read ones that I have had for years and haven't gotten around to. I am flexible if I really want to read a book though. The majority of what I choose for a month's group read are from the top of my TBR. I should get some pics or make a video of my TBR piles. I'm not sure anyone believes how big my pile is. XD

Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I normally go to bed late, and my hates that, i got to bed 1:30 am, and then , i sleep in late, and my mam, says i should start to get a routine but i cnt :("

You shouldn't be going to bed at 1:30 am, that's not healthy, believe me, I used to do it. You really should have a routine, it's like I go to bed between 9 pm and 10 pm and get up between 7 am and 8 am. I have a full night's sleep and everyone's happy.

I know, its just, i cnt get to sleeep, so i stay up and read :(

Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I know, its just, i cnt get to sleeep, so i stay up and read :("

I have a routine, you should read for an hour or so and then maybe chill with some music. I personally put my pink iPod on as loud as it will go for about 30mins and then I switch over to my (new) black one and put it on as low as it will go for the night and go to sleep. (I have sleeping issues.)

You're good to be so disciplined. I recently discovered when I was going through my TBR list that I've also got into a really bad habit of starting books and then not finishing them. I never used to do that. I always intend to go back to them because I feel I can't really say I've read it until I've read it all.

You should take pictures and then get people to guess how many there are altogether, like that jelly-bean in a jar competition people do at fetes.

I'm really not, I go through phases. I have to read them in this order right now otherwise my world will end.

I really should, if I get time, I'll do that but I have enough books for at least 5 years. XD

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "I'm really not, I go through phases. I have to read them in this order right now otherwise my world will end."

Now I'm picturing you trying to dig your way out of your bedroom one book at a time - like when there is an earthquake and the emergency services have to remove the debris in a very particular order to stop it collapsing in on itself.

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I know, its just, i cnt get to sleeep, so i stay up and read :("

I have a routine, you should read for an hour or so and then maybe chill with some music. I p..."

I only have 1 ipod, so if i listen to music to get to sleep, it will die through the night :/

Emma wrote: "Now I'm picturing you trying to dig your way out of your bedroom one book at a time - like when there is an earthquake and the emergency services have to remove the debris in a very particular order to stop it collapsing in on itself.

Okay now I'm picturing that and that's quite a funny image. It's not quite like that but it's often said that it's probably for the best that our fire alarm is outside my bedroom door!

Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I know, its just, i cnt get to sleeep, so i stay up and read :("

I have a routine, you should read for an hour or so and then maybe chi..."

I forget it's not normal to have 2 iPods. Depending on what iPod you have and what volume you play it at your battery can last for ages, my black one can go for 24 hours. Maybe not music but you still need a routine, maybe have a nice cup of hot chocolate before bed, and then go snuggle under the blankets. I love snuggling under my blankets.

I wish my body was that simple, i used to sleeep so easy, but now i cnt :/

I feel like crying most nights :(

I feel i can opend up on here, everyones so nice and kind

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Emma wrote: "Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Jeshu wrote: "I want to read that book too!!"

Haha. I've had it on my TBR pile for ages. I'll let you know what I think of it. =D"

I've kept seeing those par..."
City of Bones is AWESOME..Once you start the first one you will need to have the others ready...they are great!

Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I wish my body was that simple, i used to sleeep so easy, but now i cnt :/

I feel like crying most nights :(

I feel i can opend up on here, everyones so nice and kind"

Aww Tara, it's not that easy for me either, the iPod is because I can't sleep when it's silent and I have to sleep with my lamp on because I suffer from terrible nightmares. I have many coping mechanisms that we've (we being me, my mum, my brother, my psychiatrist, my councillor, my ex social worker, my old teachers... seriously, the list is endless.) had to come up with just to get me to do normal things. Do you know why you can't sleep. In fact do you want to talk about this privately because you just have to message me you know. =)

Lisa wrote: "Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Emma wrote: "Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Jeshu wrote: "I want to read that book too!!"

Haha. I've had it on my TBR pile for ages. I'll let you know what I think of it. =D"

I..."

I keep hearing this about City of Bones! I need to read this book! =D

Charmaine Elaine wrote: "Tara-Jayne (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "I wish my body was that simple, i used to sleeep so easy, but now i cnt :/

I feel like crying most nights :(

I feel i can opend up on here, everyones so n..."

Ill email you on here