h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I reckon all of us that have managed to persevere with Baudolino deserve a medal!! I agree though in it's brilliance, but just the long-winded bits are

Well, having read through all comments about the Da Vinci Code - I may just read it. I had been put off, but so many of you seem to have enjoyed it - as a work of fiction, I presume?

Looking forward to beginning Russka - just finishing off The Favoured Child, which is a lot better than Wideacre, but, again, a bit long-winded. Do authors get paid for the number of words they get published

>>Do authors get paid for the number of words they get published <<

As far as I know, they used to do, see Dickens and Balzac, but not completely sure about this.

*hangs up banners and blows up balloons*
anyone want some or ? I'm having an "I've finished Digital Fortress" party.

I may burn it as entertainment.

Baudolino is ok, the beginning and up to just over half way are excellent. then...zzzzzzzz

Who's reading Silas Marner? I did that for O-level in ... well, a long long time ago (ok 1980) and I have loved it ever since, but I've never really liked any of her other books.

Anyway, I'm going to chicken. It's time for The Two Towers. I've put it off as long as I could.

I'd decided, thanks to some of you who also hated "The Da Vinci Code" but liked "Valis", I'm re-reading it. I'm also re-reading "Finnegans Wake" during my commute to and from work each day, and re-reading "American Hardcore" in the bath.

I'm watching closely for recommendations of stuff I haven't read yet. There's been lots here, sooner or later someone will suggest something that's my speed!

I'm also reading Last Chance to See (mostly during mealtimes)

Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut.

I enjoyed DaVinci Code, I'm in the middle of reading it for the second time (illustrated version).

I'm also in the middle of The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett, but I've misplaced it at the moment.

And because my sister keeps telling me how fun his books are, I'm reading Clive Cussler's Sahara. So far, I enjoyed the film more, but since the general rule is that the book is always better I'm expecting this to change at some point.

I've considered reading HP5 again before next month, but I may settle for listening to it on CD during my commute.


Sho, how old are the Gruesomes? I read the first one to my son when he was about 5 I guess, followed by the second and third. I told him I wouldn't read the fourth one to him, when he could read it for himself he'd be old enough for it.

the Gruesomes are 6 (nearly 7) and 8 - I'm thinking along the same lines, we'll read this one, then leave it a while, then the next and then the next. By that time #1 will be up to speed with reading in English and should be able to cope with it.

I'm currently reading Take a Break does that count?

that's "novel", a book(?)that may count?

"What book are you reading at this time?" - that's what counts!!

No.

almost finished rereading 'Earthly Powers' by Anthony Burgess and about to reread 'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmerman Bradley
I need to find some new authors

>almost finished rereading 'Earthly Powers' by Anthony Burgess and about to reread 'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmerman Bradley<

I enjoyed both of those books!

I've been on a re-reading kick myself lately. Need to get some new materials. I *did* order a copy of "If Chins Could Kill", there's one I haven't read yet.

Ever read ' The return of the native' by Thomas Hardy ? I've started reading that, butr I guess it will take me a very long time to read

Ah! Mists of Avalon - I remember it well - luvverly

Never read 'The return of the native' and haven't read any Thomas Hardy in a long time so perhaps I'll do that

ta B'Elena

Psychocandy have you read any of the other books MZB wrote in the 'Avalon' series? I picked them up 2nd-hand but couldn't get into them.

Hi Blackberry Cat, I've read all of the Avalon books by MZB, the only other one I really remember getting "into" was "The Forest House".

Didn't know if it was my attention span, or what. The copies I'd picked up of "The Fall of Atlantis" and "The Firebrand", both of which sounded interesting, were so poorly edited by the publisher they were unreadable.

I'll give them another try, sometimes you just have to be in the right frame of mind for an author

I never have any problems with attention span when I'm reading, mostly because I am probably reading rather than doing what I should be getting on with

I can't recall having read the two mentioned books, but I've read most of the 'Darkover' books and really liked them.

well I've made a decision (something I do very rarely and only after much procrastination )

I'm off to Peru in September so it'd make sense to read more about Peru so I'm off to the library this weekend assuming I can get myself in gear