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

Cheers EMR!

In other news, my big hhgg book came today, and the gf promptly smeared the gilt with her greasy hands...

I can firmly suggest putting anything by Joyce where the sun doesn't shine.

The Austin's are all readable, but Pride and Prejudice is the one that stands the test of time the best.

Dickens - if you can put film adaptations out of your mind, or try 'Sketches from Boz' - which requires more concentration but is a worthwhile intro to Dickens and his style.

You could try Steinbecks Travels With Charley, which isn't a novel at all, but which I found worthwhile.

Damn - and To Kill A Mockingbird.

I have no idea why I haven't read to kill a mockingbird.

Because it's a little over-hyped? I had to read it in grade 8 for school and I remember being rather underwhelmed by it.

Really? I only ever read the German copy, my mum gave iot to me ages ago. I'm not nsure what I remember better, the book or the film.

Oh, it's a great book - not over-hyped at all, I think! As with all books there's an issue of personal taste, but it's always been one of my favorites.

Have you read any Capote, Psycorp? I think some people believe "To Kill a Mockingbird" was actually written by Truman Capote. I doubt that's true, but try "Other Voices, Other Rooms" if you get a chance. It's an odd little book, but worth reading for the dreamy quality and intense imagery. Capote has quite a way with the language.

One of my favourites is Eliot Pattison. I had never heard of him when I bought the first book (German copy of The Skull Mantra), have read the other books (in English) as soon as I could get hold of them. And I've just seen that there are two more sequels meanwhile , and another one which sounds just as interesting. to order them.

And I read Joyce in high school- "Ulysses" and "Finnegans Wake" and absolutely *love* both; so much so that I kept my copies and have re-read many several times each.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is OK- liked it but didn't love it. What about Walker Percy's "The Moviegoer"? That one is neat.

I had to read a bit of Dickens in school, and the only one that's really blown me away was "A Tale of Two Cities". The rest, I can take or leave.

And these book threads are absolutely lethal for my wallet. I've just ordered books for € 35 - which I don't really have. Then again, if the husband can speed and gets flashed (the bill's not yet there), I think I can spend money on something really worthy.

Same reason I ordered three more books on Friday... I filed K's tax refund electronically, at a cost of $45, because he was getting $1,100 back... and turns out he's missed enough payments on his student loan that the IRS has a levy against the funds. If I can spend $45 to send the IRS their own money, I can spend the same on books.

That's the spirit.

If I bought myself a present every time K did something silly or vaguely irresponsible, I'd be doing a lot of shopping. Love him to death, but ya know...

I don't do that, it's just when I wondered whether or not to order the books, I remembered about the speeding, so I thought: what the heck... and ordered them.

Yeah. This one hid a ticket from me a couple months ago, so it cost double when I finally found a notice. He hides them from me because I'll get mad... doesn't he think that I'll be twice as mad when we have to pay double?

None of the books I ordered would be considered "greats", though. But I'll be watching this thread for ideas.

Well, I ordered 'Beautiful Ghosts' and 'Prayer of the Dragon'

http://www.eliotpattison.com/

and 'Die Vermessung der Welt' (Measuring the World)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measuring_the_World

and I'm sure they're all great.

Ooh, I want to read the last one!

I got a silly cookbook (I like monster & cheesy horror flicks, and I like to cook):

http://tinyurl.com/yt22sp

And also got "The Science of H2G2" and "The Physics of Star Trek", because I'm a fan of the book and the show.

So nothing great at all.

But I did just finally get "Gravity's Rainbow".

Maybe not what's considered 'great', but the cookbook certainly looks interesting for a sci-fi fan like me.

Me, too. And for the same reasons, I suspect.

Do you think we're hijacking Psycorp's journal?