What are you reading now?

[Peter]

Michael, there's something arcane about the whole business of finding, reading and treasuring books that many people don't understand, ever. Holding something of value, perhaps once owned by somebody important, can never be replaced by electronic media. Same with the LvB scores available online - imagine that replacing holding the real thing in one's hand????!!! No way.

Absolutely - I've built up a much treasured library of books and it gives me pleasure just to look at them, let alone read. Browsing on line can never replace the thrill of finding what you're lookinf for in a dusty old second hand bookshop!

[Bonn1827]

Michael, there's something arcane about the whole business of finding, reading and treasuring books that many people don't understand, ever. Holding something of value, perhaps once owned by somebody important, can never be replaced by electronic media. Same with the LvB scores available online - imagine that replacing holding the real thing in one's hand????!!! No way.

[Michael]

I suppose I will have to see one. Maybe with new technology they can add the scent of an old second-hand bookstore to it.

[Sorrano]

Do not misunderstand, Michael. I have not gotten rid of my books by any means, and still have a massive reading pile. What the kindle does is expand my resources and gives them to me in a format that is very much like a book. There are hundreds of thousands of books online that are very readable in the kindle format and they are free.

[Michael]

The kindle isn't so bad; it's very near to reading a real book (in fact, I find myself trying to turn the pages on occasion). The text is made of electronic ink, so to speak, and instead of being bright like a typical monitor, the background is a dull grey and is pretty easy on the eyes. You need sufficient lighting to read from it as you would from any other book.

Ah, but does it smell like a book, Sorrano? I still can't kindle any interest in it.

[Sorrano]

It's on Amazon.com and it's price ranges from $4.99-$10.00 so a very reasonable price tag for such a lengthy and obviously good read. Our library might even have it too.

'instead of trying to read it off a computer screen'...or for that matter an electronic book or a kindle!

The kindle isn't so bad; it's very near to reading a real book (in fact, I find myself trying to turn the pages on occasion). The text is made of electronic ink, so to speak, and instead of being bright like a typical monitor, the background is a dull grey and is pretty easy on the eyes. You need sufficient lighting to read from it as you would from any other book.

(Also, many of these classics out there are free on Gutenberg and Feedbooks.com, among several sites that feature electronic books.)

[Joy]

It's "The Wordsworth Collection of Irish Ghost Stories". My copy is from the library and it's over a 1000 pages in length, so I may have to renew it a few times. I don't know if the "Wordsworth" publications are available in the USA but they publish a huge selection of classics in paperback editions which are extremely cheap but very well presented. They concentrate mostly on 19th century fiction (which is conveniently out of copyright).
I think they provide a valuable service nowadays. For example, you can get the two volumes of "Les Miserables" for about six euro (six dollars? I don't know the rate of exchange.)
Anyway, you can get a nice book to hold in your hand instead of trying to read it off a computer screen. Here is a link:

http://www.wordsworth-editions.com/

It's on Amazon.com and it's price ranges from $4.99-$10.00 so a very reasonable price tag for such a lengthy and obviously good read. Our library might even have it too.

'instead of trying to read it off a computer screen'...or for that matter an electronic book or a kindle!

[Joy]

"The Lost World and other Stories" is available in the Wordsworth editions. The title novel was published in 1906 and is indeed about dinosaurs.
Doyle had a legitimate reason to be annoyed by the fact that Sherlock Holmes drew attention away from his other work. The man was a master in a large number of genres; no wonder he killed off Holmes.

'The Lost World' by Doyle was also made into a movie in 1925 and was dirested by the same guy (can't come up with his name right now) who directed 'King Kong' and he came up with the idea for using stop action photography. Also there was a TV show in the late 90's.
Boy, from Holmes all the way to dinosaurs what a spectrum of ideas!

[Michael]

I've enjoyed reading all the Sherlock Holmes works, too! What others would you recommend by Doyle?

"The Lost World and other Stories" is available in the Wordsworth editions. The title novel was published in 1906 and is indeed about dinosaurs. There are a number of extremely good historical novels: "Sir Nigel" "The White Company" "Micah Clarke".
And if you can get hold of any of the Brigadier Gerard short story collections - about a French soldier in the Napoleonic wars - you are in for a real treat.
Doyle had a legitimate reason to be annoyed by the fact that Sherlock Holmes drew attention away from his other work. The man was a master in a large number of genres; no wonder he killed off Holmes.

[Sorrano]

Don't get me started on Sherlock Holmes. I've been a fan since I was twelve!
Conan Doyle himself wrote some very good creepy stories.

I've enjoyed reading all the Sherlock Holmes works, too! What others would you recommend by Doyle?

[Michael]

You're book sounds fascinating and I'll have to look into that one.
.

It's "The Wordsworth Collection of Irish Ghost Stories". My copy is from the library and it's over a 1000 pages in length, so I may have to renew it a few times. I don't know if the "Wordsworth" publications are available in the USA but they publish a huge selection of classics in paperback editions which are extremely cheap but very well presented. They concentrate mostly on 19th century fiction (which is conveniently out of copyright).
I think they provide a valuable service nowadays. For example, you can get the two volumes of "Les Miserables" for about six euro (six dollars? I don't know the rate of exchange.)
Anyway, you can get a nice book to hold in your hand instead of trying to read it off a computer screen. Here is a link:

http://www.wordsworth-editions.com/

[Michael]

My dad had the entire Sherlock Holmes collection which was another interesting read.

Don't get me started on Sherlock Holmes. I've been a fan since I was twelve!
Conan Doyle himself wrote some very good creepy stories.

[Joy]

I think there was a spooky TV series called "Tales from the Heartland" - but maybe I've the name wrong.
The book I'm reading now has a large selection from the Irish writer Joseph Sheridan le Fanu. His short novel "Carmilla" influenced Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Another of his stories, "Green Tea" has turned up in a lot of collections.

I looked up your book, Joy - and the stories are supposed to be true!

From what I remember, I believe you're right about the 'Tales from the Heartland' being a TV show. In my book it asks the question 'are the stories that follow true?' and it goes on to say 'we don't know but we believe these stories have been told by the people involved as if they were true. The tales are passed along as accounts of what happened to ordinary people.' In any case they are very good and since I grew up in that part of the country, the midwest, they are very interesting to me. It's written in a way so it takes you back to that time and place. They also have tours you can go on. Sounds fun.
You're book sounds fascinating and I'll have to look into that one.
My dad had the entire Sherlock Holmes collection which was another interesting read.

[Michael]

Ghost stories are a fun read and I have a few books on the subject. One is Haunted Heartland with lots of short stories which are pretty good and scary.
Uh, oh, here comes that dark shadow, yipes!

I think there was a spooky TV series called "Tales from the Heartland" - but maybe I've the name wrong.
The book I'm reading now has a large selection from the Irish writer Joseph Sheridan le Fanu. His short novel "Carmilla" influenced Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Another of his stories, "Green Tea" has turned up in a lot of collections.

I looked up your book, Joy - and the stories are supposed to be true!

[Joy]

Ghost stories are a fun read and I have a few books on the subject. One is Haunted Heartland with lots of short stories which are pretty good and scary.
Uh, oh, here comes that dark shadow, yipes!