Adrienne- I'm thrilled we could make your day, but we'd hate to be responsible for you getting a ticket!! :)

Hey, Stephen - how is 2666 progressing? Based on your comments, I bought it but haven't started yet. I was working my way through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (another lengthy tome) and didn't want to commit to another big book just yet. I need some "lighter" reading before I started 2666. Hee! I crack myself up!

Anyway, I did want to comment about what you wrote about translators. So true! A good translation is so important but I think that sometimes the translators don't get the credit they deserve. The recent Ruiz-Zafon book The Angel's Game had some translation issues for me. The language and writing didn't come across as gracefully as it had in The Shadow of the Wind, or some other book translations. I think it's a bad sign when it becomes obvious to the reader that the novel has, in fact, been translated. A good translation doesn't draw attention to itself in that respect.

I heard my name on the podcast in connection to this topic and totally freaked out on my drive to work. So much that I called my husband to tell him to which he said "That's great but get off the phone! The new law of no driving with a cell just went into effect!" Eek. Oh well, it was still awesome. Thanks for the fun!

Stephanie at #44

The Haunting of Hill House is my favorite spooky book of all time ... the last page of the book is genuinely haunting. And Jackson somehow manages to maintain the spookiness in scenes that provide comic relief. Her description of the physical layout of the house is memorable. Well -- I have never forgotten it. I also love the narrative voice in Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle -- it is more mysterious than spooky but the characters move into your head and stay there for a while

Slightly off-topic, Jackson's memoirs about raising her family (Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons) are equally enjoyable.

When I mowed my way through the first hundred pages last night, I thought to myself "Has BoTNS ever done an episode of great survival tales?" That would be a great topic! I really want to start contributing on the voicemail, but getting back to the school year has been ROUGH this year. Soon, though!

Stephanie,
Michael is a huge fan of this book and always talks about it at our reading group nights. In fact, I'm surprised he hasn't covered it on Books on the Nightstand. Yet. I'm sure he will get to it soon!

Horrifying in a completely different way:

Last night I started Miracle in the Andes 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home which tells the story of the rugby team stranded in the Andes after their plane crashed. (The movie version is called Alive.) There are several books on this topic, but this particular version is told by one of the survivors. The horrors these men and women faced are unimaginable and I will no longer be reading this book before bed. It is an amazing story of survival, and I would encourage anyone to read any of the books written about this tragedy.

Tanya wrote: "Tanya wrote: "My library system doesn't have it in either CD or OverDrive and they balk at ILLs."

Yay! I misspoke! It IS available on Overdrive AND it's DRM-free which means I can dnload it onto m..."

Seriously, the Fates are conspiring against me! Just tried to dnload THE TERROR. Unfortunately, though the file can be x-ferred to an iPod, it still needs to be done through the OverDRive Console on a Windows platform. Though I have a ODMC for Mac, this title has DRM that needs to be specially stripped via Windows. I went over to the Windows side of my computer, but it noted that the title wouldn't be available for another 7 days as it was already checked out (Of course, that was me from the Apple side!) So now, I need to wait until next week-end to see if I can manage this. What a pain! It better be good!

Tanya wrote: "My library system doesn't have it in either CD or OverDrive and they balk at ILLs."

Yay! I misspoke! It IS available on Overdrive AND it's DRM-free which means I can dnload it onto my iPod!

Now I just need the time to listen to it!

Michael wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!"

I can only find the abridged audio narrated by Simon..."

The good news: I found the recording! Books on Tape recorded it 2007 with John Lee narrating.

The bad news: It is no longer available at audible. You can buy it from BOT but it cost $103.20

My library system doesn't have it in either CD or OverDrive and they balk at ILLs.

I love Simon Vance, but John Lee is great too and I would rather listen to the unabridged.

I'll just have to put my wish out there in the universe and let the destiny take its course!

Michael wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!"

I can only find the abridged audio narrated by Simon..."

Oh well, I guess I'll have to read it in print! We have a copy at home, and my DH has been nagging me to read it The only reason I've been balking is because, once upon a time, he took me to see a documentary film about a South Pole expedition and I was very upset about the fate of the sled dogs. Since then, I've been wary of these Polar tales!

Tanya wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!"

I can only find the abridged audio narrated by Simon Vance.
What c..."

Tanya- I've been searching and I can't find it either. I'm 99% sure I downloaded it from audible.com, but I can't find an unabridged version there either. The abridged version is only 8+ hours, and I KNOW the one I listened to was 17 or 18 hours....

I think I have this on my to-read list, and I think at one point it even came home from the library with me but I didn't have time to read it (I always bring home too many books). Now I am intrigued to go back and pick it up again.

I've read the first two sections of 2666, and I am taking a break. I agree with Stephen that the writing and sentence structure are masterful. I decided that the plot would be less frustrating if I approached it as interconnected short stories rather than as a novel. I'll get back to it after I've reread Oryx and Crake.

Hey Toni,
I am actually halfway through 2666, which is to say, I've read about 800 pages. Talk about a tome. Once you've prepared yourself for the size of the book, prepare to be utterly blown away by the writing and frustrated by the story.

This book is like LOST; the writing is so loaded that you think everything HAS to mean something even though you can't figure out what. I'm hoping (and have been told) that it all pays off at the end. . .whenever that comes.

But the writing, oh boy the writing. The man is a master, truly. There are some sentences that you hope he spent days on because they are perfect. He knows how to manipulate language (side note: I need to meet whoever translated this) and bend it to create something never before seen.

Anybody who wants to jump in on 2666 is welcome to, but please NO SPOILERS! My wife has managed to not give anything away; she'd be annoyed if one of you blew it for me.

Stephen wrote: "House of Leaves - this is one of those books you'll put in the freezer (for those Friends fans out there) or hang on the clothesline in the backyard (for those
[book:2666 Part B|64866..."

So, STEPHEN (my apologies to Stephanie) ... it sounds like you've read Robert Bolano's 2666. What did you think? It's out in paperback now, and I've picked it up off the booksale table a few times. Not sure about it yet, though. It's a little intimidating.

Stephanie wrote: "Stephen wrote: "House of Leaves - this is one of those books you'll put in the freezer (for those Friends fans out there) or hang on the clothesline in the backyard (for those
[book:2..."
So, Stephanie ... it sounds like you've read Robert Bolano's 2666. What did you think? It's out in paperback now, and I've picked it up off the booksale table a few times. Not sure about it yet, though.

I have several books I'd love to read in October as "spooky" reads. In YA, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, is one I must read soon. I feel like I'm the last one to read it!! Also Breathe A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish from Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing. Lots of buzz going in school book fairs for this story of a 12-year old who can communicate with ghosts. Adult read: The Seance by John Harwood from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Harwood writes Victorian-era English manor house mysteries full of apparitions and unnatural phenomenon. I really wanted to read his previous book The Ghost Writer, too. Maybe this October, I will!!

Danielewski is the brother of alternative/pop artist POE. Her album "Haunted" is supposedly a counterpart to his novel.

Stephen wrote: "House of Leaves - this is one of those books you'll put in the freezer (for those Friends fans out there) or hang on the clothesline in the backyard (for those
[book:2666 Part B|64866..."

House of Leaves is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. If you do some research online, there is all kinds of stuff hidden in the book.

House of Leaves - this is one of those books you'll put in the freezer (for those Friends fans out there) or hang on the clothesline in the backyard (for those
2666 Part B fans out there).

Seriously, even the dedication is spooky: "This is not for you."

Kirsty wrote: "I have Gaiman's Neverwhere on my TBR shelf, I really should bump it up my list as a number of people have raved about his books."

I loved Neverwhere. I listened to the audiobook and Gaiman is an excellent narrator.

"My Soul to Keep" by Tananarive Due. This one kept me on the edge of my seat. The evening got darker and I couldn't move until I finished.

Eric wrote: "one of my favorite spooky books is Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. It is so good and it has a group of young kids as the main characters."

I started this one and stopped for some reason. It is in my books-to-come-back-to pile. Maybe I will read it this fall.

Michael wrote: "I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!"

Wow - how many hours of listening was that?!?!

Michael wrote: "I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!"

I can only find the abridged audio narrated by Simon Vance.
What company and who was the narrator for the unabridged?

I'll throw my recommendation behind The Terror. I listened to the unabridged audio and thought it was fantastic!

one of my favorite spooky books is Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. It is so good and it has a group of young kids as the main characters.

I agree with Stephanie, THE TERROR is a classic that builds slowly but always has a sense of dread about it. Brrrrr. Coldest book since THE CAGE.

I loved The Terror. This is a great WINTER read. The cold is one of the greatest book villains of all-time in this novel.

Another great scary book is The Swarm A Novel.

I just finished The Haunting of Hill House for the second time. Loved it!

Melissa wrote: "Has anyone read either "The Terror" or "Drood"? They both have been calling to me in the bookstore, but I haven't tried them yet. They seem spooky."

Hi Melissa -

I've actually almost finished with Drood. (I haven't picked up The Terror, yet). I've been enjoying Drood, though it rambles a bit. The narrator is Wilkie Collins, and it leans heavily on Dickens' last, unfinished novel The Mystery of Edmund Drood, (I'd recommend wikepedia-ing it... it helped me make more sense of the plot). And it is very spooky.

Has anyone read either "The Terror" or "Drood"? They both have been calling to me in the bookstore, but I haven't tried them yet. They seem spooky.

I started listening to Ted Dekker's Showdown on audio during this morning's commute. It seems creepy. I really liked Three by Dekker, so I thought I would try another one. There was a pretty gruesome eyeball scene, but I think it is going to be smart and fun like the other book I read.

Michael wrote: "I too loved The Ruins for its over-the-top-ness. But it's definitely gory, not spooky. I'm having a hard time coming up with spooky stuff..."

I just started reading The Sister by Poppy Adams -- I don't know if it will end up being a spooky book, but right now it definitely has suspenseful and sinister overtones.

I too loved The Ruins for its over-the-top-ness. But it's definitely gory, not spooky. I'm having a hard time coming up with spooky stuff...

Neverwhere is the other book of his that I have read. For more mature audiences than Graveyard, but equally spooky and surprising. Don't know if Gaiman is a favorite, but his books are always so different that they are a refreshing treat to toss into the mix of historical fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi and fantasy that I usually read.

well, I now own The Ruins because of all of you. it was for sale at our library for 50 cents and I couldn't resist.

I have Gaiman's Neverwhere on my TBR shelf, I really should bump it up my list as a number of people have raved about his books.

I read The Graveyard Book, too and loved it. Gaiman is such a talented, twisted author -- he's the Roald Dahl of our times. I also watched the movie adaptation of Coraline last weekend. Initially, I was upset about some changes (the novel was set in England but the movie was Americanized and had Dakota Fanning as the title character). However, the movie was simply charming (and creepy) and a visual treat. It's definitely one that I will add to my DVD library.

Ann, I'm going on vacation next Sunday and I bought The Ruins to read on the plane based on what you said on the podcast!

I loved THE RUINS, specifically for the reasons that Stephanie alludes to -- it's one of those books that is campy and fun, and I don't think you should approach it with any literary expectations. In an early blog post, I called it "the perfect airplane book" and I still think it qualifies.

Recently read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and it's a perfect quirky spooky fall read! Love the podcast guys.

I have to agree with Stephanie about the Ruins. I loved smiths first book and there was so much hype about The Ruins that I could not wait to read it. I rushed out and got it the day it was released. Boy was I dissapointed. I thought it was terrible also. Then about 3 months ago I read it again (not sure why) and I liked it a little bit. I think my expectations were way to high the first time.

Hee! That was a remarkably accurate re-enactment of the movie. For anyone who is still tempted to watch the big-screen version, I am pretty sure it's out on DVD.

Stephanie wrote: "The Ruins was TERRIBLE! Sorry to disagree with you, but everything about that book was just WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. We had the greatest thread going in our book group about that one and I wish I hadn'..."

This is really perverse, but now I feel like I have to read it. And see the movie. I know, just KNOW I will agree with you, but this is sort of like passing a car wreck when the ambulance has just pulled in. You shouldn't look, but you do.

The Ruins was TERRIBLE! Sorry to disagree with you, but everything about that book was just WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. We had the greatest thread going in our book group about that one and I wish I hadn't deleted it b/c I would post everyone's hilarious summaries of the book. I was the first to read it, and because I thought it was so bad, I made all of my friends read it. Each character was a total moron and I rooted for all of their deaths.

Haven't seen The Ruins movie either, but the Noelle Tannenbaum version that Tanya linked to is precious. "Noelle" (not her real name) is a friend of ours, and that post is one of my favorite blog posts ever, across all blogs. Glad you enjoyed it, Tanya!

Toni wrote: "So how did the movie version compare to the novel? I saw The Ruins a few months back, and thought it was an ok B-movie. Haven't read it though."

I can't remember who originally directed me this site, but you HAVE to check it out!

http://dailytannenbaum.com/2008/04/10/i-...

Sorry, Toni. I haven't seen the movie. Is it out on DVD yet?

So how did the movie version compare to the novel? I saw The Ruins a few months back, and thought it was an ok B-movie. Haven't read it though.