What are you reading now?

[Lia]

I'm reading . I really like it so far :D Has anyone else read it?

[Louise]

Yeah, I read it last year. Was a bit spoilt for me because I'd alreadys seen a stage version and knew the ending though! But I really enjoyed it anyway.

[Denise]

I'm reading The Doll by Daphne du Maurier.

[Lia]

Denise wrote: "I'm reading The Doll by Daphne du Maurier.
"

How is it so far?

Louise wrote: "Yeah, I read it last year. Was a bit spoilt for me because I'd alreadys seen a stage version and knew the ending though! But I really enjoyed it anyway."

I'm really enjoying it now. I haven't seen any movies or stage productions though, so as soon as I'm done, I'll get right on that :)

[Denise]

I'm enjoying it, Lia! These are mostly stories that she wrote early in her career, that had appeared in magazines but never been gathered in a book before. So far they show a range, from the macabre to the everyday. She has a great insight into human nature, and a wonderful writing style.

[Lia]

OOh. Maybe I'll read that soon I'm starting to really like this author :)

[Lia]

Well, when you do get around to it, it's a really great read :).

[Readers]

Has anyone read Billy Lynn's Long Halftime walk? by Ben Fountain

[Louise]

I'm reading

I won an ARC copy from Waterstones. It's pretty bad. Apart from describing the vampire who kidnaps and then pretty much attempts to rape the heroine as 'sexy' and 'charismatic' on the bulrb, I just keep wanting to take a red pen to it and fix the writing.

[Leah M]

hello everyone, i just wanted to tell u all of some book i have bought just the last week.The Mysteries of the udolpho- Ann Radcliffe. and The Monk-Matthew Lewis...

I am quite excited to read them,as i've always wanted them. :)

[Steve]

Just finished Great God Pan by Arthur Machen and now started The Silent Land by Graham Joyce.

[Tracy]

I just finished Stephen King's November 22,1963. Pretty good, and I'm not a die-hard King fan. Now I am deviating between re-reading Sartre's Nausea, and J.K. Rowling's new adult novel A Casual Vacancy.

[Tracy]

Rida wrote: "Currently listening to A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Is it weird that it has a gothic feel to it? Maybe it's just the way it's being read..."

Victorian and British, I think, tends to lean Gothio. Esp. to Americans?

[Louise]

Just finished The Turn of the Screw. After hearing for years how scary it is and about how it's the definitive ghost story, I have to say I was massively underwhelmed.

[Kim]

Louise wrote: "Just finished The Turn of the Screw. After hearing for years how scary it is and about how it's the definitive ghost story, I have to say I was massively underwhelmed."
I agree! I could not feel it at all... very disappointing!

[Louise]

No, I get that, and I do have a pretty good understanding of Victorian social values. There's plenty in there that's very interesting to discuss in that respect but I just don't think it's a very good ghost story. Certainly not the 'best' I've read by a long shot.

[Paulina]

Nancy wrote: "just fininshed clockwork fagin. ok neat idea."

Glad you liked it!! Cool right? I kinda wished Oliver and the gang had dealt with Fagin the same way. It is very much a dark comedy. I also liked that it was set in Canada, most steampunk choses Vic England.

[R.M.]

I'm currently reading a Y.A. paranormal ARC for an author friend of mine, C.C. Hunter. It's the last of The Shadow Falls series. It's awesome so far. Next, I'll be reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

[R.M.]

Cathie wrote: "just beginning to read The Night Strangers: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian


"

Game of Thrones is a fantastic fantasy series with a lot of intrigue and twists. This is what I consider "high fantasy." My only problem with Martin is that he keeps killing off his protagonists. His world view is quite prevalent in his work, almost to the point of being pedantic. Still, it is definitely worth a read.

[Louise]

Haha, that's wonderful!
Love Dracula - it's got so many flaws and silly bits but I love it regardless. Would 5 star it just for the first section of Jonnathan Harker's journal alone.

Currently reading Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon for another group. Not got very far yet but really enjoying it. Is reminding me a lot of The Woman in White. Yay for sensationalist Victorian novels!

[Kim]

Rida wrote: "Oh, I LOVE the beginning! I love that the book's got just the right amount of creepiness; it's enough that shortly after reading I don't want to look into mirrors or go to dark bathrooms in the mid..."

Dracula is my hands-down favorite book, I reread it every year. For me, it is the epistolary format that adds so much to the suspense - gets me every time ;)

[Dex]

Currently reading The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice. So far so good! :D

[Mary]

I'm a little bit behind the rest of the club, but I just started Sheridan LeFanu's Uncle Silas. I read Carmilla years ago and LOVED it, so I thought I'd give Uncle Silas a go. It's GREAT. I LOVE sadistic governesses.

[Dex]

I loved Carmilla too! So wonderful. Uncle Silas I still have to finish. It's a sensation novel, a locked room mystery, and a subtle tale of the occult/Swedenborgism [sp?]. Enjoy!

[Denise]

I may be confused, but are we supposed to be reading A Christmas Carol this month?

[Stephen Hegedus]

Yes we are! I'll set up the discussion board now. :)

[Denise]

Thanks, Stephen! Good to know I wasn't just imagining things!

[Leah M]

hello everyone, i am reading Jane Austen's --Northanger Abbey at the moment,,,,,again.

[Denise]

Me too. I've been looking forward to starting it, and I'm not disappointed. Very quick read. Isn't this the group that was going to be reading it this month? It almost feels like a ghost town here.

[Denise]

Yes, we have Northanger Abbey scheduled for this month. I just started Tristram Shandy, which will probably take me a while, but I've read NA so many times (one of my very favorite Austen's!), that I'll follow the discussion, whether or not I get to it.

[Louise]

I'm gunna try and do a reread tomorrow. Loved Northanger Abbey the first time I read it. A much lighter, sillier read than most of her other books but less tightly plotted, particularly the second half. As Austen heroes's go though I'm all about Henry Tilney.

[Leah M]

hello everyone, well i'm reading Northanger Abbey at the moment, i did already start it in december,before i'd seen it our read for the month lol. and now it's even better to know that everyone else is reading it too.lol.

well it's one of my favourites , i do luv the movie better of course,the one with Felicity Jones in it is the version i have.so i watch it over and over.lol.

Mr thorpe annoys me soo much, the way he and Isabella always for her to do what they want..lol

[Elizabeth]

I just read The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, and it has been said to be regarded as the first gothic novel, yet I haven't heard much about it before? May be due to the fact that it was written in the 18th century and gothic literature became popular during the late 1800s. Has anyone else read it?

[Denise]

Liz wrote: "I just read The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, and it has been said to be regarded as the first gothic novel, yet I haven't heard much about it before? May be due to the fact that it was writ..."

No, I haven't read that one, but I have read

The Mysteries of Udolpho

[Kirsty]

Just finished 'Asylum' by Patrick McGrath. Don't waste your time, at least it was short at 153 pages.

[Alyne]

I'm reading Jane Eyre after many years. An ex boyfriend of mine once bought me Jane Eyre saying it was 'your book'. He's always been astute, because reading for the second time, I can see a lot myself in it.
I have to admire C Bronte's descriptions - especially of Thornfield and the strange landscape around it. The scene where she scares Rochester's horse will always be burned in my mind. Oh, to be able to write scenes like that!
Its also very deep and still sensational. One of the greats!

[Alyne]

Re-Reading Tanith Lee's secret books of Paradys. You can't more Gothic than these and her use of language is stunning. If you haven't tried the Book of the Mad and the Book of the Dead, the Book of the damned and the Book of the Beast, you don;t know what you're missing. Paradys is an alternative Paris, and a gloomy, magical place it is.

[Kaida46 (deb)]

I'm getting nostalgic by reading books from the 'Horrid List' in Northanger Abbey. At present I am reading Clermont.

[Denise]

Nothing Gothic at the moment, but I just finished a biography of Henry VII, and I'm planning on reading a mystery by Carolyn Hart next.

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Just picked up Star Flight by Phyllis A. Whitney at a used bookstore today. Sitting outside about to start it now :)

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Denise wrote: "I'm reading Kathryn Leigh Scott's new book about Dark Shadows, Return to Collinwood. I think that does kind of qualify as Gothic!

"

oh, I wanna read!

[Denise]

Debbie wrote: "Denise wrote: "I'm reading Kathryn Leigh Scott's new book about Dark Shadows, Return to Collinwood. I think that does kind of qualify as Gothic!

[bookcover:Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood|1323..."

Debbie, you might be interested to know that Kathryn, who has already done one visit to GR, will be visiting again next month (although I'm not sure of the date). She will be promoting a new (non-DS-related) novel, but there should be more talk about Dark Shadows, as well!

Here is the GR group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Wow. Really. I am such a DS fan. But I had no idea these books, including the Lara Parker one existed. I have been finding out all kind if cool stuff since joining goodreads. Great site. Thanks for the link too!

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Just joined the group. Looks like she will be chatting with us April 8th. Now to going a Lara Parker group. She was so enchanting in the show.

[Denise]

Debbie wrote: "Wow. Really. I am such a DS fan. But I had no idea these books, including the Lara Parker one existed. I have been finding out all kind if cool stuff since joining goodreads. Great site. Thanks for..."

You're welcome! I have four of Kathryn's books about Dark Shadows and love them! I was an addict while the show was on - LOL! She is very nice to chat with, too.

[Tracy]

I am reading An English translation from Russian..not sure if it counts as gothic.

[Kaida46 (deb)]

A book of stories by J.S. Le Fanu. I am a sucker for all mysterious & ghostly tales!

Check-out my Gothic Lit facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ADarkAndStor...

[Stephen Hegedus]

I'm still making my way through Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It's brilliant and so interesting. The only problem is it's more than 900 pages long!! I also decided to start clash of kings - the second in the Game of Thrones series. I might have to put it aside to read some other books!

[Stephen Hegedus]

I've just started Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I'm thinking of starting Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races. It sounds really exciting. I'm also still reading pillars of the earth. I have a feeling I'll be reading than for another few months to a year.

[Roxanne]

Reading the Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen (genre is historical/romance/Christian). Finding it good so far. A girl banished by her father finds herself living in a gatehouse. Determined to start anew, she turns to supporting and herself and her servant by writing novels. She also finds herself immersed in a mystery. Set in Regency period.