books I'm reading! (Yay, books!)

[newmoonstar]

Been reading Irene Castle's autobiography. Hugely fascinating. I knew about as much about the Castles as any self-respecting history geek, and I always thought they were terribly glamorous, since you always see pictures of her in books on historical fashion, and of course there was the movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but I never imagined just how huge of celebrities Vernon and Irene Castle were. Their life was even more rich with glamor and adventure than any fiction story you could find. They knew practically every famous name you can think of from the early twentieth century, and their dancing career encompassed theater, nightclubs, teaching, vaudeville, movies, society parties and benefits. It's just amazing. I'm so amazed no one else has ever thought to make a movie out of their story, since the reality was so much more exciting than what 1930's Hollywood decided to change it into. I've got to dig up more stuff about them. I'd absolutely kill to see the silent movie they made; I wonder if it still exists somewhere! Further research is definitely called for. :)

Also broke down and am reading Wuthering Heights. There's no danger of my falling in love with it, but I have to say there is a sort of train wreck quality to the whole saga. You sit there thinking "God, these people are awful!" but then it's like, "Well, I gotta see what wild and crazy thing they'll do next!" It may not be nice, but it's never boring. It really is the ultimate guilty pleasure read. I'm convinced that if Emily Bronte lived today, she could have a fabulous career writing for soap operas! ;-D

Considering how many books I'm currently reading (and there's several more besides those!), Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is unfortunatley going to have to wait a while. But I actually got as far as checking it out from the library! I really will read it this time, really!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_toffee/]

hahaha agreed re. "train wreck quality." but the ending! i'd like to know what you think about the ending, hehe. what other stuff are you currently reading?? i am on the lookout for new reads. i've exhausted my library's stash of p.g. wodehouse and actually picked up some barbara cartland [super cheesy]/elizabeth cadell [sort of amusing].

[newmoonstar]

I'll probably write a wrap-up review when I finish Wuthering Heights.

Mostly I'm reading history and costuming books, the only other fiction I'm reading is Edgar Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin stories. The first one was really gory and macabre, but what can you expect from Poe! But it's pretty interesting to read the very first ever proper mystery stories, and see how it set the pattern for Sherlock Holmes and the whole rest of the genre even today.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_toffee/]

the only Dupin I've read is of course, the Purloined Letter. But I've been ever so much more into mysteries since getting into Dorothy Sayers [thanks to you!] I have pretty much all the books now--even 3 editions of the same title! the collector in me wants to keep them ALL, but I'm running out of space, heh.

But I love Sherlock, Miss Marple, and Poirot. Have you read any P.D. James? I've been thinking of trying her out. I skimmed through 2, but it didn't really get a hold on me.

[newmoonstar]

I've wanted to read The Purloined Letter ever since they used it for an episode of Wishbone! I can't believe I'm finally getting to it now!

I haven't read any P.D. James, for some reason none of her stuff ever interested me. But have you read any Tommy and Tuppence yet? If you like Agatha Christie you can't miss them! (There's also a very fabulous Tommy and Tuppence TV series from the 80's on DVD. Francesca Annis is the perfect Tuppence!)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_toffee/]

Yes!! Woo to Wishbone for introducing us to all these classics. That was my first exposure to Poe. Did you ever see the Wishbone episode on "A Scandal in Bohemia?"

I have read Tommy and Tuppence! I have a couple of the books but haven't seen the dvds :( I saw some Miss Marple tapes for sale at the library; the Joan Hickson episodes...maybe I should have purchased those!

[newmoonstar]

Wishbone was the best thing ever, my love of literature totally started with that little dog! I think I've seen them all; "A Scandal in Bohemia" was one of my favorites! I also liked the Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey episodes, they were my first encounter with Jane Austen. :)

I never got into Miss Marple until the new TV series with Geraldine McEwan; I always found the Joan Hickson series really dry, but someone told me it's closer to the books than the newer one. I've never read any Marple; what do you think?