Cool Stuff: Books

This is one of those books that you really have to read. Especially if you're going to continue to make jokes about the number 42. My copy is well dog-eared and so old that it doesn't include "Mostly Harmless," but I still fell in love with this book when I was about 12 and it remains one of my favourites to this day. If you like sci-fi and humor, you will love it as much as I do. If you only like one or the other, it will teach you to love both.

I know there has been a lot said for and against this book. I still think my two cents are worth adding.

There is actually a mildly entertaining story to go with my discovery of this book. I found a gift card for the local bookstore while I was tidying my bedroom. It was almost ready to expire, so I went out the next day with the sole purpose of buying a book. I was just wandering around when the front cover, which looks very much like the classic cover of Pride & Prejudice, caught my eye. I had actually promised myself just a few days prior that I would stop being terrified of zombies, so when I saw one of my favourite stories, now with added zombies, I snatched it up with glee and made a bee-line for the counter.

As for the book itself, without giving anything away, it is exactly what it says : Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Definitely worth the time to read (it's quick, too, if you already know the original narrative.)

I don't know what it is about this book, but I just counted and discovered that I own four seperate hard copies and two e-book copies saved to my hard disk. This was actually one of the books on my Lit course this semester, and is a brilliant read.

Having said that, it's not for everyone, and if you like your vampires to be the least bit human, you're looking in the wrong place. The thing I really like about this book is the way the story is told - through a series of diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. I have heard a lot of people say that this makes it hard to read, but I think if you read a lot and are used to a single or double narrator story told in standard prose, this book is a welcome break.

Of course, if you're going to jump on the vampire bandwagon, it might be worth knowing a little of the literary history of the beast. People are always impressed when they discover that you've read the original novel.

As another plus, this book is available through Project Gutenberg as a free e-book.

I won this book a few years back in a public speaking contest. It was actually second prize, and I'm so glad I came second or I might never have come across this brilliant work of prose.

This is a really interesting book, because it does actually contain a lot of factual information, but it is presented in such a way that it's never boring and it makes you want to learn about science, even if you're a hard-core lit geek like me. It offers science on a real-world, interesting level and instead of just presenting the facts as you see them in a text book, it tells you the stories behind the science, which we all know are the best bits.

My mum, who clearly loves me very much, got me this book for Christmas a few years back. It appeals to me because of all of the cute little pop-up bits and envelopes with extras in them. The other really great part is that the book comes with a working pocket watch, which runs backwards. It's good fun to show it to people when they ask you what time it is!

The author of the journal is stated to be Albert Einstien's daughter, who does not appear in any historical record except some personal papers which were released after his death. References to various historical happenings really make the story work as a classic time-travel tale.

Everyone has heard of the Lord of the Rings, probably because of the epic trilogy of films made a few years back. These two works (as well as much of Tolkien's other work) are often over-looked, and that's just not fair.

The Hobbit is a "prequel" to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It follows the exploits of Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's uncle, and tell the story of the original discovery of The One Ring. It is somewhat faster-paced and, in my opinion, quite a bit easier to read than the trilogy and really does make a good starting point for getting into Tolkien's work.

The Silmarillion is entirely different, but no less worthy of note. It takes place in the same universe as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, but is set quite a bit prior to the events in these books. It deals with the history of middle earth and I've heard more than one person class it as "mind bending," it is a harder text to read but well worth wading through, if only because you will be proud of yourself when you finish it.

So, now that you've expanded your library (possibly), you're going to need some other stuff - bookmarks, so you don't lose your place, and bookplates, so you don't lose your whole book!

Below are some brilliantly designed examples of each.


Owl Book Sticker by maggie02
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Sister tree *gift tag or bookmark* by daughteroftheearth
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Vintage Bird Bookplate by LadyLovelace
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Muffin Girl Bookplate by Hafapea
Make a sticker on Zazzle


Frog Bookmark by jasminesphotography
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"Escapism in Progress" Bookmark by LadyLovelace
Create a custom made business card at zazzle


Mia & Venus Moon Fairy Bookmarks by mykajelina
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Bouguereau's Brother and Sister by MasterpieceCafe
custom business card printing at zazzle


We Read by maggie02
creating business cards is easy on zazzle


Eagle Professor Bookplate Sticker by biglnet
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Floral Whimsy Bookmark by ShouShou
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Customizable Floral Bookmark Profile/Business Card by carnivalofcolour
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Trailing Hearts Bookmark by BlayzeInk
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