Most of those I haven't read, many I haven't even heard of

Oh yeah - in a way I'm glad some of my favorites were left off because now I have a bunch of new things for my TBR list.

Probably still a decent list to start catching up on SF again, though, right? Most of those I haven't read, many I haven't even heard of

I read Perdido Street Station a couple years ago and loved it. Mostly. It's an impressive novel, for sure, but the last forty pages cast a dark pall over the entire book.

House of Night books... I'd say avoid them. The first few were fluffy fun, but the main character drives me insane (she's constantly juggling 3 different guys). And the story just keeps going on, and on, and on, and it feels like the writers don't have enough story for how many books they were given (the series was just expanded by several more books I believe.)

The most recent book was horrible (pretty much nothing happened until the last 5 pages or so). I rarely give up a series before it's complete, but I'm done with this one.

If you're looking for a really kick ass series, try The Hollows series (Rachel Morgan) by Kim Harrison. I discovered it while reading Mercy Thompson series (LOVED!) by Patricia Briggs (which you guys turned me on to).

Discovering a new author is one of my favorite things, and I've been in heaven since I've been on this Briggs/Harrison kick!

I've read the first three House of the Night Series. I enjoy the begining of each book, wonder why I am reading them in the middle and then enjoy the end of each book.

the 4th book is staring at me

I've seen The Hollow series in the store but haven't picked them up, I'll have to try it.

I have a Literary Hive Mind question-- I'm trying to get Mom a Xmas present and I though about an online book rental service. I know there are a few, even though the library is close Mom doesn't frequent it, she just ends up buying books both hard back and paperback and then sometimes they get traded in but often times just sent to Goodwill (because the closest used bookstore doesn't take them).

So I thought an online rental service would be a good idea because it would be easy for her and save her money. She can go through a book in a couple of days or a couple of books in day (depending).

Does anyone have any experience with any of the online book rental places? Any recommendations?

Going back to the GWTW, sorry... I've been wondering, what if fanfic took Rhett and Scarlett and Tara and dropped them off into Hurricane Katrina Louisiana? I bet with Scarlett's business acumen, she'd be scoring loans and working in construction and turning up her pretty nose at whatsisface, Sue Ellen's fella. (Frank Kennedy?) Would she have been such a cut throat bitch if she hadn't ever had to wonder where her next meal was coming from, if her life had had more comfort, if her Visa had never been charged up to the limit on necessities?

Then I think either: wow, that's so brilliant, food for thought! What would she do, how would it all be different?

Or I think, maybe the pain killers are working a little too well for me right now.

cut throat bitch

But she was a cut throat bitch, (of a different sort, more in the social sphere), from the onset of the book.

Has anyone heard of James Patterson's Witch and Wizard ? Apparently, the beginning of a new series.

Would she have been such a cut throat bitch if she hadn't ever had to wonder where her next meal was coming from, if her life had had more comfort, if her Visa had never been charged up to the limit on necessities?

What Kat said -- Scarlett's coin of the realm was beaux, not money. Scarlett wanted to be her self-sacrificing, gracious mother. But anyone who'd steal all the beaux (including one of the Tarleton twins from her own sister) is going to have trouble being The Great Lady.

The real question may be, what outlet would she have found for her ambition as the wife of a plantation owner (or other upper-class man) if the War hadn't come along?

One of Scarlett's thins was, "Oh, when I have money again, I'll be gracious like mama."

But she was never gracious like mama, even when she had money. It was always, always "I'll be lady, AFTER I have everything I want."

You can never have everything you want.