Atropa, I dunno whether you would like this book or not, but have a look at the blurb: [link]

It has a different (well, new to me) origin story for vampirism. I enjoyed it. It has some British humour, some office humor, some math humor, some IT humor, some horror, some action.

It is book 5 in a series (the others feature adventure/horror hooks other than vampires), but there is enough exposition to make it okay as a stand-alone, I think.

That looks like something I'll have to check out!

ION, I am ridiculous. I just bought a 1st edition paperback of My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews (with the original keyhole cover). It was under $5 with free shipping! It's the next thing we're reading for the horror paperback podcast I co-host!

Of course, I am now sulking that I can't find a 1st edition keyhole cover paperback of Flowers In the Attic.

I had the keyhole cover of Flowers! God, I wore that book and Petals on the Wind into tatters.

I was looking up Valerie Vayle on Amazon to see if her pirate books were there (they are) and I read the reviews. I love the books because the women, while in love with the main guy, aren't afraid to have a dalliance with a guy they like when it seems unlikely they'll see the main guy again. Which apparently offends some readers, one of whom said the heroines have the morals of alley cats. She was also quite upset that the main guy wasn't jealous when he found out about the other guys. Almost as if the main guy understood that the heroine wasn't bound to him and had every right to lead her life the way she wanted. Terrible behavior from a romance novel hero. Oh, and the captivity in the harem--which wasn't nearly as stereotypical as it could have been--would have been much better if the heroine had forced the Sheik to rape her. Silly woman.

Sounds like classic don't read the comments territory. This is why I am grateful if I am looking for reviews and find someone I know in Goodreads with comments.

So the above made me do a threadsuck to see if people here had ever discussed my current light entertainment choice, the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. There was one mention, from Ginger. Fortunately the experience reminded me of the joy of seeing her library and the joy of Ginger hugs, but yeah, that heart pinch.

I'm currently reading Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente ... it's kind of a hoot so far. It was inspired by her love of the Eurovision contest, which might give you an idea of the WTF-ery.

OMG I loved that book so much. The audiobook is awesome, and amps up the H2G2-ness to eleven.

(The audiobooks of her "Girl Who Sailed to Fairyland etc etc" series are not awesome, sadly - she narrates them herself and does not do her own writing justice.)

AND it seems that Space Opera has been optioned for a movie.