I've completely blanked on the author--I'm really horrible at that--but there's a mystery series with Shakespeare in the early days and an actor buddy of his falling into situations and having to figure them out. You get to see Will cribbing lines from people and stealing their names and their lives for later works.

Would that be the Shakespeare and Smythe series by Simon Hawke, Connie? There's at least one other series I can think of with an actor who works with Shakespeare, and that's by Phillip Gooden.

I'm with Frankenbuddha: Throne of Blood is the best Macbeth on film.

Isn't that the one where Lady Macbeth is like sixteen? It's so dark and dreary.

Francesca Annis was born in 1944 - she's ten years my senior. In Polanski's version of the Scots play, she was 27. And naked for sleepwalking scene, all pure skin and flaming red hair.

Simon Hawke, yes! Thank you, Sheryl.

Francesca Annis was born in 1944 - she's ten years my senior. In Polanski's version of the Scots play, she was 27. And naked for sleepwalking scene, all pure skin and flaming red hair.

And to be completely shallow, a stone hottie. I'd completely forgotten she was Lady Jessica in Lynch's DUNE. Probably the last time I saw her in anything. She was still lovely.

And to be completely shallow, a stone hottie.

She's all "Unsex me now," and I'm all, "Ain't happenin'."

I am in the Francesca Annis = Stone Hottie corner. And Ralph Fiennes - several years her junior, and a man I would do in Macy's window, speaking of stone hotties - apparently agrees.

I am in the Francesca Annis = Stone Hottie corner. And Ralph Fiennes - several years her junior, and a man I would do in Macy's window, speaking of stone hotties - apparently agrees.

That's right, I knew she was romantically linked with someone interesting.

So I went to Dawn Treader to raid the stash of Christopher Pike books I saw in there the other day. I left a few I was wary of since I hadn't read them, but got Spellbound, Chain Letter, and Slumber Party. Also snagged Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, which I haven't read.

Now, here's the deal. I love Half-Price Books. Love love love. Cause their policy is simple: half the cover price, no foolin'. If the cover says seventy-five cents, hell, you get it for thirty-eight. If the cover says $2.50, you get it for $1.25. That's the deal.

In Ann Arbor, books aren't cheaper cause they're old, they're more expensive. A book that says seventy-five cents will still run you two bucks. And these Pike books, despite being priced at $3.50, $2.50, and $3.50...all cost me $2.50 each. Where's the half-price love, huh?! Apparently it's half of the in-print price. LAME! God, I miss Half-Price.

Also snagged Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, which I haven't read.

I love this book. Have you read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency yet?