What's top of your reading list?

[Ed]

I decided to try and get my 11 yr-old nipper interested in reading books, so I thought I'd buy him a few classics we could read together. I've bought Frankenstein, Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Jekyll and Hyde, and finally Crime and Punishment, all Penguin Classics, for about two quid apiece.

The only problem is that I didn't realise just how impenetrable the text is in most of them. I read several pages of Frankenstein aloud to him and then spent three times as much time explaining what all the words meant. If I had more time on my hands I'd like to transcribe it into English that he can read and understand what's being said and narrated. It's frustrating that the language presents such a barrier to enjoying these great stories.

[elay2433]

Have you read any Roald Dahl books to your 11 year old, Ed? Ton of great stuff out there by him for kids. I think most of his kid books are targeted at 7-11 year olds. He's got a book of Ghost Stories (Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories) which has tales that can be enjoyed by adults as well as young adults.

[Ed]

No, I haven't - I'll take a look at that. Thanks for the tip, Jerry.

[Woody]

Ed, just a thought - one of the reasons I got into writing was because, through circumstances I'm not willing to go into just yet, I had no opportunity to read stories to my kids, so I created the Brave Dave series - a set of books that appeal to the adult reader and also appeal to kids. Yes, they're not in the same vein as the classics, but that was a deliberate choice. Also the text of the first book was a first attempt, after a professional review and edit.
If you are willing I can send you the first book, without any cost, so you have something that may interest your kid in the written word. And something you may have a good laugh at. If you need further information about this series click here.
Just let me know and I'll get the book to you. It was written to be read. And if you're up for this, any feedback would be appreciated, especially from your kid.

all the best

Woody

[SamLeeFreak]

Cell, by Stephen King (though I might switch it with Red, by Jack Ketchum). Either way, 

[Ed]

I liked Cell

Thanks for the offer, Woody. I'll wait and see how he gets on with a bit of Roald Dahl first - it's not altogether clear at this stage whether he will be up for it, or whether he'll just see it as 'more homework'.

[Grillmeat]

 I read Cell as well, good book

[starktheground]

I really dug Cell myself.

Ed, if you want to interest your kid in reading something other than classics (just for fun books), you might try the Warrior cat series by Erin Hunter. My son loves em, even if they're meant for older kids. I've seen him literally sitting on the edge of his seat when reading them!

[Caz]

I picked up a copy of Four Past Midnight last weekend and was so pleased to see that the first story was The Langoliers. I saw the film many years ago and loved it. The written story is even better.
  Made me laugh though, Stephen King said in his forward that the stories were too short to be books in their own right. Yeah right, I see what he means, the Langoliers is only 318 pages long.

[Ed]

Is that the one where they come along and eat the residue as time passes?

[Caz]

Yeah, that's the one, Ed. The Langoilers are a kind of clean up crew who remove used time. It's a great story and a wonderful concept, wish I could think of something half as good.  

[Ed]

Yeah - I liked that one. Great concept. I think you're on to a winner if you can come up with a good 'what if' to explore.

[ShadowPeople]

Um at the moment I am reading Angels and Demons, but after that I want to read In this Skin by Simon Clark. I have read a lot of his books, but they are beginning to be harder to find, he comes out with a new book every year, but the book stores done keep than longer than a week or two.
If anyone is looking for a good horror writer I would have to say he is a really good one, not to much detail and he just gets right into the story, Blood Crazy is one of his best works and my favorite book of all time!

[Ed]

After reading the Da Vinci Code I don't think I'd want to pick up another Dan Brown novel, TBH. I found the DVC quite entertaining at times, but I let out quite a few groans, too. How are you liking the book so far?

I like the cover on In This Skin - http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/simon-clark/in-this-skin.htm - if the novel is half as creepy as the jacket then it's likely to be a good read.

Welcome to the forum

[Bec]

I've just bought The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 19, and also Stephen King Goes to the Movies. I've just got to finish reading Bill Hussey's The Absence first.