Gutenberg (or other PD) favorites

maxbookworm · 08-31-2010, 04:20 PM

OK -- so list a few of your favorite public domain works.

I just finished Wilkie Collins' Woman in White and loved it. It is well-written, suspenseful, and full of colorful characters. I remember really liking The Moonstone as well, when I read it in high school, so that's another reco.

One of my other all-time favorite classics is The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexander Dumas. Pirates? Got it. Romance? Got it. Daring escapes? Got it. Secret treasures? Got it. Revenge? Got it. Etc. etc. This is an amazing adventure novel.

So what are your faves and why?

bill_mchale · 08-31-2010, 04:24 PM

I will put Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini on the list. There are several others of his that I want to read, but I haven't gotten around to them

--
Bill

Elfwreck · 08-31-2010, 04:48 PM

Chronicles of Clovis and Beasts & Super-Beasts, by Saki. I recommended his works to someone recently, and someone else jumped in with, "His stories read like Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and Rudyard Kipling somehow had a lovechild. An animal-loving, slightly evil, incredibly snarky lovechild."

Hampshire Nanny · 08-31-2010, 05:30 PM

I really liked the "Mars" novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. He also wrote a series set on Venus. And, I understand that there are similar books (swordsmen in space kind of adventure) by Otis Adelbert Kline. I'm pretty sure all the available books are in the MobileRead database.

ePub format:
Burrough's Barsoom Omnibus, prepared by Harry T
Burrough's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T
Kline's Venus Omnibus, prepared by mtravellerh

MobiPocket format:
Burrough's Barsoom Omnibus, prepared by Harry T
Burrough's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T
Kline's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T

maxbookworm · 08-31-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Chronicles of Clovis and Beasts & Super-Beasts, by Saki. I recommended his works to someone recently, and someone else jumped in with, "His stories read like Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and Rudyard Kipling somehow had a lovechild. An animal-loving, slightly evil, incredibly snarky lovechild."

Sounds totally intriguing!! I'll need to do some downloading

jgumphress · 08-31-2010, 08:38 PM

I have been using eBook Mall for quite some time, starting back when I used my Palm Pilot as an ebook reader. A lot of them are free with membership and some are reduced price for members. They do charge a one time lifetime membership but it has been worth it. All of their books come in just about every format, including MobiReader, which drops right into the Kindle via USB cable.

Stitchawl · 08-31-2010, 09:15 PM

I've downloaded thousands of Project G public domain works just so I could read all the 'required literature' that I skipped in school by reading the Cliff Notes...

It really is a shame that these books were wasted on minds too young to enjoy them!

Stitchawl

jgumphress · 09-01-2010, 12:39 PM

You too? I thought I was alone here. I too never read a classic in shcool. Surprised I got through with passing grades. Anyway, now I'm reading all those greats and loving it. Maybe that's the plan all along, to instill interest for later in life.

0utis · 09-01-2010, 02:11 PM

Queen Lucia, by E.F. Benson. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book. It's about the struggle for power in a small English town among very ordinary people - so it's social satire, I guess. The main character, Lucia, is the most insufferable snob but somehow I always end up rooting for her. A very amusing book, if you like Austen and Wodehouse there is a good chance you'll enjoy it.

maxbookworm · 09-01-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0utis

Queen Lucia, by E.F. Benson. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book. It's about the struggle for power in a small English town among very ordinary people - so it's social satire, I guess. The main character, Lucia, is the most insufferable snob but somehow I always end up rooting for her. A very amusing book, if you like Austen and Wodehouse there is a good chance you'll enjoy it.

Awesome, thank you! I'll check it out

BookCat · 09-01-2010, 09:23 PM

The "Mapp and Lucia" omnibus is available in the MobileRead library.

One of my favourite books is Nicholas Nickleby by Dickens. It was one of those books I was sad to say goodbye to and wanted to start all over again.

GA Russell · 09-01-2010, 10:07 PM

Dracula by Bram Stoker. Very effective.

maxbookworm · 09-02-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

One of my favourite books is Nicholas Nickleby by Dickens. It was one of those books I was sad to say goodbye to and wanted to start all over again.

I'll give that one a try. I have never been able to get into Great Expectations or Tale of Two Cities but so many people love Dickens, I want to figure out what I'm missing!

khalleron · 09-03-2010, 07:54 PM

I used to read a Dickens every 3-4 years, but since I got my Sony, I've been reading a lot more of him and loving it.

I particularly liked 'Our Mutual Friend' - the ending is a little lacking, but the pleasure of reading it was immense. Terrific characters, both serious and comic, and just a terrific pleasure.

I'll also read anything by Sabatini, but I second the 'Captain Blood' recommendation. It's one of my fave books, and one of the few books I actually wanted (and got) a first edition of.

Hard for me to pick just a few classics, as I've read so many and loved so many. There's only a few writers today that I follow with the same devotion I give a Dumas, Sabatini, Austen, MacDonald, or Dickens. Very few.

OK, two.

JeremyR · 09-05-2010, 04:17 AM

H. Beam Piper, a science fiction author.

He was a somewhat popular author in his day, but not popular enough to make a living at writing (he killed himself because he was broke and couldn't sell any more of his writing, apparently).

His politics would probably rub a lot of people the wrong way nowadays (and back then, even - he'd be at home at a Tea Party event), but pretty much define his works. Every time I read his most famous novel, Space Viking, I can't help but thing it's very very relevant to today.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47980

(His work is out of copyright in the US, but I guess not Canada? Go figure. Gutenberg has it, as do a lot of places)

08-31-2010, 04:20 PM	#1
maxbookworm Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1122865 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage, Galaxy Note 2	Gutenberg (or other PD) favorites OK -- so list a few of your favorite public domain works. I just finished Wilkie Collins' Woman in White and loved it. It is well-written, suspenseful, and full of colorful characters. I remember really liking The Moonstone as well, when I read it in high school, so that's another reco. One of my other all-time favorite classics is The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexander Dumas. Pirates? Got it. Romance? Got it. Daring escapes? Got it. Secret treasures? Got it. Revenge? Got it. Etc. etc. This is an amazing adventure novel. So what are your faves and why?

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08-31-2010, 04:24 PM	#2
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I will put Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini on the list. There are several others of his that I want to read, but I haven't gotten around to them -- Bill

08-31-2010, 04:48 PM	#3
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	Chronicles of Clovis and Beasts & Super-Beasts, by Saki. I recommended his works to someone recently, and someone else jumped in with, "His stories read like Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and Rudyard Kipling somehow had a lovechild. An animal-loving, slightly evil, incredibly snarky lovechild."

08-31-2010, 05:30 PM	#4
Hampshire Nanny Guru Posts: 614 Karma: 8064562 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 KB, iPad2	I really liked the "Mars" novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. He also wrote a series set on Venus. And, I understand that there are similar books (swordsmen in space kind of adventure) by Otis Adelbert Kline. I'm pretty sure all the available books are in the MobileRead database. ePub format: Burrough's Barsoom Omnibus, prepared by Harry T Burrough's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T Kline's Venus Omnibus, prepared by mtravellerh MobiPocket format: Burrough's Barsoom Omnibus, prepared by Harry T Burrough's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T Kline's Venus Omnibus, prepared by Harry T

08-31-2010, 08:38 PM	#6
jgumphress Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 948 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arlington, TX Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I have been using eBook Mall for quite some time, starting back when I used my Palm Pilot as an ebook reader. A lot of them are free with membership and some are reduced price for members. They do charge a one time lifetime membership but it has been worth it. All of their books come in just about every format, including MobiReader, which drops right into the Kindle via USB cable.

08-31-2010, 09:15 PM	#7
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I've downloaded thousands of Project G public domain works just so I could read all the 'required literature' that I skipped in school by reading the Cliff Notes... It really is a shame that these books were wasted on minds too young to enjoy them! Stitchawl

09-01-2010, 12:39 PM	#8
jgumphress Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 948 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arlington, TX Device: Kindle Paperwhite	You too? I thought I was alone here. I too never read a classic in shcool. Surprised I got through with passing grades. Anyway, now I'm reading all those greats and loving it. Maybe that's the plan all along, to instill interest for later in life.

09-01-2010, 02:11 PM	#9
0utis Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 400154 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Spain Device: Sony PRS-505, Pocketbook 902	Queen Lucia, by E.F. Benson. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book. It's about the struggle for power in a small English town among very ordinary people - so it's social satire, I guess. The main character, Lucia, is the most insufferable snob but somehow I always end up rooting for her. A very amusing book, if you like Austen and Wodehouse there is a good chance you'll enjoy it.

09-01-2010, 09:23 PM	#11
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	The "Mapp and Lucia" omnibus is available in the MobileRead library. One of my favourite books is Nicholas Nickleby by Dickens. It was one of those books I was sad to say goodbye to and wanted to start all over again.

09-01-2010, 10:07 PM	#12
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Dracula by Bram Stoker. Very effective.

09-03-2010, 07:54 PM	#14
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,681 Karma: 3165009 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	I used to read a Dickens every 3-4 years, but since I got my Sony, I've been reading a lot more of him and loving it. I particularly liked 'Our Mutual Friend' - the ending is a little lacking, but the pleasure of reading it was immense. Terrific characters, both serious and comic, and just a terrific pleasure. I'll also read anything by Sabatini, but I second the 'Captain Blood' recommendation. It's one of my fave books, and one of the few books I actually wanted (and got) a first edition of. Hard for me to pick just a few classics, as I've read so many and loved so many. There's only a few writers today that I follow with the same devotion I give a Dumas, Sabatini, Austen, MacDonald, or Dickens. Very few. OK, two.

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09-05-2010, 04:17 AM	#15
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	H. Beam Piper, a science fiction author. He was a somewhat popular author in his day, but not popular enough to make a living at writing (he killed himself because he was broke and couldn't sell any more of his writing, apparently). His politics would probably rub a lot of people the wrong way nowadays (and back then, even - he'd be at home at a Tea Party event), but pretty much define his works. Every time I read his most famous novel, Space Viking, I can't help but thing it's very very relevant to today. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47980 (His work is out of copyright in the US, but I guess not Canada? Go figure. Gutenberg has it, as do a lot of places)