As an aside...

The Penguin Book Blog is doing a fun "around the world in 80 books" journey through literature. It started with Great Expectations, and I must admit that it caused me to pause and wonder whether my dislike of that book was born of a not-so-great teacher and if I shouldn't read it again. The post is definitely worth checking out. I posted one suggestion, and I then spent the next half-hour mumbling things like "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to Bloodsucking Fiends to Hard-Boiled Wonderland" in my attempts to circle the world reading fun books.
Oh, and, also?
There's a review I wrote of P.C. Hodgell's Godstalker Chronicles to be found here. Thanks bookgeeks!