Which Of These 2 Books Should I Buy?

[Darren Frey]

Im faced with a dilema. I can only buy one book and both are $18. One is the hardcover copy of the first 3 books together in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice series. I wanted to read them as I am interested in vampires and want to read them.

On the other hand there is the completet works of HP Lovecraft for the same price. I have always been curious about his work and wonder if now is the time to start reading it. What should I choose?

[callalily61]

Why don't you borrow them from the library first, see which ones you'd want on your shelf to reread, and then spend the $18?

[PorterStarrByrd]

If you HAVE to spend the money you have two choices ,according to your situation

Read something you know you like
Read something you might like

There is third
Every thriftshop in the world has used copys of everything that VC Andrews wrote and Lovecraft is not much harder to find.

brasphemous advice from a writer perhaps, but you can read both and still have enough left to enjoy a nice dinner.
If you want one of them because you collect books, probably should think about whether either of the 'collections' is an item that will be sought after anytime in the foreseeable future

I'd say check it out on the library shelves but if you are as good at returning books as as I am either one might cost you more than it does to buy it :)

[Grrarrgh]

I agree with the library idea, especially if you've never read anything by either of the authors. I'd hate for you to blow your book budget on either of them, only to discover you hate the author's style or something equally ruinous.

[Sarah1981]

Call this another vote for "Go to the library."

If your local library is, like mine, small and not very diverse as far as books go, you might try PaperbackSwap.com (http://www.paperbackswap.com/home.php). You can also hit Amazon's Marketplace and find used copies of the books for fewer than eighteen bucks apiece.

I also like ebooks. Amazon has a bunch of H.P. Lovecraft, some for free. Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&sort_order=downloads&query=34724) also has a couple of free downloads. (P.S. I mean legally free, not pirated.)

[RiseBeauty]

Hi Darren,
I've only read the Anne Rice books and no HP. Following the Rice series held my attention for several years. I thought it was imaginative and original. However, that was back in the '80's when the cliche of fangs, black cape, and coffins hidden in the bowels of schooners was the vampiric standard. Her books changed that for me.

Since you are torn between the two, I'd agree with going for the library option first, if possible. I have a (very) well worn library card which has saved me from several purchases I could have done without. There's always the option to buy it afterward instead of wishing you could get a refund. But Amazon and B&N also have some decently priced used books that won't destroy your budget if you're still shopping for these. If you choose Anne Rice, I'd love to hear what you think of the books as a first time reader of them. Happy shopping :)

[alleycat]

Another vote for the library and/or a used bookstore.

If you just have to choose one of the options you gave, then I suspect you would find the Rice books more enjoyable and helpful in your own writing.

[Adam]

http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Vampire-Chronicles-Anne-Rice/dp/0345409647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307058285&sr=8-1

Click "Look Inside". Like the writing? Buy 'em. Don't like it?

http://www.amazon.com/H-P-Lovecraft-Library-America/dp/1931082723/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307058366&sr=1-2

There's the Lovecraft. ;)

(I love modern technology. :D )

ETA - Just noticed the age of the thread. Which did you settle on? :tongue