Basically I am employed in what is a brand new business that may or may not work, so as an aside I am thinking about starting my own business up.

Also reading this too:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.gif

I really enjoy Wood's writing. It is informative, intelligent yet never dull or condescending. Plus he happens to be an expert on the era of history that I love.

In Search of the Dark Ages and In Search of Alexander (or whatever it was called) were stirling books.

That's the thing about your job. You'd be doing brilliant business in the market town down the road from me - North Norfolk coast (the arse end of nowhere), loads of tourist, next to no local commerce. This town has a Christmas Shop (opens, you guessed it, at crimbo), an old-fashioned confectioners, a cookbook shop, 4 bakeries. It's mental. Not one music or DVD in the whole place. Everyone retires here. Think about it lol

edit: sorry, off topic! I'm STILL reading Dracula, terrifying, but I'm currently averaging two pages a day. rah

In search of the dark ages is a fantastic read but hopelessly short. I would love to see it expanded to fully do it justice.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Encylopedia Neurotica - Jon Winokur
Zombie Haiku - Ryan Mecum

Lolita is one of my favorite books of all time. Nab had balls to come up with that in... 1954 was it?

1955 per the inside cover of the book. I haven't actually gotten past the preface yet, but I'm really looking forward to getting into it soon.

Aye, first day I picked that book up... it was finished 3 days later. I couldn't put it down.

re Lolita - if anybody hasn't please, please see the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation from the sixties. It retains all that stuff you think they'd have been required to leave out in those days. well most of it. plus it has James Mason in it (i.e. actor with the best speaking voice to ever grace the earth with it's weirdness)