Artemis

Hello, with so many so-called mind fixing books on the shelves I guess it is difficult to find a quick fix to the stresses of life's battles! However, many years ago and on recommendation from various friends and family members of all ages and both sexes who had read it, I too, read "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay. Now, stop wincing, yes, it was written by an American lady a long time ago in which she is suggesting all kinds of apparently sound advice on how to cope and believe in yourself. And that is just the point. Affirmation, affirmation, affirmation! When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and told yourself just how fabulous you are?! It actually works! Good luck

I have read Chesil Beach, recommended by an old friend. It took all of a wet and windy afternoon to get through it, by which time, I was close to tears over the criminal waste of a desire to love, and to be loved in return. Fantastic.

Travel writing is one of my all time favorite genres: perhaps have a go at Henry Hemming's Misadventure in the Middle East - travels as tramp, artist and spy. it's he tale of two young men and a truck called Yasmin, travelling post 9/11 and caught up in all manner of adventures. The book has some very funny anecdotes at times, at others, there are some poignant and thought provoking incidents.

Have you tried the work of Egyptian author, Adhaf Soueif? Amongst other titiles, she has collections of short stories in Sandpiper, and I also love her great love story set between London and Egypt in 1900 The Map of Love

I'm not too much of a tele fan - but The Big Bang Theory is one show I will watch! The thought of Sheldon even contemplating the possibilty of getting it on with Amy is gobsmacking; no wonder Penny nearly fell off her chair!

At last...it's nearly over! The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year will be consigned to the back of a very dark cupboard. Just arrived this morning, something infinitely more exciting to read: In Borrowed Light Barbara and Stephanie Keating (Blood Sisters - wonderful read!)

Many thanks! Looks like we have the same name!

Thank you, I'm sure this forum will fill the void left by having to leave my previous book club!

Hello, have you tried something from Adhaf Soueif? An Egyptian writer who's books I like to read over again. One in particular is the Map of Love, but for yourself, might I suggest In the Eye of the Sun. Other titles you might like: Julian Barnes - Flaubert's Parrot Vladimir Nabokov - Lotita Vikram Seth - From Heaven Lake Mohsin Hamid -The Reluctant Fundamentalist (short listed Man Booker prize 2007) Jim Grace - Quarantine (Whitbread book of the year 1997) Mourid Barghouti - I saw Ramallah, translated by Adhaf Soueif and finally, if you fancy a laugh you could try Julian Clary's Brief Encounters Happy reading

Fairy stories - the older the better.

There was a pretty eclectic mix of ladies in my last book club which meant that we got to read books, that might not have otherwise been bothered with. Some of these titles have stuck with me, not least Blood Sisters, by Babara and Stephanie Keating. I found it impossible to put down, grabbing a page or two between classes or in the taxi into town!

Well, thank you for all the nice welcome messages; I really did not expect to hear from anyone quite so soon! I have a particular interest in mythology and my own name is closely associated with that of Artemis, a Greek goddess. As for The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, I'm hoping it will raise a laugh before I get to the end of it, just as its reviews suggest it should do...

Hello, from North Wales As a new member of the Book Club Forum I am looking forward to finding some new titles to read and hearing about what other forum members have to say about them. It's also my first time out signing up to a forum of any kind - getting used to this on-line culture has become a bit of a necessity; since I now live in a remote village in North Wales, and seriously miss my old book club in the United Arab Emirates where I used to live. Dan Brown's "Enigma" is on my wish list, which will be a welcome respite from my current read: "The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year"!