Madeleine

Mine too, how do you manage it, that's nearly 2 books per day?

Drizzly again with a very menacing looking grey cloud making it's way across London at the moment.

Interesting Janet, I tend to visualise the same thing over and over, I suppose I have a generic sort of template, unless it's a very specific description or era, eg historical such as the Tudor period, or maybe a Georgian house, thatched cottage etc. Fascinating how our brains work differently!

Thanks, not familiar with either of those readers.

I love the Lewis Trilogy, who is the narrator? I agree about the names, the books could do with a pronunciation guide.

Did a very muddy evening walk last night, only a short one but hard work! Not much today, planted a few more bulbs in a tub in the garden as they'd started sprouting, they've got all mixed up so I'm not sure what they are though! A few crocuses have opened out as well which look nice.

Rained most of yesterday, windy and mild today.

Midnight train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips

Hi Iain and welcome!

Yes I visualise a lot as well, especially if there's a good description of a character, otherwise they can be a bit blurry. If there is a good description I'll often imagine a particular actor/actress as well.

Dull and windy now.

Yes a perfect character can be grating! Also when an author is obviously hopelessly in love with a character, Anne Rice is one who springs to mind. And endless description, or waffling on about feelings can get tedious too.

At the moment it's bright and sunny, but a bit chilly.

Maybe, such a rare occurrence!

What time were you there, I've never seen it so empty! I think it's linked to the University of London next door as well.

I really love this series, Ruth is a great character, some of her observations are very funny, and the she develops well over the series. Well worth carrying on with these!

Had a small spree at lunchtime: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed by Gyles Brandreth The Seagull by Ann Cleeves (Vera novel) City of Masks by S D Sykes

Yep I must admit when I re-read JE about 18 months ago I found the St John Rivers thing a rather unconvincing coincidence, and rather a clumsy plot device.

How did you manage it, did you eat or sleep?! That's about 2 books per day.

I re-read it about 18 months ago (3rd or 4th read) and also found parts of it a bit of a struggle, not so much the characters (although I hadn't realised just how awful St John Rivers was!) but found it very wordy. Conversely I read Mrs Gaskell's North and South a couple of years ago for the first time and whizzed through it, didn't find it a struggle at all. I don't remember JE being so wordy though.

One of my colleagues has had that virus (despite having a flu jab) since before Xmas. Crohns is horrible, we have a friend who's had it for years, very nasty.

It poured yesterday, got soaked at lunchtime! Nice and sunny so far today but still quite damp out.

Kingdom of Shadows - Barbara Erskine

Sailing - Rod Stewart

The best Waterstone's in Central London is the branch in Gower Street - it's in a lovely Victorian building with turrets etc. There's also a huge one near Piccadilly Circus but I've never had the time to go down there, probably just as well really!