Maureen

1. What did you think of this book? It is a very thought provoking story. Although it is a very short book, the number of themes it touches upon is really vast. At the centre of it there is David and Harriet’s ‘Dream’, that they have a houseful of kids and live happily ever after. However this dream of theirs could be best described as naïve, and at worse selfish. I was cross that the author made this book so short, although I cannot but admire her skills at packing such a number of different interpretations in so few pages, when it could have been longer and some aspects further explored and explained. Even the opening sentences, when Harriet and David meet, does not really let you get to know them much….no descriptions of the first dates together, first experiences…it reads as if they meet one minute, buy a house and are expecting a child all within a fortnight. The author does not use chapters - it is just one short uninterrupted story, which further gives it an air of breathlessness. This is probably intended to coax the readers read the book in one go. I would not describe this as a horror story, nor as exceptionally creepy or terrifying. 2. What do you think about ‘The Dream’? Although in theory Harriet and David’s dream is idyllic, they definitely did not plan it out. They started a family at other people’s expense - especially Dorothy’s who ended up being a full time carer for the whole family, and James who had to support them financially, for so long. They seem immature in their expectations, and do not put any thoughts behind their actions, reasoning that ‘they would manage somehow.’ They are happy when the whole house is full of people, and it does not seem to matter that the financial burden gets bigger and bigger, because James is picking up the slack. It does not matter that the housekeeping chores are so much with so many people around, Dorothy can help, even though this leaves her with no time at all for her other children, and for herself. They pursue this dream when it stops making any sense at all - having more children just for the sake of it is wrong and even cruel , when each child is not given the nurturing he or she needs just because there is a newer model around. At times it feels as if it was a production type job, have a baby put -him in the baby room,- have another one, -move the first baby into the next room -put the new baby into the baby room.

It is assumed that you have read the book before reading posts in this thread, as the discussion might give away crucial points, and the continuous use of spoiler tags might hinder fluent reading of posts. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing Product Description from Amazon ’Listening to the laughter, the sounds of children playing, Harriet and David would reach for each other’s hand, and smile, and breathe happiness.’ Four children, a beautiful old house, the love of relatives and friends, Harriet and David Lovatt’s life is a glorious hymn to domestic bliss and old-fashioned family values. But when their fifth child is born, a sickly and implacable shadow is cast over this tender idyll. Large and ugly, violent and uncontrollable, the infant Ben, ‘full of cold dislike,’ tears at Harriet’s breast. Struggling to care for her new-born child, faced with a darkness and a strange defiance she has never known before, Harriet is deeply afraid of what, exactly, she has brought into the world… Welcome to April's book circle. I have read this book and am amazed at the number of points it raises for discussion. A few questions/statements to start us off: 1. What did you think of this book? 2. What do you think about ‘The Dream’? 3. What do you think about Harriet as a mother and David as a father? 4. What do you think about David and Harriet’s marriage? 5. What are your feelings about Ben? 6. Ben’s first words were ‘I want cake’. What do you make of that? 7. How do you feel about Harriet's decision to return for Ben? 8. Who was your favorite/least favorite character? Why? 9. There is a sequel to this book, called Ben in the World. Will you be reading it? What about more books by Doris Lessing?

Hello Spud, welcome to here.

A Christmas Carol?

Wow I really need to update this! After Sophie Hannah's Little Face, I read her second novel, called The Truth Teller's Lie. I liked both these books, and shall definately be on the lookout for more of the same. This was followed by Winterton Blue, by Trezza Azzopardi. It is the second book I read by this author, and both of them have a haunting quality that makes them all the more realistic. While on holiday I read Jasper Fforde's The last Dragonslayer, and The Song of the Quarkbeast, the first two of the Dragonslayer trilogy. These are aimed at a younger audience, but they are written in Fforde's normal witty style, and he did not spoil the fun by making them childish. I am actually looking forward to the last book in the Trilogy - The return of Shandar. I also read The Beach - by Alex Garland while in Thailand. I really got in the spirit of the book - I visited the places he was talking about. I had first read the blurb before I went to Thailand, and it was really an experience to read about places you had actually seen. I followed this by An Idiot Abroad - by Karl Pilkington. Defiantly one to make you laugh out loud. The book is much better than the TV episodes. To continue with my travel books, I read Lost in Shangri-La, by Mitchell Zuckoff. This is a true story about a plane full of American people which crashed in New Guinea during WW2. An enjoyable, if somewhat sad, book. This was followed by The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. I devoured all three books in four or five days, and now my son is doing the same. I am really looking forward to the movie in March - although as usual, probably this would be a poor adaptation of the books. Lastly I have finished Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. As with her excellent debut novel, one of my fav books, The Time Traveller's Wife, the ending leaves you somewhat unsettled, and harbouring a mixture of emotions, which I suppose shows what a talented story teller AN is. I have now just started Family Matters, by Rohinton Mistry. I am enjoying what I read so far, and I will probably be up late tonight...

I would definately recommend these books - not just to YA, but to adults as well....and to people whose mojo is waning at the moment. I read all three in 4 days! (neglecting everything else in my life)

I have downloaded two Bill Bryson books after a recommandation from a collegue at work, but have yet to read them. It's good to see that they are well liked over here too.

Well done to all the participants!

Definately. I read them as an adult, and enjoyed them

I bought the first one or two in the series for my son, but never read these myself. So you think I am missing out then?

My friend has given me this as an ebook for my birthday, and I have started it this morning. It is Sophie Hannah's debut novel, and it seems to be a great one!

The Devil's Star, by Jo Nesbo. An enjoyable thriller, quite similar to Nesbo's other novels. Much as expected. Before I go to Sleep, by S.J. Watson. This was a surpise. Watson's debut novel, it kept me reading until I finished the book, and kept me on edge throughout. It is a great thriller, which I would definateley recommend to crime/thriller lovers. I hope Watson will follow with another book in the same calibre pretty soon. One Day by David Nichols. I enjoyed this book - although I was not expecting to. The story is about how one day in the life of two very normal people dictates the rest of their lives. Nothing out of this world, the story is very simple, but enjoyable, as the author manages to weave a story about two people who are just like the people next door - not very exciting or special, quite simple really. For my birthday my friend sent me two ebooks on my kindle, the first of which I have started. It is called Little Face by Sophie Hannah, who is a new author for me - although from what I have read so far, I will be reading much more of this author's work. Little Face is her debut novel, and I know I am going to keep turning the pages very late tonight.....

I saw an episode last week, and IMO it's nothing like the books at all!

We are watching it as well. It is the only good thing which happens on Monday At the moment I am watching Bizarre Foods. I love this show. .

I'd call mine, 'Paying the Bills'......

I'm baffled too VF - spill pls.

My son was amazed...because it is just a year older than himself. (He lived with it for ever, but it is really young!!)

If you like thrillers, why don't you try Jo Nesbo, Jeffery Deaver, Karin Slaughter or SJ Watson (he has just one book, but it is an excellent thriller).

Lately I was not reading as much as usual....my mojo was not all there. However this morning I woke up and decided to start this book, and have read all day in between laundry, housework, etc I have just finished this book and all I can say is wow. I hope this author writes something else, which is just as good, fairly quickly. I cannot add much to Michelle's excellent review above - and I certainly recommend it - it's a great thriller.

The woman on the bus by Pauline McLynne. An uncomplicated, easy to read chick lit.

If I had to buy 500 books at one go, my husband would have a fit, and I'd have to throw furniture out to make space for them

Oh I'm hopelessly not up to date here! Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The book is so much richer than the film, in my opinion. The story is about a young vet who joins a travelling circus, and falls in love with the manager's wife. A nice story, and really easy read. Faithless by Karin Slaughter, Skin Privilege by Karin Slaughter, Undone by Karin Slaughter, Broken by Karin Slaughter . Another author which I love, I had been actually hoarding these books, so I could go on Slaughter reading spree Skin Privilege ended with quite a kick, ending the Grant County series - and giving rise to the Georga series. I think this author was very wise - she did not fall into the same trap as for example Patricia Cornwell, who kept flogging a very tired horse, but went on to have a nice new foal instead to keep things interesting Straight on to One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde. I actually could not get to grips with this book for the first couple of chapters....although I did enjoy it after that. Is Jasper going to get more mileage out of Thursday? I spent a couple of weeks with a curious lack of reading mojo, which upset me a bit. Could be the result of the Slaughter spree above.... Started on Captain Corelli's Mandolin, but gave up after a couple of chapters. Could be my missing mojo's fault.... Read nothing for a week or so, then started on Reading Lolita in Tehran for the August reading Circle. It took me a while to finish this book - my mojo was not all there yet, and the book is definately not an easy read, although an interesting one. Have now started on Wish you well by David Baldacci. This is a story about a normal family living in New York who were struck by bad luck and re-located to Virginia to live with relatives. Quite an easy read.