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Hi Heather, welcome to the forum!

I've just read this book this week (did a review here so don't want to repeat myself too much!) and have to say I really enjoyed it. It was very different from the other book I've read about Afghanistan, 'The Kabul Beauty School' by Deborah Rodriguez, but just as good. It's really interesting to compare the two books so if anyone fancies a challenge, try doing that

I managed to read my first reading circle book! Yay! At first I found the book slow and a little irritating but I did get into it and found it very enjoyable and sweet. It's the sort of thing you read on a wet autumn afternoon with a mug of hot chocolate. I'll definitely be saving the next book for later in the year (although the weather lately is such that I may end up reading it soon!). I would definitely recommend this to others to at least try.

Welcome to the forum ii!

Currently Reading The Last Witchhunter by James Morrow Books to be read (in no particular order) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Iron Horse by Edward Marston The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson The Food Taster by Peter Elbling The 199 Steps by Michel Faber The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick Raven Black by Ann Cleeves Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn The Fouth Bear by Jasper Fforde The Brothers of Glastonbury by Kate Sedley Books read in August Medicius and the Disappearing Dancing Girls by R.S. Downie Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad Ghostly Murders by Paul Doherty The Blackpool Highflyer by Andrew Martin To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde An Ancient Evil by Paul Doherty The Eve of Saint Hyacinth by Kate Sedley

Currently Reading Not sure yet! Will check when I get home! Books to be read (in no particular order) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson The Food Taster by Peter Elbling The 199 Steps by Michel Faber The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick Raven Black by Ann Cleeves Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn An Ancient Evil by Paul Doherty Books read in July The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I am so glad you loved it!

I'm so sorry to hear that. It's very draining when someone you care about dies. Let yourself grieve, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. I made that mistake recently, letting someone I thought cared about me tell me to get over it, move on with my life and go back to work the day after my Grandma died. If you ever need to chat to someone, just e-mail me (I'm sure my address is on my profile!). I may not reply immediately due to the move but I promise I will reply if you contact me. I'm sure you shared some really special times with that friend. Remember those and they'll never be gone.

Hi Natalie! Welcome to the Forum!

Hi Becca! Welcome to the forum

I keep seeing this in my local library, I'll definitely be interested to hear how it turns out!

Yep, on Thursday Still got 3 more days here at work and am trying not to start anything new as there seems little point! Have you tried Susanna Gregory's Thomas Chaloner series? Very different but equally as good. Oh and I'd recommend the Brother Athelstan series by Paul Doherty (or Paul Harding as he sometimes writes as). Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston are another excellent pairing Plus you can't help but laugh at Athelstan's parishioners who keep trying to upstage each other! There are some real characters in that congregation!

I missed out C J Samson from my list! The last installment, Sovereign, I just could not put down! Given it's length I have to applaud the guy for keeping you interested right to the end and keeping a good pace through the story. Shardlake is such an unlikely hero that it just works.

Right well I've been trying to read 'Pelegia and the White Bull dog' but i don't think its for me. The original is in Russian and I can't decide if its just a bad translation or if it is just the style of story telling that isn't for me. As I'm in the middle of packing, ready to move on Thursday, I suspect I won't really have a chance to do much in the way of reading this week So I'm going to update my to read list below so that as soon as I get to Weston I can start reading all these lovely books! Books to be read (in no particular order) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson The Food Taster by Peter Elbling The 199 Steps by Michel Faber The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick Raven Black by Ann Cleeves Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn The Prince of Darkness by Sharon Penman Inkspell by Cornelia Funke The Necropolis Railway by Andrew Martin

I was about to start a topic on historical crime fiction but felt that it would probably fit in with this tipic thats already been started! Does anyone else out there historical crime fiction? For many years I've been reading the likes of Lindsey Davis, Deryn Lake, David Wishart, Rosemary Rowe, Marilyn Todd, Edward Marston, Bernard Knight, Susanna Greggory, Peter Tremayne, Paul Doherty (the list could go on!). I can be a bit picky and for a while stuck to Roman murder mysteries before moving on medieval, then 17th/18th century and finally 19th/20th century with Edward Marston's railway detective series and Andrew Martin's Jim Striger series. There are some authors I have tried but couldn't get into such as Steven Saylor and Michael Jecks. Who are people's favourites? I have to admit I do enjoy the Justin de Quincy series. Prince of Darkness is still on my 'to-read list' (I must add it to my TBR list on here before I forget!).

Am so glad you enjoyed it! Must admit the Bartholomew series is slightly different but no less enjoyable! Have you tried Deryn Lake's 'John Rawlings' series or any of Edward Marston's books? I think the first in the John Rawlings series is Death in the Dark Walk and I would seriously recommend this.

Hi emjays! Welcome to the Forum. I'd just like th echo the sentiment, if you need help ask and we'll help We're a friendly bunch and all of us believe theres no such thing as a stupid question so don't be afraid of asking anything!

Hi Nicola! Welcome to the forum! Have yet to meet anyone who didn't like this place!

Hi Pam! Welcome and I know you'll have a great time here.

I hope so judy! Thats great news if I can

Hi Ruth! Welcome to the forum. I can honestly say that some of the nicest people I know are here. Don't be afraid to get stuck in, you will get loads out of being here

Welcome Lone Watie! This place is really friendly so have no worries

As has already been said at least all this hype is getting people interested in reading who might otherwise not have bothered. I face a very similar thing at work with Time Team. It does cause a lot of problems (unrealistic expectations of how long a dig can take, what will be found, the fact that archaeology is more than just digging holes in the ground, the lack of reports after they have actually done the work.... huge problem that one because whats the point of doing the work if you don't produce a record of it after wards??) yet many of us still feel that the positives should be lauded. The positives for us include greater public awareness of archaeology, more developers willing to undertake archaeology work (if its a planning condition they have no choice really but thats beside the point), more people being aware of geophysics and happier about it being done prior to excavation etc. The protests over the Newport Ship and the ones over the Rotherwas Ribbon recently show that there is a great deal of public support for archaeology now. Most of the time nothing is worth the hype it gets unfortunately. I personally feel that Jonathan Stroud's Bartimeaus triology is much better.

Thats great news Bagpuss Fingers crossed I will only disappear for a short amount of time (that old chesnut of needing a bill/official document with your new address on it to register for a library card). I love this site too much to leave permanently or anything!

Hi Steffie B and welcome! I'm sure you'll love it here