Nellie

Brilliant!. Lets all move to Wincanton!

I just finished this. I have to be honest that I am not a lover of chick lit generally, almost always wanting to strangle the main character for her "cute ditzy" ways. This was a little different though, nice and light, but with enough of a story to keep me going. As I have a nasty cold at the moment, so it was a great book to read snuggled under the duvet!

I hated Purfume! There is quitre a long thread in it somewhere. Seem it's like marmite, you either love it or hate it!

Ha ha!! I hated the writing and thought the plot was dreadful, but still read it to the end!

It's a long way from the Da Vinci code. For a start it's well written and has a decent plot! The code breaking is slightly incidental to the story. As I said, there is one plot line about some code breaking her grandfather did and how she deals with the clues he left her, and also another about... It's the latter which really interested me.

This is the first of her books that I have read. I though I might give The End of Mr Y a go soon. :-)

PopCo By Scarlett Thomas I bought this book on a whim a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I did! From Watersones Website: Alice Butler has been receiving some odd messages - all anonymous, all written in code. Are they from someone at PopCo, the profit-hungry corporation she works for? Or from Alice's long lost father? Or has someone else been on her trail? The solution, she is sure, will involve the code-breaking skills she learned from her grandparents and the key she's been wearing round her neck since she was ten. "PopCo" is a grown-up adventure of family secrets, puzzles, big business and the power of numbers. It was the code breaking element that attracted me to the book, and I wasn't disappointed. The narrative explains some concepts of cryptography in a very accessible way. There are also some wonderful flash back passages as Alice recalls her childhood with her grandparents in the 1980s, and the scenes at school are hysterical. Anyone who was at school then will identify immediately with her worries and pressures from her peer group. The story has a couple of main threads running through it, which are nicely resolved at the end. Its an easy read, which moves along at a good pace, and the code breaking information keeps it from being a more run of the mill story about a girl who finds her role in life. 8/10

I bought this book on a whim a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I did! From Watersones Website: Alice Butler has been receiving some odd messages - all anonymous, all written in code. Are they from someone at PopCo, the profit-hungry corporation she works for? Or from Alice's long lost father? Or has someone else been on her trail? The solution, she is sure, will involve the code-breaking skills she learned from her grandparents and the key she's been wearing round her neck since she was ten. "PopCo" is a grown-up adventure of family secrets, puzzles, big business and the power of numbers. It was the code breaking element that attracted me to the book, and I wasn't disappointed. The narrative explains some concepts of cryptography in a very accessible way. There are also some wonderful flash back passages as Alice recalls her childhood with her grandparents in the 1980s, and the scenes at school are hysterical. Anyone who was at school then will identify immediately with her worries and pressures from her peer group. The story has a couple of main threads running through it, which are nicely resolved at the end. Its an easy read, which moves along at a good pace, and the code breaking information keeps it from being a more run of the mill story about a girl who finds her role in life. 8/10

How odd, What Was Lost was also on my list of recent reads that I sent him, and he told me the same thing!

After a bit of a reading break, I have started again on my list. I have read The Resistance By Gemma Malley. This is the sequal to The Declaration, which I enjoyed very much, but this was a little below par to be honest. The characters did not develop and the so called "twists" were so blindingly obvious you thought there must be a double bluff... but there wasn't. I will probably read the last in the series, just to make sure it all "works out OK in the end". A less than average 6/10 for this one.

What did Nic think of your book challenge? I think he would have liked that idea!

I picked up this book at the library last year on a total whim, and I loved it too! The writing is fantastic, especially that which is written from the little girl's point of view. The whole book captures how bleak things look when precious things are lost. Definitely one I would recommend!

I didn't enjoy Testimony at all :-( I really didn't care about the characters. It's the only Shreve book I have read, perhaps I should try a different one.

I have one of those mugs too! I'm glad you had a good time, it's a wonderful experience isn't it?

How did it go? WHat books did you see? I have been so excited on your behalf!

I also love a good costume drama, I haven't seen P&P though, looks like I should watch, it would appear that there are some excellent scenes in it!! One of my fav dramas was the House Of Eliott, beautiful to look at, and nice and gentle without too many awful things happening.

I had totally forgotten this was coming out in February and stumbled across it on amazon... I might have ordered it... by accidnet you understand... oohps! The Magicians Apprentice

I was at a Sony AIBO meeting at the weekend, and apparetly the price has gone up due to currency changes. Not sure if thats accurate, but thats what I was told.

I did already state that I don't base my view on random websites. I am a technical person, and as I said, looking at technical evidence, I am not convinced it is safe. I certainly never said it caused brain tumours, but I don't believe that it is safe either. Each to their own.

I know some people think I am paranoid, and you are probably right! However, the regulators, not just in the US, but Europe too are not independent of the influcence of large corporations whether food, oil or pharma. My view is not just based on internet sites, which I agree can be selective about what they use as a basis for their views. I have spent time looking at regulations, and research myself, and as a technical person, I am not convinced it's safe. On a risk analysis (my profession) basis I wouldn't eat it. Nicely put.

You are rather assuming that the research is independent... thats the problem, often the research is sponsored by those who make the product! It isn't in anyone's interest to fund independent research. The food agencies are government sponsored who get lots of nice tax from the companies that make these things... and the companies don't want research that makes it look like the product is dangerous for obvious reasons... and so the circle goes on. I take the view that if I would have to wear PPE to handle it in the lab, then I don't want to eat it! (By the way, I know I take a hard line on this, and others will disagree with me!)

[geeky chemist comment] As mentioned it's an additive. There is a lot of discussion about whether it's bad for you or not as it was approved by the FDA in the US as safe. The chemistry is interesting as it is broken down in the stomach into all sorts of nasty things such as formaldehyde, apsartic acid and Phenyl compounds. These compounds are known in high doses to cause nerve and brain damage. As I said some say it is totally safe, others say it isn't. Personally, as a technical person, there is no way I would eat anything that has aspartame in. My toxicologist friends feel the same. I take the same stand on MSG. [/geeky chemist comment]

[Admin Edit: These posts were moved form the hot chocolate thread, on Inver's request] I stopped drinking hot choclate like Options as it contained Asparteme which is nasty horrible stuff. Does all sorts of nasty things to your insides. I have organic hot choc as a treat :-)

Good advice there!