Bel-ami

Kiss of Light - Be-Bop Deluxe

Thank you for these insights - I have Vanity Fair on the TBR shelf, but have never heard of Barry Lyndon. Another to add to my long list, you had me at Flashman.

Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea

Into the Valley - The Skids

Down in the Sewer - The Stranglers

Rock Lobster - B-52s

I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany

and Australia and England. A new name will be on the Cup.

A Kind of Magic - Queen

Looking forward to the Q-Finals - each match looks like being close.

She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5

Poor Boy - Split Enz

I have that on my TBR shelve(s) - have always been daunted by the size!

These lists always lead to some disagreements! But they can be fun and act as a reminder or as an introduction to books to be read. I must get round to reading Middlemarch...and where on the list are Silas Marner and The Mill on the Floss? 🙂

I've only read 20 of these, but have quite a few on my TBR list. I agree totally - there are 4 too many books by Virginia Woolf! I battled through To The Lighthouse and won't ever read any more.

Having read a few thrillers already this year, I thought I'd move onto some classic literature starting with Jane Austen - I've only read Pride & Prejudice and Emma previously - so I'm now mid-way through Sense & Sensibility. Thankfully I'm really enjoying it, like I did Pride & Prejudice. (Emma I just found a bit irritating).

Has anyone ever had direct contact with any authors - aside from book signings, events etc? I'm sure most best selling authors are far too busy to reply to the numerous emails, letters etc. that they receive, but perhaps some lesser known ones take time out to correspond? Several years ago, I sent an email via her website to Suzette A. Hill, a British writer of cosy and amusing mysteries, I forget exactly why now, but I think it was a question about the future of her 'Bones' series and letting her know how much my mum had enjoyed her books. She took the time to send a lovely reply, personalised and detailed. She came across as a very nice lady and appreciative of her audience.

The Secret Seven series for me - although I can't remember which ones. I don't know why I skipped the Famous Five! and Mr Twiddle.

Wow - there's a question - we are all so very different in our likes and dislikes Crime, romance, historical, mystery, horror, adventure, comedy, biography etc etc .... .... so many genres to choose from Hve you / do you read a lot?

How about H.E. Bates' Larkins family series - a light-hearted look at rural English life in by-gone days. The Darling Buds of May, Oh To Be in England, When The Green Woods Laugh, A Breath of French Air and A Little of What You Fancy. Uplifting and fun. Or maybe try the Mapp & Lucia books by E.F. Benson? Again maybe old-fashioned, but a comedic look at the world, away from the modern pressures of life today. Good luck.

I haven't read it, but according to the UK's Crime Writers' Association, the best crime novel in 2017 was The Dry by Jane Harper

Thanks Hayley - have to admit I had forgotten Last of The Mohicans (which I have indeed read before) - I'll check out the House of Mirth for sure. and thanks Cechak - good call on Huck Finn and I will investigate the others also - that will all keep me very busy.

I've realised that my reading of US 'classics' is almost nil, so this year I'm going to try and get through some of the major omissions which focus on the development of US society or moments in history - maybe then I'll understand Americans a bit more! As it stands, I'm going to read / re-read* the following - please feel free to recommend any that you think I should add. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* Uncle Tom's Cabin Little Women The Red Badge of Courage* The Scarlet Letter The Age of Innocence The Grapes of Wrath Of Mice and Men The Great Gatsby* To Kill A Mockingbird The Catcher In The Rye Catch 22*

You could try The Great Swindle by Pierre Lemaitre - grotesque, compelling, epic....

Tommy and Tuppence for me too!