smilerbabeuk

Interesting the same few books keep coming up. I shall definitely be bumping Room up my tbr mountain. I've given 5 stars to four books this year so far: The Help Frankenstein Stuart, a life backwards Year of wonders With hindsight though, I'm not sure the last belongs in the same league as the other three. Maybe I'll downgrade it to 4 and 3/4 s instead.

I often pick up the meanings of words through context when reading. I have never had to get out the dictionary while reading. However, when I was writing essays/dissertation for a'levels and degree, I regularly had the dictionary out to check that the word I used meant what I thought it did. I don't remember getting any wrong. I think that makes me a lazy reader, but I've grown in confidence with language and vocabulary since I realised I know more than I thought. Hope that made sense! I also think I had a headstart on understanding old fashioned language through bible reading from a very early age. I moved onto classic literature when I was about 11 or 12. My problem was less about understand the words, more not getting the subtext.

I grew up with parents who both read a lot, my dad never watched tv he always sat at the kitchen table away from the noise reading. I do that now sometimes, sit in the kitchen reading while my kids watch tv. Both my kids like books, especially my 4 year old son, which I'm really pleased about. My husband is dyslexic and doesn't read much, but he's making an effort to since we saw a documentary showing how boys reading is influenced by their father. I'm proud of him for doing it, cos he takes a long time to comprehend what he's reading so its more a struggle than a joy for him but he wants to encourage our kids.

I think that older books tend to focus much more on what was impressive about the hero, very much play down any flaws. So you get heroes like Sherlock Holmes who seem somewhat invincible. Now books are much more about overcoming flaws to achieve great things, much more about the ordinary aspects of the character than the extraordinary. There will always be heroes, but nobody writes about people that are nothing but impressive except in children's books.

Sebastian Faulks, in his BBC2 show last weekend stated that the literary hero is dead. My first reaction was to think 'of course its not', but the more I think about it the more I think it may be true. It does depend on how you define a hero, whether they are simply the male lead character or if you take it as someone with exceptional courage, nobility or strength. The latter, a dictionary definition, doesn't really appear any more in literary works. They are full of the normal, flawed, conflicted man rather than the 'hero'. So do you agree? Is the literary hero dead?

But Emma is supposed to be really beautiful and not know it. There's even a bit in the book about taking glasses off and shaking the hair out. Anne hathaway sounds perfect to me. I wasn't that keen on One Day to be honest. There were moments of insight, but I felt the characters were cliches / stereotypes and I didn't really care for any of them.

deleted

I agree that the writing style left it somewhat confusing in places. At the beginning it did get in the way of the story for me, left me constantly re-reading bits and getting frustrated. However, I did overcome it mostly once I assumed he meant cromwell. Good story, has left me wanting to know more about the history of the monarchy. I would have rated it 8/10 but the awkward writing style has lost it an extra point. 7/10

I bought Anna Karenina about 15 years ago and have still never finished it. I must have started it about 3 or 4 times, but I've never summoned the strength to finish it. I think thats why all the Russian authors intimidate me.

I will investigate these suggestions further, thanks for your help.

I'm looking for a book on the history of the British /english monarchy, from 1066 or even before up to Henry 8 or Elizabeth 1. I'd prefer a fairly easy read rather than a heavy academic book if possible. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.

10 stapler New list: excuses given for not coming into work

I really need to change mine. its after an ex-boyfriend whose nickname was smiler - hence smiler(s)babe. I added the uk since the email I set up with the name was taken. I still have that email and I use smilerbabeuk everywhere even though I have been married for nearly 8 years to someone other than smiler. my husband doesn't know where it came from and most people assume its to do with smiling a lot. I can get away with it until someone asks.... trouble is, what to use instead??!