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marbles, particularly ones with

Hi Jackie and a big welcome 😊 Hayley is the administrator now, and not nearly as strict about rules and regulations. She's lovely 🥰

she firmly shut the door. Rosie was just about to leave when she spotted a black and white cat sitting on Miss Horlick's window sill, washing the remains of Kitty Kuisine, salmon flavoured, from her right paw. She looked remarkably like Dingle. 'The old biddy!' Rosie exclaimed, and knocked furiously on her door again. When Miss Horlicks answered the door, winding her way around her ankles was ...

The Wind ~ Cat Stevens

I loved the book. It's hilarious, but it also feels true to life and doesn't hold back. The style is rough around the edges and a bit raunchy, but the protagonist is a sweetheart when you get down to it.

Didn't German newly-weds get a copy of the book?

Blood Dark (1935) Louis Guilloux The story of an academic philosopher who, ageing and unstimulated by his current status (both in work and life), spends his days in existential crisis contemplating thoughts of purpose and loss, waste and optimism, set against the backdrop of the last year of the First World war. Francoise Merlin (Cripure to everyone else, a nickname based on Kant's CRItique of PURE reason) is a man coming to terms with his end, in more ways than one, and his faltering crusade against his fellow man. He lives with his maid Maia (also his mistress) and his many yapping dogs. He pointlessly endeavours to educate young men about philosophy (in a mildly buffoonish manner) and loathes his academic nemesis Nabucet. He dabbles in nihilistic thought (especially since his wife left him) but clings to the innocent hope that there might be something behind it all. This is a magnificent book. The writing is wonderful and the characters (Cripure especially) are larger than life and the perfect axis around which to pivot such lofty considerations. It goes without saying that Guilloux has plenty to say about the futile waste of life consumed by the war as well as the cynicism of the time (while Celine comes to the distinct conclusion in Journey to the End of the Night that it's all for nothing, Guilloux has a remnant of hope still left within him). But they both agree that the war was an unnecessary trauma. The book reminded me a lot of Auto De Fe (printed the same year in 1935) and obviously Celine's Journey (1932) both in terms of subject matter and writing style. The prose here is superb, lyrical and mature, intelligent and rich, and wonderfully crafted. It is obviously a philosophical book but one which is subtle and focuses on the plot (the events of just one day) as well as the characters to explore those philosophical themes. By the final third, however, I did feel that it was dragging a little and could have been much shorter. There are characters, for example, such as Kaminsky and his friends who felt a little redundant, even somewhat out of sync with the overall story. But Guilloux wants to give a complete picture, a fully realised world, and he does this by emphasising the notion of showing, not telling, though I'm not sure it was entirely necessary. A lot of those threads never really go anywhere interesting (beyond fleshing out the small community and demonstrating the general feeling of people regarding the war and its immediate cultural consequences). The real star is Cripure and I craved returning to the chapters that involved him. At times, he is oafish and exaggerated (almost to Ignatius J Reilly levels of buffoonery) while at other times he is sombre and romantic, disturbed by his deformed feet, his broken heart, his drinking, and his desire for beauty to exist in a world that appears to have none. A great piece but probably longer than it needed to be. Highly recommended. 8/10

As always, Stephen King is brilliant when it comes to vampire stories. All the characters are memorable, with their own backstories. The book itself is gripping and terrifying.

of stamps, books and

Hello and welcome to the forum. Thank you for reading the rules and please join in anywhere you like.

²Hi and thank you for letting me join this forum my name is Jackie. I buy things from auction and often come across old books I have recently found a book titled Adolf Hitler Mein Kampf dated 1939 not a book I would read personally I have tried to do a little research but because of the nature of the book I'm not finding much information rather than it's a rare book ? Could anybody please give me more information on the book I have. Thank you.

I have and understood the rules. Jackie

Ride like the Wind - Christopher Cross

said she hasn't seen dear old colonel wink winks for 4 months, a day he helped her in with her Tesco shopping. 'Major Flowers actually ', opined Rosalyn. ''Everyone here only calls him Colonel wink winks since he's forever ogling anything female of all shapes and..' 'Not seen my dad...you haven't seen our black and white, Dingle the pussy, have you?' 'No I cannot say I have', and at that...

deposit his precious collection

on, I'll need a strong cup of tea by the time i get there.' 'I think I should accompany you, dear.' I offered. 'You'll need help controlling your father, the state he's in!' 'No, Johnny. You'll only antagonise him, you know how you are. I'll check how he is and then we can decide what to do.' But when Rosie arrived at the Majors, the door was locked and there was no answer to her knocking. She decided to see if his neighbour had seen anything. Miss Horlicks ...

Winter Winds ~ Mumford and Sons

It is more of a YA but it's great that you find it interesting!

I just looked it up - it sounds good! Our group read at the moment has a ‘folklore and fairytale’ theme though, do you think it would fit?

all, a place to

sally over, post haste, in order to ensure we are on the same page..oh daddy stop getting yourself in such a state..we sent black and white 😺 Dingle to see you also to keep you company..so if you're not going to admit what's going on then I am on my way over....and daddy..put the kettle.....

Do you know "The prison healer" It's fantastic

Yes, this slow pace is Stephen King's trademark and makes his works unique and memorable.

Hazy shade of winter - The Bangles/Simon and Garfunkel

Sounds a very interesting read. I, too, enjoyed South Riding, although I read it a long time ago now. Have always meant to read Testament of Youth.