Peahen

Agree completely with Salma :-)

Those I know of apart from Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush are: Return to Oz by The Scissor Sisters - it is a song that contrasts dramatically to their other songs and has some excellent lyrics Bright Eyes by Garfunkel - based on Watership Down Lord of the Flies by Iron Maiden Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden William, It was really nothing by The Smiths based on Billy Liar

I love Sherlock and love the casting of both of the main characters as well as secondary characters including Moriarty. I really enjoy the series and looking forward to the explanation in the new series of how Sherlock evaded death. Just wish there was less time between series.

Cheryl Cole's Promise This covered acoustically by Adele in the Radio One Live Lounge. Never Tear us Apart by Paloma Faith exceeds the INXS Stop me if you heard this one before mixed by Mark Ronson I prefer to The Smiths original

I don't read them but feel that I know why they are written. Abuse victims often are silent as to their experiences and it is a form of therapy to write and to finally have a voice and that voice comes through publication. I tend to get too traumatised by such stories, even when watching short clips on television that are part of the news. However they are essential for survivors as there needs to be that sense of removing the feeling of isolation.

Tess is one of my favourite novels. I do like the challenge that Hardy places with it in regards to the themes and the ending I feel could be no other way. It is extremely modern for its time and shows the author's disgust at the society in which he lives as well as the progressions that are taking place.

1- Who was your favourite character and why? Funnily Pearl, as she seems the regenerating force of the novel. She seems to be a breath of fresh air in the novel and contrasts to the staleness of puritans. 2- Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? I enjoyed the writing style more than anything in regards to this novel. It felt as though each sentence was ripened with symbolism. 3- Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? It was the first book by this author and did encourage me to read The House of the Seven Gables however this remains my favourite. 4- Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? I didn't struggle, but did find it appropriate how Hawthorne placed the character of the Rev Arthur Dimmesdale was the ultimate hypocrite and the striking gender inequality particularly in terms of justice or concepts of justice. 5- Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? Yes

I watched the first few episodes but then started missing the original series too much. Now that Larry Hagman has died, I am not so sure that Dallas can last without him.

Lie to Me Fringe (even though has just ended) House Stargate Atlantis and looking back over the posts, American Gothic (I used to love that series so much).

We have all the Time in the World by Louis Armstrong just came to mind when reading previous posts and seeing What a Wonderful World Wire to Wire by Razorlight is in my head today Skyfall by Adele - anything really by Adele though

Same here :-) or more like the Harry Styles show tonight

Hi Kidsmum, I do like that sort of story in which history is recalled through a family or individual. Thanks for the recommendation :-)

I have always loved Baudelaire as I feel he is a poet I came to by myself. I also love W. B Yeats and mapping his poetry into his political and spiritual life. I have well thumbed editions of both poets with random notes and sticky tabs all over them. One of my favourites is Edward Thomas, who I think is overlooked a great deal. My favourite poem is Rain by Edward Thomas Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me Remembering again that I shall die And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks For washing me cleaner than I have been Since I was born into this solitude. Blessed are the dead that the rain rains upon: But here I pray that none whom once I loved Is dying to-night or lying still awake Solitary, listening to the rain, Either in pain or thus in sympathy Helpless among the living and the dead, Like a cold water among broken reeds, Myriads of broken reeds all still and stiff, Like me who have no love which this wild rain Has not dissolved except the love of death, If love it be towards what is perfect and Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint. And finally, Louis MacNeice. His poem Snow was the first to make me sit back and comprehend the power of language in poetry. The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was Spawning snow and pink roses against it Soundlessly collateral and incompatible: World is suddener than we fancy it. World is crazier and more of it than we think, Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion A tangerine and spit the pips and feel The drunkenness of things being various. And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world Is more spiteful and gay than one supposes - On the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of one's hands - There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.

The historical context - they are manuscripts of their time often. History textbooks are often edited by facts or dates yet in novels we get opinions, we get dissent and we get a snapshot of an era. It is a form of escapism in which can be educated of a former time, a former set of ideals and values. The language, in comparison we use a small fraction of the vocabulary that is utilised within a classic novel. Then of course there are the romantic heroes, Heathcliff, Darcy, Dr Lydgate, Rochester - they don't quite exist anymore, no matter how much Helen Fielding attempts to redefine them within 20th/21st Century.

Hi, we joined on the same day. Lovely to meet you.

I loved the descriptions of the flowers and how the symbolism then integrated into the lives of the customers at the florist. It was a beautiful and touching read. I think too I particularly enjoyed reading it as I had been planning my wedding at the time and my head was full of flowers and arrangements and there was a simplicity yet depth to their meaning in this novel.

I will do :-)

Persuasion and Northanger Abbey are two of her shorter books, if your preference would be to ease yourself in. Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma would be my favourites, I don't consider them difficult more just longer. The most difficult I found to get into, as I really detested the main heroine, was Mansfield Park.

I do have it, however have never got around to reading it as each time have picked it up, have never been in the frame of mind or concentration to get beyond the first two or three pages.

I read The Wasp Factory two years ago and find one of youru points striking, the element of oversensitivity to things you normally find that you can read without discomfort. I found that there were parts I struggled with as of the realism and grittiness of the descriptions. It was a dark novel but well written so you ended up reading it regardless.

It is a while since I read this. 1- Who was your favourite character and why? I loved Jem, her narrative and how it spans her loss of childhood innocence, yet at the same time conveys the extent of the stupidity of hatred that exists in adults. 2- Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? The narrative of Jem, the childlike voice and elements of humour. 3- Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? I have read more books set in the South of America at this time. This remains to me the best work based on this period. 4- Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? I did struggle with the injustice, it was the first time I had encountered American history and had been aware of racism however not the smaller details that are shown here in daily day to day life. 5- Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? I read this as part of my GCSE in English and it was enjoyable, it was one of the few books that I enjoyed reading that had been on the syllabus.

Pancake buttered and put in microwave with lemon juice and brown sugar on top - even though Pancake Tuesday was one week ago.

It is a fantastic read, I would recommend you read the other two for a number of subtle hints, especially about his past relationship. But in terms of the main plot, it would be easy enough to read from that book and then go back.

Thank you for that recommendation Pontabla, I have that now added to the Amazon Basket along with Mother Russia by Littlell (thankfully payday at the end of the week, so that I can then process order). I am looking forward to reading this and checking out others