Marie H

As poppyshake said - Tell it as it is! .

Good haul Athena! I'm very interested in Per Petterson, but not read any of his books yet. I think the Ut Og Stjæle Hester is the Out Stealing Horses that I was most interested in. Hope you enjoy your new book! Edit: I must put The Art of Racing in the Rain in my 'must read next' note,as so many people have adored it. I'm glad you enjoyed it too

Good review poppyshake . I've read a few blurbs on Mrs Bridges before, but the library only has the Mr Bridges. Time to put an book suggestion to the library for Mrs Bridges. Sometimes it does work, it's can be fun playing fantasy librarian. Success 3 times last year, I could be lucky again .

Athena, I am glad to hear that you are an introvert too ! It took me a long time to realise that I was happy with myself, being an introvert, and that I didn't have to try to change, to be more extrovert. This is just the way I am (but part of me still worries me that I am rather aloof and stand-offish to people, but I have always been shy, and there is very little I can do about it . I don't mean to offend people being aloof, but I'm not a party animal/person. It's wonderful that introverts can talk here, as it is very rare to meet introverts in the real world. (I only know one other person who is very like me)

Oh heck, I totally forgot to listen The New Bishop over the weekend , but I'll listen on iplayer during the week. I noticed that this after a leap of four years from The Warder, and I read a terrible spoiler in the Radio Times . Well, you RT!!! .

I went to my first World Book Night event in 2013, and was given A Little History of the World, Damage, Red Dust Road and The Knife of Never Letting Go. It felt really weird to take four new books free from a book-store! They are still unread - what a surprise . This years books are quite interesting, but you don't know which one's are going to be given away. I might go this year.

Well, I suppose it was wasn't really the type of book I was looking for; I know now that Quiet was mostly for introverts in the workplace. The book title Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking was a bit misleading. I was looking for general books about introversion. I've found a few "Introverts Unite! and how to tell the world how we are" sort of books. The amount of times I have read these books, and punched the air going "Yeah, that's me!" At least I am not the only person in the world who feels that way now, but it does feel as if you are in a (very small) minority. Wow, that is exactly the way I feel too!! . Quite a lot of the time I still feel very awkward in social settings, even with people I know and get on with, and due to my disability (aphasia) I have real problems with being in a busy, noisy places. But I am very happy with being who I am, an introvert! I need my own quiet space, and I am happy with my own company - in fact, I need my own quiet company, and constant chatter and other people all the time is a a nightmare! I am happy to tell people about this these days, but I used to be mortified if someone thought that wasn't 'normal to be an introvert.(Well, I tell some people about this, and the sort of people who would "get it", but most people are so gregarious and need constant human company, who think that it's crazy to be happy alone) It's only in the last 10 years that I would admit that I am an introvert. Now I am proud to say it! Wow #2! You have just said what I had wished to say about myself! I have more confidence with people these days, and can chatter much more than when i was younger, but sometimes I feel that I wish I would shut up! I hate saying inane/drivel/balderdash things,(usually when I feel anxious or nervous) and I feel mortified when I am talking rubbish, and i worry for hours/days/years after, thinking "You Idiot! Why did you say that?!" . It's always difficult to get the balance right, and I'm always self-critical, so that makes things worse . Sounds familiar, frankie? Hey, Introverts unite!

I haven't read The Ladies Paradise or seen the TV version (The Paradise). But I think that is a good idea for you to start with that one. I love Zola's observation of human behaviour - I think that he was able to observe a lot of tiny details, especially womens actions and behaviour. I could be wrong, but I think you would like Zola's novels. .

I read it a couple of years ago, and I remember the 'shock' was so unexpected .

Yes, things were going quite well with the Barbour family (I just want to hug little Andy! ) , then the sudden arrival...... . Theo is easily lead by other people . I read last night about of the low-down on Vegas' lowlife - and then the next shock . Great book!

I have Love Nina on the library's requests list. Good to hear that you're loving it

The Goldfinch is a great read, I'm really enjoying it. Well, I had little look of the first chapter of another of his novels, can't remember exactly which one it was, (Cousin Bette,possibly?). His writing style seemed very similar to Emile Zola, (similarly they both can be very intimidating!), but after reading two of Zola's Les Rougon-Macquart series a couple of years ago, I really, really enjoyed them. And they are usually either free or dirt cheap as e-books too.

Shucks, I only started reading Tove Jansson's Moomin series In my mid-40s, and I love them ! I love the illustrations too.

That is a very creepy looking cover... . Mind you, I was never very fond of dolls as a child, much more into teddy bears...

Hey, good haul ! Good reading ​ .I've umm and ahh-ed about The Rosie Project, somehow I keep feeling unsure about it, I don't know why .

Great review of Snake Ropes . It's 'in stock' at the local library, so I'll have a look it at tomorrow.

Yes, I listened to The Warden on Sunday afternoon - Tim Piggot Smith was just wonderful to listen to. I thought that the Archdeacon (Malcolm Sinclair) was doing to go apoplectic at some time . I hope to listen to The Barchester Towers series each week.

Read 230 out of 770 pages of The Goldfinch - it's great! Downloaded free e-book: Letters of Two Brides by Honore De Balzac (mentioned in Deb's Epistolary novels thread by frankie)

Ah, I missed the post frankie mentioned Letters Of Two Brides in the thread already. Found a free e-book of LOTB though !

When I was browsing for Honore de Balzac's novels, I found Letters Of Two Brides, which I think is in your C19 time-frame (not sure though). Short synopsis:This richly drawn epistolary tale recounts the correspondence between two young women whose friendship evolves as they embark on marriage and motherhood. Although both have a distinctly different outlook, their shared observations and memories bring the beauty and difficulty of these experiences vividly to life. I've got it on my wishlist now .

A good review, pontalba (and I always love the word hubris too) . The Goldfinch is the first Tartt novel I've read, and it is wonderful to read.

Hello, and to BCF

Hello Mary, and to the forums.

I loved Dandelion and Burdock 'fizzy pop' (now that is another old-time term ) when I was a child. Tried some a few weeks ago - argh! it was vile!

Ah, I loved the days of St Clare's - midnight feasts, sport matches (who cared if I didn't have as clue what lacrosse was , making someone an apple-pie bed ( )jolly times they had etc. But I don't think that Enid never came across working class children, and never thought that they would read her books. . It was great to read them, it was the reading matter in summer holidays, I don't think I should go back - life seemed different when I was 11 . Good or bad, I'm never sure