Emmabbooks

Thanks for these reviews. I have a friend who recently commented that he wanted to read some modern science fiction (having read all the old classics). I'm looking forward to finding a gift or two from your reading.

I love your reading list, and the fact that there are so many series of books in it - saves the disappointment of finishing a good book, if you can then read the next one. Good luck with attaining your goal

Little bit warm for a ski area (about +6C in the valley at 11.00 am), but too much cloud to sit out in a sunny spot. So a good day for housework (or maybe reading!!)

April (not all the reviews of all these books on my blog yet - waiting for publication date) 19. Into The Black by Rowland White - "the extraordinary untold story of the first flight of the space shuttle Columbia and the astronauts who flew her" 18. Long Time Lost by Chris Ewan - thriller racing through Europe to save those under protection March 17. Dream Accomplished by Elizabeth Gross - find a dream and follow it, instead of giving into to illness 16. This is One Moment by Mila Gray - love vs giving up 15. The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad - glimpses into personal lives. 5* rating from me 14. Free to be Tegan by Mary Grand - life after a religious cult upbringing. 13. Lies of the Dead by Shauna Bickley - mystery thriller set in Devon and Cornwall, England February 12. The Castaway's War: One Man's Battle against Imperial Japan by Stephen Harding - Military History and survival story 11. Code Name Papa: Code Name Papa: My Extraordinary Life while Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray,Sharon Murray and Abby Jones - memoir of US undercover agent. 5* read 10. The Girl in Berlin by Elizabeth Wilson - fiction set in the time of Burgess/Maclean disappearance. Disappointing 9. A Stranger's House by Clare Chase - romantic mystery 8. The Boy from Hell by Alison Thompson - lots of practical advice on coping with a child with ADHD, or behavioural problems. 7. Death Comes First by Hilary Bonner - a psychological thriller (clever not frightening) . Who can you trust? January 6. A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome by Alberto Angela - a fictional stroll through Rome in 115 CE (AD) 5. The Silent Hours by Cesca Major - French WWII moving novel, based on true event 4. I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh - A psychological thriller with a slow start, that suddenly takes off and gallops to the end. 3. The Anesthesia Game by Rea Nolan Martin - Fun and exciting fantasy, though fantasy is a bit outside my comfort zone 2. An Invisible Client by Victor Methos - Gripping courtroom drama 1. The Humans by Matt Haig - A life affirming read, good story and a laugh about what it is to be human. Best Books from 2015 - that I read. A Bargain Struck by Liz Harris - Married life in 1887 Wyoming (historical fiction) Ask Him Why by Catherine Ryan Hyde - How do you judge others (fiction) Baptism by Max Kinnings - 488 pages of non stop action (thriller) Casting Off by Emma Bamford - Sailing away to adventure and happiness (memoir) Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - Life in Stalin's Russia. (historical thriller) Forgive Me by Amanda Eye Ward - A gripping excursion into South Africa's past (historical fiction) Give Us This Day by Tom Avitabile - Fast moving action thriller based in New York House of Ashes by Monique Roffey - Novel loosely based on the attempted coup in Trinidad in 1990 (fiction) How to be Brave by Louise Beech- Uplifting and compelling novel on surviving difficult times - based around true events. (fiction) I am Nujood, aged 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali - A fascinating, and harrowing, look at the lifes of (some) girls in Yemen (biography) Staying Sharp by Henry Emmons and David Alter - How the brain works, and what you can do to keep it working at full capacity (non-fiction) The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas - Beautiful and thought provoking new translation of classic (fiction) The Ice Twins by SK Tremayne - Gripping psychological thriller. The Pearl that Broke its Shell by Nadia Hashimi - Two women's lives in different times in Afghanistan (fiction) The War Came Home with Him by Catherine Madison - A memoir from the daughter of a Korean War survivor. You Think You Know Me by Clare Chase - Great thriller based in the London art world.

I prefer the big brand stores - as I like my books new, though the smell of an old hard back book is hard to beat!

Sorry, I meant paper quilling (two LLs, no T). Its where you twirl strips of paper into circles, or various shapes, and then make pretty pictures out of it. Very much easier than quilTing! So far I've tried to make a few circles, but found it much more difficult than it looks - they don't come out even, and don't look anything like they should. I'm hoping it will get easier with time - and if not, well the paper strips make good cat toys. I read a book recently that said you should use every part of your brain (Better with Age, The Ultimate Guide to Brain Training by Phyllis Strupp), and I realised I did nothing in the artistic area - hence the new hobby. Good luck with your crocheting - a lovely thing to be able to do, and how wonderful to wear your own creations! Your bus story made my laugh Chesilbeach - just what you need at rush hour! (By the way Chesil Beach is also one of my favourite places - been visiting the area since I was born, and no visit is complete without a walk along Chesil Beach ).

Oh yes Anna, you are completely right! I have got 6 of Philippa Gregory's books - and probably have read more from the library, and yes - Peter the Great is a fantastic book - not sure I've read Nicholas and Alexandra - going to put that on my "wish list" right now. Another great author is Edward Rutherford who wrote London, Ruska and Sarum - all brilliant. Now I think about it I have read more historical fiction than I realised.

This seems a friendly group - hope its ok if I join you. Really lovely to see what you're all up to. Today I went out to see if I could find a "beware of the ice" sign ( in German) - unsuccessful, but at least my German was understood . It seems that everywhere is safe to walk, apart from our drive which is like an ice-rink most of the winter. Also been looking at (paper) quilling patterns - a new hobby for this year - and ought to catch up on some reading. Note that housework etc. hasn't made it onto the list today! Thanks Virginia for the Banquet of Consequences recommendation - I've looked it up and put it on my list of books to be read.

That's really helpful Shyora. Thank you so much

Some help for a newbie please. I've added a "quote" from a previous comment on a comment I made on "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo". My comment probably wasn't very useful either. I'd like to edit/delete the quote, and possibly my comment, but I can't work out how to do it. Sorry if I'm missing the very obvious . Thanks for any guidance.

Hi Nollaig and Athena, Very impressed with 2 thrillers on the go Nollaig! Re history, probably the World Wars, but having just read a brilliant fictional account of a day in Rome (A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome by Alberto Angela) I realise I need to open my eyes to other historical periods. Having read so much Jean Plaidy in my school days - that dates me! - I probably avoid English "Kings and Queens" history.

I too love Audible - I've had the 12 books per year option for quite a few years. One of the things I like about them, is that if you start a book and find its not your thing, you can "return" it, and they give you your credit back. Presumably they stop this option if you do it too many times - but I've returned books a few times. Because I only have 12 books a year, I have a rule that I can only listen to them when out exercising or doing the ironing. Hence when I've got a good book I'm motivated to get out and exercise . Having said that its also great for train and plane journeys, as you can see what's going on whilst listening to a good book. If for some reason you don't download all your credits by the end of your annual subscription, you are allowed to carry over a few credits (see your Membership Status for details). I do find it a bit tricky to download the books to my iPhone/iTunes - if anyone has this problem, and wants my instruction list, let me know.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum - and to forums in general (so learning how to find my way around!) So far I'm really enjoying reading all your comments about some wonderful books - and wish I could read faster so that I could read more and more. I'm an avid reader (about 4 or 5 a month), favourite genres being thrillers, history fiction - and well anything I can get engrossed in and preferably learn something from. Currently there's a lot of snow outside, so its a great time to curl up and read . I look forward to talking with lots of you over the coming months. Bye for now.

I've just looked at the trailer for "45 Years" JeanW, and it looks very sad. Is that the case? Great cast. I've just seen "A Walk in the Woods" - Bill Bryson. Brilliant, very funny and great entertainment (quite a lot of bad language and some sex - just a warning). I'm pleased to see that back in January somebody referred to the film of The Book Thief. Didn't know that was available - the book is on my "to read" shelf, so once read, I may well look for the film. Next film at our film club is "Carol" - not heard great reports of that though.

Hi Shyora, I've just signed up too, and also very excited about meeting people with the same enthusiam. Though British I live in beautiful Austria. Looking forward to seeing more of you on here - and well done for starting a new topic, how brave you are I haven't got a favourite book cover yet - not really thought about it before, but of course its often the reason we select a book. All the best Emmabbooks

Having just finished (and loved) A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome by Alberto Angela - where a tour guide takes you back in time to 115 AD and walks you round the city = absolutely brilliant. I've just started something completely different: Death Comes First by Hilary Bonner (a thriller). A promising Prologue, lets hope it continues as such.

I'm surprised to find I am already on my 6th book for 2016. My 2 favourite so far have been: The Humans by Matt Haig - A life affirming read, a great book and a good laugh. A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome by Alberto Angela - A fictional stroll through Rome in 115 CE (AD), Brilliant. A great start to the year