Acesare*

My Story - Dave Pelzer: What can I say about this that hasn't been said already? His treatment as a child was horrific - that goes without saying. I was glad (if you can use that word) that the book wasn't as graphic as I had feared, although I couldn't help thinking that we touched only the very tip of the iceburg. I couldn't feel the kind of anger towards his mother that I've heard expressed by others. In my opinion she was a seriously ill woman and needed help. She was capable of being a loving, caring mother, until suddenly something 'snapped' and she turned on her middle child - poor Dave. I've read a few things about mental illness, and you wouldn't believe what it will make people do. I couldn't help feeling real despair at how Dave's Dad sat back and let it happen, that he could leave that house and his son to that treatment. That Dave could be so forgiving towards his parents and the neighbours who turned their backs (I must that I hold grudges for far less!) even wen he was a child and living through that hell. Controversially, I couldn't help myself getting so frustrated that Dave wouldn't (couldn't) speak up! He's standing there with people asking questions an he'd lie, he tried to change his story before the court hearing to let his mother get away with it - almost placing himself back into her hands! I can't understand why I felt that way - I know how it feels to be afraid like that, that feeling of 'better the devil you know' and chosing to live a life I knew was unacceptable - I was 19, more than twice his age . . . Never mind. I really don't want to go any further down that road - bad dreams and all that. Anyway, it all turned out well for him and I'm glad. Wish I could get my head out of the past and look to the future like he has. End of the book was a bit too 'moral' for me and strangely 'Hollywood' for a true story. Glad I read it though - it was a personal challenge that I passed. Yay me.

Do you not remember me quoting my Dad as saying to me "You were such a pretty child, whatever happened?"? My Dad's more likely to tell me I was second only to Damien in the evil kid stakes! Probably means I was a little angel :angel:

BTW, I've just asked my Dad, and he doesn't think I threw any more tantrums than the average child - so there!!! :tongue2:

All Fun And Games Until Someone Loses An Eye. It's a long title and I couldn't be bothered typing it! I apologise for my laziness! Jo xx

All those Kelley Armstrong books arrived today, so - my current reading list (after AFAGUSLAE)reads: Tony Parsons - The Family Way Peter Straud - Koko Paul Reizen - Dumping Hiliary? Kelley Armstrong - Stolen Kelley Armstrong - Dime Store Magic Kelley Armstrong - Industrial Magic Kelley Armstrong - Haunted Tom Sharpe - (when I remember what it's called) Douglas Adams - Dirk Gentley's Holistic Detective Agency Looks rather different from my fist list! Jo xx

Bullys

Told you I was speshal | | | | V

In your opinion. I think I'm lovely.

In your opinion

Well, that's just greedy! (We sure know how to hijack a threadm eh?!)

But we weren't talking about you - we were talking about me And what's so funny?

As I've said, I didn't like this book, but that's probably to do with my views on religion (which I won't go into to save any kind of conflict - suffice to say I'm not religious). Jo xx

When I have a Chinese, I have it with Chow Mein or Singaope Noodles - rice is horrid - blergh

a) Noodles being like pasta makes 3 valid and This is my opinion, so adding rice doesn't make it a meal, it makes it horrible infinity! So there!!!!!

Stop hijacking my non-blog blog! Jo xx

1 - Ok, pizza's an exception 2 - I hate rice 3 - Chinese has veg in it and noodles (which are kinda like pasta) Stop being a smart alec Jo xx

Michelle has managed to get me hooked on Ms Armstrong too - bought all 5 in the series yesterday and now I'll have to go hungry for another week! Jo xx

Thank you Tash, that's such a lovely sentiment :friends: I LOVE this one. It' smy 2nd favourite after The Sacred Art of Stealing. Have you read that one? No, this is my first experience of Brookmeyer and I am enjoying it, although (is this just me?) there seem to be some major coincidences going on! Jo xx

I've finished My Story by Dave Pelzer, and I'll post my thoughts here when I have more time, and I'm getting stuck into Christopher Brookmeyer's 'All Fun and Games until Someone Loses an Eye', which I'm really enjoying so far. Things are getting out of control on the book buying front - I'm going to bankrupt myself really quickly if I keep this up! Not only have I bought the Pelzer and Brookmeyer, but I also bought a Tony Parsons book from Michelle. Yesterday I was in WH Smiths and bought: Dumping Hilary? by Paul Reizen (I have one of his at home which I really liked) and Koko by Peter Straub. Then today I'm browsing over the numerous posts I've missed in the last week and was reading over the Kelley Armstrong thread. Having read Bitten and enjoyed it, I ended up poping onto a certain internet bookshop and bought all 5 in the series! I have some heavy reading to do! Jo xx

A meal's not a meal unless it's pasta or has tatties and veg. Love me tatties.

You like me now, but we've never met . . . . . . . .

So, I've just finished 'Bitten' by Kelley Armstrong which Michelle lended me (in a desperate attempt to divert me from you know who!). I quite enjoyed it! I took a while to get into it - I think you have to go through a small mental adjustment when you go from reading a book written in the 3rd person, to one written in the 1st (at least I think I do). Strangely, I felt I was getting annoyed by it, and for that reason, it took me several chapters to get over it and to actually enjoy the book. This is only the second book I've read about warewolves and the other one was a long time ago, so I was really interested in the whole group dynamic andthe fact that Elena is the only female warewolf. She was such an 'abnormality' in so many ways that she really didn't fit in anywhere, and that's a concept I can identify with. I was a little disappointed by the ease with wich the big, bad Daniel was dispatched, but that probably is a King comedown - I alway expect that apocalyptic showdown, which is why I was disappointed with the ending of his Dark Tower series. Anyway, I'll definately be reading more of Kelley Armstrong whether from the library, bought cheaply or borrowed from Michelle. Dave Pelzer's up next, and I have a feeling this will be a whole other kettle of fish!

I'd like to clear up a common misconception - I have read books that aren't Stephen King, I own and read books by other authors just as often as a good King book. I do tend to read the same books over and over again because they're like a security blanket or something. I haven't had a particularly happy life so far. I've suffered with depressions since I was a child, and for that reason (and a number of others I won't go into) I had very little stability in my life for a very long time. The only thing I was able to control was what I read. My books were always there, they never changed, they couldn't hurt me. They were an escape into another world where worse things happened, where I could emerse myself in something familiar. When even I feel down, unsettled, insecure, etc, I'll go back to an old favourite for comfort - I'm a freak, but that's me. 2006 has started well, and with more confidence, counselling, and a number of internet friends to talk to, I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. In the past 3 weeks I have bought 3 new books, read 3 books I've borrowed, each by new authors to me and 2 of which I have enjoyed. I've located the library and plan to wander down there one weekend to become a member - and I know I will because I really want to! I knew I loved reading, it looks like I'm finally getting some new material.

I get that way - I didn't read the Da Vinci Code for ages because of the hype (I was the same with White Teeth when every man and his dog was reading it!), when I finally did I was disappointed. I thought it was an interesting idea, but I just didn't like the writing style - it will take a lot of convincing before I'll read any of the others. Jo xx