Kell

I didn't find any of the characters particularly warm or likeable either. Although I enjoyed the book a great deal, I wonder how I managed to enjoy it so much when I didn't really like any of the characters in it - I couldn't imagine myself being able to be friends with any of them had I met them in person.

I'm sorely tempted to make ruce pudding again today - it was yummy the other day! When it's freezing cold like it is today, there's a lot to be said for stodgy comfort food.

Lots of very interesting stuff coming from this! (yay! ) I shall have to have a think about the two questions you posed, Sirinrob... I can see my thinking cap is going to have to be firmly wedged on my head this month!

Well, I watched the first episode tonight but I won't be bothering with the rest of it as I thought it was incredibly dull - exactly like Dawson's Creek meets Twilight. Unfortunately, I detested Dawson's Creek and Twilight was only passingly OK from my point of view (although the film was a whole heap better than the book). So, I shall have to find something else to fill the gap left by True Blood as this definitely does not fit the bill for me after all.

I received a copy of The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick from BookJumper today. I read the prequel (The Book of Dead Days) ages and ages ago and have been meaning to get hold of the sequel ever since, but somehow never got round to it till now!

I was wondering, apart from the slight title difference, is there any marked difference in the original German novel to the English translation? Has anyone read both versions?

Time for another question: At what point was it apparent to you that Hanna was illiterate? What is the importance of literacy in the book? I actually saw the film before reading the book, but whilst watching I wasn

Not baking, but I have a good old fashioned rice pudding cooking right now so the gorgeous scent of nutmeg is wafting throughout the flat at the moment. Yummy!

Probably be best if you read P&P first before reading any related/sequel/spin-off/parodies to get the full effect. And P&P really is an excellent book in its own right.

Oh, I just LOVE that headline!

Yes, Michael's family seem very odd to me. Coming from a very close family, I find it hard to understand how a father can be so cold and distant as to ask his children to make appointments to see him! Tey also seem quite overprotective of him - Michael himself decides it's time for him to return to school and they are unsure he's ready for it - his relationship with Hanna would seem to me to be his attempt at escape and perhaps, in chosing a lover who is old enough to be his mother, he is looking for a closer relationship with a mother figure? The old Oedipus complex?

Have to add I've now finished Mr Darcy, Vampyre and enjoyed it immensely!

OK, time for my own answer to the first question (I have typed all my answers up beforehand in Word so I can paste them across after a few have been posted by others - I'm so sneaky!). 1. Who do you think

I found this novel surprisingly enjoyable and easy to read - considering the subject matter, I was expecting it to be more hard-going, but the style really drew me in. My copy of The Reader has questions in the back, so every few days, I'll post one and see what people made of it... The first one is: Who do you think

I loved The Godfather - definitely watch the films! I know what you mean about Gerald's Game - creepy! And The Other Boleyn Girl remains my favourite Philippa Gregory to date (I've read all her historical novels up to date apart from The White Queen and The Other Queen).

Dunno - hubby gets it for me - LOL!

For those lamenting the end of True Blood Season 2 and in need of a bit more vampire action, there's another vampy series currently on - The Vampire Diaries, based on the books by L J Smith. I've not seen any of it yet, but hubby is getting hold of the episodes that have screened so far (3 episodes) and I'll be watching them shortly to see if they're any good. I've not read the books, so I'll have nothing to compare it with, but I'll let you know what I think of it, and perhaps I'll end up getting the books too... Has anyone seen any of this show yet and care to comment?

Anything by Danny Wallace - he makes everything seem light-hearted and fun as well as coming across as someone you could really have as a mate! Not fiction, but still incredibly funny.

Watched it tonight and have to say, what an EXCELLENT start to the new season!

Hated the book AND the film of that, I'm afraid! Apocalypse Now is a calssic- totally excellent film. I could hardly believe it was based on the utter tripe that is The Heart of Darkness which, if it had been even a tiny bit longer than it was, I would never have finished as it was so bad!

I'll be watching s6 ep1 at some point over the next couple of days through other means and am SO looking forward to it!

I thought the book was OK, but the film was WAAAAAYYYY better!