Kell

It seems to be a bit of a "marmite" book - you either love it or hate it. Either way, it's certainly one that makes you think and gets discussion going.

I read it last year for the Posh Club and absolutely hated it. I kept expecting it to get better and persevered to the end, but I found it very predictable and didn't manage to "get on" with any of the characters at all. I only rated it 3/10 and that was being generous - it was one of my most disappointing reads of the entire year. My review here.

My copy's on my sale or swap list if you want it.

What did you think of this one? I've not read it, but earlier in the year, I read Bimbos of the Death Sun and loved it!

Wow! You really enjoyed THAT one! LOL!

We've enjoyed having you here, Stephen. And hope we'll still see you from time to time - you'll always be welcome as a member here.

Since May begins the day after tomorrow, I thought I'd open the discussion thread for the Reading Circle book for the month - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O' Farrell (who is also our featured author for the month, so be sure to nip along to her thread and ask a few questions, whether they're about this book, or about her, or about writing in general). Synopsis: Set between the 1930s,and the present, Maggie O'Farrell's new novel is the story of Esme, a woman edited out of her family's history, and of the secrets that come to light when, sixty years later, she is released from care, and a young woman, Iris, discovers the great aunt she never knew she had. The mystery that unfolds is the heartbreaking tale of two sisters in colonial India and 1930s Edinburgh - of the loneliness that binds them together and the rivalries that drive them apart, and lead one of them to a shocking betrayal - but above all it is the story of Esme, a fiercely intelligent, unconventional young woman, and of the terrible price she is made to pay for her family's unhappiness. Added by Michelle: Please see also the Featured Author thread, where the book is also discussed.

Any title you like - whatever takes your fancy - it's up to you!

There are so many books considered "great" and many of them are from the 20th Century (and some from the 21st Century are already being considered modern classics too!). These modern classics cover many different genres and spark a whole range of emotions. So how about it then? Anyone up for the Modern Classics challenge?

Ooh, you've got some good'uns on those lists, Squawk! I notice you have several by the same authors - do you often find yourself reading the entire back-catalogue of an author once you've enjoyed one of their books? (I know I do!). If you liked Day of the Triffids, I can heartily recommend Wyndham's other work - I especially loved The Midwich Cuckoos and Chocky if you haven't already tried them (or re-read them - they're worth it! ).

Yes, Buchan is in Aberdeenshire and is covered by Aberdeenshire Council (where I work). Here's a little info on the area on Wikipedia. Those things look a bit like Cornish pasties to me...

I thought that might be the reason, in which case it works rather well!

It's the Recorded Books version, recorded in 1988 and narrated by someone called Betty Harris (who has rather an expressionless voice, but I wonder if that's intentional for this reading?).

Sounds great - I have The Eyre Affair on my shelf, but I'm determined to make the most of it by reading Jane Eyre first, so it'll still be a little while before I get there. Perhaps I'll get to it during May - that'd be nice...

I've managed to make quite a good dent in my TBR pile this month,, but I've also picked up a couple of other books during that time. however, I read more than I added, so that's a good sign!

Glad you enjoyed it too, Sugar.

Of COURSE you're allowed to say that, Squawk! Not everyone has the same tastes in books - it'd be a boring world if we did, eh? I'm actually about to start listening to the audio book of this...

Hello & , John - here, have a cookie. I hope you'll enjoy it here.

If you haven't and fancy a borrow, I've offered this one up for a book ring.

Well, I've read 25 and there are a further 27 I'd like to read, so it's a pretty good list by my estimation!

I listen to them on my iPod all the time. In fact, coincidentally, I just finished listening to 1894 today on my way home from work. We sometimes listen to audio books in bed at night, but only ones we already know and love as we fall asleep. I use my iPod to listen to them whenever I'm walking about the place (I don't drive) and find it an excellent way to get in some extra reading when i can't have a book in my hands!

I have it on my shelf - it's been waiting for me to get to it - LOL! Thank you for the kind offer though - very sweet of you.

I'm now DYING to get to this one. It's been waiting for quite a while now...

How many other silly things have I said? Nah, I know you'll have plenty books to keep you busy, same as every other member here by the looks of it. I'mlooking forward to reading it myself - I've only been holding off in case it gets picked for the Reading Circle because I have 70 others to choose from.

You have it? Wow! It's on my wish list, so I hope to get it shortly myself - again, simply because it was mentioned so many times in NA, which I loved. I might try another few of the Northanger Horrid Books eventually...