Kell

I rank it as one of my faves of the Chronicles - it's a gorgeous beginning to Narnia.

Gave up on Trace & started The Eagle & The Wolves by Simon Scarrow. It's the 4th installment of the Eagles series & I've just finished ch9. It's very much living up to my expectations, with a bloody skirmish within the first few pages & picking up the tale of the two main characters, Macro & Cato, who are Centurians (Cato just got promoted from Optio in the last book). No sign of Boudicca just yet, but I get the feelnig she may well appear out of nowhere - I'd like that a lot. I have to say, if you're looking for a rip-roaring good series to get into that's full of action & excellent characters, I can heartily recommend the Eagles - even if you're not into historical or military fiction (I'd never read either before these ones), they're an excellent introduction to the genre. It's fascinating knowing that the plot is based on fact & although most of the characters are not actual historical figures, they are based on people of the time in those situations. Can't wait to get cracking with the resto f it - I feel I can really get my teeth into this one!

Well, I'm interested in the whole Jack the Ripper thing anyway, so I've read a few bokos on the subject now & I rather liked this one. It put forward some very good arguements, but in the end, I don't think I agree that the case is closed - it wasn't quite enuogh to convince me as I've already got a whole load of other theories knocking around me head from the other bokos, so there were some points that, in my opininon, just didn't really fit into my idea of the puzzle. Because they're presented without anything to rebuff the evidence from other angles, I didn't think it was, by any means, a definitive study, but it was very enjoyable. I have to say, though, that other people I've spoken to who have read other Cornwell works didn't like this one. I don't know if it's a case of "like one but not the other" but it does seem to be uniform so far - I've not spoken to anyone who liked both. It may have been that the style was so different from the likes of the Scarpetta books, or it may have been that they don't like the way she handles non-fiction. Anyway, I rather liked it.

I think once I get through a few more of the books I have on my shlf, I might fancy trying to start at the beginning, because I can really see that ther's good scope - I just couldn't deal with not knowing anything about the characters when they'[ve developed for so long with each other - it was just too confusing trying to figure out the underlying stuff, so I was already losing the plot with the actual story. I will, however, say, I could already see parallels creeping in & I think I could see where some of the story was going in a crime-sense, just not ina character-sense. No doubt, if & when I get right back to the begninning, that'll get sorted out & I can revisit this one. So in a way, I'm not really letting this book get the better of me after all - LOL!

I'm sorry - it's beaten me. I can't read any more. The present tense is hard enough to deal with, the lack of knowledge of backhistory doesn't help,but the constant repetition is doing my nut! I hate to be beaten my any book, but I've read 14 chapters now & I've lost the battle. I feel completely horrid now - I hate giving up on any book. Hell, I've finished some bl**dy bad ones in my time & this one, I think, would be good if I could get past the things that are annoying me because I could already see the basics of the story unfolding. Perhaps I'll come backto it some day if I ever get round to reading the others first.

Trace Author: Patricia Cornwell ISBN # 0751530778 Publisher: Time Warner 1st Published: 2004 489 pages Against her own judgment and the advice of Benton Wesley and her niece, Lucy, Scarpetta agrees to return to Virginia as a consultant pathologist on a case involving the death of a fourteen-year-old girl. Accompanied by Pete Marino she finds the once familiar territory of her morgue and her department much changed, and the new Chief Medical Examiner treats her with disdain despite the obvious fact that he is in desperate need of her expertise. But professional as ever, she re-examines the evidence and proves the girl was murdered. She also finds trace evidence which matches that found on an accident victim and at the scene where one of Lucy's operatives was attacked. It is not only a forensic puzzle, but opens up the probability that someone is after those closest to Scarpetta. The only Cornwell book I read prior to this one was Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed so Scarpetta, as a well-established character was new to me. I accepted that I wouldn

Thanks for that, Mau. I'm now wondering about the relationship between Lucy, Henri & Rudy as there seems to be some tension there between L&R. (I've just finished ch10). It's certainly interesting me with the interplay between the characters as it's obvious they've known each other for a long time, while I feel a bit like an interloper at the moment, so I'll certainly be havnig a look at that site, Mau. My fave character so far is definitely Marino - he sems to have a bit of bite to him.

LOL - don't fret, Mau - it's picking up, really it is. It's just the present tense threw me a bit is all & not knowing all the back history means I'll be meeting the characters for the 1st time, but perhaps someone who's read past books could give a brief rundown of recurring characters?

I'm now onto Ch7 & I'm a little confused, but I'm getting more into it (despite the present tense - I've just never been a fan of that style - LOL!)

I'm 3 chapters in & here are my impressions as they manifested in my brain: Ch1: WHat? It's all written in present tense? Arrrgghhhh! I hate that! ANd an entire chapter about the demolition of a building? Hmmm. Ch2: Hmmm. Necrocosmotology. And does she have to write Edgar Allan Pogue's entire name every time he's mentioned??? Ch3: Office politics. I feel I'm missing out on a huge lot of back-history here that was probably in previous books. Interest finally starting to kick in though - I was contemplating not going any further after Edgar Allan Pogue... I'll persevere & see how it develops. The present tense is still annoying me though.

The Dark Behind the Curtain Author: Gillian Cross ISBN # 0590703498 Publisher: Hippo 1st Published: 1982 199 pages Colin Jackus is an unpopular loner; a trouble-maker who lashes out in a pre-emptive strike against anyone & everyone, so when he

Finished The Dark Behind the Curtain. A bit dated, but a pleasant enough read - review tomorrow. Starting Trace tomorrow too... And I love CSI too - I have a thing for Gary Dourdan - mmmmmmmm!

The Bad Mother

I've just finished it & reviewed it too. I was going to put it in here, bt I forgot, so I made a new thread. I might have a go at moving it in a minute...

New books arrived today: Trace by Patricia Cornwell Monday Mourning by Cathy Reichs The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler They've all been added to the list & I'll be starting on Trace tomorrow. *rubs hands together in glee*

Starting The Dark Behind the Curtain by Gillian Cross today as it's a short one & I think Trace might be in the package that Dale is collecting for me today. It looks to be a kid's chiller-type book with a theatrical slant, so I might find it interesting. I got it via a swap on the Read it Swap it site. We'll see how it goes...

Finished The Bad Mother's Handbook last night, so a review will go up later on when I've had a chance to write it. Really enjoyed it - a nice study of the interplay between 3 generations of women in the same family.

1. Favourite main meal ~ Balsamic pork with caramelised apples 2. Favourite starter ~ Chickpea & chorizo soup 3. Favourite dessert ~ Apple pie or apple & rhubarb crumble - I can't decide which! 4. Favourite pizza topping ~ Pineapple, peppers & pepperoni 5. Favourite bread ~ Ciabatta 6. Favourite vegetable ~ Butternut squash 7. Favourite fruit ~ Raspberries 8. Favourite cheese ~ A good, strong, extra mature cheddar 9. Favourite takeaway ~ Indian 10. Favourite chocolate bar ~ Kinder chocolate bars 11. Favourite sandwich ~ Spreadable Davidstowe cheddar & pastrami on an onion bagel

My fave ones that I've been in: The Merry Widow Grease Jack (a comedy musical about jack the Ripper - it's a scream!) Stepping Out My fave ones that I haven't been in: Phantom of the Opera Gypsy (I only worked backstage on that one, but it was a lot of fun!) The Rocky Horror Show Chicago (I'd KILL to be in that one, but NOT as Roxy!)

It's kind of compelling, isn't it? Some of the scenes feel almost wince-worthy, but you still can't look away...

You didn't really force it on me, Jake - LOL! It was funny, because you gave it to me & I wasn't all that bothered, but then you mentioned a little about it & it sounded interestnig. Anyway, I'm glad I took it now coz I really enjoyed it.

Feeling a little off colour today, so I'm off for an early soak in the bath with some lavendar oils & a nice cup of tea while I read some more. I reckon I'll be finished Handbook at some point tomorrow. Rather enjoying the interplay of relationships & the development between them all. Nicely written so far...

Isn't there, though? It has a very strange, other-worldly quality to it which is quite disconcerting. I think it may be an acquired taste, that book, but it's worth perservering with it, even if, like me, you don't quite get the point of it in the end.

I've never read it but one of my most bookish buddies has been struggling with it for about a year now. I don't think she's finished it yet. I know it's one of her ambitions to do so, but I don't think she's enjoying it vey much to tell the truth.

I keep most of mine as I like ot be able to go back & reread them. Many are gifts too, so I feel like it'd be a bit of a slap in the face to pass them on (unless I really didn't enjoy them - LOL!). Occasoinally I have a clearout to make room for new books & in the past they either got sold or sent to a charity shop. Recently, though, I've gotten into swapping, so I'm not really clearing much space, but still getting new books - LOL! Still, it's a great way to try out new authors without having to hand over loads of cash.