Kell

W... W... W... Wednesdays * What are you currently reading? * What did you recently finish reading? * What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading? Elizabeth Chadwick – Shadows and Strongholds I’ve not read much in the way of medieval historical fiction, but this has been languishing on Mount TBR for several years now and it’s about time I gave it a try! What did you recently finish reading? Julia Golding – Black Heart of Jamaica (Cat Royal 5) - 3/5 Not quite as good as the last one. Once again we’re looking at slavery, but this time Cat experiences first hand how slaves are treated. There’s a smattering of piracy included, so a second sea voyage (however brief), but I would have preferred more of that to explore something a little different. Still good though! Kevin Brookes – iBoy - 4/5 Young adult urban sci-fi thriller with a great concept. Fascinating study on moral right versus revenge and the responsibility of those who have power (a la Spiderman etc). Believable characters coupled with hard-hitting themes which are deftly handled. I’ll be looking out for this author in future! YS Lee – A Spy in the House (The Agency 1) - 3/5 First in a series of young adult historical detective/mystery novels. Packed with intrigue and it doesn’t dumb down for the teen audience either. Definitely worth pursuing further. Steven Preece – Wasted Resource (FOR REVIEW) - 2/5 Full review HERE. Lauren Kate – Fallen (Fallen 1) - 3/5 First in a young adult urban fantasy series. Interesting characters and concept although nearer the end it started to jump around a fair bit which meant I marked it down a little when I finished it. I’ll be reading the other books too though. Michael Cordy – The Colour of Death – ABANDONDED I just couldn’t read this one because it’s written in the present tense. It doesn’t matter how good a story is, if it’s written in the present tense, I just can’t get on with it. It hurts my head too much. So, sadly, I shall be unable to read this novel, which is the last one I was sent from the Transworld Book Group. Such a shame, because the other three were all great reads. What do you think you’ll read next? I have absolutely no idea what I’ll read next. It really depends on what takes my fancy. It will be my birthday on Monday, so I’ll definitely be buying a few books then. Most likely one or more of the following: Kelley Armstrong – Spellbound (WotOW 12) Brian Michael Bendis – Richard Castle’s Deadly Storm (graphic novel) Richard Castle – Heat Rises (Nikki Heat 3) Philippa Gregory – The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins’ War 3) Terry Pratchett – Snuff (Discworld 39) I’ll also most likely visit the library some time next week and pick out a few more titles there…

Mine's Moss Andrew - LOL!

Many authors who write in different genres have different pseudonyms to publish them. For example, if I were usually writing erotica, I would definitely want to use a different name if I were then to write a children's book as I wouldn't want the two crossing over! I actually used to use a pseudonym for my Pagan articles, but later dropped it and used my own name when they were republished. I do, however, have a name I would use if I were ever to publish a novel, and it's not my own name - LOL!

I struggled with the book too and have only watched teh Reece Witherspoon version but I really enjoyed that film and it's given me the hope that one day I'll return to the bok and give it anothe try.

I think you've misread the question - LOL!

See, that's where we differ hugely - I think the Addams family are actually the perfect family - I even wrote a blog entry about it (see it HERE). They're so loving and accepting of everybody, and they're just so quirky I think I might fit right in.

Well, today I received through the post a brand new hardback copy of The Thread by Victoria Hislop, complete with an info sheet, but no letter. I have no idea who sent it or why because I certainly don't recall requesting it for review or entering a competition to win it (it's not my kind of thing really, although I'm ure I'll give it a go). Nice surprise, but I'm incredibly puzzled about it!

The only one I've read is The Notebook - it was excellent, even though it's not my usual kind of thing to read.

That's a shame, Michelle. I don't know if I'm going to be able to read The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy because of teh present tense stuff, which would be disappointing because the other three books I got were brilliant and I've heard such great things about this one too. I'm serious though - if anyone fancies a swap, please let me know!

My fourth and final book arrived yesterday morning - The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy. Having seen such great reviews of it, I was really looking forward to it, but what all the reviews failed to mention was that it's written in the present tense. I HATE present tense writing - it bugs the hell out of me and I have real difficulty in reading it. In the past I've been completely unable to enjoy books that would otherwise have been wonderful because they were written in this style. When I opened it last night and realised this, my heart sank. I tried reading one page but put it down as I was too tired to really concentrate on sorting out the tense in my head, so I've picked up a different book to read first till I can decide if I can read the Michael Cordy one. Does anyone else have a problem with a certain style of writing (first, second or third person) or tense (past present or future)? And if anyone fancies swapping, let me know!

I certainly can't find even a brief mention of it anywhere online, so I suspect it's a fictional book invented solely for the movie. However, if anyone can find any information on it, I'd certainly be interested in hearing about it!

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

W... W... W... Wednesdays * What are you currently reading? * What did you recently finish reading? * What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading? Simon Scarrow – Young Bloods (Revolution 1) I think I might put this one aside for just now as I find I’m just not in the mood for it. I’m not abandoning it as it’s very good – I will definitely come back to it when I’m in a mood for revolutionary war! Julia Golding – Black Heart of Jamaica (Cat Royal 5) Almost finished this one and loving it. This really is a highly enjoyable series! Kevin Brookes – iBoy Just starting this one from the library. Young adult urban sci-fi thriller. Looks like it could be pretty good! What did you recently finish reading? Steven A Roman – Blood Feud (Saga of Pandora Zwieback vol 1) - 4/5 See my full review HERE. John Boyne – Crippen (Transworld Book Group) - 5/5 See my full review HERE. Stephenie Meyer – The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - 2/5 I wasn’t impressed with the Twilight Saga (or Emo Sparkly Vamps R Us), but the completest in me demanded I read the accompanying novella. It’s no better than the rest of the series. Meyer is no great shakes as a writer and her one concession to originality is making her vampires sparkle in the sun. This novella is readable and blessedly short, but will only really delight those who are her most ardent fans. What do you think you’ll read next? Transworld Book Group Michael Cordy – The Colour of Death From the library: YS Lee – A Spy in the House (The Agency 1) Lauren Kate – Fallen (Fallen 1)

End of October seems to be the date they're aiming for.

Have just discovered a stack of books I want to read - all by the same author: Amanda Grange: Darcy's Diary (2005) Mr Knightly's Diary (2006) Mr Darcy's Diary (2007) Captain Wentworth's Diary (2007) Edmund Bertram's Diary (2007) Colonel Brandon's Diary (2008) Wickham's Diary (2011) Henry Tilney's Diary (2011) Dear Mr Darcy (2012) Can you spot the theme? Yes, they're all told from the point of view of Jane Austen's male characters! I'm especially desperate to read Henry Tilney's Diary, as he's my favourite of Austen's gentlemen; and Wickham's Diary, because I've always loved his villainous and manipulative ways. I read Mr Darcy, Vampyre by the same author a while back and enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to getting hold of these and reading them all!

Title: Crippen Author: John Boyne ISBN: 978-0552777438 Publisher: Black Swan First Published: 2004 No. of pages:504 Rating: 5/5 Synopsis (Amazon): July 1910: a gruesome discovery has been made at 39 Hilldrop Crescent, Camden. Buried in the cellar are the remains of Cora Crippen, former music-hall singer and wife of Dr Hawley Crippen. But Dr Crippen and his mistress Ethel Le Neve have disappeared, and a full-scale hunt for them has begun. Across the Channel in Antwerp, Captain Kendall gives the order for the SS Montrose to begin its two-week voyage to Canada. On board are 1300 passengers, including the overbearing Antonia Drake, the unassuming Martha Hayes and the enigmatic Mathieu Zela. And, slipping in almost unnoticed, a Mr John Robinson with his seventeen-year-old son Edmund … Review: Well, where to start? How about with just one word: WOW! Crippen is quite one of the most gripping crime faction novels I’ve ever read. That’s the short version. You want the long version? OK, here goes… This fictionalised account of a real and infamous crime that gripped the English-speaking world is nothing short of brilliant. The characters are sympathetically drawn, yes, even that of Dr Hawley Crippen himself. Boyne has taken one of Britain’s most notorious and mysterious killers and made him a human being; one with feelings and troubles with which one can readily identify. The relationship he suffers with his overbearing wife, Cora, makes one wish someone would kill her! Despite Dr Crippen being a name synonymous with gruesome and grisly murder, mystery and misconception surrounds both the man and the case, so proceedings are not so straightforward as one might expect. Indeed, Boyne manages to keep things suspenseful to the very end, which came as a huge surprise to this reader! I was completely drawn into the plot and loved the back-and-forth style of storytelling which revealed things little by little, drawing things out in such a way that there was always something unexpected around the corner. Time and again I was delighted by some little twist or turn till the thrilling conclusion which was immensely satisfying. It’s rare that a novel compels me to research a subject further, but this one has had that exact effect. I’m now fascinated by the man and the crime he committed (or did he?), and urge all fans of crime fact and fiction to pick up Crippen as soon as possible. I guarantee you won’t be able to put it don till the last page has been turned.

Just finished Crippen - what a read! A real 5/5 book that one. I'll be re-reading it to pick up on the little bits I might have glossed over. I'll also be doing more research on the man himself. It's rare a novel entices me to do more research on my own like this, but I'm abslutely fascinated. I think this one is going straight into my permanent collection!

I only have about 80 pages left of Crippen and I am LOVING it! Been doing a little research on the man himself and apparently there's good reason to believe he didn't actually kill his wife as was origianlly believed as modern DNA testing on the samples taken from the body parts found buried on his property have turned out to be that of a male, not a female! Of course, we'll never know for sure - al lwe know is that he was hanged for the crime...

I'm sorry, as per the rules I have to close this thread. The rules clearly state: As this is research for a paper, it falls under that ruling.

Ooh, I have The Colour of Death as my last pick, so I'm glad to hear of it benig enjoyed. I started Crippen last night and enjoyed it so much that I've already hit page 157! It's 500 pages long and I think it's going to whizz by as it's just so damned good!

I listened to an audio book of The Three Musketeers read by Michael York (who played D'Artagnan in the 1970s films) and he was marvellous. At one point, I thought the others were reading out their parts as he changed his voice to sound like them too! I also downloaded a free audio book of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow from Librivox read by an American chap listed only as Chip and he was brilliant - and an amateur too! Such a great voice. He also read parts of Fanny Hill and his voice was so lascivious that I actually blushed whilst listening to it at times!