Angel

Inanna wrote I really enjoyed these books, Philippa is able to 'capture' the very essence of these times and the social reforms / fear of the times. I think Hannah the Fool was particularly cleverly written - one not to miss!

Michelle wrote One can't even begin to even imagine the fear and terror that child has felt. The ramifications of this will affect the rest of her years, even if she does ever eventually reconcile in her head what has happened. My heart really goes out to her and her family In my job, I have come across incidents of child abuse and nothing ever prepares you for it or clears it out of your head. I haven't read A Child called It, but I know just how it must read. One can't help thinking if only some-one had picked up on the clues sooner..............

Maureen wrote Great to hear Maureen I love a wide variety of authors and so keeps me open to ideas and styles

Kell He is very much like James Herbett and Stephen King. When I was in my teens I always thought that his books were just as good

Tash wrote I started to read these when I was just 11 starting with the Road to Fothergay - and I have never given up on her!! I have loads of her books and love rereading them several times

Tash wrote I love her books as well. I always pre-order her books way before they come out. Just awaiting her latest 'The Constant Princess' - my husband forgot that I wanted for Christmas!

I used to love John Saul as a teenager - I do remember Nathaniel and Suffer the Children. I' ll have to look out for him I also vaguely remember Mary Higgins-Clark - if I remember hers were very good as well - anyone else remember her?

Ooh Andy - that sounds like fun. I love a nice curry, wine for me and Bangla beer for my husband.............luverly

I was a little perturbed by the ending - but I think that there was no choice! Afterall what else what would have Anna have done? I enjoyed the Pact and I must admit it is a scary thought what could happen as the kids race towards their teenage years - as a parent it makes you think!!

I keep checking the post - I can't wait to get my hands on it!

2nd book sounds that it is quite good though - it's great to find a book that really makes you laugh

Andy wrote I'd have claimed it were the red wine or still recovering from New Year. LOL!!

Variety is the spice of life!! Still don't fancy sci-fi or fantasy!

Read so far this year:- Peter Tremayne - The Leper's Bell Kate Long- The Bad Mothers Handbook Philippa Gregory - The Constant Princess Philippa Gregory - Wideacre Philippa Gregory - The Favoured Child Ian Rankin - Dead Souls Rosamunde Pilcher - The Shell Seekers Jodi Picoult - Salem Falls Jodi Picoult - Keeping Faith Jodi Picoult - Perfect Match Jodi Picoult - The Tenth Circle Philippa Gregory - A Respectable Trade Rowan Coleman - The Accidental Mother Dan Brown- The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown - Angels and Demons Nicholas Evans - The Divide Ruth Rendall - End in Tears Tracy Chevalier - The Lady and the Unicorn Kate Mosse - Labyrinth Mary Higgins Clark - No Place Like Home Richard Montanari - The Rosary Girls Daphne Du Maurier - Jamaica Inn Jeanne Kalogridis - The Borgia Bride Jean Plaidy - in The Shadow of the Crown Tracy Chevalier - Girl With a Pearl Earring Dianna Appleyard - Playing with Fire Candace Robb - The Nun's Tale Cecelia Ahern - Where Rainbows End Katie Fforde - Flora's Lot Catherine Alliott - The Wedding Day Joanne Harris - Gentlemen and Players Mary Higgins Clark - Night-time is My Time Lee Jackson - The Last Pleasure Garden Wendy Holden The Wives of Bath Adele Parks -Playing Away Maeve Binchy -Tara Road Cathy Kelly - Never Too Late Erica James - Gardens of Delight Guillermo Martinez - The Oxford Murders Patricia Finney - Unicorn's Blood Jill Mansell - Making Your Mind Up Catherine Alliott - Not That Kind of Girl Katy Fowler - The Jane Austen Book Club Kate Long - Swallowing Grandma Maeve Binchy - the Copper Beech Victoria Hislop - The Island Katie Fforde - Stately Pursuits Thomas Hardy - Desperate Remedies Kate Ellis - The Devil's Priest Katie Fforde - Paradise Fields Catherine Alliott - Olivia's Luck Kathy Reichs - Cross Bones Kathy Reichs - Monday Mourning Marian Keyes -The Other Side of the Story The Baby Trail - Sinead Moriaty Philippa Gregory - The Boleyn Inheritance Anne Perry - Dark Assassin Dorothy Koomson - My Best Friends Girl C. J. Sansom - Sovereign Jodi Picoult - Mercy Sophie Kinsella - The Undomestic Goddess E. V Thompson - The Vagrant King On the shelf waiting to be read:- Brian Lynch - The Winner of Sorrow Susan Howatch - Penmarric Philippa Gregory - Meridion Victoria Holt - The Shimmering Sands Brian Lynch - The Winner of Sorrow Ellis Peters - The Knocker on Deaths Door Ian Rankin - Set in Darkness Ian Rankin - The Falls Philippa Gregory - Earthly Joys Philippa Gregory - Virgin Earth Joanne Harris - Chocolat Katherine McMahon - The Alchemist's Daughter Jane Austen - Emma Jane Austen - Mansfield Park Jane Austen Persuasion John Banville - The Sea Peter Tremayne -Master of Souls Jane Harris - The Observations Emma Blair - Goodnight Sweet Prince Emma Blair - Wild Strawberries Barbara Taylor- Bradford - A Woman of Substance Barbara Taylor Bradford - Hold the Dream Barbara Taylor Bradford - To be the Best Christie Dickason - The Firemaster's Mistress Jim Lynch - The Highest Tide Anya Seton - The Winthrop Woman Ruth Rendell - The Waters Lovely Maeve Binchy - Quentins Ian Rankin - Hide and Seek Marcia Willett - The Dipper From the library P. D. James - A Sight for Sore Eyes Melanie Gifford - The Gallows Girl

I don't mind the pizza, pie and burgers and he is improving, but he will only eat alphabites, and smiles, won't look at any form of potatoes in 'their' original form or meat. We do heap praise on him when we get another break through - but I do so hate the processed food! Funniest thing tho after following this thread is that he's just eaten his first homemade mincepie (I never buy shop ones). Just shows...........!! Always prove you wrong don't they LOL

Thats only the start of it - the basics - I've only just got him onto basic salad, carrots and peas this year. Wont try any other veg, sauces, roast potatoes, mash, etc. Stout no to pizza (no sneaking other stuff there!) As for other things like pies, casseroles, burgers, etc etc forget it! Main thing is that he is growing, right weight, happy and academically ahead which is all much more important and all I am worried about As a parent you are under pressure due to all the recent publicity about kids diets .

Thanks Andy! I really love these books - I collected the Great Writers series about 18 yrs ago (anyone remember that fortnightly series?) and they've gone everywhere with me since! I think my altime favourite will always be Jane Eyre and anything by Thomas Hardy. Must confess though Charles Dickens is not my favourite despite his genious!

Now that he does like -blue cheese, (daughter won't try!!) He is strange because he will try any fruit, bread, yogurts, and homemade plaice goujons etc - just doesn't try meat, oven chips, and sponge cake. Perhaps he will end up a vegetarian.

I don't know how kids managed before chicken nuggets were invented! In my day, if we didn't like it we went without and went hungry!

In fact, I've occassionally commented that this house is more accommodating than the Ritz with their separate orders!!!

Still trying that approach Andy - my daughter Samantha is now much more adventurous. Thomas does not like any meat other than chicken nuggets and the occassional sausage (under duress!!!), although he's only 7 if we push the issue and he takes a mouthful he will qualify for an acting award! Most mums know the scene - cant swallow, take a drink, start to heave..........all accompanied by the usual I'm not hungry now, my dinner bar's full etc. etc. He wants a sausage and yorkies for Xmas dinner......... Not my favourite subject as you be starting to guess!!

I certainly don't agree with No. 1 - I would have liked to see Jane Eyre a little higher, but it is good to see that the classics are holding their own still. I still have many of these that are mentioned in the BBC ranking on the 'to read shelf'. Have read the following:- 2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen 10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bront

Going to get the wine and rest of booze tomorrow. I've always wanted to try goose, Rick Stein was showing last nite. maybe next year when we've got a bit more money and the kids more adventurous.

Most of the family dislike turkey, so Christmas Day:- Roast Beef Roast Potatoes with garlic and Rosemary Parsnips Carrot Mangetout Yorkies Red wine gravy Christmas pudding and clotted cream Boxing Day :- Lunch - cold buffet Evening meal :- lobster - (lovingly prepared by by my husband John, cos I will have wilted by then!!) :santawave:

Thanks Maureen - I will probably get it for when I next go on holiday as it's a light-weight read.