Sarahrob

According to Queeney by Beryl Bainbridge. 5/10.

Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood: 6/10. Beautifully written, but I found it hard to engage with any of the characters or stories.

I have got absolutely loads of books I re-read. Jane Eyre, Rebecca, Northanger Abbey, The Secret History, HP, the North Ship and a big pile of others. If I like a book I will read it a couple of times before I get rid of it.

Of all Austen's books I think Emma is the slowest. There is no change of scenery or society, no new characters, and very little happens. If you look at the likes of Northanger Abbey, at least the story moves locations and so different characters are introduced. I love Emma - I love the ongoing importance of the most trivial events and the fact that really minor things are of such interest to everyone. I can appreciate that someone who is not such a fan could find it irritatingly claustraphobic - of the very few characters most are intentionally annoying!

Meridon by Philippa Gregory - 9/10 The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne - 6/10

Vanessa, I'm really envious as I wish I could go back and read his books for the first time again (if that makes sense?)!

The Favoured Child by Philippa Gregory - 8/10. Not as good as Wideacre, but still a good read.

I liked the lost art of keeping secrets, it wasn't too taxing, but was nice, light, summer reading.

It was better than I thought it would be, but still quite light - nothing to really sink your teeth into.

Blimey - sure I'm missing a few books... Gardens of Delight b Erica James - 7/10. Obvious in places, surprisingly touching in others.

I've also started rereading (but once I start I can't stop - I was nearly late for work this morning!). I forgot how claustraphobic Emma can feel. In other Austen books at least the characters travel around, so there is a change of scene and society. In Emma the story doesn't move outside the village, so it does feel very confined. I love the pettiness of everyday life; the fact that a letter can still be talked about months after it was received, with nothing much else going on to distract people.

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot: 6/10. Nice, but obvious.

I'm not a big fan of caviar. Plebeian and proud of it, that's me!

Wiki Definition Hope that helps!

I like Emma. She is completely condescending, meddling in other people's lives as though they are her personal playthings, but you can't help feeling she does it because she honestly thinks she is making things better. She is presumptious, but not malicious - just thoughtless as a consequence of never having any restraint placed on her.

I can understand why Kell - it's fabbo. If you want to lend my copy I'm happy to send it you.

I've just finished Wideacre and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. A bit (bit? ) twisted, but fantastic.

I liked the Constant Princess, but Wideacre was just incredible. I always pitied Victorian women because of their lack of property and the ownership issues in marriage, but this really brought it home. Even at the end where Beatrice is frankly detestable, you can't help but pity the lengths she'd had to go to just to achieve some security. As I said - Wowee!

Wideacre by Philippa Gregory: 10/10. Wowee - what a great story!

No Muggle not, they're the pig's feet. It was odd when they came out stood up - it looked as though they'd just cut the pig off at the knees. My nan used to terrify me by hiding pigs' heads round her house. She used to use the meat off them to make brawn, but she liked to traumatise me first. Is it any wonder I've grown up twisted?

Maybe Harry will die in the act of killing Voldemort. Voldemort's got to go, no two ways about it. I'd quite like Percy to go as well.

I read this book a while ago and had a similar reaction. There were parts of the book which I adored. I loved the bit where Eddie realises his aches and pains have gone and he runs for the sheer joy of being able to run again.

We were in Germany once and couldn't figure out what one of the dishes was. I decided to order it and see. Turned out to be pig's trotters, stood up on a bed of sauerkraut which was dyed green to look like grass. They were tastier than you'd think... :eat:

Completely Unexpected Tales by Roald Dahl: 7/10.

I did name my famous half lamb Sheepy McSheep (not very original I'm afraid). Whenever anyone asked what I was having for tea I'd just tell them Sheepy was treating me. It wore thin very quickly...