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Janet

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    Janet's *very* long-term Around the World challenge

    in Reading Challenges

    Posted

    I didn't realise it was so long since I last 'read a country' - August! :o

     

    I've just finished Papua New Guinea!

     

    Killer Twist (Ghostwriter Mystery #1) by C A Larmer.  The author was born in Papua New Guinea, but the book is set in Australia.  I'd had it on my 'WC Wish List' on Amazon for a while priced at £1.99 for Kindle - I just happened to check last week and it had changed to being free so I downloaded it.

     

    Review to follow (at some stage) but only a 2/5 from me, I'm afraid.  I didn't hate it, but it wasn't brilliant and I certainly don't feel the need to read any more of the series (which is currently up to 4).

     

    If something else comes up which is actually set in Papua New Guinea then I might consider reading it to get a flavour of the country (I obviously didn't read the 'blurb' as I didn't know it was set in Sydney until I started it). 

     

    For now, 40 countries = 17.17%

     

    worldmap-2013-03Mar25-40countries-PapuaN

    Your Book Activity ~ March 2013

    in General Book Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Janet

    Haha - I'm not old enough to remember it either, but as soon as I read it, off it went in my head! :lol:

     

    The Thirty-Nine Steps is a cracking book.  I really should read some more Buchan.  My Mum recommended Prester John - it was her father's favourite book, I think.  :)

     

    ETA:  I think I know the theme tune to Dick Barton from The Two Ronnies!  I'm pretty certain it was used in a recurring sketch - maybe The Phantom Flan-flinger of Old London Town?!  :lol:

    Michelle's Reading in 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan are both good.

     

    I haven't read Tom Sawyer, but Huckleberry Finn (the character also features in Tom Sawyer) wasn't a particularly easy read due to the use of dialect. 

     

    What about The  Secret Garden / A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett? 

     

    Or Pollyanna by Eleanor H Porter. 

     

    Or Five Children and It / The Phoenix and the Carpet / The Railway Children by E Nesbit.  The Railway Children is one of my favourite children's books.  :)

    Poppyshake's Reading Year 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Kay suffers from ME and is currently going through a bad attack. I spoke to Alan online a while ago and he was hopeful that the spell wouldn't last too long, but they vary in length so it's just a case of her resting and getting better again. I think we all miss her loads - she's such good company. :)

     

    I haven't been feeling well lately :(

    I've had ME since the mid 80's (not diagnosed until the 90's though) and had some bad bouts over the years but have been relatively well for four years or so but have felt myself sliding back into illness again for a couple of weeks now .. I think I spoke too soon because I was only saying how lucky I'd been on that front recently.

    Anyway, I just wanted to write it here, incase you wonder where I am or think that I've run off and joined the circus like I was always planning.

    I feel such a dread in the pit of my stomach but Alan says it might not be as bad as I'm fearing. All I can do now is rest up and hope for the best.

     

    My vision is pretty bad now so reading is out, I hope to still be able to come and read the forum for cheering up purposes. Hope we will be talking about cake again soon xxxxx Big hugs :friends0:

    The above is from her blog. :)

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I'd go for Great Expectations if I were recommending a Dickens book. I wouldn't use the word Flowery for his writing. I'd call him Long-winded . I actually like his writing, probably because I'm pretty long-winded myself ,so I enjoy reading someone's writing who likes to YAK  as much as I do .   :)

     

    This was also Dicken's favorite book. 

     

    I haven't read any Dickens yet myself and am wondering the same thing, which one to start with. I think I'll read Oliver Twist first, it's not too big and I know a bit about the story.

    Thanks ladies.  :)  I'll see how I get on with Oliver Twist and then maybe try Great Expectations later this year.  :)

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I've only read Oliver Twist (but intent to read A Christmas Carol later this year!) but I enjoyed it and wouldn't hesitate to pick up another of his works. The language is - flowery - I think my exact comment was Dickens overuses the comma and semi colon and underuses the full stop!

     

    But I found it a good yarn and definitely accessible. I've acted in the musical and seen the film of said musical but I found I got the most out of it when it deviated from that familiar story (the character and plot additions are excellent IMO!).

    Thanks, Alex. :) I've seen the musical, of course, and the more recent film version so that's probably a good idea.   I've just downloaded it to my Kindle. :)

     

    Only when there's a full moon, surely? :hide:

    <<<<Whoosh>>>>  I haven't seen the film, so that's the sound of your comment going over my head, I'm afraid!  :blush:

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Get well soon Janet!

    I missed this earlier.   Thanks, Devi.  :)

     

    I downloaded Mrs Dalloway to my Kindle earlier.  I haven't voted for it in the RC as I'm a bit intimidated by the thought of Virginia Woolf. I guess I'm a bit afraid of her!  :giggle2:

     

    I'm thinking that I should soon embark on a Charles Dickens.   The trouble is that I feel rather intimidated by them too - not only for their length, but also because of the language which I gather is rather flowery.  I've read A Christmas Carol dozens of times, but that's it, and it's only short.

     

    Those of you who've read Dickens... what would you recommend as a good starting point?  Which of his books is (in your opinion) the most accessible?   :) 

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I finished The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson this morning.  I wanted to love this (especially as Kay was kind enough to send it to me for Christmas) but I'm afraid I just didn't.  :( 

     

    I read it in a couple of days (which is good for me) but that's mainly due to me being poorly - I think it would have taken longer to get through in normal circumstances.   :(


    I will try to gather my thoughts as to why but I'm already a few reviews behind.
     

    Alexi's Reading 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted · Edited by Janet

    I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy Chocolat, Alex.  I'm probably one of those who recommended it.  It's been many years since I read it and I don't recall a great deal about it now, apart from the fact I hated the film version of it because of the stupid changes! 

     

    Have you read anything else by Joanne Harris?  If not, has this put you off?  I've read a few others - I enjoyed Five Quarters of the Orange (although again I can't remember much about it now!) and I absolutely loved Gentlemen and Players, which is not set in France unlike most of her others!

     

    I hope you enjoy the Tolstoy. :)   I must admit the thought of reading him scares me a bit.  :hide:

     

    ETA:  I forgot to say that it's funny how things like the situation you detailed above stay with one.  I don't recall seeing/hearing about travellers/gypsies when I was growing up, but I lived near a town with a huge Indian population and was always astounded at the racism I heard - I just wasn't brought up to judge someone by their ethnicity.  

    Your Book Activity ~ March 2013

    in General Book Discussions

    Posted

    I

     

    I've just started The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson which Kay bought me for Christmas. 

    I've managed to avoid reading too many thoughts about this on here.   I have to say that it's not living up to expectations.  :(  I'm 44% of the way through it (being ill is good for my reading pace) but there is something about it...  It still has time to change my opinion, I guess. 

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