Janet
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Posts posted by Janet
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Today I received two new books in the post - The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago and Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper. I took both of these to Book Club and allowed members to vote for which one to read next - I was just going to give them the former but I know Saramago's writing style is a bit unusual so I thought I'd give them the choice! They did, in fact, go for it though, but I thought I'd order both anyway!
I ordered another book yesterday - The Ruins of Time by Ben Woolfenden - I Googled it after Kidsmum mentioned it and it sounds like my sort of thing. Oh boy - when will I learn to stop buying books?!
I finished The Girl from the Fiction Department: A Portrait of Sonia Orwell by Hilary Spurling this morning. I enjoyed some parts more than others, but overall it was enjoyable. -
Today I received two new books in the post - and I ordered another one yesterday. Oh boy - when will I learn?!
I finished The Girl from the Fiction Department: A Portrait of Sonia Orwell by Hilary Spurling this morning. Not sure what I'm going to read next.
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I'm planning to read many (if not all) of Carr's works too, after loving A Month in the Country!
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I've just ordered The Ruins of Time - it sounds excellent.
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Are you connected with the author at all?
This is McLean's first book. It's a bit pricey for a Kindle book that's only 88 pages long.
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I love your monthly round-ups too.
★ books read : 2 (The Woman in Black, The Black Tower)
Maybe you should avoid books with the word 'Black' in the title?!
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The opening of the film was certainly very creepy!
Thanks to everyone who has taken part in my circle.
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I read Breathing Lessons for my Book Club back in 2008. I can't remember a thing about it.
I've just looked at my review and this is what I said (no spoilers)...
Maggie can’t help interfering with other people’s lives and, whilst well-intended, her meddling doesn’t always lead to the outcome Maggie desired. The novel is both funny and poignantly sad in places meaning that sometimes it feels as though Maggie needs a good talking to and on other occasions you feel like giving her a hug. I don’t want to give anything away, but one episode which takes place at a wake is both cringe-worthy and amusing all at the same time!
This book was the Pulitzer Prize winner of 1989. I haven’t read any of Tyler’s novels before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a character-driven book where nothing much really happens, and yet at the same time it was entertaining, if occasionally slow in places. I’m not sure I’d rush out to buy any more of her books, but if I see any in a charity shop then I might pick another up.
6½/10
I don't know how it compares to other books as I never did get round to picking any more of her books up, but I do remember that one of our members was a huge fan, so hopefully you'll enjoy it.
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I bought some Jane Austen stamps today.
These photos don't do the set justice, but they're very prettyful.Front
Back
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LOL!
I'm glad I added the 'footnotes' as an afterthought. I did think that maybe you wouldn't think of the ovaries, and then you'd wonder what us women have a pair of, and I was worried you would come to the conclusion that I am, in fact, talking about breasts You know, it's just us Crazy Finns!
Well, I know one crazy Finn!
Oh boy
Well, maybe you could take a few months off other reading, you know, recreational reading, and read one book off the list per day. Easy-peasy, right?
Hehe - maybe!
Joking aside, even if I was only 11 and started the challenge (giving me 70 years to complete it) there are books on there that I would have no intention of reading - they'd be left to the end and therefore become my nemesis!
Hey, I tried something just now and it worked. I highlighted everything from the first line except for the first character and clicked backspace, thus leaving the first character and nothing else. Then I clicked backspace on that one, and it was deleted and I still had the box. Make sense? Go ahead and try it, see if it works.
Also, if you manage to get rid of the quote box entirely, don't stress, because you don't have to start from scratch. Just click on the 'arrow to the left' -looking icon on the upper row, the one that says 'undo'. It'll literally undo what've done, one thing at a time. It'll give you the quote box back
Ah, I didn't know about the arrow. I usually right-click to undo stuff on here, but that doesn't work in this situation. I'll have a go next time I quote something - thanks.
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The title's familiar, I must have the book on my wishlist. I bet poppyshake read and reviewed the book on here. If not her, then it must've been Kylie. I'm looking forward to your review
I'm fairly certain it was poppyshake who has read it, although maybe Kylie has too?
I've only read a few more pages today (due to lack of time) but so far it's enjoyable. -
Although that makes me think of gambling. Hm.
'Wanna bet 50 bucks that when she goes into that bookshop, she ain't coming out empty handed?'
Haha - well, if the nickname fits...
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When I think of you I picture you as a little monster (like Cookie Monster) devouring books (like Cookie Monster did cookies!)
A 'Bookie Monster' as opposed to a Cookie Monster!
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Yay, I'm happy you got the better of the new quoting system!
What, do you mean to say you didn't bookmark them?
No, but I expect I can find them in my history!
Oh don't worry, I know exactly what you mean and I agree with your logic.
I just like the phrases because a) I can remember them, b) 'man up' sounds funny (I'm a linguist, after all!) (I mean if you don't think about the feminist connotations) and c) 'grow a pair' is really, really funny Yes, I'm all about toilet humour and body part humour!And besides, women have a pair, too, they are just further up the system and are well hidden and all safe. We are not stupid enough to leave our balls hanging. They might get hurt, you know!
(In case it's unclear, I'm referring to eggs and egg factories and what nots. Can't remember the proper English terms at the mo)
(Edit: I think this makes more sense and is more fun in Finnish, because 'balls' can be called 'eggs' in Finnish.)
Oh haha, that went right over my head - I assumed you were talking about breasts!
I thought it a bit odd!Yay, a surprise tick-off, always pleasant
It's quite depressing - I need to read at least 3 titles each month to stand a chance of getting to the end of the combined lists!
I know, that happens to me, too, and for a while I was at a loss with that! I don't remember when and how, but I can delete the one character, too, at some point, but I don't remember how that happens and how it's possible. Maybe I'll pay closer attention next time and see if there's a pattern, one I could come and share with you.
Thanks! I'm scared to get rid of all the extra blank lines too - I did that in another thread and managed to get rid of the quote box and had to start from scratch - I wasn't best pleased!
Oh, this sounds really nice! There's something about the British (and American) educational system and the teachers and pupils (I said pupils instead of students!) that I find utterly compelling. Especially the boarding schools. This is going on my wishlist. It's a pity it's such a short book, though. I'm also going to keep my eyes open for the Martin Clunes adaptation, too, you made it sound really appealing! But I won't promise I'll start ironing, too
It's rather dated, of course, but it's a good little story - I hope you enjoy it when you get round to it.
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Goodbye, Mr Chips by James Hilton
The ‘blurb’
Full of enthusiasm, young English schoolmaster Mr. Chipping came to teach at Brookfield in 1870. It was a time when dignity and a generosity of spirit still existed, and the dedicated new schoolmaster expressed these beliefs to his rowdy students. Nicknamed Mr. Chips, this gentle and caring man helped shape the lives of generation after generation of boys. He became a legend at Brookfield, as enduring as the institution itself. And sad but grateful faces told the story when the time came for the students at Brookfield to bid their final goodbye to Mr. Chips.
Goodbye, Mr Chips tells the tale of the gentle schoolteacher Mr Chipping – loved by his pupils and a legend in public school Brookfield, which was thought to be based on the public school that Hilton attended in Cambridgeshire. During his tenure at the school, ‘Chips’ proves himself to be a hugely popular teacher and this short novel covers the period of his school life from 1870 until the 1930s.
The 2002 ITV dramatisation with Martin Clunes is one of my favourite DVDs - it's one of my regular 'ironing' films and I don't think I'll ever tire of it! I came across a free Kindle download for it so though it was about time I gave the book a go to see how it compares.
Well, compare isn't the right word! The ITV version has the same elements, of course - most of the same characters appear but the ITV version is very embellished - the time frame, for example is very different - some of the events which take place are pretty insignificant in the book but have been made major points of the dramatisation.
Did it stop me enjoying the book? No - it's a charming tale and I enjoyed it - I liked Hilton's style of writing. In this case, I did prefer the TV version - had I read the book first I might have felt differently! I will continue to watch, and love, the DVD - they just need to be treated as slightly different things!
The paperback is 144 pages long and is published by Coronet. It was first published in 1934. [Read on Kindle]
3½/5
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Yup, they're both free on Kindle!
Enjoy -
Last night I started The Girl from the Fiction Department: A Portrait of Sonia Orwell by Hilary Spurling. I only managed one chapter, and haven't read any more today, but so far so good.
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Maybe you sniff them and use them as spices!
Now, there's a plan...!
I don't think I dare ask
Probably best not to - I'm not about to Google them again!
Hm... How about 'growing balls'?
LOL!
The thing is that I feel that 'man up' or 'grow a pair' suggests that being male is better/stronger (etc) than being female - and whilst I think men are physically stronger, I'm not sure they're mentally stronger! I guess that's a bit silly of me - it's just something about that expression! Well worry not: the book is on the 1001 Books list, so I can divide the blame between you and the 1001 challenge 50-50. Would that make you more comfortable?
Oooh, I hadn't realised it was on the 1001 list - I'm NEVER going to finish the list, but I do enjoy ticking it off!
Yay - the multi-quoting one thread thing worked - thanks.
The weird thing is that if I try to delete the first line of a post, the quote box disappears. I've taken to leaving one character than then colouring it in so that it doesn't show up! -
Hmm - I got those extra boxes when the upgrade first happened but I appear to have forgotten how to make them work! I will have a go now - thanks.
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6. One of the themes of the novel is fear. Did you find the novel creepy – were you scared?Yes. I actually had to stop reading it for a while half way through as something a bit creepy happened to me (a lamp I hadn't switched on was lit, and when I unplugged it it didn't go off!) and the thought of reading the novel afterwards was just too much for me
Oh, no wonder you were freaked out - that's very bizarre! You were very brave to continue, under the circumstances.
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I'm definitely embracing it more (it's only taken me 14 months
) - but mainly for freebies. I've read a few classics recently that I doubt I'd have otherwise read - and I've really enjoyed them. And also it was marvellous on a recent trip away - I finished one book on the London Underground and could start another without having to take two books in my backpack! I can definitely see why they're not for everyone though and there are some books that I will always want in print - it's not a replacement for books - just an alternative when the moment suits. -
I hate when this happens, I always tend to go for the cover that catches my eye so when I get it, and it's not the cover I chose... it annoys me a little. Especially for a series of books.
Oh, that annoys me no end too! Grrr!
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For me, it's the opposite. I don't feel at all stressed by my Kindle to read pile!
Lots and lots of books, and all guilt free (for me!). -
I was going to be good and then I bought 16 Dickens books in one go!
I only count downloads that cost money - I don't count all the freebies - I don't think I can count that high!
Your Book Activity ~ March 2013
in General Book Discussions
Posted
Hehe! It'll never happen! I think the world would implode if it did!