Janet

If anyone likes Operetta, Leonard Bernstein wrote a musical version of Candide - and it's absolutely marvellous! The music is simply gorgeous! This is just one track... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPClzIsYxvA&feature=related

I read The Fantastic Mr Fox this morning in the bath after I'd finished my chores! I preferred this to The Twits (although I liked that too). 3/22

Thanks - I must catch up with all my reviews!! Better late than never!!

Getting closer... 1911 non-fiction - The Cruise of the Snark - Jack London - 4/10 34 books read = 94.44% 34 books read 2 to go

Me too!

I think the notes were what most people didn't like about it. I think it's one the 1001 too.

How are you getting on with this, Alex? I seem to remember a lot of people on here didn't get on with it, but I hope you're enjoying it and that it'll kick-start your mojo.

I usually read a few WBD Quick Reads but I haven't seen any this year! I must go and look and see what the titles are - and when it actually is - I think it's Thursday 1st? ETA: Oh my, I think I need new glasses - I was looking at the titles the children can get with their book tokens and I thought the Dahl book said Fantabulous Farts instead of Fantabulous Facts!

Me neither - roll on Thursday!

I read a Mills & Boon - as a challenge on another forum. Oh my, what rubbish. Conversely, I finished Pied Piper this evening. I've wanted to read this for years but not got round to it (it was on my parent's bookcase long before I married and I borrowed that very version from my Mum for this challenge). I don't want to say to much, but what I will say is WOW!

I've just finished March's Reading Circle book Pied Piper by Nevil Shute. Loved it!

Book #2 of 2012 Collection of Ghost Stories by Robertson Davies The ‘blurb’ A ghostly gathering from a master of invention. As Robertson Davies notes in his introduction to this collection of charming stories, we all need ghosts “as a dietary supplement… to stave off that most dreadful of modern ailments, the Rational Rickets.” In one tale, Mr Davies introduces the ghost of Henrik Ibsen; in another, he brings us face to face with a bust of Charles Dickens, whose “scarlet lips… parted in a terrible smile” and whose “beard stirred in a hiccup of repletion.” Sixteen other apparitions manifest themselves, each rendered with Robertson Davies’ special touch – a bit of parody, a touch of true scariness – and all emanating from high spirits. Canadian author, Robertson Davies was the founding Master of Massey College, and this book is made up of short stories which he wrote to be read out at the College’s annual Christmas celebration. The book was chosen as one for my Book Club. Whilst I really didn’t think much of the book, it did actually make for some good discussion over dinner, so that was good! Some of the stories were clever but some where just downright bizarre. I’m sure that if I were present at each dinner I would eagerly look forward to each telling, but as a book I found them rather dull and a bit of a struggle to get through as I didn’t’ feel like picking the book up! A selection of my thoughts in abridged form under the spoiler

Thanks - I certainly will! I found Esio Trot for 20p in a charity shop today (actually, two copies in the same shop - so I bought one for my niece who is also collecting them!). Hi bree. Welcome to BCF. Of course you can join in. Just start your own thread in here and list how you get on. Anything goes really, so I'm not going to read them in any particular order - just whichever takes my fancy. I have quite a few on my 'to read' pile, and am looking out for the rest in charity shops - or the library. With other challenges I've done, I tend to post my reviews in my 'reading log' in the main section (that this forum is a sub-forum of) but I might post the Roald Dahl ones in this specific thread.

Oh my goodness – it is contagious! I shall run it by her and let you know what she says! I’m guessing it will be no! Thanks – I will let you know when I eventually get round to it – but don’t hold your breath! It was my ‘real life’ Book Club’s February choice. I’ve put the sequel on my Kindle so shall read that fairly soon – it was good fun! No idea about the quoting – how odd!

I’m glad it hasn’t put you off! I shall be interested to know what you think of GT – and whether it makes any difference to your opinion of this book (although somehow I doubt it will!). It would be interesting to read a rewrite of this in a contemporary setting – perhaps Terry Pratchett or Anne Fine could do it, seeing as this is a favourite of them both!

Do you have a Kindle? It’s free to download if you do. Or it’s possibly available as a free eBook from Librivox if you like listening to books. I can’t see any of today’s children enjoying it either! It’s a shame she didn’t enjoy it, but I’m not surprised really! As I’ve already said, for me it didn’t live up to books I loved when I was a child – and I can’t see it comparing favourably with today’s exciting books for children! I find that too – I’m so behind with my reviews, which is a pity as I’ll struggle to remember what I was going to say. Thanks for your replies.

I’m glad you got them sorted! I love most fish, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried herrings (apart from once accidentally trying soused herring, not realising ‘soused’ meant they would be in vinegar – yuk) - and I’ve never tried bloaters! I haven’t read Bridge to Terabithia. Did you see the film? I wonder how it compares to the book?. I saw the trailer for it when it came out and thought it looked quite exciting, but have never got round to watching it. Tom’s Midnight Garden is great – you must try to get hold of it! I thought the stuff about David Garnett was interesting too – and I agree with you about the spoiler – very disturbing!

I would struggle too - and I've got a... healthy appetite! I must admit I didn't even look at what the book was about - once I'd seen the number of pages I quickly shut the page and ran away!

Thanks, frankie.

Thanks. I only found out about The Gremlins a few weeks ago when I was reading about Roald Dahl on Wikipedia Thanks, Ben. Despite my new year's resolution, I'm woefully behind with my reviews. I need to catch up before I forget what happened in all the books! Thanks for reminding me about her - she's back!

I just found it! Luke told me that the bookcase in his room (which used to be his sister's room and bookcase) still had loads of old books on it - I just went to have a look to see what kind of books and there are loads from when they were little, and in amongst them was Gobbolino The Witch's Cat - I'm so pleased!

Obi is simply adorable!