Janet

Dearest frankie. If you notice that I've stopped following your topic, please do not be upset! It's only because I always look at it anyway, but because you're so (rightly) popular, I can't cope with the sheer number of email notifications I get. I do hope you don't mind - the last thing I want to do is offend you. ETA: Scrub that - I'm a big girl - I'll cope! I have a rather gross image of people licking dead flies now!

Whoops - Kindles have a lot to answer for! Thanks. I've never read it, and in fact, I don't actually know what it's about - but it's one of those books I feel I should have read!

I've gone a bit mad over the last week or so and downloaded the following to my Kindle - all free! Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge Lady Audley's Secret by M E Braddon The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde Avenging Annabelle by Mandy White The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Born on the Graig by Colin Cronow A Child al Confino by Eric Lamet Home Life of the Lancashire Factory Folk during the Cotton Famine by Edwin Waugh The Book of Household Management by Mrs Beaton Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Travels in England in 1782 by Karl Philipp Moritz Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H Parker Scenes from a Clerical Life by George Eliot

Goodo - hope you enjoy it when you get to it. I don't think I've come across anyone who has read Rebecca and not enjoyed it either. The only other of hers I've read is Rule Britannia - I think that might have been her last published book? It was nothing like Rebecca though! Hurrah for finding Down and Out... And quite right about Mr Alexistar - educate him from the start and you shouldn't have too many problems with him!

I'm still resisting... I've just started The Girl with the Glass Feet by Ali Shaw, which Michelle gave me for Christmas. I'm not very far in yet but I think I'm going to like it. I like the writing style.

I'm sure I will, frankie!

My Mum has always been a big reader (my Dad was too). I'd like to say that's where I get it from, but my kids just aren't into reading so I'm not sure that it is hereditary!

I've never read Roald Dahl, although I have a couple of them on my 'to read' pile (actually, I don't think they're on my 'to read' list in my blog...) - it's Quentin Blake who I love!

I think this is the first time I've visited your 2012 blog this year. I am in awe of the number of books you've read. Mostly they're not the kind of thing I read, and I'm not mad about getting into series, but I do very much like the look of the Chris Priestley books (I've got 'Tales of Terror' on my Wish List following a recommendation from you ages ago).Happy reading in 2012 - at this rate you'll have read about 200 books by the end of the year!

Definite heresy! I've been know to buy a book just because of the Quentin Blake illustrations! I bought a gift pack of stamps recently as his Dahl drawings were featured!

I finished A Rose for Winter by Laurie Lee today. This book is about a trip round Spain that he made with his wife, known in this book as Kati, although she's also known as Kathy and Cathy in other writing! It is about a trip he made 15 years after the one he wrote about in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, (although it was published before this). It's the third of his non-fiction books that I've read, having also read the classic Cider with Rosie as well as the one mentioned above. This was just as enjoyable as the other two. His writing is simply perfect and (as one would expect) so poetical. I can't wait to read some more of his works, including some of his poetry. I loved it!

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Cutting for Stone - it's on my 'World Challenge' list as the author was born in Ethiopia. I might see if my library has it.

They're the same book, Julie. It was renamed The House at Tyneford for the US market, so don't buy both. I'd forgotten this fact when I linked the one with the UK title. I have this on my Amazon wish list, although as I haven't read it I can't recommend it, but it sounds great.

I love your blog - it's so wonderfully organised. I'm trying to remember whose Mum it was who wasn't a big reader until recently - was that your Mum? Sounds like the pair of you are very alike! Happy reading (and buying) 2012, Kylie.

Thanks, frankie. I love lists! Hehe - I'm not reading any dangerous books, so that's okay! We have a strange system in the UK where U = Universal (suitable for all), 12A means you can go in under 12 if you have an adult with you, 12 means you have to be 12 and can't go in under that age even with an adult, and then 15 and 18 for those respective ages. Oh, and PG, which is parental guidance! I don't think I've come across an R Rating here though. I think everyone I have mentioned the Broadmoor Revealed book to has gone on to enjoy it. Some more than others, of course, but I haven't heard a negative review yet. Gift credits would be good, although I'd feel a bit of a cheat seeing as I haven't actually paid for a Kindle book yet! I don't know what it is about it, but it just feels so lovely! I want to touch it - but never to lick it - that's a step too far for me! I'm sure it doesn't count! Tell you what - you have the cabbage and I'll have the crisps! I really must bump this up my reading pile! I'm so torn between reading the hard copy I already have and reading it on the Kindle, but the Kindle edition costs... albeit only 77p. It just seems wrong to pay for something I already have!

Thanks, Kylie. It's evolved as I've taken on challenges or read questions posted here (like the one about whether people read more male or female authors - I can't remember if I ever answered that though after working it out! ). I won't be worn down, I won't, I won't. Well, I'll try not to be, anyway! It certainly helps me to remember if I've already bought a book. Before I started recording my purchases I nearly bought a copy of Black Swan Green. I can't remember why I didn't in the end, but I found a copy in the bottom of a shopping bag about 6 months later that I'd forgotten I'd bought! You two make me laugh so much!

It was very lacklustre and I didn't find the main actors convincing in their roles. What a disappointment.

Oh dear - but I'm trying to reduce my 'to read' pile!

I certainly think that if all of us on here stopped then there would be a big impact. I can just see the charities head office staff scratching their heads and wondering why their sales figures have dipped! Thanks! I started keeping Excel spreadsheets a few years ago and they've evolved as I think of new categories to add! I have several, but my main ones are (they look marginally clearer if you click on them) 'Books Acquired (x Year)': Books Read (x Year): From this year, the same as above but for Kindle books - and also 'Books Acquired 2010 and 2011 and read 2012'! I'm a bit mad...!

I loved the book, but I couldn't get into this. I gave up after about half an hour.

I finished the February Reading Circle book today. I haven't started a new one yet - I'm trying to decide whether to spend 77p on a Kindle book when I a) said I'd only download free books until my 'to read' pile starts reducing and b) have a hard copy on said 'to read' pile. Hmmm.

Yes! Although I'm trying not to go into charity shops at the moment. I'm not sure how long I'll last!

It's not a classic, but you could try The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons. I read it last year and thought it was great.

I've just finished Mistress Masham's Repose by T H White in readiness for the February reading circle. I hope we find enough to talk about for a month!

Thanks, frankie. Although I had all those details on a couple of spreadsheets it took me a while to assemble them! I buy the majority of my books second-hand (or with gift vouchers as presents) and I thought it would be interesting to see how much I spent in a year. It worked out at just over £5 per month, which wasn't bad at all. I'm hoping it'll be less this year with Kindle freebies, library usage and trying to reduce my 'to read' pile.