Janet

I've been meaning to try Maconie for years - and this review has made me more determined. Although I'm not supposed to be buying any more books this year, I think I will have to get one. I had an Amazon voucher for Christmas so this might be something good to spend it on. Thanks for the review.

I'm *so* sorry - I've only just seen these replies! Thanks - I hope you enjoy it. His books on poverty - both fiction and non-fiction - have been my favourites. He just understood it so well. I would love to go and visit his square! Barcelona is on my 'to do' list, so maybe one day. I'd have loved to have met him too.

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to change the % bar to page numbers?

I bought this one (other colours available) - it's just perfect! someone recommended this, but it didn't look as securely fitted so I went for the first one - it's perfect, and despite not being leather it looks just like it is!

I believe the cut-off point is generally considered to be WW1.

Great idea! The only books I've downloaded to my Kindle thus far have been freebies! I shall be watching with interest.

Those book cases were a great find, VF!

Thanks, Chrissy. I'll go and have a try!

Haha - that can happen! I don't think I had a 'to read' pile at all before I signed up! I'm not a football fan as you know, but I remember Enke's tragic death.

How do folders show up on the Kindle? So far I just have three pages of books in the order in which I've clicked on them! Do you do this through the computer?

I have downloaded Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift to my Kindle - I'm going to try to read it before I read Mistress Masham's Repose by T H White.

Haha - I'm not sure about that, Noll! I've downloaded quite a few but I've only read one so far! This afternoon I finished High Spirits - A Collection of Ghost Stories by Robertson Davies - possibly the dullest book I have ever read! ETA: Although on reflection, and having been to Book Club and discussed the stories, I find that there were some I enjoyed. I think that it's just it took me quite some time to read it for what is a short book! Some were quite clever and the author was obviously very interested in history. Still, I don't think I'll be reading anything else by this author!

The only one I've read so far is (free on Amazon UK): Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum by Mark Stevens - 5/5 Heartily recommended to anyone who enjoys social history - it was fascinating.

A couple of people on another forum downloaded it after I mentioned reading it and they've all enjoyed it too. Great stuff.

I've been building that list up a long time. Every so often I spend time on Fantastic Fiction looking at the countries (like Diane mentioned doing on the last page) and then Wikipedia to check country of birth, and then Amazon to see what the author has written. It is getting harder but I've read a few good countries that I know I wouldn't have read otherwise. I think the one from Botswana is one of my favourites of the non-mainstream countries I've read in this challenge. I'm not intending to purchase them - hopefully I'll be able to get them from the library. ETA: I was wondering about Akrotiri which is on the list. It's an area of Cyprus classed as a Sovereign Base Area of a British Overseas Territory. The only thing I've come up with so far is Fender: The Golden Age by Martin Kelly! It might have to do though...

I'm not sure if you're "open for business" yet, so I can delete this if not, but I just wanted to say that I read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry last year and thought it was fabulous! My Mum is a big Rosie Thomas fan, so I hope you enjoy that. I read Sunrise by her donkey's years ago and enjoyed it. I've been meaning to re-read it (although it's not the sort of book I tend to read these days) but I'm loathe to re-read much with such a large 'to read' pile! Anyway, good luck. I just thought I'd mention too that the link in your signature takes me to my own page on Book Crossing, not yours?

Oooooh!

I think there is a sequel to this (or one planned)? I just downloaded another freebie - Resting In the Bosom Of the Lamb by Augusta Trobaugh. It sounds a little like The Help by Katherine Stockett which I thoroughly enjoyed last year. No UK reviews but it has three 5* reviews on Amazon US.

Thanks so much, guys - I will amend my list accordingly.

Freebies ftw, Noll! Michelle very kindly sent me her copy of Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper after I mentioned having it on my Amazon wish list. I see that I have another of hers on my wish list too, so I'm looking forward to trying this one. I'm really struggling with my current read and would have given up if it wasn't for Book Club (tomorrow night! ). I have six short stories in it left (about 70 pages) but I'm reading just one (or two at a push) of the stories at a time as it's just not doing it for me. I can't wait to get to the end of it!

These are the films I've seen from your lists, Kell. I think you should try a few musicals in your education! The Sound of Music (really!) Grease (definitely if you already haven't - but definitely not Grease 2!) For starters!

Michelle very kindly sent me Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper after I mentioned that it was on my Amazon wish List. I downloaded another Kindle book yesterday -The Golden Acorn: The Adventures of Jack Brenin by Catherine Cooper. I know nothing about it (except it's a YA book) but it was free so I thought why not?!

From what I've seen, it's not very celebrity this year - I've hardly heard of any of them! It's just not the same without Jason.

If I'm counting correctly you read 20 in 2011? How many are you aiming for this year?

Yes, teal is exactly what I'd call it! We've just tidied our study. I've seen bits of carpet I haven't seen for years! We had so much paperwork and Peter had four guitars and a full-sized keyboard crammed in here. We had a blitz this week and it's so satisfying looking at our lovely tidy room - and my lovely tidy desk which has all this brown coloured stuff on it that I haven't seen for ages! We made 5 trips to the recycling centre! You're obviously a very creative family. Your childhood home sounds amazing, especially the crocodile! It is hard watching someone you love deteriorate. My Dad had Parkinson's disease and it was horrible to watch him go downhill. He was a very clever man and his brain was as sharp as anything right up to the end of his life, but it was awful watching him trying to do simple things like get up out of his chair. Towards the end of his life he fell over such a lot and found it impossible to stand without crawling to a chair to pull himself up. You are right - they're the same people inside but it is hard watching someone you love struggling.