Janet

Sunday (not Saturday as stated in the original post) 17 January at 7:30pm on More4.

When I saw the headline on the BBC site, that's what I thought they meant because it reads "No sign of cold snap as passengers strip for No Pants Day"!

I'm only on page 29 so it hasn't really got going yet - it's setting the scene - but I'm loving the writing style and I just know I'm going to love it. ETA: Also, it was written/published in the 50s, so fills the non-fiction slot for my decades challenge. This pleases me muchly! 75 (11.1.10 - 10pm) 135 (12.1.10 - 6pm) 263 (13.1.10 - 5.45pm )

Later today I'm going to start A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby. The lovely Noll sent it to me and I can't wait to get stuck in.

Is The Magic Cottage something about a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflict? I think I might have read that, many years ago if so, although it's not my usual sort of thing! ETA: No, it's not that from the blurb. I wonder what I'm thinking of?!

Yes, I've read quite a lot, or have them on my wishlist. Excellent lists, Missy Scarlette.

Thanks, Rob.

I finished A Clergyman's Daughter by George Orwell this afternoon and I really enjoyed it. I've posted my thoughts here.

I am determined to read this within the next few months.

A CLERGYMAN’S DAUGHTER by GEORGE ORWELL A Clergyman’s Daughter by George Orwell The ‘blurb’ Intimidated by her father, the rector of Knype Hill, Dorothy performs her submissive roles of dutiful daughter and bullied housekeeper. Her thoughts are taken up with the costumes she is making for the church school play, by the hopelessness of preaching to the poor and by debts she cannot pay in 1930s Depression England. Suddenly her routine shatters and Dorothy finds herself down and out in London. She is wearing silk stockings, has money in her pocket and cannot remember her name. Orwell leads us through a landscape of unemployment, poverty and hunger, where Dorothy's faith is challenged by a social reality that changes her life. This is the second of Orwell’s works of fiction and is another of his social commentary novels. According to the notes in the front of the book (which I read after I’d finished reading) Orwell disliked this novel immensely and called it “a silly potboiler”. In 1945, ten years after it was written, he said that it should never be reprinted, but eventually allowed that it could be reprinted after his death in order that it “might bring a few pounds” for his heirs! He considered it an experimental novel and Written in 1935, two years after the non-fiction Down and Out in Paris and London, the story draws from personal experience and is obviously the result of meticulous research. Na

15/233 = 6.43% Added The UK (Univerze ) A Christmas Carol by Dickens, and Japan - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (thanks to Sinrob for reminding me that I've read it!).

I've been holding fire before commenting so you could list all the countries. If this post is in the way let one of us know and we can insert a post for you above. LOL @ your thread title - mine's going to be by snail too! And you've just reminded me that I haven't added Japan - same book as you - so thanks!

Welcome, Paula. I think I know the sort you mean - and I bought a Bagpuss one in a charity shop that goes over the tops of the pages and is magnetic ages ago - I wonder where it's gone?! I also take a book everywhere I go.

The reason I don't often re-read is because I struggle to read the ones I haven't read, so it feels wrong reading something I've already read!

I can only think of three series I've done. The Harry Potter books, which are obviously fairly recent - and the Wycliffe detective novels by W J Burley and the Pargeter books by Simon Brett - both of which I finished in the early 2000s (apart from one Wycliffe book that I've been saving because the author sadly died. I'm definitely going to finish The Millennium series by Stieg Larsson though!

I ought to try a Robert Goddard, I guess, since my Mum loves his writing and she and I have quite similar tastes. Is this a new one? If so, I'll have to tell her about it - although knowing her, she already has it!

I got it this morning in Tesco for

I'd also like to reduce my 'to read' pile, but it isn't going to happen because I've already bought 4 new books this year and it's only 9th January!

Glad to have helped and shared the list/spreadsheet love!.

Ooh yes - I've just looked at the contents list on Google books and it contains lots of potentially difficult countries. As you say, could prove useful! Thanks.

No problem - here it is! http://www.sendspace.com/file/4yh9qo

The Labyrinth thread is still open for further discussion here I expect there are many members who've read it since it was last posted in.

I hope you enjoy The Heretic's Daughter as much as I did.

I'd be worried about the responsibility of recommending it as much as I have if so many other members hadn't said the same thing!