Janet

City of Thieves has been one of my best reads of 2009 too. I haven't read anything today - I'm too tired. I hope to read a good chunk of Orwell tomorrow though.

No, but I'd like to. I nearly bought it a few weeks back in Waterstones 3 for 2 offer but settled on a different title in the end.

I would be very wary about using a cheque for Ebay purchases just because it contains my name, account number and sort code. Perhaps I'm over cautious though...

Hi Ian. I have never 'met' anyone else who has read Rule Britannia before! I read it many years ago after reading Rebecca (which I love) and enjoyed it - although it's fair to say it's nothing like Rebecca!

Thanks. I've only read a tiny bit so far so I can't wait to get stuck in.

Next up, Coming Up For Air by George Orwell.

I read this book back in May and gave it 9/10. However, for some reason I didn't write down my thoughts - just a synopsis of the story - and I find now that the thread is open but nearly 5 months have passed since I read it, I can remember little about it or my thoughts on it. The fact that I've forgotten so quickly speaks volumes, I think, and I'd probably revise my score down to about 3/5.

Yes, Wikipedia ETA: I've read some from that list which were great (Mister Pip being just one). I'd never consciously choose one because it was one of theirs, but I wouldn't let it put me off if I liked the sound of one either.

Finished The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo today. A lovely story.

No picture discs, sadly, but I have a couple of really pretty blue vinyl records by The Police. (Rather a sad admission but I also have an import of their imaginatively titled 'De do do do de da da da' where one side is sung in Japanese and the other side in Spanish! ).

Thanks hun.

I have just started The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo. I haven't read any of his books before but my daughter loves him (even though some of his books are probably a bit young for her!).

Wow - that is fascinating. We both loved Deliverance Dane's story (I think both of us went on about it so much that everyone knows just how much! ) so I was pleased to get this one. June - I'm glad you liked it too. Muggle and Sue - I'm sure you will enjoy it - I hope so, anyway.

I think non-fiction will be the most difficult part for me too - not because I don't read a lot of it, but just that finding older titles might be hard. I had originally intended just to do fiction, but then I read The Land of Far-Beyond and Down and Out in Paris and London just because I had them on my 'to read' pile so I thought "why not?"! I don't anticipate finishing by the end of this year, no. I haven't got on as quickly as I thought I might but I shall keep plodding on. Thanks, Kylie.

Just an update for me of what needs doing. I keep picking up books from my bookshelf from a certain decade... and then discovering I've done that decade already! 1990s - Children's book 1980s - Children's book ...........Non-fiction 1970s - Fiction ...........Non-fiction 1960s - Fiction ...........Children's book ...........Non-fiction 1950s - Children's book ...........Non-fiction 1940s - Non-fiction 1930s - Children's book 1920s - Non-fiction 1910s - Fiction ...........Children's book ...........Non-fiction 1900s - Children's book ...........Non-fiction 12 books read 18 to go

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent The ‘blurb’ Sarah Carrier has always been at odds with her mother, Martha, who is as tough as Sarah is Wilful. A gifted herbalist, Martha spends her days plucking grasses and plants in the fields, ready to cure whatever ills come her way. The fearful villagers of Andover, near Salem, have already been infected with smallpox and now another, equally devastating plague is ready to strike: that of malicious gossip and tongue-wagging, as poisonous as any disease. As tales of magic are spun by a group of hysterical young girls, Martha soon finds herself accused of witchcraft. Neither Sarah, nor her brothers, are prepared to see their mother die and are cast into prison themselves. And it is there that Sarah commits a fateful heresy of her own. Rich with historical detail, The Heretic’s Daughter is a devastating portrait of the transgressions of a small community and the secrets that lie at its heart. I have had my eye on this since Waterstones gave me a paper bookmark featuring it and have been waiting for months for it to come out in paperback format. Based on the story of Martha Carrier who was convicted as a witch, it tells the story of the run-up to the accusations against her and also of her subsequent trial, conviction and hanging. The tale is told in her daughter Sarah’s voice as she explains her part in her mother’s conviction to her granddaughter, some 60 years after the event. Martha Carrier was the only accused to go to the gallows having entirely proclaimed her innocence. Without exception, the other women and men bought to trial for practising witchcraft had at one time or another confessed, even if it was under duress, but Martha steadfastly pleaded not guilty. Obviously the story is not going to be entirely factually correct, but the author has clearly been meticulous in her research. The parallel story of Sarah’s father and his part in the death of Charles I is based on unproven rumours and gives an air of mystery to the story. The author has the great skill of building a picture so vivid it is easy to imagine you are living the life of Sarah Carrier, from the fields of her home in Andover, Massachusetts to the stench and squalor of Salem prison. I can really see this being made into a film. I think comparisons to The Lost Book of Salem (called The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane in the US) will be inevitable, but although both are based on real events and people from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the stories are entirely different. It is interesting though that both authors are directly descended from the women they each write about. I think this was a remarkable d

I've just finished The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. I shall put some thoughts down on paper soon, whilst they're still fresh in my mind. ETA: I have started a thread about this.

The overuse of 'said' annoys me. It's something my children would have done when they were writing stories at primary school. It shows lack of skill, I think. That said, like BookJumper I will persevere if it's a good book, but it will irritate me!

I haven't heard that song for years! I do like it. All four of us love this! It's our 'long journey' CD!

Really? I'm sure your local bookstore can order it, but Amazon have The Lost Book of Salem. Sue - I'm about of two-thirds of the way through The Heretic's Daughter and I'm really enjoying it so far.

The trouble is, if we banned everyone who recommended books, we wouldn't have any members! I'm still reading The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent (I've avoided reading any posts about it). I'm about half way through and am enjoying it so far.