Janet

Oh, I wasn't criticising what he said - please don't think that. I'd never criticise someone for having an opinion. I meant that the concept of was a WTF moment, not that Ash had interpreted it that way.

I was sorry to hear about Keith Floyd's death too. He was a real character.

I just read this on the BBC site - what sad news to wake up to.

It certainly is! I've recently read, and loved, The Picture of Dorian Gray and I love Mr Fry so it seemed just right! Congrats on getting down to 23 - that's some going.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it either - although I'm not surprised. From The Guardian - specifically for Roxi who I know will be spluttering when she reads it... I'd gone by this point, but seriously - I didn't think it could get any more far removed from the book than that which I'd already seen or read about, but this just takes the biscuit...

That's a real pet hate for me (and my Mum!) too. If I'm wearing a fleece, I pull it over my hands to open the door if I must touch the handle, otherwise I use as little of my pinky finger as possible or wait hopefully for someone else to come in so I can catch the door with my elbow!

That's a good question. For me, I think it's probably the changes. It's such a good story and the changes don't seem to make the story any better. It's like they wanted to soften it up a little. By contrast, I really enjoyed the recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights because I had nothing to compare it to, but I know a lot of members who've read it were really disappointed with that. I guess the answer is that if it's a book one really likes, then don't risk it.

I sort of wish I'd stuck it out to the end now, just to see how the

Yeah, not my thing either. I was more meaning that although I was brought up with religion, and some things stick I wouldn't avoid a book with any topic just because it might not fit with that religious ethic. I'm not sure I'm explaining myself very well but I know what I mean!

I was brought up a Christian and attended church regularly until a few years ago - but I wouldn't let my beliefs (or lack of them, these days) impact on my reading choices. If it's a good story, I'll read it. I do get turned-off by an overtly preachy tone. I tried reading The Shack to see if it might help me re-find my faith, as it was touted as a faith affirming book both by the local churches and the local Christian bookshop but it certainly didn't have that effect on me at all and I just found the 'message' highly irritating.

It didn't win the Reading Circle vote in the end (although at one point it seemed it would), but as I've already read The Reader, I'm about to start the runner-up An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge as that's the one I voted for.

Family Life: Birth, Death and the Whole Damn Thing by Elisabeth Luard The

Today I read Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe by Danny Wallace. Another of the ‘Quick Reads’ books released each year for World Book Day (2006, in this case), this would be a good taster for anyone who hasn’t read Danny Wallace yet. I’ve only read one other by him, Friends Like These, which is much funnier than this, but I still enjoyed it. Danny has an easy writing style which makes reading him like chatting to a mate over a pint and a sandwich in your local!

Scarletbella - I can't recommend this film anyway, but if you are taking your Mum I should perhaps say that there is a lot of sex. I wasn't particularly embarrassed watching with my Mum but I could have done without it!

I wrote the following before I read this thread and am going to read back, so I don't know how my views will compare with those who have already posted! I took my Mum to see Dorian Gray this afternoon. We’ve both read the book and both thought it was excellent. Doran’s dark descent into badness is so well written and it also has one of the most abrupt endings I’ve come across - and was all the better for it. DO NOT READ THE SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T YET WATCHED THE FILM AND INTEND TO DO SO!

Mum and I walked out of Dorian Gray this afternoon after managing to stomach an hour of it! I will post more in the designated thread (which I haven't read yet) - in spoiler tags - in a while.

...if it's not too cheeky! I'm responsible for choosing our next Bookclub book and I'm after some suggestions from you clever people! We quite often seem to end up with books set in the USA, which is fine and we've read some corkers, but I'd really quite like something set in either the UK or a different country altogether. Ideally I'd like something either: Gothic Horror Historic (but not too historic - not Romans or anything like that!) Thriller None of these are my usual genre. The only other stipulation is that I'd like it under 500 pages - some of our members struggle to get through the Bookclub book in four weeks, even if it's not a huge tome! Please don't be offended if I don't pick something suggested this time round as there are only 6 of us so my turn will be here again before I know it! Thanks in advance.

Aww, I really was kidding. Although cookies are always a good thing... I finished Family Life by Elisabeth Luard this afternoon. I really enjoyed most of it, although some of her ideas are a bit... archaic to my way of thinking. I shall post about it more later.

Yeah, I really enjoyed it. Yes No, of course not! He's very witty. I loved reading A Woman of no Importance for A level English recently - what a clever guy!

I like the sound of this challenge, although I haven't finished my 'Reading Through The Decades' challenge yet! This is a link to the Wikipedia 'List of Years in Literature'. I shall have a look and see if I can find 5 books to add! ETA: I'm 1966!