Janet

Sorry guys! I am getting seriously concerned about all the books I have to read (which have increased significantly since I joined the forum!). I'm going to have to give some serious consideration to giving some away which I've had for years and really have no likelihood of reading. I'm going to have to harden my heart and have a sort out! I gave up on This Charming Man by Marian Keyes - it really wasn't doing it for me. I'm trying the 'official' sequel to Peter Pan now - Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. I've had this on my pile for a couple of years and I'm hoping it'll be a good, but quick, read.

I read all of the Narnia books as a child and have recently reread The Magician's Nephew and TL,TW & TW but The Horse and His Boy is currently sitting on my coffee table but somehow I don't fancy it (can't remember the story) so I keep putting it off! I look forward to hearing your views on it.

I loved The Time Traveler's Wife too - I read it in 2005, which is when my reading tastes started to change and thought it was brilliant. I see she has a new one coming out in October (in hardback) - called Her Fearful Symmetry which has taken some time! I guess TTTW was a hard one to follow?! Synopsis - from Amazon Sounds interesting.

I loved Mr Y, but like Lucybird, I wasn't sure about this one. I shall have to go and look again and try the first chapter!

Sorry - I should have put a link to my review... http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=237869#post237869

The Reluctant Fundamentalist was good - 8/10. Not sure what's next!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mahsin Hamid - Pakistan 7 Countries - 3%

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid The ‘blurb’ ’Excuse me, sir, but may I be of assistance? Ah, I see I have alarmed you. Do not be frightened by my beard I am a lover of America…” So speaks the mysterious stranger at a Lahore caf

The only books I've ever bought in hardback form are the latter Harry Potter books because I couldn't bear the thought of seeing spoilers. Oh, and Harry Patch's autobiography because the paperback wasn't out in time for my A level English exam. I don't like them at all - I can't get comfy to read them in bed for a start!

Third Eye Blind don't seem to be well known, but they're awesome!

Oh good - it'll be nice to have someone to discuss it with. I didn't want to give too much away in my review.

I finished Black Rock yesterday (7

Black Rock by Amanda Smyth The ‘blurb’ Celia's mother died bringing her into the world - when one soul flies in, another flies out, her Aunt Tassi says. So she lives in Black Rock, Tobago, with her twin cousins and Tassi's second husband Roman, a man so sly he could crawl under a snake's belly on stilts. Celia thinks that Roman is the devil, so when he does something that proves her right, she can’t bear to share a roof with him any longer. That night, while the world is still as if it is dead, she runs away to Trinidad. With a vivid sense of the supernatural, Black Rock is an intensely moving novel by a talented new writer. Celia knows that her mother died in childbirth and that her father, a white Englishman, wanted nothing to do with her, but she daydreams about one day taking the long trip to Southampton, England, to track her father down. Surely once he meets her he’ll want to get to know her? When Celia has to deliver limes to Mrs Jeremiah, who is rumoured to be clairvoyant, she’s warned that she will be hurt by her Aunt’s husband Roman. Mrs Jeremiah also issues the following prophesy. “Men will want you like they want a glass of rum - to drink you up and pee you out. One man will love you. But you won’t love him. You will harm him. You will destroy his life. The one you love will break your heart in two. You’ll die in a foreign place”. She tosses Celia a lump of black rock to act as a talisman and Celia runs away as Mrs Jeremiah tries to exorcise her. When Mrs Jeremiah’s warning about Roman comes true, Celia flees Tobago. There she starts to rebuild her life helped by the kindness of a young man she meets on the boat who looks after her and finds her employment with an English family who live in Trinidad. Celia soon finds happiness - but how long will it last? I chose this book on my Book Spa day, because Amanda Smyth appeared at the Bath Literature Festival talking about this, her debut novel, and the shop’s owner, Nic said the book had been selling out as soon as it came in which is always encouraging. I liked the sound of it, plus the added benefit of it being eligible for one of my book challenges! The ‘blurb’ mentions a “vivid sense of the supernatural” but to my mind it was really more about local superstition. However, it was an enjoyable story and the writing style is easy to read and reasonably descriptive - I really felt a sense of the Islands. As a debut I thought it was very promising and I hope she writes more. The paperback is 250 pages long and is published by Serpent’s Tail. The ISBN number is 978-1846686962. 7

He did -and I he also liked the fact that I was open to suggestion. He really was spot-on with what he picked for me - even picking several I've already read or got on my 'to read' pile! Slightly o/t, but on the day of my visit, I'd just started What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn and told me that he was on the Costa panel that voted it the winner so he was pleased I was enjoying it!

Well, I recently did that Book Spa thing and I mentioned to the guy discussing books with me that I'd like to read some set in countries other than the UK or the USA so he recommended two on the strength of that. I've just started the other one, set in Pakistan (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), so I'll be adding another to my map shortly - but then I guess I'll have a lull again after that!

Well apologies if I was wrong. It's just that it's quite unusual for new members to make posts like this when they are brand new to the boards. When someone signs up and immediately posts about a specific book it is usually (but not always) a sign that they are connected with the book - which is fine as we do have this forum for author promotions. If you are not actually connected with this book then I can move it to the fiction forum, which would be more suitable than the "looking for a book" forum which is where it was originally posted.

Are you connected with this book? This certainly reads like a promotional post so I've moved it to the promotions forum.

Finished Black Rock by Amanda Smyth - set in Trinidad and Togago, which are so tiny they hardly show up on the map! 6 Countries - 2% ETA: Having revised my 'rules' (i.e author's place of birth qualifies, not where the book is set), I've removed this from my list.

Yes, yes, yes! Me too! Also... Anything by Pink Floyd, Genesis or AC/DC Unbelievable - EMF Walk This Way - Run DMC feat Aerosmith Song 2 - Blur Something Kinda Ooooh - Girls Aloud It's Like That - Jason Nevins vs Run DMC Dare - Gorrilaz Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses Paradise City - Guns N' Roses Whole Lotta Love - Led Zep Highway Star - Deep Purple The Importance of being Idle - Oasis Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis Misery - Green Day Handbags and Gladrags - Stereophonics Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath To name but a few!

No worries - I'll move it for you. Welcome to BCF - hope you have fun.

He didn't quit the night before - it was reported a few weeks ago that he wouldn't be going ahead. However, this is all filmed months and months ago - I expect 'The Apprentice' is already in his/her new role - he has to trial them actually working (the final two, I believe) before he makes his decision. I think if Anita hadn't gone this week then it wouldn't be long before she did - she seemed to wishy-washy to get through it. ETA:

The DVD of PS, I Love You is only

I'm awestruck - I simply can't imagine doing this! Good luck!