Janet

Thanks. It seems that quite a few people read it at school. My Mum (who is far better read than I am) has never read it, so I shall be taking it over when hubby (starts and) finishes it. ETA: I'm going to read What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn next.

Always unabridged. However, I do think the abridged ones have their place. My children, neither of whom are 'readers' despite hubby and I both being so, have read quite a few of the classics abridged at school - I'd rather that than them not read at all.

I'm the oldest so far at 42! I occasionally read young adult books (or children's books might be a truer statement) - in the last two years off the top of my head, I've read Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Forever (Judy Blume) and Enid Blyton's The Land of Far Beyond.

I'm going tomorrow! I feel unnecessarily nervous and I don't know why as I'm quite a confident person really! One thing though - they didn't ask me what kind of books I like when I rang to book - only what kind of cake I like. Still, I'm sure it will be very enjoyable and I am excited too!

I also disliked it immensely! I had 'Lucky' on my to read pile and I took it straight to a charity shop after finishing The Lovely Bones! A good idea, badly written and with (if memory serves) a poor ending.

Thanks guys. I'm definitely going to try some more of his stuff - Michelle also recommended The Chrysalids too so I'll keep an eye out for that on my travels.

Finished The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham this afternoon. I *loved* this book! I normally avoid sci-fi like the plague (I do have War of the Worlds on my 'to read' pile) but this was fabulous! - I can't praise it highly enough! 10/10 I'm making my husband read it next!

The Day of the Triffids The 'blurb' Fantastic, frightening, but entirely plausible, John Wyndham's famous story of a world dominated by monstrous, stinging plants catches the imagination like the best of H G Wells. When Bill Masen wakes in hospital after wearing bandages for a week, everything feels wrong - the hospital is eerily quiet and nobody comes when he rings the bell. Upon investigation, he discovers that nearly every other person alive is blind after watching a green comet. Not only that, but the strange plants - the Triffids - which were being cultivated to make oil for the planet are on the loose and these walking, stinging plants are out to kill. Now it becomes a frantic struggle to survive. As civilisation as we know it breaks down and life becomes a survival of the fittest, what will happen? Bill meets another seeing person - Josella - and together they must try to make the best of the terrible circumstances in order to make a life for themselves in this new, strange existence. I read this at school (and saw the BBCs 1981 version) but had no recollection of it as I re-read it! The BBC are doing a new version (only 90 minutes long though, apparently, which may not do it justice) later this year so I wanted to read it first. I don't normally read Sci-fi so was a bit out of my comfort zone but I really needn't have worried - I absolutely loved it! The mention of H G Wells in the blurb is interesting because, whilst I've never read the book, I have listened to Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of the Worlds so many times (and I have the book on my 'to read' pile) and I found myself comparing this to that - although really both storylines vary quite a bit. The paperback is 272 pages long and is published by Penguin. The ISBN number is 978-0141185415.

All These Lonely People by Gervase Phinn The

I did enjoy it! I don't really want to give away too much about it here, but Wikipedia have a very good summary of it here - which obviously contains spoilers. It's Sci-fi - which is a genre I've previously avoided like the plague! I read this at school but didn't remember it at all as I re-read!

Today I finished The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, published in 1951. It was *fantastic* - I can't praise it highly enough! 11/10 10/10!

Aww, I like Suralan! I think he fired Alan because he liked him - the way he was talking about the other two - and he had a twinkle in his eye when he did it. I'm sure Alan Carr didn't mind really.

The kosher chicken situation was hysterical! Alan Carr got fired from the Celebrity Apprentice. I think Sir Alan felt that the other two were miserable so-and-sos (polite version!) and that Alan was too nice!

I like Jabberwocky too, Kell. I love poetry - I'll have to get my thinking cap on! One I'll mention now is Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti. It's very long so I'll just post a link, but definitely worth a read! Maybe look at it as a short story! http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Goblin_Market

K M Peyton. I read the first one a long, long time ago. There was a TV adaptation in the 70s - I had a crush on one of the brothers! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flambards-Complete-Repackaged-DVD/dp/B001JMGS6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237190105&sr=8-1 I quite fancy re-reading now you've mentioned it - I'd totally forgotten about them!

I'm afraid not - Little Women (the first part) was more than enough Alcott for me! Are you planning to try them?

I did whilst I was reading the book, but I believe it's Angel you're thinking of - she had it for ages and ages - if she hasn't still got it.

That's a shame - although (are you UK based? Forgot to look*), Amazon have Series 1 for

I definitely have a crush on Colin's Mr Darcy too. Phwoar, not to put too fine a point on it! I read the book before I saw the BBC adaptation, but was picturing Colin throughout as I knew he played Darcy!

Sue - I quite fancy trying the books now, although I've heard good and bad things about them! I know the series is only 'based on' and not much of what happened in series 1 actually happened in the books so I'd have to try not to compare. It's the season finale tonight. Still, at least with have S3 to look forward to.

I just love watching the tasks though! So funny (most of the time!).

I did the 'non-chick lit' one - although I have just bought the latest Marian Keyes for old time's sake!

Really? I read it last year and thought it was beautiful.

When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham