Janet

I

ii - I will definitely try Wharton again - if not this then another. I've just finished Out of My Depth by Emily Barr. She's probably my favourite contemporary author and this book marks a very near return to form after the more 'chick-lit' feel of Plan B. 8/10

We watched this last night and thought it was great. The best thing ITV have done for years! Roll on next week. What did everyone else think?

I'm not sure, Paula. I like the idea of it (i.e the blurb makes it sounds good) and I'm sure that if I could get into it then it would be okay - I just feel my mindset is not right at the moment. I'll leave it on my bedside table for the time being and see what happens. I don't often go back but sometimes I do. Similarly, I've tried reading The Sea by John Banville several times but have never managed to finish it - I'm determined to try once more this year! I don't often go back to books I've abandoned though, so we'll see...!

The reader is right about scallops. They're gorgeous - especially in a stir fry with king prawns and chilli - yum!

I think the point is that books like the Shopaholic ones have their place in reading - I'm sure most of us like something light occasionally - but I don't think anyone would think that the Shopaholic books give anything intellectually - unless it's a bit more knowledge about kitten heels.

Reluctantly I have given up on The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I think the fact I've only managed 42 pages in 6 days speaks volumes. I just kept finding excuses not to read it because the start is so dull. I'm moving on to Out of my Depth by Emily Barr.

I never said one has to have read To Kill A Mockingbird to be a reader - my initial post says I don't agree that one should have read certain books to call oneself a reader - I was merely posting one example of something taking reference from something else. There are 100s of examples out there - The Darling Buds of May by H E Bates being another example. I was merely saying that I like those moments when you read something and realise its connection (either forwards to backwards) to something else!

I think Andy has a point, as in sometimes I read something and think (for example) "oh, so that's where so and so gets its name from...". E.G, until I read To Kill a Mockingbird, I had no idea why the pop group The Boo Radleys were so-called. That's not exactly an example of what Andy's trying to say, but you get the gist - often things are referenced from other books which one doesn't 'get' if one hasn't read the book. It doesn't necessarily spoil the enjoyment, but perhaps means more if you 'get it'. Personally I quite like those lightbulb moments!

There was a thread like this once as I remember posting in it but I can't find it either so I guess it was culled! I can understand the Shopaholic Abroad/Takes Manhattan, as America isn't actually abroad if you're American! Emily Barr (or rather, her publisher) is a culprit and I nearly got caught out by ordering Solo by Emily Barr from Amazon. I don't know what made me check the reviews* as I don't normally read them until after I've read a book, but luckily I did as I discovered it was a renamed Atlantic Shift, which I'd already read. Her book Cuban Heels was also renamed Cuba but that was at least a bit more obvious! Very recently I nearly ordered Wycliffe and the School Bullies but checked with someone who runs a W J Burley site and found that was renamed from Wycliffe and the Schoolgirls, which I've already read. It pays to check! * Just checked Amazon again and there is no synopsis for the book!

I agree, I'd hate to be judged by what I have or haven't read.

I'm trying to read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton but I'm finding it terribly dull at the moment (sorry ii!). I'm going to give it a bit longer but I think I might have to give up on it and try something else...

LOL Roland! Ecky-Thump! I do think he's got a bit up himself in recent times, which is a shame because his enthusiasm is great. I agree that Chris Packham could be a good replacement. I hope it's not Ben Fogle (sp?) !

Anything by Dickens. I did read A Christmas Carol in December '07 and loved it, but I haven't attempted anything else by him. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller is one I've been meaning to try for years. I got it out of the school library when I was about 13 (OMG - that's nearly 30 years ago. Where's my zimmer?) but couldn't get into it but I'm sure I could now! Lolita by Nabokov. Again, when I was about 13/14, The Police (pop group for you youngsters!) released 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' and as I was obsessed with the group I wanted to read it but somehow never got round to it. I've got it on my TBR now but I keep putting it to the bottom of the pile.

Springwatch returns in May - without Bill Oddie

Yes, I cried at The Book Thief too Sara - a fantastic book.

Peacefield - you should definitely try Swordfish if you get the chance - it's lovely. And I agree, lobster is yumptious! Mmmmm! I've never tried Tofu - the look of it puts me off somewhat.

I'm not 100% sure, but if you run out of space later, I'm sure Paula wouldn't mind me deleting her "Happy reading! Looking forward to hearing about your reads " post, making you second poster so you can edit that bit too. I suggest we leave it for now and cross that bridge when we come to it, if that's okay with you? ETA: I'm off out now - will check later.

I hope you won't mind me making a suggestion, but it's quite nice to keep an update in the first post too. You can still do what you're doing below, but if you update the first post then it's easier to copy/paste into future posts rather than trying to find the latest one. Feel free to ignore this suggestion, but I believe a lot of people do this.