Janet

I want to read this too! I think I'll see if the library have it at some stage because I don't like buying paperbacks. If anyone does want it, it's half price in Tesco at the moment.

There is an ISBN for it on Amazon. 0955687101 This book is £12.50 on Amazon - for a paperback! I'd never pay that much for a paperback. Also, the author has reviewed her own book and given herself 5 stars!

It's called Slash - The Autobiography (a very-imaginative title! ). A friend of mine read it recently but he said although enjoyable he didn't think it was very well-written.

I'm not sure this helps, but I believe Ismail Kadare is Albanian. I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns too - it was equally as good, if not better than, The Kite Runner. I can't wait to see what he follows these up with!

There is no right or wrong way to deal with grief. I'm sure I'd probably keep mine going in similar circumstances just because it's some sort of normality, no matter how small. The important thing is that you're doing it because you want to, and because it helps. xxx

Hopefully you found where I moved it too. Welcome to the forum - have fun.

Your English is very good (I don't speak any languages well enough to communicate in writing - I can just about get by in very basic French - but only talking) so don't worry about it - we can understand you perfectly.

I don't like Piers Morgan either. I haven't seen the new Post Office ad yet - will look out for it. My Dad reckons DFS stands for Definitely Finishes Saturday - in terms of their sales - and that the new sale always starts on Sunday!

Welcome, Donatello.

Hello Paddysmum. Welcome to the Book Club Forum. I thought that book was excellent too. There is a discussion thread about it here and it was also the subject of a Reading group discussion if you'd like to read some more views.

Engleby by Sebastian Faulks The 'Blurb' Mike Engleby has a secret This is the story of Mike Engleby, a working-class boy who wins a place at an esteemed English university. But with the disappearance of Jennifer, the undergraduate Engleby admires from afar, the story turns into a mystery of gripping power. Sebastian Faulks's new novel is a bolt from the blue, unlike anything he has ever written before: contemporary, demotic, heart-wrenching - and funny, in the deepest shade of black. Two days after finishing this book I still don't really know what to write in terms of a review! The story begins with Mike Engleby starting at university. He looks back at his school days, where he was first bullied and then became the bully - and from then it is written in chronological order. It seems obvious that he is involved with Jennifer's disappearance but the story builds slowly moving away from university and to Mike's working life until it reaches its conclusion. It is difficult to have empathy with the central character in this book who seems to lack social skills and relies heavily on drugs to get him through life. His relationship with his parents has always been distant, and although he's quite close to his younger sister, even that bond seems awkward. It's well-written and though provoking. I felt that in places it was slightly long-winded - although that didn't make it less enjoyable. It's certainly been on my mind since I finished it, which I think is a good sign! The paperback is 342 pages long and is published by Vintage. The ISBN number is 978-009945872. 7/10 (Read October 2008)

Forever by Judy Blume The

It's being repeated on Saturday 18th October at 7.10pm on BBC2. It's definitely worth trying to catch up with, Michelle. Like Bella - I could watch anything Stephen does - even a documentary about paint drying!

Wow - that's really interesting Donatello - thanks. What does Arbeit Macht Frei mean? I imagine the last word is 'free'? My friend has been to Auschwitz, but I can't imagine going myself. I was upset enough looking at the top floor of the Imperial War Museum in London where their Holocaust exhibition is housed. It's a totally humbling experience of events so wicked that we should never be allowed to forget.

I keep my salt and vinegar crisps in the fridge because like the when they're really cold!

A couple of the people who were discussing it were having a joke about 'Ralph', but I didn't know to what they were referring. I guess these days he'd call it something like Josh!

Did anyone else watch? I think shows like this make the licence fee worth paying, plus I love Stephen Fry! If I was to visit the USA, it would be the East cost I'd like to see.

I've never read it, but we were discussing it on the Neighbours forum so I thought I'd check it out. Although rather tame to an adult, I can see why it was such an exciting book to a teen - and why so many were buying it and hiding it from their parents! I was surprised to find it was published in 1975 - I'd assumed it was from about 10 years after that date. The version I have has a message from Ms Blume in the front about how in the 70s, the message was to use contraception to avoid pregnancy, whereas today it would have been about using a condom for safe sex. Despite it being over 30 years old, it didn't seem dated at all. Very enjoyable.

On the basis of their dances right now,I think Jessie is going.

I read Fleshmarket (I think I may have reviewed it on here?) and I thought it was great. I wondered about the Rankin one too.