Janet

I have looked at this book, but not bought it. Perhaps it might be a suggestion for ma-in-law to buy me for my birthday later in the year. ETA: I'd like the album one too!

So, what did everyone think about the last episode then? I've loved this show from day one. I don't often buy DVDs of TV series, but I'm definitely getting this!

Normally only one at a time, but since I've started this AS Level English, I've often had two on the go at the same time! It's okay if they're different genres. I wouldn't like it if they were too similar in style!

It sounds great, Michelle. I enjoyed 'After You'd Gone', but I haven't read anything else of hers yet. One for the 'wish list', methinks!

Wow! I agree that the ended sort of charged at one like a bull at a gate, but it didn't make it any less shocking. I know it's only short and the print is reasonably large, but I've just read this in about two hours! Amazing. I wish my children were readers. Despite my encouragement, they both prefer non-fiction books (which is fine... it's just that I think my son should read this - he's 12). I agree with Sugar about the Out With and 'The Fury', but I just took it that children mishear things and tried not to worry that it wouldn't be the same in German! Fantastic to see this from a child's point of view! 8/10

House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore The

I have read all of Judy Astley's books, apart from this one. Will add it to my 'to buy' pile! Thanks.

I've just finished Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (review posted). About to start House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore, in readiness of seeing her at the Bath Literature Festival!

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell The ‘Blurb’ Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother. In his longing for truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair with fellow-worker Julia, but soon discovers a nightmare world where love is hate, war is peace and the true price of freedom is betrayal. I read this book in 1981 for GCSE English, but found I could remember very little about the actual detail. It came back to me as I was reading it though. I guess that in 1948, and with WW2 just over and the ‘cold war’ in progress, it would have been a very real, and probably scary, concept. I can’t remember how I felt about it in 1981, bored probably (LOL!), but reading it post-84, I found it to be an unlikely concept, although with the proposed tracking system in cars and the ID scheme, perhaps Big Brother really is watching us?! The Room 101 section was really interesting - the fact that once in there, one faced their biggest fear, and I can’t help wondering if this is where the Boggart idea came from in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, albeit that a Boggart is a creature and not a room! The start was a bit slow to me, but one I got into it I did enjoy it, although it didn’t make me go ‘wow’. The paperback is 342 pages long and is published by Penguin. The ISBN number is 978-0141187358. 6/10 (Read February 2007) ETA: I posted this last year in the thread. I only gave this 6/10 when I read it, but it stayed with me for a long time afterwards and having mulled it over in my mind, I think that was a bit low and I'd probably revise it to 8/10 just for the fact that it made me think so much.

Hi Winston - welcome to the forums - you should pop over to the introductions section and say hi! I've read one or two from your list, and am currently reading 1984, although I'm not getting through it very quickly due to real life getting in the way!

Personally, I hated the film version of Chocolat. I could cope with them changing the imaginary rabbit into a kangaroo (although why? He's imaginary, for goodness sakes), but one of the main points of the book was the conflict between the chocolate shop and the church. The priest was a strong character in the book, but a simpering idiot in the film, and I didn't get why they needed to change that. The book is one of my all time favourites though - I really like Joanne Harris.

Robert Lawrence Stein

I *loved* The Land of Far Beyond. I didn't realise until I was an adult that it was based on 'A Pilgrim's Progress'. I manged to get a copy of it recently in an antiques fair! It's a bit battered, but I'm looking forward to revisiting it. I also managed to get a copy of the Alison Uttley book on Ebay, as recommended in this very thread, which arrived this morning. Yay!

I guess that largely depends upon whether you like tea or not - I wouldn't be at all enthusiastic about being offered tea!

Thanks! I thought it might mean something, but it didn't occur to me that it was an acronym!

Thanks for this - I've added it to my Amazon wishlist - I loved The Kite Runner. I'm a bit worried this won't live up to it, actually! ETA: Ooooo - it sounds really good!

I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle a few years ago. I felt like I might have understood it better had I read it under the influence! It was just so weird.

Funny name for a book! I've never read a Stephen King book - they just don't appeal somehow.

I bought this yesterday in WHS (

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I work in Tesco and I wouldn't trust that it would even get to me. I will make sure my husband gets me a copy on Saturday morning so I can start it when I get home. I'll just have to avoid the internet/tv for a few days!

I started it last night. I read it at school (before 1984!) but have only vague recollections about it. It's coming back to me as I'm reading it!

This is definitely one of my favourite books ever!

I think you mean Tom's Midnight Garden by Phillipa Pearce - a truly lovely book. The author died very recently, I believe.

Are you still after this? ABEBooks have a few copies at the moment. Most are on audiobook, but there are a few paperback copies too.

Which is your favourite? I seldom read chick lit now, but I loved Rachel's Holiday.