Janet

Good luck! I hope you enjoy Don't Tell Alfred. I've had it on reservation for weeks from the library - I hope it comes soon!

Thanks, Gaia. I read a little of it last night before bed. At the moment I'm finding two characters (the main ones) that have appeared so far rather irritating, but hopefully it'll pick up!

Yesterday I started Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton which a friend lent me some time ago and said it was one of her favourite books but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't the book for me. It's fantasy, which is not something I've read a great deal of. It started off with a dying dragon who wanted to make a confession to his son - a priest dragon! (Incidentally a dragon with tethered wings to stop him flying). But their religion changed and confession and absolution are now forbidden. However, after saying he couldn't possibly do it... it's against the law... it's morally wrong... the son dragon changes his mind, gives absolution and then as his father dies, son dragon eats his eyes before allowing the rest of the family to feast on the dead carcass! Nope, definitely not my thing! I happened to see the book in Waterstone's yesterday in the fiction section, but it read more like a children's book to me?

Thanks. To my shame I know surprisingly little about Nancy Mitford really (I know that her sister Diana married Oswald Molesley - and that another was the Duchess of Devonshire - if that's the correct title) so I'm planning to read some non-fiction about her and her sisters. I'm so glad you, Kay and Claire suggested the English Counties challenge - I've read so many great books that I wouldn't have otherwise picked up. I had been thinking of doing a counties challenge myself but would probably never have got round to it if it didn't happen as a group thing.

We went to Bath today to pick up my new specs so we popped to Waterstone's. I was considering buying Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz, having really loved The House of Silk, but although it said it was in stock on the app it wasn't in crime and I couldn't find it on the tables. However, I read a lot of vintage crime in 2015 and really enjoyed it and so gravitated towards this book, purely based on the cover! It's not vintage crime at all - it was published in 2007! I haven't looked it up online as I don't want to read any reviews before I try it, but fingers crossed it lives up to its cover!

Yes - I watched the whole thing on Youtube (I'm sure it shouldn't be there!) and loved it. It was a really enjoyable adaptation, I thought - and great casting!

Oh phew - I'm relieved! I was worried about it because it did have a smattering of poor reviews! I'm glad you liked it! I've had my eye on Spill Simmer Falter Wither (I really want to put commas in between those words! ) so I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

Oh, that's a shame. I loved the TV series so much! I've had this on my wish list for aeons (albeit the hardback version) but am looking out for it second hand in charity shops. Maybe a bigger version will be better? I'll leaf through it before I buy it!

Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford The ‘blurb’ "Love in a Cold Climate" is the sequel to Nancy Mitford's bestselling novel "The Pursuit of Love". 'How lovely - green velvet and silver. I call that a dream, so soft and delicious, too.' She rubbed a fold of the skirt against her cheek. 'Mine's silver lame, it smells like a bird cage when it gets hot but I do love it. Aren't you thankful evening skirts are long again?' Ah, the dresses! But oh, the monotony of the Season, with its endless run of glittering balls. Even fabulously fashionable Polly Hampton - with her startling good looks and excellent social connections - is beginning to wilt under the glare. Groomed for the perfect marriage by her mother, fearsome Lady Montdore, Polly instead scandalises society by declaring her love for her uncle 'Boy' Dougdale, the Lecherous Lecturer, and promptly eloping to France. But the consequences of this union no one could quite expect..."Love in a Cold Climate" is the wickedly funny follow-up to "The Pursuit of Love". The Pursuit of Love was one of my favourite books of 2015 so I was looking forward to this which is a sort-of sequel. Both follow pretty much the same timeline – like the former, this one is narrated by Fanny but instead of focusing on her cousin Linda Radlett and her family, this features Polly who is related to Fanny on her father’s side, although the Radlett family do also appear. I did wonder if it would live up to the first one, but I needn’t have worried – it has the same great ingredients – a brilliant blend of humour, satire and also sadness. I just loved it. Mitford’s writing is just sublime and her witty characterisation is spot on! I have reserved the final book featuring Fanny - Don’t Tell Alfred - from the library and I hope it lives up to expectations. I shall definitely be reading more of Mitford’s works – I wish I’d tried her years ago! The paperback edition is 256 pages long and is published by Penguin. It was first published in 1949. The ISBN is 9789780141043999. I listened to it on audio book. 5/5 (Loved it!) (Finished 26 January 2016)

I'm so glad you enjoyed A Tale of Two Cities - it's such a great book.

It doesn't need to be closed and there is a chance that someone might come along and want to ask a question relating to a post in here so if you're happy for that to happen then it can stay open.

*Puts hand up* I'm another with The Miniaturist on my Kindle - I downloaded it last January! Something about it keeps putting me off but I shall make an effort to read it this year.

What a lot of books you've read already. I've been intending to read a Ngaio Marsh book for some time - maybe 2016 will be that year? Happy reading.

No, sadly not! I meet up with friends in Birmingham fairly regularly (once a year, generally), but we've already had our 2016 meet, but if I go back I shall be sure to look out for them. Thanks for the tip!

Oh dear - I've reserved it via Click and Collect now. It said it was £5.99 if I used C&C, or £6.99 in store, but if I find a second book I like the look of I might ask them if I can do that instead. I haven't paid for the book so I can't see that they'll mind. Thanks for the heads-up. It's a 4/5 from me! It *is* long, but it's an easy read - tense in places, and the historical side of things regarding the mining industry and WW1 were very interesting to me. I bought the Kindle version so it was only £1.89. It was the perfect time for me to read it too - Peter's been in Verdi's Macbeth with Bath Opera - this week was show week so he's been out every night this week, so instead of him having the TV on and me dinking around on my laptop (which usually happens), I spent every evening curled up on the sofa reading so it only took me about four days to read it! It's not the first Cronin book I've read. When I was a teenager I read Beyond This Place several times - it was one of my favourite books. I haven't read it for at least 30 years - probably longer - so I can't actually remember the entire story. I have my Mum's original hardback (which was the one I read all those years ago) and recently found a paperback version for £1 so I intend to read it again.

Yes, I sent my email on 1st Feb and said could they let me know that my feedback about his great customer service had reached the right people - or would they prefer me to put my feedback in a letter. I've just posted on their Facebook page to ask them to confirm that I sent it to the correct email address and how long I should expect a reply to take, so fingers crossed they reply there! Yes - we are talking about the same branch from that description. The New Street branch isn't listed in their branch finder any more. I think I read somewhere that it had closed and that Apple were looking to take it over?

Thank you. I often find it hard to pick up books again if I put them down. I hope that when you do go back to it you enjoy it. I'm pretty certain I read somewhere that Waterstone's in Birmingham moved to a new store? I'm not sure if that's correct - the one I went to is by one of the entrances to the Bullring - by the giant metal sculpture. You've just reminded me actually that although I asked them to respond to my email (I wanted to know they'd received my feedback) they didn't actually bother. Hmmm. I might email again to enquire! I maybe should have written a letter, but I thought if I sent an electronic communication it would be easier for them to respond!

I hope you enjoy it when you read it, Kylie.

Bother - I'd forgotten that was out or I'd have bought it this morning. Hopefully I can get it on Tuesday! I went to Bath this morning and bought The Herring Seller's Apprentice by L C Tyler. I haven't heard of it before but it sounds like fun! I also ordered To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. I've had my eye on this for a long time and I asked Willoyd about it as Steve (Karsa Orlong) said he'd read it - and Will said he enjoyed so I decided to go for it! I've got 9% left of The Stars Look Down by A J Cronin which is an English Counties Challenge book (Northumberland) - I'm hoping to finish it today. Edit: Oh, and I got More William by Richmal Crompton out of the library on audio book to listen to in the car on Tuesday. Like Claire, I think this will be my last 'William' book for a while.

Thanks for the info about To Say Nothing of the Dog Will. I've been dithering about it for ages now so you've helped me make up my mind. They didn't have it in branch so I ordered it this morning in Waterstone's in Bath for collection (hopefully!) when I go in on Tuesday week for a contact lens check-up. I'm sure I can look past the Americanisms. It's a bit sloppy as you say. I read a book a few years ago set in the early nineteenth century where a British ship was allegedly called Endeavor!

Your trip to Suffolk sounds good. I have family in Suffolk and it's a lovely county. I haven't been there for many years though as my Aunt gets anxious when she has visitors now so I only see them when she and my uncle visit my mum. I've just remembered that I asked Steve whether he'd read To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis because I know he likes Sci-fi science fiction books and he said he hadn't but suggested I ask you. I've picked it up a couple of times as I'm rather drawn to the synopsis and I love books set in the Victorian era. It's definitely not my 'usual' type of read (I'm not sure I have a usual type, but unless it's vintage, science fiction isn't a genre I read) so I just wondered what you thought of it?

It must have been a lot of fun recording it! I picked my copy up from the library this morning. I'm going to listen to it in the car on Tuesday.

Thanks for the link. This challenge has taken a back seat for me due to the English Counties challenge, but I've book-marked the page for when I come back to it!

Happy reading in 2016, Lara. Frankenstein is on my 'to read' list (on Kindle) - on a purely shallow note, I love your cover!

Sorry I'm late, but happy reading in 2016, Diane.