Janet

Thank you. I decided to take a bit of a break from forums for a while (I only really post on this and one other regularly) but I'm back now. Thanks

Oh, well done. I've still got a long way to go on that challenge! I've given some of my 'to read' books to charity - but I forgot to make a note of which ones! I'm not sure I can be bothered to try to work it out! How are you, @Alexi? I haven't spoken to you for ages.

Wow - I'm in total awe! I hope you have a great year of reading in 2018, Claire (and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing you soon). x

I love your very extensive 'blog'. I hope you enjoy 'Tess'. I love it - but @frankie hates it! I think you'll like/love it, but one never can tell! I am particularly interested in this section. I have only read one of these myself (The Young Ardizzone by Edward Ardizzone) and I have My Grandmothers and I by Diana Holman-Hunt on my 'to read' pile, but there are simply (pun intended) loads of titles I'd like to read. I visited the old shop, which has now sadly closed down, although one can visit their operation - if they have notice! I shall look forward to following your progress this year.

Have you caught up, or did you decide not to bother, @Alexi? I've decided to write this year off and try again, albeit more streamlined, in 2018. Thanks, @willoyd I have decided not to stress about this year. What is the point? I won't catch up. I have so many spreadsheets on the go that it got out of hand. In 2018 I am going to concentrate on what I've read and not bother about other details - I might continue to record books purchased, but not all the details that I put with them - after all, does it really matter where I bought them our how much I paid for them? I'm glad to hear you've been enjoying your reading more as a result of your changes and wish you a good 2018.

I'm a bit late with this - sorry! Established members will know the drill, but for our new members... It's that time of year again... the time where people's thoughts turn to next year's Book Blogs! So... Reading lists/Book Blogs marked '2017' will be moved to 'Past Book Blogs' on, or around, 31 December 2017. Any that are 'continuous' will be left in this forum. We are only human, so if we move your list/blog by mistake (or don't move it when we should) please let us know by posting in this thread after the blogs/lists are moved. When starting a new blog/list, please can you ensure you put 2018 in the title. Thanks. You may wish to make some 'blank' posts at the beginning. As you know, we are unable to insert blank posts at a later date, so please ensure you save enough for yourself. To prevent people replying before you've finished, please put "please do not reply to this post yet" (or similar) in bold in the first post, and in any subsequent 'holding' posts. Once you are ready for people to reply, please make a post to this effect. I think that's it, but any queries then just ask.

That's me to a tee! Will do, Bobs.

Thanks all. I think I might have to do mini-reviews. It's just rather daunting!

If only it could have been one of the other ones!

I'm in such a pickle - I haven't written a review since April, or completed any of my spreadsheets. I really want to catch up, but it feels like I need to dig to Australia with a teaspoon.

I found a copy of Chatterton Square today. It's not in italics but I vaguely remember you've got it? I'm in the Book Barn on my mobile and I haven't got good signal so I can't search your thread very well!

Gosh, Alex. Sorry to hear this. I hope you're on the mend now. x

Yes, you definitely can.🙂 I returned All The Light We Cannot See because I was reading it as well and I found the book better than the audio version.

Oh, I'm really sorry to hear this. I love the film and have thought about reading the book, but I think I might give it a miss based on this!

Is it an Audible book? I've returned one after not enjoying it (I can't even remember what it was!) so maybe it's time to do that? Perhaps you could find a paperback if the premise is good?

Oh dear, that's a shame. A southern narrator makes no sense at all. It's like when people pronounce Frome as F-Rome , when it's really Froom (I had an argument with a telephone operator many years ago who insisted I was wrong - even though I lived in the town at the time!), or Bath as Baf when it's really Barth! In an ideal world they should chose narrators who reflect where the book is from. I read Pies and Prejudice last year - have you read that, @Alexi? It's actually narrated by Stuart Maconie. I didn't listen to it, but I imagine he's a good narrator.

Ooh, I've been meaning to try something by this author. Thanks.

Someone recommended that to me last week - it sounds good.

Yes, congratulations.

We listened to it in the car on holiday in Norfolk (where it's set) in May. We both enjoyed it - me more than Peter. I'm definitely planning to listen to or read the second one.

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie The ‘blurb’ A woman is killed by a poisoned dart in the enclosed confines of a commercial passeneger plane… From seat No.9, Hercule Poirot was ideally placed to observe his fellow air passengers. Over to his right sat a pretty young woman, clearly infatuated with the man opposite; ahead, in seat No.13, sat a Countess with a poorly-concealed cocaine habit; across the gangway in seat No.8, a detective writer was being troubled by an aggressive wasp. What Poirot did not yet realize was that behind him, in seat No.2, sat the slumped, lifeless body of a woman. On a plane returning from France to Croydon airport, Poirot gives up his seat in order that two women can sit together and settles down to try to sleep. However, before the plane lands a woman is discovered to be dead. At first it seems like it might have been an allergic reaction to a wasp sting, but Poirot knows differently when he discovers a dart. It soon turns out that there is a suspect, and it's Poirot himself! It seems that in the act of kindness in giving up his seat, he has put himself under suspicion. Luckily for Poirot, Inspector Japp has been assigned to the case, and he and Poirot, with some unlikely help in the shape of a crime writer who was also on the fated journey, investigate the murder – which can only have been carried out by one of those travelling on the plane… As usual, there are plenty of twists and turns in the story, and the usual red herrings. We didn't solve this one before Poirot (that's only happened a couple of times!) and the reveal, when it came, was very clever. We're taking a break from listening to Poirot books – but I'm sure we'll find our way back to them before too long! The paperback edition is 272 pages long and is published by HarperCollins. It was first published in 1935. The ISBN is 9780008129538. 4/5 (I enjoyed it) (Finished 30 April 2017)

I hope so too. I thought it was excellent.

How could I forget that, @willoyd! Although I haven't read PP yet, we spent our wedding night in the Leather Bottle in Cobham! There is a pub in Bath called the Sam Weller. I guess it must be named after that character too.

We went to the Bronte Parsonage on Monday in Haworth - it was really very interesting. They are undergoing a project at the moment to recreate Wuthering Heights in people's handwriting, so I got to write out a line, and when the book is finished it is going to be bound and exhibited during 2018 at the museum! I got to keep the pencil too! We then went to Oakworth station which features in the Lionel Jeffries film version of The Railway Children which is one of my favourite books and films. We bought a couple of platform tickets so I could take some photos, and the stationmaster (he's not called that but I can't remember his proper title!) came out and spent an hour with us showing us behind the scenes stuff that's not normally open to the public! We watched two steam trains and one electric train come in, and the electric one was being shunted so we chatted to the drivers. Fascinating stuff.

We had a family celebration (my Aunt and Uncle's golden wedding) at the Peveril of the Peak hotel, @Alexi Ooh, and that reminds me about the pub in Rutland that featured in our Counties book! I have also been into the hotel that featured in Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge - The Kings Arms Hotel in Dorchester.