Sugar

I've readd half of Hogfather today - I need to finish it quickly as (a) my copy from the library has been requested by someone else and ( I've been really lucky to be able to borrow a DVD recorded from Sky with the dramatisation on it from a colleague and she wants it back! It's been years since I have read any "Adult" Pratchett (possibly 5+ years) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I've decided that a New Years Resolution must be to read at least 3 more Discworld books in 2007!

We went to see this on Saturday. I made the mistake of reading a review just before we went, so I began to wonder what I was letting myself in for (the review slated it!), but as I had managed to convince my other half to take me out decided there was no way I was changing my mind! I didn't find the film anywhere near as bad as I was fearing - I actually quite enjoyed it, but I agree with many of the review comments (and the IMDB discussions that I have read) - they missed out so much, including some important characters (Solembum, the entire dwarf population, Katrina, and Murtag was a very minor character). They could easily have made it 30 minutes longer and included so much more. Even my OH (who hasn't read the book) felt it was rushed and some of the plot didn't link together very well. I can't see how they can possibly do the second book into a film now, either. That said, it was a good fun film, Saphira was as gorgeous as I hoped! Eragon was a little too blond and blue-eyed for me, but Jeremy Irons as Brom was perfect! I'd recommend it, but don't hope for it to be too much like the book, and I agree with Kat that the book is much better. Oh - and I finished reading Eldest today. I hope he hurries up and gets the third one written now as I want to see how this all turns out! Book 2 is much more about character development, and giving Eragon's cousin Roran a story (it could have been called Roran I suppose!). I wouldn't say it was quite as good as Eragon but still well worth a read.

I thought I would follow Kell's example and do some number crunching with my book list. Here is what I have learned! (I have rounded my rating to one decimal place.) Jan - 5 books read - 3.8/5 average Feb - 9 books read - 3.8/5 average March - 5 books read - 3.8/5 average April - 8 books read - 4/5 average May - 8 books read - 3.6/5 average June - 11 books read - 3.6/5 average July - 14 books read - 4.1/5 average Aug - 11 books read - 3.2/5 average Sept - 8 books read - 3.8/5 average Oct - 13 books read - 3.5/5 average Nov - 14 books read - 3.8/5 average Dec - 5 so far - 3.6/5 average so far! This means that I have read 111 books this year (just over 9 a month) with an average of 3.7/5. July was the best month, both for the number of books read and the enjoyment gained from them. I wonder whether I read more because I was enjoying them more? (Edit to correct - November rivalled July in quantity but not quite in quality - Janet Evanovich fault - I have given them all 4 stars, as they do have flaws - repetition, inconsistencies, not the best quality writing - despite how great fun they are.) I certainly seem to have been reading more as the year has gone on. I thought it looked like I read more in the summer, but I'm not sure as in Oct and Nov I read quite a lot - although this may be because I have had a horrible cold since the end of September, and have been reading more when I haven't been sleeping and when I have been feeling sorry for myself! I will update Dec (and the annual averages) at the end of the month.

Finished the Julie Andrews Edward's American Mousical. All right, but there are better, less cliched things around! Also read Eleven on Top and Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich. Leaves me her seasonal special Visions of Sugar Plums and then I have read all the Stephanie Plum Books. And finally this week, I finally finished my re-read of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. One of my favourite books!

Dirk Gently is a Private Investigator. Only his methods of investigating are not exactly conventional. I haven't got my copies here, so I can't quote the blurb. Just tried a google search and it looks like everyone else has difficulty describing them as well - I think they need to be read to be believed.

SusanMargaret - to read all of Fast Food Nation makes you a braver woman than I! I have 2 chapters from it in one of the Pocket Penguins, and I haven't been in MacDonalds since (it's been a year since I read it!). I couldn't believe the stuff about having 2 accident books in some of the abattoirs - absolutely horrific stuff.

They are probably hoping that it will make more people get Sky+ then it can be saved for Xmas Eve/Day.....!

I thought the same Liz, until someone convinced me to read the Dirk Gently books. They are quite different, but equally funny and easy to read.

I've finished reading Eragon today having had it on my TBR pile since it was chosen for the reading circle. I loved it. It is one of my 5* reads for this year. I must say I was a little cynical as a) it's American (sorry! but I hate Americanisations in the text!) and it was originally published in a rather neoptism way (parents published it). I'm so glad it proved me wrong! I now can't wait to see the movie and to read Eldest. ETA - Having read through the discussions above, I agree that the map and pronunciation guide were really enlightening. I agree with Kell that the fact it NEEDED a guide is a bit frustrating, but in comparison to other fantasy that doesn't offer that was much better, none of the "P---- said" feeling each time I read names! Overall - one of the best things Paolini did was the scene setting and descriptive passages. I'm not entirely sure what an Urghal looks like (big foot?!), but as someone has said that Paolini has been really involved with the film - I hope it cpatures their likeness and can put me out of my misery!

I'm really looking forward to the Beeb's drama version! I love the Sally Lockhart books so much more than His Dark Materials. The rest of them in the series are just as good as Ruby in the Smoke.

She is incredibly addictive - I would have read more except the library was slow on getting them to me, so I'm currently "on a break". Incredibly, I have finished Eragon, and while in the bath this evening have read a book called Dirty Bertie: Worm by Alan MacDonald (though it seems to be selling itself on the illustrator - David Roberts - who also illustrated Rapunzel - a Groovy Fairy Tale; Cinderella (subtitle forgotten) and Little red), and read half of the Julie Andrews Great American Mousical. That's better!

I'm up to Book 11 now. Don't know what I am going to do when I run out! Had a fairly awful reading week - didn't pick a book up from Thursday last week until last night - seem to have had a dip in motivation. Things seem to have picked up a bit, and I hope to read quite a bit of Eragon tomorrow. Have updated post 1, and also my TBR post.

Funny, I haven't thought about this for years and then someone mentioned it as one of their favourite books on Monday night. She couldn't remember the name, but I guessed what she meant!

Without wanting to spoil it, I'm not quite sure enjoy would be the word that I would use! I also didn't like the characters - but I thought that was Heller's point! I'm glad I read it, and there is a lot to mull over after you have finished it. It's another one that I won't forget for a while! The film look interesting - one to look out for, I think!

You would probably like the film as they completely changed the ending! Despite that, it is a good film and Pen Cruz did suit her character (whose name escapes me) very well. I loved the book - it is slow to start (took me about 100 pages to get into it) but once you get going it's wonderful. One of my favourites. I read it on a Greek Island though - so that might have helped a bit.....

Very tough. I have a top 10, but I'm not sure which make the cut for the top 5! Possibly: Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder Birdsong - Sebastian Faulkes The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde Ink Heart - Cornelia Funke The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath I might change my mind though! There are so many......

One of my favourite quotes is from "Topsy and Tim go riding" or "Topsy and Tim go to the Gymkhana" or something equally horse, where Topsy is feeding the horse and has to admonish - "No, that is hair not hay!". With the long hair I had for most of my life, this came in very handy! I don't recognise either of Purple Poppy's - and looking at the covers, I think I may be glad of that! My other half would like to know if anyone else knew Alfie Atkins? I managed to track one down for him on abe books, and I don't think I have ever seen him look so happy. However, we can't find "Don't Touch the Saw, Alfie!" which was his fave so if anyone has it hidden in an attic, I am willing to pay....!

No the originals sum up Pratchett so much better! I don't mind the Kidby ones, they have the same feeling, but the black ones look dull and don't get across the assault on your senses that is Pratchett! I've been requested the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum books from the library, and every one I get seems to have a different style cover! I must say that I prefer the paperback one's with the cartoon-y Steph on them. I'm hoping the Book People will do a collection (for cheap!) of all 12 currently published when the 12th goes into paperback. If they do, I hope it is the nice covers! Then I will buy them (possibly twice - once for me and once for my own Grandma Mazur!).

I forgot the Hitch-hikers Guide books too! I'm not sure how as that is a series I have actually re-read!! Re Redwall - I'm not sure I would want to read them as an adult, but I did love them when I was about 10-13 years old. I think I grew out of them quite quickly though after that.

Now stuck on the wall at work!

Wal-mart bought out our Asda last year, so I think we are merging more and more! (http://www.asda.com) I think once I finish my Evanovich kick, I might have to rad that copy of Two Women that I got free in Woolies a couple of years ago!

They are making 3 films - one for each book. Filming is happening of the first one at the moment. I heard the same thing, but I equally don't think they can miss it out. I guess it will have the aspects of it but without the direct references to religion, heaven and gods.

Seconded!

Flipping Janet Evanovich. I can't put her down! I've devoured 2 more in 4 days! I need to stop! Finally started Small Island last night. Going to read it quick so I can get onto To The Nines the next Evanovich! Oh, I've updated post one so that you can see the list of everything I have read so far this year. I have excelled myself as Small Island will be the 100th book I finish this year. That's 6 more than last years total, and I have another 7 weeks to go!

Have I not replied to this? I'm losing my mind!!! I remember reading (this includes up to A Level Eng Lit): Macbeth Romeo and Juliet Othello Anthony and Cleopatra Merchant of Venice As You Like It Animal Farm by George Orwell Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Mildred Taylor (author?) The Red Pony - John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath Mill on the Floss - George Elliot Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte And as an extra reassurance - I find Tolkein unreadable too! I'm sure there was a lot more, although I also remember many collections of poetry (Ted Hughes, John Clare, Michael Rosen) and "Comprehension" exercises (Hemingway, and Doris Lessing seemed to be favourites for this!).