Sugar

Once again it has been a busy week, and the time I've not been working or out, I've had a migraine and headachy. The migraine knocked me out, and the headache has been hanging around since, so I have been avoiding the PC screen. I have managed to get some reading done though. Added to Post 1 are: Cat Among the Pigeons - Julia Golding Killing Orders - Sara Paretsky Four to Score - Janet Evanovich Yhe Road of Bones - Anne Fine Welcome to the Real World - Carole Matthews October has been a surprisingly readable month, I'm not sure how though! I guess it is because a number of the books have been "must reads" rather than "would like to reads".

Thank you, Kell. I will try better, but until the start of next year I can't make any promises! I'm going to try to visit at least once a week though!

I will apologise for my lack of visiting recently. Things are rather busy at work, and at home at the moment! Since I last visited I thought I hadn't read very much, but when I listed them here on my 1st post, I realised I have. The books were: Small Steps - Louis Sachar Kiss Me Quick - Julie Highmore Damian Drooth Supersleuth: Spycatcher - Barbara Mitchelhill Out of My Depth - Emily Barr Oranges in No Man's Land - Elizabeth Laird The Navigator - Eoin McNamee Notes on a Scandal - Zoe Heller The Penalty - Mal Peet Three to Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich Admitedly the top 5 I have read in the last 3 days, and some have been very short (younger) children's fiction. Further to my last post about The Vesuvius Club, I did enjoy it, but not long after posting got a bit of a shock at the sudden adult content! Certainly not recommended to children!!!

My friends have commented that they feel they have to be really careful with my books as I too tend to keep them in nearly new condition. I was amazed, as like you, Kell, I wouldn't lend them if I was that worried about them getting wrecked!

It was commissioned by the estate of JM Barrie, and loads of author entered a competition to write it. I saw Geraldine McCaughrean talking about it not long after she found out she won and she was sooooo excited!

That was my favourite! Once again showing how we all differ!

I loved the Anne series - I read them all (they were out of print when I was young, but the library had copies). I preferred the later books though - when she is at university and when she was a teacher to the earlier childhood ones.

Very good book - not quite in my top 10 but somewhere near!

Finished Roar, Bull, Roar and greeted my colleague with "Dobry den" which measn good morning. She seemed pleased and surprised! I am going to pass the book onto her, as she had heard about it, but not seen it. Now reading The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss of League of Gentlemen fame. I've been pleasantly surprised as it is quite easy to read, and humerous at the same time. Lucifer Box is a James Bond type character for his time, who lives at Number 9, Downing Street (well somebody has to!). Set in the Victorian/Edwardian era, the high speed chase involving hansom cabs was hilarious!

I'm reading his other full length novel (The Vesuvius Club) at the moment, and if that is anything to go by, you will be in for a treat with the Dr Who one!

A proof copy (also known as an Advanced Reading Copy) is a copy of a book that the publishers produce pre-publication. These copies will be sent out to reviewers, sales people, and other people in the book trade. They are essentially a marketing tool - but are also used as a last edit check - there are often typo's and sometimes words may be slightly different in the finished copy, and occassionally a whole sections of the plot may change! Hope that clears it up - I shouldn't assume everyone knows publishing lingo!

That is the joy of having friends in publishing who sneak you proof copies!!! Just had a thought about that though, Michelle. I'll send you a PM in a bit.

I've grown up with Douglas Adams. My dad actually recorded the radio series of H2G2 when it was first on, and it was played repeatedly in the car on long journeys! In fact my dad and brother were members of the Fan Club for a very long time - it was imperative that we knew where our towels were!!! I've read all the Hitch-hikers books a few times, and the Dirk Gently ones twice. I keep fancying a re-read of Hitch-hikers recently as well. Maybe I will get them on audio to listen in the car. I loved the idea in the Dirk Gently books about following a random car when you are lost, with the logic that it will get you to wear you need to be, even if there somewhere is different to where you though - I have actually tried it, and I have had a pretty high success rate!

I completely forgot last time I posted that I have also read Under the Duvet, the collection of short stories and articles that Keyes had written and had published elsewhewre all pulled together. Another good read, and very good for dipping into. I keep meaning to get Further Under the Duvet but as with most of my reading haven't gotten around to it yet!

And very good it is, too! It is more in the vein of Vanish with the psychological thriller aspect, than some of the other more graphically violent earlier books, but still manages to get your heart racing, and induce that fear of turning off the light!

It's due in March though, I think - so only 6 months or so to go! I think he has a contract for a book a year, so give him a chance to write it!!! The new one is actually set back between The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book, so won't carry on where Something Rotten left off, but should fill in some gaps (eg with the Samuel Pring incident).

I read the first one, Knots and Crosses, and while I enjoyed it I have never felt strongly enough to come back to the next one (pretty much the same as my most recent read - the first crime novel by Kathy Reichs). Ian Rankin will, however, remain on my list of someone to read if I run out of other authors!

I read it pre-publication in May. It is certainly not one of her stronger novels, but as with the rest does explore themes to make you think! I won't say any more, as usual anything you mention could be a spoiler!

I can remember the smells that float out of the book more clearly than I can remember the smell of my favourite foods! Suskind is so very evocative in Perfume's descriptions.

I am equally impressed that there is someone else out there who has read it! No-one else I have mentioned it to has heard of it, and even if they seem keen when I talk about it, none of them have gone as far to actually read it I don't think! And thank you for your lovely comments about my review! :oops:

in a dark and stormy town, down a dark and stormy road, in a dark and stormy house, three skeletons lived! (with apologies to the Ahlbergs!)

More to add to the TBR list then!

I've just noticed how much Children's Fiction there is in your list! That's the best thing about coming here for me - I don't feel so alone!

I certainly won't be reading any more then! If I struggled with Deja Dead, there is no hope for me with the later ones!