Princess Orchid

Had a bit of a busy weekend, so didn't have time to update. I started On the Street Where You Live (Mary Higgins Clark), which I have been having great difficulty in putting down. Tbh, I've never read any of her books before this one, as I always thought she'd be one of those ubiquitous generic mystery authors. Turns out I was wrong. I was so engrossed, I actually missed my stop on the bus on my way into work on Friday morning, and then "enjoyed" a 20 minute walk when I eventually got off the bus. I went into the bank on Friday afternoon, and got into a discussion with the teller about MHC - he's read every single one of her books, and was quite jealous I was reading her for the first time. I think my favourite aspect would have to be the way she paints so many characters as potential suspects, but it's done so seamlessly. Often you find it's quite obvious who the perpetrator is, but I honestly have no idea. Really looking forward to finishing this one.

Nearly finished the Joanne Harris. Wow, there was a plot twist I definately was not expecting! I'm about 15 pages from the end, and I've been racing to finish it. Have saved a wee bit for the bus journey into town tho. I can't decide what I'll read next. I've got some TBRs, but I'm not feeling terribly inspired to read anny of them. I may start reading the Mallory Towers books from Kell, as I've not had a gander at them since I was still in middle school. Hmmm...decisions...

Rigatoni with pork bolognese. And 2 figs for dessert. I am a little oCD when it comes to fruit - figs and satsumas I will only eat in pairs. So don't offer me "a" fig!

I finished Bones to Ashes during my lunch break yesterday. I enjoyed the book, and I did find myself racing at the end to finish it as I desperately wanted to know who the killer was. I loved the forensic'y bits, and the storyline was easy to get into - it was the interactions between Tempe and Ryan, and Tempe and her sister that felt a bit stilted for me. And I preferred the second half of the book to the first. I didn't really care for all the childhood flashbacks, which is not somethng I noticed in other books of hers. I just started Five quarters of an orange (Joanne Harris), which I am thoroughly enjoying. I like her books - they make me hungry.... I can't remember if this is one I've read before, but I can't remember any of the details so this must be a new one for me.

I'm not too quick on the uptake today - I read the thread title and was about to reply "English, English Lit, french, French Lit, German, Art and American History"! Oh wait, I just did...

I've got a few at home I could list - what difficulty level are you after?

I read "Boy" in school. I quite like his darker stuff, the stories not geared to children (like "Kiss Kiss" - I think that may have been in a collection of short stories).

Another thing I noticed - may be just me though. I'm reading Bones to Ashes in a slightly French-Canadian accent. Is that strange? Hm...things to ponder. I have to admit, I've spent less time reading books from my TBR pile, and more time reading the Television Without Pity Forums. There's a thread in the VM section that has had me nearly peeing myself with laughter all last night. It's probably lucky I can't get access to TWoP's boards at work, else they'll REALLY know how unproductive I'm being today! The recaps alone are close to setting me off into fits of hysterics. God I love the internet.

I had all the Mallory Towers books. And all the St Clares as well. And Chalet School, Sadlers Wells, and the "Wrinkle in Time" books by Madeleine Engle (was that her name??).

No, but do you know when the series is meant to be on telly?

OK, just something I noticed about the way Kathy Reichs writes that annoys me slightly - the need to overexplain some words and terms, especially the French ones. I understand a lot of folk may not understand French, but it seems the words she feels the need to translate are things like Bonjour, comment ca va, and ca marche. which IMO are fairly self explanatory. Ruins the flow somewhat.

I've just started Bones to Ashes, which is quite different from the only other Kathy Reichs book I've read (Break no Bones), but looking good so far. I finished Neptune Noir this morning - saved one chapter to read today, and it was totally worth it. This is definately something I will keep and read again - probably when I've finished watching the DVDs. A few of the essays exactly voiced my thoughts on particular scenes and episodes, just far more eloquently than I could manage! I'm a little sad to have finished the book already tho, which is rare for me. I usually race to the end. Guess it's different as this was a colelction of essays, and not an actual "story".

OK, I probably won't be terribly objective about this one, as I love love LOVE the tv show, and am absolutely distraught it's been cancelled, but Neptune Noir is pretty damned good so far. I'm about halfway through, and I can feel myself nodding in agreement to quite a lot of the points brought up in the essays (and grinning randomly or giggling on the bus). What I found myself quite surprised about was the piece by John Ramos (aka Couch Baron on Television Without Pity). CP is very straight-talking (pun not intended, but only if you've read any of his comments of the "Logan Echolls" character on the show) on TWoP, and I'm sure his essay contribution is slightly toned down for the anthology, but I was expecting a punchy commentary and not a somewhat psychological breakdown of the interpretations of lying on the show (and the reactions to it). I guess it's the same as expecting an actor to embody everything that is his or her character in real life - you never get what you expect! Nevertheless, I think John Ramos is an exceptionally intelligent and witty commentator, either as CB or as himself. Now what I'd like to see is a collection of essays by Couch Baron...

When my parents first left China, my mum barely spoke any English - but she was worried I'd have problems learning the language when I started school, so she bought a book of fairy tales and fables to read to me. In English. She painstakingly sounded out the words phonetically. The first stories I remembered hearing were something about a shoemaker and some helpful elves, and a farmer with a giant turnip.

Finished First Among Sequels last night, and I enjoyed it - as with all of Fforde's books, I didn't find it page-turningly, fingernail-chompingly must-find-out-what-happens-NOW(ly?) exciting, but it was quite intelligent, with some pop culture references (the parallels with Big Brother) as well as the usual well thought out literary references. I read somewhere on the forum that there is missing text on his website, but I'm not desperately seeking it out at the moment, and the idea just seems a bit gimmicky and faffy to me. This morning, I received from Amazon my latest order, which included a Pilates DVD (I live in hope), a collection of essays about Canadian Comfort Food (I'm intrigues as to the differences between that sort of cooking here in the UK and over there in the Great White North - I seem to remember a lot of references to potatoes and stews in my school lunches), AND (DUN DUN DUN!) a collection of essays about my favourite TV show, which has sadly been cancelled. So, instead of sticking to my proposed TBR list, I will be reading (and in fact have already started reading) Neptune Noir (edited by Rob Thomas) , which may involve a brief spell of hibernation for me. I've already dived into it, and I've been saving the reading of the pieces about my favourite character for last. Must draw this out for as long as possible, as the last 2 episodes are on this week and next. *sniff*

I'm just over halfway through First Among Sequels, and it's fantastic so far - not surprising really, as I loved all JF's previous books. They're just quite fun. Tbh, I prefer the Nursery Crime series over Thursday Next tho. A few things I'd like to mention that made me smile in this one - the dodgy exchange of cheese, and the reference to Paul Atreides from Frank Herberts "Dune". JF seems to be very consistent in his style. You can dive into any of his books, read them in order or not, and they just feel quite "comfortable", if that makes sense. His style doesn't change drastically from book to book, and when you know what to expect, you more or less get it. Unlike other series, I don't think it matters terribly what order you read his books in - I know "The Eyre Affair" came first, but I started with "Lost in a Good Book" and that didn't impede my enjoyment of the series at all. I went by Waterstones on my way home from work last night, and was VERY disappointed to find he new AMS book is not due out until October. I *did* welcome the following into my home, and they are now in my TBR pile: Bones to Ashes (Kathy Reichs) "Babies die. People vanish. People die. Babies vanish." Deluxe (Diana Thomas) "Down the dusty roads of Xi'an the motor scooters zoom,weaving around potholes and rickety bicycles, bip-bip-bipping their horns as they circle the city's sixteenth-century tower." The Scandal of the Season (Sophie Gee) "London,1711. The noise cold be heard streets away" The President's Last Love (Andrey Kurkov) "Kiev, 1975. The scent of acacia and blossoming chestnut are in the air as I, aged fourtenn, return home on foot from the city centre afte a few drinks." Brasyl (Ian McDonald) "May 17-19, 2006. Marcelina watched them take the car on Rua Sacopa."

Penguin is most certainly not a "childrens publisher". I wonder if your friend is confused because a few of Dickens protagonists are children (Pip from great Expectations, for example, or Oliver Twist).

I'm starting a day early, as I'll probably not remember to start this tomorrow (it being Saturday and all...). Right now, I'm reading Jasper Fforde's First Among Sequels. I've read all his previous books (both the Jack Spratt and Thursday Next series), but in a bit of a haphazard order. I may go back and red them again when I've finished this one tho, as I've got some memory blanks! I shall also be stopping by Waterstones on my way home to search out the new Alexander McCall Smith book from the Isabel Dalhousie series. It hadn't been released yet last time I checked, but that was a couple weeks ago. I've found myself drawn to series recently, and I'm not entirely sure why...

I enjoyed "Girl" by Blake Nelson, which reads like a diary I guess. Phenomenally poo film tho!

What does well with chicken liver pate? As in, duck liver pate goes well with orange, and foie gras goes well with sauternes. I've made a very smooth chicken liver pate, and it just feels a little bland...

I have to admit, there's something nice about a matte, tasteful cover, with an intriguing title. It's usually the title that gets me tho, probably as that's the first thing you see (the spine) when browsing shelf after shelf in a bookshop.

I've having a "random" dinner party next week (I've basically invited some friends and asked them to rbing a "random"), and I'm a little stuck on a menu. I'd like to have as much stuff as possible prepared the night before, ready to bung in the oven. What I've come up with so far is: Canapes: 1. Little itty bitty teeny tiny Yorkshire puddings with (sprigs of?) thyme and a small sliver of seared roast beef on top Make these in tiny muffin trays and drizzle a little bit of gravy over top with a squeezy bottle

I watch a lot of telly, especially medical dramas (House, Grey's Anatomy etc) and forensics/detective/cop shows (all 3 CSIs, Bones, Cold case...). Oh, and the food network. I watch a lot on the food network. I love cooking, baking...I'm just an exceptionally untidy Martha Stewart! Oh, and I ski, I run, and I've been known to rock climb on occasion.

Xinran's "Miss Chopsticks". It totally made me cry!

Ooh, I loved Maus! My parents got me The Complete Maus in high school.