poppy

Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits

I loved Stardust too ....it was just magical. His characters are so lovable (well the nice ones, that is)

I've just finished Anansi Boys and absolutely loved it. I love his writing, it's funny, it's imaginative and it's highly original. I think I've just found another favourite author. Got Fragile Things out from the library today .... a collection of his short stories. I was hoping for Neverwhere or American Gods but they weren't available. I'm addicted ..will probably read every book of his I can get my hands on, one after another

Definitely dark

Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo Y Gabriela.

Porcelain by Moby

And don't forget the amazingly perceptive lyrics ... And if you tell my heart, my achy breaky heart, He might blow up and kill this man. (we live in hope )

I caught Lady Gaga on the Royal Variety Show last night. It's the first time I've come across her. The piano was interestingly surreal but she sang flat ....maybe it was because she was suspended so high up in the air I can understand your annoyance. She certainly won't be on my wishlist any time soon. Oh yes, Billy Ray Cyrus's Achy Breaky Heart *finger down throat*

New Zealand has some well-known authors like Katherine Mansfield and Janet Frame, but I find a lot of our writers fairly intense and heavy reading. I keep meaning to delve into them more

Very true words Muggles

I agree Rawr and amongst the most brilliant artists in any of the fields, there does seem to be a high percentage with psychiatric disorders.

In Flander's Field by John McCrae and I love this one NAMING OF PARTS by Henry Reed To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday, We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning, We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day, To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens, And to-day we have naming of parts. This is the lower sling swivel. And this Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see, When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel, Which in your case you have not got. The branches Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures, Which in our case we have not got. This is the safety-catch, which is always released With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see Any of them using their finger. And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers: They call it easing the Spring. They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt, And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance, Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards, For to-day we have naming of parts.

I can understand how you feel about having Black authors fairly represented Katrina. I don't think Andrea Levy, author of Small Island, has been mentioned.

"It's not easy being a man! Oh no... I had to get dressed today... and there are other pressures" - Dylan Moran Ned ....you poor thing!!!!

I've just finished reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman and I think it would have to be my favourite so far. It's like an adult fairy-tale and is absolutely enchanting.

Awwww Muggles those are SOOOOOOOOo sweet. I absolutely love Bambi, he's been my favourite cartoon character ever since I was little. Animals are amazing with each other sometimes.

My latest one is inspired by my ongoing battle and bewilderment with digital devices

This by Geordie Bint, very suitable for a book forum Take me on an adventure, you mark the words I will follow and turn the pages.............. and just saw this by Mia .... I tried being patient, but it took too long...

And I understand the day after Thanksgiving you shop till you drop? Katrina, can you tell me what collared greens are, please? I've heard of them but have no idea.

We've got a thread for favourite avatars but what's your favourite signature? A few I've come across that make me grin ..... Raven - Like a midget at the urinal, I had to stay on my toes .... SueK - KBO (keep buggering on) - Winston Churchill Ned - "If you're gonna be a maniac, pyro's not a good maniac" Jeff Green, Curb Your Enthusiasm and of course Charm - Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all How does the Thanksgiving dinner menu differ from Christmas?

strangely similar to a skeleton .....

For some reason every time I sing this hymn I get a lump in my throat The movie about the writer of this song was very interesting.

Wow!!!! I see what you mean. Thanks for pointing this out for me Muggles and sorry I missed it earlier

I've just finished reading this and was very interested to read people's comments on the multi-layeredness (is that a word?) of this book, many of which hadn't occured to me. What struck me most strongly was the realisation again, that ordinary people are capable of the most horrific actions. Hanna asking the judge, "What would you have done?" really gives pause for thought. How do we know how we would act given a certain situation? I think it is dangerous to think we are somehow better, or incapable of such atrocities. One point that Schlink made that I disagreed with, was that Michael was somehow guilty by association because he had loved Hanna, even though he was unaware of her past. You do not stop loving someone because they have committed a crime, although undoubtedly it changes your perception of them. You can love the person but not the crime.