~V~

Blossom, how is this so? I'm sure you're not freaky in any other parts of your life so ... ?

19. Robert Barnard ~ A cry from the dark So, I wasn't going to read another of his books for a while but it was in the library facing me when I went in the door. I just couldn't resist! This one is about an elderly Australian author who is writing her memoirs. Whilst doing so, her friend is attacked and it appears that the attack was meant for her. Each chapter covers some of her currentlife and some of her memories, as if we are reading them as she writes them. As usual, with Barnard, the story is a little different to the norm, well written and keeps you guessing right up to the last pages. It's not his best though and took me a week to read rather than the usual 'I-can't-put-this-down' read in a day kind of thing I often have with his books 7/10 3/6 books read off Mount TBR - I've bought one book so can't buy any more

I mourn the day Watterson hung up his crayons. I adore Calvin and Hobbes

Be still my beating heart. Tis the gorgeous George Lamb

You don't have a dentist? Ewwww. Nasty There must be some time when you are caught without suitable reading material surely? I know you are pretty well house-bound but even that has limits

At least she didn't discriminate with her bullying. Every team leader was up for getting some off her

The cams are always fantastic. Had some forum software once where you cold embed a cam stream into a post - was brilliant seeing what was happening throughout the various posts. I know what you mean about Oddie, I'm no birder so I kind of like the 'Twitcher-Lite' versions we get on Spring(and Autumn) watch

Are you sure you just didn't read his autobiography? I'm always amazed his first book is never mentioned in the front pieces of his more current books.

Could you have the grace to add a after that please? I'm going to add some new 'please don't waste your life with this book' books to my five (I'm a rebel, shoot me). 6. Maggie's Tree by Julie Walters. This book truly upset me that I had wasted good reading time on it. Very rarely has that happened. I would have dumped it after a couple of chapters but a) I love Julie Walters, It was short so I figured i could read it quickly (I couldn't) c) I kept hoping it would improve (ha!) d) It had good reviews on the back e) the cover was pretty (yes, I know). I should have read the Amazon reviews first. 7. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards. Am I the only person in the world who thought this was just too precious for words? How any story can be told without an ounce of humour must be an achievement but not one I would applaud. It was all just far too worthy for my liking, saying you don't like it almost feels like saying you eat kittens for breakfast.

TF he's gone. But I did want to see that smug pretty-boy get shafted. I hate the way Lee treats Lucinda now he has Alex to play with. I can't believe I'm saying this but Claire is growing on me. Eeep!

Oddie's barking mad and we need people like that on TV. Everything's becoming far too bland and 'corporate'. Bring on the eccentrics, I say Anyway, I adore Springwatch but cry far too much. That wild cat was beautiful wasn't it? As he was naming the traits I was going 'Pink nose? Yes, Betty has one of those. White whiskers? Yes both my girls have those'. There the similarities ended I'm pleased to report

I didn't think so. Much as I love the little Welsh boy's singing voice, acting ability, etc I could hardly understand a word he says

I agree Michelle I even remember the furore when the seemingly most popular of the potential Nancys (at the time) was kicked out at a fairly early stage. (The East End Nancy girl) It just seems that they've mesed it up totally. I think they got the wrong Olivers too but ... Maybe it's the Cameron MacKintosh thing?

Double episode next Sunday I think And we're now up to speed with the Americans so can look at things online without fear of spoilers (I think) So, Sun and Aaron on the plane, Sayid and Kate with Peter Pan (Richard is it?), Hurley with Ben, Jack with Sawyer. Blimey! Odd to think it's those six And did anyone else notice how Jack's Mother looks like an older version of Kate? Oedipal

Oh, next dip around some Daphne du Maurier if they have it DWMG

Little Women (or Good Wives, etc)? I suppose I was into Horror a little more at fifteen too

Lee was totally the right one for the role. I just happened to prefer Daniel

Yeah, the one I liked in Joseph got booted too soon. What was his name? Daniel Singer I think. The cute one. (obviously)

Pretty well agree Mia. Jessie drives me mad the way she sings out of the side of her face. At first I thought she was doing it because that's where the mic is and she thought she had to. She still does it though so it must just be the way she is. She seems to be a bit of a diva too. At the beginning I saw Rachel and thought 'Here we go, another pro like Connie and Lee all lined up to make it look like a competition'. Now she's the only one I like left! Sam's sweet but I think she's a bit too green behind the ears and Jodie is a bit too much of a drama queen for my tastes. I can't get the image out of my head that she should be on a karaoke stage singing 'I Will Survive' to all her gay best friends

Glad to know it's not just me As to the space, I do think that may have been part of the problem. I've read a lot of his stuff this year so ...

Who put that apostrophe there? I do look at the characters as real people, but I don't think overthink what is happening. It's only if one of them appears to act totally out of character that it jars with me. Maybe I just thin-slice them (I just had to correct five typos in that post before submitting. I think I need more painkillers. Or something)

I casually wonder what may happen ahead of time but hate to spoil the book for myself. I don't ever wonder what the character's would have happen. Not ever. I think you're weird.

18. Alexander McCall Smith ~ 44 Scotland Street Having enjoyed the No1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, I thought I'd give these a go. They're very different in some ways but there are similarities. At first I was just so bored, but I suppose that can be the way with some series as you get to know the characters. After about halfway, though I did start to really enjoy the book. Good job too as it took me forever to read considering it's a relatively small book (326 pages). The characterisation in his books always appears vivid, you do get a strong picture of the person but sometimes I feel his dialogue lets him down. In the African books the dialogue appears charming and not being too familiar with the dialect it appears to be authentic. However, in modern-day Scotland it appears to be very old-fashioned in parts. Maybe a scotchtish person could enlighten me. Anyway, it was ok in the end and I shall read the next book too 7/10 3/3 books read off Mount TBR - I can buy a book! But I probably shan't

That's good Kylie. It should be working for me too .... when I've sorted all these books out I may have more of a realistic idea of where I'm at. maybe

I need something to offset the feeling of guilt I get when I walk past them all. I'm sure they're starting to glower at me