~V~

Thanks Michelle. Not sure how I could have missed that, not like me

I'm not reading the Alexander McCall Smith ones in public. Not because I'm ashamed to be reading them, but I'm ashamed I've come across them so late and don't want to be seen as jumping on the 'Post-TV' bandwagon. I would hate to be thought of as being on a bandwagon

Just between you and me ... What books do you enjoy but wouldn't read in public? You know the sort of thing I mean. Go on, I won't tell

13. Alexander McCall Smith - Tears of the Giraffe I broke so many of my cardinal rules here.The same author back-to-back being a primary one. But not really I didn't, as I'm most of the way through another book but I needed a break from it as my concentration is still appalling. So, is it as good as the previous one? Yes, it's probably better as now we 'know' the characters (Botswana being one of them) and so more can be actual plot. Odd then that Precious has far less cases. The gentle, subtle humour is still there in spades; 'You've shattered the glass ceiling' says Precious to her secretary when she 'promotes' her to Assistant Detective . Also present is the old-fashioned morality and logic in spades. I do wish I had started reading these earlier, it's great to read a book in a day and just enjoy it without feeling it's a guilty pleasure. 9/10

All this talk about Ghostwriters ... Aren't all writers 'ghostwriters' if we look at it that they listen to somebody and then put the ideas into a book? Taken to the extreme anyway ... No author gets every idea from their head, they get them from numerous sources, this one just got them mainly from Katie Price. So yes, ghostwriters are a ridiculous concept

How about some Martin Amis? His books aren't too long Oh yes, see if you can find Nicholson Baker anywhere. He's a favourite of mine but you don't see his books around too much

Was that Jessie? The one who did 'River Deep Mountain High'? DVO said she should lift her head If so, I really like her but thought that the Tina Turner impression was just too much tonight. I actually quite liked them all but three (Tara, Ashley and Francesca) Of the Olivers, I think I only like two! The one who got through tonight and another one. They are all far too 'stage/private school' for my liking. What was this ALW said about wanting 'gritty'?

I've just thumbed through about a dozen and not found one with the Author's name on the pages. Some did have the book title at the top, and I've seen that on quite a few others too

All those of you who loved Birdsong. I must say, I did enjoy it but of the 'Trilogy', I much preferred the other two, especially 'The Girl from the Lion D'Or' I felt there were too many long war bits in Birdsong (much like Atonement)

I've now seen the first two episodes and think it's ok. Peter Krause just has the ability to make it ok though doesn't he? And Donald Sutherland is great too

Oooh I like that one

But I love Nick Hornby!!!! And Tony Parsons for that I always think of bloke's books as having a big shouty name on the front and written by people like Andy Mc Nabb

I'm wondering if 'A Spot of Bother' (for instance) had been written by a woman it would be classed as chick-lit Thinking about how many books are classed as such, but don't really fulfill the quite narrow brief, I'm thinking we may be reverting back to the days of George Eliot

Which is weird as he demonstrates quite a lot of inverted snobbery himself.

He came across well didn't he?

Odd how the 'posh boys' appear to have divided opinion this time. Personally, I felt sorry for them as the geezer-blokes did very much split off and blame them for the shortcomings of the whole team. I thought Alex should have gone as he was a useless PM but he was great in the Boardroom. Nicholas just went to pieces which was a shame as he appeared to have had all his spirit bullied out of him with that diatribe in the market about how it was all his fault. Raef looks like he's about to be the most mirth-worthy. After all, it's not like he labelled shark as hamster is it?

I often see Marian Keyes talked about as chick-lit but to me she isn't as her books are generally very humorous with dark moments On the whole I'd say chick-lit is generally aimed at younger women, they also tend to be quite aspirational with romance, friendship or whatever as the plot

Twin Peaks or The Mole

The cover on my copy too Gyre. This is one of the covers of my favourite book. I think the cover is lovely too:

I feel like I've stepped into 'Primeval' with all these anomalies

I saw an Inspector Linley thing this afternoon on TV The last book I read of hers was dreadful compared with all the others. I've still bought her latest though. Oh yes, don't forget to read them in order, probably more relevant to do so with hers than with many of the series

I officially am not a fan of yours for that comment Try telling that to Amazon I ordered four books yesterday, you pay the same amount of P&P however much you order so I expected it all to be packaged together. Today I got three of the books, all in fantastic condition, and all posted seperately

Oooh Mark Billingham. I love him

Johnathan Kellerman springs to mind as you read his wife Harlan Coben Carol O'Connell Minette Walters Peter James

I love that cover of Weaveworld too Gyre. I can't think of any off-hand that I love but am sure I'll spend time in this thread nodding along. Oh yes, here's one: Link