Weave

Judy, it was a great start to the series two, I think your daughter will enjoy it, but its a wee bit sad. mrstrecool, I can not wait to find out what John told Dean either, we still don't how many people there is like Sam, it will be cool to find out.. Thanks for the avatar compliment

That was very insight Princess, thanks for posting it. My grandpa did not speak about it unless he had a few, I know that he was tortured, which was awful. My dad went to Auschwitz in the mid 1960's, I don't know if that made much difference, maybe it was still very raw for people. I think that the powers than be could learn alot from Auschwitz and the other camps, what human nature can do if it chooses to do so.

I have heard of Life is beautiful, but I have always wanted to see it. Its a pity I gave my copy of 'The Final Solution' to my friend and I would have gladly passed it on to you, it is a great read, very interesting.. You went to Auschwitz?, silly question I know, but how did you feel?, I am not asking in a morbid way, but my dad went to Auschwitz, he was living in Germany at the time, and he made the trip with some friends, I asked him and he said it was horrible, just horrible and he did not hear a bird sing, etc, he said it felt wrong the whole time he was there. Plus my grandpa was in Auschwitz briefly as a prisoner of war then he was moved on, but he did not forget it.

I have found that myself with personal histories regarding the Holocaust especially after reading The Final Solution, which had personal accounts from survivors and german soldiers, which I found interesting to say the least, it gave me a lot to think about.

Title of book: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Name of Author: John Boyne Published by: Black Swan; New Ed edition (1 Feb 2007) Number of pages: 214 Genre: Young Adult Subject: The Holocaust The Blurb: Nine year old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no-one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas. Bruno's friendship with Shmuel will take him from innocence to revelation. And in exploring what he is unwittingly a part of, he will inevitably become subsumed by the terrible process. My review: 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas' tells the story of nine year old Bruno, the story is narrated by Bruno, which shows in the style of writing, its Bruno's own perspective of the situation, he calls the Fuhrer, 'The Fury' and Auschwitz, 'Outwith'. I thought the way the book is written is very clever of the author because it is the story of children. The story begins with Bruno coming home to find Maria the maid packing his clothes and toys into large crates, Bruno is understandably indignant about this and wants to know why, so it becomes quite a shock for Bruno when he is told by his mother, that his father has been promoted to 'Kommandant' and she, his father and Bruno sister's Gretel, who Bruno calls 'The Hopeless Case' are leaving Berlin to move into a new home. So begins Bruno adventure as he calls it, the family move to the new house which Bruno finds boring as there is nothing to do and no other houses, then Bruno discovers there are houses outside his bedroom window behind the high fence, Bruno is delighted to find out that there are boys on the other side of the high fence, not just young boys but as Bruno says 'There were small boys and big boys, fathers and grandfathers, perhaps a few uncles too. And some of those people who live on their own on everybody's road but don't seem to have any relatives at all'. Bruno decides he wants to see who is behind the high fence, where he meets Shumel, who is also nine years old, they become friends. What did I think of the book?: I found 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas an amazing book, the fact it is written from Bruno's point of view makes the book at times, funny and shows the innocence of Bruno who I thought was a remarkably sensitive young boy but at the same time,a typical nine year old, everything in his world is simple, he just does not understand why the world around him is not so simple. Shumel and Bruno as characters make this book what it is, two children who become friends in the most tragic of circumstances, Schumel trapped in a concentration camp unable to escape and Bruno, trapped in a house he hates, which of course is different from a concentration camp but it is just as serious to Bruno. All in all 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas' is a remarkable book and I recommend it to anyone. Rating: 10/10

I started reading 'Maus' today... 'The Mammoth Cheese' by Sheri Holman arrived today!

Great review Bagpuss, I would read this kind of book..

I just bought 'The Secret Life of Bees' myself, I am looking forward to reading it...

Hi the bookgarden, welcome if I have not said it already... It is difficult to pigeon hole Clive Barker, which makes him such a great author, I love The Books of Blood, so many great stories.. I adore 'The Thief of Always', such a great tale.

It is interesting and I think you will enjoy it, but you might need tissues...

I finished The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. I think it is the most powerful and sad book I have read in awhile, so sad in fact I can not even write a review on it.

That's right, it was Umbridge, thanks Icecream...

'Eva!' roared the Fury for a second time, and now she started to walk away from them' The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Hey Supernatural buddy (and I mean that in a good way), I know the episode you mean from episode one, it was called 'Bloody Mary', I found it quite scary, the other episode which was scary for me was the one with the spirit of the wee boy in the lake, I am terrified of the water, I could barely stand to watch it. I have see the trailers for series two, it looks great and I agree the clown episode looks scary...

Hello, How are you ALL doing? Just wondering if there are any Supernatural fans on the forum. I LOVE Supernatural, addictive viewing from the first episode of the first series, I have the box set on dvd as well. It starts this Sunday (4th) on ITV1 at 9.00 pm, we will finally know what happened to Dean, Sam and John Winchester... Share your thoughts about Supernatural...

You are welcome, I know my review does not give it to justice, but it truly is a wonderful read.

I am using a very pretty one at the moment, thanks to PP...

I bought 'The Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd and 'The Complete Maus' by Art Spiegelman today..

It is very interesting and very different. I recommend it highly x

I'm buying 'The Secret Life of Bees' next time I am in town..

I think they did ban quidditch that year because of the threat of Voldemort...

I bought mines from Waterstones and it was 6 quid off but no bag...

Title of Book: The Girls Name of Author: Lori Lansens Amazon ISBN Number: 1844083667 The Blurb: 'In twenty-nine years, Rose Darlen has never spent a moment apart from her twin sister Ruby. She has never gone for a solitary walk ot had a private conversation. Yet, in all that time, she has never once looked into Ruby's eyes. Joined at the head, 'The Girls' (as they are known in their small town) attempt to lead a normal life, but can't help being extraordinary. Now almost thirty, Rose and Ruby are on the verge of becoming the oldest living craniopagus twins in history, but they are remarkable for a lot more than their unusual sisterly bond. ' I heard about 'The Girls' on this forum and I am sorry to say I can not remember which member it was who recommended it, so I want to thank you and apologise for forgetting who you are. 'The Girls' tells the story of Rose and Ruby Darlen, the oldest living craniopagus twins in history, in their home town they are known as 'The Girls' the conjoined twins who arrived in the midst of a hurricane, abandoned by their 18 year old mother who claims her name is Elizabeth Taylor. After their mother leaves, the nurse who assisted bringing the twins in the world who is called Lovey Darlen and her husband Stash (his full name is Stanislaus, originally from Grozovo, Slovakia), adopt the twins and name them Rose and Ruby. The story is told by Rose and Ruby, they are both writing their autobiography, which whilst reading is not off putting, they have different styles of writing, Ruby's way is a more of diary approach, funny and light, showing her sparkling personality, she feels she is writing to her friend i.e the reader and Rose's approach is more intense with a lot of feeling, showing her deep personality. As the story progresses you find out more about the life of Rose and Ruby, how people react to them, how they were raised by their Aunt Lovey and Uncle Stash, Aunt Lovey forever imprinting on Rose and Ruby that they are not different, they are extraordinary but the twins do not feel so extraordinary, they understand the world around them but at the same time have their own world, a world with each other, sisters together,not just conjoined. 'The Girls' is beautifully written, funny, heartbreaking, sympathetic and unforgetable, you will think about The Girls long after you have finished the book. Rating: 10/10

Finished 'The Girls' by Lori Lansens, review coming real soon.

That is what I like about the shopaholic series as well buzzybee xxx