Polka Dot Rock

There's definitely something about mysterious characters: one of the aspects that makes Fevvers my favourite character is whilst she is brash and appears to be an open book, she is actually ambiguous and guarded. It's not just about whether she is or isn't an actual bird-woman, but she represents the contradictions that are often raging within women. Plus she's a sweary ol' cockney who drinks too much and wears a lot of make up. Gotta love her for that!

I used to really enjoy Asterix, too. I think I had an omnibus as well. I always loved the little dog - it reminded me of mine! I'm STILL waiting for Watchmen... I swear amazon keep moving the despatch date back. Grrr!

I made a soup last night, it's a really easy one to throw together and very warming. Good for veggies, too. Here's it is: Spicy Bean & Tomato Soup Serves: Two hungry people Tablespoon of Olive Oil 400g can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (or any pulse: last night, I used a mix of kidney and cannellini beans. Haricot beans would be great too) 400g tinned Chopped Tomatoes 1 medium/large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves (or a generous sprinkle of dried chopped garlic, if you're me!) Half-a-pint of Vegetable (or Chicken) Stock Teaspoon each of the following dried spices: cumin*, coriander*, paprika*, tumeric* Pinch of cayenne pepper* 2 heaped teaspoons of tomato puree (not essential) Salt and pepper to season * If you don't have all these, don't worry. Improvisation is the key to everything I cook! Method * Fry onions and garlic until soft. * Add all other ingredients * Bring to boil * Cover and simmer for 20 mins * Et voila! Serve with some lovely chunks of bread (garlic bread is especially good with this soup)

Ooh do tell me what you think m'dear, I'm really looking forward to reading it. But with no spoilers please, lol.

They should be miles cheaper than that! Go to a charity shop and they usually sell new ones there, like at Oxfam. Or make one from the lid of a cereal packet, glue, coloured paper and stickers. Then say your nephew/sister/creepy kid from next door made it for you.

When I was little, I had to be restrained from buying bookmarks as I couldn't see one without wanting it To be fair, I still use at least three of them! There's a pretty fish one (it's actually an illustration from a children's book but I can't remember what it is) and two Garfield ones: an Aquarius one and, one of my faves, a purple bookmark with a chunk 'bitten' out of it with Garfield thinking "The book's not bad, but the bookmark is DELICIOUS". My favourite bookmark is one I picked up years ago in Exeter when I bought Maggie O'Farrell's After You'd Gone. It's a very thin holographic one, with a circle at the top that shows a 3D rose. I'm weirdly attached to it, I think, because of After You'd Gone - I was so blown away by it, that the bookmark is kind of a reminder of incredible some writing can be. I really worry if I can't find it! At the moment, I'm into orange for some reason. I'm using one my mum made for me when I was little, out of a Frosties box (strange, we didn't eat Frosties!) that was covered with orange paper and has Animals of Farthing Wood stickers that spell 'AMY'. The other is my newest one, a leather(ette) one from the Eden Project. Isn't it strange how you randomly choose which ones you regulary use? I have others but I tend to use the same ones over and over again.

Ooh good! It was part of a final year course that I didn't do, and I'd never heard of it until my friend mentioned how much she'd enjoyed it on the course. Carter Beats The Devil was on it too, as well as one of my favourite novels, Middlesex. I know what I'm spending my gift vouchers on!

Update: I've now posted a Review of Wicked.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire The blurb: An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Gregory Maguire just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature. I've been intrigued by Wicked ever since I saw an American import version recommended in a bookshop. It really appealed to me as although I love the classic film musical, I

After reading through the thread on Instant/Constant Characters, it got me thinking about books where the character/s are one of my favourite elements. Here are some of mine: * Fevvers - Nights At The Circus (Angela Carter) * Jane Eyre - erm, Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) * Matilda - Matilda (Roald Dahl) * Nannie - The One Hundred and One Dalmations (Dodie Smith) * Lyra and Will - His Dark Materials trilogy (Philip Pullman) * Estella - Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) * Oskar Schell - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer) That's off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are some others... No doubt, you lot will remind me of more! I found it harder to think of favourite characters than of favourite books, actually! And I've noticed that there are four 'children' in there, and even Fevvers, Jane and Estella are shown as children in their novels. I can't think why that should be! Oh and there's a dog in there too, lol.

Just thought of another list... Books that I'd like find (as I can't figure out where the bloody hell they've disappeared to!) Lolita - Vladimir Nabakov Franny & Zooey - JD Salinger Lolita's one of my favourite books and I really want to read Franny & Zooey, but I can't for the life of me think where they might be in the house, garage, caravan etc. Grrr.

She's very good at that, is our PP

Update: Finished Wicked, so will try and post a review soon. I've also updated my Want list after reading two fantastic articles last week by Oliver James and Kate Figes, and after getting a couple of recommendations from a friend (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Carter Beats the Devil).

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman The Blurb The Pulitzer-Prize winning graphic novel combines Maus I: A Survivor's Tale and Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began, thus forming the complete story of Vladek Spiegelman and his wife as they attempt to survive Hitler's Europe, told by their son 'Artie' (i.e. Art Spiegelman). By addressing the horror of the Holocaust through cartoon form, Spiegelman captures the everyday reality of fear and is able to explore the guilt, relief and extraordinary sensation of survival - and how the children of survivors are in their own way affected by the trials of their parents. A contemporary classic of immeasurable significance.

This was a contender for February's Reading Circle and although it didn't win, it was a popular choice. So, after discussing it with the good Lady Kell, I've started this thread: If anyone would like to discuss The Complete Maus during February, they may now do so: Hooray! The discussion should really start properly in Feb, but in the meantime, please feel free to say you'd like to take part and when you have a copy of the book to hand. Big thanks again to Kell, and I'll be posting all the blurb shortly.

I read Mary Barton! I really enjoyed it, did it for a Victorian Novel course. It's totally melodramatic and quite unintentionally hilarious at times, but it's a great read. Especially as it refers to bits of Manchester that I was all too familiar with (in fact, a character - not an important one, this isn't a spolier - dies of exhaustion on Oxford Road and it really creeped me out, knowing that this must have happened. Spooky).

Ah, I forgot I'd read The Awakening! I'm pretty sure I did an exam question on it too. It was pretty good, from what I recall.

Update: I've added to the TBR pile and Want wish list

Aw, I love The Bell Jar - that's also a favourite. I read it when I was 13 and really enjoyed it, but when I read it again at 20 it really freaked me out as I was relating to it! I know a lot of people find it depressing, but I find it truthful and quite inspiring.

I've gone on 're-reading' factor... Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte Animal Farm - George Orwell After You'd Gone - Maggie O'Farrell Maus - Art Speigelman* *yes PP, that again, lol! I would also like to mention Matilda, Lolita, Brideshead Revisited, On Beauty, The Handmaid's Tale, Wise Children, Dracula and Nervous Conditions... Sorry! But I think those five above would do most nicely

Cheers m'dear

I think it's called Watching on there... Strange. You go into the Search tab at the top of the page, then enter the name you want in the Search User box. Then their profile should come up, and on the right hand side, you can click Add to Your Watch List. Which I've just done with you I think that's how it works, but if there's anything I haven't seen, let me know!

Hey! I went on this months ago, but I wasn't on the forum then so didn't have anyone to link with... ...But I do now! Rather predictably, I'm PolkaDotRock on there, too. Please add me

It's strange that they don't publish the new writers in paperback first. You'd think it'd make more financial and commercial sense: people are more likely to buy paperbacks by writers they haven't read before, than in more pricey hardback. It doesn't seem to make business sense! Or have I missed something?

I know that there are a couple of publishers/imprints that tend to publish new or less-established writers in paperback first. But I can't remember who they are!