~Andrea~

Interesting review for Gone Girl. I agree about the ending but I did enjoy the rest of the book. You have another great read coming up! I liked the Martian Chronicles although it was quite different to what I was expecting. I hope you enjoy it.

I would definitely avoid blood and gore being a bit on the squaemish side - plus I prefer subtlety to shock tactics. I like creepy or spooky ghost stories/spine chillers but nothing overly scary as I am a bit of a baby and esaily spooked I also enjoy psychological horror. I'd choose "Misery" over "It" any day,

You're on a TBR cull, Noll. Ha! (and now you're just showing off )

I've not long finished that. I really enjoyed it. Will be intrigued to see your opinion.

Ah Univerze - now I remember you Welcome back Renate! And yes Flowers for Algernon is a fantastic book.

But just think of the muscles you'll be developing in those arms! You'll have Hollywood arms in no time

I'm totally in awe of 7 books you're on a roll Noll (I'm a poet and didn't know it)

Aw thanks

Ah doggy walker. Sounds like a dream job! Congrats Frankie

Aw Kay you're very kind thank you so much but I wouldn't want to put you to the trouble. Plus I'm trying to get into the habit of only acquiring books when I'm ready to read them (excepting birthday and christmas pressies of course) Your TBR jar looks great. I hope it's a great success!

Hmmm - I'm in a bit of a dilemma whether to persevere or not now Maybe I will set it to one side and come back to it

Did you enjoy it Kylie? What did you make of it?

You have some great books there! I loved these: The Beach - Alex Garland Room - Emma Donoghue Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick Happy reading in 2015!!

Oh and I've given up on The Trial because I just couldn't get on with it. I think I'll give it to a charity shop as I'm not sure I can face a second attempt.

Well I didn't start Godric as I was really tired last night but still wanted to read before trying to sleep, and I think Godric will be a bit hardgoing. So I settled for The Golden Fool instead which I know I will enjoy and find an easy pleasant read.

I'm with these

Wow you're off to a great start this year Kay. I love how organised and neatly colour-coded your lists are! I also love the sounds of Mystery In White. Congratulations you are the first person to inspire me to add to my wish list this year Have a great reading year

Wow great lists Sari! Have a great reading year in 2015.

Thanks Sari and Kay I haven't read Beyond Ugly but I think I probably will one day. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

Thanks Gaia Well I finished it last night. What a very sad story What a world we live in. Next I think I'll start Godric, which I had for Christmas.

No I haven't Janet. I don't think I'll be reading many more of these books in the future. Just the odd one - possibly by the same author. Thank you too

Diane, your reading totals seem to be on a par with mine. I rarely make it above 25 in a year. Last year I managed 19 and a few of those were audio books I listened to in the car, so went in parallel with my 'real' reads. Haha I love this image Pontalba. Yep - so true

Yea hers are interesting because she's a foster carer so they're written from her point of view rather than that of the child. I expect I'll read some more of hers at some point. Gaia yes they are definitely books you need to be in the right mood for!

Thanks everyone. I'm currently reading Damaged by Cathy Glass - one of those misery memoirs. I've only read one other - Ugly by Constance Brisco which I found a really powerful (and difficult) read but it made a real impact on me. I bought this one soon after but it has been languishing on my shelf for years - probably because I knew the subject matter would be even harder this time (this is very severe sexual abuse involving a paedophile ring). It is a harrowing read but it's also fascinating (I don't mean the details of the abuse but the story of the child's psychological issues and recovery). So I'm glad I decided to finally read it. I'm about two-thirds through. I know a lot of people don't like these kind of books (and the way the genre has blossomed over the last decade or so doesn't sit comfortably with me, as they are not IMO entertainment reads) but I do think they have value (at least those I've read) to help understand what kinds of things happen in our society. Sexual abuse of children is one of those horrors that angers people (rightly so) but that they don't want to think about. But the thing is - it happens, people have to live with the consequences, and other people have to go in and face the monumental task of picking up the pieces. And the people who have gone through it walk among us living with this terrible taboo that nobody wants to talk about or face except to vent anger on the perpetrators. I wonder if we were less squeamish and willing to understand more it would lead to more willingness to understand those people in society - or our own lives - who are difficult or have issues, because we don't know what they have gone through. I don't know, books like this one certainly make me think twice about judging people anyway, because you never know what a person has gone through to make them what they are.