Kylie

On a whim, I've started reading Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I noticed early on that she likes to repeat herself a lot, so I'm more skim-reading it so I can just take away the most important bits.

I could be wrong, but I think it was because Riggs was able to write a story around the photographs he already had in his collection for the first book, but for the second book he had to try to find photos to match where he was going with the story. I think it shows, given some of the directions the plot took! But it didn't bother me too much. I can't remember whether this improved or was the same in book 3, but the story itself was very good, I thought.

I received a book in the mail today: Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Been wanting this for ages. The edition that arrived is not what I ordered...it's even better! I thought I'd be getting an older-style Wordsworth edition with a mostly red cover, but I got a more recent one from the black (with red 'blood') 'Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural' series. Very happy. And another book I ordered has been shipped and will hopefully arrive tomorrow: Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I read The Yellow Wallpaper by her a few years ago and loved it, and while looking up stuff online about my current read, A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder, I discovered that Gilman had written a similar utopian novel, but set on a female-only island where men are not needed for reproduction. Should be good!

I received a book in the mail today: Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Been wanting this for ages. The edition that arrived is not what I ordered...it's even better! I thought I'd be getting an older-style Wordsworth edition with a mostly red cover, but I got a more recent one from the black (with red 'blood') 'Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural' series. Very happy. And another book I ordered has been shipped and will hopefully arrive tomorrow: Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I read The Yellow Wallpaper by her a few years ago and loved it, and while looking up stuff online about my current read, A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder, I discovered that Gilman had written a similar utopian novel, but set on a female-only island where men are not needed for reproduction. Should be good!

I reckon the real 'modern' man does. (The 'metrosexual', if you will.)

I skipped loads of descriptive stuff in Inkdeath last year. I just wanted to get to the end of the trilogy so I could move on to something else. Before that, I'd never abandoned a book or skipped pages because I felt like I couldn't then add it to my 'read' list, but happily I didn't feel remotely guilty or anything, so I think it might have been a turning point for me.

Aw Looking forward to your thoughts on We the Living, which is on my TBR pile. I just finished Jeeves in the Offing. Loved it!! I'll now get back to A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder, which I had put aside temporarily when I became absorbed in Wodehouse's writing.

Squeeee! Thanks Claire! Very exciting news.

Aww, I was so young!! I'm now 34. I just had to delete my vote and vote again because I'm in a different age category now. ^ I think DT might be the youngest now!

I'm more than halfway through Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse. I love Wodehouse so much! I'd dearly love to direct a Jeeves and Wooster play; it would be perfect for my theatre group and the type of audience we attract. I've never directed before, but I think if I aim for 2018 I'll have a bit more theatre experience under my belt and might be allowed to do it.

Ooh, pretty map and spreadsheet! You've covered quite a few counties in just 6 months!

Glad you enjoyed Cold Comfort Farm! I remember thinking it was humorous, but I felt that I was missing some of the jokes. I'd like to give it another go one day and see if I enjoy it more.

Aw, that's a shame. I thoroughly loved every minute of TCoMC, although I recall that I also had trouble remembering which character was which. Am I right in thinking that some of the characters from the beginning of the story have changed their names by the time Dantes (re)enters their lives?

That's the bit I'd pay attention to, because I think it really does come down to personal opinion. Personally, I like to use a date to draw a nice clean line between them. This way I don't run into problems such as yours, Janet, of classifying one as a classic but not another published around the same time. At some stage I decided to use World War II as my dividing line. Books published prior to the end of WWII (so, up to and including 1945) are classics (to me). There's a bit of a grey area for what I would call 'modern classics', but if I have to define that, it would probably be books published between, say, 1946 and the end of the Vietnam War. Why Vietnam? I have no idea. There's no logic behind my choice. But I think books published after that are a little too recent to be considered any type of classic. That's my humble opinion.

Do you cry when you read this? (I mean the whole book, not the opening line ). Jeeves placed the sizzling eggs and b. on the breakfast table, and Reginald ('Kipper') Herring and I, licking the lips, squared our elbows and got down to it. Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse

I've read 15 books so far, which is two ahead of schedule.

I enjoyed your last few reviews, Alexi. Race of a Lifetime sounds like someone I might enjoy. I read Fleming's Casino Royale, and it was OK, but I don't think I'll ever continue with the rest of the series. I don't really remember any racism in it, but I remember the sexism. I've been wanting to read Look Who's Back since it came out, and I found a good, cheap copy recently, so hopefully I'll get to it sooner rather than later.

I have The Stepford Wives, Rosemary's Baby and This Perfect Day on my TBR pile, so I've been really pleased to see that you've been enjoying them! Looks like I'll be bumping them up the TBR pile!

The second illustrated book has been announced. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be published 4 October 2016. Janet, I hope you don't mind, but I've altered the title of the thread to include all illustrated editions now that it appears they'll all be published. I love them, but can't quite justify the price.

Ooh, I'd go for something by Agatha Christie, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or anything by the Bronte sisters. Anything with a bit of mystery and atmosphere (I guess I'm thinking of a cold and rainy day).

I read some of A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder and started Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse. I might have an early night so I can read a little more before the day ends.

I have a quiet weekend this weekend, so I'm joining in too. I don't have any goals except to read more than I usually would on a weekend, which won't be difficult!

Yes, you've enticed me, but I'll still try and wait for you. No promises though! And stop evil laughing at me!! Best dream ever!! Does that mean you could go in at night, when no one else was around? Aw, no! PM me. (Please. ) Awesome! Did I ever tell you that when I found out about this book I meant to tell you straight away, because I know you used to like BSC, and of course there's dogs. But I forgot to tell you. Luckily you found it on your own anyway! What age range would you say this is aimed at? Similar to BSC books? Or maybe a bit older? I remember reading an Ann M Martin book about a missing child. I think it was called Missing Since Monday. I'd say that was aimed at slightly older kids (I don't think the BSC members ever dealt with kidnappings!) I bet I still have that book around somewhere... This is on my wish list (along with everything Highsmith has ever written). Is this the first Highsmith you've read? Of the three books I've read of hers so far, I'd say that they're all sort of slow burners. Very much psychological. I also find that I have trouble comprehending the way her characters act. They seem to say and do things that I find pretty unnatural. But somehow it doesn't bother me in the end, because I always rate her books at least 9/10. They just get to me in ways that other books don't. Fingers crossed that April will be a much better reading month for you! Did you buy the biography in Australia? I can't think of any poets based in Katoomba (actually, I only know the names of a couple of our most famous Australian poets, but neither of them are female and both died 60–100 years ago).

It occurred as far back as 15th February 1850. A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder by James De Mille

She's gorgeous! I love her little crossed paws. I don't think I've seen either of mine do that before.