Kylie

It's possible that I was overthinking it when putting the tree up. I probably made more work for myself than was necessary. I'm jealous of the book trees I've seen on the Internet that are made by libraries or bookshops. You can tell that they have heaps of copies of the same book, which must make it so much easier to make the tree! I'm definitely going to leave it up until after Christmas. I've put too much work into it to take it down too soon! I've been away all week so far and am going to see my Mum for a few days, then I'll be away over Christmas, so I won't actually be home much to enjoy it before Christmas! I might take it down early in the new year. I'd really like to get my bookshelves in order and take some new photos. It's been years since I've done it properly. Until I put the tree up, I had my non-fiction books neatly ordered, but my fiction bookshelves were a mess...and now everything's a mess! Aw, thanks!

I've read and loved Watchmen, have The Complete Maus on my TBR pile and I'd really like to read V for Vendetta and Sandman. You're right, Michelle, they're so expensive! I appreciate the work that goes into them, but I simply can't afford to buy them. I've recently started reading The Walking Dead, which is going well. Oh, and I've also read Jimmy Corrigan, the Greatest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware. I posted a review here.

I've read most of her best-known books by now, and I keep thinking that the next one will be a dud—they can't all be that good, right? ...But they are! The only mild disappointment so far has been Black Coffee, but that was a novelisation of her play that was written by someone else, so I can forgive it.

I loved this! I hope you're enjoying it. I started reading Hercule Poirot's Christmas last night. A few pages in I thought the characters seemed a bit familiar. Sure enough, I've actually read it last year and had forgotten (I rated it 4/5 stars, Athena). I've decided not to read it again—too many other books on the TBR pile, including many by Agatha Christie. I hope your book group enjoys it, Janet. I read it once and hated it. I sometimes think that I should give it another go, but you've inspired me to hold off. Thanks! This was one of the first SK books I ever read. I borrowed it off my brother when I was in my teens. Is this the one that has The Lawnmower Man story? If not, it must be the other short story collection I read around that time (name escapes me at the moment). Ooh, and does it have the story about the trucks (I think it's actually called Trucks)?

I finished reading Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Loved it!! Halfway through reading it I realised that I have Hercule Poirot's Christmas on my TBR pile, so I'm going to read that before the end of the year.

Thank you ladies. Yes, it took me ages! I worked on it on and off over several days. There was a lot of lugging books around and carefully examining my bookshelves for books that were just the right size, shape and thickness. A couple of times I had to remove several layers to fix something. Then when I finally thought it was done, I noticed that one side was leaning inwards more steeply than the other side (like a lopsided triangle), so I had to carefully wriggle some books around to fix it (like playing Jenga, but without pulling them all the way out!) I'm going to take lots of pics before I take it all down so I can recreate it exactly next year. It will be so much easier knowing exactly which books go where! My bookshelves are now a huge mess. I mostly used non-fiction books, so there are a lot of gaps in my shelves and books tilting over, not to mention piles of discarded books all over the floor! And like you, Sari, I tried to do a tree once before and didn't get anywhere. I think I was planning to use my old BSC books because I figured they were all the same size, but somehow it didn't work out. I kept referring to online photos of other trees this year to see how others did it. It's definitely better to use thick books, if you've got them, because you don't have to do as many layers to get the height you need.

I'm really hoping to join in on a few read-a-thons next year. Fingers crossed! Athena, maybe you'd like to start a shiny new thread for 2016 with all of the dates in the first post? (I'd do it myself but I consider this thread to be your 'baby'. )

I can't think of too many off the top of my head. I've read Wicked and enjoyed it (more than Sari did anyway!) But I I can't think of any others. I have The Child Thief and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies on my TBR pile and Warm Bodies on my wish list.

I do mine in .txt files too! I've been thinking of setting up my 2016 log but keep thinking it's too early and I should wait a bit longer. I'm looking forward to reading your summary and seeing your graphs for 2015. I've been neglecting Book Collector lately. I only just entered the last six months' of purchases (thankfully I haven't been buying many books) and I haven't been adding my ratings/reading dates for the books of read. And of course I haven't done any extra work to add information for all the books that are already there!

I finished putting up my Christmas tree today...the first time I've made one out of books. I had to keep undoing sections and redoing them after noticing that one side was leaning at a steeper angle than the other, or that the books were too thin. Using thick books certainly helps—you get the height but in fewer layers. I won't be turning the lights on for more than a few minutes at a time—don't want to risk hurting my books!

I watched Elf tonight. I'd never seen it before because I'm not a big fan of Will Ferrell, but I'd heard good things about it so decided to give it a go. Surprisingly I enjoyed it.

I forgot to mention that I enjoyed seeing your pics of your bookcases. I spent ages trying to read the titles in the first pic then finally gave up, scrolled down and saw the nice enlarged pics! That Sibelius track is lovely. I love that type of music. Most of the books that I've read this year were from my TBR pile, but there were a few ebooks and re-reads, so now I'm trying to restore the balance. I've been reading all the short/fast books I can find. I've now watched I think the first 4 episodes of season 7. I watched a few episodes maybe the day before you posted the above, so hopefully I'm not too far ahead. I haven't watched any since then.

I finally started reading the comics recently, but I've only read the first few. I'm not sure if I want to read past where the show is at, even though I know there are some differences between them. I've heard rumblings about Negan and how bad he is. I love Jeffrey Dean Morgan and can't wait to see him on the show next year! TWD is probably my favourite show in TV at the moment.

Great reviews, Willoyd and Alexi. Dorothy L Sayers is very high on my list of 'must read' authors but I don't yet own any of her books. A goal for 2016, perhaps.

Today I read Ted Hughes' The Iron Man, which was fairly good. I've now started Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres. In other bookish activity, I've been wrapping Christmas gifts (mostly books, of course) and attempting to make a Christmas tree out of books. I tried it once before and didn't have much luck, and I'm already on my second attempt today. It's harder than it looks! (Unless I'm being too much of a perfectionist.) The layers in my first attempt looked too thin, so I've been emptying my shelves of my thicker hardbacks (mostly biographies) to try again. There are books everywhere. Not looking forward to having to put them all back!

Have you read any Walliams before, Noll? I saw an interview with him on TV the other day where he was described as (to paraphrase) 'finally, a worthy successor to Roald Dahl'.

I saw Spectre at the movies last night. Typical over-the-top Bond.

Wow, that's awesome! I'm a little over your 2014 number then, because I've acquired 42 books. Gosh it's hard, isn't it? I'm still trying desperately to read more than I've bought. I actually went through my bookcases the other night and picked out the shortest books I could find. It's probably cheating, but I don't care. I think you asked me somewhere where I'm up to with Dexter? Did I answer you? I don't think I did, sowwy. I watched the first ep of season 7 but then stopped to wait until you got the DVDs. Have you started watching it yet?

I did notice that! It made me very happy. I really hope you enjoy it. *fingers crossed*

Many great reviews, Chrissy. Must get back to Jasper Fforde soon!

Ooh, Slade House sounds wonderful! I've been a bit wary of reading David Mitchell again after Cloud Atlas (which I had mixed feelings for), but this sounds very different and more my cup of tea.

LOL. Oops!

I read Neil Gaiman's short Odd and the Frost Giants. Lovely little book.

Very interesting info! Thanks Muggles.

I've been busily buying Christmas presents for friends and family: bags and bags of books! I love having a family that reads. I've read a little more of Inkdeath but I don't have too much time for reading at the moment because of work.