Kylie

You're right. The sun won't be a problem, but the water is a worry! I think we can only water twice a week at the moment.

Wow, I have never seen a bad review of this book! I have it on my TBR pile and think I should bump it up the list. Thanks for the review

Ah, Harry Potter! Now there is a series of books that I gave a lot of thought to in regards to how it was going to end. I don't know how I could have forgotten that! There were long conversations with friends at work, and time spent poring over various websites. I seem to recall posting my thoughts on my blog just prior to the 7th book coming out (and finding later that I got things right!).

I absolutely agree. If I had to choose I'd go for style over plot. I'm a sucker for beautiful language. I think that was the saving grace of Atonement for me. The story was so-so, but I could largely forgive the plot because of the language. Although even I felt that the first section was too long - it could have been made shorter while still retaining its beauty. I'm sure I've read reviews where people haven't enjoyed the war stuff as much of the rest of the book. They just wanted it to get back to Briony and Cecilia. Personally I enjoyed reading the war section more. Not only was it educational (for me anyway), but it moved a bit more quickly. That's an interesting comment. I suppose it depends on the book - sometimes I can read a beautifully written book where not much happens and really enjoy it, and other times I may just get frustrated. I wonder why that is? You didn't like Atonement, but you enjoyed Remains of the Day. So despite not much happening in RotD, there must be something else that 'redeemed' it. Was it something to do with the plot, or perhaps other aspects of the novel (characterisation etc)? I've been looking forward to reading the Rabbit novels, and now I'm looking forward to them even more! They sound great

The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett Rating: 9/10 Published: 1911 Number of pages: 253 Summary (taken from blurb): Poor Mary! She was a forlorn, unwanted, disagreeable child when, after cholera had carried off her nurse and both parents in one day, she was brought from India to live at the great lonely house (most of it shut up) on the bleak Yorkshire moors. Wandering in the gardens, she found one that was walled in. There seemed no way to get inside it - except as the robin flew, over the wall. How she got inside and what happened to her there is the sort of magic that can still happen. Comments: The Secret Garden is a magical, charming story - the type that stays with you for life. The spoilt Mary and Colin, under the watchful, mature eye of Dickon, grow and become more healthy as the garden grows and becomes more healthy. They learn to love and open up their hearts to others. A wonderful story (and a lame review that does no justice to it ). Started: 15 May 2008 Finished: 20 May 2008

I only mentioned two books originally, but I'd like to add a whole series: The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Very popular Christian lit, in America at least. I'm not really religious but I'm interested in end-of-the-world stuff so I thought these might be good. The characters are flat and all very same-ish, the descriptions of all the exciting end-of-the-world moments are reduced to a mere (dull) sentence here and there and the writing is about the worst I''ve ever read. The authors took a potentially interesting concept and completely destroyed it. It kills me that the authors made a fortune out of selling millions upon millions of these books. I could write better without even trying. First and last time I read anything I find out about from Time Magazine!

Thanks for the tip Muggles!

True. She had good genes! Jeez, wouldn't you feel the pressure to be great if you had grown up with those parents!?

It's taken me a little while to get into Frankenstein (nothing against the book - I just wasn't in a reading mood), but I'm really starting to enjoy it now. I was really surprised that the 'creation' part of the story didn't take very long at all. I'm barely a quarter of the way through and we've already moved on from it. It looks like the story might become more fast-paced from here. I have to keep reminding myself that Mary Shelley was only 18/19 when she wrote this book. What an amazing achievement!

to the forum Shelley! I'm sure you'll love it here

Hi Danielle and I have The Giver on my wishlist; I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it! I love the fantasy genre but never seem to find the time to read as much as I'd like. The Sevenwaters Trilogy sounds interesting though - I might look that one up.

I'm hoping to start up a vege garden when I move out. I've never had one before and I haven't had great success with growing other plants, so time will tell how it'll go. Maybe I can pick the brains of those of you who have a bit more expertise?

Kehs! I'm on LibraryThing too (link in sig). Looking forward to discussing books with you.

I'm on page 34 I'm having trouble finding the time to read it, but I've really enjoyed what I've read so far.

Laa Laa! You've definitely found the right place to discuss books.

Papermoon! I'm a fan of Ray Bradbury and I have I Sing the Body Electric on my pile of books to be read, so I'll interested to see what you think of it!

Funnily enough, the day after I bought it, there was a story on TV about the broadway production and how it is coming to Australia very soon. So yes, I probably will see it, but I want to read the book first!

I don't usually try to figure out what's going to happen. I just enjoy the ride.

I bought Wicked by Gregory Maguire yesterday. It's a gorgeous hardback book with green-edged pages. You don't see that every day! I'll be finishing The Bridge of San Luis Rey very shortly, so I'll still have 2 credits to use.

Mad Leprechaun! Do we actually have any Irish people on the board? (Maybe we do now!)

Nice review, Nici. I've had this on my TBR pile for a little while but have been reluctant to read it. Not sure why.

Ooh, I'd like to see that! It looks like my TBR pile has dropped by 7 books in about 6 weeks. I'm very impressed I can't remember the last time I checked these figures and found that the pile had gone down. In fact, I don't recall that ever happening. Hallelujah - it looks like the 'read 3, buy 1' is workin' for me!

Ooh, excellent idea for a thread! I'm forever looking up authors' backgrounds when I'm reading a book and am constantly surprised by the lives they've led! Oscar Wilde was gay and was imprisoned for two years of hard labour after being convicted of 'gross indecency'. The French novelist, Colette, was said to have been locked into a room by her husband, Willy, until she produced a satisfactory number of pages for her Claudine novels, which were then published under her husband's name. Jack Kerouac was arrested as an accessory to murder (he helped to dispose of evidence). He wrote On the Road in 3 weeks on a 120-foot long 'scroll' of paper that he taped together. It was typed single-spaced, paragraph breaks or margins.

Very nicely put, Welshmen! I agree with all you said.