Kylie

I've updated my various posts at the beginning of this blog to reflect the reading I've done so far this year. I'm off to a good start with my challenges. I hope I can keep up this level of reading for the rest of the year! Yesterday I bought a few books with some Christmas money: Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master and Margarita Iain Pears: An Instance of the Fingerpost Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray I'm currently reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Enjoying it so far; I've learnt a few things about animals and religion There have been a couple of interesting sections that have given me food for thought. I don't necessarily agree with everything Pi says, but I respect his different viewpoints. I'll make further comments in the reading circle thread.

We all have our moments when we lose our reading 'mojo' and can't get into anything. I feel for you, having just gotten out of a funk myself. I hope it passes soon! As for suggestions, have you ever read any crime fiction by Raymond Chandler, the creator of Philip Marlowe (The Big Sleep, etc)? They're supposed to be excellent reads. For something a little bit different, you could try Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. It's an absolutely brilliant book - one of my all-time favourites. Or maybe you could read some Sherlock Holmes. They're pretty short mysteries and maybe you need something short and snappy to get you back into your reading.

I am Legend Richard Matheson Rating: 9/10 Published: 1954 Number of pages: 176 Summary (taken from Dymocks website): Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth, but he is not alone, for every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire and they are hungry for Neville's blood. By day he is hunter; by night, the prey. How long can one man survive like this? Comments: Often the shortest books can pack the biggest punch, and I am Legend is no exception. It's quite fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat several times. I thought Matheson did a great job of exploring the psyche of Robert Neville and a world without people. I found the medical descriptions dull, but knew they were necessary in order for the author to logically explain the appearance of vampires. An ending to a story like this has the potential to be hugely disappointing, but happily this wasn't the case with I am Legend: the ending was simply brilliant. An excellent read. Started: 7 January 2008 Finished: 8 January 2008

I've only read two of King's books so far: Night Shift and Different Seasons. Both are collections of short stories, although there are only 4 in Different Seasons (they're more like novellas). Like Timmy, I'd recommend Different Seasons. Some brilliant stories there, including the 2 that inspired the movies The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me.

Speak for yourself! (Says she as she pokes her tongue out! ) Yes, we have a lot of fun here. Welcome again! Very soon you'll have a list of books a mile long that you want to read, just like the rest of us!

I agree Princess Ponti. It's always nice to know that you're not the only person who sees things in a certain light. I love looking at those huge books of quotes in bookshops. Unfortunately they're always wrapped so you can't browse through them but I always dream of owning one for myself. I think they're about $100 though so I'll just keep dreaming! Although, now that we're on the subject, I remember seeing one on sale not so long ago - very cheap indeed. Why oh why didn't I buy it?

No-Balls and Googlies: A Cricket Companion Geoff Tibballs Rating: 8/10 Published: 2006 Number of pages: 192 Summary (taken from blurb): Cricket, or 'the elegant game', occupies a long-established and distinguished position in the annals of sporting history. Skilful and graceful, technical and tactical, the intricacies and multi-faceted nature of the sport have enthralled and baffled spectators in equal measure over the centuries. Delving into its rich and varied history, No-Balls and Googlies uncovers the origins of this captivating game, and explores its traditions, records, milestones and memorable moments through a fascinating array of facts and figures, anecdotes and curiosities. ... For cricket fanatics the world over, No-Balls and Googlies also provides an amusing insight into the sport's many quirky characters, and presents a wealth of facts, trivia, quotations and stories taken from this great sport's illustrious history. Comments: This is a charming little book full of fun facts and trivia regarding the long history of cricket. It's not a book one would usually read straight through; rather, it's one that can be dipped into occasionally. That said, I read the entire thing while watching (what else?) the cricket. Some of the stories and incidents mentioned in the book make the current spat between Australia and India seem not so bad. Just another colourful event in the long history of the game. It's really given me a greater appreciation for the sport, its rules, its origins, and the people who have represented their teams over the year. Highly recommended if you're a fan of the sport (and if you're not, it might help you see the game in a new light!) Started: 5 January 2008 Finished: 6 January 2008

I've finished reading I am Legend. I thought it was an excellent book; very good ending as well.

Welcome Fallen-Petals!

Thanks Kell! Will add that to the wish-list as well. Is Neverwhere related in any way to Good Omens, or are they completely separate stories?

The Colour of Magic Terry Pratchett Rating: 7/10 Published: 1983 Number of pages: 285 Summary (taken from blurb): On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet... Comments: After eyeing off Terry Pratchett's Discworld series for many years, I have finally gotten around to starting it! I was actually putting it off because I knew I'd like them and I really couldn't afford to get sucked into reading such a big series, but you've gotta give in sooner or later. I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book because I'd read a few reviews stating that it wasn't as good as his later works. It turned out to be pretty much what I was expecting; not overwhelmingly brilliant but a good read that has got me interested in continuing with the rest of the series. I liked the characters, particularly Rincewind and Death, and look forward to seeing them more in future books. My one minor gripe was that it seemed a bit repetitive: Rincewind would get himself into one similar life-threatening predicament after another. I feel a bit lousy criticising this book when it's a nice, light read, but there you have it. Ultimately, it's fun and enjoyable and I'm looking forward to reading The Light Fantastic to find out what happens after that, er, cliff-hanger ending! Started: 21 December 2007 Finished: 5 January 2008

Welcome! I like a bit of Stephen King myself. I have The Stand and IT on my TBR pile. With all the recommendations you'll be receiving here, I'm sure you'll be branching out into other genres in no time!

Excellent review Gyre! I'm going to add both Anansi Boys and American Gods to my wishlist. I'd also like to read Stardust. I already have Good Omens (written with Terry Pratchett) on my TBR pile. Looks like I'll be discovering a new author this year!

I love this quote too. If it wasn't for the bit about the beards, it would definitely have been chosen to grace the front page of my blog. Instead I went with: 'The first time I read an excellent work, it is to me just as if I had gained a new friend. When I read over a book I have perused before, it resembles the meeting of an old one' - Oliver Goldsmith I also have the following two quotes on my desk at work. The first is a bit of a mouthful and the second is a bit depressing, but I love 'em! 'Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence' - Albert Einstein 'We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone' - Orson Welles

Hooray for books! Is there anything they can't do?

I buy new books from chain stores such as Dymocks and Borders. I buy a lot of second-hand books from university book fairs and second-hand shops - I like to check out second-hand bookshops in different towns and help out local businesses in the process (hmm, I just had an idea: I think I should start making a list of these places so I don't forget them all!)

I keep all my books. I could never bear to part with any of them (except one, which I hated and is now sitting in my room waiting to have its mugshot taken to be put on ebay). I love all the books I own and would love to re-read them all one day. I would hate to get rid of one and then find a few years later that I have a sudden desire to read it again! Case in point: I got rid of most of my children's books quite a few years ago and am now regretting it big-time. I would love to read them all again, but now I'm going to have to buy them again!

That definitely happened when I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice for the first time. I was hooked and then wanted to get my hands on anything and everything by her.

Neopets - it's a sort of whole virtual world where you can own virtual pets and there are shops where you buy things, games to play, worlds to explore etc. Don't sign up or you'll get addicted

Welcome to the forum, Lizzie! Wow, you must have been one busy reader last year! I'm reading my first Pratchett at the moment and I'm hoping to read my first Fforde in the next couple of months. Can't wait! Oh yes, Neopets. I've had an account for years but I don't do much with it anymore - just check in every morning to get my interest from the bank. Once I reach 5,000,000 though I'm stopping! (Would have reached it already except my account was once wrongfully suspended and I had to start all over again )

If I'm curious about a book, I'll head to both Wikipedia (to find out more about the plot and author), and Amazon (to find out what other people think of it).

I'm looking forward to discovering some new authors, such as the Brontes, Capote and Thackeray, and also reading more modern literature (of the past 10 years), because I tend to neglect that a bit. I'm also hoping to read a bit of crime; a genre I've never really explored before.

Welcome Bagel Queen! I have one Jodi Piccoult on my shelf waiting to be read (Vanishing Acts), but other books keep getting in the way! I'll get to it eventually, I'm sure.

Review of 2007 Reading I've had a most wonderful year in 2007 in terms of reading. I've read many truly wonderful books and just a couple of stinkers. Here's a wrap-up of my reading: 10/10 Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange Ken Kesey: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird (re-read) K Rowling: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Bram Stoker: Dracula 9/10 Jane Austen: Emma Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol (re-read over 2006/7) Charles Dickens: Great Expectations George Grossmith: Diary Of A Nobody Jack Kerouac: The Town And The City Vladimir Nabokov: Lolita JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (re-read) John Steinbeck: Of Mice And Men Hunter S Thompson: Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse 5 5/10 or less Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist DH Lawrence: Lady Chatterley's Lover Anna Sewell: Black Beauty In 2007, I read 52 books, which works out at 1 per week. I don't know how I managed that when Lolita and The Town and the City took up 2 months between them! I suspect it's also because I read quite a few short books. I'll aim to read 52 again in 2008. I bought 170 books in 2007, 46 of which were brand-new (but often at discount book shops) and the rest were second-hand (bought from book shops, book fairs and off ebay). In 2008 I'm going to try to restrict my buying to less than 100 books. Surely this will be pretty easy; my wish list is getting pretty low now.

I'd forgotten to post about the books I have gotten since Christmas. The list is mostly books I got for Christmas and ones I bought with a voucher, but there are also a few second-hand books I bought on New Year's Eve. Enid Blyton: The Magic Faraway Tree Bill Bryson: Neither Here Nor There Simon Callow: The Road to Xanadu (Orson Wells biography, volume 1) Simon Callow: Hello Americans (Orson Welles biography, volume 2) Raymond Chandler: The Big Sleep/Farewell, My Lovely/The Long Goodbye Charles Dickens: The Old Curiosity Shop Louise Fitzhugh: Harriet the Spy Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South Stella Gibbons: Cold Comfort Farm Jack Kerouac: The Dharma Bums Stephen King: IT Madeleine L'Engle: A Wrinkle in Time Hunter S Thompson: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 Sue Townsend: The Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 And two books called: The Little Black Book of Music The Little Black Book of Books They're full of small articles regarding important events, characters etc in the music and literary worlds for the past 100 years. Very interesting stuff. Also, five cookbooks called: 4 Ingredients The Commonsense Cookery Book Volume 2 Fast Chicken Fast Deserts Fast Pasta