Kylie

I received four more books in the mail today: the Alan Bradley book, which I mentioned yesterday, and three by Boris Akunin. These were the ones I was worried about re the cover. Ready for the big reveal? This is what I ordered: Boris Akunin Erast Fandorin #2: The Turkish Gambit Boris Akunin Erast Fandorin #4: The Death of Achilles Boris Akunin Erast Fandorin #8: She Lover of Death And this is what I received: Two out of three were correct. I don't know whether to be happy that two were correct or sad that one was wrong. I guess I'll be happy. I don't actually mind the cover of The Turkish Gambit, but the one I ordered is nicer (IMO) and of course it would have matched the rest. I don't think I'll bother contacting the Book Depository about it. Kay didn't have any luck with Amazon, after all (Kay, is this the same book you had problems with?), so I may as well wait and see if I can find it elsewhere at a later stage. I still have one more book by Boris Akunin on the way (Erast Fandorin #3: Murder on the Leviathan). I ordered it from a different online store (one that I haven't used before), because it was the only store that even showed the cover I wanted. I had to pay several more dollars for it, so I'll be very disappointed if it's the wrong cover. And it's shipping from the UK, so I think there's still a 50/50 chance of getting the right cover. <sigh>

I was one of those who came to the film a few years later, once it had picked up a bigger following. I loved it then and I've probably seen it a dozen times since. And I'm certain I'll watch another dozen times or more. I'll never get sick of it!

Two awesome movies, Steve! Except for the giant spider in the latter.

I read an article about Reese recently that talked about just how much she loves books. I had no idea! And she's already turned a couple into movies. Good for her.

Sorry Gaia! Yesterday I went to pick up a package for my Mum at the post office and found two Agatha Christie books that I don't have: At Bertram's Hotel The Big Four Today I received a package in the mail with two books for Mum (by Jeffery Deaver) and two by Alan Bradley for me, and I should be receiving a third book by Alan Bradley tomorrow: Alan Bradley Flavia de Luce #4: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows Alan Bradley Flavia de Luce #5: Speaking from Among the Bones Alan Bradley Flavia de Luce #6: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches I now have all of this series except for the most recent book, but I have to wait at least a couple of months for that to be released in the edition I want. Oh, and I have to replace the first book in the series because it doesn't match the rest. In other bookish news, I spent some time on the weekend going through my books and culling some. I gave four or five to my Mum and filled two bags to take to a bookshop, and started a third bag for books to donate to charity. About half were books I've read but didn't like enough to keep, and the rest are books I've decided I won't be reading any time soon. They were all easy choices to make, so I didn't have to try too hard. At some stage I need to go through them again and be more ruthless.

Finally finished Candide. Such a quirky little read. I've acquired four books over the past two days, with more on the way. Details will be posted in my thread. For now, I'll be continuing on with The Mangle Street Murders.

Not all books have shadows? Are they referring to Dracula?

Thanks Kate. I love that the footnotes help place things in a historical context. If they weren't there, I might not have realised that certain references to events and people were real and not fictional (like the earthquakes). On several occasions so far, Voltaire has had a character make a negative comment about someone in the course of a conversation. When I turned to the footnotes, I learnt that the people being made fun of were enemies of Voltaire. So this is his revenge. Here's an example: "But what say you to the archdeacon T-'s miscellaneous collection," said the abbe. "Oh my God!" cried the Marchioness of Parolignac, "never mention the tedious creature! Only think what pains he is at to tell one things that all the world knows; and how he labors an argument that is hardly worth the slightest consideration! how absurdly he makes use of other people's wit! how miserably he mangles what he has pilfered from them! The man makes me quite sick! A few pages of the good archdeacon are enough in conscience to satisfy anyone." According to the footnote, Nicholas-Charles-Joseph Trublet was the editor of the Journal Chrétien and 'another' enemy of Voltaire.

Thanks Athena. I thought I was rambling too much, but I'm glad you want to hear more (you might be sorry though! )

A bit off-topic and long, but it's a bit bookish, and it's exciting news. Some of you might remember that I worked on a production of 12 Angry Men with a local(ish) theatre group last year. I had never done anything like it before, but my (now ex) BF introduced me to it. He's been in several plays and is the vice president of the group. 12 Angry Men was the first play he has ever directed, and I got on board as the stage manager. It was about the easiest gig you could imagine, because I only had to make sure there were 12 men ready to go on stage with a couple of props (it was quite a squeeze backstage, and the stage itself is relatively small, so it was actually a tricky production to stage!). Once they were on, they never came off again, so I didn't have to do too much (I just sat backstage and used a torch to read a book ). I remember mentioning the play here around the time rehearsals were on, but I don't think I ever mentioned how it went. The night before opening night, I found out my Dad was in hospital, so I ended up missing the first performance to be with my family, but I returned for the last few shows. I had bought Mum and Dad tickets for the show but they obviously couldn't go and I remember being quite sad to see their two empty seats in the theatre (my ex didn't resell them out of respect for my family...aww). Anyway, the show went really well and most of the performances were sold out. Everyone was full of praise for it. Just after I closed the curtain on the last performance (I was always terrified I'd pull the wrong cord and stuff it up ), another member of the theatre group showed up next to me with flowers. I thought she was going to present them on stage to her partner (who was the main 'good guy' in the show) during the curtain call but it turned out that they were for me, and I had to go out on stage amid the bright lights and applause and accept them. I was mortified but appreciative. I should have posted all of this last year, but I got caught up in my Dad's illness and everything that came after it. All of the people in the theatre group were so, so supportive during that difficult time. There were lots of hugs and concerned questions whenever I turned up, especially from the 'angry men'. They were all so good to me. Fast forward a year...My partner and I broke up at the beginning of the year, but we're still friends and see each other occasionally. I didn't want to have to end my association with the theatre group, and he didn't want me to leave either. In fact, we're still planning to work together to stage his next play in 2016, The 39 Steps, which I'm beyond excited about. But back to the present...The theatre group is now starting its second production of the year (they do three every year). The first production was Oklahoma!, which I saw on Saturday night. It was fab! Four of the guys from 12 Angry Men were in it, so I caught up with them all afterwards (plus another, who was working front of house). They were all happy to see me, which was lovely (I have very few friends, so when someone looks happy to see me, it's quite a novelty! ) I had heard that the director of the second production, Don't Dress for Dinner, was still looking for a production manager. I wasn't sure what the job entailed, but I decided to volunteer for it anyway. I went to the first rehearsal last night and met the cast and crew (a few of whom I already know, and several new faces). Everyone seems nice, and I'm really looking forward to it. It turns out the production manager has a rather large role. I have to basically take care of all of the administrative tasks so the director can just focus on directing. I need to organise programs, costumes, set construction, bookings, publicity, catering, front of house, props, sound, lighting etc. There'll be lots of talking to other people and asking for things, which is well outside of my comfort zone, but I'm pumped and ready to go! Everyone is ridiculously friendly and helpful, so I'm not worried at all. If I get stuck on anything, there are plenty of people to turn to for advice. Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays, with performances starting in early August. The next two months are going to fly by!

It's probably just as well you didn't borrow it because you would have been able to read it 10 times in the time that it has taken me to read two-thirds of it. Aw, that's a shame. But I'm glad to hear you haven't given up on it completely. As you said, maybe an English version might be better, and I'm sure your library would have a copy.

Ooh, cool. I'll look out for it when I watch it later today.

Yep, they are. And I love that March keeps saying things like 'Why are you so mean'? Yay! Hopefully I'll receive my copy next week. I'd better get a wriggle on and finish the first one then!

Conchita thought so too. I didn't end up watching any of it. I'm usually up all night (Eurovision is shown in the early morning here), but I was so tired last night. I think there will be a repeat at some stage, but I'm not sure that I'll get to see it. I still haven't even seen Australia's entry! I was surprised that Austria and Germany got 0 votes. Were they that bad? Did no one vote for Austria because they won last year and they just figured it would be someone else's turn? It's rather sad not to get any votes. I'm so glad Guy got into the top 5.

Good analogy!

Yes, knowing that cast members are enthusiastic makes it so much better! If they were all reluctant to do it, it just wouldn't be the same. I don't imagine they would do a series, but there were always rumours of a movie. I would be beyond thrilled with that. To be honest, I didn't mind the way the show ended. I know a lot of people hated it because it was rather rushed, but I felt they did a good job of wrapping things up. I love the scene in the last episode (this isn't a spoiler) where they show all of the characters at the party. Having said all that...if they want to give us more GG, I would never complain!

Dog Day Afternoon. I've seen it several times, at least. Brilliant!

OH. MY. GOD. Scott Patterson has said that there are discussions going on about an onscreen GG reunion. For reals. <insert an infinite number of squealing, bouncing emoticons>

Yes, that's her main autobiography. The one I linked to was written about a particular time in her life, when she was overseas with her husband. I must still have your copy of the book here (along with Kay's). I will send it one day, I promise!

Agatha Christie's autobiographical Come, Tell Me How You Live is being republished in August.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Frankie! I second The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (or The Collected Works of AJ Fikry, as my edition is titled). Lovely book!

The New York Public Library has published candid photos of patrons taken back in 1944. Very interesting! It would have been so wonderful to visit such a library back in those days, before computers and electronic gadgets.

Haha! It's so cheeky of you to include these as trilogies. And clever! This is so, so difficult. It's even more difficult than choosing my top 10 books. I would find it much easier if I could do my top 10 sci-fi, top 10 musicals etc. In fact, I'm going to do just that, because there's just no way I can narrow them down. I'll post the lists in my own reading thread so I don't break the rules here. Here are my favourites, in no particular order: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Girl, Interrupted (1999) The Time Machine (1960) The Philadelphia Story (1940) Gone with the Wind (1939) Harvey (1950) The Third Man (1949) When Harry Met Sally (1989) Dead Poet's Society (1989) Pleasantville (1998) I'm sorry, but I have to include some that just missed the cut. I narrowed it down a lot, I swear! It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Bonnie and Clyde (1967) The Ten Commandments (1956) Young Frankenstein (1974) Citizen Kane (1941)

I'm looking forward to your review. Cool! I have this on my TBR pile. I'll be interested in your thoughts. I've read a little more of The Mangle Street Murders. The interactions between the main characters have me chuckling out loud.

Sorry to hear it was disappointing for you, James. I guess Pontalba was able to enjoy it more because she didn't have the previous movies to compare it to.