Kylie

I had the same problem when I first started reading A Tale of Two Cities (my first Dickens). I found it a bit difficult to get into, but by the end I absolutely loved it. I found it quite educational too (not knowing much about that particular period in history). It inspired me to a bit of extra research, which is always a good thing! I hope you enjoy the rest of it!

I have a list of my books in a spreadsheet and just counted up the unread ones...107 And what's worse is that the spreadsheet is nowhere near complete. I think I could easily add an extra 30-40 unread books! Oh dear. I had no idea it'd gotten that bad. But that's still not going to stop me from going to a huge book fair next week, where I expect to buy another 20 or more. Hey, the books will be dirt cheap and the money goes to a good cause, OK?

Funny you should mention this. I just read that McCarthy has won a Pulitzer Prize for this book. I've never read any of his works before. When and where is 'The Road' set?

In addition to some of the movies mentioned above, I always cry at the end of Hair. I bawled at a mini-series remake of On The Beach. The Notebook leaves me blubbering for ages after the movie ends, and nothing beats Beaches for a good cry! I'm certain I've cried during at least two of the Lord Of The Rings movies. I cry during pretty much anything that has a remotely sad part, or a very happy ending

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I might check out The Stand first and see if I can get my hands on Different Seasons as well. The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite movies and I'd love to read the original novella.

Hi Dave and welcome! Here's my top 10: 1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 3. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller 4. Tomorrow, When The War Began - John Marsden 5. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury 6. 1984 - George Orwell 7. The War Of The Worlds - HG Wells 8. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood 9. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams 10. For The Term Of His Natural Life - Marcus Clarke Have you tried going into bookshops and libraries and surveying the staff? I should think they'd be pretty helpful. Good luck!

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale. Margaret Atwood has been named as a finalist for the 2007 Man Booker International Prize. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1244447720070413

I would like this book but I'm afraid that if I get it I'll wind up on some crazy quest to track down every single book to read. I think my TBR list is big enough already!

Hmm, I don't think reading this thread was a good idea. Looks like my TBR list has just grown by about 20 books! Thanks very much everyone! My brother has just about every Stephen King novel I think. I wish now that I had borrowed more when he was living at home. The only one I read was a collection of short stories (can't remember the name) which I think had the Children of the Corn story, and the one about the trucks being alive and killing people. I think a visit to my local second-hand book store is in order. I recall seeing a lot of King's book there. Thanks for the tips and opinions

I don't know exactly what I was expecting from The Bell Jar. I had always heard about Sylvia Plath and her poetry and for some reason I thought the book might be a bit - for want of a better word - pretentious. I'm happy to report that it's not That's one thing I love about books. They constantly surprise me. I would love to read Plath's diaries one day. A little before I finished The Bell Jar, I looked Sylvia up on Wikipedia and was saddened to read about the way her life ended. Sad as it is to say, I really didn't know that much about the history of Sydney before I read this book. We'd learnt a bit in school about the 'discovery' of Australia by Captain Cook but I think they glossed over the details quite a bit. This book filled in a lot of holes in my knowledge about the way convicts were treated, the hardships that were faced, and just how long it took to get the colony off the ground. It was great to see a large cross-section of accounts, from Aborigines to convicts to Governors. It's really given me a longing to explore this city more. There are so many coves, beaches etc that have a history I was not aware of and I can't wait to see them with new eyes

The Birth Of Sydney Tim Flannery (ed) Rating: 8/10 Published: 1999 Number of pages: 349 ISBN: 1876485450 Summary (taken from blurb): The Birth Of Sydney tells the story of the founding of one of the world's great cities. Tim Flannery's brilliant anthology reveals Sydney's strange and secret life from its unruly beginnings as a dump for convicts to its arrival as the 'queen of the south' a century later. In this compelling narrative history we hear the voices of everyone from Aboriginal women to Russian sailors, from Elizabeth Macarthur to Charles Darwin and a host of others. Comments: Another thoroughly entertaining and educational collection of accounts of the early history of Australia. It's amazing to compare the old colonial town of Sydney with what stands in its place today. A lot of stories centre around the area I work in, and I know I'll never view these streets and parks the same way again. Started: 25 February 2007 Finished: 24 March 2007 The Birth Of Sydney (at Dymocks.com.au)

The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath Rating: 8/10 Published: 1963 Number of pages: 258 ISBN: 0571081789 Summary (taken from blurb): 'This terse account of an American girl's breakdown and treatment gains its considerable power from an objectivity that is extraordinary considering the nature of the material. Sylvia Plath's attention had the quality of ruthlessness and...imagery and rhetoric is disciplined by an unwinking intelligence.' Stephen Wall in the Observer. Comments: This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and very well written. I love Plath's use of metaphor throughout. I would have enjoyed studying this book at school and probably would have been able to identify a bit more with the character when I was younger. Highly recommended. Started: 8 March 2007 Finished: 13 March 2007 The Bell Jar (at Amazon.com)

The Explorers Tim Flannery (ed) Rating: 8/10 Published: 1998 Number of pages: 380 ISBN: 1876485221 Summary (taken from blurb): The explorers of Australia tell an epic story of courage and suffering, of dispossession and conquest. This bestselling anthology, brilliantly edited and introduced by Tim Flannery, documents almost four centuries of exploration and takes us beyond the frontier into a world of danger, compassion, humour, brutality and death. The Explorers includes the work of Wills, Giles, Leichhardt, Sturt, Eyre and Mitchell, and a host of other fascinating figures. Here, in one place, is the most remarkable body of non-fiction writing every produced in Australia. Comments: This is a collection of fascinating accounts written by early European explorers, beginning with the Dutch in 1604 and going through to 1977. It details their early encounters with the Aborigines, when the English gave them presents of tomahawks and handkerchiefs and the Aborigines willingly became their guides and helped them find water on their explorations inland. There are chilling stories of men becoming weakened in the desert (and sometimes dying) while searching for days on end to find water. Above all, it shows the courage of the early explorers when boldly going into the unknown. It also shows a much darker side of our history, when the relations between the Europeans and Aborigines broke down and they became enemies. This was a very thought-provoking book, and enabled me to better understand Australia's history and the events that brought us to where we are today. Humorous in some parts, scary in others, it overall left me with a sense of admiration and respect for both the original and new inhabitants of this country. Started: 21 February 2007 Finished: 7 March 2007 The Explorers (at Dymocks.com.au)

It's funny this should come up. I read this in school many years ago and have lately been wanting to track down a copy to read it again. I seem to recall it being pretty good.

The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Rating: 4/10 Published: 1993 Number of pages: 177 ISBN: 0061122416 Summary (taken from blurb): Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusion shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. Comments: This book just didn't grab me. I didn't realise until too late that it was going to be a new age fable. If I'd known beforehand, maybe I wouldn't have had such high expectations. I thought the ending was hugely disappointing because it was so very, very predictable. I was really hoping the treasure wouldn't be something as mundane and obvious as it turned out to be. And it didn't really seem to me a very appropriate treasure when you take into consideration the main character. Maybe if I'd read this book 5-10 years ago, I would have enjoyed it more, but now it just seems like another new age book that's a bit past its use-by date. This is slightly odd because, for quite a few years, I was very much into all that new age stuff. Maybe it's because I've moved on from it that I wasn't able to enjoy this book. I can understand why it was a bestseller, because I imagine for people trying to follow their dreams, they can get something out of it. I'm not, so I didn't. I didn't think it was spectacularly written either, which is something I really look for in a book. I hate to say it, but I kind of regret spending the money on it. At least I got it in a 3 for 2 deal, so I'll just pretend this was the freebie In short, if you're not into all that new age 'listen to your heart' stuff, then this book isn't for you. But if you are, and you need some inspiration when trying to follow your dreams, then give it a go, by all means. Don't let me put you off Started: 19 February 2007 Finished: 20 February 2007 The Alchemist (at Amazon.com)

Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Rating: 8/10 Published: 1866 Number of pages: 462 ISBN: 1840224304 Summary (taken from Wordsworth blurb): Crime and Punishment is one of the greatest and most readable novels ever written. From the beginning we are locked into the frenzied consciousness of Raskolnikov who, against his better instincts, is inexorably drawn to commit a brutal double murder. From that moment on, we share his conflicting feelings of self-loathing and pride, of contempt for and need of others, and of terrible despair and hope of redemption: and, in a remarkable transformation of the detective novel, we follow his agonised efforts to probe and confront both his own motives for, and the consequences of, his crime. The result is a tragic novel built out of a series of supremely dramatic scenes that illuminate the eternal conflicts at the heart of human existence: most especially our desire for self-expression and self-fulfillment, as against the constraints of morality and human laws; and our agonised awareness of the world's harsh injustices and of our own mortality, as against the mysteries of divine justice and immortality. Comments: I found this book quite enjoyable, if somewhat tough going. I wouldn't call it 'one of the most readable novels ever written'. It took me a while to read because I just couldn't get into it and kept re-reading the same sentences over and over. I don't know how much of this could be attributed to the book though, and how much was a result of outside influences and distractions. I think this is a book that would get better with repeated readings, which I fully intend to do, once I've knocked quite a few more books off my TBR pile. I occasionally got confused with the Russian characters' names, with each going by different names. Luckily Wordsworth had kindly put a list of characters at the beginning of the book which I could refer to. I know it may seem that I haven't really wrapped this book up, but I would highly recommend reading it; the thought processes and actions of Raskolnikov are fascinating to witness as he wanders around St Petersburg. I was really interested to see how it would end, and it was a book that stayed with me after I had finished it. I think, looking back on it almost a month later, that I can appreciate it much more than I probably did while reading it. I'm very glad I put in the effort. Started: 29 January 2007 Finished: 18 February 2007 Crime and Punishment (at Wordsworth Editions)

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas Hunter S Thompson Rating: 9/10 Published: 1972 Number of pages: 204 ISBN: 0007204493 Summary (taken from blurb): Hunter S Thompson is driving to Las Vegas with his attorney, the Samoan, to find the dark side of the American dream. Roaring down the desert highway from Los Angeles, they realise there's only one way to go about such a perilous task: getting very, very twisted. Armed with a drug arsenal of stupendous proportions, the duo engage in a manic, surreal tour of the sleaze capital of the world. Their perilous, chemically-enhanced confrontations with casino operators, police officers and assorted Middle Americans have a hallucinatory humour and nightmare terror. Riotously funny, daringly original and dead serious at its core, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a classic statement on the collapsed dream of the American sixties. Comments: Well, it's just like the blurb says. This book is hilarious. The paranoia of Thompson and his Samoan attorney as they hoon around Las Vegas and try to act 'normal' when they find themselves in the middle of a narcotics conference surrounded by police is very, very funny. This book is a one-of-a-kind, and a fantastic read. Made into a very good movie starring Johnny Depp. Started: 15 January 2007 Finished: 20 January 2007 Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (at Amazon.com)

To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee Rating: 10/10 Published: 1960 Number of Pages: 309 ISBN: 0099419785 Summary (taken from blurb): 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.' A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of this enchanting classic - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much. Comments: This is one of my favourite books. The characters are beautifully written and the story is funny, touching and heart-rending. The story is told from Scout's point of view, as a woman looking back on her childhood. I very highly recommend this book. The movie, starring Gregory Peck, is also wonderful. Started: 8 January 2007 Finished: 12 January 2007 To Kill A Mockingbird (at Amazon.com)

Far From The Madding Crowd has been on my TBR list for a while. I read Pride and Prejudice late last year (my first Jane Austen) and I absolutely loved it. I was going to read Emma next, but maybe I should go for Northanger Abbey! My brother also highly recommended Frankenstein and Dracula Thanks for the recommendations!

No need to apologise Pp! I like to hear everyone's opinions of books. It helps me to decide what to read next (or not ) I think maybe I'll leave House of Mirth for a little while. I've heard quite a few good reviews of A Handmaid's Tale on here, so I think I'll read that next. Today I started reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. So far so good!

Kylie's Reading List Books that have been read are in bold, with a rating out of 10 next to them. Books that I'm reading; books that have been borrowed. Unless otherwise noted, I'll be reading hard copies of all books. I'll do a brief review of each book when I finish it. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me on any of these books! A selection of books on my TBR list: Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid's Tale 8/10 Jane Austen: Emma 9/10 JM Barrie: Peter Pan (ebook on iPod) 8/10 Ray Bradbury: The Small Assassin 8/10 Bill Bryson: A Walk In The Woods 8/10 John Buchan: The Thirty-Nine Steps 6/10 Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange 10/10 Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland 8/10 Lewis Carroll: Through The Looking-Glass (ebook on iPod) 8/10 Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch: Molvania 8/10 Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist 4/10 Roald Dahl: Danny The Champion Of The World 8/10 Diane: Into My Life (Beatles fan fiction) (ebook on iPod) 8/10 Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol 9/10 Charles Dickens: Great Expectations 9/10 Fyodor Dostoevsky: Crime And Punishment 8/10 Tim Flannery (ed): The Birth Of Sydney 8/10 Tim Flannery (ed): The Explorers 8/10 George Grossmith: Diary Of A Nobody (ebook on iPod) 9/10 Mark Haddon: A Spot Of Bother 7/10 Kathryn Kenny: Trixie Belden And The Marshland Mystery (#10) 6/10 Jack Kerouac: The Town And The City 9/10 Ken Kesey: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest 10/10 Stephen King: Different Seasons (borrowed from brother) 8/10 Stephen King: Night Shift (borrowed from brother) 7/10 DH Lawrence: Lady Chatterley's Lover (ebook on iPod) 5/10 Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla (ebook on iPod) 8/10 Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird 10/10 Ian McEwan: Atonement 8/10 David Mitchell: Cloud Atlas 6/10 LM Montgomery: Anne Of Green Gables (ebook on iPod) 8/10 Vladimir Nabokov: Lolita 9/10 Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar 8/10 Ayn Rand: Anthem (ebook on iPod) 7/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows 10/10 Anna Sewell: Black Beauty (ebook on iPod) 4/10 John Steinbeck: Of Mice And Men 9/10 Bram Stoker: Dracula 10/10 Hunter S Thompson: Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas 9/10 Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse 5 9/10 HG Wells: The Time Machine (ebook on iPod) 8/10 John Wyndham: The Midwich Cuckoos 7/10 A selection of books on my To Be Re-read list: Roald Dahl: Matilda 8/10 Roald Dahl: The Twits 8/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone 8/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 8/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban 8/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire 9/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix 8/10 JK Rowling: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince 8/10 Jonathan Wylie: The Lightless Kingdom (Book 2, Unbalanced Earth) 8/10 Jonathan Wylie: The Age Of Chaos (Book 3, Unbalanced Earth) 8/10