The Green Fairy

I am reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' at the moment and, after hearing how it had affected friends who had read it, thought that I would find it depressing too but, harrowing though the tale is, this has not been the case. It is a moving and inspirational tale. I do sometimes feel sad when reaching the end of a book that I have particularly enjoyed but then this mood has been lifted when I've discovered that the author of said book has written loads more!

Hello Janet. I've not read any of the 'Mrs Pargeter' novels but hope to give them a go eventually!

Is anyone else a fan of Simon Brett's novels? He has written quite a bit of detective fiction and his books are an easy read, with a generous dollop of humour in them. I would recommend them to anyone who likes an old-fashioned murder mystery. The 'Fethering' novels are set in West Sussex and feature a couple of amateur detectives, Carole and Jude, two ladies in their fifties, one a retired civil servant and the other an 'alternative therapist'. These yarns have titles like 'The Stabbing in the Stables' and 'Death on the Downs'. I think the first in the series is entitled 'The Body on the Beach'. Charles Paris is another of his creations. A struggling actor with a bit of a drink problem who gets himself caught up in various murders. The first book in this series is 'Cast in order of Disappearance'. Quite a few of his novels have been adapted for radio and I believe the lovely Bill Nighy has played 'Charles Paris'.

Radio 4 mostly.

My favourite fictional detectives are Morse and Dalgliesh but I have just recently started to read some of Deborah Crombie's books and am liking her detective, Duncan Kincaid, too.

There is a book entitled 'Garbo' which is a true story of a Spanish spy and is set in the Second World War. I don't know if this is what you are looking for.

A few (well, very many, actually) years ago I read a few Dennis Wheatley books including 'The Devil Rides Out' and 'The Haunting of Toby Jugg' and I recall being too terrified to move from my chair!

Between 800 and 1000, I reckon.

Nooooooooooo!

Repeats of 'Frasier' on Paramount Comedy

I could walk out of a bookshop without buying anything but only if it just sold Jeffrey Archer books

William McGonagall is one of my favourite poets and I attach his masterpiece 'The Christmas Goose' for you to savour. The Christmas Goose Mr. SMIGGS was a gentleman, And he lived in London town; His wife she was a good kind soul, And seldom known to frown. 'Twas on Christmas eve, And Smiggs and his wife lay cosy in bed, When the thought of buying a goose Came into his head. So the next morning, Just as the sun rose, He jump'd out of bed, And he donn'd his clothes, Saying, "Peggy, my dear. You need not frown, For I'll buy you the best goose In all London town." So away to the poultry shop he goes, And bought the goose, as he did propose, And for it he paid one crown, The finest, he thought, in London town. When Smiggs bought the goose He suspected no harm, But a naughty boy stole it From under his arm. Then Smiggs he cried, "Stop, thief! Come back with my goose!" But the naughty boy laugh'd at him, And gave him much abuse. But a policeman captur'd the naughty boy, And gave the goose to Smiggs, And said he was greatly bother'd By a set of juvenile prigs. So the naughty boy was put in prison For stealing the goose., And got ten days' confinement Before he got loose. So Smiggs ran home to his dear Peggy, Saying, "Hurry, and get this fat goose ready, That I have bought for one crown; So, my darling, you need not frown." "Dear Mr Smiggs, I will not frown: I'm sure 'tis cheap for one crown, Especially at Christmas time -- Oh! Mr Smiggs, it's really fine." "Peggy. it is Christmas time, So let us drive dull care away, For we have got a Christmas goose, So cook it well, I pray. "No matter how the poor are clothed, Or if they starve at home, We'll drink our wine, and eat our goose, Aye, and pick it to the bone."

I don't write in any of my books but I have several old books with inscriptions in and I quite like them, especially one in a book of poetry that was, I think, given by a man to his loved one in which he declares his love and promises to be home soon. Worryingly, it is dated 1915.

I, too, have a huge bookcase in the living room where I keep my most precious books including my 'Everyman' collection. Most of these books are very old and in a quite delicate state and if I want to re-read, say, one of the classics then I'll get an old paperback version or a copy from the library as I'm afraid that my copy will fall to bits. I still get the books out of the case to gently turn and sniff the 'tissuey' pages, though! Other books are kept in two bookcases in the bedroom, two in the hall and one other (smallish) in the living room. Other locations include the floor and the tops of cupboards etc. My current reads and any library books I might have on loan are kept in a large canvas bag, just known as 'the book bag'.