happyanddandy
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Posts posted by happyanddandy
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Birthday: 30th May 1959
Age:47
Starsign:Gemini
Single/Married/Other? - Married
Children? - Yes 2, Boy of 14, girl of 12 so a member of the ever dwindling nuclear family!!
Where do you live? Kenton, Harrow - the dullest place in London - when kids have gone - Brighton here we come!
Do you work? Part time Practice Nurse
Favourite author? - Anne Tyler
Favourite book? - Can't name one on it's own
How did you get here? Practice Nursing Website link from Michelle I think
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(Off topic, but since you started the thread: I noticed that you're reading Jodi Picoult - I read a really good article/interview yesterday you may be interested in. Find it here)
Yes I am already riveted with JP which I started yesterday.
Gosh thanks for that article - it was really interesting and topical what with the school shooting in the USA. I don't have a Sunday paper as I usually haven't finished Saturdays Guardian!
I shall look forward to her new book - sounds as though it might be like 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'.
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I'd love it if she did use Louise - I thought she was hilarious! And very sympathetic too...
When she was thinking about her old cat and then when he died... Oh I had a tear in my eye!
Yes me too and the bit about her 14 year old really made me chuckle and to empathise with my my own 14 year old.
It really did hit the spot!!
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I adored this book! Definitely going to end up being a highlight of my reading year. I bought it my mum for Christmas as she loves Kate Atkinson, and I've bought her Case Histories for her upcoming birthday.
Do you think she'll do anymore 'Jackson Brodie' novels? I hope so!
EDIT: I'd also like to point out that One Good Turn was especially amazing for me as I don't read crime novels!!
I usually would not choose crime novels either - I don't like reading about violence especially, and that bit in the book did put me off a bit. Having read 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' and loving it spurred me on to read 'Case Histories' and 'One Good Turn' and I'm so glad I did. I think she will go on to write more as they are so successful and maybe she will use the female policewoman Louise as the main character.
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This is the second of her Jackson Brodie murder mysteries and it is a very enjoyable read. It is set in Edinburgh during the festival and those of you familiar with the region and venue will recognize the descriptions of various landmarks probably adding to the enjoyment.
Atkinson describes her characters in great detail and there are several who have different stories to relate that interconnect in a very clever way indeed. You have to concentrate and remind yourself who is who especially at the beginning. It's best to read chunks at a time otherwise you can lose the thread.
Still one of my favourite authors:D
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Have finished Kate Atkinson - 'One Good Turn' and so have picked up Jodi Picoult - My Sister's Keeper since it seems so popular - I have read several of her other books so am familiar with her style. Here goes...
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I read 'Anybody Out There?' very recently - thoroughly enjoyed it - definitely her best. Intricate and well written study of bereavement process I thought
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I am surprised by this although I suppose I shouldn't be. I don't read this type of thriller book but maybe other authors of different genres do the same thing - I hope not - I would feel deceived in some way if I did not realise there was more than one author of a favourite book:roll:
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Exactly - we can't believe he has chosen to work there - he is stony faced and barely speaks. Fortuantely there are lots of others who are great.
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I am able to access several libraries as I live in suburbia. They have loads of computers for free use although you have to book a space in advance. The nearest library is nearly always full with students and adults alike - it has a good atmosphere. There is a large selection of audio books and because of the area I live a big selection of Gujarati books.
I borrow regularly - my current reading book is from the library. There is a very grumpy librarian - my husband is determined to make him smile one of these days.
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I find Stephen King a bit difficult to cope with - in my younger days I read 'Cujo' and 'Misery' and I don't think I will ever forget the experience. I remember on occasion when I was reading 'Cujo' late at night and had to stop and get out of bed and do something else to take my mind of the horrors of the story. Great writing but nor for me at he moment.
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Who or what is OH? Sorry to be thick (or nosy)
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Here goes - they are all on a shelf waiting for me - I am not a fast reader so I hope I can get through them.
Not a Games Person - Julie Myerson - started 17/05/07 - finished 23/05/07
Notes on a Scandal - Zoe Heller - finished 23/6/07
MY Sisters Keeper - Jodie Picoult - finished 28/4/07
Chocolat - Joanne Harris
The Sunday Philiosophy Club - Alexander McCall Smith
The Big Picture - Douglas Kennedy
Noah's Ark - Barbara Trapido - started 5/8/07 - finished 26/8/07
The Island - Victoria Hislop
Prozac Nation - Elizabeth Wurtzel
Morality for Beautful Girls - Alexander McCall Smith
Seesaw - Deborah Moggach
A million Little Pieces - James Frey
Small Island - Andrea Levy - started 20/10/2007 - finished 1/11/2007
The Dead Fathers Club - Matt Haig
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Saturday - Ian McEwan
The God Delusion - ?? - to be borrowed from mum
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - started 28/4/07 - finished - 3/5/07
The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy - Polly Williams - started - 3/5/07 - 17/5/07
Blue Diary - Alice Hoffman
This Book Will Save Your Life - A.N. Homes - started 23/05/07 - finished 10/6/07
After You'd Gone - Maggie O'Farrell
The Distance Between Us - Maggie O'Farrell
My Lover's Lover - Maggie O'Farrell
Brown Owl's Gude to Life - Kate Harrison - started 5/7/07 - finished 26/7/07
Black Swan Green - David Mitchell - started 26/7/07 - finished 5/8/07
Divas Don't Knit - Gil McNeil finished 5/7/07
Phew! Looks like a mountain to climb.
The Clan of The Cave Bear - Jean Auel - started 26/8/07 - finished 9/07
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This sounds like just the sort of book I enjoy - will look out for it:smile2:
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Shadowlands - with Anthony Hopkins playing C.S.Lewis - I saw this originally in the West End several years ago and I came out with panda eyes - could not stop crying it was so sad when his wife died....
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My children have borrowed hundreds of audio books (and now CDs) from the library, they used them all the time especially in the evenings, in the car and on camping trips.
I have also borrowed adult tapes - especially good for ironing!
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My son Philip aged 14 is a big Darren Shan fan. This time last year Darren Shan was due to visit my sons High School to talk to interested kids (apparently he dose a lot of this sort of thing) - my son managed to get a coveted ticket and looked forward to the event. About 2 days beforehand, he developed Shingles and was very ill indeed and so was disappointed to miss the visit. Subsequently my mum emailed Darren Shan via his website to tell him what had happened to my son and how disappointed he was. After a couple of weeks went by - he wrote a personal letter to Philip which was a lovely surprise. So he is a favourite of mine!
I have not read said author but have listened to an audio tape on a long car journey called 'Cirque du Freak' - gripping and scary, it was very quiet all the way.
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I want to find a new author who writes about the same character and I was thinking of trying this series. What are peoples thoughts on the books and is there a similar style author.
I have read the first of this series a while ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is gentle and flows along - you can feel the heat of Botswana and Mme Ramotswe is a fab character with a devious brain to solve mysteries. I have several of the follow up books to be read and look forward to reading them.
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I believe this is the third novel by this author and I have enjoyed her two previous books.
The main character is Ally married to Tom with a teenage son Ben. They live next door to Juno, her husband and two teenage girls. Juno takes part in a wife swap called 'Queen Mum'. The swap is with Kim and Lee who have two teenage boys. The stories of the families unfold slowly revealing dissatisfaction with marriages, tragic bereavement, childhood loneliness intertwined with day to day teenage angst, worry, deceit and resolution.
I do enjoy this type of modern fiction if characters and the nuances of life are explored in depth. It sustains my interest and I want to know more. I would recommend it to others who enjoy this genre.
The cover of the book is salmon pink and frivolous. I would not have chosen it in a bookshop if I had not been familiar with the author. It would put me off.
Charity Shop finds
in General Book Discussions
Posted
From the local Hospice shop today for a total of