maclsj

My fingers are well and truely crossed for getting access to here through the library! I didn't want to just dissapear off the face of the earth and make people think I don't care.

Have finished 'The Lost Luggage Porter' by Andrew Martin. Really enjoyed it and will definitely go looking for the first two in the series and the latest book which is set after the one I just read. Am now reading 'Pelegia and the White Bulldog' by Boris Akunin. I hadn't realised but it's a translation of an original (Russian?) book by Akunin. It's probably a very good and accurate translation but I find the style jarring and it doesn't read as easily as I would like for what should be a light read. I'll stick with it for the moment but I get the feeling this might be one of the ones I abandon. It's not long now til I loose my internet connection, possibly for 6 months, and I don't know what website they're likely to block at the library. Hopefully not this one but it does mean I won't be able to join in as much At least I've figured out a way to e-mail reviews to my book review blog!

I found the review section of the site was wonderful for finding new books to read. Each review includes a synopsis which helps immensely. Try looking at the reviews for John Connolly's 'Book of Lost Things' as it might be for you.

Hi Cath and welcome to the forum! Beware, it's highly addictive!

Currently Reading The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin Books read in July The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Time to update the monster list! Currently Reading The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell Books to be read (in no particular order, those I've currently borrowed/bought are marked with *) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin* Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White* The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson The Food Taster by Peter Elbling* Pelegia and the White Bulldog by Boris Akunin* The 199 Steps by Michel Faber The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick Raven Black by Ann Cleeves Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn Books read in July The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I picked up 'The Secret Life of Bees' yesterday after watching Wimbledon on ITV (I do love that film!). Finally went to sleep when I'd finished! It was good, and I really wanted to know what happened but it didn't grab me in the same way that 'The Kabul Beauty School' or 'The Book of Lost Things' did. Now I'll definitely be reading 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennonx' next

I've lived alone these last few years so read all over! The three places I read most are on the sofa in the living room, in bed and in the bath. I also read an awful lot on trains as I don't drive but live a long way from friends and family so often end up needing a good book to read! Earlier this year I was having to travel over 7 hours (each way) to see my boyfriend so that gave me plenty of time to read! What I do notice every morning on the bus is one or two people reading. It's nice to see that people do read!

I tried to re-read bok 6 a few months ago and didn't get very far. Have decided I'll save it for my 'moving' reading as I'll have had to return all my library books by then. I'm looking at 5-6 hours to just get as far as my parents followed by about 3 hours the following day to get to the new place (all by train) so it should be big enough to see me through all that!

Finished The Waxman Murders before I came into work this morning (my excuse is it makes me calmer and more able to deal with stuff if I read before I go to work). It was ok. Nothing to write home about though, quite pedestrian in its own way. Will no doubt write a review for my book blog later. Not sure what to read next, probably 'The Secret Life of Bees' or 'The vanishing act of Esme Lennox'.

Do you have to pay for library cards in the US? So long as we can prove we live in the area (recent bill with name and address usually suffices) we can get a library card for free. We only get charged on over due books, reservations thats kind of thing.

I've felt like that too since I started putting together a to read list! I have 6 books out the library at the moment but sadly I will probably have return some without reading them I don't think the library would feel very kindly towards me if I took them to the other end of the country when I move! Not that I'm trying to make your list any longer, but have you seen the review for John Connolly's 'Book of Lost Things'? I saw it and added it to my list. Managed to get hold of it this weekend and enjoyed it so much I just can't stop enthusing about it! Wondered if it might be your cup of tea if you like things like Harry Potter.

Would be really really interested to read your opinions on several of these once you've read them

My 'to read' list is getting a bit long to keep reposting so will only do so when I have new books to add to it! Currently Reading The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty Books read in July The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I finished reading this book and Kell suggested I post my comments on this topic Seems a while since anyone did but nevermind. It was a good book, well written, tugged at the heart strings. It has to be a good book if by the end of it I was willing things not to happen and shedding a few tears (don't want to give too much away). I think it's a good book on the imperfections of relationships. Nothing is perfect, least of all love. Niffenegger manages to illustrate this in numerous ways and shows that even the best relationships have their crosses to bare. For Clare and Henry this is coping with the unpredictability of his condition and Clare's desperation for a child which Henry does not necessarily share 100%. Each of them is able to reach some level of understanding about the other to cope though. Clare accepts to an extent Henry's condition and lives with it, while Henry is able to see what it means to Clare to have a child (and ultimately helps her to do so). Any book that involves moving backwards and forwards in time and space at random is going to have a difficult job keeping their audience from total confusion. This has to be one of the best efforts I've read though. Yes, there is always a small element of confusion, but I feel it adds something to the book. It echoes the confusion of the characters at various points (e.g. Henry when he *first* meets Clare when he's 28, Clare's confusion over various points in her youth about Henry, various members of Clare's family feeling like they've seen Henry before, Gomez's confusion over seeing Clare and Henry together when he's supposedly dating someone else etc etc). Yet for the most part you could still follow the storyline. It is a very cleverly crafted book, with characters with depth and enough imperfections to keep them interesting. Even Alba sounds slightly pretentious. It's what keeps the story real. No angels and no devils. I would definitely recommend this to others, though not if you are in a particularly emotional place.

Oh it's a definite must read, and is a fine example of a book that manages to constantly change the time and location of the scene without you really getting that lost. Hard to explain really unless you've read the book But I deinitely warn you to have a box of tissues ready.

I've finished 'Time Traveler's Wife'. Will write on the Reading Circle thread later today (am waiting for 8am to come around so I can resume my 18 month disagreement with British Gas..... *sigh*). It was a good book, very emotional, I cried at the end. Don't know how Henry coped knowing what he knew. Will start on the Paul Doherty book next.

Welcome to the Forum Laura!

This was an absolutely wonderful book! I would very much recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Greek myths and legends and Grimm's fairytales as a child. A different and interesting take on these classic tales.

I couldn't resist reading 'The Book of Lost Things' when I got it out of the library yesterday! I've just finished it and wow! It was wonderful, a great read and definitely one to recommend! I really will now start 'The Time Traveler's Wife!' Currently Reading The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Books to be read (in no particular order, those I've currently borrowed/bought are marked with *) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd* Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell* Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty* The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric* The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White* The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson The Food Taster by Peter Elbling* Books read in June (all links are to reviews I have written) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly Way of the World by Elizabeth Aston The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson (abandoned part way through) Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin The Noble Outlaw by Bernard Knight The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards Jones Death and the Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake Blood on the Strand by Susanna Gregory

We were discussing Alexander McCall Smith at the reading group I was at on Wednesday. A couple of the ladies had tried and not got on with his books. Interestingly everyone who said that had tried reading the ones set in Scotland. I must admit I started by reading the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and was hooked. When I tried the Edinburgh ones they just did nothing for me. So if you want to try Alexander McCall Smith pick up No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency first!

I've finally finished 'Way of the World' by Elizabeth Aston. It wasn't badly written or anything but I probably wouldn't recommend it or be overly bothered about reading the next two in the series. It's set about 20 years after Pride and Prejudice (although am not sure the dates match as am pretty sue P&P is set in 1805 and this book is set in 1818). It takes a lot of the characters from the first book and adds a whole host of new ones including the five main characters. At first the book didn't seem to go anywhere and then things started to happen. Felt it was a bit more 'scandalous' than P&P and not entirely sure I agreed with most of the endings. Felt that the strictness of Regency society was over egged in a way that Austen wouldn't do (because it would have been obvious to her readers the do's and don't's of polite society I guess). I thought this was aimed at Austen fans so wasn't sure that this was therefore necessary. Ah well... onto the next book. Currently Reading The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Books to be read (in no particular order) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty (possibly next to be read) The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson Books read (in June 2007) Way of the World by Elizabeth Aston The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson (abandoned part way through) Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin The Noble Outlaw by Bernard Knight The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards Jones Death and the Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake Blood on the Strand by Susanna Gregory

Just been to my last book club meeting at work before I leave Fortunately I wasn't the only one who didn't like 'Tuscany for Beginners'! Anyway as a result of chatting books over lunch have got some more books to add to my 'to-read' list. Currently Reading Way of the World by Elizabeth Aston (although almost finished) Books to be read (in no particular order) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory A Coin for the Ferryman by Rosemary Rowe Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan The Three Kings of Cologne by Kate Sedley The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad The Iron Horse by Edward Marston (to be published shortly) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett The Last Empress by Anchee Min The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (reading this one next) Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty The Secret Diary of Ann Boleyn by Robin Maxwell Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson The Remedy by Michelle Lovric The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth The House of Doctor Dee by Peter Ackroyd The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman (actually I think it was my Dad that recommended this one) Wild Swans by Jung Chang Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Portia Rosenberg The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde The Riverman by Alex Gray When we were bad by Charlotte Mendelson Books read (in June 2007) The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson (abandoned part way through) Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin The Noble Outlaw by Bernard Knight The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards Jones Death and the Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake Blood on the Strand by Susanna Gregory

I'm currently reading 'The Way of the World' by Elizabeth Aston. It's ok but I probably wouldn't recommend it. I've taken a look at her list of other books and having read the blurb of 'Mr Darcy's Daughters' I'm wondering if its the same book as 'The Way of the world' just under a different title. Anyone read any of these and can help prove/disprove this?

Thanks for this It certainly will help me when I next write a review.