Ruth

'1989' was a fabulous read - very engaging, informative and certainly thought provoking. About to start The Ice Queen, by Alice Hoffman.

Nelly Furtado - Forca Rolling Stones - Hand of Fate The Doors - Alabama Song Manic Street Preachers - You're Tender and You're Tired Rolling Stones - Let's Spend the Night Together Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tear Faith No More - Evidence Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday Manic Street Preachers - Removables Red Hot Chili Peppers - Subway to Venus

It was either Gary Numan, or Alison Moyet. I think the Moyet concert was first, but I can't be sure now - it was a long time ago!

I thoroughly enjoyed Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. A really sweet and amusing Cinderella story, which I would highly recommend. My next book is going to be 1989 The Berlin Wall: My Part in it's Downfall, by Peter Millar:)

I really enjoyed The Vesuvius Club, and I have the next two books in the series on my tbr, so I want to read them very soon:) I'm now about to start reading Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson:)

I know exactly how you feel. I DO love reading, but sometimes I look at all the books I still have left to read (takes a long time as they are spread through various rooms in the house) and it seems a daunting prospect.

Between hubby and myself, we have a LOT of books, and they are basically all over the house! So in a way they do take pride of place, but only because there are so many of them that we have to put them wherever we can. As for getting rid of books - I really struggle with it. Sometimes I've ended up with more than one copy of a book for whatever reason, and I will happily give one away, but I struggle with the others - even ones I didn't enjoy that much. I don't mind lending books out - but only to a very small number of people, who I know will give them back. I've lost too many books when people have 'borrowed' them, so now I tend not to lend them out very often. Although if a friend expressed an interest in a book in my collection, I would happily buy them a copy:)

I normally only read one at a time. But I sometimes have an audiobook in my car as well, if that counts. I can think of only two occasions when I've actually read more than one book at a time. It doesn't work for me somehow.

I was absolutely thrilled for Jeff Bridges. He has been my very favourite actor for about 10 years now and I have seen almost every film he has been in. Long overdue for an Oscar!! I loved his speech - he was always so close to his parents. His wife looked SO proud of him:) I was also very pleased that Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director and Best Picture. James Cameron was rather ungracious when asked about I thought, but I was not surprised by that. Very surprised that Farrah Fawcett and Bea Arthur were left out of the In Memoriam section. They both very much deserved to be there.

I have The Other Hand on my tbr pile, and want to get round to it soon. Although I understand that the two books are very different. Next up though is The Vesuvius Club, by Mark Gatiss, which I have had sitting on my shelf forever (so it feels like)!

Have finished Incendiary by Chris Cleave. I thought it was a terrific read, not only as a study of a young woman trying to cope with her grief, but also as a portrayal of a city in despair.

I have two of her books on my tbr - The Fountainhead, which someone recommended to me, and We The Living. I haven't got around to reading them yet, and I can't honestly see me finding the inclination to read either of them in the near future. Bought on a whim, I think!

Finished Gringa in a Strange Land, and am happy to say that I thought it was an excellent read:) About to start Incendiary, by Chris Cleave:)

I don't think he was the director of the movie - that was Kathryn Bigelow, who is also James Cameron's ex-wife. I would not like to see everyone else who worked on the movie penalised over the actions of one man. But I definitely agree that Chartis should not be allowed to attend the ceremony. Edit: Although thinking about it, if it did win Best Picture, how could people be sure that it wasn't at least partly due to some ill-gotten votes? What a mess!!

I am really really rooting for Jeff Bridges to win Best Actor. He has been my all time favourite actor for many many years, and I think he's long overdue for an Oscar. Having seen practically every movie he's ever done (and there are a LOT!!) he has never turned in a less than flawless performance. This is his fifth nomination. And he got a standing ovation when he won the Golden Globes - an actor who is very well respected by his peers. I hope Avatar doesn't win Best Film. Partly because I really dislike James Cameron, and partly because I don't think a movie should win based on the fact that it has amazing special effects (sure, it should probably win the Best Special Effects category, but imo, amazing special effects do not necessarily mean that a film deserves to win Best Picture).

The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, by Robert Rankin. Surely the best book title ever?!?!!

Finished reading The Kalahari Typing School for Men - I think this is my favourite book in the series so far:) Really enjoyed it. Also read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the weekend - very quick short story and absolutely fab! Definitely made me want to read more by F. Scott Fitzgerald. About to start Gringa in a Strange Land, by Linda Dahl, for the BCF blog:)

I just love the series:) They're so easy and pleasant to read, and I always finish a book from this series with a smile on my face. I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Kalahari Typing for Men, and so far I think it's one of my favourites yet.

I can never abandon a book, however much I might not be enjoying it. I wish I could, because I have spent time on some really dire books!! However, I can usually tell whether I will enjoy a book or not before I pick it up.

I don't buy many magazines, and certainly never buy any gossips rags like Heat, Closer or Reveal (not worth the paper they're printed on). However, I do like to buy The Big Issue as often as I can - there is a regular seller in Wolverhampton town centre who I try to buy it from. My husband picked up a free magazine for me the other day, because there was a Jeff Bridges interview in it (he's my favourite actor) and I said it was a pretty good read, so he said he would try and get one for me every week. I'll occasionally buy a film magazine, but only if there's a feature on an actor or film I'm particularly interested in.

Just finished Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years, which was a definite return to form after the disappointing True Confessions. Next up is The Kalahari Typing School For Men, by Alexander McCall Smith. This is the fourth in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

I thought it was lovely, and best enjoyed with a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of cake. Perfect escapism! Just finished Property by Valerie Martin, which was also an excellent read:)

I have just finished reading The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, by Eva Rice, and I thought it was lovely. Rather like a modern Jane Austen, and perfect for curling up with on a cold night and losing yourself in for a couple of hours. Too tired to read any more now, but tomorrow I will be starting Property, by Valerie Martin.

American Psycho is one of my very favourite books ever, and also one of the most disturbing I have ever read. It's the only book I wasn't able to read in bed, because I found it too scary! The Handmaid's Tale is also extremely disturbing in an entirely different way. Another of my all time favourites. In fact, looking at my list of favourite books, I notice that a fair few of them could be classed as disturbing - don't know what that says about me!!

I've seen Tim Minchin on a few things - I've always thought he was very very funny and quick off the mark.