Ruth

I love the theme tune to the early seasons of ER. And the Law and Order them as well (the American version, not the version they play over here in the UK).

Just finished The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory - I loved it and gave it 5 out of 5. About to start Born Bad, by Josephine Cox (freebie from Harper Collins).

I read The Road earlier this year, and loved it. Really thought it was one of the best books I have read in ages. Preferred it to No Country for Old Men, which I also enjoyed - however the lack of speech mark does take some getting used to. Binary_Digit - it's always interesting to read a different perspective on a book - especially one I either loved or hated.

Have finished According to the Rolling Stones - very interesting, and would be an excellent introduction to anyone wanting to learn more about the world's most enduring rock n roll band - and have also read Addition, by Toni Jordan. Really enjoyed it, although I am still not sure whether I liked the ending or not.

About to start According to the Rolling Stones, by...well, by the Rolling Stones:)

Just finished Keeping Secrets by Andrew Rosenheim. It has been on my tbr for ages, and I'm glad I've finally read it. Just off to choose my next book!

Finished reading Absolute Beginners, by Colin MacInnes. It was quite interesting, and one I first read about 20 years ago (I preferred it this time around)! About to start Keeping Secrets, by Andrew Rosenheim.

The White Family was a wonderful book - very thought provoking. I highly recommend it:) Just trying to choose my next book!

I enjoyed it very much! I also think it is the sort of book that would benefit from repeated readings. Very highly recommended:) Just about to start The White Family, by Maggie Gee.

I never used to read historical fiction, but last year, someone suggested I read The Queen's Fool, by Philippa Gregory; that led to me trying other historical fiction writers, and now it's a genre I really enjoy. I like books to challenge my thinking sometimes, but at other times I like to read something light hearted, just for the sheer pleasure of it, and if I take nothing more from a book than pure enjoyment, then I'm happy.

Been reading more than you could have imagined? Or has your mojo deserted you? I'm on my 38th book of the year, which I think is fair enough. I said on another thread that I used to give myself 5 days to read any book, so I was reading quite quickly earlier on in the year, but it was sometimes starting to feel like a bit of a chore, so I don't do that any more. As a consequence, since about the beginning of June, my reading might have slowed down slightly, but I'm enjoying it more. Found any new favourites? Been disappointed by others? I've read some excellent books this year - The Handmaid's Tale is now firmly in my 'favourites' list, and I've rediscovered Jane Eyre and A Clockwork Orange, both of which I preferred reading second time around. Other books I've given 5 out of 5 are Over by Margaret Forster, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (as a result, I want to read several more of his books) and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I also gave 5 out of 5 to Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, by David Simon. I don't read very much non-fiction, but this was fantastic. I have been disappointed by a couple - Brideshead Revisited was a big disappointment, especially as I had such high hopes for it. Been sticking to your reading challenges? Or pushed them to the side in the name of being spontaneous? I've been sticking to the challenges I've set myself, but I've purposely not set myself unrealistic targets. Bought more books than you've read? (Please tell me I'm not alone in this!) Oh yes! I have a compulsion to buy books! Been spending too much time at BCF when you could otherwise be making inroads into your TBR pile? And if so, are you going to do anything about it? (Let me guess...'Yes' and 'No', right? ) The internet is my main distraction from reading. (I don't count going out to see friends or going to the gym as a distraction. However, the internet is a distraction because I tend to go on there when I could be reading, whereas if I'm out with friends or at the gym, I couldn't be reading anyway, if that makes sense). Usually I have one day a week when I don't go on the internet at all - generally a Sunday when I am at home all day. I get loads of reading done then! And finally, where do you hope your reading will take you in the next 6 months? I hope they will be like the last six months - some great, some good, some not-so-good books, and a few new authors to discover!

I used to give myself 5 days per book, but nowadays I don't do that any more, because sometimes it felt as though reading was a chore that I had to get done. Nowadays, I don't place any restrictions on it, but I find that I still generally take about 4 or 5 days to finish a novel.

She is fast becoming one of my favourite authors! Her books are so well written, and she never fails to surprise me! Finished Biron's Mercy, by Ben Gibbins; I wish I had enjoyed it more, but I've tried to be fair on the blog. Next up is Cold Comfort Farm, by Stella Gibbons.

Just finished Affinity by Sarah Waters - the third book of hers I have read. I enjoyed it hugely and would highly recommend it. About to start Biron's Mercy by Ben Gibbins, for the BCF review blog.

I've just finished The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, and thought it was fabulous - a definite 5 out of 5 for me. Now going to start reading Affinity, by Sarah Waters.

I'd never heard of Wonderfalls until we went to the States last year. Our friends over there had got the first (and only) season DVD - we only watched a couple of episodes, but I thought it was great. Brooklyn South was a great show which was cancelled. And for the life of me, I can't understand why Grey's Anatomy with it's far-fetched storylines and musical beds scenarios is still on (but I know millions would disagree). And I'm still upset that Life has been cancelled. Damian Lewis was so great in that show - it's far better than a lot of other stuff on at the moment.

I have just finished The Painter of Shanghai, by Jennifer Cody Epstein, which I thought was a great book - very well written indeed. Am now starting The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a good book, and less than 100 pages. Also, Annie Proulx's Wyoming story collections are good. There are three books (Close Range, Bad Dirt and Fine Just the Way It Is), which are all collections of short stories set in Wyoming.

I've only read Chocolat (and I only read it very recently), but I really enjoyed it. My cousin has given me The Lollipop Shoes, so I am looking forward to starting that one.

Yes, it was originally published in German, although it doesn't read like a translation to me. I don't see what the author's nationality has to do with it though - plenty of people write about countries other than the one they were brought up in. Lots of writers use non de plumes as well. Plus every book doesn't have to be insightful, does it:) Sometimes I just want to read something light and funny, and this fitted the bill for me.

Hi - thanks for your comments. I do love animals, but it's not a genre that interests me above others (probably my favourite reading genre of all is dystopia). You're right - it was me who read The Art of Racing in the Rain, and posted a review. I think I do like to read about animal's interpretations of human activity, normally because it's quite amusing, but really I'll give anything a try and it just happens that I've read two excellent novels, both from the viewpoint of animals:)

I loved it - I've posted a review in the Fiction section, but in short, I can highly recommend this:)

In the rural village of Glennkill in Ireland, a flock of sheep are horrified to find their shepherd dead, with a spade stuck through him. The sheep decide that they must investigate the murder and work out who killed their beloved master, in order that justice can be done. Along the way, the encounter various obstacles, face their fears and learn a few lessons about life. I thought this was an adorable book. The premise is unusual - a flock of sheep make for an unlikely detective squad. But these are no ordinary sheep! Their dead shepherd, George Glenn, had read to them every day of their lives and treated them as proper friends, holding conversations with them. As a result, they are able to think things through and make plans. Each sheep has a distinct character. The main characters are Miss Maple, the cleverest sheep in all Glennkill and maybe the world; Othello, a black ram with a mysterious past; Mopple the Whale, a sheep with an amazing memory and a seemingly inexhaustible appetite; Sir Ritchfield, the elderly lead ram; and Zora, a sheep with a head for heights. If the reader can accept the premise of this unusual murder hunt, the book is very enjoyable. The flocks literal interpretation of human conversations and interactions make for some laugh-out-loud moments, and the secret of who killed George Glenn is kept until almost the very end. Definitely a book I would recommend - heartwarming and amusing. However, it's put me off eating lamb chops for a while!

If I'm at home, I always sit in our big comfortable armchair to read, whatever the genre. But I'm another one who carries my current book everywhere with me and will read whenever I get the chance.

I'm a sheep (yes, really) trying to investigate the murder of my shepherd in Ireland.