Ruth

Just finished Brideshead Revisited, and sorry to say I feel like a philistine for not really enjoying it. About to start The Colour Purple, by Alice Walker.

I bought the book purely on the basis that Jeff Bridges, who is my all time favourite actor, is in the movie!

Paperbacks. I find hardbacks a bit cumbersome, and they rarely fit easily into my handbag! I'll only buy a hardback if it's a present, or if I really can't wait for something to come out in paperback.

Differences in spelling between different variants of the same language don't bother me. My friend is British, and has been living in the States for 8 years; as she does a lot of proofreading, she said that she has had to 'retrain' her mind, because when she first got there, she saw words like 'neighbor' and 'color' as being wrong.

I have only read the first in the Alex Cross series (I think it is Along Came a Spider), and this is the only James Patterson book I have read. I didn't really enjoy it though - the storyline was good, but I felt the writing was not! I have some of the others in the series on my tbr shelf, but I am not in a hurry to read them, although it may be - as it is in others series of books - that they improve as the series progresses. They are okay if you want something undemanding though - probably a decent author to take on a long flight.

I always try and use correct grammar and spelling when posting. Spelling errors in others don't really bother me, but like ii, bad grammar does bother me, although I wish it didn't. I do actually believe that reading a lot helps improve grammar and spelling - and vocabulary too. Most people I know who are avid readers tend to have good grammar and spelling skills.

Thursday Next, from Jasper Fforde's books!

Have just finished The Eyre Affair - I thought it was terrific and have rated it 5/5. I think my enjoyment was helped by the fact that I had read Jane Eyre shortly before. Will be starting Brideshead Revisited tomorrow.

Never liked a book I didn't want to like - I always hope to enjoy any book I read, and if I don't think it will appeal to me, I won't read it anyway.

Absolutely fabulous album! I loved 'I Wanna Be Adored' - it was my favourite track, but there was no bad song on there.

Yes, I read Jane Eyre at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb; that's partly why I wanted to read The Eyre Affair now, while JE is still fresh in my mind. I must say that so far, I am thoroughly enjoying it!

I think it would, thanks:D I don't know what it is about him - I just don't think he's a very good actor.

I think it sounds like a good movie, but I don't like Brad Pitt. Really like Cate Blanchett though.

Thanks everyone:) rwemad - I will definitely be looking out for Have The Men Had Enough? Thanks for the recommendation:)

I finished 'Over' tonight, and I agree Bookbee - it was very compelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the sad subject matter. Starting The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde next.

Louise and Don's daughter Miranda has died in a freak accident. After her death and the initial grieving, Louise decides that, although devastated, she has to try and move on with her life. However, the tragedy has affected Don tremendously and he becomes obsessed with finding someone or something to blame for it. His obsession has torn their marriage and their family apart. They have two remaining children - Molly (Miranda's twin) and Finn. The children have their own grief to deal with, but on the whole seem to be coping as well as can be expected. However, the family is slowly being torn apart by Don's obsession and Louise's changing feelings towards her husband. This is a beautifully written book. Louise herself is the narrator, and I think the first person narrative helps the reader to empathise with her, and the other characters. The book starts after Miranda's death, and although the details of what happened to her are explained, the story centres on the aftermath and the struggle to come to terms with such a terrible event. Each and every character is extremely well written and totally convincing. It is easy to like Louise, and still be able to see her actions through the eyes of others. Despite the fact that the others don't narrate any part of the story, it is also easy for the reader to understand their actions and reactions. Despite the subject matter, the book is not depressing, although it is very moving. The author does not dwell entirely on the effect that the accident had on the family, but also portrays situations of complete normality, showing how their lives, while forever changed, must in some ways remain the same. I have never read anything by Margaret Forster before, but this book has absolutely made me want to read more of her books. This is a highly recommended book.

The longest book I have on my shelf is The Count of Monte Cristo. I can't remember exactly how many pages it is, but it's well over 1000.

I agree with Neil Tennant. But then again, I hate X Factor, so I'm probably biased!

Finished 'Blind Faith' by Ben Elton...very enjoyable. Will be starting 'Over' by Margaret Forster tomorrow.

They were talking about that on BBC yesterday. Simon Brett was on, and apparently J K Rowling is number 43 - but considering she has only written less than 10 books, that was considered a very high placement.

I've only read the first one in the Alex Cross series, by James Patterson, and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it. I also thought Stephen King would be on there.

I love the magazine! Because it only comes out once a year, it's a nice treat when a new issue is published.

Yes, on the whole I do think it's worth reading. I haven't seen the film, though I understand that a bit of poetic licence was used, but I guess that's almost always the way it is when real life stories are made into films. I would recommend it - and it's a very quick read (I think I read it in a couple of hours). If you do read it, I hope you enjoy it:) And thanks Enthusiast and ii, for your comments:)

This was the review of it, which I posted on Library Thing: (in essence, I thought it was a good read, but very over-rated). "Having just finished this book, I am not sure what to make of it. Jean Dominique Bauby was the Editor in Chief of Elle Magazine, and had a full and happy life until he suffered a massive stroke in December 1995, and was left paralysed, and only able to communicate by blinking his left eyelid. And with a patient transcriber, this is how he dictated this book, in which he describes his life now, and details small vigniettes of his life before he fell ill. To write anything under such circumstances would be an amazing achievement, and in that sense, this book is a testament to the human spirit. However, it left me feeling strangely detached about what must have been one man's living hell. The problem with the book as far as I was concerned, was that I never felt as a reader, able to connect with the narrator. I was not able to visualise the people in his life as 'real' people, although they most certainly are. There were a few touching chapters - one where he describes his children visiting him on Father's Day, when he is distressed at not being able to hug his son or run his fingers through the boys hair; and the chapter where he describes the events which happened shortly before the stroke. I have seen this book described as 'life affirming', which I am afraid to say I don't particularly agree with (although at one point, it did make me think that I should stop getting upset about insignificant things at work, and count my blessings). However, all that is not to say that I did not enjoy the book - I did enjoy it, but I was left feeling somewhat unmoved by it."

Loved loved loved Jane Eyre - a deserved classic. Next up is Blind Faith, by Ben Elton.