Talisman

I like the Match.com one with the girl on the platform, but I like the one with the couple in the library even better. The worst one has to be that awful car advert with the rappers and the gadget man and that stupid blonde woman with her phone. It drives me mad and can't be that good, as I can't remember what make of car it is even for !

As long as the translation was for your own use and not commercial purposes, I can't imagine you would have a problem - but it is always wise to check.

Absoutely Chesil, and glad you found my list helpful Janet - I should probably base mine on where the author was born as well, but just because someone was born somewhere doesn't mean they stay there, so basing it on where the book is set works for me just as well.

I finished reading Before I Go to Sleep yesterday, and all I can say is - wow ! I have read some good books this year, but this is by far the best, the best in fact since the Dragon Tattoo books last year. After reading a few quite heavy books in a row, I have decided to go for something a bit ligher as my next read - I don't usually go for chicklit/romance type novels, but well, sometimes you have to try something different, so when I saw A Rural Affair by Catherine Alliot online and read the first few pages, I knew I had to get it. The idea of a woman fantasisiing about her husbands death is one thing, but the way in which it actually happens (hit on the head by the frozen contents of an airplane lavatory) had me in stitches. After the last few reads I reckon I need a good laugh.

Well, speaking as someone who works with the elderly, I can tell you that the second group definately does not exist. It may be more difficult to learn and retain memory as you get older, but it is not impossible. I think then that I have already joined the first !

I suppose my own strategy would be something along the lines of the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference." I grew up in a household where both parents were chronic worriers, especially Dad, and seeing as I inherited most of his traits, didn't really stand a chance. With a lot of help though (and hard work), you can learn to change the way that you are, or more specifically, the way that you think, for it is all about learning to master what goes on in your head. If you can do that then you can also change the way you feel, for feeling comes from thought. A lot of what we think isn'r out anyway, but it is baggage inherited from our parents and peers - in other words, it isn't ours to begin with. I had a few spiritual teachers before I met Coran, but he has been by far the biggest influence on my life with his insights into so many things - sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself. I have quite a stressful job, and it isn't always easy to keep the mind focussed when you are dealing with high pressure situations, but I usually eventually manage to realise what I am doing and remember those words. At times when it really is too much then I find a long walk in the fresh air works wonders at clearing the mind - Coran and I often have our most philsophical talks at such times, or over a cup of tea. I am really lucky to have found someone like that with whom I can share and be totally honest.

I completely agree - too many poeple are looking for a quick fix and are unwilling to put in the work. I used to read a lot of these type of books too, but I have moved beyond the need for them (for the most part) now, as like I said previously there comes a time when you have to start living it. I still read the occasional spiritual book as we all need occasional reminders, but I find it more useful to talk with like minded friends with whom I can share experiences.

Sounds similar to my own beliefs then - although I don't think it's about improving our rank, for in the spirit world (or for that matter here) it is all about experience. The term rank implies heirarchy when imo at least there is none.

Yes, I suppose I should really, although you really would have thought that they would have done that anyway - I mean if I was launching a product like this for the UK market, I would do this. There is a thread on the Kindle forum already on this subject, so I suspect that they do know about it already, but I will contact them directly as well using the email address they supplied for feedback when I bought my Kindle. Maybe it's something they will do for the 4th generation, whenever that comes out.

Can't say I have heard of this one, but the title sounds interesting, so perhaps I will look it up.

I think you meant to say message rather than massage - although one of them (a massage that is) would go down a treat right now ... Any offers ? !

Does anyone know how if there are any programmes for Kindle so that the text to speak function has a British rather than American accent, as I am finding it extremely irritating ! You really would have thought they would have realised that a Kindle for the British market should have a British accent but I guess not.

Same here - when I used to work in the electrical business it was the same. They even used to come back to the shop after they had bought stuff elsewhere and ask us for advice on why it didn't work ! To me it's just not an ethical thing to do. If you don't have the money to buy from book shops then don't visit them, it's as simple as that - either stick to the Internet for all your browsing and buying, or if you are really short of cash, use the library.

I managed to get through five books last month, which is the most I have done for a while. My reading seems to be increasing a lot more of late, and I guess this is something to do with my changing work patterns, that and spending less time on Facebook playing silly games. I am sure it will increase even more now I have made the move from paper books to a Kindle as it so much easier to carry with you than heavy and bulky books. Each book I read last month was though very different, yet each in their own way was the same, about people's difficulties and lives and the lies that they try to cover up. They may be set in different countries and translated from different languages, but the universal language in this regard remains the same - we all sometimes keep stum about things because we are afraid that if we tell the truth, people will no longer like us. I have been guilty of this myself on more than one occasion, so can certainly understand why someone would do this. In the end though, as most of the characters in these books found out, the truth will out, and we will either keep our friends or not - if we don't then they were not our friends to begin with. That is the lesson that most of these characters had to learn. At the beginning of the year I set myself a quest (based on the amound of books read last year) to read books set in at least a dozen different cnountries, and if I include the one I have just started, I have already achieved this with another 4 months to go, so I suppose I had better up the ante and aim for another 6 countries on top of that. The books I have read so far then have been set in: Japan, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia, Burma and Libya. I am not sure where the next one will be set, but there are several African ones on my wishlist, so probably Nigeria or somewhere like that. Maybe I will look at that reading world the challenge that a few of us are doing, although I suspect that would take me several years ...

We had dinner at lunchtime today, since we went out for the day - Meditteranean vegetable turnovers with various mixed veggies and a rather nice lemon drizzle cake for afters.

I personally much prefer the idea of better offers on single books. Very often (particualarly towards the end of the month!) you only want to buy one book, as that's all you can afford, plus like I said, there are also a lot of times when you just can't find a third book that you like. If the offers are good enough (and hopefully not to the detriment of the author and/or publisher) it will be easier like Chesilbeach says for them to compete with the supermarkets, who somewhat depressingly are now Britain's leading book sellers. I have never been able to understand this, as I can never find anything in the supermarket that to my mind is even worth reading - unless you like chicklit and celebrity memoirs, which (no offence to those that do) are not my cup of tea. I prefer something with a bit more to chew on. As to whether it will make me buy more books - probably not from Waterstones, but Amazon have a similar pricing poliy on their downloads - that is, offers on certain books, and so far this has certainly tempted me. So yes, for those who do still buy and read paper books, then I can see that this will be a lot better all round. I certainly hope so, as they need to do something to revive the book trade.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/31/waterstone-s-ends-3-for-2-offers I don't know what others think, but personally I feel that this is a good thing, for all of the reasons they state. There must be countless times that I have gone into one of their branches, found two books that I wanted but gone away empty handed when I couldn't find a third, only to end up ordering those two online because they were cheaper. This will stop all of this, thereby encouraging people to buy more books which is exactly what they want. Mind you, now I have a Kindle it's a bit of a moot point anyway, as I don't suppose I shall be shopping at Waterstones anymore if at all. The way things are going, I would be surprised if they are still here in five years time. I suspect though that that is a whole other discussion ...

I live in the village of Box Hill, which is where Emma had her picnic in the Jane Austin (my more famous almost namesake) book of the same name.

Can't help you with books unfortunaetly, but you have described the relationship I have with my own partner to a T - before you ask, (s)he is the vulnerable one - the s in brackets will give you a pretty large clue as to why !

Some of my favourites, which are not necessarily from books are: I used to be an aetheist until I realised I am God - Deepak Chopra If you stick your head in the sand all your life, all people will see is an arse ! - this one came from a fridge magnet that I picked up at our village fair and The man who deliberates fully before he takes a step will spend his life on one leg - Anthony De Mello

Many readers have their own favourite authors - I have a few of these myself, but for the most part when shopping for books I don't look for specific authors, just a good story that holds my interest and makes me think about and sometimes question the world at large and for want of a better phrase, the human condition. Unlike many I know who seek books written only by authors whose work they are already familiar with, I actively seek out books that are written by unknowns or those that are different in some way to books that I have read before. I wonder sometimes whether we get too hung up on the idea of reading certain authors, as if it is safe and familiar. Important though the author is as the creator of whatever book I am reading at any given moment, for me it is really more about the story - the message is for me more important than the messenger. I was just wondering what others thought about this or whether I was alone in thinking this way?

I finally got my Kindle last week - I decided to go for the non 3G version mostly because of security concerns. I can see the advatanges of 3G, but we have a good wireless connection at home, and there are plenty of hotspots about, plus it is easy enough to load up with books before an extended trip anyway. I have ordered a hemp case (as a vegetarian I really didn't want leather, and neoprene isn't imo tough enough to protect it from the knocks that I am likely to put it through - reading on the beach, on the top of cliffs etc in the middle of winter), and will probably get a reading light in due course. The low cost of e-books combined with its portability will definately encourage me to read more. I will have to watch my spending then to make sure I don't get carried away !

Rumur - Seasons of the Soul, which I am really enjoying.