Kate

Ooo you're half of the pizza sounds nice Kell We are having steak, mmmm

Today I also finished Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, and loved it. My review is here

I did indeed take my own advice - rare I know - and I enjoyed this book

I have just finished reading Thank God it's Monday by Mark Greene, a little gem of a book on work. My review can be found here

Sorry for the confusion Janet! My TBR list has changed somewhat over this week. Here is the new one: Fiction: Penney: The Tenderness of Wolves Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Levy: Small Island Adams: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Roberts: Blue Smoke Harris: Holy Fools Gregory: Wideacre Gregory: Favoured Child Gregory: Meridon Ahern: PS I Love You Jacobs: The Friday Night Knitting Club Bosanko: A Nice Girl Like Me Chevalier: Girl With a Pearl Earring Picoult: Vanishing Acts Gregson: East of the Sun Trollope: Second Honeymoon Carroll: Alice in Wonderland Rice: The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets Martel: Life of Pi Morton: The Forgotten Garden Rees Larcombe: Leaning on a Spider's Web Neill: The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy Mansell: Head Over Heels Pratchett: Monstrous Regiment Keyes: Under The Duvet Scheinmann: Random Acts of Heroic Love Homes: This Book Will Save Your Life Farman: The Very Bloody History of Britain Twining: The Double Eagle Bradley: The Resurrectionist Heller: Notes on a Scandal Heyer: False Colours Classics: Austen: Sense and Sensibility Shelley: Frankenstein Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray Dickens: Bleak House Dickens: Oliver Twist Dickens: The Mystery of Edwin Drood Dickens: Great Expectations Christian: J John: Ten Piper: The Passion of Jesus Christ Strobel: The Case For Faith Hybels: Becoming A Contagious Christian Anthony: Taming The Tiger Lloyd-Jones: Spiritual Depression Driscoll: Radical Reformission Scott: The Role and Ministry of Woman Kendall: When God Shows Up Ortberg: If You Want to Walk on Water... Non-Fiction Marr: A History of Modern Britain Lang: Historical Mysteries Total: 51

I love Ben Elton, he is so funny. I really enjoyed Dead Famous

Chicken with melted cheese and tomato puree on, with chips and peas

I'm a Portsmouth fan. I went to Wembley twice last season, to the FA cup semi-final and final, to watch us win!!! St. James' Park is HUGE!! I sat right up the top of the away fans and I'm really scared of heights, wasn't good!

Why does it take so long to publish a book?

I love football too. Had to sacrifice my season ticket to work Who do you support?

When will your fourth novel be released?

Hello

Hey! Welcome

Hey!! Welcome

Hey welcome!

I have never come across the author Jay Dennis before but we are often being encouraged to read biographies of leading and influential Christian's, so when I saw Leading With Billy Graham, T.W. Wilson's biography, I thought I would give it a go, and on the whole it is a good, useful book. Amazon synopsis: Now available in trade paper, "Leading with Billy Graham" will help readers discover a new way to lead - from the background. Many Christians who want to impact the world mistakenly assume that influence belongs only to the front-man. But the life of T. W. Wilson proves otherwise. As Billy Graham's closest friend and longtime personal assistant, T. W. Wilson turned his own valuable leadership skills to the task of supporting Billy and ended up influencing thousands of lives both directly and indirectly. His life is an inspiring testimony to the power of "next-level" servanthood to maximize the power of the church for the twenty-first century. Filled with interviews and stories from many of Billy Graham's associates and eight pages of photographs, this book offers a fascinating look inside the most successful evangelistic ministry of modern times as well as an inspiring blueprint for purposeful servant-leadership. Overall, this is a good book. Dennis retraces Wilson's life as he serves God and helps Billy Graham in his ministry. Dennis teaches how to be a next-level influencer - someone who is there helping people and doing God's work, but without recognition. I found a lot of this teaching helpful and have already put some into practice, such as daily Bible reading and sorting out being accountable to someone. Dennis explores Wilson's life well through interviews and extracts, however, I sometimes got lost and didn't understand where the story fitted in with what Dennis was saying. It is not a long book, 200 pages, but there were times when I felt the book dragged a bit and Dennis seemed to repeat himself a little. 7/10 - it was a helpful and interesting book, but not the easiest to read

Yeah that would be a good place. We can discuss it on Thursday

I'm swayed by book covers. I'm drawn to interesting, old-fashioned, colourful and expensive looking books. I usually do read the blurb as well though!

Hey

Do read it Frankie, it was a good book I have just finished Humble Pie (Quick Reads) by Gordon Ramsay Amazon synopsis: Everyone thinks they know the real Gordon Ramsay: rude, loud, driven, stubborn. But this is his real story! In this fast-paced, bite-sized edition of his bestselling autobiography Ramsay tells the real story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef: his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction, his failed first career as a footballer, his fanatical pursuit of gastronomic perfection and his TV persona - all the things that have made him the celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse that he is today. Gordon talks frankly about: / his tough childhood: his father's alcoholism and violence and the effects on his relationships with his mother and siblings / his first career as a footballer: how the whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later / his brother's heroin addiction. / Gordon's early career: learning his trade in Paris and London; how his career developed from there: his time in Paris under Albert Roux and his seven Michelin-starred restaurants./ kitchen life: Gordon spills the beans about life behind the kitchen door, and how a restaurant kitchen is run in Anthony Bourdain-style. / and how he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family: his television career, the rapacious tabloids, and his own drive for success. I was a bit surprised by this book. I had no idea what to expect, and I knew nothing about Gordon Ramsay at all. He is very open and honest about his childhood, which seemed horrible, experiencing domestic violence and poverty. However, he does not dwell on the issue to gain sympathy. He is honest and then moves on the story. His rise to fame wasn't easy but he is someone who has worked very hard, and often for no pay, to get to where he is today. He explained restaurant ratings well, and he has broken a few records. I had no idea how many restaurants he owns, but he has a little empire it seems. He is honest and open, he gives his opinion about what he likes, how he works, what he wants in his kitchen and he defends his friends, such as the Beckham's. Having read this and seen how much blood, sweat and tears have gone into making him, I have a lot more respect for him. He has come from nothing to having restaurants and media success all over the world, quite an achievement. This was a Quick Read so was only 83 pages. I didn't feel I missed out not reading the longer version though, this was detailed, fast paced and easy to read. My only complaint would be his bad language, which does some through in the book. However, that isn't really a surprise! A good read 8/10

Yeah that would be awesome!! Come see us! I'll get that book out for you Ann

I thought I'd give Radio 4 a try this morning.....it was posh people describing a narrow boat Think I'll be avoiding that station for a while

That is terrible Nellie, some people are just plain nasty. I'd like to join a book club but don't know of any around me. Maybe me and Supergran should start a Sussex one!

The Book Thief and My Sister's Keeper have moved me to tears recently

I think have this here, so when we meet on Thursday I could bring it for you? Save Diane having to post it to you