Nellie

Harper Collins publish Agatha Christie's books. They are doing a lovely series of replica first editions which show off the beautiful cover art. If you like to collect sets, you could look out for the Tom Adams paperback editions. These had wonderful illustrations on the cover, which if you looked you should have been able to solve the mystery! I collect Agatha Christie first editions. I have most of them, and ma now left looking for the very rare ones which when they come up for sale cost thousends. I am hoping I'll get lucky at a carboot sale as thats the only way I will be able to complete my collection!

I wondered whether something was lost in translation, because it wasn't originally written in English was it.

I really struggled with Inkheart and so didn't read the other. I love the idea of characters from books being able to escape from the pages, but somehow the writing just didn't grab me. I didn't much care for the characters and I found it quite dull for the most part. I was really disappointed that I didn't like it, as I know so many people do love it.

Very sensible of you! Which is your favourite book of the series? Welcome to the forum!

I think I might go along, just to see what they are like!

I finally heard back from the first book group. They left me a message on my answerphone with details of when they meet and the book they are reading. To be fair, the lady sounded very nice, I am still rather put off though. I guess I must have passed whatever vetting process they had!

I hope those hints involved emailing him a link to the website, leaving post-it notes with details around the house and tattooing it backwards on his forehead so he sees it every time he looks in a mirror!

We wondered about the loss of the spare room, but decided that we just wouldn't have anyone to stay anymore!!

It's on my Christmas list to santa!

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows made me cry when

We converted our spare room into a library and it's the best thing we have every done. We can find all our books easily now, and it looks lovely to see them all there in all their papery glory!

I will certainly report back. They have asked me what sort of books I have read recently and what I do and don't like, so I think it is quite tailored to each individual. I am so excited!! (is that sad?!?)

There's an actors strike on the horizon (according to Radio 4)

The powers that be are paid to keep cash flow and profits healthy for their business. Thats their job. They make decisions to maximise their return. We may not like the decisions they make, but thats what their role is. Given the threat of strikes both from writers and actors, I too would be thinking about how I can make sure I have cash flow through a lean time. I have a similar role, where I have to make a risk based assessment on what will keep the business healthy. Sometimes people don't like what I decide, but thats life. Some you win, some you loose.

I'm annoyed at this, it was due out on my birthday and Mr Nellie was going to take me to see it as a treat. Perhaps I should write and complain my birthday has been ruined. I think the new James Bond is due out the same week, and due to needing to be sure that they will have a revenue stream next year, they need to save one or other for 2009. When you think that the studios have to fund a lot of films that make a loss in order to find the one that will make them money, they need one big one a year to be able to bank roll the others. Apparently spotting a sure fire hit is almost impossible apart from perhaps Harry Potter. I'm still not very happy about it though. I may sulk until July.

I really enjoyed this, it was a nice gentle read, with some great moments. I didn't expect it to be great literature, should I have?

With you all the way there!

This is another Terry Pratchett line, but I can't remember which book it is from: "His mind wandered so far it came back with souveniers"

How do you do a spoiler? Thats a great feature.

I was reading Wind In The Willows last night. (OK, I'm 32, but after a hard day at work, who can resist a bit of Toad of Toad Hall?) There is a passage in it where Badger is trying to convince Toad not to drive motor cars anymore. The pair eventually come out of the room to meet Rat and Mole. Badger tells them Toad has promised to stay away from cars. Badger tries to make him repeat his promise in front of his friends, when he doesn't, he challenges him and says that in the smoking room he promised to stay away from cars and Toad says: 'Oh, yes, yes, in there,' said Toad impatiently. 'I'd have said anything in there. You're so eloquent, dear Badger, and so moving, and so convincing, and put all your points so frightfully well

I think they have only been open a couple of years. I came across it quite by accident when I was there looking for something else. It's a real find and they deserve success! I'd love to know what you think.

The shop is called Mr B's Emporium Of Reading Delights. 10/10 for the name of the shop I say! The Book Spa is about half way down the page. When I called up to book, they asked me briefly what I liked to read and what sorts of things I was interested in, as depending what I wanted to talk about depended which one of their team talked to me. To be fair, they seem to know their stuff, but they don't pretend to know it all. I am sure an hour with someone from this forum who is as passionate about books as they are would be a treat for them too! The one thing I really like about the shop is that when you walk in you are not confronted with the Bestseller lists like in the high street chains. They have their own lists for different genres full of all sorts of books, some well known, some not, but it gives you a chance to discover something new. They won independent bookseller of the year 2008, and well deserved too is what I say!

I'd really like to give this a go too. I have recently been making an effort to expand my reading, and I like this idea very much.

Ooh thank you! I'll add them to my list :-)

I thought it was a wonderful idea, something a bit different from "I know you like books so I got you book vouchers" !!