[Chaliepud's Reading in 2015.]

Not too much reading being done at the moment as life is so busy for various reasons, good but busy. I did manage a bit of book buying yesterday, courtesy of the £20 book voucher I won on the photo competition here on BCF. (BTW I keep seeing a car locally with BCF on its numberplate!) 

 

The forum has the best prizes! And how cool to see a car with BCF on its number plate   I dare you to stalk the driver and take a picture. Of the number plate, that is I saw a number plate with 'wuf' on it the other day  

 

I was buying the latest Sebastian Faulks, Where My Heart Used to Beat. We both agreed that Faulks can be a little hit and miss and of course I didn't miss an opportunity to recommend my favourite book of all time, Human Traces (have you read it yet frankie?)

Um, not yet, not quite... When I move to Helsinki I won't be able to reserve as many novels from the library as I've been doing this past year (because they charge money for it, unlike in Espoo), so I'll be concentrating on my TBR. I'll have a whole new bookcase to organize my books in, I think it might actually be too big for my books, and so maybe I could use one of the sections to put the books I'm to read the soonest in. Maybe HT ought to go in that section...     

 

He then recommended Gorsky by Vesna Godsworthy, a book I hadn't come across, with quite an uninspiring cover, so I thought I'd give that a go, it's not a hefty tome so will read it between two longer reads maybe. Then of course I realised it was on the buy one get another half price deal! So he recommended The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters which I've also seen recommended on here I believe? So, I got that too! Plus, I now have enough stamps on my loyalty card to pay towards the new Ransom Riggs which is due out next week!

Ooh, sweet deal! I don't remember who have read that particular Waters novel, but I expect it to be very good  

 

Yay for getting enough stamps, too! It's a vicious awesome cycle, this book buying, stamp and voucher receiving cycle, innit?  

 

On sadder news though, I'm really disappointed that my eldest has decided that he does not want to do A Level English Lit now, he got an A at GCSE when he was lucky enough to study Of Mice and Men and Animal Farm. This year however there appears to be a female theme, and not only that but from what I can tell they are not happy female books, a Streetcar Named Desire, Wuthering Heights and A Thousand Splendid Sons. Whilst I loved ATSS and think that would be a wonderful book to study, I can understand his reasoning. He's going to do Business instead which will complement the Economics he is already doing, along with Law and PE.

 

It's a stressful time but luckily he is very laid back about it all.. Maybe just a little too laid back though! 

 

I've not read the other novels, but I really struggled with Wuthering Heights so I can't really blame your son! He seems to have a clear idea of what he will be doing instead, so that's good, and all in all seems to have everything under control? I think you'e raised a great bunch of kids with Steve  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Yes, the peace and quiet! And no random visits from landlord's brother and the kids! Don't get me wrong, all the kids are nice and fun, but ... I didn't sign up for it when I moved here, and now I'm starting to find it somewhat stressful when people are always coming and going and I just don't know when I will have some peace and quiet all to myself. Maybe never Except now, of course, with the moving looming in the near future... Best news this year, after graduation! 

[Anna reads in 2015]

Diane Capri beat me too it.  Besides, all I wanna do is see his abdomen scar... apparently, its quite impressive.    *whistles and walks away* 

 

But... perhaps for your own private pleasure?  

[What's the weather like?]

Thunder and lightning, so late in the year! It hasn't even been hot or anything. Loving it!  

[Steve's Bookshelf 2015]

I went for a complete change of pace instead and made a start on The Quantum Thief this morning.  It's bonkers

 

Oh dear.    

[Anna reads in 2015]

Have you ever thought about writing Jack Reacher fan-fiction?  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Thanks gals! Can't quite believe it's real and it's going to happen  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Oh, the sad thing is, that in Helsinki the reserving of library material costs 1€ per book/DVD/CD, so no more reserving books for old frankie   But maybe that's a good thing, because I've only read fewer than 5 books off my TBR list this year... I'll get cracking with that pile after I've moved to Helsinki. 

 

I'm just so super jazzed!!!!!!!  

[Frankie reads 2015]

I'll now have to see which library in Helsinki will be the closest one....  I don't think they have a library in that particular part of the city I'll be living in, but I know one close to where my friend lives, so there's at least one that's 1 kilometer away from my apartment... This apartment is really close to where my ex used to live, and so I've walked by the street on my way to his place many, many times He still lived there when I joined this forum back in 2008... I think! It's sort of like going back in time, but totally moving onward with my life!  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Yep, better to not be able to read because of being so happy than because of being too sad  

 

I probably shouldn't say anything, because I'm afraid I'll jinx it... But the news I was waiting for was about an apartment I went to check out last Sunday. The owner PMd me yesterday that he'll rent it out to me! I'll be able to move and live all on my own!!! After a year of living with many different people, and being in a very crowded apartment, I couldn't wish for anything else. No more horrible flatmates! I'll be able to come and go and do what I like!  

 

It's a furnished apartment, and I was worried there wouldn't be enough room for my books, but there's a big ass bookcase and it's going to be all empty and I'm positive my books will fit!  

 

This also means that I'll be living in Helsinki ... Not too thrilled about it, but at least it's a good neighborhood, and one I'm somewhat familiar with. Close to the center but not too close. And I'm going to be living so much closer to my friends in Helsinki! Two of them live 1-1,5 kilometers away from my flat  

[Adverts you like/dislike?]

Awwww yay for little doggy!  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Thanks Athena! Feeling loads better, because I already got the news I was supposed to be getting next Sunday, and they were good news! But they may be such great news that I might not be able to read because I'm too happy and excited  

[Halloween Read-a-thon?]

I'm likely to read Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe, Dracula by Bram Stoker and/or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, depending on time. I'm also thinking of manga related to witchcraft, monsters or anything else related.

 

I loved Dracula! I hope you will enjoy it if you decide to read it during the Halloween read-a-thon  

[Halloween Read-a-thon?]

I was under the impression everyone would choose their own books to read, as long as they're related to Halloween.

 

Of course you can choose your own books Some people just like to throw in some ideas, and read the decided books together, as a group read. The main thing is to read what one wants and have fun with it

 

 

Edit: Also, you don't really have to read Halloweeny books if you don't want to The thread was initially about having a read-a-thon amongst the members on here, during the actual Halloween weekend. Everyone could read whatever they fancied. 

[Your Book Activity - September 2015]

I have no idea.  Probably around 7,000 at an average of 350 per book  I hope you're not expecting me to go and check

 

Well of course! Why else would I ask?  

[Frankie reads 2015]

Amazon keep telling me about this - and offering it dead cheap (under a pound normally). Might be worth picking up if they ask me again - but don't think I'll go out my way to get it. 

 

Hope everything is okay anyway, Frankie.

I won't say this or that about it, I'm afraid to recommend it but I also don't want to specifically not recommend it  

 

Everything's okay'ish, thanks. Just having to wait till Sunday to hopefully hear some excellent news - or some horrid news. I have no patience The stressing's making me really really tired.  

[Your Book Activity - September 2015]

I know!  I can't quite believe myself that I've read 13 of them this year    That's unlucky, isn't it?  Fortunately I can count The Final Unfinished Journey of Jack Aubrey, which I shall read over the weekend, as well and make it 14 

 

:lol: Thank goodness! What's the total page number of all the books? 

[Dexter]

I didn't remember that the first season only has 12 episodes. I was waiting for the usual 24! :( Meaning, I've only just realized that I'm nearing the end of the first season and have only 3 episodes to watch!     I was hoping for more!  

 

I've reserved a copy of the 2nd and 3rd season from the library but I might have to wait a while for them. Had I known there were only 12 episodes, I would've reserved them earlier and so wouldn't have to wait... I'm so irked!! 

[Noll's 2015 Book Blog]

Probably Poppyshake, because I rarely review books (and when I do, they're nowhere near as good as hers!) But of course we only have YOU to thank, Frankie, for bringing it to our attention in the first place.

 

Always a pleasure

 

Frankie I suspect it was you I got the recommendation from... I think, anyway.

 

Ah, that may be! I just don't remember reviewing the novel on here... But maybe I have Or maybe it was just in some other thread or discussion, that the book came up. Very happy to hear you enjoyed the novel, though! I'd also recommend the movie. 

[What Are You Watching Now? - 2015]

You've probably finished it by now. What did you think of the ending? There were some things that I didn't like, such as

Kelly and Ryan running off and leaving Ryan's baby!!!! I was glad to see Michael Scott come back to be the best man for Dwight, but I would have liked to have heard a bit more about his family, etc. So happy for Dwight and Angela too.

 

I thought it was a fine ending I loved season 9  

But I agree with you on the things you mentioned. I couldn't believe K and R, although actually I could!! And yep, I also wanted to hear more about Michael. I would've also wanted to see Holly and the kids! However, I don't really know why, but it kind of felt appropriate, too, that he didn't say that much. He felt so happy and content in his life, and happy for everyone else, that I felt like he was just so emotional all the way through that he couldn't have said anything else. And the others deserved the 'limelight' I loved how Jim orchestrated the bachelor party, being so nice to Dwight. I loved how their friendship evolved in the last season It was fun to watch!

 

And I laughed my ass off at this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUS5UOWnyTk

 

Awww Michael!!!! <3

 

And it was so odd, but nice, to see Angela laugh :O To show happy emotions!  

 

 

 

 

Oh yes, I watched this last year and loved it. You are in for a great ride.

Did you watch the whole series? I've watched seasons 1 & 2 before, and I knew it was good, but I'd forgotten just how incredibly good it is! And the cast is just amazing. This is pure TV gold, this is. Can't wait to start season 3 and watch all-new-to-me episodes!!

[Your Book Activity - September 2015]

I'm 250 pages into Blue at the Mizzen, the twentieth and final completed novel in Patrick O'Brian's 'Aubrey/Maturin' series.  One chapter left to go.  Forty pages.  And then it's over 

 

I can't believe you're already into the last book in the epicly long series  

 

 

I finished reading The Lie by C. L. Taylor and have absolutely no idea what to read next. Mojo seems to be feeling very restless  

[Frankie reads 2015]

#59. The Lie by C. L. Taylor 

 

Blurb: Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She's happier than she's ever been but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

 

Five years earlier Jane and her then best friends went on holiday but what should have been the trip of a lifetime rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of the women. 

 

Jane has tried to put the past behind her but someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won't stop until they've destroyed Jane and everything she loves... 

 

Thoughts: Another random pick that I found on the new acquired books list at the library. Unfortunately my reading suffered due to stuff that happened in real life (nothing bad, no worries), and I couldn't concentrate throughout the whole novel One thing I can say for sure, though, is that I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters. Sometimes that doesn't matter, but with this book it was a flaw. 

 

A decent enough thriller that did remind me of The Beach, as was 'promised' at the back of the book, at least that's what Louise Douglas was sure enough to vouch for. Not sure if I would recommend it to people who loved TB, but I wouldn't unrecommend it, either  

 

I might give Taylor's other novel, The Accident, a try at some point, if I like the sound of the blurb. 

 

3/5

[Noll's 2015 Book Blog]

I've added Alive and Beyond The Great Indoors to my wishlist. The latter was already on there though...must have come from an earlier recommendation or mention on here.

 

Probably Kylie's or poppyshake's review, I would think

[Ruth - 2015]

I've had a good look, and the only one I can think of was My Judy Garland Life by Susie Boyt. She talked about Judy being abused in that way during her childhood making films. However that book is definitely far more about the author than about Judy Garland (I didn't like it )

 

I went to read your review of the book and it didn't sound familiar at all. I then read the subsequent comments, and realized that it was one of the comments I've been thinking about, and unfortunately the comment isn't connected to the actual book you'd read!    It was this chaliepud's comment that's stayed with me, and somehow I'd come to think that you'd read a book about what chalie said     Boyt's book sounds really aggrevating  

 

Thank you so much for going through the trouble, though!   I really appreciate it, because it's been on my mind every now and then and it's been bugging me! 

[The Last Film You Saw - 2015]

I love Frankie too. 

 

Oh wait. You're talking about a movie? 

I can multitask, I can talk about a lot of things simultaneously <3