frankie

Yeah, I've realized how incredibly lucky we were to have him as our teacher. He was our own 'class teacher', meaning he taught us every subject except a few specialized subjects, like English and gym. He was (and is) musically very talented, he did conducting and he wrote music to some old poems and of course he taught music to all the different classes. We were lucky to have the music classroom as our own classroom for the four years he taught us. We weren't allowed to play with the instruments but sometimes he would go to the piano and start playing something as a skit. And we watched Amadeus and West Side Story... A few boys in the class made this wheel of fortune gadget and our teacher thought it was brilliant and he had it in the class room after that and we would play wheel of fortune sometimes Our teacher was funny and enthusiastic and even when he was being really annoyed with us, he would mockingly sweep his brows in frustration and roll his eyes and we would think it was the funniest thing ever and sometimes that would do the trick and everybody would calm down and start behaving

I started my day rather cheerfully, with some orbital be bop!

Thanks! I really have to thank my elementary school teacher for my keeping a record of my read books from so early on. When I was in elementary school, one year he would give us these tiny notebooks and we were to record all the books we read that year: the author, the book title, the page number, and possibly a few thoughts about the book. I loved it! And I read so much that my notebook was full before the year ended and I had to ask for another one! I think there were only a few others who also needed a new notebook (from about 25 kids). I really, really, really wish I'd saved those notebooks, but no I look for them every other year, but I've never found them, and I just now that I must've gotten rid of them as a kid, and I regret it very much. But that's really how I came up with the idea of recording my books on a notebook. I don't know why I started in 1998, and not before (or later), but there it is And I'm really happy I started!

I've been quite displeased with BookDepo for at least a month now. The Bargain Bucket has disappeared!! It's just not there where it used to be. I miss it. RIP, bargain bucket.

I just watched Girls Just Want to Have Fun. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid, I watched it so many times... I've been wanting to see it again for so long! And it was just as good as I remembered and so so nostalgic! Edit: And I remembered that I learned from this movie the fact that you don't pronounce the s in Illinois. It's funny, the things you remember...

I just discovered this beautiful Finnish song a half hour ago. I really have to check this singer / band out! https://soundcloud.com/nonperson/sarah-kivi-non-orchestra-atomi?in=nonperson/sets/sarah-kivi (^ you have to click 'play' to listen to it. The 'play' right infront of the name of the artist & band)

I watched Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War last night. It always makes me laugh

Ouch, I completely forgot to post the average rating! It was 3,66666666666666 and on it went. My average of all books read (from 1998) is 3,44 according to Goodreads so I definitely had a better year than on average

You know, I'm relieved that I'm not the only one! I've come to the second part of the book, three years later, and again I find myself perplexed! What has happened But I'm just going to read on, it'll become clear, I'm sure. We already talked about this, but for reading RwS! I'm happy to hear that. Maybe you are the missing link to this, maybe you are the one who will make me able to read both Balzac and Zola! Oh, and re: Zola. Remember when we talked about him and you recommended a few of his books? I've recently remembered that the costume drama The Paradise is based on Zola's The Ladies' Paradise. The series was so great that I think the book cannot be that bad, can it? Maybe that's the way to start. And yes, one of the great things about classics is that they are usually either free or dirt cheap, as you put it It's freaking brilliant, isn't it? I'm still reading The Line of Beauty, I haven't made much progress in the past few days so I have to really get going today. I've also started Kati in Paris by Astrid Lindgren, the third and final novel in the Kati series. It might be my least favorite... Nothing to do with Paris, though, but the blissful smug married As Bridget Jones might put it!

For me, the Anastasia Krupnik series by Lois Lowry always does it I grew up reading the novels, and she and I had/have so much in common. I own all of the books and I still re-read them. Some day I want to buy all the books about her little brother Sam

I'd forgotten about this song! I haven't hear it in a decade... At least!

I just finished the second episode of My Mad Fat Diary and oh, my, god, it was brilliant! Can't resist, I'm going to start watching the third episode now

Oh yes, that's another book (series) that I'd love to be able to read 'for the first time'

So that's another glowing review! Must definitely look into it. I must read The Lost Symbol before that, though, and a friend of mine borrowed my copy so I don't know when I will get to it... Oh sometime in the future, I suspect Wise words, missy Chrissy, wise words.

Well they are absolutely adorable

I'm not sure, but I think Kidsmum meant the Reading Circle we have here on the forum. Here's the link to the section! In fact, Timstar is doing a Reading Circle on sci-fi/fantasy in March, and it's a month away, you'd still have loads of time to read the book, because the poll's not closed yet, as it is, and if you like, you could join the discussion Here's a link to the poll. Also, the boss, Michelle, has said that next month is going to be Crime month here on the forum. I don't know what that entails, exactly, but I think Michelle will be opening a few threads to discuss crime fiction etc. ^ Edit: Here's the link to the announcement on the crime/thriller month in February! And by the way, I love your idea of broadening your horizons and trying out different genres. I hope you have a great reading year ahead of you!

It's great how differently you react to and see a book on a re-read after a decade or two... How you have changed in that period of time and will relate to a different character now. If that doesn't justify a re-read, I don't know what does

How are you liking it so far? Absolute bargain, wow! I hope you will enjoy the book That makes two of us I have to admit, I was having problems with the novel from pages 50 to 90 or so, I thought I wasn't enjoying it all very much, and I honestly thought about putting the book down. For good. But I kept going and I'm now finding that it's growing on me I hope this feeling continues, and I won't later be tempted to stop reading it. I look forward to seeing what you make of the book, too, and how people generally liked this! See you in a few days I'm happy to hear you're liking The Goldfinch! You have to let us know how you like the Honore de Balzac book, when you get to it. He's always intimidated me Ah yes, the Moomins. A few of us talked about the books a month or two ago, there were some mixed feelings about the books and the series. I've never liked the TV series and therefore have never wanted to read the books, but I guess I must. I think the Japanese ruined the whole thing Oh, and a belated Happy Birthday! I'm currently on page 164 of The Line of Beauty. I should be able to finish it just in time for the Feb RC!

My Mad Fat Diary. Seems good!

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Hello Mary and welcome to the forum! Please, tell me about the dogs in your avatar! Are they your own?

Did you enjoy these books? Just to get an idea if my suggestions are the kind of thing you're looking for. I hope so, too!

Sorry, I've only just noticed this! Yep, it's a rather energetic dance It's combined steps from different traditional dances, such as salsa, merengue, etc. If you search it on youtube, you'll find clips and you can get the idea what it's like

Coincidentally I saw this book (or maybe some other novel by Ende) at the library just recently and wondered if Ende was any good. I do like the sound of the book Great review, thanks! I might have to check the book out!

Well that's encouraging... Thanks!