frankie

Oh boy, I was sure it was you! Do you know who it was then? Humdidum... Casino Royale is not in the Rory List, at least to my knowledge but it is on the 1001 list for sure. Maybe you didn't include Casino Royale in the 1001 list because you didn't actually think you'd ever read it

Dimitra, nice to hear you started Gone with the Wind. Are you enjoying it so far? CaliLily, I started rereading Flowers for Algernon last night myself, managed 4 pages How are you liking it? Kylie, poor you with Casino Royale! But it's a really quick read, you'll manage I finished Dave Pelzer's A Man Named Dave last night and I was so happy about the ending, I cried.

I agree. It would be interesting to read about the Civil War from the Yankees' point-of-view...

(Well, if you'd been clever enough you could've said the same thing to me "what about your American sister??" ) I've had a busy and bizarre weekend and I had no idea Finland was playing against Sweden last night (?), otherwise I would've watched it. Apparently we lost 0-3, and now the whole of Sweden is in uproar, they're claiming that Finland lost on purpose... Are they high on crack or something, why would we want to lose to the Swedes??

I'm sure at least Kylie would back me up on the Animal Farm review (or rather the fact that it's a good book), so there, many favorable reviews Haha, it just to happens that 1984 is also on 2 of my reading challenges and I have just borrowed the book from the library so who knows I might be reading it soon!

Ha, what coincidence that you should have this book today and want to read Breakfast at Tiffany's as well! I did find it an easy and quick read (it's only like 102 pages or so, depending on the edition) and I think it could've even gotten a 4/5 from me if it hadn't been for so many disturbing things over the weekend. I had to read it in shorter bits which distracted me a little from the story, but that's not the novel's fault

Book 19. A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer This is one of the most disturbing reads ever, if not the most. I cannot believe what kind of people there are in the world. I cannot really say anything about this, it's a really upsetting book (since it's a true story). Book 20. The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer Dave Pelzer's life continues from when he got out. Still very disturbing. I'm currently reading the third book, A Man Named Dave, and I just can't help wanting to know what was wrong with her mother. I would so wish to know that in the end she realised what she'd done and she was sorry about it. I'm sure that will never happen though.

Do read it, it’s highly recommended! Book 18. Animal Farm by George Orwell Communism is a great ideal but it could never work in real life, on a larger scale. I’ve always idolised communism in some ways and have had discussions with BF about why it is such a red flag in the US and how come it doesn’t work (me on the defense side, BF arguing against it). Animal Farm was an excellent study case of this. Being empowered will always come first for some people (in this case, for some animals), instead of being equal and happy. A very sad read in many ways. 3/5. Another book crossed from 1001 Books –list.

Book 16. Anastasia at This Address by Lois Lowry Anastasia has given up the pursuit of boys because so has Sonya and the rest of her girlfriend group. However, she neglects to mention that she is pursuing a man. She answers one of the personal ads in a paper and begins a relationship of some kind with a SWM. These kinds of stories in novels (and in movies) are somewhat predictable but I have to say I was quite surprised at how it all turned out. Another hilarious Anastasia novel, one to cherish for many times! 5/5 Book 17. Anastasia, Absolutely by Lois Lowry In this novel Anastasia gets a dog, takes part in Values Class in school, and commits a crime. She finds that being wishy-washy about making decisions is not always a bad thing, but is rather an indicator of a person being able to consider a matter from different points-of-views. How can I come to terms with the fact that I’ve now read all of the Anastasia novels there are? This is the end of a very important era for me. 5/5

Pipread, I’ve only read about 20 pages of Flowers for Algernon so far but I’m already enjoying it immensely and I’m thinking it’ll be a really great read! Do check it out Book 15. Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote Another read from the 1001 Books –list. I’ve never seen the movie and didn’t know anything about the story so I just sat me down on a Thursday night and started reading. And I kept reading til the end. The great charm of Breakfast at Tiffany’s for me was not in the actual story itself (not that much really happened in my opinion) but in the characterisation, the setting and the dialogue. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by Holly Golightly, who gently forces herself into your apartment via the fire escape and the window? It made me feel and taste the sweet nightly airs of New York City. Her straightforward and unabashed demeanour leaves one quite speechless and surrendered. To know such people who command the room with their appearance… 4/5. Looking forward to reading other Truman Capote novels.

Where have you been hiding? Nice to see you back Some great ones you have there on your TBR, happy reading 2010!

This varies so much from month to month that I have no idea. And I've never kept tabs I mostly buy my books secondhand so it can't be too much, even if I sometimes buy numerous books...

Great review vodkafan, I'm definitely looking forward to reading this book soon

I just happened to read Ruth's reading blog and she's just read and enjoyed Valerie Martin's Property, which just so happens to be on Rory's book list. I didn't know what it was about until now, and it would go so nicely with the (my) current theme of GwtW, Uncle Tom's Cabin and To Kill a Mockingbird... I would so wish to buy this book now, there are no copies of it in the library Kylie, I think you've just bought the book but I'm not sure if you've read it already? I think Paula has read it as well and enjoyed it.

Nice to hear you enjoyed Property, this one's on one of my book challenges. I'm going to go and read your review on it

Glad to hear you enjoyed The Secret History and that you can finally cross it off your TBR

Surprisingly many people on this forum have found Lovely Bones to be a bad read and I've only noticed a very few members to have liked it (I belong to the latter group). I think it's because in other countries this book has been hyped so much that people were expecting the most miraculous book ever. Over here it hadn't been hyped at all when I quite randomly chose to read the book and found it amazing.

Great buys Abby Maybe you could just quickly read Flowers for Algernon and then continue with GwtW... I hope your mojo for GwtW returns soon

Great review Lucy, my reading of the book was very similar to yours. I also agree with you about the Ku Klux Clan part, I had never really thought about or heard how it all came about, and I do now have more understanding about it. I don't condone it, but I realise that it didn't come about just because white people hated blacks, but because they thought they had no other alternatives for bringing out justice. For the people of modern society it's all very black and white because they weren't there in the beginning, they don't understand the reason behind all this. That's one of the reasons why I loved this book so much, it was so educational. I remember saying to my BF that I would've been so much better in history if the teacher had taught us everything through historical fiction.

Lucybird I don't think it's odd at all, I also wanted everything to turn out alright for her eventhough I didn't like her. I think I noticed the same Rhett book you mentioned, or then it was another book about him, I haven't read any but I am intrigued!

Finished Animal Farm, started and finished both A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer. Very disturbing reads! Am in the middle of A Man Named Dave.

And banging his head in the slopes, we saw a snippet of that, didn't look too nice! Now watching Victoria Stillwell's doggy training show, it's the episode of Australian shepherd Stains who ended up in the youtube for his hypnoticed stare when he was watching cupcakes he couldn't have. Poor Stains, so cute!

I dig his do but he didn't sound like the sharpest pencil in the box... Props for him though for beating the Finnish Peetu Piiroinen

Ellen Degeneres (sp?) show, featuring Shaun White. Nice hairdo

Hello Tristan and welcome to the forum!