frankie

20 titles is a great start! That's also a great idea, to read a chapter or two, to see if you think you'd want to read the book at a later time. However, this might be tricky if your going through a lot of books to give away: if you read the first chapter of, say, 50 books, and then find that you'd immediately like to start reading 10 of them... Where do you go from there Ah yes, having to remove the titles from the jar Books are such hard work Talking to oneself is quite alright with me You need to do that every now and then to get all the stuff out Although if you're thinking you are talking to someone else and then you think it was yourself after all, it might get a bit muddled! There are only two fonts on here that I like And I think they may have both been used by someone else. I'd like there to be more to choose from, but hey, minor niggles. Don't mean to sound like a Debbie Downer or a Meggie Moaner! ... I started to wonder if you meant you'd put Aliona custard on the books to make them taste better and go down more easily... Yay, I'm so happy that these two made the list! LOL!!! I'm happy I wasn't drinking anything when I read that Priceless!!! Edit: I need to of course now copy+paste your new 130 Books list on my reading log and see what's changed and stuff. Yay! And see if there are any new titles which we all share, Kylie included. I want to read more books from you two's 1001 Lists this year for sure!

It's snowing and it's windy, and I believe in general this is a lot of snow for Helsinki. They've even cancelled some trains today!

That is clever!! Even if it's coincidental

For unknown reasons, I've never really listened to David Bowie. Maybe his peak was before my time...? None of my friends or family listened to him so I never was 'made' to listen to him and so never got inspired. I do know one song by him, though, it was on a movie soundtrack, and that one I really liked... Oddly enough, I'm watching the new celeb BB series that started in the UK just last week, and Angie Bowie is one of the housemates. When I was reading through a few BB forum threads earlier this morning, one of the threads was titled Angie's ex David Bowie has died and I thought, no he hasn't, what a bad troll. And then later on when I was reading the news, I found out that it was true. I'm sorry for all my friends who've loved Bowie's music and who are now saddened by this early departure

I'm so predictable, aren't I. One way to incorporate the TV series fandom talk to book talk is pointing out that some hardcore Gilmore Girls fans read the books that Rory Gilmore (and some of the other characters) were reading or talking about in the TV series...

It's so generic that there's really nothing original there to steal I'd be happy to know what you think of the book when you get to it. And I remember pontalba liking SHwSP very much. I think she may have preferred it to The Dinner.

Do you mean you'd like to join the Malory Towers group read...? We did that last year, I'm afraid I bumped up the thread a few days ago to see if anyone might be up for some other series to read together.

"Top 5 Series you want to start next year." I'm late to this, but here we go... Oh and I'm going to included series that I've already started in the previous years but have put on hold for the time being, but want to be catching up with now: Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay Grant County series by Karin Slaughter Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter Re: HoL: Cool! Re: TSBM: Awesome That's a great one! Book related fandom? I have to say the first things that came to mind were Gilmore Girls and The Office (US version) but this is a book thread I mean, I love the Harry Potter books but I'm not all that interested in talking about them hours on end and analyzing every single line and thinking of new meanings for everything. Actually, now I'm reminded of the two fandom threads I've been a part of on here The one for Jeffery Deaver and his books (mainly the Lincoln Rhyme books) and the one for the Dexter novels by Jeff Lindsay Ah yes, those were the days Yeah, I guess those two would be my favorite fandoms!

Haa I don't profess myself to be more complex by comparison, and I would say that the ideas in the book were big for me, but despite of it, or because of it, I still loved it all I'm glad that you don't regret reading it, at least

Haha, it's the NY stat-throw-off-month: everything's twisted because it's so early in the year I haven't read ANY debuts this year, and like you, I've read far more books by male authors than female authors... It's always such an odd feeling, to see one's 'read books' post in such pristine and empty condition. So empty, waiting to be filled out. Oh chesil, you are not bragging one bit! I don't see you mention the number of the books you've been reading during the year, ever. The only times I've noticed you mention your totals is at the end of the year At least that's how I remember it. And even if you did mention it, it's not bragging! It's stating a fact in one context or another. I'd be darn happy if I were as fast a reader as you! There's no shame in it at all. And I would never think nor have I ever thought you are one to read books just to be able to add to the numbers. I think that you are more organized than for example I am myself, and procrastinate a lot less and therefore also spend more time actually reading. I wish I could be as focused!

Well, it's too much a'plenty if one doesn't want to burden the TBR pile too fiercely with too many acquisitions... I ain't saying that in general, three digit numbers is bad when it comes to books

A great year in both quality and quantity! 45 (unscored ) top mark books, wohoo! I think you did right in ignoring the book jar when it got all tricksy on you. One doesn't want to lose one's mojo! One can always go back to the jar after a while and see if it will behave better after sitting on the naughty step for a while. Good luck with the Book Jar in 2016! I need to be more aware of my challenge lists and books, too. It might be fun to read a 1001 book together at some point, that is, if we were both coincidentally inclined to read the same book and the timing happened to be right Don't want to go and plan anything like that though, because that will scare the mojo I'm curious, but not convinced I should give it a try... There must be better books out there. Perhaps the actual books that Catherine Morland was talking about? Maybe I should re-read Northanger Abbey. That was a good 'un!

Christmas might not have come that year at all for that couple! Yeah Mr. Poppyshake is a keeper!

Cool!

That's an apt description It doesn't beat the original version which is like one of the most amazing and atmospheric songs ever, but it's still a good one Edit: There's one advantage to the Placebo version, though: I always thought Kate was singing '... and get him to swa'ap places', and it wasn't until I heard the Placebo version that I realized it's 'get him to swap OUR places' Dare I say....: No one's Kate?

It's been interesting to read your comments on the book Too bad it didn't rock your boat, but as they say, to each their own. This one's completely different from Under the Skin. I mean, duh, one would know that based on the blurbs and them being completely different genres. But it was just so far removed from Under the Skin that one can only compliment Michel Faber being able to juggle different genres successfully. I didn't like TCPatW too much, personally, though, but I know loads of other people who've loved it. Maybe you guys will fair with this Faber better

Oh dear What was it about the end that you didn't like? Do you think you'll buy the whole book? I finished reading The Square by Rosie Millard last night, not quite sure what to read next.

#4. The Square by Rosie Millard Blurb: Jane has the ideal life: loving husband, beautiful house and delightful son. Her fashionable dinner parties are perfect - and so are her secret assignations with her neighbour's husband, Jay. From Tracey and her 'New Money' lottery winnings to eccentric artist Philip and his pornographic portraits, the residents of North London's most privileged enclave The Square are a very satisfied bunch. To raise money for communal fencing, the Residents' Association decides to hold a Talent Show, produced by Jane and hosted by TV celebrity Alan Makin. But when the show lurches into public disarray, reputations are shattered and everyone has to learn to live with a far less glossy reality than before. Thoughts: This is a novel I picked up on the library's new books section. I liked the premise and thought it might be a fun read. I did like it to a certain extent, and even snorted a few times (three, tops), but it sort of fell short in the end I'm afraid. The characters were flat, there was nothing delightfully original in the story and all in all, I don't think I would have missed anything if I'd stopped half way through and not finished the novel. A 3/5 might thus seem too much for the book, but I did like it more than 2/5's worth... I'd give it a 2,5/5 if I did halves, but as I don't, 3/5 it will be. (So that's a very strong 3/5 for Summer House with Swimming Pool in comparison ) 3/5

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I wonder how poppyshake would like this one

#2. Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch From Goodreads: When a medical procedure goes horribly wrong and famous actor Ralph Meier winds up dead, Dr. Marc Schlosser needs to come up with some answers. After all, reputation is everything in this business. Personally, he’s not exactly upset Ralph is gone, but as a high profile doctor to the stars, Marc can't hide from the truth forever. It all started the previous summer. Marc, his wife, and their two teenage daughters spend a week at the Meier’s summer home on the Mediterranean with Ralph, his wife and mother-in-law, and film director Stanley Forbes and his girlfriend. They quickly settle in for days of sunshine, wine tasting, and trips to the beach, but when a violent incident disrupts the idyll, darker motivations are revealed, and suddenly no one can be trusted. As the ultimate holiday soon turns into a nightmare, the circumstances surrounding Ralph’s later death begin to reveal the disturbing reality behind that summer’s tragedy. Thoughts: My third Herman Koch novel. I got into it rather well and was looking forward to the usual Koch novel. Towards the end I felt like the story was lacking; that there weren't as many plot twists as is usual for Koch's novels. I was getting ready to be disappointed... But then there it was, the usual game changer. Thank goodness! But I felt like I'd already been disappointed, even though I really hadn't been... What an odd feeling! Of the three (SHwSP, Dear Mr. M and The Dinner), this was my least favorite, but that doesn't really mean a thing. I know some might (and have) preferred this to the others. What's more important is that Koch's novels aren't clear-cut, and the point of the novels is not to like the characters and/or to be able to relate to them. It's about presenting a situation, looking at it from different perspectives and then throwing a few twists in. It's the moral dilemmas. It's the evil that lurks in the minds of the common, normal people. For some reason I never give Koch's novels very high ratings. I mean I like the novels, but for some reason I just don't rate them very high at first, and later I regret it. I think I gave The Dinner 3/5 initially, and after having finished it, the book has really stayed with me, and now I think it's brilliant, and I would now give it 5/5. But I don't like to change my ratings afterwards... This is not a problem for me, it's just that I don't want other people to be fooled by my seemingly low rating of Koch's novels. I do like them indeed, and would recommend them! 3/5

#1. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig From Amazon: You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and a boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic. Thoughts: This book was waiting for me at my apartment when I got back from the Christmas holidays! It was a present from poppyshake, thank you very much! For many years while I've been on the forum, I've envied the people who have had some Christmas novel or another, a long time favorite of theirs, to read in the days leading to Christmas. I mean, what a great way to get into the spirit of things! Some read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, but I personally didn't much enjoy the book when I read it a few years ago... And I don't think I have any Christmassy books on my TBR... Well, I'm now happy to say I have finally found a novel that I can re-read and enjoy during Christmas! It can be my own Christmas tradition... The book was a really lovely telling of a sweet boy, and the story of Father Christmas. The book was rather magical: it was so lovely and yet it wasn't just a happy-go-lucky fairy tale: there were things in the novel that made me upset, sad and afraid, too. I really liked how the book went to a lot of different places that I did not see coming at all And there was some LOL humor there, too I specifically liked I would have enjoyed the book any way, but of course I'm quite loved up by the fact that the story takes place in Finland Last but not least: what a gorgeous book cover! I absolutely adore it! What a great addition to my book collection in every way! Thank you poppyshake for the wonderful read and book! 4/5

Hello and welcome to the forum!

^ This will be my only real challenge for the year, I think, (plus trying to read 100 books but that's just an idea and I won't panic about it or stress over it) but there's another thing I'd really like to try this year, finally. The Book Box thing! I had a Book Box last year, but didn't read one book from it! This year I'd really like to try to do one or two at least. The way I want to go about it is that whichever book comes up, I won't let myself wonder whether I'd like it or not: I shall pick it up and start reading it and see if it fits my mood. If it does, great, then I'll read the whole thing. If it doesn't, I don't want to force it, because that's no fun. I'm very much of a mood reader, and I'd rather abandon a book and give it another try at a later point in life when it stands a chance to interest me. Last year I had a different sort of box, but when I moved and went over my books and removed some from my collection, I had to go over the book titles in the box, too, and that prompted me to switch into another box. It was a box with some shower related things: scrubs and stuff. What I liked about it was that there was a 'window' in the box so one could see what was inside: little pieces of paper with book titles! However, when I moved, the plastic window was torn a bit and I've been needing to sort it out for a while now... I finally got around to it a few days ago. I'd bought some tape from a shop and it occurred to me that as I liked the tape, I could just tape the window shut. The tape says 'det er for vildt' which is Danish and means 'it is too wild' Here are pictures, before and after: