Chimera

I just remembered another very interesting autobiography: Banker to the Poors: The Story of the Grameen Bank by Mohammad Yunus. Yunus is the man who invented the microcredit in Bengladesh, a concept which has since then spread everywhere in the world. The idea was of creating a bank which would lend very small sums of money to people who need it to start a small livelihood activity (a food stall in the street, some materials to make stools out of bamboo...) but cant go to normal banks as they are too poor to offer any garantee. More than Yunu's life story this book is the story of the creation and development of the Grameen bank. A very insightful view in this system, the development questions in Bangladesh and the way a simple but unorthodox idea can grow into a very effective development tool.

I guess I'll just have to buy a french copy then, which will make it simpler to find. Is it a book which might suffer from the translation?

Re-read Le Petit Prince today. I had forgotten how funny and tender some parts are, and how sad the ending is. A very refreshing quick re-read!

Ooooh very interesting thread topic! I usually get quite overwhelmed by the choice of books in the library. I never know where to begin or how to choose. So I usually try to come in with a list of books I'm interested in (which has been very easy since I joined this forum *laughs*), then I might go and look at authors which I know I like and try to just browse random books... But choice has always been difficult for me, so choosing between hundreds of random books is near impossible *cracks up* Does anyone have a great technique which might save me some time and indecision?

It does sound good, I've added it to my TBR list

I want to but the library where I was planning to borrow it has lost it So I will if I find a copy to borrow or buy for cheap.

I have a small notebook in which I have been keeping on and off a list of read books since I was around 13 years old... I'd forgotten about it but got it out again when I joined librarything last week. It was nice finding this record of books I'd read long ago

I see what you mean... Running away from the latest bestsellers are you? I'm a bit of the same but I've found lately that I do enjoy those that I try (The Kite Runner one of them) so I'm probably missing out on some great reads!

Not very original I know, but Harry Potter *grins* Actually I havent read much fantasy apart from that. I loved the lord of the rings films but never managed to read the books. I did read The Hobbit and enjoyed it but it took me forever to get into it... I guess what made Harry Potter easier was that while it offers a whole magical world to discover and enjoy, it remains close to reality: I could relate very easily to the characters (well most of the time anyway *laughs*) and imagine that the magical world does exist right beside us... I find it much more difficult to relate to 'full' fantasy such as LOTR if that makes sense. I'd love to try some new books in this genre though. I'll go through this thread but do you have any suggestions considering what I said above?

Tiramisu if its not too hot, blackberry or rasberry sorbet the rest of the time Though vanilla, apple, pear, stracciatella, chocolate... are all great too! *laughs*

Good luck with that Icecream, sounds lovely! It was going to be a very healthy soup and fruit yogurt for me but I just went and got 2 chocolate cakes from the bakery Needed some comfort food...

Thanks! I seem to be in a very 'reading' mood at the moment *grins* Just read The Stepmother by Carrie Adams, which I enjoyed a lot after finding the beginning a bit slow. I found it very refreshing and probably never would have thought of reading it without the reviews on this forum so thanks! Not sure what to read next... The books I ordered online havant arrived yet, the library is closed on mondays and those books I do have at home arent tempting me at the moment Though that's probably because they are readily available *laughs*

I have mixed feelings about this season. It is weird to see the way they have all changed but it's also refreshing... I liked it until last week's episode, which I felt was all wrong... I'm on the american schedule though so I dont want to spoil anything by being specific. Hopefully tonight's episode will be better.

Yes, they do have a wonderful atmosphere! Have you read them all? I read the first few in the series a few years ago and I remember loving them. But as I said, this one confused me a bit.

oh, you are really missing out on a treat with foie gras! *grins*

No worries, I'm not very good at welcoming everyone actually both for the welcomes! I'm loving the forum.

That means I have a fantastic read ahead of me! *grins* I just started it today and I'm finding it a bit difficult to get into. The first person voice is annoying me a bit... But it's just the beginning so hopefully the story will pick up soon.

*laughs* I know what you mean. I spend 2,5 hours commuting between home and work every day. It was a real pain until I started taking a book with me... now it's turned into 2 hours of reading time to look forward to every morning when I wake up You have a very impressive list here, with some great books! I read The kite runner recently and loved it. How did you find A thousand splendid suns y comparison? I plan to read it soon.

I've been trying to come up with some ideas for you but it's not as easy as I first thought Mainly, I'm not sure what you're looking for: any children's books written in that period? Lesser known books? Books which really show the period? For instance you have the Famous five series which spreads through the 40's, 50,s and 60's but they seem so obvious, and still widely read, that they might not be very interesting for a challenge... How do you choose the books you read for the adult part of your challenge?

Just finished one of Donna Leon's crime novels. It was a good read but the ending is a bit confusing.

This sounds really good Ruth! I think I'll add it to my wish list. Thanks!

First published over forty years ago, The Diary of Anne Frank has become a modern classic, an immortal affirmation of the human spirit. Now for the first time the story of Anne and other members of the Frank family is told from the outside by the woman who, with others, helped to hide them from the Nazis for two dark years and acted as their link with the outside world. Anne Frank Remembered is the story of a tragedy, of a world gone mad with hatred, but it is also, finally, a story of hope, and of human courage and kindness that will never be forgotten. This is a book I discovered as a teenager and which soon became one of my all time favourites. Enthralled like so many others by Anne Frank