SueK

Well, I have to say you lovely peeps have convinced me...... I've just ordered my kindle off Amazon. Shall wait in trepidation and then start loading up books that I don't think I'd buy, ie some of the free classics and maybe the free version of Sherlock Holmes' Adventures can go on there to read on the go ...... Now I'm going to feel guilty about the paperbacks that are sitting looking at me thinking that they are going to be neglected.

I've read all the great comments on here and I think one would be perfect .... Sooooo, what's stopping me?. There is something at the back of my mind saying "do you really need this gizmo?" I love books and I chain-read. It so easy to pick up a book and simply read, no strings. Once it's finished, it either goes back on the shelf if it's one to re-read, or to the Charity Shop. I can get cheap books on Amazon or its Marketplace and the local Oxfam Bookshop and even free ones in the Library. I've also noticed that some e-books on Amazon are quite expensive compared to the "real" book. I have a bad habit of reading the 1* reviews on Amazon (I can't help it) and a lot are saying how the screen freezes and needs rebooting and how C/Services are not very helpful. The real beauty of it of course will be when you go on holiday/train journeys etc and you can choose which one takes your fancy rather than taking up valuable luggage space with lots of books. So, my right brain is saying "go on, go on, go on, go on, go on...." and my left is saying "do you really need this?"

Another set of books that might be good are the ones on the Kray Twins, plenty of them out there but can't remember any titles. Edit: I do wonder though if Alexanderthegrape will come back to see our posts

Finished The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald last night. A quirky little book and not really sure what to make of it at all ...... I've started Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson now.

True, but I think he was also alluding to the fact that he was going to a club with a proud heritage - scuse me, but I think Liverpool's heritage will always be prouder than Chelsea - at least the recent Chelsksi. The day Footie went crazy eh? Such staggering figures. I'm not sure Liverpool have got themselves a sure-fire man in Andy Carroll, he is out for a few more weeks I believe. It could be he was a big fish at Newcastle but may find he is overwhelmed at the Pool. We shall see. Anyway, as I have more sympathy towards the Pool (OH is a fan) than the Chelsks - I hope they beat Chelsea at the weekend and Torres misses a penalty...... Raven: you say he is not going to win anything at Liverpool, I'm not sure he is going to win anything at Chelsea this season!

I read this news with a certain amount of trepidation too. It seems apocalyptic - the end of books as we know it.(Brings to mind The Time Machine by H G Wells). I haven't succumbed to an e-reader yet - mainly because I have soooooo many books to get through at home, I couldn't justify reading another set electronically. Maybe, once my book pile has gone down considerably, will I consider purchasing one. What I have noticed though is Oxfam bookshops are opening up more frequently. This I think will be the next chapter (no pun intended ) - the insurgence of the second hand book shop (and of couse with libraries starting to close in some small towns this could really be the way to go). I guess we just have to go with the times.........

I've got the first book in the Monarchy series (which details the Normans and early Plantaganets) - this is the only one I wanted as it's my favourite era. It is excellent and very readable.

I'm restarting The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald after stopping for that Sherlock Holmes parody - fortunately the SH story was a library book so that's going back tomorrow. Anyone here a Penelope Fitzgerald fan?

Hi and welcome to The Book Club..... I remember reading and enjoying The French Connection back in the 70s and that would seem to tick a lot of the boxes above. Also the Aurelio Zen novels are quite good - they take place in Rome and have a lot of the topics you are after. (Btw the books are much better than the recent BBC series). One of my other favourite series is the Jacquot books. He is a French detective (ex Rugby player) and the stories are quite down to earth and gritty. The first book (Jacquot and the Waterman) is set in Marseille - which might of interest? As you can see from my avatar, my crime reading normally takes place in late Victorian England - but I'm sure many members here will come up with a wide choice of reading for you.

I've decided to give up on The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Whitechapel Horrors after this dialogue between Holmes and Wiggins of the Baker Street irregulars: "Some sez 'e's a Jew w'iv a wild beard down 'is chest an some sez 'ees a butcher fwom da slaughter'ouses w'iv a l'edder h'apron, an' some sez 'ees a toff fwom da West H'end out to kill all da 'ores..." Nuff said......... I really should learn my lesson and just stick with the Master.

Just finished a lovely cup of cafetiere coffee at work. I have a little cafetiere and I make my own. I hate the coffee from the Vending machine - it tastes like cat's pee (well I imagine that is what cat's pee would taste like )

Thank you Lucybird My copy arrived today and it looks quite good. I hope to start on it very soon. I also want to read the follow-up "The Betrayal" but felt I should read The Siege first. Don't give up Ladymacbeth, I'm sure you will find this such a satisfying read. I'm slowing getting through "The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Whitechapel Horrors" by Eric Hanna. It's a good read and the Holmes/Watson characters are quite true to the originals. I just don't seem to have much actual reading time at the moment.

Must be Liverpool!! My OH is a Pool fan so (if it is indeed Liverpool you support) then I sympathise. (If you're gonna say Chelski then they had no history before they became Russian.)

Is The Siege the book by Helen Dunmore? I've ordered a copy off Amazon before I read The Betrayal. If it is the same book, is it any good/ Thanks.

Well, I've phoned a friend; asked the audience and gone 50/50 and I still can't work out who that team might be .... (give me a clue?)

Yes, that about sums up the bagel. They're great - I also like pastrami and dill pickle ones. Oooh, I'm getting hungry. I want a bagel - now

Oh pleeeeeeeese, not another ManU supporter Yep I know we are trophyless since Pontius was a Pilate but I luv'em and have been a goon since I was a young lass.

I actually got to my first Arsenal game at the Emirates on Saturday! Fantastic stadium, great atmosphere, a Robin van Persie hattrick. What more could a girl ask!!

Hah, you guys crack me up. I suppose you are also going to say that doughnuts with holes are less fattening too. Back to bagels though I like mine filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese and a slice or two of cucumber. Mmmmm.

Staying with the point about other authors writing Sherlock Holmes stories, I have to admit that I picked up a book in my library last night called Further Adventures of SH - The Whitechapel Horrors by Edward B Hanna. I always felt a story was waiting to be written about SH and Jack the Ripper and I often wondered why ACD didn't pick up on this but then I suppose the stories were still very fresh at the time and it might not have been very PC - although it could have been disguised. I don't know this author and I will come back once I've read it to let you know if it's any good.

That sounds like a good bargain Alison. I hope you enjoy them.

I'd be interested in your views on The Tsarina's Daughter page turner. I have had it on my Amazon wish list but the reviews were so bad I didn't know what to think. I started The Vesuvius Club yesterday. It is the first in a trilogy of stories about Lucifer Box (Edwardian secret agent and total rake!) by Mark Gatiss. It is laugh out loud funny and am thoroughly enjoying it.

I tend to agree Kylie, after all it wasn't as if Conan Doyle was not prolific with the Holmes Stories. Having said that though, it was a non Conan Doyle SH story that got me started on the real ones. Caleb Carr wrote The Italian Secretary, very well I thought, and that got me into the proper stories after that. I suppose he is just one character that people think needs resurrecting every now and again. I do love the "Sherlock" series that BBC produced last year - and eagerly await the new series this year.