SueK

I really fancied Ali to go through to the final - her smoothie was just lovely. I'm not a big fan of Ricky but with Team Cola in the final you just can't predict the outcome. Btw Darcy was just wonderful. Ian looked in awe of her when they were dancing together.

Can I just start a new 2010 without linking to my old one. It turned out to be such a work of fiction - I only read about three books from it anyway:lol:

Hi Susie I would love to email you via your blog. I have been loaded up with work recently so when I have a quiet half an hour (ha) I will send you a note and we can chat over old times in Bangkok.

This book had very mixed reviews on amazon (I know;) but sometimes you just want to get a feel of a book first). I had to read it as I was still "hanging on " to Rebecca which I read previous to this and wanted to keep the storyline going. Mrs de Winter is the continuing story of the nameless heroine and Maxim de Winter 10 years after the drama of Manderley and WW2 has been and gone too. I enjoyed this book very much. I think Susan Hill captured the character of Mrs De Winter very well, she still remained a timid creature in fear of Maxim and I wanted to shake her at times. The plot moves forward and the couple eventually manage to shake off the ghosts of Manderley and start life again in the UK after a 10 year spell in exile travelling Europe (in great grandness - Maxim was a very wealthy fellow). Needless to say the ghosts catch up with them and the ending is quite dramatic but I suppose in a satisfying way - you will understand that if you read the book. All I need to do now is read Rebecca's tale by Sally Beauman which is, as the title suggests, a prequel to Rebecca. I would thoroughly recommend reading Mrs de Winter especially if you are fan of Susan Hill - she writes in quite a different manner to her usual books but she takes on the style of Du Maurier very well. Some say this is plagiarism but I think the story needed to be told.... and it was satisfactorily told IMO.

Hi Adrienne Just to be clear, I think this is the US title of the book. Over in UK it is known as Alone in Berlin and , I agree, it is a terrific book and as you say, in spite of the subject matter, it is strangely uplifting in places. Hans Fallada actually died shortly after the war either of drink or of insanty (can't remember) and I think he only wrote a few books. I have yet to read his other ones but Alone in Berlin certainly stands out as his best.

I've almost finished Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill and took three more books from the library on Saturday: A Demon in my View by Ruth Rendell A Christmas Secret (one of the Christmas Novellas by Anne Perry) and Death of the Chancellor by David Dickinson - a Lord Powerscourt Mystery the last two are nice Victorian mysteries to get me in the Christmas mood.

Hi Sheeta You could also look up Dr Zhivago, that is a love story set against a fantastic backdrop. Or why not try a classic like Wuthering Heights, or Jane Eyre. Or perhaps Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - that is a truly great book. IMVHO.

Still reading Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill. I wasn't sure at the beginning if I would enjoy it (especially as I have only just finished re-reading Rebecca) but as the book moves forward it is very good and I found that Susan Hill has really captured the character of the nameless second Mrs de Winter very well - she still shows the meek and mild (doormat?) temperament of the original. And Maxim is still so tyrannical. Good stuff!

Thanks again Chesilbeach (you've come to my rescue yet again:mrgreen:). I googled Arthur Johnson in with Ruth Rendell and Bingo, that is the book I was after. It was years since I read it and I was very vague with my description but I'll hunt this down and re-read it.

Thanks Inver. Do please keep me in mind when you want to do that , either to lend out or put it up as a bookring. That would be great. Once I have read one of her books, I will feel more justified in emailing her:mrgreen:

Watched Angels and Demons last night. It was OK, but I felt quite detached from the action. I thought it was going to be better than it was. I quite enjoyed the book though.

There is a book I'm trying to remember, by Ruth Rendell. It isn't one of the Wexford books, rather it is one of her psychological ones. It was written quite some time ago and featured two characters both with the same name (Arthur Jones I think - not sure), living totally different lives but with fatal consequences. Not much to go I'm afraid but if anyone has an idea of what it could be I would be hugely grateful.

Of all the books on your reading lists for this year, is there one that has perhaps taken you by surprise - meaning it was better than you had anticipated? For me, I think it has to be Sashenka. This book still haunts me even though I finished it in June and I reckon it was one of the best books I had read. It is a lovely feeling is it not, to pick up a book that totally takes you by surprise and was a real find.

I stumbled across Susie Vereker's books the other day. I was interested to know if many of you lovely people have read her books. It turns out that I knew Susie when she and her husband were living in Thailand (I was working at the British Embassy when her husband was doing a tour of duty there) and I had no idea she had become an established author. I like the sound of her books, esp Paris Imperfect but thought I would gleen your views first. Thanks:D

Well, it does make you wonder if the bad press he got a day or so before would have affected the viewers voting. Admittedly I didn't think he was as sharp this week but it's interesting what a bit of bad press can do. I thought it was Natalie's time to go. Very enthusiastic and I loved it that she enjoyed it so much but I wish she kept that gob of hers closed:irked:

Sorry to hear you were laid up Inver. I was interested to know what you thought of the Susie Vereker book. I recognised her name as it's quite unusual so I looked her up to check it was same person as we were in Bangkok at the same time. I was working in the British Embassy and her husband was one of the diplomats. I hadn't realised that she had become an author. I'll have to read one of her books and then email her to catch up. At present, I'm reading Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill and Love and Mr Lewisham by H G Wells.

Sashenka - Simon Montefiore - 2008.

Yes, I just saw that on the BBC website too. Wonder if it will affect his training/performance. Probably find it's all a conspiracy to get him out:mrgreen:

I picked up a lovely old copy of a Sheridan le Fanu ghost book of short stories at the weekend complete with beautiful illustrations. I just wouldn't get that on an e-reader would I.

OK thanks (pleased about that:D). I loved Sharpe's Rifles as it was the first one to introduce Pat Harper.

Hi Hip Not sure what audition you are referring to. Just to be clear though, I see you are located in US and the Brighton referred to in Graham Greene's book is in Sussex, UK, rather than Brighton Beach at Coney Island.

Caleb Carr's book are very good. He came to my notice as he wrote a book called the Italian Secretary which was a Sherlock Holmes mystery and I though he captured Holmes and Watson extremely well. Well worth reading!

Haha, I think I'd rather poke at a sore tooth than read another Dan Brown:lol: I'm still reading short stories by Daphne du Maurier, this collection is called Breaking Point and was written when she, herself, was under considerable duress and bordering on a nervous breakdown. The stories were written, basically, to keep her sanity. They are quite dark and strange but interesting to read. This is just a bridge though until I decide what to embark on next - hmmm, will be it a saga or thriller:blush: