Chrissy

*Starts packing an emergency book parcel to send to Finland* My wobbly reading mojo has made my list a little short, but I'm enjoying the journey all the same!

Hi Brida, and welcome back. Good to see you.

This one is on my TBR pile (as opposed to my Kindling 'pile'). It has been calling out to me from the shelf, so it may very well be read by me soon! I'm glad to see that you recommend it.

So sorry to hear that you are unwell Steve. Feel better soon.

I will probably read it at some point, but the price will have to drop below £5 before I do.

I think my number one would have to be Carol O'Connell, but I would additionally throw into the ring Val McDermid, Peter Robinson, Jeffrey Deaver and Angie Sage, although I have more of each author to read. I would have to agree with JK Rowling, although it took a re read of 'The Tales Of Beadle The Bard' to appreciate that it was a worthy addition to the Potterverse rather than just a money spinner. There are a number of authors I will always seek out, so I think I will have to give this topic further thought and submit a definitive (to date!) list!

13) The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing A dark, deeply felt yet very short read. From the back cover, Harriet and David Lovatt's life is a glorious hymn to domestic bliss and old-fashioned family values. But when their fifth child is born, a sickly and implacable shadow is cast over this tender idyll. In these few pages Doris Lessing draws a vivid and emotionally laden family drama that explores nature, nurture, parental fears and expectations, the power of (frequent) parental apathy and the stronger power of (occasional) parental action. A book worth reading, and once you gauge the rhythm of the writing a captivating read.

Doris Lessing is a phenomenal writer to be able to create such an impactful piece in so few pages. I am yet to shake off the discomfort I felt last night. The book sits as a shadow just beyond my right shoulder, almost tangible. *shudders* Great writing.

I finished 'The Fifth Child' by Doris Lessing last night, and gave myself really weird and disturbing going-to-sleep thoughts, so much so I had to shake myself up and make myself think good and positive thoughts. Having said all of that, I have already ordered the sequel to this, as I MUST know how the story continues. Not sure what I will read now. I think something light.

1. What did you think of this book? Initially I found the book hard to get into, and thought it was my wobbly mojo playing up. I then realised that it was the writing making me feel unsettled and anxious.I finished the book just before I went to bed, and I had to consciously place my thoughts in a happier place as I found them going to very dark places in my mind. 2. What do you think about ‘The Dream’? The dream of 'we will create a family' David and Harriet, and their ungrateful dependency not only on his father's money, but additionally her mother's extraordinary assistance really rankled me. Thanks were occasionally given, but it never felt genuine; it was as if they felt that everyone should assist them in fulfillig their desires, no matter the cost to any. It's great to have had a shared dream, but I found their blinkered pursuance of their dream selfish and disturbing. It also meant that when Ben came along, they couldn't cope with any aspect of his existence. 3. What do you think about Harriet as a mother and David as a father? Awful! Their ability to parent didn't seem to extend beyond babyhood. Not only could they not financially provide for their children, they also couldn't take care of the practical and emotional needs of the children. The neccessity for James' money and Dorothy's extensive help was all taking place before Ben was born, so really raises questions about their parenting for me. Harriet's drug taking throughout the Ben pregnancy was deeply disturbing. She did that, but wouldn't seek proper professional help following her own doctor's careless disregard. The question that kept coming back to me as I read was to what degree did her drug taking create the boy that Ben would become? I was still unable to answer that by the close. With both David and Harriet I found them to be ineffective. They wanted and pursued more than they could cope with, and inappropriately felt superiority over everyone who might disagree with them. Neither took effective steps to help Ben in a constructive and loving way, and neither properly helped their four older children. Each child aside from the damaged and neglected Paul had to take their own steps to escape home, with each heading off to a different family member where they felt they would be loved,noticed and cared for. Harriet redeemed herself a little in my mind when she rescued Ben from the appalling conditions of the 'home' he had been sent to, but again did so little to help the situation; if one doctor said nothing could be done, she left it there and didn't seek a different doctor, a different solution.

Harriet and David met each other at an office party neither had particularly wanted to go to, and both knew at once that this was what they had been waiting for. 'The Fifth Child' by Doris Lessing (NB This month's Reading Circle read)

St Trinian's .

What did you use ~ a stake? Decapitation? Holy Water? Garlic?

Not sure whether to post this in here or the Haiku thread! I suggest youu click on 'Sisters' to get the full impact, and then click 'Celebrate' for a really cool piece of footage.

Thanks Kay. Oh, and regards worst housewifery - I'm still finding dog fur in places 18 months after we lost our Cap. I feel weepy glad every time.

Thanks Abby and Laura. Tonight we had some homemade cod and chips, and I realised it was the first meal I've had (at home) in 9 years where I wasn't mieowed at by a cat in the hope of a tidbit.

I now have this and I am reading it and will join the discussion as soon as I am finished!

Thanks Chalie, and Pickle that was just what I needed - Thank you. Hugs to you both.

Thanks Frankie. I hadn't realised just how much I chatted to our deaf old cat until this morning when I went to say something to him and of course he wasn't there. Blooming animals, little furry heartbreakers.

Our last pet, Clyde (our ancient ginger tom) has died. It is a year ago this month that his much missed sister died. He is the last member of our furry family (along with Bonnie his sister, and Cap our Border Collie), and we are going to miss him so very much. He had got so scrawny in recent months and much needier, although all I have heard from our neighbours of late is his exploits in the neighbourhood - sitting on a high fence gazing longingly at some birds, running with a hobble to keep up with a younger cat, and squalling at a local bully cat who had tried it on. That's my boy! We have buried him near his sister, and will plant some wildflower seeds when the ground has settled.

I have read two Sebastian Fitzek novels, both at least patially set in Germany 'Therapy' and 'Splinter'. I can recommend both as interesting and original psychological thrillers.

Just had a dish of roasted veg (mushroom, courgette, onion, tomatoes & peppers) with Quorn meatballs. Yummity yum.

James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell. I had said "No more!" to them both but gave their next reads a try, just in case either had got over their nonsense. Neither had, so I have said goodbye to both and will never return to them again.

I've just had a long ramble through Amazon's Kindle Spring Sale. I may have 'accidentally' bought a few books, but I did spend less than £10; Love You More by Lisa Gardner An Indian Housewife's Recipe Book by Laxmi Khurana The Passgae by Justin Cronin Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist Instead Of A Book: Letters To A Friend by Diana Athill The Traveller's Pocket Bible by Paul Jenner & Christine Smith

Very cool!