Chrissy

I didn't really define the books I read beyond the broad categories of Crime, Fantasy, Classics, Non Fiction etc. so it took me a while to realise that some of the books I read had been specifically written for the young adult market. The covers might have given that fact away had I taken better notice! The reason I enjoy them is that generally they have young people as central characters, and this tends to offer the characters much more room for development than older characters. The pace is generally steady and fluid, and there seems to be greater scope for variety within one text, so that you can have action, drama and humour all together, rather than keeping to one aspect.

Well I'd call squeezy hugs something to add! I hope Coran feels better soon Talisman.

Star Trek Into Darkness. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

nonessential

Bridge

Sirmione is gorgeous - we visited the ruins there and decided that if we had been wealthy Romans we'd have built a villa there too. We were staying in Garda, and we too had loads of ice cream - Italian deliciousness!

Are you actually asking if we want to see your library? On behalf of everyone, YES PLEASE! Glad to read that things are diagnosed and you are feeling better. And good to have you back.

That's where I tried the mango! About 10 days ago.

I'm not sure what skyways are either! I think I see a 9 pm finish as late as that is my bedtime! We are up at 5 am, so try to get to bed at a good time, maybe watch some television, or read for a bit, then get to sleep.

OK, so I treated this like homework and made my way through all the questions. Generic questions: - What kind of plot elements do you find interesting? I like a little intrigue at times where the back of my mind is trying to work things out as the front of my mind carries on reading. - Are you looking for character development? Most definitely, the characters always drive the story for me. If I don’t connect in some way, or the characters remain too 2 dimensional then I don’t form a reader’s attachment to the text. - Do you prefer lots of unexpected plot twists or do you prefer it when a book is a bit more predictable? I am happy with both. Sometimes a comfortable non challenging read is immensely enjoyable, but I like variety. - Do you like tension in your books? Appropriately placed tension can enhance a plot, but used badly and it just makes the writer look foolish. - How do you prefer your protagonists, more perfect / strong or more flawed, or a mixture? A mixture is good. Too perfect or flawed and the character becomes unknowable, and mixture generally offers something to which the reader can relate. - Do you prefer to read a book that reads more easily or that's more complicated (in terms of word use and/or story/characters/world), or a mixture? I adore clever use of language and original concepts, but it can be a thin line between ingenious and attempting to be intellectually superior. - Do you prefer a show, rather than tell, style? A combination works well on most occasions, with you finding a story as well as being given a story. - Do you prefer a story to be told with flashbacks or chronologically (or even a flash forward?)? As long as the structure of the story can hold flashbacks comfortably, without unintended jarring of the reader then I can really enjoy the story such as with The Time Travelers Wife. Yet a story told from beginning to end step by step can be equally compelling, without the need to give much by way of back story. Fantasy: How do you feel about magic in your books? Happy to read it so long as it ‘fits’ with the story. What about mythical creatures such as dragons? I love a good dragon! As with magic, if it fits the story and well depicted then I am happy. Do you prefer swords or guns, or a combination of both? It depends entirely on context. They suggest different types of scenarios, with among other things guns = modern, while swords = olde worlde. Do you like to see a world based on ours or connected to ours, or do you prefer a brand new made up world? New worlds are fascinating, but the books I have read generally contain elements that one can recognise, such as a viewpoint or a tool or the way characters interact (loyalty, love, endeavor, sacrifice etc) Do you like to have a map in the book, or do you prefer no map? If the story requires a map they can be lovely to have (The Hobbit & Septimus Heap). What kind of protagonists do you like to see? Unanswerable! What kind of political system do you like to see in the world? Varied, all dependent on plot (a liberal ruling party would have made The Hunger Games pretty lame!). Science-fiction: - Do you like Time Travel in your books? I enjoy TT when well written. - What about planetary travel? As Before - Teleporting or ships? As Before - Aliens? As Before - Brand new universe or based/related on/to our own? I’ll repeat what I answered earlier; New worlds are fascinating, but the books I have read generally contain elements that one can recognise, such as a viewpoint or a tool or the way characters interact (loyalty, love, endeavor, sacrifice etc) - Dystopia or future science-fiction? Enjoy future, but I have a particular leaning toward Dystopian stories. Contemporary Fiction: - What kind of plot elements interest you in particular? Unanswerable! - What kind of subjects do you like to read about? ie. Love between a couple, love triangle, affair, a family, children, secrets, book about a job, coming of age.. Any can be appealing, although I tend to avoid books that are marketed as 100% romance novels. Romance is fine, so long as it’s not the only thing the book has to offer! Historical Fiction: - Which time period do you prefer to read about? All depends on the book. I have read epic far reaching stories that start in the Ice Age through to modern day, I have also read books set in Early Christian era, Roman, Victorian, Tudor etc, something in the ‘blurb’ will catch my imagination and make me feel compelled to read it (or stockpile it) –that unknowable ‘x’ factor. - Do you prefer to read something truly accurate or do you prefer it if the author changes things in an attempt to make the story more interesting? So long as the author isn’t saying their work is non-fiction when it is fiction I have no qualms about accuracy. If I want to explore a subject further and accurately I would not look to fiction. Biographies: - What kind of people do you like to read about? Historical figures mainly. I have limited interest in biographies on celebrities or the living! Information: - What kind of subjects are you particularly interested in? I have a range of reference books from travel, through almanacs to books on demonology, angels and world faiths. Don't even aske me about dictionaries! - Do you prefer books with a lot of text or with some pictures, graphs, tables (if applicable to the subject) If they are applicable and useful. Paranormal: - What kind of creatures/beings do you like to read about? I’m not sure there are many more vampire stories to be told now, but so long as the story is well written, as with most of my answers, I will happily give a book a chance.

Make that a fourth! A fourth that has also accidentally on purpose clicked 'buy now' for my kindle. Oops!

Sabry, that sounds bad, and not very student friendly. Are there many classes that end that late? Muggle, the best views are never properly captured are they? I always hope that my snaps will jog my memory enough to remember the scene in all it's glory.

Athena, don't let Poppyshake or Devi see your heart covered top - they'll mug you for it! Great picture though. Abby! You are all eyes and cleavage! Gosh!

Walnut cream cheese? Oh, that sounds so very yummy muggle. I will have to look out for that.

I bought myself some mushroom ravioli after I had read it (or perhaps watched it) in Twilight. I love ravioli & tortellini anyway, and thought "Mmm that sounds yummy". OK that's my confession for today.

I really need to update my reading thread, but until then....I have just completed a re read of Angie Sage's 'Septimus Heap' series. The last book in the series 'Fyre' came out this year and I wanted to thoroughly immerse myself into the fantastic and compelling world that Angie Sage created with the books.

Leonard gets the top billing most times in my book! His melancholy yet melodious tones get me every time! In my car just now I was both listening to, and singing word perfectly to a Madonna song that I hate, but for the life of me I can't remember it's name. All I know is that's an early one with deeply meaningless lyrics. Could be any I guess!

The grass gets mowed today.

I have, to a class room, and it was *gulp* quite scary. Never have I ever played a proper game of badminton.

Looking back in thread I saw that in 2009 I noted that I had 'London' sitting on my shelf. I STILL haven't read it. Thanks Geordie, I will shuffle it nearer the front of the To Be Read shelf and maybe get to it in the next month or so!

My husband adores some of Pink's latest, so downloaded ''Just Give Me A Reason', and 'Try' for him. It is now played very loudly in the car!

In memory of our holiday we had a warm roll each, served with a boiled egg, tomato slices, a slice of ham each and two cheese slices each . For such a small plate of food I don't half feel full!

When I'm in the right mood I am a dream in the kitchen - ingredients blending perfectly to magically produce an exquisite meal. Then for the rest (99.9%) of the time I do an ok job. If a recipe is complicated I will do the first few occasions from the page, but after that I tend to adapt recipes to suit. I love cooking mostly, and prefer to cook from scratch. I have a tiny kitchen that is more a galley than a proper kitchen, so I HAVE TO BE ALONE in there else there would be injuries, and maybe not all of them would be accidents!

I tried mango flavoured ice cream for the first time, and instantly fell in love with it. I had to stop myself from making "Mmmmmmm" noises as I ate it.