lexiepiper

I'm up to date with all the episodes which have aired in America, I think it's a great show and I adore Nathan Fillion

I had Hong Kong style chicken balls and egg fried rice

You need to get one of those little book lights, that would be perfect wouldn't it? Sorry you're not sleeping though, that's not fun at all, hope you manage to get some rest soon

I'm an american teen girl who's just been told I'm a vampire princess and I've been betrothed since birth to a creepy european guy

I finished Burned this morning and thought it was really good! I'm so interested to see where the series is going to go because like you I've heard it's going to be a long one, I also heard somewhere that there's going to be a spin off series just about Stevie Rae and the red fledglings, not sure how true that is though

Okay time for another question ~ When Ram recounts the story of Father Timothy, he repeatedly refers to himself as an "idiot orphan boy" (pg. 49). Considering how well Father Timothy treats him, why does he describe himself in this manner? Also, I was wondering for those who have seen the film, which did you prefer and why?

Hey everyone, and welcome to my first book circle! I'm going to be adding extra discussion questions throughout the month to keep the conversation going, so be sure to keep popping back! It is assumed that you have read the book before reading posts in this thread, as the discussion might give away crucial points, and the continuous use of spoiler tags might hinder fluent reading of posts. Synopsis: Some basic questions to consider: 1. Who was your favourite character and why? 2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? 3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? 4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? 5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? More discussion questions: 1. Why does Vikas Swarup choose the name "Ram Mohammad Thomas" for his protagonist? The names represent three different religions -- besides displaying India's diversity, what does this say about Ram Mohammad Thomas as a person? 2. When Ram recounts the story of Father Timothy, he repeatedly refers to himself as an "idiot orphan boy" (pg. 49). Considering how well Father Timothy treats him, why does he describe himself in this manner? 3. Ram has a recurring dream of a tall woman with black hair that obscures her face. At what moments does he have this dream, and why? What does this woman represent? Is she his biological mother? A symbol of hope? Abandonment? 4. In telling Gudiya's story, Ram asks "But what was Gudiya's crime? Simply that she was born a girl and Shantaram was her father?" (pg. 68). Are there other women in this novel who are treated poorly simply because of their sex? Do any female characters not need Ram's protection? How would you describe his relationships with women? 5. Several characters, especially Ram and Salim, are big movie fans. Is there a reason for this? Do films help them escape their frequently dreary lives, is it simply a significant part of their culture, or is there another reason? 6. What are Ram's ambitions in life? Why does he tell Prem Kumar he doesn't know how he's going to spend the billion rupees? 7. Why does Ram turn in Colonel Taylor? Is this retribution for the colonel's spying, his derogatory comments about Indians, or for the way he treats his family? Or does Ram simply want to collect his wages before returning to Mumbai?

Thanks Frankie I hope you'll join in with this months Book Circle as it's about Q&A

Slumdog Millionaire (aka Q&A) by Vikas Swarup No. of pages: 361 Rating: 5/5 Synopsis: Former tiffinboy Ram Mohammad Thomas has just got twelve questions correct on a TV quiz-show to win a cool one billion rupees. But he is brutally slung in prison on suspicion of cheating. Because how can a kid from the slums know who Shakespeare was, unless he is pulling a fast one. In the order of the questions on the show, Ram tells us which amazing adventures in his street-kid life gave him the answers. From orphanages to brothels, gangsters to beggar-masters, and into the homes of Bollywood's rich and famous, Ram's story is brimming with the chaotic comedy, heart-stopping tragedy and tear-inducing joyousness of modern India. Review: When Ram wins the top prize - a billion rupees - on a tv quiz show, he is immediately arrested for cheating, for how could a poor boy from the slums of India possibly know the answers?! Through each chapter of the novel, Ram recounts each story behind how he knew the answer to the questions he was asked, ultimately making him the luckiest person alive. I've been interested in reading this ever since the hype around the movie started, so I finally got around to buying it last month and decided to read it as part of my 'around the world' challenge. I'm so incredibly glad I finally picked it up, it was absolutely nothing how I imagined it to be. I had actually heard a lot of bad things about the book, and also heard that the movie was a lot better, so I went into it kind of thinking that it would be just an okay read, but I ended up really enjoying it. The writing is so vivid, that you can actually imagine the scene that's being created, and that's not always easy to do, especially with a foreign culture that you don't really know a whole lot about. I really liked the way the book was set out, with each chapter telling the story of how he knew the answer to that particular quiz question, although I found the author sometimes forgot to place the memory in time, so it was a little confusing as to how old Ram was supposed to be, but I managed to piece most of it together in the end. I loved the character of Ram, I thought that considering the awful life he'd had, he was just so kind and generous, especially as people were always trying to hurt him or take advantage of him. Slumdog Millionaire (originally named Q&A) is an unflinching look at the underbelly of India, and I think it's fantastically written, especially when you consider this is a debut novel. Recommended to people interested in the Indian culture, or just looking for an unusual, interesting story to read.

I just finished Q&A aka Slumdog Millionaire, and loved it Now I'm going to start the new House of Night book ~ Burned

Aww I'm sorry it disappointed you, Fi. I agree though her others do look good and I'll get around to picking them up at some point

Haha! I agree

Jeremy Kyle - hilarious!

I thought it was a lot more delicate and feminine than that, it's horrible!

Want to get engaged like Edward and Bella? Now you can with Bella's engagement ring. There are quite frankly no words for it And to think how many people will actually buy that.

I have been arrested. Vikas Swarup - Slumdog Millionaire

I'm an Indian teenager who's just been arrested for getting all the questions right on quiz show and winning a million rupees

Eastenders

The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff No. of pages: 280 Rating: 4/5 Synopsis: Baird College's Mendenhall echoes with the footsteps of students heading home for Thanksgiving break and Robin Stone, who won't be going home, swears she can feel the creepy, hundred-year-old residence hall breathe a sigh of relief for its long-awaited solitude. As a massive storm approaches, four other lonely students reveal themselves to Robin: Patrick, a handsome jock; Lisa, a manipulative tease; Cain, a brooding musician; and Martin, a scholarly eccentric. Each has forsaken a long weekend at home for their own secret reasons. The five unlikely companions establish a tentative rapport, but they soon become aware of another presence disturbing the building's ominous silence. Are they the victims of an elaborate prank, or is the energy evidence of something genuine - something intent on using them for its own terrifying ends? Review: Robin Stone thinks she's the only one staying at the dorms for Thanksgiving, but she soon finds out that there are 4 others that have stayed behind. It seems that Patrick, Lisa, Cain and Martin all have family problems too, so to keep themselves amused they start playing with a ouija board. But when things start happening, they start to wonder what it is exactly that they've unleashed... Well the cover describes this as 'Scream meets The Exorcist', and whilst I wouldn't say it was like either of those films, or even particularly scary, it was an entertaining read. It doesn't start great, the first several pages about Robin are very 'emo', but once you get past that and into the group story it picks up massively. The characters are easily relatable, each going through a different family situation which is affecting their life. It's nothing you wouldn't imagine a typical ghost story to be, but it's a really easy read, it only took me one sitting to shoot through it. Definitely worth a look if you're a fan of a creepy ghost tale.

I started and finished Alexandra Sokoloff - The Harrowing this evening, it was a quick and enjoyable read Now on to Slumdog Millionaire in time for May's reading circle

The Final Destination

Slights sounds really interesting, did you think it was a good read?

It had been raining since possibly the beginning of time. Alexandra Sokoloff - The Harrowing

I have Hush, Hush waiting to be read, looking forward to it