rwemad

Well, After Dark is a really short book and is also really good so it was really easy to read in the one day. It took me for ever to read An Abso Scan. I'm having to read my other library take outs before I go back for more Murakami. I have also made a note of your Mcrecommends.... thanks for them. I like to mix and match my reading a little. I am reading a very light, fun girly book at the minute and it is exactly as it says on the tin. I need 'light 'n' easy' as work is pretty busy at the mo and I am having to pick up and put down with long gaps etc. 'After Dark', and presumably all Murakami books, deserves, peace quiet and the undivided attention of its reader. I am so silly........ We are taking a holiday soon and I intend to save a couple of books, which I have high hopes of enjoying, to take with me. My husband takes the mick.... 'just stay home and read the darn book... it'll save us a fortune' However, the books I take on holiday I buy rather than borrow, so where other women choose their holiday bikini with such care... I buy books.

oooo sorry, but ya know ... each to our own etc. It is all about personal preference. I have found what I think are some real good reads on this forum. I find a member who seems to like the same sort of books as me and then I steal their ideas. Hopefully, other members who don't share my taste will think something like...... 'oooo An Absolute Scandal must be good as Rwemad likes all that weird/dull/tedious/bizarre other stuff' So even my saying it's useless may even sell her some more books.... so I'm doing her a favour.... sort of....

An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi * *phew* *sigh* If this book hadn't been a gift I would not have bothered to finish it. I was hoping that when I finished it I would at least be able to feel some sort of satisfaction as to knowing what happened but NO... the ending was wet and inconclusive. Nothing much happened in the entire book really. As hard and as long as Vincenzi tried I could not warm to any of the characters and I most certainly couldn't raise any sympathy for them, Ok maybe a little for the ones that died... but really, I was born into a family of frugalites and I cannot enjoy reading about pages of heartbroken people who claim to have lost 'everything' when all they've had to do is sell their country pile and their yacht. Some of these people were drowning their sorrows in champagne and discussing how 'terribly beastly' life was at their favourite restaurants. Well.... there is skint and there is skint and trust me these over indulged spoiled brats have never been skint. As annoying as the whining about their financial lot was, their constant love for each other after having only just met was even more irritating. The pages were full of 'how charming', 'Oh she is sooo sweet', 'Oh I just love'....grrrrrrr I mean there was a fair bit of leaping from bed to bed as well but because these were all very respectable wealthy people who were having a 'bit of a rough time' and because they were all so luuurvly it was all done very tastefully and all jolly good fun old chap. Terrible book. Sorry. After Dark by Haruki Murakami ***** Oh my.... oh my. Loved this.... totally. I have looked at lots of reviews for this and they are, as I might have predicted, very mixed. Apparently many Murakami fans think this one is a bit of a letdown after his previous books. I am quite excited (bless my little cotton socks - so easilly pleased:roll:) as perhaps there are ones that I may enjoy even more!!!! However, I may not; I do think that Murakami books are for an aquired taste... a bit like marmite... but on the basis of this book - I just love it. I can't wait to read the 'better' Murakami books. I so wish I could write like this. I just can't see how he does it! I mean it's simple language, subtle and elegant..... there's nothing flash in there... it's just .... well.... wonderful. He isn't greedy either...there are so many ideas in this short but compact book.... another author may try and get three of four novels out of it... Vincenzi could get a dozen lengthy tomes!!!! Every sentence matters. The book covers: insecurities, loneliness, isolation, ambitions, self doubt, friendship all woven around a cute little love story. Wow. I feel really quite mean writing as I did about Abso Scan. It's not that I don't enjoy light chick flitty reads..........as I do (currently reading Live a Little by Kim Green; can't get much more girly that THAT) but I just don't like it when books are dressed up as something they're not. Should a book be aimed at the light beachy readers... then BE that, don't try and be a classic piece of academic literature. I do hope I'm making a little ounce of sense to somebody.

Well Mac I'm sorry for pushing you off the numbsky no. 1 spot I have been to the library and Norwegian Wood needs to be ordered but I have managed to get After Dark by Haruki Murakmi... have you read it? I can't wait to give it an airing, but I MUST finish Abso Scan.......... only 100 more pages to go:)

thank you Michelle ........... just look at my previous few posts 'I'm a techie numbsky' then Yes .. I think I read somewhere that there are three set around the post war period and are a sort of 'loose' trilogy... it made some sort of sense at the time. The Remains of the Day is on the 100 book list somewhere. 'Never Let Me Go' seems to be a popular one.. I'm sure I read about it here somewhere but I can't find it now... I'm going to get myself a reputaion:blush: and it won't be for being clever.

Yes .. I think I read somewhere that there are three set around the post war period and are a sort of 'loose' trilogy... it made some sort of sense at the time. The Remains of the Day is on the 100 book list somewhere. 'Never Let Me Go' seems to be a popular one.. I'm sure I read about it here somewhere but I can't find it now...

Hey Mac..... Yes he has written a few which I am hoping to read. The Unconsoled and Never Let me Go seem very popular. By the way......... I don't fully understand everything I can do on this site ... I am a bit of a techie numbsky. I am learning though.

An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishguro**** Fabulous, fabulous book. This was sophisticated and beautiful. There was nothing coarse or jarring in the writing; it was smooth and creamy. I think this book had a way of flattering its readers; it is subtle yet the depth is quite breathtaking causing me to read some passages several times to appreciate them fully. I hope that makes sense . This book could well be a serious contender for a second read in a month or two as I am sure I could find more to it. I also think it could turn up as a modern classic to be studied. So much to talk about in there... but what stood out for me most was: the addressing of the past, the self analysing, self forgiveness, all of us are just people doing the best we can in our own worlds. Lovely book. My sort of book. I am keen to find more of this author. I am going to finish An Absolute Scandal now

Thank you Charm I shall look it up . There are just too many books in this world isn't there?

Copycat by Erica Spindler*** I very nearly gave this book a 4* as, considering it isn't 'my sort of book' I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to prattle on about what it was about as much more experienced people have done so much more eloquently than I could already. I don't want to bore the pants off everybody . I thought Copycat could legitimately be referred to as a 'page-turner'. I wasn't surprised at who it turned out to be but it did keep me guessing and I liked the way it kept twisting and turning. Yeah.... it was good. I think Charm would enjoy it, should she not have read it already, as it is of a very similar style to Charlaine Harris. I confess to enjoying this one a little more as it didn't contain that touch of fantasy that the 'Grave' books have. I'm still going to read the next one of the Grave series though; it must be popular as the library have had to put my name on a list!!! I am going to have a read of the short stories now, I've had a quick look and I know we aren't supposed to comment but we seem very fond of spiders here . By the way....... An Absolute Scandal is still by my bed oh the shame.

Mac I read your post last night when I was a little 'lubricated' and thought that I may be falling a little bit in love with you . I refrained from posting. This morning I have read it again and have vowed not to lubricate myself so generously next time. However, I still think your girlfriend is one very lucky person. I am going to look out for this author. Thank you.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell **** I read this as a young teenager, pre 1984, and I recall thinking it very far fetched. I was kind of hoping that I would find it boarding (see edit) on the ridiculous now but, scarily, it was more believable than I was comfortable with; more than a little unsettling I have to say. I also appreciate how cleverly it was written and the 'depth' of it far more now than I did then. Certainly lots to think about. :eek2: I still have An Absolute Scandal by the bed:blush: EDIT: note to self - when posting in a forum with so many experienced readers, and possibly writers, offer it your full attention. Do not discuss water boarding with son at the same time or you just may confuse boarding with bordering.

mmmmmmm it's a week later and I'm still plowing through it. view so far? ... unnecessarily long . Isn't my spelling awful? I am still at it; I am cheating now and reading another alongside it. From now on An Absolute Scandal is going to be my 'in bed' book. It puts me to sleep lovely.

Pig Island by Mo Hayder**** Well, Charm. I find it fascinating that you should find Pig Island a bit well.... strange. Consequently I was expecting something quite weird. I'm not sure it was any stranger than Grave Sight. In fact I would say it was less strange. I know, I know, ... it is a little bizarre but I found it was all within the realms of possibility. I liked Oaksey. He seemed an ordinary kind of guy caught up in an extraordinary situation which wasn't totally unbelievable. I mean there are some very strange characters about aren't there? And there are always freaks of nature. I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, gritty and kept me interested enough to read it all within a couple of days. That's two of Mo Hayder's books that I have really enjoyed. I shall definately be looking for some more by her. I have been given Penny Vincenzi's An Absolute Scandal for mother's day. It should keep me out of mischief for a while... all 880 pages of it!!!! I hope I like it. I've searched for it here and have only read a couple of good comments about it... no bad at all so it looks promising.

Yeah.......well done to the Irish. Ireland were deserving winners today and of the Grand Slam. I spent a lot of time shouting instructions at the tv and the rest of the time hiding behind fingers, sofa, dog..... All over for another year.

Come on Scotland Come on Italy Come on Wales Have a very Happy Super Saturday all! :mrgreen:

Hi Yankeefan I read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver a couple of year ago. I liked it a lot. I learned a lot too. I'd love to be somewhat self sufficient - couldn't do the 'harvest' day though

I'm going to look up this author too. so extra sooper doopah thanks.

The Bird Room by Chris Killen ** This is another short first novel. I really liked the first few pages, it is about a young guy who is clearly very insecure with his new girlfriend. Then, life got in the way and I had to keep putting it down and it all got very strange and confusing. Other characters were introduced but I'm not sure exactly how many as some seemed imaginary. Then I wasn't sure if two of them were the same person. I also couldn't see the point in them. All very odd. To be honest, I didn't think it worth my re reading the second half in one go, which I think would have probably made it all a bit clearer, as I lost interest a bit. Having said the above, I will be interested in picking up Chris Killen's next book as for some reason I think I may like it. The Bird Room is more, what I would consider, a 'bloke's book'. As odd as that term may seem, I think the guy's will probably appreciate the humour a little more and just generally 'get it'.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (tried but failed) 3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (tried but failed) 4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (half of) 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 6 The Bible - 7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte 8 1984 - George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman 10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens 11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D

Will do... thanks

Paintings of small birds. The Bird Room by Chris Killen

Is There Anything you Want? by Margaret Forster *** Well, I took some time over this one, not only because I didn't enjoy it quite so much as her others, because it has been a rugby weekend and the weather has been fab. It really cheers me up when the weather changes for the better. I have repotting my tomato seedlings and sorting out my seed beds etc.It's a sign of middle age you know... the potting and pottering in the garden. Anyway, this book only got a 3* as, although I thought it was very well written, I really think that it is the most depressing book I have ever read. There were a lot of characters and none of them had anything to be chirpy about. At least none of them were ever chirpy about anything. It wasn't sad in a he-didn't-get-home-for-Christmas-to-his-8-year-old-son or the-kid's-dog-died kind of way.......... it was just... well, depressing. Margaret Forster gave us a real deep insight into how different people cope with unhappiness, illness, insecurity and misery in general. It left me realising that all of us have our worries and stresses and sometimes that makes people behave quite strangely. The problem is, most of us know this. So, no matter how insightful or well written or how thought provoking it may be.... offer us a little bit of cheer to grab hold of puhleese.

Yeah I sort of think I did too When I picked up Grave Sight I noticed An Ice Cold Grave but not Grave Surprise. Do you think it will hurt to read them in the wrong order? or shall I request they get me a copy of Grave Surprise for me to read first?

Oh my goodness weren't they awful??? All those turnovers, knock ons and dropping the darn ball!!!! Sheesh... why couldn't they have played against us like that? Even so, England kinda did OK I suppose;)... let's hope they get overconfident and cocky ahead of next weekend and fumble it. Come on Scotland.