rwemad
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Posts posted by rwemad
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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.
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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.
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I think I have read An Absolute Scandal, I've read a few Penny Vincenzi anyway and generally enjoy them, she's a pretty easy read, I find her to almost be chick lit. style but a bit more thought provoking.
mmmmmmm it's a week later and I'm still
plowingthrough 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.
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The Ritual sounds interesting, think I'll add it to my wishlist
. I've read Pig Island and found it to be a bit ... strange, is the most appropriate description I can think of! I've got Things I Want My Daughters To Know on my bookshelf TBR too!
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.
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:lol::motz:
Enough said!! At least the scones I made were good!!
So unlucky Wales...so close.....but what a great game, best of the three that were on today. Congratulations Ireland.
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.
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Come on Scotland
Come on Italy
Come on Wales
Have a very Happy Super Saturday all!
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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
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Adding Erica Spindler to my list of authors to try.. this book looks great! Great review.. thanks for posting.
I'm going to look up this author too. so extra sooper doopah thanks.
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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'.
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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
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Well there are a few references to Grave Surprise in An Ice Cold Grave so I would request Grave Surprise and read it first.
Will do... thanks
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Paintings of small birds.
The Bird Room by Chris Killen
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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.
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I'm glad you actually liked Grave Sight in the end rwemad, at least I think you did I thought it was great
There are two followup books, Grave Surprise and An Ice Cold Grave (which I think is the best one).
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?
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All I can say is What has happened to France this time!!
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.
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Don't apologise for being grouchy. I'm fond of grouchy people. They might bark, but they rarely bite - at least the ones I know.
Oh my goodness I NEVER bite.
Most of the grouching is in my head. I am the only person I seem to make miserable. All very pointless.
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Hubba Hubba Hubba:smile2: Mmm the lovely Chris...how did I miss that in the shops. Was lovely to see him on the pitch today and didn't he kick well. Shame the rest of the team didn't back him up:irked:
Well done to Wales though. Gonna be a great game at Cardiff. Wonder what wil happen at Twickers with us and them:irked:
Ahhhh ya know....... for a bit I really thought Scotland were going to do it. They looked so good in the first half!!!!
Wales were fortunate I think... wasn't the sexiest game I've seen.
I hope they do well against England.... in fact I hope they trounce England:)
I'll tell ya one thing for nothing though.... the Scots are winning in the singing of the anthems competition. My goodness, wonderful stuff... puts us Welsh to shame.
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rwemad, areyoumad? Don't do it! Don't tempt the fates! My OH is well P***d off as he has been told he has to attend a staff meeting on Sunday, so he's going to miss the match. Time to dig out the vcr, I guess.
Actually.... I was thinking if I bet on it happening......... it most certainly wouldn't iykwim
My cunning plan ..........ho ho ho
Should the truth be known, I wouldn't know how to place a bet.
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To be honest I thought it was one of the most depressing reads ever. You're right it isn't a light read, and his depictions of the most bleakest 'greyest' future to come unsettled me. Maybe its because we had to do it at school for our exams (and bear in mind this was just before the actual year 1984) that might have tinted my view a bit, but from what I can remember I dragged myself the whole way through it. Sorry!
I read 1984 when I was very young.... before 1984....... I remember it being a bit of a struggle. I have ordered it from the library though as I am hoping to understand a little more now I am more... um mature... perhaps I may even enjoy it, who knows.
I wasn't overly impressed with Atonement which I read recently. I do remember quite enjoying the Da Vinci Code though.
I got bored with the Harry Potter series. I enjoyed the first couple and then gave up on the third I think (although I have been told that the third is the 'best').
No way could I ever read Lord of the Rings. (yawn)
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I woke at the crack of dawn this morning after I dreamed a try was awarded to Italy against Wales........ in the first 10 seconds of the match!!!!
I really need to get a life
I think it was because I had a long conversation on the phone to my cousin yesterday before she head off to Rome for a week. Lucky thing. I have never been for the match but I did like Rome when we visited just because we could.
Even so, it's no excuse for dreaming of it. It was right under the posts too. I think I'll pay a visit to the bookies and see what the odds are. Judas that I am.
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Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris ***
I had to prepare myself for this one. I had to sit myself down and give myself a good old fashioned talking to. I fear I am turning into a proper old grouch. I am recognising a tendency in myself to nitpick and point out inconsistencies in both character and plot. This, I know, is not the most endearing quality of my personality.
I chose this book as I wanted it to stretch my imagination and hopefully train me to stop being so ....well.... irritable and ....errrrr........grouchy.I knew when I picked it up that the lead had a fantastic power. That's OK... it's not totally impossible and I know real people in real life claim to have such and other equally amazing abilities. I just had to streeeeetch the imagination and accept it. I did, honest, before I even read the first line.
I quite enjoyed it.
However, there were irritations that I cannot leave umentioned they included the names......... Harper and Tolliver???? I do wish they were 'easier' on the tongue. Such mouthfuls, particularly Tolliver. I ask you.
Why on earth did that girl have a teenage crush???? what brought THAT on? I was uncomfortable with the relationship between Harper and Tolliver too... either they are brother and sister or they're not. The stroking of the hands, 'wake up baby..' ing by Tolliver.......... creepy for a brother. The neediness of Harper when she is otherwise portrayed as one tough cookie. I am guessing this relationship will evolve in the future books in the series.
There were a lot of characters intoduced early on and sometimes it got quite confusing as to who was who and what they had to do with anything and who they were related to etc but in some ways that was a plus as it at least kept me focused. I am not the quickest at solving mysteries and so hadn't got the specifics sorted but I had picked up on the not-so-subtle hints thrown in. However, with it being so 'crowded' it could have been anybody. But that's a good thing in a who-dunnit isn't it?
All in all, this book was good for me. I enjoyed it.
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I read Over by Margaret Forster ages ago and I still remember how I was quite surprised by it. I agree, it's such a small, quick read but it's quite powerful.
Ahhh see!!! There are books that we both like.
Have you read - Have the Men Had Enough? It is a fab book.
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I know I know, it's just a book but I need my fiction to make sense - even if it IS fantasy.
I couldn't agree more.
I always say I don't like fantasy. However, there are some I do like. I figure the ones I like have some sort of logical and sensible order about them, even when the story itself is totally incredible/fantastic. I need to understand what is going on.
Rwemad 2009
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Thank you Charm I shall look it up
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There are just too many books in this world isn't there?