chesilbeach

Nope, not on Kindle, and the paperback is out of print too, so it's only second hand booksellers who have it. Never mind, plenty more books on the shelf!

I read The Piano Shop on the Left Bank many years ago … probably when it first came out in paperback, but certainly before I started keeping reading lists or writing reviews, but I do remember absolutely loving it. I've still got my copy up on the shelf, and still smile when my eye passes over it, so only good memories of it from me. Hope you enjoy it, Kay.

For lots of us, Easter is a time for treats … Easter eggs, hot cross buns, Easter biscuits, simnel cake to name just a few. One of my favourite memories of growing up was our Good Friday starting with my dad treating us to toasted hot cross buns and tea for breakfast, and then having the whole four days together and having fun. We've started making our own hot cross buns a couple of years ago, after seeing Paul Hollywood make them on an Easter special of the Great British Bake Off. They have apple in them as well as dried fruit giving them an added fresher flavour, but toasting them always brings back fantastic memories of Dad treating us to breakfast. We don't do Easter eggs, although my OH will sometimes buy a box of Cadbury's creme eggs, we haven't bothered this year. Do you have any particular traditional Easter foods you always have, or something special you're looking forward to trying out this year? What are your Easter treats?

I agree … we've got a lovely painting at home that one of our friends made for us based on the original illustrations, and I love it, despite not having read the books yet. I've just remembered that one of the books is on the English Counties Challenge, so I'm making it my goal to read it this weekend.

Woohoo!!! Read-a-thon … here we come!

To coincide with the 90th anniversary of the first Pooh book, a new authorised sequel will be published next year, but who should write it? http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/apr/01/winnie-the-pooh-new-authorised-sequel-aa-milne ​This jumped out at me, as we've had a mini discussion elsewhere as there are a few of us who haven't yet read these children's classic books, so perhaps this will be my incentive to start.

We're having parmesan potato bake tonight … layers of thinly sliced potatoes, thinly sliced onions and parmesan, and vegetable stock poured over, then baked for ages in the oven … accompanied by some fresh bread.

A pre-dinner bowl of salad

Snap! I'm hoping to start tomorrow as well

Are you kidding … we all read for fun!!!! Sounds like you've had a great start to the year, Noll … hope it keeps up for you

That's true for so many people here!

My Easter weekend starts here! I haven't really planned anything, which is unlike me … I like to have a vague idea of what I want to do, and roughly when I want to do it whenever I'm off work, but this time, I just haven't settled on anything. Will see what OH wants to do, and fit around him, but otherwise, I'll need to have a think about it this evening. I hate not having a plan as I tend to end up doing nothing and just wasting time on the computer or watching television, and before I know it the weekend's gone. ​(Originally posted this in the March thread, then realised it was April now! )

I'm starting April by abandoning my second book of the year … Heap House has been discarded. Starting Celia by E. H. Young next.

That's fantastic, Janet! I need to start trying to do something more regularly again. Perhaps this weekend would be a good time to get a routine started. I'm usually so tired when I get home from work, especially if I've had to do something on the way home, that I just can't be bothered, and then the weekend just seems so short, I want to do my other hobbies which are all sedentary, but I could try and fit in more walking, especially when the weather gets a bit better.

Celia Marston was standing on a wooden stool and looking out of the high-set window. Celia by E. H. Young

Ok, thanks both of you for the recommendation … it has been wish listed

Sounds pretty good … I think I'll keep it on the wish list, but probably won't get it just yet … I need to curb my spending on books for a little bit, and it's not jumping out as a must buy book for me at the moment. I know exactly what you mean about glossaries … I know some French, a little German, Italian and even a bit of Swedish, but I still struggle sometimes, and often it seems to have added nothing to the book or the writing and often just comes across as pretentious. At least here, the Russian was integral to the story.

My daily dose of The Big Bang Theory

I feel a lot like you at the moment, Michelle. It's not that my mojo has deserted me, but I just can't seem to settle on anything, so I'm going back to my jar to pick my books. I'm hoping I'll stumble across something by accident that grabs my by the collar and drags me in. Fingers crossed you find something you love soon.

That's a good idea, I love walking down roads I've never been before. I'm new to this thread, but do you listen to anything while walking? I know music is better for jogging, as the steady rhythm helps, but for walking, I love listening to audiobooks, so perhaps you could find a good book to listen to to help make it more interesting?

I've decided to give up on Heap House. I couldn't even face reading it during my lunch break, and ended up listening to some more of the audiobook I have on the go at the moment, despite the fact I've read and listened to the book more than once, and I ended up playing a game on my phone instead So now it's back to adulthood and the Jar of Destiny. Celia by E. H. Young … here I come.

My Easter weekend starts here! I haven't really planned anything, which is unlike me … I like to have a vague idea of what I want to do, and roughly when I want to do it whenever I'm off work, but this time, I just haven't settled on anything. Will see what OH wants to do, and fit around him, but otherwise, I'll need to have a think about it this evening. I hate not having a plan as I tend to end up doing nothing and just wasting time on the computer or watching television, and before I know it the weekend's gone. Edit: Whoops! Posted in the wrong month

I watched the majority of In Her Shoes last night. I've seen it before, but I came across it about 15 mins after it started last night, and ended up watching it to the end. I still prefer the book ... but then isn't that the case with film adaptations most of the time, as we've discussed here many times … but I like it as a film, and I love Toni Collette's performance.

It feels like it's always on the telly over here ... I've just searched the EPG and it's actually on right now! It's a great film … out of the three Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant films, I'd probably pick Four Wedding and a Funeral and Notting Hill over it, but I still absolutely love it and probably watch it (or at least some of it) three or four times a year.

I'm very impressed with your restraint, Janet … my willpower has gone out the window recently! Feel like I've bought far more books than I'd intended already this year.