chesilbeach

Raining again. I wouldn't mind, but I wanted to walk up to the shops but I hate carrying an umbrella, and I don't like wearing coats either, so if I walk, I'll have to get wet. Hoping it might brighten up later.

Finished Prudence while eating my breakfast, so need to decide what to read next. Mentioned elsewhere that I might go back to the Jar of Destiny (last pick was Celia by E. H. Young), but might have a gander at the bookshelf first.

Going to try and join in next weekend … need to think about what to read. Just finished a book, and contemplating going back to the Jar of Destiny. I'd already picked Celia by E. H. Young from it before I went off on a YA tangent, so might go back to that one, but don't now if I'll finish it before Friday, so that might be my first read.

Toasted hot cross buns for breakfast

We've had a few discussions in the past in individual book blogs and some other threads about music to listen to while reading. I often listen to classic music, film scores and soundtracks and latin music while reading in public to drown out the noise around me … for example, yesterday in the café, Chopin was required to overcome the loud Bill Withers songs. Don't get me wrong, I love Bill Withers, but I can't be listening to him singing to me while I'm trying to read! I try to find something to listen to that will compliment my reading, and it's not always a perfect match. I know I want to broaden my collection, but it's not easy to find suitable music. Anyway, I saw this blog on the Guardian this morning, and I'm rather intrigued … ambient music made for specific book genres. One of the difficulties in finding music for reading is to match the mood of the book to the style of music, and I can imagine that science fiction and horror would be quite difficult. Would anyone consider buying music designed specifically for reading accompaniment?

Diagram Prize: Strangers Have the Best Candy wins odd title award Not a classic, there have been some far better winners in previous years, but I always keep an eye on the award, as it's a good bit of fun.

I've only read short Steinbeck books, and that was back at school … I remember enjoying them, but I've never tried the doorsteps. Not sure I'd like to if I'm honest, as he doesn't appeal to me at the moment, but glad you're getting on well with it I was tempted to try Gone Girl but then with all the film talk, I heard someone spoil the ending and it seems pointless to read a plot driven book if you know the ending, so I'll probably not bother now. Good to hear you enjoyed it, Marie. It's seems like it's been ages coming!

Nope, and you can't make me

The first five whizzed by but the second five have dragged on and on and on …

Finished work at lunchtime, and have managed to get out for a coffee and a read, and visited my dad. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pull my finger out and get on with some housework in a minute, but putting it off by catching up with the forum first!

Shame, I really enjoyed the book. I think I read somewhere that they changed the ending, but I may have that wrong. It's one of those films I keep meaning to watch and never got round to.

2 Broke Girls

And the winners are ... Best Illustrated Book: Blown Away by Rob Biddulph Best Fiction for 5-12s: Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens Best Book for Teens: Half Bad by Sally Green Really pleased for Robin Stevens, and I loved Sally Green's book too, so in no way am I disappointed that Louise O'Neill didn't win.

Thanks Kylie. I wear my normal glasses all the time, but I'm getting old now and the last visit to the optician resulted in reading glasses as well. I can get by without the reading glasses for the most part, but reading a book or my Kindle, they're essential. I might have to try and think about varifocals in future, but I'm a bit nervous of them, as they're quite expensive, and I'm not sure I'd get on with them.

Even lazier dinner tonight … takeaway pizza (Good job I had plenty of salad and fruit with my lunch! )

I think the biggest difference must be the internet and that children are exposed to more adult themes and topics aren't brushed under the carpet, and it's now accepted that it's better to educate rather than hide things from young people today. Fiction is a safe place to explore difficult themes and also to find out they are not alone and they can find someone writing fiction about things they may be experiencing.

I've never watched it myself, but I've just seen that they've announced that series 6 will be the final series of Downton https://twitter.com/DowntonAbbey/status/581116871602245633

I'm sure you'll manage somehow

I look back at the children's and teen books I read when I was younger, and they seem very tame and a bit insipid now, and the only books that challenged me were the adult books I read as I became an older teen. Perhaps I was looking at the wrong books in the library, but from what I remember, even the stories or content considered "challenging" were still told in a very mild way.

Cover reveal of the UK edition of Go Set A Watchman

Looking forward to finding out the winners tonight Of the ones I've read, I'd pick Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens in the 5-12s and Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill in the Teen category, but I have to say, I've read four of the teen category and they were all very, very good. Wish they'd been around when I was a teen!

No chance of reading time tonight, unfortunately, but hoping to find a couple of hours tomorrow after I've finished work. Have to work some of the weekend, so won't get much time then, so pinning all my hopes on tomorrow afternoon!

I'm almost two thirds of the way through Prudence now. I'm hoping to have a couple of hours together to sit down and read tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully I'll finish it then! I've started getting the previous series, The Parasol Protectorate on audiobook, and I think I'll be doing the same for this one too … although they've got a different narrator, so I'll have to sample it first.

You're welcome, Ian. I hope you enjoy whatever you chose to read