chesilbeach

If I'm honest, most of the English Counties Challenge books scare me! Of course it's not, I'm sure it's going to dole out something fantastic for you to read next time! You may love it all … it might just be me! It wouldn't be the first time …

The trouble is, I actually want loads of books to come out of the jar soon!!! At least I guess it means I've got less chance of being disappointed picking out my choices. *cough* Carter Beats The Devil *cough* Well, I actually like it at the start too … I think it was about a third of the way through I started changing my mind …

I've got Spem in Alium on a collection, Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis which was recommended to me because I loved Byrd, so I'll definitely look up Utopia Triumphans as it sounds like the sort of thing I enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation.

I am, although I've already had it a couple of years Kay gave it to me for Christmas, when I was doing my Year with Jane Austen challenge, that's ended up being over three years now. I definitely want to read it, but I don't get on well with biographies, so I'm also part dreading it, but only because I want to love it, if that makes sense! I'm glad it's in the jar, as at least now I know I'll definitely get to it at some point.

I think that sums up my reading music perfectly. I generally prefer my classical music to be piano pieces or choral works, but choral works don't mix well with reading on the whole. The only one I can sometimes listen to while reading is Byrd: Mass for 5 Voices with Propers for The Feast of All Saints - the version I have is by Harry Christophers The Sixteen.

I GOT 10/10 - FIRST TIME EVER!!!! http://www.waterstones.com/blog/2015/02/waterstones-week-in-books-quiz-6th-february-2015-2/

… is in my jar. I wonder when it will come up for reading

I have managed to read some more chapters of Citadel, but need to dedicate a couple of hours to it today, and hopefully will make it past the halfway mark then.

Just been up to John Lewis and bought myself a walking foot, some quilting needles and some new bobbins for my sewing machine. I can't believe how unexciting my life sounds when I write stuff in here! I did also have a coffee and a read, so it was a bit more frivolous than it sounds, but then I had to do food shopping on the way home as well, so back to the mundane.

Kermode and Mayo Film Review podcast

The Shaun the Sheep Movie - hoping to see it in a couple of weeks time

Oh, you're definitely guilty! The evidence is plain to see. Hope you enjoy them all I only managed a few chapters yesterday, and I'm still only a third of the way through Citadel and I really need to get a wriggle on, as I've got a couple of other books I need to read in the next couple of weeks.

I've got a different cover to yours … http://www.amazon.co.uk/Awakening-Miss-Natalia-Sanmartin-Fenollera/dp/0349139504/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423296709&sr=1-1 It's also a big format paperback, but a friend bought it for me for Christmas, so I not going to complain! I'm looking forward to picking it out of the jar

I've got to finish the book I'm reading, then I've got my library reading group book to read for this month, and then I'm going to make a start on Middlemarch. Good to hear you're getting on well with it so far Janet I've actually read book one before (but that was as far as I got ), so this first instalment will be a re-read for me. I think it's really just the size of it that I find daunting, not necessarily the writing, and I think I would probably put it off until the end of the challenge if we weren't reading it together!

I think the first few were good, but I can't remember if it was book five or six that I started to lose interest, and then by book seven, I needed a break, but just haven't gone back to them. Maybe I've grown out of them … although actually, I'm not exactly the age group they're aimed at, just a couple of decades too old

OH bought some hot cross buns, so can't make a cake as well now. Never mind, I love toasted hot cross buns for breakfast!

Difficult to recommend, as everyone's musical tastes are different, but I knew you liked the films so that's why I mentioned them. I haven't actually got many soundtracks that work for reading, as most are proper songs, and like you, I can't read with someone singing … at least not in English anyway! I can read with someone singing in a foreign language I can't understand, and it just become more musical notes. Here's my favourites from my various reading playlists and the ones I listen to most often: Reading - Jazz: Harry Connick Jr. - Lofty's Roach Souffle Matthew Halsall - Colour Yes Matthew Halsall - On The Go Matthew Halsall - Fletcher Moss Park Portico Quartet - Isla Reading - Latin: Stan Getz & Luis Bonfa - Jazz Samba Encore Gotan Project - La Revancha del Tango Reading - Soundtracks: Richard Robbins - A Room With A View Reading - World: Titi Robin - Kali Sultana Paco Peña - His Essential Recordings I know I've picked Matthew Halsall three times, but I only came across him a couple of years ago, and I adore listening to him. He's a jazz trumpeter, so if you don't like jazz, it's probably not going to interest you. The two on the World list are both flamenco, so again, an acquired taste, but something I find works well with reading.

I remember coming out of the cinema after watching The Hours and saying how brilliant the score was, and it suited the film so well, and it's remained one of my favourite reading pieces ever since … I'm sure you'll love it, Kay.

That would be lovely, Hayley. Thanks, I'll definitely look forward to seeing what you think of it now!

No, nor any of his other books, but I've seen film adaptations and enjoyed them (especially The Notebook ) and I've often wondered whether to try the books, so I'll be keen to see what you make of it.

Woohoo … Rebecca!!! I'm sure you'll both love it, and I can't wait to see what you make of it.

Oh I know … sorry, my reply was meant to be more lighthearted than it sounds ... long day, not coming across well!

My choices are all songs and music with no words. The Hours is probably the one I listen to most often while reading, it's absolutely lovely. Other than that, it's often Chopin Noctures or Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

Long day at work today, but now it's over, I've got the weekend in my sights … just tomorrow morning to go! Think I might try and bake a cake this weekend … I've seen a nice looking sticky lemon and poppyseed one I might try.

Hello! Do you mean the P. C. and Kristin Cast YA series? I read the first seven books but have lost interest now. I keep thinking I might go back to it one day, but it's been almost five years now and I still haven't gone back to it.