chesilbeach

I've been mulling over The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James for a few days, and I still don't know what to say about it. I know not everyone gets on with his writing style, but this is the second of his books I've read, and I haven't had a problem, I've just had to make sure I concentrate, as there are plenty of long sentences to contend with. It started really well, and I loved the little set up so that the actual ghost story would be a reading from a real story written by someone who had experienced it first hand. I don't know if this makes sense, but I enjoyed the reading of the book, more than the story itself! The problem was, I'm not sure I really understood the plot. That might actually be my fault, as I often struggle with ghost stories, and this was one I found didn't quite work. It all seemed very rushed, with the narrator falling in love with the gentleman who hires her to be a governess for his charges, then she seems to fall in love with the children almost immediately too, and forms a strong friendship with the housekeeping in no time at all. I didn't know what the intent of the ghosts was, and I couldn't work out if they were controlling the children, or what the children hoped to gain from the ghosts? Who were they threatening? A fairly confused reader here. As far as the choice of this book in the English Counties challenge, I didn't really feel that there was any sense of place in the story. I don't know if I missed that part in the narrative, but it could have been set anywhere in the country as far as I could tell. All this sounds very negative, but like I said earlier, I have enjoyed reading both books I've read by Henry James, but for this one, I just didn't think it worked for me. Maybe I don't read enough ghost stories to appreciate them, or maybe I wasn't concentrating as much as I thought, but not a book I could recommend, although I would still like to read more James, but I think I need to tackle another full novel next, and I think The Wings of the Dove would be my next attempt at his work.

I'm going to guess based on some discussions I've heard, and it's the only female I can think of who writes about the Roman era … is it The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff?

I've no idea! I've just looked it up and it was only published in 2011, so I guess not, although does he have "greatest hits"? He's an author I've never even considered reading before, but looking at his list of books on Fantastic Fiction, and the ones I sort of recollect having heard of before are all from 70s and 80s.

I've just realised the title of the book is Only Time Will Tell … oh yes, Jeffrey, indeed it will.

Been a while since I've had time to do this, but had a go again this week, and got 7/10, so not too shabby! http://www.waterstones.com/blog/2014/01/waterstones-week-in-books-quiz-10th-january-2014/

Hmm, that's going to make it tough to guess then!

You're welcome to borrow my copies of her books if you'd like, Kay. I'm think you like them, and you'll probably end up wanting your own copies too! I haven't seen Famous Fred, but I've just found it on 4OD and do like the sound of it, and I'm not adverse to littlies book and television, so I'm sure I'd love it. Something to watch over the weekend.

I finished The President's Hat this afternoon, but now have to do what I've been putting off since last month, and that's read my reading group book for next weeks meeting. It's a Jeffrey Archer. I know I shouldn't prejudge it, but I'm really not looking forward to it!

I bought Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds when I was on holiday last year, as I'd already read Tamara Drewe by the same author, and wanted to read more. Both novels are graphic novels, but with plenty of text interspersed amongst the pictures. Now, I have to say from the outset, I gave up on Madame Bovary about a third of the way in as I just wasn't getting on with it, so when I started out with Gemma Bovery, I assumed it had some sort of relationship with Flaubert's original classic novel. Gemma marries Charlie Bovery, and fed up with Charlie's ex-wife and children, decides to upsticks and move them to Normandy using some money she has inherited. Her neighbour and the local baker, Joubert, is intrigued as to whether Gemma bears any resemblance to the infamous heroine. The story follows Joubert's increasing obsession with Gemma, and shows the parallels between the fiction and Joubert's reality (if you see what I mean, since he's fictional, so it's all fiction and no reality, but it's real to him as a character. I'll stop waffling now). Despite my initial reluctance to even try a graphic novel (I always associate them with superheroes and Japanese children!), I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the Posy Simmonds books I've now read. I love the depth and colour - as in the descriptive term rather than the illustrative term, since my paperback copy was only in black and white - of the characters that Simmonds creates with words, and the illustrations bring it even more to life than if you were watching it as a film. I really felt like a part of the story, and could almost imagine myself in the boulangerie or the marché. But in spite of the illustrations, I still felt that Simmonds is excellent at characterisation, and brings them to life, and that's what makes her novels so successful - full of characters you care about. There's only one minor complaint I have, and that's that I would have preferred to have a colour edition, although I'm not sure one exists! I was lucky enough to find my copy of Tamara Drewe in colour, and I think I've been a bit spoilt by it. Simmonds illustrations are so engaging, and the colour would have added that extra dimension. I would definitely recommend others like me who are put off the thought of graphic novels to try one of Posy Simmonds books, as I've been completely won over by them, and will continue to look for more!

The final book is being split into two films, Karen, so you won't see the last Hunger Games film until 2015. I still haven't watched the first one yet!

I finished reading the book on Christmas Eve, so it was very fresh in my mind when I watched the television adaptation.

I finished The Turn of the Screw by Henry James yesterday, and then read His Lordship's Pleasure by M. C. Beaton, and have now started The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain

Can I recommend a book if you haven't already read it - William - An Englishman by Cecily Hamilton. It's a Persephone book, so a little pricey, but I thought it was completely worth it, and one of the few books to get my top rating.

I should point out, I meant that the reviews would say the book was mediocre, not that your reviews themselves were mediocre!

Isn't it funny, Goblet of Fire is one of my least favourites of the books. I thought it was too long and waffly, and I sort of felt that there was lots of unnecessary and irrelevant details - I know the fans love this sort of stuff, but I'm not sure it resulted in the best book that could have been. Up until this book, I thought they'd got progressively better, so was a little bit disappointed in this one. I do still like it, and still listen to it along with the rest, but for me the series peaked at Prisoner of Azkaban and then dwindled after that.

I don't know, you could write mediocre reviews of imaginary books, so no one would bother looking them up, then claim your TBR number was decreasing!

We watched a baking programme last night where they made choux pastry, and it's second to top of my list of things to try baking this year, and I've said I'll try making chocolate eclairs. It'll probably be a few weeks before I get the chance, but I definitely want to attempt them sooner rather than later!

I got one of the Children's shortlisted books for Christmas - Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery and thought it was brilliant. Little bit gutted it didn't win the category despite the fact I haven't read of any of the others!

I've got a few books on pre-order (because they were dirt cheap!) so do I have to count those in my books bought today count, as I actually chose to buy them last year, but they did appear on my Kindle today? My theory would be no, but I'll abide by your decision as referee, Julie.

Like you, I have zero patience, and most especially with myself!

I'd really like to do the same Julie, but I find it very difficult to find any real shops that sell the gift cards. The only shop relatively close to me that I know that used to sell them was Clinton Cards but even they don't seem to have them when I go in any more. I guess I'll just have to keep on using my willpower instead!

Needed to choose a new book to read today, so decided on The Turn of the Screw by Henry James for the English Counties challenge (Kindle freebie). About a third of the way through, and I'm really enjoying it - I know not everyone gets on with James, but I also read Washington Square a while back, and enjoyed that too.

I chose it because I knew quite a few people here had read it, so thought it might be a bit easier to guess!

Well, Running With Scissors and Rebecca were both page turners for me, so hopefully you'll find them the same and won't be able to put them down, and getting at least part way to your goal.

Correct! Well done Sara, over to you.