chesilbeach

Or, as a more legitimate route, I could borrow the book from the library, and then I could have it for three weeks to browse the pictures!

Michelle, I'm sure I will need some light reads during the year, so I don't expect to exclude them completely, but I just found last year was underwhelming by it's lack of depth in my book choices, and finding very few stand out books that have stayed with me. One of the reasons why I stuck with lighter reads for a lot of time, was just like you, I was finding I didn't have the time, energy or focus for settled periods of reading, so the lighter books gave me enough reading to satisfy, and kept me going. At the time, they were perfectly entertaining and provided that little bit of light hearted escapism that I treasure when reading. I think that I've partly decided on this course of action to encourage me to find more dedicated reading time, when I really do sit down and concentrate on a book and not just pick it up at lunchtimes at work, when I'm often too tired to concentrate, or can't get my brain to move away from work topics. Who knows, I may find that other factors mean that I'm still in the same situation, and I end up with a bucket load of light reads by the end of the year again, but I just hope to be able to discover a few more books this year that challenge and delight me, as some of my favourite books of the past have done.

I do have a TBR list, and a few other lists of books I'd like to read, but, I'm not actually bothered if I stick to any of them. What I really want this year, is to be more considered in my reading, and not just settle for easy, entertaining reads that pass the time, but are ultimately forgettable. Especially in the second half of last year, I ended up with more and more of those easy reads, and this year I'd like something with a bit more meat on the bones, and hopefully find some books that really blow my socks off. I think that some of the reading lists I do have, will provide the type of books I'm looking for, so I anticipate reading quite a lot from these lists, but I'm always open to change and recommendations, so who knows where the wind will blow me?

I've just finished Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds. This is the second of her graphic novels I've read, and the second one I've really enjoyed! Day five of the new year, and still no new book purchases, so off to choose something of my TBR pile to read next.

The Around The World challenge has led you down some incredibly interesting reading roads, June, and although I'll admit that most are probably not my cup of tea, I always find it fascinating to read your reviews of these unusual and little known books and authors. Looking forward to reading about your reading again in 2014.

Danny is notorious for repeating stories and anecdotes on his radio programme, and I know I've heard some of those you've mentioned (many times!) before. He's also very outspoken on what he likes and dislikes, and although he'd argue his case to the hilt on things like Queen, he'd do it with verve and passion, but would always let the other side be given, and then just disagree again at the end! If you're not keen on the his style on the television, I doubt if you'd like him on radio - he does often go into masses of detail, but what I love about him is his skill as an interviewer. He can get the most fascinating stories out of people, whether they are members of the public calling in or famous guests in the studio, and when he does interview celebrities and sportsmen and women, he asks unusual questions rather than the humdrum of a lot of other interviewers, but isn't afraid to add his own stories, giving a very conversational style of interview, which seems to make the other person more relaxed and talk more openly than they might otherwise. I still think I might like this more as an audiobook, as I really do struggle with biographies and memoirs, but maybe that'll be one to invest in some time in the future.

I'm pleased to hear that, and I'll be very interested to hear what you think - I hope you enjoy it!

Malorie Blackman is one of those authors who hovers around in my wish list, but I've never got round to reading yet. As Children's Laureate, I've seen a lot more of her in the media over the last year, and it's interesting to read your review, Michelle. I think Noughts and Crosses is probably where I'd start, but I'll be keeping an eye out for any other reviews of her books if you read any.

Happy reading in 2014, Kat. You've certainly got plenty of books to choose from. My TBR isn't too big, but it would be almost impossible to collate my wish list, it runs into many hundreds!

Happy reading in 2014, Anna. I haven't read And the Mountains Echoed By Khaled Hosseini - I read both his first two books, and despite enjoying the majority of both of them, I felt the endings let them both down, so I haven't picked up this latest one yet. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll be reading your thoughts on it with interest.

Hope you have a great reading year in 2014, Ooshie. Looks like you're off to a cracking start already!

I must admit, I haven't been actively participating, but I am having a great weekend of reading. I've finished 300 pages of Saplings by Noel Streatfeild, and as of this morning, I'm 70 pages into the graphic novel Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds. I'm hoping to finish that this morning, and perhaps sneak in another book this afternoon.

For the first year in quite a while, I'm not really looking forward at all in terms of books. I really want to concentrate on the books I already have or on the reading lists I've set up for myself. There is nothing much on that list in the Guardian that caught my eye, but I can see that Ali Smith has a new book out so that is almost guaranteed to change my mind!

We watched Despicable Me last night as OH had never seen it. He's spectacularly picky when it comes to films, but to my amazement, he enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the second one being shown on television now, as it's supposed to be better than the first one.

Hi Stephanie! Welcome back, good to see you again. No matter what you think about ereaders, it does seem that for some people, they have rekindled (sorry, no pun intended! ) their pleasure in reading. I wouldn't be without my Kindle now.

I've finished Saplings from my Persephone reading list (and a lovely Christmas present from the lovely Kay ), and have decided to have an indulgent weekend, and read Gemma Bovery, a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds. I really enjoyed the first book of hers I read, Tamara Drewe, and was lucky enough to find Gemma Bovery in an indie book shop in Falmouth when we were on holiday last year.

Thanks Julie. Lists are all very well, but whether I'll make any headway on them this year is a totally different matter!

Thanks Janet. I bought A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar on a Kindle Daily Deal earlier in the year, but there is someone else on the forum who has read it and recommended it (I think it was poppy) so I'm hoping I'll enjoy it.

Thank you both!

Thanks Alexi! North and South is definitely moving towards the top of the TBR pile, and I don't think it'll be too long before I'm starting it.

I've just finished by first book of the year - Saplings by Noel Streatfeild. There's not much of a story as such, it just follows a fairly well off middle class family through five years from just before the start of the second world war. The saplings of the title are the four children of the Wiltshire family, and through their eyes, Streatfeild looks at the impact of war on the children. The children go through evacuation to the country and their grandparents house, and after a devastating loss in the family, are then sent on to boarding schools. As the children grow up, you witness the mistakes made by adults and the impact on the feelings of the children, and how they grow from a compact family group to become individual personalities, and how their coping mechanisms affect their development. Now normally, I would struggle with this sort of book as I like a proper story and plot to keep me moving along, and while this is much more of a character study, there was enough of a narrative to keep me reading. I loved that the children weren't perfect when the book opens, but that their father is aware of their particular issues and tries to help them develop, and that the older two children, Laurel and Tony, can see the selfish and manipulative nature the third child, Kit, is growing into, and are keen to try and suppress that side of him. As the war begins, the family move away from each other, and the children lose the nurturing of their parents, it's fascinating to see how the loss of the family unit takes its toll on the youngsters, and I found it very moving to watch the disintegration of the family as a support unit for each other. I found myself wanting to hug them at times, shake them at others, and knock the heads of the some of the adults together in the hope that they might have some sense of the mistakes they were making. While they nearly all have what they think are the children's best interests at heart, they mostly end up causing more resentment and pain in the young minds of their charges. If often seems like the staff have the most common sense, and the affection from the nanny and the governess has a steadying impact on their lives. As there is little plot, the book does end on a bit of a whimper with no real conclusion or wrapping up of loose ends, and although you don't even get a glimpse of what happens to the children after the war ends and they grow up, there was certainly a sense of hopefulness that at least Laurel would be able to move on from the problems of adolescence, with the prospect of a brighter future. I found the book engrossing to read. It was fascinating to follow this period, with very little reference to the war itself, other than some description of the devastation of bombs dropping on London, and the results of rationing, but the dramatic impact on the lives of this family made for a compelling read.

Nope, not Dodie Smith

And another one here who sobbed her heart out at A Monster Calls. Such a good book.

I don't have any suggestions, but would like to hear of some if you find any! My book group has gone from reading two books per month to just one, and I think we would benefit from something like this too, as we usually finishing discussing the book within 45 mins and then it just ends up as a free for all. Would be nice to have something else to keep a bit more structure for some of the rest of the evening.

Ok, here's the next one ... Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, in a third-class carriage with five other travellers in it, leaned her head back and shut her eyes. How hot it was travelling by train today! It would be nice to get to the sea! Really a great piece of luck getting this job. When you wanted a holiday post it nearly always meant looking after a swarm of children - secretarial holiday posts were much more difficult to get. Even the agency hadn't held out much hope.