chesilbeach

On the whole, yes. As I mentioned in my first review, they have tweaked a few of the characters and events, and had to update for technology, but apart from that, it's totally recognisable as the story from the book, and for a smallish budget, they've done a great job.

The BAFTAs

I'm just over a third of the way through Dangerous Liaisons now.

I'm definitely in the minority I think, as most people here seemed to have loved it! Will be very interested to see what you think James.

I saw that earlier Janet - it sounds interesting. Amazing to have the manuscript bought so quickly. Not sure whether that's publishers just wanting to jump on the Austen/Downton bandwagon, or if it's genuinely a good book. Looking forward to finding out, if I'm honest!

That was one of the one's I got wrong, because

Only 5/10 for me this week

I just saw an article about a new book coming out this year which includes some of Virginia's family vignettes she wrote for a family newspaper(!) her nephews produced. Thought you might be interested http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/07/virginia-woolf-lighter-side-unseen-manuscripts

I hope you can get to it too, bree. I was a bit apprehensive about reading it, but I've been able to completely dismiss all my concerns about it already.

Read some more of Dangerous Liaisons - I absolutely love it!

I missed your original commment, Kay, but of course I'll do it, even without the coffee and cake bribe (although I'm not gonna turn it down if it's on offer ). Leave it to me!

Good to hear that you enjoyed The Girl With The Pearl Earring bree. I've read most of Chevalier's novels now, and I think this is one of the better, although my favourite is Falling Angels.

I finished a couple of books today, Mapp and Lucia which was a re-read for my book group (and just as brilliant as the first time I read it ) and Masquerade by F. E. Heaton, as a bit of light entertainment before I dived head first into Dangerous Liaisons for the March Reading Circle. Although I've only read about 20 pages, I'm absolutely loving it, so thanks to everyone who voted to choose it!

All I'm saying is that I changed my signature at the weekend (see below)

The Big Bang Theory

Oh now you've got be wanting to read book three straight away! I didn't know about it originally being a trilogy, so I wonder if there's a big denouement coming up? I've got a couple of other books on the go, and three more lined up for reading groups, so it's probably going to be a few weeks before I get around to it, but I can't wait now.

If you look at the official website for the books http://theclockworkcentury.com/, the list on the right hand side shows them as: Boneshaker Clementine Dreadnought Ganymede Inexplicables In the FAQ, the author answers the question: Hope that helps!

Rather than start a new thread, I'm going to add reviews here for each book in the series as I read them. The Dead of the Night by John Marsden I won't add the synopsis as it does give away plot spoilers for the first book. Review: The second book picks up where we left the story at the end of the first instalment. I loved that there was quite a slow start to the book after the big emotional end to the first book. There are ups and downs, both in terms of action and emotions, but what I love is how through the different characters, the author explores the moral side of war, and how the teenagers feel about the acts of violence they have committed. There is no black or white, or condemnation of what they have had to do, and there is a brutal honesty in both Ellie's thoughts and the discussions with the others. I also like that Marsden introduced other Australians who are waging their own campaign against the invading army, and you get to see how different people are coping with this devastating upheaval in their lives. A thoroughly absorbing read, and I will definitely continue with the series.

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk): It all starts on the one-hundredth birthday of Allan Karlsson. Sitting quietly in his room in an old people's home, he is waiting for the party he-never-wanted-anyway to begin. The mayor is going to be there. The press is going to be there. But, as it turns out, Allan is not...Slowly but surely Allan climbs out of his bedroom window, into the flowerbed (in his slippers) and makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving criminals, several murders, a suitcase full of cash, and incompetent police. As his escapades unfold, we learn something of Allan's earlier life in which - remarkably - he helped to make the atom bomb, became friends with American presidents, Russian tyrants, and Chinese leaders, and was a participant behind the scenes in many key events of the twentieth century. Review: I've already mentioned on other threads that I wasn't as enamoured with this book as others. There are two threads of narration threaded through the story, with Allan's journey in the present day and the story of his life interspersed. I found the modern day story to be far fetched and unbelievable, while the historical thread seemed to lack credibility and just be a device to weave the history of the last century through the story. I didn't really engage with any of the characters either, but I think the reason was due to my perception of the way they were written. I'm not sure if I can describe this very well, but I quickly found it was becoming annoying the way all the characters were referred to by their name constantly. I don't even know if it was as bad as I thought and I'm not sure how it's different in other books, but it regulalry jumped out at me that the full name of the characters was being used, or sometimes their character description (e.g. Director Alice), and I found it got more irritating the more I read. I did like it at the start, but actually stopped reading it for a couple of days at one point, and when I restarted, I realised I hadn't missed it at all. I almost stopped reading it, but decided to keep going, and I'm glad I finished it, but have to say that was a week ago, and since then I've thought less and less fondly of it, which has resulted in this very negative review. I think if I'd reviewed it immediately, I might have been a bit more generous, but as I'm writing this and remembering it, I'm liking it less and less. Still, at 20p for the Kindle version, I'm not going to worry too much about it, and you have to find books you don't enjoy in order to appreciate the ones you do better!

I only like them toasted - I'll post a picture next time

The Dead of the Night by John Marsden ETA: I've taken out the synopsis as it does reveal plot spoilers about the first book. Review: The second book picks up where we left the story at the end of the first instalment. I loved that there was quite a slow start to the book after the big emotional end to the first book. There are ups and downs, both in terms of action and emotions, but what I love is how through the different characters, the author explores the moral side of war, and how the teenagers feel about the acts of violence they have committed. There is no black or white, or condemnation of what they have had to do, and there is a brutal honesty in both Ellie's thoughts and the discussions with the others. I also like that Marsden introduced other Australians who are waging their own campaign against the invading army, and you get to see how different people are coping with this devastating upheaval in their lives. A thoroughly absorbing read, and I will definitely continue with the series.

Absolutely! Weekends definitely mean treats such as real butter Back to the salads tomorrow

Toasted hot cross buns

Bree, you might find this interview with Susan Hill interesting - she starts to address the "gothic" issue in the first paragraph: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/17/woman-in-black-book-club-susan-hill?intcmp=239 Thanks, bree. I wondered if it was just something I did, my own coping mechanism. Glad I'm not the only one

Good luck! I really enjoyed Remarkable Creatures, and thought it was one of the better books from Chevalier, so I hope you enjoy it too.