chesilbeach

Yes, it is the same one. I have seen him on his own programme (Map Man a few years ago as well as Great British Journeys) as well as on Coast, and think he's a very interesting broadcasting, but I've just not had the inclination to pick up his books so far. I think I'll have to try one at some point.

I'm not a parent so I find it difficult to judge, but I would guess probably 11 years upwards. If you go to www.youngbond.com, then select books, you can read an extract from each book, so that might give you an idea.

Has anyone read anything by Nicholas Crane? My friend raves about him, but I've never actually got around to starting one of his books, and wondered if anyone else had read his books?

I pick up the book and see how it feels - the weight, the cover (as in does it have any weird textures on it), then fan open the book to see how it falls open or if the spine is too stiff. If that's all okay, then I read the blurb on the back, or scan the first page if there's no blurb.

Snap! I read The Da Vinci Code for my reading group a couple of years ago. That was five hours of my life I'll never get back again. Dreadful writing, clunky dialogue and laughable plotting. I also remember hearing Mark Kermode (the film critic) talking about it when he was reviewing the film, complaining about the fact that Brown seemed to have no idea about internal monologue. I hope never to read another Dan Brown book and I desperately hope my reading group don't pick one of the others!

Well, what a rollercoaster of a ride The Post Office Girl was! I think I'm going to have a write a full review of it, but I have to say it was one of the best endings to a book I've read recently. I'm going to digest it for a while, but no doubt I'll be unable to resist starting my next book this evening! It will be The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy, which I'm glad should be a light, fluffy chick-lit, after such an emotional time with The Post Office Girl.

"Yes, it's really a shame, I'm sorry too, Christl! But I said from the start that the thin air up here wouldn't agree with Anthony. It's not the right thing for old people." The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig

I heard them make these on the Chris Evans show on Radio 2 a couple of weeks ago! Want to know what your cake might look like? Check out the listeners photos here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/photos/cookalong/chocolate-mug-cake/listeners/

You are not alone! I've read a couple Eric Newby, and have loved them both, and the others are sat on my shelf waiting patiently to be read at some point in the future. William Dalrymple is also one of my favourites - I've got a thing about India, and can't go too long without reading a travel book or novel about the country, despite having no inclination to actually visit myself! I like the entire spectrum from the serious to the comic, and some of my other favourites have been: Tony Hawks - great fun The River at the Centre of the World by Simon Winchester - although it took me ages to read it, it was a bit dry, but very interesting Duende by Jason Webster - I loved this because of the flamenco aspect more than the travel, but it is found in the travel section of bookshops and I thought it was very well written, so I've also bought Andalus, which is now on my TBR list. Honey and Dust by Piers Moore Ede - a good mix of history, nature, travel and apiculture in the book, as well as the personal emotional journey of recovery. I tried to read Behind The Wall by Colin Thubron, but I didn't like his writing style and gave up after about 80 pages. I had the same problem that there were few people and rambling descriptions. He also was writing about China, but kept throwing French words and phrases into the text, which just seemed out of place and jarring.

As I chose this for my last Hangman game, thought I'd have a look for a thread on it and post my comments (originally reviewed on my personal blog):

Sounds like an excellent idea!

The question is now, what are you going to read next, Mac? Need to keep that mojo going

I think, if I was pushed, I'd go for Double or Die as my favourite.

Yes, I've read them all and loved them. They were fast-paced and exciting, and the sense of danger and peril keeps you turning the pages. I actually think the writing is better than the original Ian Fleming books.

One village post office in Austria is much like another: seen one and you've seen them all. The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig

Finished Pastures Nouveaux by Wendy Holden this afternoon. Diverting enough for a chick-lit book, but it felt as though the author was trying too hard to avoid the predictable ending by throwing an extra curve ball into the mix about three quarters of the way through, but entertaining regardless. However, what is it with publishers who include important plot points in the blurb on the book jacket that don't happen until a long way into the story? This is the second book I've read with spoilers in the blurb, and the first one had a major plot point on the cover that didn't happen until the last thirty pages of the book! Next on my list is The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig. I picked it up from the Waterstone's Recommends list in the World Fiction section a while ago, and I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into something a bit more serious after quite a few light reads.

Queen Lucia - E. F. Benson

Last night I finished Frederica by Georgette Heyer. As I've already mentioned, it was the first book by her I'd read, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was witty and charming, and an entertaining read. I'm not going to rush out and buy more of her books immediately, but if I'm ever trying to make up a batch of books to buy (on a 3 for 2 offer or stocking up for holiday/winter etc), then I'd certainly consider adding one of hers to the pile. Another light and fluffy read is next on my list, and I started Pastures Nouveaux by Wendy Holden this morning. I'm not sure why I've never read more of her books, as I remember really enjoying Bad Heir Day a few years back, but I picked up School for Husbands last year and liked it a lot. I found this one in an Oxfam bookshop for

I'm already 8th in the list Hopefully, they'll get more than one copy!

Bang on 8 a.m., the car alarm that had been shrieking all night finally stopped. Pastures Nouveaux by Wendy Holden

Queen of Babble in the Big City - Meg Cabot

I know what you mean about the theme thing - I'm a series person as well. Find a new series, and I'll just read that to the exclusion of everything else, given the chance! I think I'm going to have to give The Poisonwood Bible ago at some point, as everyone who's read it seems to recommend it, so thanks for your comments. I'm not a McEwan fan at all. I'm a fan of the place on the south coast of England, and had been using it as my screen name for a while when I heard Mr McEwan was going to be using it as the title of his book. I've only read Saturday by him, which I didn't enjoy much, and hasn't induced me to want to read any more of his, but never say never, so I might try another one at some point.

Thanks Kehs, you've really whetted my appetite for it now! Can't wait for this to come out, and I'm off to the library website now to see if I can reserve it in preparation for them getting their copy in.