chesilbeach

Yes, I read it last summer, and absolutely loved it. It was such a fun and jolly book, and I read it on a day trip (train journey, coffee shop, lunch at the cafe etc. ). It was what made me look at the Persephone Books website in the first place, and I'm definitely going to go back for more.

Yes, their main collection have covers which are from fabric designs which would have been contemporary with the period when the book was written, or a time which was significant at the time, for example, their description of the cover of Someone At A Distance is: The copy of the book I have is from the Persephone Classics range, and has a painting called Pauline by Sir James Gunn on the front cover, with the fabric print on the inside cover.

Finished Someone At A Distance by Dorothy Whipple today - what a fantastic book. I've written a review here. Starting on Nicholas on Holiday by Goscinny and Semp

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple is a 1950s book republished by Persephone, who specialise in republishing forgotten 20th century novels (by primarily female authors). They are beautifully designed, high quality paperbacks, and I'm going to be trying to collect as many as I can! I came across them when I picked up a copy of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson last year, and since looking up their website and seeing their bookshop featured on Sky Arts "The Book Show", I've become an ardent fan of this small publisher. I loved Someone at a Distance, evidenced by the fact I read a 400 page novel in three sittings of about 5 hours in total. It's difficult to explain what it's about without giving anything about the plot away, but on the surface, it's a deceptively simple story of a marriage. It's compulsive reading, and by the end of the book you realise how much you know about all of the people, and you've become emotionally attached to them all, because they are all three dimensional, fully realised characters. The book is a fascinating look at an upper middle class family in the 1950s, but shows that society and our roles within it may evolve, but human emotions never change. I don't know if this sounds a bit snobby, but it's one of the books I would class as "literature" rather than just "fiction". I thought the writing was so simple in style, but so beautiful, that I will definitely be looking to find other books by Dorothy Whipple, although I suspect it will be either by Persephone (who have published four other of her books), or old copies in second-hand bookshops.

I think you've convinced me to bump it up to near the top now

No, I don't really read newspapers, except online, and then it tends to be only the main news page and the books (arts) sections! My OH recognised him though and said he'd read his column and thought the book would probably be good, so I'm just waiting for it to come up on my TBR list. I think the interview I heard on the radio with him, was at one of the literary festivals last summer, and he struck me as a funny man, and the book would be humorous, so when I saw it in a 3 for 2 offer, I couldn't resist.

I've got What I Do by Jon Ronson on my TBR pile - sounds like you liked it as you gave it 9/10! I heard him talking about it on a radio programme and bought it off the back of that, but nice to see that someone else has read it, and given it a good rating.

"Widowed, in the house her husband had built with day and night nurseries and a music-room, as if the children would stay there for ever, instead of marrying and going off at the earliest possible moment, old Mrs North yielded one day to a long-felt desire to provide herself with company." Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple

Finally made it to the end of Rescuing Rose by Isabel Wolff today. I've written a full review in the Women's fiction/Chick lit board here. Looking forward to starting my next book, Someone At A Distance by Dorothy Whipple, which has been jumping out at me every time I've seen it in the bookshop.

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk I'd read Isabel Wolff's earlier novels when chick lit was in it's infancy, and they were light, fluffy rom com's, but I'd tried to read this one a few of years ago, and put it down after the first chapter. I thought the timing wasn't quite right, but kept it in mind for another go. When I sorted out my books recently, I thought I'd add it back into my reading list. After starting it again this week, the opening still didn't grab me. I found it really didn't get going until about two thirds of the way through, and I think if the first 300 pages had been cut down to about 120-150 pages, it might have been a much better read. The first two thirds of the book was all scene setting, without much plot in it, and there were so many elements that could have been edited out without losing anything from the story, and a more condensed book would have been a much more enjoyable read. The book was written about seven years ago, and having read Isabel Wolff's lastest novel, I think Rescuing Rose may have been her first attempt to move her writing on from the comedic trials of a young woman to find love. Unfortunately, it takes so long to realise the theme of the book is actually , that it all gets a bit clunky and disjointed. The conclusion and epilogue were too twee, and I felt they were unconvincing as well, but I think it was inevitable, . Diverting and potentially a good book, but in serious need of a good edit in my opinion. I think the later work from this author appears to have developed and improved from this, and would recommend her book A Vintage Affair instead.

From fantasticfiction.co.uk Discworld 1. The Colour of Magic (1983) 2. The Light Fantastic (1986) 3. Equal Rites (1987) 4. Mort (1987) 5. Sourcery (1988) 6. Wyrd Sisters (1988) 7. Pyramids (1989) 8. Guards! Guards! (1989) 9. Eric (1990) 10. Moving Pictures (1990) 11. Reaper Man (1991) 12. Witches Abroad (1991) 13. Small Gods (1992) 14. Lords and Ladies (1992) 15. Men at Arms (1993) 16. Soul Music (1994) 17. Interesting Times (1994) 18. Maskerade (1995) 19. Feet of Clay (1996) 20. Hogfather (1996) 21. Jingo (1997) 22. The Last Continent (1998) 23. Carpe Jugulum (1998) 24. The Fifth Elephant (1999) 25. The Truth (2000) 26. Thief of Time (2001) 27. Night Watch (2002) 28. Monstrous Regiment (2003) 29. Going Postal (2004) 30. Thud! (2005) 31. Making Money (2007) 32. The Unseen Academicals (2009)

I have just one word ... NO!

Yes thanks!

I devoured Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver in just a few hours. This was an amazingly well written book, with not only a thrilling adventure of a plot and interesting characters, but a beautiful use of language as well. I've already got the next two books in the series on my shelf, but going to try and stick to my TBR list, and move to another genre next, but at least it will give me the incentive to keep up with my reading in order to get onto the next one sooner rather than later!

Hi Bronwen, I've always been curious about the publishing process, and I was wondering if you could explain the roles the publisher and the editor have in getting your manuscript to publication.

Michelle, oddly enough, I had a similar problem with A Thousand Splendid Suns. I'd read The Kite Runner and thought it was excellent, and bought A Thousand Splendid Suns once it came out in paperback. I picked it up and read the first chapter, but put it down, and didn't pick it up again for about six months. When I finally got around to picking it up again, I read the first chapter again and this time couldn't put it down, and finished the entire book in a few hours. There are definitely some books which need the right frame of mind to read, and I'm always prepared to try a book a second go if it doesn't feel right the first time around!

Torak woke with a jolt from a sleep he'd never meant to have. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

I really didn't get on with this book. I read it while waiting for Breaking Dawn to be released, and although I thought the concept was good, it was very drawn out, and I got bored with it quite a few times, almost giving up on several occasions. I did finish it, but I didn't warm to the characters and wouldn't be inclined to read any more in the series, if there are indeed two more to come.

Finished Second Chance by Jane Green at lunchtime. It was okay, but not her best, and thought her next book The Beach House was much better. A couple of things niggled me, and I think her knowledge of living in England, and the scenes in Gloucestershire, seemed a bit outdated. Perhaps she would be better sticking to setting her work Stateside now, as she's settled there and of her recent works, the American settings have seemed more realistic and contemporary to me (probably because I only have fiction and films as a frame of reference for American society!).

Like you, it was the unique style of the covers of Jasper Fforde's books that drew me in, and I read The Eyre Affair in a day, then went onto the rest of the books in the series within a month (although I had to hunt out the whole series in about five different bookshops as none had a copy of every book in the series)! I think Jasper Fforde is one of the few writers who succeeds in comedy - like you said, not laugh out loud, but definitely clever and firmly in chuckle and smile territory. I was lucky enough to go to a talk and book signing he gave, and he's an excellent raconteur - not something you can say about a lot of authors - and witty and charming to boot! My signed copy of First Among Sequels is now a cherished item.

I think as long as I don't buy any more books, then I'll probably stick with the order I've chosen. I have already bumped a few up the list by a couple of places, but I think it'll pretty much stay the same. I'm hoping to read most of them by the end of the year, which isn't that far off so I think I'll be okay leaving them in that order. If you've got that many on your TBR list, why not just pick out the next 20 or so that you're desperate to read, and then prioritise those? At least it gives you a bit of a plan, and then you can start to think of the next 20 or so, when you've only got a few left of the original 20.

No! Stop! Don't change a thing! I know you're only joking but this is for everyone ... do whatever suits you best. If it works for you, you'll continue to do it, but if you change and start to feel self conscious about your writing and reviews, you'll eventually get too hung up on what you think is the quality of your work and give up writing them all together. Each type of review has its own merits, and this thread is really a chance to see what other people do. RoxiS.C. writes fantastic in depth reviews as well as condensed versions which allows each type of reader to get something from her reviews and find out whether they will like the book, whereas I tend to write shorter reviews but just explain my feelings on the elements that have stood out in a book for me, or why I think the author has moved on from their earlier works. Some people give a rating out of five or out of ten, and others don't give a rating at all. Everyone's reviews are different and that's why they are interesting to read, not because we all write the same style of reviews. If you write notes as you read the book and these develop into your review at the end, then that's fine. If you're like me, you just read the book and then after you finish you reflect your thoughts in your review without planning, that's fine too. The important thing is just to let the reader know how you felt about the book. So, by all means look at this thread to see what others do, and if you've never written a review before, maybe get some ideas from other reviewers comments, but however you write, if it suits you, stick with it!

As I mentioned, I don't write a review of everything I read. If I feel strongly about a book, I write a review on my blog, then if there isn't already a review on here, I'll write another one for here as well (it will probably be a slightly abridged version of my own review, and usually a slightly more informal style). If there is already a review on the forum, I'll add my own thoughts, agreeing/disagreeing with points others have made, and adding comments about elements that haven't already been mentioned. I don't know if I'm a freak, but I can pretty much remember what I felt about every book I've ever read, and just by having a quick glance at the title or cover usually reminds me what I thought about it. There are only a few books that when people have mentioned them, I know I've read but can't remember much about them, so if I go back and have a quick skim read through a few pages, or look at the blurb on the back, it usually jogs my memory. The chances are if I forget what I felt about a book and go to look for it, if it isn't on my bookshelf anymore, I've given it to the charity shop soon after reading it, because I didn't have any strong feelings about it, and knew I would never read it again. I do love a good list though, so I've kept a full list of every book I've read for the last few years, including date started and finished, and if I read it for a book group or special event. In fact, only earlier today, I was looking back at the reading lists on my blog, where I started keeping a list of the books I read starting in about February 2006, and I can't believe how long ago it was that I read them, as I can recall them all as if it was just a few months ago. And, looking up at my book shelves now, I can see books I read at least 15 years ago, and again, I know which ones were particularly good or bad, and why, so perhaps that's why I don't feel the need to review everything. I rarely write any notes while I'm reading a book, and start with a blank screen to write my reviews. But, I do tend to wait at least a day, if not two or three before writing a review, just to allow myself time to consider my feelings on the book. If I'm writing a review on my blog, I might also write the review but only in draft format, until I've decided if there's anything else I might want to add before publishing.

Thanks for the compliments again! Back to the reviewing though, and the reason I don't review every book is that I just don't have the time! It's also that I find that if a book was okay, but not very bad or very good, that my reviews tend to be a bit bland in that it usually means nothing particularly stands out about the plot or the characters, and I don't have anything the criticise or praise, and it feels a bit of a waste of time (which is better spent on reading the next book which might be great!). Basically, I need a book to have provoked a reaction that requires me to put my fingers on the keyboard and have my say.

I don't write a review about all the books I read, only if I feel I have something to say about the book, either good or bad. I don't have a set plan, but I start off with a short synopsis (without giving away any spoilers) and maybe a bit of explanation about the style or genre of the book. Then I write about the most important element(s) of the book that made me want to write the review in the first place, whether that's the plot, the characters, the style, the writing, etc. I try to explain and give examples of why I liked/disliked the particular element(s), and if appropriate, suggest authors or books that if you've read and enjoyed might mean you'd like the book I'm reviewing.