France

I found this book so disturbing that I couldn't read another Margret Atwood for about eight years, it reminded me too much of things from my own childhood. I'm interested to read thaat it's semi auto-biographical and on reflection it doesn't surprise me.

I couldn't agree with you more, my daughters who also loved these books in the beginning have also given up on them. Others I've got very bored of are; Patricia Cornwall - I got really fed up of reading about autopsies Katie fforde - her first books were brilliant and then they got very samey with a tendancy to have heroines who were pathetic and let people walk over them. Fiona Walker - forgot to use the editing pen so her books got longer and longer. The Agatha Raisin series Minette Walters - don't know why, her books are birilliant but I have no desire to read them any longer.

I dislike this book intensely, the first and least important is that Jane Green doesn't write very well, the second is that as the mother of three daughters I find the message - that if you're overweight you won't get anywhere even if you're better than the blonde who has the desk next door to you or get the boy of your dreams, any boy in fact, and that being thin equals success and happiness - absolutely repellant. Let's not go into the fantasy that you can stuff your face with bacon butties then magically lose - what was it seven stone - in practically no time at all without loose skin hanging down to your knees etc etc.

Yup, I've read Clarissa - I agree it isn't a fast read, neither was Pamela, also by Richardson which is about a serving maid's determined resistance to her employer's attempts to seduce her. It was written as an encouragement to sevants to keep chaste which must mean that it was quite common for maids to be literate as Pamela isn't short, about 1000 pags as far as I can remember.

I used to adore Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series but never really got along with her other books. I read Twilight and wasn't impressed, neither were my daughters who usually lap things like that up. Not sure why but I don't think any of us were impressed by the charecterisation. A vampi-ish book I'd really reccomend is Sunshine by Robin McKinley, I think it's her first adult novel and I hope she writes lots more. It can be a bit wordy in places but is very well written so well worth the longer passages.

I never doubted the historical accuracy of the book, don't know why as I usually note everything that doesn't feel right. True, Darwin is portrayed in a very unflattering light but I accepted that as being Harry Thompson's opinion. Yes, I agree that the pace slows right down once the voyage of the Beagle is finished and I wonder if Harry Thompson didn't set out origninally to write a biography of Robert Ftzroy and was persuaded to turn it into a novel. It is slow in places and I got a bit fed up of some of the religeous discussions but it's still a fantastic book and one I remember very clearly even though I read it two years ago. I reccomend it highly too.

Thanks for that review Sue, I've been wondering about The Alchemist's Secret, will definitely get it now. I couldn't get on with Labyrinth either, it was so badly written that I got completely bogged down. And written by a woman who judges book prizes too.

Pile? Who can fit their TBR books into a measely pile? I've got a bookcase. When we moved recently I packed all my TBR books in separate packing cases. Four of them.

It seems to be one of those books where you don't have moderaate feelings: my husband loathed it, my daughter and I loved it.

We read this for my Book Club and opinion was neatly divided into two: a) those who thought it was deeply meaningful those who thought it was complete and utter pretentious tosh. I was in the second group.

I used to love the Frost books then I read one (can't remember the title) which had so much rape, beatings up, murder and general unpleasantness in it that I realised thaat not only wasn't I enjoying all this but that most of the Frost books had more than their fair shaare of human beastliness. Haven't read one since.

Not great literature but it was a terrific read. Just what the doctor ordered when there's a hurricane blowing, the power's out for two days and so all you can do is read by candlight.

I'm with Chesilbeach here - I was really disappointed in this book, it was curiously flat and seemed to lack a proper sense of place. Also being a historical pedant I foound that the main charecters simply didn't behave as women brought up then would have done. Sorry can't go into more detail as I got rid of the book almost immediately. I loved A Suitable Boy, that's a book that paints such a vivid picture you can practically smell the surroundings. Anita Desai is another writer who writes fine books about India, I'd particularly reccomend Fire On The Mountain and for a wonderfully lush, rollercoaster of a read there's Sister Of My Heart by Chitra Banderavi Something or the other which everyone I've lent it to has adored. And if you want a really good historical novel about India let's not forget The Far Pavillions.

Fraaid I didn't enjoy this very much. yes the subject was harrowing but I thought he doesn't write well enough to overcome the simplistic charecterisation and predictable plot.

I picked this up in a charity shop not knowing anything about Barbara Kingsolver - what a marvellous surprise it was. I adored this book, I thought the theme got its point over without being at all preachy and I was completely blown away by the clarity and energy of her writing. Reccomended without reservation.

Frankly I don't like any of them very much. Of the "softer" type of chick lit I suppose Jill Mansell is my favourite but I tend to go for writers who write romances but with a bit more bite to them like Jennifer Crusie.

Loved the beginning, adored the end, thought it sagged a little in the middle though. Well worth reading.

Sophie's Choice which I read when I was pregnant and gave me nightmares for weeks. Any parent who knows what the choice Sophie had to make was will know why. (Sorry don't know how to do spoilers.)