poppyshake

Thanks for the review ... I have this on my TBR list but I'm waiting for the paperback. Sounds like a great book .. I love books about books .

Great review. I like the idea of reading about Winston's and Clementine's letters ... I heard them read on the radio a few years back and got really interested. Your review has got me thinking about them again, I'll have to put this on my TBR.

Hope you enjoy it Giulia

*shudders* worms Art Deco or Art Nouveau?

I really loved it .. oh well, horses for courses and all that.

I get chills when I listen to the opening track 'Dream of Sheep' from Kate Bush's 'Ninth Wave' concept piece about drowning Little light shining, Little light will guide them to me. My face is all lit up, My face is all lit up. If they find me racing white horses, They'll not take me for a buoy. Let me be weak, Let me sleep And dream of sheep. "Attention shipping information in sea areas...Bell Rock, Tiree, Cromaty, gale east...Malin, Sellafield..." "Come here with me now." Oh, I'll wake up To any sound of engines, Ev'ry gull a seeking craft. I can't keep my eyes open-- Wish I had my radio. I tune in to some friendly voices Talking 'bout stupid things. I can't be left to my imagination. Let me be weak, Let me sleep And dream of sheep. Ooh, their breath is warm And they smell like sleep, And they say they take me home. Like poppies heavy with seed They take me deeper and deeper.

'Alice in Wonderland' in 3-D .. stunning, Johnny and Helena in particular were fantastic.

Of Bees and Mist - Erick Setiawan Waterstone's Synopsis: Up in the house that sits on the hill, a strange spell is brewing...To Meridia, growing up with her father Gabriel, who vanishes daily in clouds of mist, and her bewitching mother Ravenna, the outside world is a refuge. So when as a young woman her true love Daniel offers her marriage, it seems an escape to a more straightforward existence. Yet behind the welcoming facade of her new home lies a life of drudgery and a story even stranger than that she left behind. Aged retainers lurk in the background; swarms of bees appear at will, and of course, there's her indomitable mother-in-law, Eva, hiding secrets that it will take Meridia years to unravel. Surrounded by seemingly unfathomable mysteries, can Meridia unlock the intrigues of the past, and thus protect her own family's future? An epic tale of two families told by an unforgettable voice. A modern fable, a gothic page-turner, but most of all, a passionate story about the power of love to conquer all that comes its way. Review: It took me a couple of chapters to really get into the story. It's a fairly familiar tale about a young lady (Meridia) growing up in a household where her mother and father are living separate lives and as a result shutting her out too. She meets and marries a young man (Daniel) and then gains a mother and sister-in-law that would test the most placid of young brides and a father-in-law who is henpecked. All familiar territory so far except for this is set in a completely fantasy world with enchanted mists that can whisk people away, ghosts in mirrors, apparitions and bees that are summoned up like angry words to inflict physical and mental torture. Meridia, her mother Ravenna and her mother-in-law Eva are all well fleshed out characters (indeed Eva is the most wicked of wicked mother-in-laws) but the male characters seem to be a bit one dimensional and weak. By the end of the story I was fairly engrossed .. it's a very imaginative piece of writing and a debut novel so I'll look out eagerly for his next book. 8/10

I loved 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian' .. very funny .. hope you enjoy it .

I really liked it .. but the tantalising glimpse they give you of a young Alice and her adventures in Wonderland make me wish we had seen that first and then this one as a sequel. Visually it was gorgeous .. absolutely stunning.

I've read these and they were all good ... the outstanding one imo was 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' a really remarkable book. Has anyone read 'Carter Beats the Devil' by Glen David Gold or 'The Girl with Glass Feet' by Ali Shaw?

Oh good book, very creepy. The case was of great interest to Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins apparently.

Just read that Meg Rosoff's 'How I Live Now' has been scripted and should be in production next year

Evening Kate Winslet or Kate Beckinsale?

What made you give up on 'The Children's Book' Janet? I want to start reading it soon but the size of it is daunting me a bit (that, and the fact that I know it's a bit complex with lots of different storylines).

Meat 'The Little Mermaid' or 'Beauty and the Beast'?

I've just read this and thought the beginning especially was fantastic. I loved Emma, hated Dexter at times but got totally caught up with their stories. I liked the concept of writing about just that one day each year.

Those men in the pub were fantastic. I loved the way that tall Mr Hughes went to Trowbridge because it was the furthest he could go for his money. Also loved Septic Barry and the Children from Previous Relationships ... all their plans for gigs and tours that were never going to happen ... when they were finally offered a gig they were worried that there wasn't a socket by the dartboard for plugging their keyboard into . Yes, it was 'thunderthighs' ... and nobody minded being called it .. except the women with thunderthighs!!

One Day - David Nicholls Waterstone's Synopsis: 'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY. From the author of the massive bestseller STARTER FOR TEN. Review: Very readable and I liked the concept of documenting the same day in two peoples lives, for twenty years. I absolutely loved Emma .. she's warm, funny, loyal, intelligent and the absolute ideal best friend .. Dexter was harder to love .. selfish, superficial, arrogant, disloyal and a nightmare of a best friend. By the time you're a quarter of the way through the story you are absolutely involved in their storylines. I liked the first part of the book best, very funny and witty but as the story went on it became more sad and melancholic .. and although things eventually start looking great again there is a heartbreakingly sad ending which, because of your involvement with the characters by then, was quite emotional. It's got 'film adaptation' stamped all over it 8/10

I really enjoyed 'Gold' too .. and I've just ordered 'Timoleon Vieta Come Home' but brace yourself .. it definitely is a 'sad dog book'

Oh God, I had forgotten that one *shudders*

No I haven't seen it, but I believe it's on TV this coming week (possible Saturday .. I'll have to check) .. so happy days I just looked .. it's Sunday

Yes I've just read 'Gold' and loved it and this one is next on my list .. from the reviews I've read it's quite a sad one though.

Stardust - Neil Gaiman Waterstone's Synopsis: Life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall - named after the imposing stone barrier which separates the town from a grassy meadow. Here, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the beautiful Victoria Forester and for the coveted prize of her hand, Tristran vows to retrieve a fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends him over the ancient wall and into a world that is dangerous and strange beyond imagining...It includes extra material exclusive to "Headline Review's" edition Review: A really magical book, very reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's writings (The Silver Chair in particular) with beautiful, witty, imaginative, enchanting prose. As ever with Neil's writing you are transported straight away into the worlds of Wall and Faerie. The hero .. Tristan Thorn, of the town of Wall, want's to win the heart of Victoria Forester and in order to do so (or to be granted his hearts desire at any rate) he must retrieve a fallen star, the only problem is the star has fallen in Faerie and Tristan must go through the gap in the much guarded wall and face untold danger (well it is told but you know what I mean ) It's all here .. witches, ghosts, a talking tree/animals, a unicorn, charms etc etc and I got totally caught up in Tristan's quest and whether he would ever make it home to Wall to present Victoria with the star and whether, if he did, she would be worthy of it. Every book I read of Neil's makes me admire him more .. he understands storytelling perfectly. 9/10

I was thinking that ... they won't will they. I'll still go and see it though in the vain hope that it might be watchable. I reckon the casting of Jonathan Strange especially will be key.