poppyshake

Everyone would love Gold surely? I do have a copy for sure .. I thought Claire had read it though .. not sure

Ah .. that's okay .. I figured that .. you are definitely not the ignoring type Claire (though .. I would have sympathy all things considered ) I will put The Amulet of Samarkand on the pile to bring to you and The Wimbledon Poisoner (unless it's utter rubbish ) Dan Rhodes is an acquired taste .. he teeters on the edge of good taste sometimes If it wasn't for his humour .. which is just the sort I like .. I couldn't cope with him. This is going to be a very exciting weekend

Anything murder mystery would be fine ... anything Agatha-ish I love Uncle Montague's tales ... I think you'd be fine with them Claire but not sure about Little Hand's Clapping ... I absolutely loved it but I think it's quite gruesome .. in a darkly comic way. I don't do spooky books either but I've had a rummage and those I've earmarked are: The Wimbledon Poisoner by Nigel Williams (I know this is satire) The Panopticon by Jenny Fagan (psychologically frightening probably) The Birds by Daphne du Maurier .. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury which I've downloaded to my Kindle on Steve's recommendation .. I just hope I'll be man enough to get through it Anything about magic would suit too. Have you read The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud Claire? (it must be at least a week since I last recommended it to someone ) .. actually I believe it's called The Bartimaeus Sequence now .. because he has added to it Anyway, if you haven't I really must bring the first one with me when we next meet up .. for you to try. Perhaps it will make up for Idiopathy Have you worked out yet which books you'll be choosing from frankie? Excellent idea btw I'll probably have a big bag of trick or treat sweets to dig into .. bought for the neighbourhood children .. in theory

Yes .. this has happened to me too .. so annoying because .. these things matter I do change them back .. even if it's futile

Yep .. great review of The Halloween Tree Steve .. I've just downloaded it (and no-one will be more surprised than my Kindle ) It'll be just the thing for a mini Halloween read-a-thon. If it scares me to death .. I (or my devastated loved ones) will hold you responsible

I'm definitely up for giving it a go I'll look out all my spooky books xx

No Alan was there too and I should have been Was ill and someone went in my place I don't know why I'm torturing myself .. *sob*

I guess I'm looking forward to the final part of The Hobbit .. well .. no I'm not really but I will go like a lamb to the slaughter. Just the sub title 'The Battle of the Five Armies' makes me want to nod off I suppose it's possible that I might enjoy it more than the other two .. I had the highest expectations of them and they didn't deliver (imo) .. I've low expectations now so in theory it could brilliant Oh Lord though .. Tauriel and Legolas/Kili! How will I get through it? (massive bag of Minstrels? )

What? .. instead of Northanger Abbey or Pride and Prejudice? I can't allow it

Ooh I forgot about Mr Pip .. I did like the book .. must seek that out

A custard cream .. I mean two custard creams

Thanks Janet I thought it was brilliant .. hope you do too (don't want to inundate you but happy as always to lend it )

The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt Synopsis: July 1940. Eleven year old Lydia walks through a village in rural Suffolk on a baking hot day. She is wearing a gas mask. The shops and houses are empty, windows boarded up and sandbags green with mildew, the village seems deserted. Leaving it behind, she strikes off down a country lane through the salt marshes to a large Edwardian house - the house she grew up in. Lydia finds it empty too, the windows covered in black-out blinds. Her family is gone. Late that night he comes, a soldier, gun in hand and heralding a full-blown German invasion. There are, he explains to her, certain rules she must abide by. He won't hurt Lydia, but she cannot leave the house. Is he telling her the truth? What is he looking for? Why is he so familiar? And how does he already know Lydia's name? Review: I really enjoyed this, I do love stories set in this period anyway and this seemed a fresh and new approach. Lydia has been evacuated but has run away .. I think this was quite common .. I remember my uncle telling me how he caught the train back to London because he couldn't stick the food in Yorkshire (ungrateful tyke ) Her back story is told throughout the book, we find out where each of her family members are and why they're not at home when she returns there. Similarly with the German soldier, Heiden, we're as much in the dark about him as Lydia on first being introduced but his past is eventually revealed. This isn't done in alternate chapters but mixed into the narrative .. one minute you're in the here and now and then you're back in the past but it's not jarring or confusing. Lydia suffers both fear at what Heiden might do and, the perhaps even more terrifying, fear of being totally alone in the world. Even with all the unpredictability of it she would rather have him there than nobody. It's a very frightening situation. The village has been abandoned, the black-out blinds have to stay in place, it's sweltering weather outside and heavy and tense within. Heiden searches the house looking for documents and information. He and Lydia eye each other nervously and she sometimes spies on him. He talks about an invasion .. of being ready for when it comes .. he says by rights she should be dead .. he has killed children and will do so again if she steps out of line (that'd be enough for me to run screaming for the hills .. before a bullet hits me most probably ) but Lydia has a strong survival instinct. He is the enemy but she would rather talk to him than nobody .. she tentatively starts asking questions and trying to engage him in conversation .. anything to break the silence. He keeps his eye on the world through a slit in the blinds and sometimes ventures outside .. occasionally Lydia hears a shot. This is the story of the five days they spend together. Eventually the past catches up with the present .. with explosive effect. Very, very enjoyable writing. The characters became very real to me and my opinion of them shifted as I learnt more. It was all quite claustrophobic and suffocating but in a page turning way .. though it's not a fast paced book at all .. the tension being drip-fed in quite slowly. There was a chapter from his next book at the end of this one and, because this one was so good, I read it .. which is unusual for me .. anyway I wanted to read on so I'll definitely try and remember to look out for it next year. 5/5

Absolutely enchanting book .. his children were so, so, lucky

Nope .. can't have Mansfield Park in there at all

Lord!! You fans are so lucky .. no waiting about for years for you! Well .. fill your boots .. we look forward to the pics Going back to what you were saying about your book blog/statistics etc. I totally understand where you're coming from .. reading should be all pleasure .. not a chore or a mission. I think a book blog will work just as well without all the lists/statistics. I do get stressed over mine but this year have let go a lot and just laugh at the enormity of it Also, though I've had a poor year for reading .. I'm not bothered about it Consequently I'm choosing books I want to read and enjoying it .. rather that getting anxious about books that have hung around on the TBR for ages. I also get what you're saying about the scoring .. ultimately it's a bit meaningless. I think reading someone's thoughts about it is much more useful .. of course though that can also suck the joy out of reading .. worrying about the review and getting it done (this is not a problem for you however .. you are a demon reviewer ) .. of course there should be no pressure to review either. Shall we come here at all? Only joking .. lots of people love organisation and lists and statistics .. I'm probably one of them but there really is no need to go down that route if it's interfering with your enjoyment of reading.

Thanks Gaia Ah .. this is brilliant news .. thank you so much Janet I have contributed to this I feel For Kate .. I will read the hardback I'm going to pre-order now Good job one of us has their eye on the ball Janet xx

Going retro and being soothed by Dusty

No! There has been a transformation and we all want to see it Do we have to wait until you've been to another Rush concert? Well that's encouraging .. I'd like to read some shorter books. Books seem to be 400 pagers or more these days .. God! .. don't they go on!?! I'm getting repetitive strain injury HG knew how to tell a great story without waffling on

It's not raining so that's something It's not windy or sunny either .. it's just grey .. and fairly mild for the time of year (16 degrees C) Would be excellent firework display weather but as we all know .. it'll be raining and blowing a gale by then

Think we need to see a new pic of you in 'Post Yourself' Glad you're feeling fit and well .. the effort and sacrifices have been worth it Liking the sound of The Time Ships but will have to read The Time Machine first I should really as I loved The War of the Worlds and meant to read more by him but haven't yet. Same old story

Looking forward to reading this blog Dave .. this gives you good practice for next year .. ease you in so to speak I loved Moby Dick .. but a lot of people here feel the same way as you did. It's a book that actually would suit being abridged .. as long as they left all the right bits in I didn't mind all the cetology .. but then .. I'm odd I did get through Mrs Dalloway but found it hard and only took in so much of it .. definitely need to re-read to fully get the picture. I need to read The Picture of Dorian Gray as love Oscar's stuff in general .. will probably want to hurl it also but it's a must read isn't it? (or must attempt to read ) Happy reading for the rest of the year

Marvellous .. it sounds like they really care about catering for the local community That biography is said to be marvellous .. I'd love to read it too. I particularly loved The Blue Flower .. if you ever get hold of it then we must do a group read or something I've got her letters collection too .. an acquisition from Hay-on-Wye .. must get around to them Lord .. I haven't made a start on that lovely collection of Virginia's letters that Alan bought me last Christmas. They're on display downstairs and as such I forget that I'm supposed to be reading them and not just admiring them. if I take one down it will ruin my display It is ... innit! A lot of towns etc are struggling to keep hold of their libraries It's so sad but the fault probably lies with the humans who don't visit them enough. I used to live in a little town where the librarian used to practically beg you to take out more books than you wanted/needed as the library was under threat of closure and the powers that be were looking at the number of books borrowed etc. All very well and good but it was quite a walk home with ten books under my arm There is only one in Cirencester .. I will take a pic when I'm next there. It's pretty uninspiring and I've sort of exhausted it but still go there for a mooch fairly regularly. You can order books but the staff are not that helpful I love the one at North Swindon which is about a 20 min or so car journey away. I would LOVE it to be on my doorstep .. it' s just packed full of books and they want you to read. The Cirencester one try to let you off reading It's like .. here are the DVD's and the computers .. and the Quick Reads. Their classic selection is tiny .. and they're just not up to date with books .. very few recent titles if any and they just don't have that many books full stop. It's one of the few disappointing things about Cirencester .. that and the fact that Colin Firth doesn't live here

He has a really recognisable style Yes .. his books are for very small people .. as in toddlers etc. That is, I don't think he has written any for older children .. he probably just writes a few words to accompany his gorgeous drawings. I only know him from the animated version of his book Lost and Found which was lovely. Pic of book: Pic of animation: Ooh .. pic of Oliver: That was a bonus .. whilst looking for the book cover