missybct

Thank you Abby, and well done on your weight loss Slow and steady wins the race, remember Is there a way you can have a Starbucks but have lower fat milk without the cream? That way you're getting a caffeine fix but not going overboard.

Brilliant tips Lisa-Marie I am joining Weight Watchers today. The time has come (and gone, ha!) - the meeting starts at 10:30am in Norwich. I have debated whether to join a gym and do minor exercise but seems a bit pointless when I can do it at home, so we'll see (I can't do much as it'll totally sap my energy).

1) Golden Skans - Klaxons 2) Same Old Stuff - The Feeling 3) Shot Through the Heart - Bon Jovi (yah man, rock out) 4) White Lies - Paolo Nutini 5) Deep Honey - Goldfrapp 6) Go Ahead - Alicia Keys 7) We're Away - Elbow 8) Alone in Kyoto - Air 9) Lady GaGa - I Like It Rough 10) Run - Snow Patrol

This will probably be embarrassing... 1) First Chance - David Gray 2) Akala - Shakespear 3) Locked Out - Crowded House 4) Wet, Wet, Wet - Badly Drawn Boy 5) Hometown Glory - Adele 6) Machines - Biffy Clyro 7) Are You Ready - Graham Coxon 8) Los Angels Waltz - Razorlight 9) Sing for Absolution - Muse 10) Jesus He Knows Me - Genesis (Ha, I was doing okay until the last one )

OK have thought about the others now 6. Mariam’s mother tells her: “Women like us. We endure. It’s all we have.” Discuss how this sentiment informs Mariam’s life and how it relates to the larger themes of the novel. Mariam has this as her mantra throughout life - she never really enjoys happiness apart from when she is alone with Laila and the children in the latter chapters, but for the best part, she is on a constant battle against various factors. She is simply enduring a life, because she knows no different. But these words help her and give her guidance when Laila appears, because she can channel them through to the younger girl and show her that people will always be about to make you question yourself, but you need to rise above it. 7. By the time Laila is rescued from the rubble of her home by Rasheed and Mariam, Mariam’s marriage has become a miserable existence of neglect and abuse. Yet when she realizes that Rasheed intends to marry Laila, she reacts with outrage. Given that Laila’s presence actually tempers Rasheed’s abuse, why is Mariam so hostile toward her? I feel there is a different take on Mariam's hostility towards Laila - I think that Mariam has always tried to do right - when she went behind her mothers back to seek out her father, she may have made a subconscious pact to make sure whatever she did from thereon in, she would do it to the best of her ability. Laila coming along into her family impacted on that - she was no longer the carer for Rasheed, she was no longer the favourite - she no longer had the same importance to her husband therefore she couldn't do the right thing that she had promised herself she would.

There are some truly amazing photos on this thread.

SPOILERS - I will also come back to edit some of the answers 1. Who was your favourite character and why? I think my favourite character was Laila, for her sheer courage and need to find a better life for her, Mariam and her children. She hated being oppressed and whilst other women sat back and accepted it, Laila was always trying to find ways to overcome and fight this oppression. She never gave up, even enduring near death. 2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? At the start, I enjoyed Hosseini's description of Herat, and Mariam's feelings towards her Jalil. I also liked the way Laila's and Tariq's love was crafted out. I was saddened that Mariam was executed for the murder of Rasheed, as he more than deserved it, but again was warmed when Jalil's letter was given to Laila. I liked the fight in Laila, and reading about her childhood with Babi. 3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? This is the first book I've read of this kind, and by the author too. Now I am a little more enlightened by the honest plight. I will seek to read out more. 4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? I found it difficult to get my head round all the politics and leaders, but that is more to do with my ability to remember things than the writing. 5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? A couple of discussion questions from the author's site: 6. Mariam

Hello Frenchie and welcome

I've never had a kebab either. I had risotto earlier and am still full!

Hi Rune! Welcome to BCF

I'm the same Univerze, I just cannot give books away! I did sell a couple on Green Met but then decided I wanted to read them so re-bought them :shakeshead: I've got quite a few books that I am unlikely to read, but just want to hang onto them in case

How are you finding Wuthering Heights?

I can't stand the song Bad Day by Daniel Powter, or Alfie by Cilla Black. Whenever I hear either of those two songs I feel myself surging with rage for no real reason.

Hello gemstone, and welcome to BCF

I tend to disagree that children/teenagers are not being encouraged to read. Although I left school a long time ago, there were quite a few reading initiatives in place - book clubs, book catalogues and a well stocked library. The main library here often has a lot of children and teenagers in; whether or not they are actually taking books home and reading them I don't know, but there is a special children's library and lots of events that encourage youngsters to dip into the reading world. I think books like Twilight and Harry Potter have helped youngsters become more aware of the power of a good book, but like Raven said the HP books were in existence before the film, and I remember my friends reading them quite liberally. The same goes for the Twilight saga, and whilst a lot of youngsters are reading it as a follow on from the film, there were a lot of youngsters who read it before the film aired.

Good thread Abby I recently watched Signs actually, I saw it in the cinema when it originally came out but thought I'd have another little watch, and I still really enjoyed it. If you can overlook the fact there are a couple of things that don't really add up and just see it for the reinvention of a man's faith, then it's a wonderful film. I like Shyamalan's visual direction in general, but I haven't seen the last two films he has done. I liked The Village and Unbreakable, but The Sixth Sense became a bit irritating after a couple of viewings in my opinion, but then it's because I have seen it about 6 times

Welcome to the forums, Susan - I hope you enjoy it here!

Welcome to the forums Bev

Welcome to the forums, Tina! I hope you enjoy it and I hope you feel better soon

Welcome back, Nicola!

Great reviews CW! I'm interested in what you said about The Lost Symbol, I'm probably going to give it a go at some point as I find Brown's writing quite easy to absorb so it fits the bill when I'm tired. I'm re-working my way through Angels and Demons (slowly).

Good luck with the Polish vodkafan, I used to live with some Polish girls who taught me a bit, it's good fun!

He is indeed. I think I Am Legend is probably a better book, and the book isn't as thrilling as the film, but was an okay read!

Agree with The Memory Keepers Daughter - I managed to get about half way through and gave up, didn't really keep my attention. Another one for the Da Vinci Code - I couldn't get into it at all - the premise of the book is so good, but Dan Brown, I just can't get on with his writing (although I did read Angels and Demons, because I felt it was a more engaging read).

I read about 90% for pleasure and 10% to keep my mind fresh about laws over crime (etc) after doing my degree. I'm quite happy to admit some of it is fluff, because sometimes I find it hard to concentrate on elaborate plotlines when I'm fatigued, but the majority of it is bog standard mainstream makes you think type stuff.