Kidsmum

I've been watching Faulks on Fiction, I like the programme & Faulks's presenting style ( although wondering if he's ever going to change his shirt since Chesil mentioned it in another thread ) I'll definitely be tuning in for Anne Robinson, I think it's great that there are so many book programmes on at the moment.

Just finished reading this I thought it was a fantastic book & would recommend it to everyone

I finished The Help Kathryn Stockett last night what a wonderful book & hubby just finished reading English Passengers Matthew Kneale so instead of starting on Jasper Fforde as I'd intended we've done a swap.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett Waterstones Synopsis Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver...There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared. Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell... I absolutely loved this book & couldn't put it down it was both heartwarming & shocking, shocking because it's hard to imagine how people could be treated so badly just because they're a different colour & that it was considered acceptable. On the cover it says that the book sold 2 million copies & this doesn't surprise me as it's a must read for anyone. 5/5

Restless by William Boyd Waterstones Synopsis It is 1939. Eva Delectorskaya is a beautiful 28-year-old Russian emigree living in Paris. As war breaks out she is recruited for the British Secret Service by Lucas Romer, a mysterious Englishman, and under his tutelage she learns to become the perfect spy, to mask her emotions and trust no one, including those she loves most. Since the war, Eva has carefully rebuilt her life as a typically English wife and mother. But once a spy, always a spy. Now she must complete one final assignment, and this time Eva can't do it alone: she needs her daughter's help. This is a fast paced spy thriller, the story alternates between present day & 1939 as we find out along with Eva's daughter how she became a spy, this for me was the most interesting part of the story & I would have prefered it if the book had been set entirely in 1939. However a very enjoyable read I think it would be totally cool to find out that your Mum had been a spy 4/5

Blokes & gadgets

Well I gave Hubby the poem this morning at breakfast & he liked it so much he's spent the morning sorting out my bookshelves & putting all the books in alphabetical order,so I now have very neat & tidy shelves & the overflow books I've crated & put under our bed.

Well what do you know Hubby sorted out my bookshelves this morning & it seems I have Heart of Darkness, I don't even remember buying it

I haven't read the book but I remember being disappointed in the movie for the same reason.

Great reviews Frankie, I've not read Heart of Darkness but love the movie Apocalypse Now & I have an Ishiguro book on my TBR pile (When We Were Orphans,I think that's the title ???) To be honest I don''t think I could read Night or The Kiss, that kind of stuff gets under my skin & messes with my head, mans inhumanity to man & all that, so I tend to avoid it.

Following on from what Ninth word put so eloquently, maybe the modern day heroes are people who have triumphed over adversity, there are a plethora of books on the market these days about people who have had terrible childhoods full of hardship & abuse but have survived & gone on to live happy lives, I suppose they could be considered modern day heroes & heroines.

I absolutely love this Bookjumper it made me cry. I'm going to give it to my hubby tomorrow it says I love you so much better than a soppy card

Happy Shopping Kylie About 50 pages into The Help & already hooked.

Totally agree Poppy, great minds think alike I usually pass my books on to friends or return them to the charity shop but as I buy them faster than I can read them I've already outgrown the new bookshelves we bought but hubby's very good & he doesn't complain I just get the ocassional raised eyebrow when I try to reorganise them so things look a bit less overcrowded

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did Mexicola I doubt it most of the books were only 49p & some I got for the bargain basement price of 2 for 99p but yes I guess the space saving aspect is an advantage. However I can't imagine I'd get the same the same satisfaction downloading to a Kindle as I do coming out of the charity shop arms full with my new books. Yer can't beat the real thing

Finished Restless yesterday & have now started on The Help by Kathryn Stockett .

Time Out Of Mind Bob Dylan.

Hee hee, the bit about the poisoned samosas made me laugh Did you choose the book because Rebecca's a descendant of Jane Austen or have you read other stuff by her ?

I've got a few Jasper Fforde books on my shelves just haven't got round to them yet, think I'll dig them out & find out what I've been missing

Yep 2 for 99p, how's a girl to resist Still reading Restless but I should finish it today if I can get some time to read before the children get home from school.

Hi Susan, I have Prey by Michael Crichton on my TBR pile have you read it & if so what did you think of it.

Hi Mexicola, yes it's quite a long book about 700-800 pages long , it's actually the first 3 books of the saga there being 9 books in all contained in 3 volumes not sure if you can buy them as individual books but they're a great read , I'm itching to send off for the other 2 volumes myself

Crikey, I thought it was a one off as well:huh: Didn't notice the plaster but I agree he's well creepy, he was my no1 suspect at the start but I'm not sure now:unsure:

I've just bought The Help so I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it Sara

I think we all have times like that when our mojo disappears for awhile. Hope you enjoy Wuthering Heights it's one of my favourite books:)