Books do furnish a room

I tend to do both; but in phases. So I might go through a period of reading one author or one type of book, but as I have seven or eight books on the go at once I can do both at the same time!

Not sure about the word hero, but I admire Mandela

The Women's Room by Marilyn French might also fit the bill

Is asking for Dance to the Music of Time, by Anthony Powell (in 12 volumes) cheating?

I was talking about Elizabeth's sister Mary, although comparison's with Mary Queen of Scots are also interesting

Thomas Hardy's short stories are very good; but are often bleak. Not recommended if you like happy endings!

Just finished a collection of short stories by Hardy; A Group of Noble Dames. They are very well written and somewhat bleak, although two of them have happy endings (well happy for Hardy). Not his best work and some of the characters are a little one-dimensional, but there are some creative moments and some clever endings. They all revolve around women who marry into or are part of what might be called the squirearchy and are generally set in the eighteenth century. True love rarely runs smooth. 7 out of 10. I have just started Marion Fay by Anthony Trollope

I usually try to finish a chapter or reach a page break. I struggle sometimes with books with no or very long chapters unless I can put a long time aside to read. I seem to remember Paul Auster does this. I am also reading a biography of Anthony Burgess at present which has long chapters and no page breaks; it's driving me nuts!

Welcome Sam; I spent my university years in Sheffield in the dim and distant past, lots of fond memories!

I love folio books and have been a member for 25 years. For many of those years I was fairly skint and could only buy the minimum 4, oftrn using money from Christmas or birthday. They are lovely to read (am reading Middlemarch, War and Peace and a collection of Hardy's short stories in Folio at present). A good tip for buying is to check local auctions and second hand bookshops. Auctions are particularly good.

As an ex Anglican Priest; this is an area I have plenty of opinions on! I agree Dawkins is fairly polemical and I prefer "Why I am not a Christian" by Bertrand Russell. The debate will continue and never end because we can never really be absolutely certain one way or the other.

Just After Sunset (Stephen King) was a bit of a disappointment. Some of the shorter stories were quite to the point and well conceived. Most were very predictable. The one about the cat was just silly. I haven't read much Stephen King. It was enjoyable and Blaze was ok. Anyone recommend another one? I've recently bought Under the Dome but the length is putting me of at the moment. Anyway 6 out of 10 for this one. I have started The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

My better half has been to an auction and come back with a box of books for me; all by a chap called Dornford Yates. I've vaguely heard of him; a bit in the John Buchan mould I think. There are about 20 of them!

An 8 year old Micra; I have to drive for work; but not too far. Bought it last year when my last one blew up (almost literally) on the M5.

I read some of these about ten years ago and enjoyed them. For some reason I lost the plot around book 8 and haven't looked at them since. May have to consider trying them again!

Just finished "The Brutal Art" by Jesse Kellerman. A strange mixture of a book; part detective, part family history, some love interest with a dash of dysfunction and thriller. Put like that it sounds like a hit; not really for me though. It is about an art dealer who "discovers" a new artist. The artist is absent but the work is made available. In the course of research by the main protagonist all the above come into play. I found the ending a let down and just too swift. It felt like too much was thrown into the pot. It was an easy read with some interesting twists and turns, but the book didn't seem to know in which direction to go. Six out of ten. Have started a collection of short stories by Stephen King; Just After Sunset.

Having thought about this overnight; it is interesting to contrast the attention Elizabeth gets with the other female monarch who preceded her; Mary. I know she was on the throne for much less time, but she was a female monarch. Elizabeth gets a much better press and it's interesting to ask why. Elizabeth was Protestant and Mary Catholic, but they both did much the same thing to the opposition. Mary's biggest "failure" was not to produce an heir, something Elizabeth turned to her advantage (The Virgin Queen). History likes a victor and they get to write the books. something to ponder.

Hi Katrina; you might try the writings of Allison Heisch who wrote about Elizabeth from a feminist perspective in the 70s and 80s I seem to remember.

I started the elephant keeper by Christopher Nicholson with some scepticism. It was recommended but I was not sure I would enjoy it. However it was a really good read; a gentle and touching slow paced story about boy and elephant set in the 18th Century. Never judge a book by your prejudices. A letter learnt I think. Scored it at 7 and a half out of ten. About to start The Cider House Rules

Judy Teen; Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel