bobblybear

Getting my head around Dune now...it's getting good.

Sounds interesting. I have added it to my wishlist.

Excellent review of The Observations. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It has to be one of the best books I've read.

I've started Dune, and I'm already a bit lost. All the names are difficult to remember. I always get stressed when reading books like this, because I can never just 'get it' straight away.

I'm most definitely an introvert, and also very quiet in most situations, but especially where there are people that I'm not familiar with. What I really hate is when people draw attention to it, or make comments about quiet people, while looking at me....I get quite embarrassed because I don't know what to say. I know they are only teasing, but it does make me uncomfortable, and even less inclined to talk. I mean, I never ask an extrovert why they talk so much, because I don't care.....they are who they are, and I am who I am. The world would be a much better place if everyone just let everyone else be their own person!

Seriously enjoying The Shining. I'm getting a bit creeped out by it too.

Thanks all. It was a proper mess, but luckily I have followed it up with better books. Kidsmum, it actually only took him about one night and part of the following day to kill all those people, which just added to the ridiculousness of it all.

Great review of The Stepford Wives. I read it last year and really enjoyed it. I've only seen bits of the Nicole Kidman movie but it sounds like one to avoid.

I'm about 25% through The Shining.....really enjoying it.

Sinema: The Northumberland Massacre - Rod Glenn I always promise myself that I won’t fall for hyped up reviews on Amazon, but I still do, and this is a perfect example. The synopsis is a bit sick: Hannibal Whitman moves to a small town in Northumberland on the pretense of writing a novel. His actual intention though, is to befriend and then murder all of the towns 392 inhabitants. Now, the only reason I can think I bought this book was because I was in my ‘I just got a Kindle so I’m going to fill it with anything I find’ phase, because a plot like this doesn’t interest me. I am, however, a sucker for a book that has received many positive reviews. I’m not necessarily against violence in books, as long as it is there for a purpose or to illustrate a point. The violence in this book is shamelessly and utterly gratuitous and repellant, and repetative to the point where it becomes boring to read. We follow Hannibal Whitman as he stalks and murders his victims, and we read about all the gore in infinite detail. And, we are expected to believe that he can outwit all of the towns inhabitants (even those with military backgrounds, while he has none) plus several police officers. It's unintelligent, pointless and revels in violence. In short, it’s crap, don’t bother with it. Going back to the positive reviews it has received on Amazon, they must be written by friends of the author. There's no way that many people can really enjoy rubbish like this. There are several sequels, and guess what.....?! I won't be reading any of the them! 1/6

She's such a great character, isn't she? Thanks, Pontalba.

Had to give up on Dark Lord: The Teenage Years. If I were 10 years old, I'd probably enjoy it.....I'm just finding it a bit weak and silly. Onto The Shining by Stephen King.

A massive baked potato (with loads of butter and cheese), with a salad. I'm soooo full!

Thanks Laura. It's nice to be surprised by a book that you weren't expecting to enjoy.

I didn't give any spoilers away...my review was quite vague because a fair bit happens and is revealed in the book, that I didn't want to spoil for anyone who may read it. I'd also recommend avoiding Amazon reviews, as a few on there give the plot of the whole book!

I've just put up a review of The Observations. I loved it, so hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I also have Gillespie and I on my wishlist.

Hi Ibrahim, and welcome to the forum.

Hello Mary! Welcome to the forum!

The Observations - Jane Harris This is one of the first books I bought on my Kindle, back in 2010. As is often the case, I wish I’d read it sooner, because it was a very good read. The story is told by Bessy Buckley, a teenaged Irish ‘housekeeper’ living in Scotland during Victorian times. She is on her way to Edinburgh in the search for work, when she comes across a house, signposted Castle Haivers. The mistress (Arabella Reid) offers her the job immediately when she realises she can read, even though her housekeeping skills aren’t all that great. Arabella is a bit odd and makes some unusual requests of Bessy. One of them is that Bessy keeps a daily journal describing all her thoughts and opinions of events during her day; another one is that Bessy do some meaningless exercises such as sit and stand repeatedly, for no purpose, simply because it is what Arabella commands. I don't want to give too much away, as much is revealed later on, but there are some stories circulating about what has become of the previous maids of Castle Haivers, and big part of the story hinges around that. Bessy is a brilliant and likeable character…very down to earth, blunt and intelligent, and the story is told in her very original voice, using some twists on language and slang (ie. ‘phiz’ instead of face). It’s easy to read, and adds more character; she also comes out with some great and funny turns of phrase. You just can't help but like her, and she has certainly led an interesting life, but there's not a trace of self-pity to be seen. A near perfect read, only let down by what I thought was a rather safe ending. 5.5/6

Dracula - Bram Stoker Generally, I’m not a huge fan of the classics, so I was taken by surprise by how good this one was. Everyone knows who Dracula is, but I was never very familiar with the original story, and speaking to a few others, they weren't aware of the story either. Jonathan Harker is a newly qualified solicitor from England, who is visiting Dracula to aid him in a real-estate transaction. Shortly after his arrival, he finds himself prisoner in Dracula’s castle, and after some time observing him and exploring the castle, he discovers that things aren’t quite right with the Count. Soon after making Harker prisoner, Dracula hijacks a ship to England (a lot of reviews and synopsis' say that Dracula was in pursuit of Harker’s fiancé, Mina, whom he believed to be a reincarnation of his true love. I don't recall this ever being mentioned in my copy of the book so I wonder if I had an abridged version (although it didn't seem abridged, because everything else matched up to what others have said)?). Upon his arrival and over the course of many nights, he begins dining (couldn't think of the right word ) on Mina’s friend, Lucy. Her doctor is baffled by her ‘illness’, and calls in a favor from another doctor/friend - Van Helsing - who soon begins to suspect what is happening to Lucy. Eventually, Harker escapes and returns to England and he along with Mina and several others (including Van Helsing, of course), put together a plan to find and kill Dracula. I liked this book so much more than I thought I would, and it was also very different to what I was expecting. It came across as quite modern (except for gushy teariness of so many of the characters), and I imagine it must have been shocking when it was first published. It's a very detailed story, with every action being written about - I suppose this was the nature of the story being told in epistolary form, rather than having a narrator who isn't involved in the story, and can skim over large parts of it. When I first started reading, I was a little worried that I wouldn't like the style (I thought it would be like Dangerous Liaisons - a classic, also told via letters - which I couldn't even finish), but it was a great way of getting the whole of the story across in strong detail, from all characters viewpoints. Highly recommended, and one I will probably read again. 5/6

Great review of Capital. I bought it for my Kindle when it was only £0.20, and it's definitely one I will read this year.

I might try to watch Starship Troopers this weekend. We have it on DVD, and hubby keeps telling me I should watch it but I've never got around to it (even though I enjoyed the book).

Finished The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funeral last night. I'm going to start Dark Lord: The Teenage Years, for something very light-hearted and silly.

Still reading The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals. I've just read a revelation that had my mouth hanging open. Those of you who have read it would know what I mean.

^ Not consciously, but it's still a handy list to have, and I've also enjoyed showing it to other keen readers.