bobblybear

I (and others on here) can vouch that it's not chick-lit. As for the slippery slope thing....yep, I'm merrily sliding my way to the bottom.

I think I haven't previously added this one to my wishlist for the reasons in your review. It's a title I've heard a few times but I remember reading something about it that made me think it wasn't my kind of book, even though the cover and title led me to think otherwise. I read this years ago, and really enjoyed it, though I don't remember much about it. One thing (actually the only thing) I recall was when he was in a Japanese restaurant and was asked to remove his shoes, but he had his tape recorder in there. I bet he was pooping himself!! I must read it again at some point. I still have it sitting on my bookshelf.

At Home is a great read, I read it last year. Hopefully you will enjoy it - it's full of fascinating little facts (none of which I remember, unfortunately! ).

I'll be interested to hear what you think of this one. It's on my TBR list but I'm intimidated by it. Nevermind about having abandoned two books this year; it just means that you have more time to read books that you enjoy.

Me Before You is great, I hope you enjoy it. Nevermind about falling off that wagon, I'm nearly off it myself - it's only February, and I think I've already bought half my quota for the year (and I bought another one this morning!).

That's reminded me that I have this one my Kindle to read! I must try to get to it soon, but I have so many others to read! This is to be my next read once I finish my current book. I forgot it was Michelle Pfeiffer in the film - I thought it was Winona Ryder who played the innocent convent girl! Though thinking about when the movie was filmed, she would have been way too young I think. Anyway, I'm glad you say it wasn't too long a book as I am 'nervous' about reading it.

I'm about 40% through The Golden Acorn. It's ok, but I think I fancy something a bit heavier. Nevermind, I shall stick with it.

Roast beef dinner, with loads of roasties and yorkies. So looking forward to it.

Welcome Terry!

Hi Rosemary, and welcome!

^ I keep meaning to try to make some of that one day.

We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee This is the true story of Benjamin Mee and his family’s purchase of Dartmoor Zoological Park and their struggle to turn around the ailing (about to be shut down) zoo into a place that people want to visit. I’ve visited the zoo twice, but unfortunately can’t remember which years. I’m sure the first time was prior to its sale and the second time was either just before or just after it opened. I do recall it being quite tired when I visited (which makes sense having read the book) but it has the best big-cat enclosures I’ve seen in a zoo, especially Tiger Mountain. Being fortunate enough to watch the tiger feeding time was a blessing as well. The book starts off in France, when Benjamin’s sister comes across an article or notice of the sale of the zoo, and it piques his interest. I think the funding primarily came from Benjamin’s mother, but as far as the fighting the battles with creditors, hiring and motivating staff, and making the decisions on how the zoo was to be run, it was Benjamin driving it. He covers his struggle to raise finance for the zoo and being messed about by banks time and time again, dealing with animals which have escaped – a jaguar and a wolf - which apparently is quite common in zoos! Also how they handled a tiger which woke up in the middle of sedation and stood up and started to stagger around when she was out in the open – I was on the edge of my seat with that one! A part I found slightly amusing was when he was run out of an enclosure by porcupines, a few times he'd be working near an enclosures boundary and look up to see several of it's animals (I think it was lions) had managed to sneak up on him without his noticing; how after a few close calls he’s become so twitchy that once while walking his dog in an open field he had a flurry of panic when a plastic bag blew up from the grass. It’s clear that the zoo has had a huge impact on his life, but also he lost his wife from a brain tumour during the initial stages of getting the zoo up to scratch, which no doubt has had a lasting impact. All in all, it's a brilliant look at what goes on behind-the-scenes of running a zoo; it's a very fascinating read and I can imagine that the zookeepers and owners have had all sorts of experiences that haven't been covered in the book. I’ve looked at a few reviews of the zoo and unfortunately it has been slated (by some, others give it the highest praise) as still being worn down as recently as 2012. It’s a shame that people aren’t really appreciating it and all the hard work that has been put into it. I don’t think the focus is on presentation, as some of these 'up-market' zoos with plenty of financial support have. He has always stated that he doesn't want a large variety of animals in his zoo, instead he wants the endangered animals and for them to have much larger enclosures that they would usually have. Also, it's very clear to see in his book just how tight the funding is, and that it will take many years for them to raise enough money to make it aesthetically pleasing for visitors. 4/6

I have! I've started The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper which was a Kindle freebie. It's like a children/YA semi-fantasy novel, and it's good so far. I'm surprised at this, for some reason I thought it would be a doorstop sized novel. Actually, I've just checked Amazon and it isn't long really, it's only 240 pages, and if it's written in letter format, it may work out even shorter. I vaguely know the story as I enjoyed the movie when I watched it many years ago, but I have to admit to still being a bit daunted by it.

I've heard rave reviews about this one. I've got it on my wishlist, just waiting for the price to come down a bit.

I think it's amazing footage! I've seen a meteor shower before (can't remember which one), when it was supposed to be at it's peak, but we only saw 2 or 3 even though we were in the back garden for a good couple of hours. Apparently they are quite common but as most of them are the size of a grain of sand they never hit the ground. I know there a theory called panspermia that suggests life on Earth was seeded from life on an asteroid that may have hit, but I don't know if that has been discredited or what. I may do some reading on it later today as I find things like that so fascinating.

I finished Small Steps which was a really quick read. Not sure what to read next. I was going to start Dangerous Liasions, but I may leave it till a bit later in the month as I fear I may forget vital parts of it by the time March rolls around! I've certainly got no shortage of books to choose from so I'll have a look at my TBR pile.

I finished We Bought A Zoo by Benjamin Mee and have started Small Steps by Louis Sachar which is a sequel to Holes.

Cajun chicken tonight. I'll be looking forward to it as I'm fasting today.

Elizabeth Street - Laurie Fabiano Elizabeth Street starts off in a small fishing village in southern Italy – Scilla, Calabria in 1901 – with the wedding of childhood sweethearts (and cousins) Giovanna and Nunzio. Nunzio joins Giovanna’s brother in New York as there is no work for him in Italy. The plan is for him to find work and earn money for his family as L’America is where dreams are made. Certain events happen and Giovanna follows in her husband’s footsteps to New York to begin a new life there. I can’t give away much more of the plot, as a lot of things happen which build on earlier events, and if I told you what they were I would be spoiling the story. Needless to say, some of the plot turns were very unexpected and really caught me by surprise. It’s described as a multi-generational saga but I think that description is a bit ambitious. I wouldn’t think of it as a saga – it doesn’t seem long enough or developed enough, and only really focuses on one main character. Rather, it's more about the lives immigrants had to build for themselves in New York and the difficulties they endured to fit in. It’s an easy to read book, peppered occasionally with Italian words. It take a turn towards the end and the last quarter or maybe third of the book focuses on one event, which while not necessarily boring just seemed to change the direction of the book. So much happens at the start of the book with many different characters, and then it just tapers off into the one event which carries on all the way to the end. But that’s only a minor criticism and as I said, it didn’t bother me that much and it was interesting enough on it's own, it just wasn't as varied as the earlier part. Apparently it took the author over ten years to write. Odd, as it’s just a smidgen over 400 pages, and not what I would call a literary masterpiece with oodles of details. It is based on true events - something I didn't realise until after I'd finished, but that doesn't change the way I feel about the book. I'd recommend it as a read if you already own it, but didn't love it enough to suggest that you buy a copy now and start reading immediately!! 3/6

Hi Lisa and welcome!

Looper was pretty good. I watched Shutter Island, but I was a bit disappointed with it. My hubby had hyped it up too much so I was expecting far too much of it.

You must be nearly finished with Season 1? Riveting stuff isn't it?? Season 2 is just as good, if not better!!

This is a book I've never read, though it has sat on my shelf for a good 10 years! Might be time to dust it off and give it a go, before the mini-series airs (though I probably have a fair bit of time to do so).

Have added this one to my wishlist as I loved Me Before You.

Chicken Kiev with roast potatoes and green beans.