bobblybear

^That either means it was very good or very bad. Started to watch John Wick, but stopped watching when they Just not on!

Same here. Very windy too. I'm going to have fun walking the dog.

No One Gets Out Alive - Adam Nevill (abandoned) I didn't finish this book. It bummed me out to have to abandon a book so soon, but I disliked it so much that I couldn't force myself to carry on. My first problem was the repetitiveness of the events. Yes, we get that Stephanie hears odd noises in the house, and hears footsteps outside her room but cannot see anyone. We don't need to read in detail that it happens night after night. I was like reading the same chapter many times over, but with slightly different dialogue. My next problem were the characters. Stephanie was just pathetic and weak, with no common-sense and far too wishy-washy for my liking. Quite frankly, I am amazed she managed to dress herself in the morning, without anyone telling her how to do it. The villains were completely over the top. Their way of speaking (the dialogue was written phoenetically which grated on my nerves big time) and the way they conducted themselves was such an exaggeration that they were caricature-like rather than people. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I'm sure I made the right decision in abandoning it, as it seems like the story is very repetitive until about three-quarters through, and it's only then that earlier events are explained, etc. Having said that, there were some genuinely scary moments, but unfortunately these were far outweighed by the negatives I've listed above. I wouldn't want to completely write off Nevill, as many reviews have said this one isn't his best, but I think it will be a while before I give him another go. 1/6

Shopped: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets - Joanna Blythman This is a study on how supermarkets have transformed the habits of consumers, and the impact they have had on modern life. In the 1950s, supermarkets only had a 20% share of the market, and small shops had an 80% share, but by the 1990s this was reversed. Our eating habits are seen as the worst in Europe, and the trend for most families has been to rely on supermarkets for most of our grocery needs. As such, we have given our control to these large stores and instead of them stocking what consumers want, they have moulded what consumers buy and eat. The book was a bit repetitive and also a bit dated (I thought I was getting an updated edition, but this one was done in the early 2000s and it shows, as there is reference to supermarkets that no longer exist). It was a bit of an eyeopener, and I think the majority have heard of the exploitative power of supermarkets, but it is interesting to read of these tactics spelled out in black and white. A few things surprised me: supermarkets reject a lot of produce (sometimes 50% of what is sent in), but that doesn't mean the product gets returned to the grower – it just means that the supermarket keeps it for other purposes but doesn't have to pay for it. There are also many strict guidelines on colour and size and shape of food – like within a specific mm range for tomatoes for example, with colour charts deeming what is acceptable and not. I vaguely knew this took place, but it kind of surprised me that they would have colour charts, etc. An interesting read, but make sure you get the updated version. 4/6

A quarter through the year and I've already bought 24 books. Oh, and I'm massively behind on reviews as well. I just can't seem to focus lately. Between working full time and studying, I just don't seem to have much energy left.

I'll second this. I must read more Steinbeck. There are just too many books to read. I started Wool last night. It's a good start so far, but I'm having trouble visualising just how big this Silo is. It must be massive! Also this morning I bought Canoeing the Congo: The First Source-to-Sea Descent of the Congo River. It is a Kindle Daily Deal, for only £0.99 and sounds interesting. I don't know why I keep buying these books when I have so many outstanding on my TBR pile. It's a sickness, I tell you.

Nice haul...hope you enjoy them. We subscribed to Netflix over Christmas. It's pretty good, isn't it? I'm forever adding things to my Watchlist, I just need to have more time to watch them!!

Emotes culled.... Maybe it's because such a big dog can be a bit intimidating to many people. I'd be a little bit nervous to see such a large dog. That Leonberger was the biggest dog I've ever seen, and if he were to jump up on me, I'd be flat on my back with no hope in hell. He just loves the attention. His tail never stops wagging from the moment he's in the waiting room. And if anyone is around, he's always trying to get to them. He'll just sit there and stare at them wagging his tail. As soon as the door opens, he's looking to see who it is, and wagging his tail so hard that his whole body wiggles. People give him a lot of attention, because he's so friendly looking, which of course re-inforces that the vet is a great place to be. When the receptionist came over to give him a little cuddle yesterday he got so excited that he was spinning in circles. Luckily there weren't too many people in the waiting room. He's also one of those dogs that "smiles" - he lifts his lips up to show his teeth, and it looks so funny. You can tell it's not aggression because his tail is wagging so hard....it just looks so funny. I've never had a dog that smiled before. He also gets treats from the vet, which seals the deal, him being a greedy labrador and all. I'm just glad he stays so positive, because the vet spent quite a bit of time looking into his eyes, pulling back the lids, putting dye in (which then ran out of his nose and mouth - and it was fluorescent green!), shining lights in it, and having to being very hands-on with him. He was a little bit nervous when they were doing all that, but as soon as he gets a treat he forgets about it all. Our last dog had to be muzzled at the vets, and still kept trying to have a go at them, so it's nice to have a pup who's so easy. Thanks, Gaia. I keep looking at it, and it seems to be getting smaller but only time will tell. He's due back at the vets in 10 days or so, but I'm going to try to take a picture of his eye so it's easier to notice any changes.

I'm pretty sure I close my eyes, but I don't remember.

Old thread, I know, but I've just finished my first Doris Lessing book, The Grass Is Singing. I think it's her best known book, and seen as something of a modern classic. I have to say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. I thought it was very well written, and the story was interesting, but with a fair bit of ambiguity that googling doesn't even help with. That's a good thing, but also quite frustrating, because I want to know certain things that are only ever vaguely hinted at. I'll most certainly be reading more of her other books. My version of The Grass Is Singing came with another 4 books, which was a nice surprise as it wasn't mentioned anywhere when I bought it.

I don't really listen to music while reading either. I think I can, if it's not songs I'm familiar with (so I don't get caught up in singing the lyrics ) and if it's through speakers at a low volume. But I can't really concentrate on anything else while listening to music with headphones. I'm listening with headphones now, and actually struggling to type at the same time.

Oh no, that doesn't sound good Anna. What Kindle version do you have, and how long have you had it? I've just bought the Wool Trilogy on Kindle. I hope I like it, otherwise I've just wasted all that money ( ), but the trilogy was a lot cheaper than buying them individually. I'm going to start it later today. About time, too, because I've been meaning to read it for ages.

I've just finished The Grass Is Singing. I wasn't expecting it to finish so suddenly as my Kindle said I was only 50% through, so I was just settling down for a long read and before I knew it, it was all over. It turns out that the book has 4 other Doris Lessing stories in it, which explains why the book finished at only 50%. But it's thrown me, as I haven't planned what to read next.

I've already seen the movie, and really enjoyed it, which is why I was so sure I had bought the book.

We had takeaway tonight. I tried a doner kebab from our local chippie and it was disgusting. I mean, it was served on french bread (!!), and the sauce was too sweet. Won't be having that again!

Very sorry to hear about Lily, Eleonora. Frankie, those are massive dogs. I don't think I've ever seen one in person, but I have heard of them. We saw a huge dog a couple of weeks ago - it was a Leonberger, which wasn't a breed I'd heard of before. Reuben was quite nervous,even though it was very placid and friendly. Reuben's been having some problems with one of his eyes. A couple of weeks ago we noticed that he has a lump on his eyeball (on the white bit), so we have taken him to the vet, and they think he may have something called "nodular granulomatous episcleritis". He is currently on steroid eyedrops, and will be for a few weeks, but if there is no improvement they may need to surgically remove the bump and send it off to be biopsied. Either that, or have him referred to an eye specialist. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, or have any irritation from it, but it's something we have to keep a close eye on. He's enjoying his frequent visits to the vet though.....I've never seen a dog so happy to be taken to the vet. His tail never stops wagging, bless him.

I'm about halfway through The Grass Is Singing, and I'm really enjoying it. Doris Lessing seems to have a great instinct about people's behaviour, and the things that they usually try to keep hidden. I also bought a couple of books which were Kindle Daily Deals - Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer (I could have sworn I already purchased this, but clearly not!) and Snowdrops by AD Miller.

Great interview! Thanks for asking the questions, Noll....it has provided some insights. I can imagine attending an all-girls convent school during formative years would have a huge impact. I'm not surprised Louise read The Handmaid's Tale and that it had such a large impact on her.....I think anyone with an interest in dystopian fiction (especially involving women's issues) must have had a keen interest in that book. I really do hope that Louise decides to explore more of the outside world. Darwin's perspective would by default include the outside world, as he is in a place that is the opposite of where freida was - ie. a place where he has power and influence. She also makes a good point about the ending. If there was a happy ending, then the book would have lost all it's impact (in my mind). Lots of things to think about.

I wouldn't have thought there were any protestors, because of how conditioned everyone had become to the way women were viewed. They wouldn't have known any different. I don't know how much time had passed since The Noah Project....if it was decades or centuries....but if no-one is around who was alive since before The Noah Project, then this is the only way of life they know, and so it's "normal" to them. And perhaps anyone who thought differently would have been fished out as an "aberrant" and dealt with Underground. So, actually, there were probably many protesters in the beginning, but not anymore.....they (the women at least) would have been "designed" to not have those kinds of thoughts. The book says: "They got rid of anything that would weigh us down", so maybe it was literally down to a lack of space. Humans were seen as the priority, and if there was no room for anything else, then it got left behind. I would also love to know about the outside world, and how those people live. I don't think much information was given about that (or maybe I missed them, which happens a lot ).

They both sound like interesting reads. I've added The Death House to my wishlist, and it appears that Station Eleven was already on there.

It was a bit of a shocking book, wasn't it? I must get involved in the discussion thread as well, but I have been feeling very mentally flat in the last few days!

I'm about to have some scrambled eggs. I think I'll put some cheese with it.

^It was indeed! I've seen The Men Who Stare At Goats, but can't remember a single thing about it. I've decided to read The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing. It's been on my TBR pile for a while now, and the first Doris Lessing book I have read. Good so far.

Nice review of Plain Truth. Everytime I read a review of a Jodi Picoult book, I always think to myself that I must read more of her work. But I never seem to get around to it!

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is Last Man In Tower by Aravind Adiga, who wrote The White Tiger.