bobblybear

I'm about halfway through Mr Penumbra's 24 Bookstore. Good so far. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend.

Some interesting ones on here (published in 1976): Read The Deep - Peter Benchley Interview with a Vampire - Anne Rice (no idea this was published so long ago) Blubber - Judy Blume Roots - Alex Haley The Demon - Hubert Selby Jnr The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins Want to read Deus Irae - Philip K Dick The Gemini Contenders - Robert Ludlum Wilt - Tom Sharpe Woman on the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy

I don't like to write in books. I don't even write in or highlight textbooks! I do like some personal dedications in books though, or little messages at the front. Sometimes you can see them in secondhand book shops, but my problem would be that my handwriting is terrible. A dedication is nice if written in flowing script, but if I were to do it, it would look like something a child had written.

Sounds good to me.

I haven't heard of The Void Trilogy, but as I enjoyed Pandora's Star so much I've just looked into it on Amazon. The Dreaming Void is only £1.89 on the Kindle so I have bought it. Had a quick look at the reviews and someone has said it is set after the Starflyer War, so I guess I need to get The Commonwealth Saga finished before I start this.

No, haven't tried it but I love their icecreams (a bit expensive though).

Finished Deenie. It was good, but not as good as I remembered. I've started Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore.....really enjoying it so far.

Hope you get the internet sorted! What sort of car are you looking for? My last car was rubbish - and I spent a fortune on repairs and maintenance - so I ended up getting a very reliable, yet very dull Yaris. Would like to get a nicer car at some point, but just want something reliable.

Hey there! Welcome back!!

I would also like to know how to reduce buying books. I thought I was doing well, but at last count I bought 52 books this year. My weakness is Kindle bargains, and even though they are usually £0.99, it still adds up. Or sometimes, I will just get caught up in the moment and purchase a whole lot of books (like I did with Judy Blume's books the other day). But I do try to tell myself that it's not that big a deal as I don't spend much money on other things. We don't go out to pubs or restaurants. I don't spend a lot on clothes, etc, and I try not to fritter money away on 'silly things'. I keep a spreadsheet in which I list all of my monthly spending. I don't find it actually helps me reduce my spending unfortunately, but it does help me keep track of it.

That's a shame. Have you read any other Jodi Picoult? I've enjoyed all the ones I have read (I think I've only read 2 or 3 though), but I haven't read Mercy.

It's mostly ebooks....in fact all of the ones on my list above are ebooks. With the older ones that don't appeal.....it's more that I don't feel in the mood to read them. I'm sure if I started any of them, I would most likely enjoy it....it's just that I don't feel like starting them. I've bought so many really good books recently that those are the ones that seem to have taken priority. Maybe once I finish those, then I can go back to my older ones and see how I feel.

Oh wow, I had no idea she was 76 years old! I've just looked through her books on Amazon, and there are loads! I can only remember 4 or 5 of them, so I'm quite surprised to see how many she has written. Athena, her books are very much about coming-of-age for young girls, and dealing with things like boys, puberty, getting your first period, etc. They are such good reads, and they were talked about a lot at my school. The ones I would recommend are Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Tiger Eyes and Deenie. They are the ones I remember most. They are short easy reads, and can probably be read quite easily in a day. Anna, I really enjoyed Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret both when I read it as a teenager and when I read it last year. The only difference was that it seemed so much shorter than I recalled.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all my books, so I have gone through them and done up a plan of the ones I really want to read next. Hopefully I will stick to it. A lot of them are books I purchased this year and I really wanted to clear down the older books on my TBR pile, but none of them really appeal at the moment. The Ocean At The End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman I Am Pilgrim - Terry Jones Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan Blubber - Judy Blume Deenie - Judy Blume Forever - Judy Blume Capital - John Lanchester The Crow Road - Iain Banks Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops - Jen Campbell

I'm so glad you enjoyed 11/22/63. I forgot you hadn't read any King before, so it's great that the first book you've read is one you really enjoyed.

Ok, I'm really intrigued now....it certainly does sound well worth a read. Looks like I have to move it up on my TBR pile.

I love the little connections between his books. The references to events and characters from his other books, makes it all the more interesting. £0.59 is a bargain, isn't it? I've got Capital on my TBR pile..... I must get to it soon, but I've just got so many books that I feel I "must get to soon".

Well, I'm about halfway through Tiger Eyes, and it's as good as I remember.

This sounds good (and scary!). Have added it to my (ever expanding) wishlist.

Thanks, Poppy. I shall try to get to it soon.

IT by Stephen King I have this on my TBR pile, so I'm glad to hear it's so good. I finished The Humans by Matt Haig. Loved it. I've started Tiger Eyes which I bought last night as part of my Judy Blume haul.

Hopefully you are enjoying it so far?

Paper Towns was a pretty good read. I didn't get along with The Fault in Our Stars (which seems to be the favorite of a lot of people), but I did like Paper Towns. It was quirky and different. The Ocean At The End of the Lane is on my TBR pile, and I have nearly started it a few times, but just never felt quite in the mood. I don't actually know what it's about, but it sounds like it may be a heavy sort of read that I need to be in the mood for.

After Tomorrow - Gillian Cross All the major banks in the UK have crashed, and money is effectively worthless. Civilisation has deteriorated, and raids on ‘Scadgers’ (those seen to be hoarding food) is a daily occurrence. Matt (who is the narrator) is a young teenager (not sure of the age, I’m guessing 13) whose family has become repeated victims of the raiders. After being attacked one too many times, his mum and step-dad come up with a plan to smuggle them over to France (to Les Mondeaux or ‘Lemon Dough’ as Matt calls it ), into one of the refugee camps where they believe they will have a better chance of survival. It’s a young adult book, and quite short (just under 300 pages). It’s an easy read, with short chapters and sections, so it’s easy to pick up when you have a moment spare, without getting completely lost where you are up to. Although readable it was quite superficial and simple, but that could be because of the age-group it’s aimed at. I found it a little bit inconclusive, but there's the chance that things were left as they were for the possibility of a sequel. I'd say it was an ok read, but not one that I'm likely to remember or think back on. There are many other books in the genre that have more depth to them, unless it could be that is is aimed at the younger end of the Young Adult market, and so the story has been kept quite simple. 3/6

Don't know if this is the right section (maybe the ebook section is more appropriate?), but I've just noticed Judy Blume's books are out for the Kindle. They are reasonably priced as well, from £0.59 to £2.99. I loved her books when I was in my early teens, and I haven't read any since then (aside from Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret which I read last year). Just bought Forever, Tiger Eyes, Deenie, and Blubber. It will be strange reading them as an adult when I last read them about 25 years ago. Anyone else read her books?