Hayley

Way Away - Yellowcard

I'm not the best cook, I'm definitely still learning but I made a nice sweet and sour sauce from my 'student cookbook' that was really nice with pork. It's just 100ml pineapple juice, 4 tablespoons tomato ketchup, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon caster sugar and a tablespoon of cornflour mixed together. (that's for four people though so I guess you'd have to adjust the measurements). It also had cucumber (roughly peeled and de-seeded) in the recipe to be put in the pan about 3 minutes before you take it off the heat which I thought was unusual but really nice

I don't usually go for 3 for 2 offers anyway so I don't think it will really bother me when they go, I like the idea of there being more offers on individual books though.

George Orwell - Nineteen Eighty-Four I really enjoyed this book, although I had a feeling I would from the start. It's really very suspenseful despite the fact that there isn't much action in large parts of it. It's also very thought provoking as the comparisons to real events, such as communist controlled Russia and Nazi Germany, make the possibility of a country controlled by 'Big Brother' scarily realistic. There were a couple of parts where my interest started to dwindle but (without giving anything away) it was only parts where there was a lot of talk about the politics behind the book and might not be uninteresting to others. Overall though I thought it was very good and very intricately written.

um.... digital cats or dogs?

Move Along - All American Rejects

I've also been to the 'two towers' in Birmingham and Mosely Bog which is supposedly the basis of the Shire. Did anybody else go to the 50th anniversary celebration there? It was very strange walking around and suddenly seeing a hobbit. The 'hungry hobbit' cafe makes me laugh whenever I go past it too I'd love to go to more places like this though. I know I've been to Stratford-upon-Avon too but I was only quite young and don't think I was particularly interested in Shakespeare back then!

Hi Shelley I love Pratchett, Pullman and Rowling too (especially Terry Pratchett) Hope you're enjoying the forum so far

Last Train Home - Lostprophets (Sod, I love the thought that your rocking out in Rockingham )

I think the message is more important but some messengers just have particularly good messages (if that makes sense). For example I love Terry Pratchett and every book I've read by him (and I've read most of them) I've loved, so when I see one I haven't got yet, I buy it, knowing that I'll enjoy it. But, at the same time, if I pick up a random book in a shop, by an author I'd never heard of and the blurb sounded really interesting, I'd still be just as likely to buy it.

I agree! I think its the fact that it doesn't actually seem that unrealistic that's so scary. I think I probably would have given up on Robinson Crusoe too if I didn't have to read it but it honestly does get better towards the end!

Ok I finished Robinson Crusoe while I was on holiday and have gotten pretty far into George Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' now. I'm not sure what to read afterwards yet, American Gods is looking increasingly tempting but I really should be getting through more of my uni reading list. I'll probably just see how I feel after Nineteen Eighty-Four. I'm reluctant to actually review Robinson Crusoe before I've studied it because my view of it might change, but from my first impression I'd say it was... O.K. It took me quite a long time to get into it (probably about half the book), I felt that there was a little too much unnecessary information about sailing, goats and fences and this really slowed down the pace to the point where it was easy to loose interest. On the other hand I did find the story got much more interesting as it went on and in places the amount of detail is impressive, rather than annoying. It's worth reading, as it truly is a classic and one which had a huge effect on modern media, but be prepared to be patient with it if you do try it.

lol these all made me laugh! My Dad's also good at cheesy jokes so here's some of his I can remember... Why did the hedgehog cross the road? To see his flat mate! A man goes into a bar with his pet giraffe. After a while and a few drinks, the man goes to leave the bar, leaving the giraffe behind. The bar man calls after him "hey! you can't leave that lyin' here!" to which the man replies "it's not a lion, it's a giraffe!". (this is one of my sisters favourites) Why did the sand blush? - Because the sea weed

Dancing for Rain - Rise Against

I'd probably say fantasy but only because I've read much more of it than sci-fi Also I get slightly confused as to what makes something sci-fi after my tutor at uni told us star wars couldn't technically be classed as sci-fi, since sci-fi is characterised by being set in the future, and star wars is a 'long time ago in a galaxy far far away'.

This sounds really familiar to me but I have no idea what it is either! It's the bit about the white knights looking invisible against the snow that got me thinking. It made 'Through The Looking Glass' pop into my head but I think that might have been one white and one black knight since they were from a chess board. Sorry for not being more helpful

I agree Ben! haha. I'd like to read a different genre by her, I think it would be really interesting. I think it will be easy to judge it based on Harry Potter though which may damage it's reviews if she does bring one out in her own name.

I don't think I've ever tried a 'novelisation', or ever heard of the word I love the film Labyrinth though! I'm really surprised they made a sequel even in book form. Is it about Sarah returning or someone else? I might try it, as my first novelisation experience

No! You should definitely read it, you can never grow out of a book in my opinion. I still love reading Roald Dahl and Alice in Wonderland

I haven't bought any new music for ages! I think the last CD I bought was Biffy Clyro's 'Only Revolutions' The last song I downloaded was Taking Back Sunday 'This Photograph is Proof' because I was feeling nostalgic and I remember this song from when I was about 13

The Dursley's ... because nobody wants to be locked in a cupboard under the stairs

I love having paper books as well emmylou - although they obviously have their downsides This probably sounds really wierd but I love the smell a new book has too

I used to love Jacqueline Wilson, Vicky Angel and Lola Rose were two of my favourites - I also remember loving 'The Illustrated Mum'. I completely agree that the fact most young people love her books is because she deals with difficult real life issues but still manages to make the books comforting and light-hearted. I also loved the TV series they made from 'Girls in Love'