Abcinthia

I am about to start reading Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier. Really looking forward to it.

Brother Grimm - Craig Russell Synopsis (from goodreads): A girl's body lies, posed, on the pale sand of a Hamburg beach, a message concealed in her hand. 'I have been underground, and now it is time for me to return home...' Jan Fabel, of the Hamburg Murder Squad, struggles to interpret the twisted imagery of a dark and brutal mind. Four days later, a man and a woman are found deep in woodland, their throats slashed deep and wide, the names 'Hansel' and 'Gretel', in the same tiny, obsessively neat writing, rolled tight and pressed into their hands. As it becomes clear that each new cime is a grisly reference to folk stories collected almost two hundred years ago by the Brothers Grimm, the hunt is on for a serial killer who is exploring our darkest, most fundamental fears. A predator who kills and then disappears into the shadows. A monster we all learned to fear in childhood. Thoughts: It was a good crime novel. The plot was well thought out, well written and really gripping. The idea of turning the original sinister Brother Grimm tales and making them the inspiration for a madman's murderous fantasies was a stroke of brilliance. Russell also delivered a huge shock at the end of the book. All along I thought I was able to pick out who the murderer was but the twist at the end was unexpected. What I disliked was that a lot of emphasis was placed on one character's involvement in the murder because of the metal bands he liked and that the clothes he wore included *gasp* band t-shirts and black!!!! I thought it was so clichéd that he must be a bad guy because of his choice of clothing and music. Especially with the juxtaposition of the good cop listening to classical music and making a big point of mentioning it. Random Quote: We do not simply progress from history to legend to myth - we invent, we elaborate, we fabricate. The myth and the fable become the enduring truth. Favourite Character: I liked Anna. She was one of the police officers and I really thought she was funny and interesting. Rating: 4/5

My favourite history period is the Tudors but I've been trying to expand my knowledge and read more about different periods and countries.

I enjoyed The Host although sometimes the characters frustrated me. I didn't know they were making a film. Is there any news as to who has been cast as what character?

I read a lot as a teenager up until 16-18 when I hardly read at all. The reason I stopped reading was because I fell pregnant, was going through a lot and just did not feel like picking up a book. When I went back to college when I was 18, I started reading again. I was studying English Language and English Literature so I had no choice but to read Most of my friends at school did not read but when I went to college for the first time (I went when I was 16-17 before taking a year off to have my daughter), I met many people who were interested in reading. It was quite refreshing to find like-minded people my own age.

Hello and welcome. what sort of History books interest you?

I got Frenchman's Creek from the library a couple of days ago. I look forward to reading it.

I'm currently nearly half-way through Labyrinth by Kate Mosse and half-way through Brother Grimmm by Craig Russell. I am really enjoying Brother Grimm. It's really gripping and I haven't read a crime novel set in Germany before.

I've found a few shopping lists and receipts. The nicest things I've found are messages written inside the front cover of books. My partner and I leave a little message whenever we buy each other books so it's nice to read things other people write to each other.

I have freesat but only really watch the BBC1,BBC2,BBC4, CBBC, CBeebies, Channel 4 and More4.

I'm about 50 pages into Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. I was hoping to go to the library today but I'm feeling unwell so will go tomorrow instead.

Still Life - Joe Donnelly Synopsis (from goodreads and edited to remove a lot of spoilers from the second half of the book!): Paralyzed from the waist down during a shoot-out, Caitlin Brook has moved back to her childhood village overlooking the Fasach Wood. Visited by Martin Thornton, a reporter who witnessed the shooting and ran to protect her, Caitlin initially believes that he is interested only in her ''story,'' but soon a romance develops. Then Caitlin's wheelchair is pushed into the river by a strange beast and she nearly drowns. Rescued by Sheila Garvie, a charismatic local healer, Caitlin soon sees that more than her spirits are being restored. Wanderers into the Fasach Wood are treated to revoltingly painful deaths at the hands (limbs) of trees. Thoughts: This was one of the best horror books I have ever read. The plot is scary (trees and plants in a forest that kill people!) but it's made even more frightening by just how well Donnelly describes what is happening - whether it's the mundane life of the towns people or the last moments of a poor person who went into the forest. The characters are well thought out, believable and I really felt for many of them. Random Quote: He turned in a circle and it was as if the world spun. Everywhere he looked there were tree trunks. They marched on and on, old and hoary and solid. And silent. Favourite Character: Too many to pick just one. Rating: 5/5

Haha that's true! I've nearly finished Still Life and I am about to start Labyrinth by Kate Mosse.

The Dead Women of Jurárez - Sam Hawken Synopsis (from goodreads): In the last twenty years, over 3000 women have disappeared from Ciudad Juarez, on the border between Mexico and the USA. Sam Hawken takes this story of mass murder and abduction and weaves around it the story of Kelly Courter, a washed up boxer from Texas, who is past playing the stooge in the ring, as long as he gets paid. Thoughts: It wasn't a bad crime story but it was predictable at times. The characters are engaging and I really felt for the families of the women who have gone missing or found dead. Those scenes were beautifully written and the fact it is based on facts (women really are going missing or are found dead at an alarming rate) makes it more heartbreaking. Random Quote: The visible strain of hard work and sorrow would turn her into an artifact like the others, a monument to loss and pain. Favourite Character: Paloma Rating: 3/5

I've nearly finished The Dead Women of Juárez. It's been alright but a bit too predictable.

I finished Chocolat and am now about to start The Dead Women of Juárez.

Chocolat - Joanne Harris Synopsis (from Amazon): "I hear our M'sieur le Curé already has it in for you ... Does he know you're a witch?" Lansquenet-sous-Tannes--"a blip on the fast road between Toulouse and Bourdeaux"--and new home to Vianne Rocher, her six-year-old daughter Anouk, and Anouk's "imaginary" rabbit, Pantoufle. They arrive "on the wind of the carnival", and, a couple of days later, Vianne opens a luxuriant chocolate shop. "La Céleste Praline" bubbles over with the most tempting of confections, topped with an irresistible selection of rich, smooth chocolate drinks. It's Lent, the shop is opposite the church (which Vianne and Anouk don't attend) it's open on Sundays and Francis Reynaud, the austere parish priest with the "measuring, feline look" is not exactly happy. As one by one the villagers sidle into the shop to sample Vianne's concoctions, we learn of their characters and secrets, their loves Myand desires, their troubles and hopes. Sad, polite Guillame and his dying dog. Shoplifting, beaten Joséphine Muscat. And Armande Voizin, still vigorous and perceptive in her 80s, who can see Pantoufle, and recognises Vianne for who she really is. But Reynaud has his power base. And when Vianne advertises a Grand Festival of Chocolate to start on Easter Sunday, it's all-out war. War between church and chocolate.. Thoughts: This book was very enjoyable, especially with the characters and humour. The character of Vianne was well thought out and although some of her life before Lansquenet is told through Vianne's thoughts and flashbacks, it still hints of mystery and allure. The people who lived in the village were really realistic to me, as were their problems. My favourite character was Armande Voizin who supplied a lot of the humour in the book. I loved her insightful comments and her comments to others. The chapters were narrated by either Vianne or by her enemy Father Reynaud. It was nice to get the different perspectives about events that had happened or were going to happen. However, I felt at times that Father Reynaud's conversations, to the Father in a coma, were slightly repetitive. Random Quote: "I don't think the cities have the franchise on enjoyment," I snapped. "Everyone needs a little luxury, a little self-indulgence from time to time." Favourite character: Armande Voizin Rating: 4/5

Yes I'm the same. I hated the smell of raw meat before I was pregnant but it has smelt worse since I was pregnant (over 4 years ago!). I always get my partner to sniff meat for me. He has a pretty good nose and hasn't been wrong yet.

I have a goodreads account here's the link Feel free to add me if you want.

I've been reading it all afternoon and I am enjoying it loads. Probably finish it tomorrow morning at the rate I'm going.

I've started reading Chocolat by Joanne Harris. So far I quite like it. I'm also reading Still Life by Joe Donnelly. I'm 1/5 of the way through and it's utterly fantastic.

I really disliked The Almost Moon. I always try to find at least something redeeming about a book I've read but I struggled to find anything even remotely good about The Almost Moon. I disliked the plot, the characters and the writing style. I was really disapointed because I enjoyed The Lovely Bones loads. I finished book 89 last night: Sylvia - Bryce Courtenay Synopsis (from goodreads): Sylvia is the story of the Children's Crusade - 1212 - possibly the strangest event to take place in European history. It is the story of the power of a young girl's love in the midst of medirabbed the neval darkness to fight brutality and bigotry. Thoughts: From the blurb on the back of the book I was expecting to read a story about the Children's Crusade. However, over 2/3rds of the book is about Sylvia's life and events building up to the Crusade. In general the book was not really what I was expecting. It started off ok, improved when the character of Reinhardt the ratcatcher was introduced, then lost steam about half way through and never recovered. The book was horribly repetitive, the same events happening everytime Sylvia goes to a new place, meets anyone new or gets in trouble. I really got frustrated towards the end and just wanted something different to happen. The book was a very easy read. It was 498 pages long but written in an easy to read style. The narrative is 1st person and mixes olden words/phrases (eg thy, verily) with modern day phrases and words. Random Quote: She grabbed the neck of my garment from both sides and jerked it down to expose my shoulder-blades and so also the birthmark of the fish. Favourite character: Reinhardt the ratcatcher. Rating: 2/5

Thank you. I didn't expect to read so many as I've had quite a busy year (especially over the summer months). My target for 2011 was 70 books which I thought would be difficult to reach. Now I think I'm going to try to reach 100. I thought The Host was ok overall. The premise was very interesting as were some parts of the plot but I felt like something was lacking that let it down. At times the characters really frustrated me because I thought they were wooden or the internal dialougue would go on forever about the same issues (which really was not that interesting). Also sometimes it really felt like certain parts of the story were being dragged out longer than they should be. Last Of The Mohicans I really really struggled with. My partner had attempted to read it before and told me it was a hard read but despite that, I did not expect struggle with it as much as I did. The action scenes were very interesting but they were done no favours by the author's heavy writing style. I really did not get any pleasure out of reading it and only finished it because I hate leaving books unfinished (I always hope they will get better towards the end). There have been quite a few I've enjoyed reading. My top five would be: 1. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert 2. Les Liaisons Dangeruses - Choderlos de Laclos 3. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier 4. Under The Dome - Stephen King 5. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

I became interested in it after my mum gave me a replica of an Elizabethan coin when I was 8 or 9 years old. It really sparked my interest because until then I had never really thought of how coins used to be different or are different around the world.

About two-thirds of the way through Sylvia now. It's boring me a bit to be honest, which is a pity because it started off alright but completely lost steam in the middle. I'm going to finish it though because it might pick up towards the end.