Alexi

I've just finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving - my first 5 star read of the year! The characters got right under my skin and refused to leave. 700 pages of delight. Actually, although I've awarded a fair few 3s, I am yet to award anything lower this year so far. Excellent stuff. Like Willoyd, I always find it difficult after a 5 star read, but I've dived into My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier because it's due back at the library. Also listening to Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper in preparation for reading The Dark is Rising. I do hate reading books out of order

Ditto!

I find Goodreads amazing - no one ever seems to think a book "ok" or "enjoyable", they all seem to find them amazing or rubbish The Yard was somewhere in the middle for me. Although as I say the sequel has been sat unread for an embarrassing length of time.

I loved South Riding Janet - hope you do too. I've been away for the last week with hardly any reading time but still enjoying The Cider House Rules. Hope to finish that shortly - and then may attack some more counties books given everyone else is having such fun with them

I didn't like High Fidelity at all! I did enjoy Fever Pitch but I'm not sure if that speaks to people who aren't as into football as myself and Hornby. Can imagine some non football fans going "you are utterly mental". To be fair, they're probably right. ETA: thanks to a rubbish English teacher, I loathed every book I read at GCSE, but I've since tried and enjoyed several school tomes. One day I will try Shakespeare again. Curse crap teachers and crap syllabuses!

I had similar thoughts to you on it VF. I have the next in the series which hasn't tempted me in the 2 years or so it's been on the TBR for the drawbacks you mentioned, but taken with a large pinch of salt I found it an enjoyable, easy read. Will probably save it til I'm ill and can't focus on anything remotely heavy!

Had no time to read over the past week but managed 50 pages of The Cider House Rules today. Loving it so far - think you'd like it Anna

Claire! I finished Look Who's Back today and I'm starting The Cider House Rules by John Irving

I must admit I'd never heard of him until the challenge either - but when I got engaged last year my Mum started quoting Anna of the Five Towns at me. I have The Old Wives Tale on my TBR and only length was bumping it down the list a bit but maybe it should be bumped up a little!

I keep getting one recommended that is read by Juliet Stephenson - I imagine she would be excellent. I've never seen any TV adaptations of Cranford so I hope I may enjoy it more than you did. It's only The Mill on the Floss and Mrs Dalloway that intimidate me now from the list - and the latter is my own alternative having read the actual choice so close to when we all started. Oh, and I'm nervous about Mrs Chatterley's lover, but only because of the negative reviews! I'm not intimidated by it. I suspect I may leave that one for a while

It took me a little while to get into it but I really enjoyed it. However, I put it off for ages so I am definitely NOT one to talk I agree with this. I loved it as well. I'm ashamed to say those two Victor Hugo books are still on my TBR! I'm also putting off the next one in the Game of Thrones series - so long, plus there's a whole series of them that long! - but I must do it soon or I will have forgotten everything in book 1. Oh, and 1Q84 stares at me intimidatingly all the time. It's on the bookshelf in the dining room so stares at me balefully every time I sit down to eat. Perhaps it should be moved to a less conspicious bookshelf

Have to agree, it's a lot less intimidating than I thought it would be. I'm vaguely terrified by The Mill on the Floss though when it comes to looking down the English Counties list!

Great review of Love in a Cold Climate, Janet! I'm really excited to read The Pursuit of Love now, I might reserve it from the library

You've just moved The Stars Look Down further up my list as well Janet! I'm nearly finished with Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming and hope to finish that one tomorrow. I've just come to the end of a non fiction one detailing the 2008 US election (given the current wall to wall 2016 coverage I thought I'd get myself better informed on it all_ so am now starting Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes. Been looking forward to this one for a while!

Copied from my book log: This took me a while to get into. It's a decent sized tome and I found it hard to find any sympathy for the characters at the beginning. Margaret's mother comes across as a demanding wet fish in the opening stages, so upset with her lot at only marrying a poor clergyman while her sister married into (unhappy) riches in London. Then they up sticks to Milton (Manchester) and are terribly snobbish about the place. Given I was born and brought up in the modern day north, and indeed Manchester, I did rather take it as a personal affront! But they do make it easy, the terrible industrial north, making money, having mouths to feed. How very dare they. So Margaret did annoy me from the off as well. But, getting past that and this is a wonderful book. As well as an involved plot and a varied cast of characters - Gaskell weaves in the theme of Victorian social justice. Of factory strikes, of people dying of hunger, and of contrasting views between herself and John Thornton, factory owner. The ending is so abrupt I wondered if I had managed to miss a chapter, and there are a few holes in the plotting but no matter, this holds together very well. And the characters jump out of the page. Margaret is snobbish and prejudiced but she does go on a learning curve and it is a delight to go along with her - and for the time, she is a strong female heroine. Mrs Thornton was my favourite character, the formidable mother figure, and while there were a couple of vapid simpering idiots (Edith, the Aunt and Fanny), the rest of the cast is delightfully varied. I deducted a mark because I did find it slow to start, but once I persevered I thoroughly enjoyed this. Another (!) win for the English Counties Challenge. 4.5/5 (I really, really enjoyed it)

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell Synopsis: When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the north of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction. In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell skillfully fuses individual feeling with social concern, and in Margaret Hale creates one of the most original heroines of Victorian literature. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: This took me a while to get into. It's a decent sized tome and I found it hard to find any sympathy for the characters at the beginning. Margaret's mother comes across as a demanding wet fish in the opening stages, so upset with her lot at only marrying a poor clergyman while her sister married into (unhappy) riches in London. Then they up sticks to Milton (Manchester) and are terribly snobbish about the place. Given I was born and brought up in the modern day north, and indeed Manchester, I did rather take it as a personal affront! But they do make it easy, the terrible industrial north, making money, having mouths to feed. How very dare they. So Margaret did annoy me from the off as well. But, getting past that and this is a wonderful book. As well as an involved plot and a varied cast of characters - Gaskell weaves in the theme of Victorian social justice. Of factory strikes, of people dying of hunger, and of contrasting views between herself and John Thornton, factory owner. The ending is so abrupt I wondered if I had managed to miss a chapter, and there are a few holes in the plotting but no matter, this holds together very well. And the characters jump out of the page. Margaret is snobbish and prejudiced but she does go on a learning curve and it is a delight to go along with her - and for the time, she is a strong female heroine. Mrs Thornton was my favourite character, the formidable mother figure, and while there were a couple of vapid simpering idiots (Edith, the Aunt and Fanny), the rest of the cast is delightfully varied. I deducted a mark because I did find it slow to start, but once I persevered I thoroughly enjoyed this. Another (!) win for the English Counties Challenge. 4.5/5 (I really, really enjoyed it)

The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan Synopsis: John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps was the novel that introduced readers to the cunning Richard Hannay and became a foundational work in the spy-thriller genre. Taking place only months before the outbreak of World War One (and written during the conflict) it focuses on Hannay’s attempts to warn the government of an unfolding plot to steal Great Britain’s military plans. Throughout the book Hannay must escape from German spies and the British police, who falsely believe that he has murdered the very man who revealed the plot to him. The book would prove incredibly popular upon its release and has been cited as the first “man-on-the-run” style story which has been re-used in films in literature ever since. The novel itself has been adapted for the screen no less than four times. (From Amazon) Thoughts: This certainly has mixed reviews and I began this with some trepidation. Janet advised the novel must be taken as of it's time, and she's absolutely right and that helped me to enjoy it more than I otherwise would I suspect. Richard Hannay is told a scandalous story in London about foreigners (Germans, obviously, it was published in 1915!) coming to steal UK military plans. The person who reveals the plot is murdered, so Hannay is both suspected by the police and a loose end for the bad guys to tie up. He goes on the run across Scotland. The main faults with this are it gets a bit repetitive with his daily flight across the moors, but more to the point the utter coincidences in how he gets free, meets his pursuers and manages to get free all leave a rather dated spy thriller feel. And yet this is what this book is, a dated spy thriller. If you take it as that, I think it's an enjoyable yarn, one that doesn't require too much concentration, is an easy and short read that is an agreeable way to pass the time. It's on the 1001 list because it arguably introduced us to the spy thriller, and if nothing else that makes me grateful to Buchan! 3.5/5 (I enjoyed it)

Just William by Richmal Crompton Synopsis: Whether it's trying to arrange a marriage for his sister or taking a job as a boot boy as step one in his grand plan to run away, Just William manages to cause chaos wherever he goes. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: Just a slight change of pace between reads! I read this asa group read with other members of BCF and my conclusion was it seems a great shame so many of us missed out on this series as children. I never read the books but I had 2 audio tapes, soon worn out with a couple of stories, and we also had a video. So it was nice to start with the first book in the series and actually read it. I'm not sure how these stories would resonate today, because there seems to be a big generational gap between myself born in the 80s and those growing up now - simply because of the huge technological advances and the fact 4-year-olds seem to be obsessed with iPads. Gameboys are the way to go kids! But these don't seem to date so fast because they deal with young boys getting into mischief, and there is still a lot to relate to in that premise! I'm not sure how much further I will go with the series as an adult, but it was an enjoyable revisit. 3/5 (I liked it)

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn Synopsis: Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research,A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of - and in the words of - America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: Most of the (extremely) critical reviews of this book on Goodreads seem to stem from a very black and white view of the world and of studying history. Zinn's a socialist, he hates America, this is a ridiculous way in which to understand history. I don't think Zinn ever intends this book to be the ONLY source of history - it assumes a basic knowledge of US history already for one thing. It's just a different interpretation to go alongside the many, many texts extolling the virtues of Columbus, capitalist society, government etc. There also seems to be a reluctance to criticise one's forefathers, especially the founding fathers. I get that, but seriously, it's ok to admit that people hundreds of years ago weren't saints. They did some great things, they did some terrible things. They were products of 1776 not 2016 for one thing. The way we are taught history in our own countries is wildly different from the way that students in other countries are taught about it - it's quite startling to be educated about the same period in two different countries. History is all about interpretations and perspective - much like politics, plus the face we weren't actually there. Zinn says in his introduction that he has chosen to present everything from the view of the weaker parts of society, women, poor, indigenous, black. He makes no bones about it. So taking all that into account, it's a great read, easy to read and woven well together. Much like every other history book out there, it requires some sense of perspective and of shades of grey in in the response. 4/5 (I really liked it)

I haven't posted here for ages I have been super busy with work, the dreaded wedding planning and attempting some sort of life. I have been reading a lot though (a lot of it on trains) and I am therefore massively behind with reviews. Again. Pixie - I really mean to read The Virgin Suicides at some point this year 1Q84 is a bit intimidating size wise and I only have books 1 and 2 But I will get there eventually! I am doing better with book acquiring - much less than last year and I am getting a decent amount of books acquired this year read as we go too.

Thanks for the info J Our library also does e-audio books (?!) so trying to work out how I can download their Christie back catalogue! I shall have to compare notes with you on the best to listen to.

I'm currently making my way through Conan Doyle's books - read all the short stories, two full length novels to go. Then I've got Mr Holmes by Mitch Cullin and want to read Anthony Horowitz's creations. Your post has made me want to go and read them all now Janet! I hope to finish North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell tomorrow and I have a non-fiction politics book on the go as well.

How do audiobooks from the library work? Do you need special software? I have an audible subscription but wouldn't mind bumping up my library use - I borrow about 4 paper books each 9 weeks from my local library.

I can't wait for your report on the book fair! I stage managed a couple of college plays when I was at uni in Sydney and I found it great fun - although the bit afterwards when I have to go on stage to be presented with flowers I always found awkward. I don't mind being centre of attention for a bit (as long As it doesn't go on too long) but that I found weirdly unbearable! I'm intrigued how you're going to make The Thirty Nine Steps work though - I've just finished it, and all his dashes across the Scottish moors do take up a lot of the book!

I haven't read that particular Christie, maybe I shall audiobook it on my drive to work She really is a genius, although her mind is quite twisted. I bet she was a cracking liar