Alexi

The Scotland one wasn't a long tome, and it was written in language designed to appeal to the "average voter", so not as intimidating as you might think! I believe it took me 5 days, but a lot of my reading time depends on my work shifts and how much I travel on planes and trains rather than automobiles. It's definitely the most famous one, and I would easily say it's a good one to start with, but then I haven't read any others! Lol. Absolutely Gaia - so many books, so little time is going on my gravestone. Or perhaps "Here lies Alex, who failed in her mission to live forever so she could get to the end of her reading wishlist".

I'd like to join in if I may!

Hi Frankie I'm so excited for you about the move! It all sounds brilliant Also excellent news you don't have to dispose of any books!

Hi Frankie! Sorry for adding to your wishlist....although I'm not really I loved the Rebecca West, it was my first experience of her, I'd never even heard of her before the Reading Circle but I will definitely be reading more. That one is short and on the 1001 list, but it's a great story too and I think you should read it New York is just over 2 weeks away now and I cannot quite control my excitement! I'm going to be so disappointed on the plane home when I can't get excited over it any more... But I will have my 1300 photos I'm going to watch the BBC version with my Mum so I will report back on my feelings for Mr Darcy after this...it's exactly as you say with the pressure, it means I end up putting books off for ages and then loving them. I'm such an idiot.

I read it on the kindle - for some reason classics seem more intimating in paperback! I have Notre Dame de Paris by Victorhugo in a massive edition - it's sat untouched for at least four years... I can't work out how to do the fancy split quote thing but I appreciate all your comments! I found exactly that with the style, you just need to get used to the rhythm and it becomes quite easy to sail along as it were! I will definitely be reading more of Jane Austen so will make a mental note to put the Fay Weldon on the list at some point. It's interesting what you say about Mrs Bennet and changing your opinion of her. I wish I was reading it for the first time all over again to be honest! LOL J! My Mum is keen to rewatch it with me for some reason.

#41 Scottish Independence: Weighing up the Economics by Gavin McCrone Synopsis: In autumn 2014 those living in Scotland will face the most important political decision of a lifetime. Whether Scotland becomes an independent state once again, as it was before 1707, or remains within the United Kingdom will have profound consequences for everyone in Britain. There are many issues involved in this important choice, but a key part of the debate centres around the question of whether Scotland would prosper more or less after independence. How well off are we? Would we have a faster or slower growing economy if we were independent? What currency would we use – the pound, the euro or a new currency of our own? What should our energy policy be? There are those who would like to see a more egalitarian society, like Scandinavia, with a reduction in poverty and deprivation; would we be likely to achieve that? Would we continue to be in the European Union but with Scotland becoming a member in its own right? Is that right for Scotland and what problems might that involve? In this impartial, clearly expressed and thought-provoking book, economist Gavin McCrone addresses these, and many other, questions which are of vital importance in the run up to the referendum. Thoughts; I was forced to move this up the TBR before it becomes a tad irrelevant - Scotland goes to the polls next month to decide the issue for itself. I lived in Scotland for three years, so I have plenty of friends on both sides of the border who have strong views on this issue. Interestingly, I know two sets of people determined to move south should independence happen, and two people determined to vote yes (although they cannot vote) because of everything that is wrong with Westminster - although they choose to live and work in London. McCrone is an economist who has served both the UK government and devolved Scottish Parliament. He prides himself on an unbiased view and I think he succeeds. He sets out the issues, including some you may not have considered such as the importance of renewable energy separate from the issue of North Sea oil and gas, as well as the usual - benefits, oil, currency. It's done in a simple style that most people will understand and follow - although I think some prior knowledge of economics and politics helps. I, living in England, will not be voting, but having read this I feel much more informed on my own position, and understanding and getting more out of the literature that is modified to suit whichever side is handing it out. 4/5

#40 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Synopsis: Elizabeth Bennet is the perfect Austen heroine: intelligent, generous, sensible, incapable of jealousy or any other major sin. That makes her sound like an insufferable goody-goody, but the truth is she's a completely hip character who ,if provoked, is not above skewering her antagonist with a piece of her exceptionally sharp, yet always polite, 18th-century wit. The real point of the book though, the critical question which will keep you fixated throughout, is: will Elizabeth and Mr Darcy hook up? Read this genuine all-time classic and discover the answer while enjoying a story that has charmed generation after generation. (Amazon) Thoughts: I was extremely nervous in starting this book. Pride and Prejudice is a book I'm not only "supposed to" have read, but also "supposed to" enjoy - or at least, so I felt. I was nervous I would hate it! I shouldn't have been, I was enraptured. The first few chapters are a bit of a struggle but in the end I felt myself rushing to get to the end to find out what happened, then when I got to the end I was disappointed it was over - always the hallmark of an excellent novel in my opinion! I'm not sure I need to explain what goes on here. Even those who haven't read it have a vague idea of the synopsis, and really, most of the book is predictable from a few pages in, but the writing is gorgeous, the characters pop out of the book and the dialogue is witty. I did like the character of the long-suffering Mr Bennet, who seems so utterly mismatched with his wife, who I took an instant dislike to! I also found the constrast between the sisters, particularly Jane and Elizabeth, compared to Kitty and Lydia, and then Mary rather on her own extremely interesting and well plotted. I must say, I don't see the fuss with Mr Darcy at all - but then, I haven't seen the BBC version Just wonderful. 5/5

My thoughts exactly. I hated The Dinner as well - although I didn't like to anything, I also guessed it wouldn't be willoyd's cup of tea! I did enjoy the review though, I do enjoy people's negative reviews.

I've finished Pride and Prejudice. Gorgeous, wonderful book. Must write a full review ASAP! I'm now a third of the way through a non fiction work on Scottish Independence. With the referendum drawing near I figured I must shift this off the TBR before it becomes irrelevant! It's good so far, lays out the issues in a factual manner without (any perceived!) bias.

I also agree ratings may fluctuate - I may have ranked a book as a 3 because I liked it rather than loved it, but if I'm still thinking about it 2 weeks later I often think I should go back and mark it higher. Hmm. I write whatever comes out of my head, but I always find negative reviews easier and more fun! Not only is it cathartic, but I often think it's easier to explain why you didn't like something than explain why you DID, because an emotional pull is so personal. Just my two cents!

Thanks J. I go in fits and starts with the World Challenge - I've read three this year so far but got a few on the TBR!

I was the same - I finished it but I think awarded it a 2/5. The characters just didn't ring true for me.

I'm 28% through Pride and Prejudice - my first ever Jane Austen! - and going very well.

Same! I have 11/22/63 and The Shining on my TBR. The Uninvited sounds great BB - thanks for the excellent review. Off to update my wishlist...

I have now completed Gargling with Tar by Jachym Topol (Czech Republic) and Please Look After Mother by Kyung-Sook Shin (South Korea). Reviews are in my book log, but while I enjoyed the former I think a lot of it was lost on me as a person with little knowledge of Czech culture (it read like it should be satire). The South Korean one is a plodder, but it's really wonderfully written and thought-provoking. I am now up to 35/224 books. My map now looks like this:

Thanks Janet, I shall bear that in mind if I start struggling a bit. I''m only 6% in so far so a bit too soon to assess! I really WANT to enjoy it though, which I don't think helps if you know what I mean... which probably makes no sense. I am also plodding along with my World Challenge. Now up to 35 books read out of 224 (sob) with my latest read counting for South Korea... #39 Please Look After Mother by Kyung-Sook Shin Synopsis: PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER is the story of So-nyo, a wife and mother, who has lived a life of sacrifice and compromise. In the past she suffered a stroke, leaving her vulnerable and often confused. Now, travelling from the Korean countryside to the Seoul of her grown-up children, So-nyo is separated from her husband when the doors close on a packed train. As her children and husband search the streets, they recall So-nyo's life, and all they have left unsaid. Through their piercing voices, we begin to discover the desires, heartaches, and secrets she harboured within. And as the mystery of her disappearance unravels, we uncover a larger mystery, that of all mothers and children: how affection, exasperation, hope and guilt add up to love. Compassionate, redemptive and beautifully written, PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER will reconnect you to the story of your own family, and to the forgotten sacrifices that lie at its heart. (Amazon) Thoughts: This book started brilliantly and tailed off I felt. I thought it did give a good sense of South Korean culture (both modern and more traditional) which was excellent for the challenge. However, when a bird who proclaims to be a person who once lived among this family and is observing them from a nearby tree branch I did get a little frustrated, because things like that in a novel rooted in this world do dry me out of that world because I have to suspend so much disbelief. Anyway. As the synopsis suggests, So-Nyo's children and husband really did not appreciate her and the many, many sacrifices she made for them all. Unable to read or write and married at 17 (before her first period we are rather unnecessarily informed!), her life is shaped almost entirely by the war - young women had to be married off ASAP to protect them from North Korean soldiers who came down from the mountains and dragged them off. We learn about her through the many snapshots of her life remembered by the rest of her family. I definitely wanted to slap her husband - who treated her deplorably throughout their marriage it seems, and came close to accusing her of killing a relative. Her children are largely selfish, and if this book does teach us anything it is to appreciate those around us! It's an interesting style to learn about the main character through the memories of others before we actually hear from Mother herself in the final part, and while it does work because we piece together the history and character of this remarkable woman gradually, it does get a bit confusing because the second person "you" is used for more than one character at a time, and the book jumps around in time between memories with little warning. However, I did enjoy this read. It's stylistically interesting and while some of the memories are dull examples of every day life, we learn about a woman with courage and vivacity in spite of everything. It's a slow read and isn't a page turner, but it's very beautifully written and thought-provoking. 3.5/5

Look Who's Back was already on my wish list (can't remember where I heard about it) but thanks for the great review - it's moving up the list a bit

12 Years a Slave is on my TBR, but I keep putting it off - worried I won't be affected emotionally in the way you're "supposed" to be I think... It does sound like the film is much harsher than the book though.

I was watching a TV quiz show the other day that spoilt the ending of Rebecca for me. When I calmed my rage I remembered this is what annoyed me about the Silver Linings novel - it spoils 3 or 4 classic novels by having the protagonist describe his thoughts on the endings. When I realised what was going on I rather glossed over those paragraphs and have forgotten most of it but I really shouldn't have to do that. Anyway. Friends, the time has come to try my first Austen. Pride and Prejudice is go. Wish me luck!

Every Stephen King review I read just makes me sadder I am yet to read one of his books! I must change that before the year is out. Great review BB.

Hi Anna Great review! I did a philosophy class at university, but it was a late elective choice and I decided I wasn't cut out for it - midway through discussing whether a table existed I wanted to out my hand up and say - I can see it, feel it and if we all described it we would probably say similar things, which is good enough for me so may I be excused to go for a swift drink in the union? However, your review has made me really intrigued about this book...so I have tentatively added it to the wishlist!

I couldn't read anything yesterday but hoping to get some done today and tomorrow I'm so far 50 pages into Please Look After Mother by Kyung-Sook Shin. It's a bit odd, jumps times and places without much warning so it's a bit slow going as I try to work out where we are so to speak.

#38 The Kindness of Strangers by Mike McIntyre Synopsis: Stuck in a job he no longer found fulfilling, journalist Mike McIntyre felt his life was quickly passing him by. So one day he hit the road to trek from one end of the country to the other with little more than the clothes on his back and without a single penny in his pocket. Through his travels, he found varying degrees of kindness in strangers from all walks of life--and discovered more about people and values and life on the road in America than he'd ever thought possible. The gifts of food and shelter he received along the way were outweighed only by the touching gifts of the heart--the willingness of many he met to welcome a lonely stranger into their homes...and the discovery that sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare. Thoughts: I just finished reading this and much to my surprise, found myself thoroughly enjoying it. I picked this up as a quick read I could dip in and out of while travelling with work, but I kept wanting to read on. Mike leaves San Francisco and hitchhikes across America, going from small town to small town and avoiding the big cities. He leaves all money behind and refuses to touch any of it, only accepting rides, shelter and food from the many strangers he meets. They all have interesting stories to tell and about 80% of them are tragic. I wonder how much editing this had, to take out the uninteresting ones but I don't think much, the uninteresting rides are skimmed over but they are there, and the majority of the strangers we meet talk about themselves and how they have ended up in the place they have. What struck me is how poor most of the small town mid west was when Mike wrote the book (mid 1990s iirc). Plenty had been raised poor and stayed poor, with jobs scarce and money scarcer. Many were raising or had been raised by relatives who were not their parents, many had lots of children, had them young or suffered from alcoholism (whether personally or the consequences of a relative suffering it). I think when we are shown America, you often see the LAs, Miamis, New Yorks etc with people well off and the good ship capitalism and the American Dream working well. or you see the other extreme, gangs and crime. What Mike exposes us to is the poor who are poor and remain so, but haven't turned to crime and retain their good humour and human kindness. As the blurb says, those with the least often give the most. A lot of Mike's strangers are Christians, as he find churches receptive to him and his journey, but he is a religion sceptic himself, so it doesn't feel preachy (even though we meet others who are). I found the "Mike going on personal journey" cringy, until I realised I was having the same realisations about the USA and its people. Small town America seems pretty darn great to me. 4/5

#37 The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick Synopsis: Pat Peoples knows that life doesn't always go according to plan, but he's determined to get his back on track. After a stint in a psychiatric hospital, Pat is staying with his parents and trying to live according to his new philosophy: get fit, be nice and always look for the silver lining. Most importantly, Pat is determined to be reconciled with his wife Nikki. Pat's parents just want to protect him so he can get back on his feet, but when Pat befriends the mysterious Tiffany, the secrets they've been keeping from him threaten to come out . . . Thoughts: Bit of an odd book this. I enjoyed it, but there are plenty of books I would say deserve the Hollywood treatment ahead of this - although I am probably glad they were left alone! I guess what I am saying is, what jumped out about this one for movie producers? Pat has just been released from a mental institution into the care of his loving mother and aloof father - who only communicates with him when the Philadelphia Eagles are playing. We can see straight away something is wrong here - people keeping secrets from Pat, why doesn't he remember key events from the last few years such as his best friend having a child? Where is the mysterious Nikki and why exactly did they split up? Tiffany has also suffered from mental illness, and through a very odd friendship we start to discover exactly what happened to Pat and the way he is. I really liked the character of Pat, but I found Tiffany very difficult to warm to and root for. I think if you aren't a sports fan the constant description of games and plays would probably annoy you (I think if it had been golf I would have probably snoozed off) and I had to suspend disbelief at times of the bahaviour of several people - not least the episode between Pat, his best friend Ronnie and his wife Veronica when Pat isn't trusted with the couples small daughter. Where were the repercussions from that? Everyone seemed to blow past it like nothing happened. I enjoyed this, it's a slightly quirky little read but the character of Pat is what drags this up into enjoyable territory for me rather than the story per se. 3/5

I normally like to be quite free when we do holidays but we want to do so much I think I am going to have to book some of it so we aren't disappointed. Have already booked some sports stuff we want to do and planned when we move between NY, Connecticut and Boston so that's a good start I suppose! Been getting some reading done but all of the "easy read" variety... have been enjoying them though. #36 I am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic Read this a few weeks ago so a bit of a half assed review I am afraid... I used to read loads of footballer's autobiographies, then I realised most are idenitical and started cherry picking which ones to bother with. This one came highly recommended from a colleague so I picked it up cheap on kindle. Zlatan is a character, and this book does not disappoint. He's been viewed as difficult, and a renegade and the first half of this book describes his upbringing and goes someway towards explaining his explosive personality. He has also moved clubs much more often than the average "top" footballer, and he explains some of the tricks and machinations of the moves here. But mainly this book is about his personality, his character and the odd things he has said or done in the past. He's self critical, but really doesn't hold back on those around him including very successful people in the game, such as Guardiola and Messi. I admire him from a distance, and this book is hilarious and entertaining, but I think I'd find him exhausting face to face. He seems rather like an endearing overgrown teenager at times. Tails off in the second half, but still very good and the pick of the footballer autobios from recent years (excluding Ronald Reng, which was nominally a biography). 4/5