Alexi

I also gave it a 3/5 Brian, never really getting sucked in is the perfect phrase Of the short stories, The Diamond Guitar was my favourite.

I finished Breakfast at Tiffany's and was quite disappointed not to "see" Holly go to Tiffany's! Dream of Ding Village by Yan Lianke is next, and due to the rather distressing subject matter of this one, think I might be after a light hearted yarn afterwards!

Book 14: Room by Emma Donoghue (Ireland) 9/10 Synopsis: Jack is five. He lives in a single, locked room with his Ma. (from book jacket) Thoughts: Wow. Ok, ok, I'll expand The book jacket said very little, and I simply read the book without knowing anything further based on the many recommendations from friends and family. I think it enhanced my enjoyment to know that little, so this review is quite general to avoid spoiling for anyone else. I don't think it's too spoilery to say there is subject matter that is rather harrowing that are described within the pages, so it feels wrong to say I enjoyed the book, but it completely absorbed me. I wanted to pick it up all the time and hated being forced to put it down. It really made me think too, and as we've discussed before, quite a few of us take that as an indication of a bloody good read. Seeing the world through the yes of a five year old is fascinating. But Jack doesn't describe a regular world, he describes a tiny room, which is his entire world. And through his eyes we learn about that world, and slowly the reasons why his entire world is contained in a single room become evident, though the eyes of a five year old who has never breathed fresh air. It sounds like a gimmick, but it just works. It does make the book quirky, but it's handled brilliantly. This one will stay with me for a while I suspect.

Finished Room by Emma Donoghue, which totally blew me away Now starting Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote.

I have seen the first series and have the second on DVD to watch...don't tempt me with another list for a challenge. I love lists!

Oh good! I just read some utter dirge, so hope this is a bit better! I've only read 10 pages so far, so will be interesting to see how I get on with the "childish" style.

What amazing news Julie!

I'm starting Room by Emma Donoghue.

I love that idea Willoyd! That means I would never have to finish Catcher in the Rye! I've still only read 21 (although have loads on my TBR pile!) but I reckon if I meandered along through the years, if I was close enough it could be a retirement project. (Also much less expensive than other retirement projects I have in mind such as following mu football team around the country for every match they play and visiting all 92 league grounds...!)

I've made a conscious effort to read more from the list for two reasons. 1) I like lists but 2) I would really like to read more classics, because I've read hardly any and I feel like they are "classics" for a reason! In theory, i would like to complete the list someday, but apparently I'd have to be reading two books a month from the list which is far too much and would leave me no time for anything else! I randomly picked a book from the library the other day which I've since discovered is on the list, though, and I'm always keen to read people's reviews of the books they've enjoyed from the list that I might like to try.

Ugh, I must concentrate more when posting! I have the Redbreast on my TBR pile, the reason the Snowman is on my mind is because it's what my Mum is currently reading. I always feel it's a big commitment starting a series! I still haven't read the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest despite loving the other two because I get distracted so much by other things. I also downloaded the Death of Ivan Ilyich to my iPad - I mean to get to it fairly soon but the pile of tree books is so distracting... I think I have a sickness.

I'm sort of with Michelle on this, I would think it would put extra pressure on to write a positive review. Not even necessarily from the publisher putting on direct pressure, but the possibility of future monies has to enter the reviewers head - as well as guilt that they might have paid you to heavily criticise the book!

Great reviews Brian. I've added Alone in Berlin to my immediate wish list (!) and I know I'd like to tackle Tolstoy some day, not least to complete the 1001 challenge, and those novellas definitely seem like a sensible place to start. I have the Snowman by Jo Nesbo on my TBR pile, and everything I read about these books seems to suggest I should tackle it soon!

Yeah, I agree on both points Brian I think what was so shocking about it was he was at a top level. There are plenty touted as the next big thing who don't make it, and their lives are inevitably quite difficult (MUTV are currently screening a series of documentaries about those who came through the academy at Manchester United, didn't make it and most of them seemed to struggle throughout their 20s at least) but here was a footballer a lot of people recognised who was struggling on such a grand scale. It was treated with great sensitivity too.

A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke by Ronald Reng. I feel I should warn you it's about a German professional goalkeeper in case that changes your mind! Apparently, before he died he had talked with the author about doing a book one day, so they had already started the process. As a result, the biographer has huge access to his wife/diaries in writing it.

No, it's one of those books I've always wanted to read and not got around to. When I do read it, I'll remember to come back to you! One of my favourite books of 2011 was about a man who had severe depression and committed suicide (biography) so I'm not sure the misery element plays too much of a part - but then as you say, it might be at the time I read it I couldn't stomach that much misery...tricky to say. Hopefully the 1001 list (and app) will focus my mind on reading these classics I have always meant to get around to!

I don't think you should feel bad, Kylie! I joined in with the reading circle to read things I might otherwise not read, and most people really enjoyed it, it seems. I pick plenty of books for myself I don't get on with too I certainly didn't have any issue with the misery element, as you've pointed out elsewhere that's just reflective of what was a very difficult time, and to ignore that would be irresponsible.

I also finished Cloudstreet - thank God, what rubbish - and am now starting Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre.

Sorry, Frankie, I missed this. Yes, I totally agree. I like a book to stay with me for a while after I've read it. (In a good way, not because I shudder at how bad it was )

Book 13: Cloudstreet by Tim Winton (Australia) 4/10 Synopsis: From separate catastrophes, two rural Australian families flee to the city and find themselves sharing a great, breathing, shuddering joint called Cloudstreet, where they begin their lives again. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: Judging by my recent forays into the Reading Circle thread and comments in the book activity thread, my thoughts will be unpopular. But here they are anyway... Ugh. What a struggle this book was to complete. I considered abandoning throughout the book. I think the saddest thing was I got to 20 pages before the end and still wasn't that bothered about finishing it to find out what happened! I found it hard to engage with the characters, and the premise for the book in telling the meandering lives of these two families just made it feel like it had no plot. The Pickles family (Rose apart) made me want to shake them all. I found few redeeming factors in allowing the children to struggle through refusing to take a control of gambling and alcohol addictions. Obviously these are difficult illnesses, but there was very little remorse shown about children living through poverty and being forced to leave school early through their actions. The most interesting part of the book for me was Rose's struggles against depression and how she brought herself out of them. The rest of the book felt like a load of meandering stories fitted together with no real plot or purpose, and I didn't connect enough with the characters for them to save that. Reading on an electronic device means you don't get the satisfaction of throwing the book down when done, but I did take great pleasure in deleting it from my Kindle app!

I counted my TBR pile recently and it now comes in at around 150. I used to like having the choice (and I'm also a regular library visitor so due dates dictate those have to take priority!). However, at the moment I do feel under pressure because I'm moving in 2 months and can't take that many with me. I'm therefore trying to get through the ones I want to read NOW, prioritising which ones I'm going to leave with my Mum to pick up later and which ones can be got rid of. I suppose normally though, I enjoy having that wealth of choice, this is just an isolated incident of pressure... I'm going to get splinters from this fence sitting.

I'd like to complete this list someday (or be in a position to have completed it and be awaiting an update). I've only read 21 of the combined 1294 so a long way to go! (According to the app I need to be reading an average of 2 a month - this challenge might have to largely wait until I retire ) Still, an update might give me a large read number, even if a smaller read percentage Arukiyomi, will the app keep my current read, TBR and reviews when it's updated for the new edition?

No. For some reason I can't explain, I'm really not interested in them. I love fiction and I love football, but for me the two are best kept separate like chocolate and cheese. When I read a football book (and I do read quite a few of them!) I'm interested in building up my knowledge of football history or reading about a time I remember from the perspective of someone involved... I'm interested in what actually happened if that makes sense.

I finished Moab is my Washpot (at last, work is much more demanding these days!) Really enjoyed this - love Fry's style, and although he can labour some points he has had a fascinating life! I am now starting Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, in anticipation of everything taking me bloody ages to read these days.

I've read a few pages of 50 shades... and decided it's not for me. The writing got on my nerves far too much! But then I also found Twilight absolute rot - even though I can occasionally enjoy a book when the writing isn't exactly Pulitzer worthy but the plot grabs me for some reason. I think part of the problem is we all know it began life as fan fiction (and to me, certainly reads like it!). Although there is some good stuff out there, I have read a LOT of crap too (much like books ) but I think there is still a stigma involved with that, and that is added to the stigma of the BDSM element. I know many people who have suggested literotica.com as a free alternative! The unfulfilled thing is nonsense though - does that mean people who read chick lit are doing so because they haven't had a happy ending? But at the end of the day, I don't really care what people like to read. I love reading other people's reviews to see what they thought of something I have read or not, to see whether I agree or if it's something that sounds like I should look out for. I've picked up books based on the reviews of others I've hated, and equally I'm sure I've missed out on things that don't sound quite for me. We can't all agree - some people liked Catcher in the Rye for heavens sakes. I'm glad you enjoyed them Janet, and if you'll not judge me for not reading them I'll try not to judge you for not liking all my football books