bookmonkey

I'm currently reading Believing the lie by Elizabeth George.

You got some great books Frankie. And 78 is a lot of books. I have thousands of freckles (and that's not exagerrating) and I hate them. I think if I just had a few like most people do it wouldn't be so bad, but they're everywhere. I'm a pale skinned, freckly, red headed Scot, so in our southern hemisphere summers I burn easily. Hope you have a great reading year in 2014 Frankie. Happy New Year.

Sorry for the late commenting. My birthday is New Years. When I was younger my Mum would give me a joint Christmas/Bday pressie, but most people give me both. My grandparents gave me a joint pressie this year, but I know it was bigger than what I would've got just for Christmas or Bday alone, and I love it, so I don't mind. I hate having my bday at New Years. It usually gets some sort of acknowledgement at least, but I've never had a party as everyone is at New Years parties. Off to finish reading the rest of the thread now.

My kids gave me 6 Ian Rankin books for my birthday today. I got: Watchman The Naming of the Dead Let it Bleed Dead Souls Resurrection Men Strip Jack. The last five are from the Rebus series which I love. I've read them all, but recently decided I wanted to own them.

I thought of joining a book group, but the thought of having to read a book I haven't chosen puts me off - makes me think of high school English. I worry there'd be too many bad ones like you seem to have had this year. I loved David Copperfield, and plan to read the rest of Dickens at some point.

There is an app for kindle on itunes. It's free to download. I have it on my android and on my ipod touch. It's just kindle, nothing about kindle fire.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope no one is too badly affected by all the storms. They seem to be all over the world at the moment.

I haven't read London and Sarum, but I have read New York by Edward Rutherfurd and really liked it. I do plan to read the rest of his books when I can find them in the library. They are big books, but easy to read.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't like the Book Thief Pontalba. I loved Jane Eyre, and plan to reread it sometime.

Hope you get there OK Raven. I had a lovely afternoon tea with my grandmother and mother today. My mother and I have just reconnected in the last year or so after 16 years. She was with an abusive guy who cut her off from all her family and friends. She left him last year so has been getting in touch with everyone again. It's great to be able to see her again, and to see her happy for the first time.

I'll have to look for Tortilla Flats at my library. I read 'Of Mice and Men' a few months ago, and thought it was great, so had to find more Steinbeck. I now the library had a few by him, so hopefully they have Tortilla Flats and Sweet Thursday.

I didn't know there was a sequel. I'll have to see if my library has it.

Hope you feel better soon Chrissy. It's horrible to lose your voice.

Great lot of books Frankie. ​ Sounds like you had a good birthday.

This week I finished Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin - another good one in the Rebus series, and Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. Thank you Frankie for telling me about this one. Edited to fix title of the Rankin book. I keep getting this wrong.

Good advice Pontalba.

That would be so frustrating Talisman. The question you probably need to ask, is does this mean the new place will be worse than where you are? I know that sort of goings on would be put me off changing.

I'm a sole parent so for a long time it was all on me. As soon as they were old enough I started teaching the kids to help, and now we pretty much share everything. We take turns to do different jobs so the kids learn how to do everything. It actually surprises me how many of my kids friends (ages 15 and 17) don't know how to do the simplest jobs, i.e. washing dishes, vacuuming. A lot of them would be horrified if anyone suggested they do anything. I wanted my kids to know how to look after a house when they left home, so I made sure I taught them. They take their turns cooking too. When I was married I worked full time. My then hubby and I had agreed he'd do the majority of the housework as he only worked about 12 hours a week. Unfortunately he just never seemed to know what needed to be done. I would always have to do it all when I got home. And I really don't agree with this antibacterial obsession that's around. A certain amount of germs is necessary to build your immunity. I do disinfect if there's a stomach bug around, but that's because things like that are really bad for both kids. They both have health issues that make any vomiting thing a huge problem, and possibly fatal. But everyday I definitely don't disinfect.

Have you seen the movie Frankie? How does it compare to the book? I saw the movie when it came out before I knew there was a book, and really liked it.

Picked up the new Rebus today from the library, Saints of the Shadow Bible.

That's promising then Kidsmum. I just finished the second one. Didn't think it was as good as the first one.

I enjoyed it. The first one was better, but this was still good.

Finished The Valley of the Horses by Jean M Auel.

Finished The roots of the olive tree by Courtney Miller Santo.