chaliepud

I can't make him read anything! I've given up, he picks up the occasional book but generally spends longer whingeing about it than reading it! Good luck with the The Big Short, I'm waiting for it to come out on Sky, then I'll watch it.

I enjoyed Sons and Lovers (a long time ago), perhaps you shouldn't listen to me though, I liked Divergent!

I can't remember off the top of my head and he's not here to ask, but usually films that are a bit clever and without a lot of chase scenes! Plus, they have to be believable, ones of the main reasons he doesn't read fiction is because he is never convinced by the stories he reads.

Steve watched it on the plane last week and said it was fantastic, and he is a very critical viewer, he rarely likes a film! He mentioned it to his sister and brother in law when we had lunch and they agreed so I'd say it's worth a shot.

I think jeggings can be good for everyone, it's what you wear with them that matters. I am quite petite but like tight fitting clothes so they suit me, in fact I live in either Fat Face Jeans or Jeggings!!

Cake, with Jennifer Aniston. I was surprised to see her in an indie film, and even more surprised to see her in a non glam role. I actually thought it was very good.

Captain America: Civil War, very good, a bit long but I think I have a new favourite Avenger, Vision!

Yes he was, as is the dog in the Morgan's Rum advert, I have 2 of them, hard work but good fun, proper working dogs with bags of energy and strong characters!

He has two! So yes, he must be a good guy for sure! https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=matthew+mcconaughey+cattle+dog&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=aqQUPKfjgsxatM%3A

Plus he has an Australian Cattle Dog!

I'm having a hard time thinking of many, though I'm sure there are lots I can't think of at the top of my head! Definitely Letty from We Never Asked For Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, she isn't your conventional good mother but she has a wonderful strength of character and by the end of the book she was amazing. Also, Rabbit from The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin, a fun, loving and inspirational character. The mother in Things I Want My Daughters To Know by Elizabeth Noble is also brave and inspirational.

You could try http://www.literature-map.com/maggie+o-27farrell.html It suggests authors like Helen Dunmore, Ingrid Hill and Lisa Genova.

Gorgeous day here, have spent at least 5 hours gardening and maybe an hour reading/having lunch out there, perfect day!

"I stepped inside the railroad car, and three dozen pairs of eyes peered my way." In The Shadow of Blackbirds ~ Cat Winters

For me it's probably just the Stephen King books I own, The Stand and 11:22:63, only really because of their size! I will read The Stand this year though!

For me it's probably just the Stephen King books I own, The Stand and 11:22:63, only really because of their size! I will read The Stand this year though!

I'm sure I will!

No idea, I think people like that she is a bit whimsy in her writing, there's certainly no formula to it. I'm definitely in a minority so worth giving it a shot. If you change your mind in the next few days let me know, or if anyone else fancies it, I don't mind posting in the UK.

Have spent a fair part of the week outside making the most of the weather; cutting grass, gardening and cleaning windows. I went to the garden centre yesterday and spent too much money on some new perennials, I got about a third of them in but the weather has been against me today, so I went out for lunch with one of my best friends instead...we sat inside! This weekend will be a sporting one, football with my youngest tomorrow morning, refereeing a cup final for my eldest tomorrow afternoon (I'll need my book for that one!) and Sunday will be athletics all day with my youngest! I hope the weather is kind!!

Great reviews Claire, I particularly like the look of The Children Who Lived in a Barn, I'll keep my eye out for that one. I suspect 13 year olds were very different in those days, far more mature and given more responsibilities as a rule, many of them would have been working. I'm not sure if I'd trust my modern day 16,15 and 11 year olds!

Now there's a quandary, I really like RR but I'm not a fan of fairy tales.. What to do?!

I'm not entirely sure, I definitely didn't like either of the two main characters, and the writing is a bit choppy, it doesn't flow or go anywhere and I do like a flowing, descriptive read. I've read some reviews that forgive her this as the content is so good but it didn't work for me. Maybe it would have been better in its original Italian but that definitely wouldn't work for me either! Happy to send it to you if you want to give it a shot, it'll go to the charity shop next week otherwise.

Have tried for a good few days to get into Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend but I just don't like it, I'm hugely disappointed as I had big hopes for it but hey ho, onto the next one, think I'll try In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters.

Is there a book activity thread for April? If there is, I can't find it!

You could buy a lot of real books for that money!