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I've finished 'I'll go to bed at noon'. It tells the story about the Jones family, Collete, her husband Aldous and their children. The main focus is on the relationship between Collete and her eldest son Janus, who is a gifted pianist but also a violent (though funny) alcoholic. Collete herself is an alcoholic but unlike Janus, appears to be a functioning one. The backdrop is 1970's London and although the subjects dealt with, such as death, alcholism, dysfunctional families, even incestuous undertones, are all serious, there is a real black comedic thread running throughout the book, a kind of more domestic Withnail and I. I can't say too much more without giving away the plot, and spoiling it for anyone who wants to read it, but would really recommend it. It is a sequel to 'August" which in true Irish fashion, I will read at a later date.

Just finished "The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" by Eva Rice. Thought it was pretty good, a nice look at a bygone age where teenagers were just claiming their freedom but still restricted by class and manners as well. The final chapter I didnt think was that well written but the rest of it was great. A refreshing change to the usual chick-lit formula.

I finished 'A certain age' by Rebbecca Ray which ellie has read too. As I said to her it was one of the most uncomfortable reads I have read in a long time for a number of reasons. It is about a 14 year old girl who loses her virginity to a man of 27 who ends up being even older than that. There is lots about the family dynamics and how the character handles things. You never get to know her name which kind of adds to the character in a way as it is almost like she is not worth it or feels she is not worth telling you her name. I thought that anyway. It turns out the author was veyr young when she wrote it (17!) and I felt the book was slightly unresolved in the end. A rather 'gritty' read (even though I hate that word!)

I am now reading 'The Sea' by John Banville

I read The Sea last year BBoop. It's a very interesting book, very well written but a bit tricky to get into.If you find it a bit tricky, stick with it, it's definitely worth it.I don't want to say anymore right now as I don't want to give anything away.

You are right A Certain Age is very uncomfortable. From the opening pages, I felt like there was such a ring of truth with it. I blamed the father totally for what was happening to the girl. His relationships with everyone were so skewed, and I felt this ensured that she couldn't have any normal relationships either. He was so quick to withdraw love and attention which made her so desperate to be accepted that she would put up with anything. I was quite disturbed by the relationships she had with the other boys in her class and by the fact that the parents didn't intervene at all when she got involved with the older man. The parents seemed oblivious to the damage which they were doing to each other and their children.

I was very impressed after I finished the book, when I discovered the age of the author, as I thought there was a depth to the book that belied her age, which made me wonder if some or all of the events portrayed may have been based on her own experiences.

I went to the bookshop today and bought loads of new books, which always makes me happy. I have started with Anne Fine 'Raking The Ashes'.

I agree I thought the same thing. The way she described the scenes made me think very much she was talking from experience.

I've finished the Anne Fine book which was a bit of a quick read, but quite good all the same and am now reading The Ballad of Lee Cotton by Christopher Wilson.

I finished The Sea which was also a quick read and am now reading Ghost Children by Sue Townsend. It is NOTHING like her other books. It's about a couple who aborted a baby 17 years ago and they are reunited after a shocking discovery. Quite a dark plot I think but only just started it.

The Sea - A Quick Read?

It took me ages.

do you mean to say you HAVEN'T read a book I am currently reading?

Maybe I didn't fully appreciate the award winning book Ellie. I thought it was a bit crap

Oh I've read Ghost Children Bboop, I just assumed you would have realised that.

I'm reading Getting Out of the House by the Scottish author Isla Dewar. Not that far into it yet, but I'm loving it.


My last book was Marian Keyes's Is the anybody out there?. It wasn't great, but was ok to dip into.

I am reading desert dawn by Waris Dirie. It's about the supermodel (the author) who was raised as a nomad in Somalia and endures the painful female circumcision at the age of 5. She runs away at 12 and ends up living with an uncle in London. At the age of 18 she is spotted working in a fast food restaurant and ends up a supermodel. she now works for the UN and campaigns to stop the practice of fgm in many countries.

http://www.waris-dirie-foundation.com/web/e_index.htm

I read something similar about 5 years ago BBoop, It was a different supermodel, but I can't remember her name. The circumsion bit was gruesome.