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BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

I have just finished ''The fifth child'' by Doris Lessing (it was a bit crap imho) and now have so many I want to read in one go I can't decide which to choose. I want to read Jane Austin's Persuasion, as well as Mark Haddon's ''A spot of Bother'', and a hundred others in between. I think I might go for the Jane Austin next I'm in that sort of mood!

AliceInWonderland · **Joined:** 30 May 06, 11:52 **Posts:** 63

I'm reading Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. 1408!

cheekiechickie

Finished Atonement and have to be totally honest it didn't blow me away. Was very well written and very graphic in parts byt I missed the dialogue that is normally in a book.

Went to see the film and it was very close to the book except the ending but that was if anything an improvement and didn't change the meaning really.
It was a very visually film but again I was blow away. Good to see but not really one to watch again imo.

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

ellie wrote:

I finished A Spot of Bother today by Mark Haddon. What a wonderful read it was, so full of painful truths about what looks on the outside to be an average family. There is George, the dad, who suffers from panic attacks and is convinced he is dying of cancer, his wife Jean, who yearns for a bit of excitement, so is having an affair with someone who by the description reminds me of David Dickenson, his daughter Katie who is planning to marry Ray, whom even she (never mind her family) thinks is the wrong man for her and his son Jamie, a committment-phobe who wants to have his cake and eat it with his boyfriend Tony. There is a smattering of other characters also, but the book concentrates mainly on the point of view from these four main characters, with the welcome addition of some insights into Ray's and Jacob's (Katie's son) characters. The book is set in a suburb in the lead up to the wedding of Ray and Katie.

I really loved this book. It was so witty, but so dark in places and so painfully honest, honest in its descriptions of marriage, of relationships in general, of sex, of ageing, of worries for the future. I think it would appeal to all ages. Some of the lines felt so true, so raw that I felt at times, as if I were watching a family unfold in real life, right before my eyes. It's rare that I feel a need to discuss a book, but this was one of those times. Here is one of the bits which for me stood out.

"Katie held Ray's hand.She didn't know wjhether to laugh or cry. 'God. this is meant to be our wedding day'.
Then Ray said something wise. Which took her by surprise. 'We're just the little people on top of the cake. Weddings are about families. You and me, we've got the rest of our lives together'

So all in all, an excellent book, very accessible, flows easily but with a cast of characters that you really start to care about.

I absolutley loved this book and completely agree with what you've said about it. Painfully honest. excrutiatingly akward in parts yet hilarious in others. (I loved the bit where Jamie tells his aunt that Tony is his boyfriend ''because we are homosexuals you see'' )and many many other lines and images that are conjured up during the book. Yhe authors observations on family life is superb. the only thing I found a tiny bit hard was the character of ray. he just seemed a bit too good to be true to Katie. However maybe I'm just jealous because I want a Ray of my own

Fantastic read. Loved it.

trolleydolley

Although this is a book thread, just wanted to say I saw Atonement this evening and thought it was a stunning film; really odd to hear James McAvoy speaking in a cut glass accent though!

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

Just read ''how to talk to a widower'' by Jonathan Tropper. It was an absolutely brilliant book. Nothing like I expected. A lot like the Mark Haddon book ^^^^ up there really being a mix of black humour, tragedy, heart ache, family chaos etc. A really really enjoyable read. Lots of laughter, tears and nookie to remind me of what I'm not getting. Two corkers in a row. I'm going for the hat trick

trolleydolley

I nearly bought that yesterday! Might have to go back for it.

I'm reading Animal's People by Indra Sinha, it's fantastic. It's loosely based on the Bhopal incident in India in the 80s and the effects on a community years later after a chemical factory explodes. "Animal" is a teenage boy who has been left with a twisted spine and has to walk on all fours. He sees himself as sub human but comes into contact with a range of people who help him see life differently. The other thread is the ongoing battle for justice with "The Kampani" who caused the terrible accident. It's great.

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

I have nearly finished a book called ''Trust'' By Margaret Leyroy. It's about a single mother who meets a new partner. Things are going great, they are getting on really well and have a good sex life and falling in love. Then he is accused of sexual abuse with a child he works with. The book highlights all the complications that go with accusations of such a nature where there is no definate certainty of guilt (the girl doesn't name him he just fits a description she gave) and how the lives of many are affected following such an allegation. Only about another 50 pages to go so will finish it tonight. It's been a good read.

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

Read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill today. My daughter is reading it in English at school (yr 9) and I thought I would give it a go as it's not that long and I could rwad it in a weekend. It's scary! I had to go and check on my son as soon as I was finished. I would like to go and see the play but am too scared I think. :-(

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

Just read ''say when'' by Elizabeth Berg. It was a very easy read but had some very sad/moving/funny parts to it. A woman tells her husband suddenly that she wants a divorce. It is an over night change for the man and the husband is the main character telling the story from his point of view. Maybe it's because I have experienced something similar (in the reverse) I don't know but I found the book so moving. especially the part when they tell their young daughter that mummy won't be living there any more and how painful the whole experience is for all parties. I was sitting opposite my daughter while reading that part and had real tears in my eyes. I had to put the book down and talk to her about when her dad left (over 7 years ago) I think she thought I'd gone a bit weird. :-?

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

I have almost finished The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. It's a 600pager so has taken me a bit longer to read but I have really enjoyed it. Set at the begining of the first world war it gives insight into the lives of the wealthy of that era. You know from the blurb that a young poet takes his own life but I'm on page 530 and it hasn't yet happened. (an old lady is looking back on her life) So I know the last 70 pages won't be dissapointing. Anyway some beautiful moments in it and an all round good read.

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

Yep as predicted a brilliant end. Right until the very last page. Loved it.

trolleydolley

Just read Running In Heels by Anna Maxted. It was my holiday book really (bought for 20p from church book stall!) and it was very funny and well written, dealing with quite difficult issues like anorexia. However, then bought her first book, Getting Over It, and have just put it down half way through as it is rubbish and really dull.

I'd recommend the first one though.

My other holiday book was A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi which I bought at Manchester Airport and loved. It's the story of a middle aged couple who meet unexpectedly in Venice and fall in love and how the author moves to Venice and she's a food critic so it's all about recipes and cooking as well as the story...it's a bit of a girl's book, but I liked it because it reminded me of how gorgeous Venice is. @^@

BBoop · **Joined:** 28 Feb 04, 17:57 **Posts:** 19830

I was given a stack of books for birthday and christmas for which I am very grateful. One of them was The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfield which was very good, I also read Attonement my Ian McEwan which was the absolute dog's blimmin' bollox and I'm now reading Rebecca By Daphne Du Maurier which was my choice for our local book group and I'm loving it. I'm halfway through and really enjoying it. Hard to put down.

Mari A

Just been reading of a book 'Saanko luvan? Ei kun omin luvin!' from Lenita Airisto, a finnish feminist, who's an economist and a business woman. And Tolkiens's translated version in Finnish from book called The Children of Húrin.

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