When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro and other news

Finished this book earlier today and still haven't decided whether I liked it or not. It is my second Ishiguro book and I think it is his style that I have a problem with. In this book there was one thing I kept mentally shouting at the MC for and I think this tarnished it a bit. But in the end I liked the way it was resolved and I enjoyed how they mystery was solved.

Up next for reading is either Marley and Me or The House at Riverton, I can't decide:)

In other news I have started this years NaNoWriMo, I registered a few years ago and this is the first time that I have actually started. I am up to just over 5,000 words at the moment and am pleased with myself. Let's just hope I can carry it on.

It was really good catching up with people's blogs and already I have a few books added to my wish list so thanks everyone lol! Take care and be safe:)

News and bits

OK I finally finished Enduring Love and watched the film version as well. Bad idea, it was a good film but I kept screaming at the screen 'no that's not in the book!' Oh dear. Anyway I am going away for a couple of days (nowhere exciting:)) and wanted to wish everyone a happy weekend!

McCarthy wins award for The Road

BBC News Article



"Pulitzer Prize-winning US author Cormac McCarthy has won the UK's oldest literary award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.

The Road, McCarthy's tale of a father and son in a post-apocalyptic America, was named the best novel of the year"

This is a great book, especially for those post-apocalyptic fans out there!

edited to say here is an article that tells of other nominees

Song of Susannah by Stephen King

So tired but had to rejoice because finally finished Song of Susannah. It has taken me about a year to get that blimmin' thing finished, goodness knows why because I love the series but phew! One more to go and then the Dark Tower series is complete.

Post 2 of the day - Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday
I had seen this on several people’s blogs and finally checked it out today. OK so I am not strictly starting on Thursday but I will from next week! This seems like a great idea and it is really interesting seeing everyone else’s responses!

When growing up did your family share your love of books? If so, did one person get you into reading? And, do you have any family-oriented memories with books and reading? (Family trips to bookstore, reading the same book as a sibling or parent, etc.)When I was a child it was just me and my mum. From what I remember my dad wasn’t a big reader and neither was my mum but she says she read to me quite a bit. I can’t remember this at all! All I remember is having a love for books, I enjoyed nothing more than sitting inside reading and I know my mum wished I would go outside more and play with everyone else! I remember the thrill of getting new books, trips to the library where I would take ages to pick. I loved when I was old enough to go on my own because this meant I didn’t have to rush.
I think my maternal grandma is a book reader but mainly crime and horror books and I don’t remember seeing her enough for it to have an impact on my own reading, but perhaps subconsciously it did! What I do think is she was th eone who introduced me to more adult books, Virginia Andrews and Shaun Hutson! I know she was definitely the one who gave me my first Hutson but I am not sure about the Virginia Andrews. All I remember is that I devoured her from about the age of 8 to .. well I can’t remember! I was still in primary school at this point and I don’t think the teachers approved or thought I was really reading it!

Ok this is the last post for the day, promise!

RL Reading group

Well last night I went to my first real life reading group- it was a lot of fun but little chat about the book! this was mainly because noone really liked the choice but it was a nice group and I look forward to our next meeting. The next book up to read is To Kill a Mockingbird which I have wanted to read for ages so I am pleased with that choice!

I have been very good and not bought any books in the past few days although I have swapped some and received some bookrings on BookCrossing so my TBR pile is GROWING!

Many thanks to Dewey who ran a contest which I won! Read their blog here, very fab it is indeed!

And finally one and a half applications written, 2 and half to go. So tired but so want to make them brilliant to get a new job. But must go to sleep now, lovely to catch up with everyones blogs again!

Slow this week

Well I have been a slower reader these past few days, am failing miserably with the Trollope but have to have it read by monday for my new book group. I am really enjoying Shadow of the Wind but trying to catch up on work in the evenings so not getting much reading done. However still finding time to catch up with the world in blog land:)

I have hopefully got one of my old friends interested in bookcrossing, I am really enjoying the whole vibe of BC at the moment, released another book yesterday and will try and release one on the bus in the morning.

But that is enough about BC, hmm other things. Shakespeare's birthday! My favourite Shakespeare is Measure for Measure, I seem to be the only one that finds that my favourite. I must read more of Shakespeare though, it is something I have not read enough of.

I am currently trying to decide whether to stay in teaching or not, I just don't know what to do instead. I do love the kids, its just all the paperwork and jumping through hoops I can't stand. So feel free to suggest alternative careers for me!

Review- The Brief History of the Dead and random thoughts

Go out and buy this book if you have not got it.

Go home and read this book if it is on your TBR pile.

Personally I thought this was a fantastic read, I know others have had some reservations but i loved the way the stories fitted together, the writing was lovely and ooh it was just great! The story details a place between the living and dead where a population has gathered, caught there while others on Earth are alive to remember them. There existence is at risk when a plague hits the world and the book details the aftermath and how it is dealt with.

I thought the author had considered characterisation carefully, I enjoyed spotting the links between Laura and people from the city. It is a tale that unwinds, no thats not the right word, unravels? so more and more is revealed and explained, but then throws up more questions. I found myself engrossed by this book, torn again by the wish to finish it to see what happens and savour it slowly and enjoy it while I could. In the end I arrived at work this morning having some things to prepare for my class today but sat myself at my desk and finished it hungrily feeling so disappointed when it ended. I was also slightly disappointed (but not in a bad way if that makes sense?) by the ending as there was much left unsaid. However this in no way detracted from the book.

OK falling asleep now so am going to stop although I may add some thoughts tomorrow after a sound nights kip.

Some brief other thoughts-

I am finding it difficult to think of books for the Something about Me reading challenge. I want to include something about teaching, something about living in the UK, something bout my love of History (perhaps The Historian for that one!). Then I have to choose for my dystopian challenge, I have a HUGE long list for that one and I am trying to narrow it down but then I get another suggestion and the list lengthens again!

My class were noisy again tonight but one great moment was when we went down to the library and I could see the transformation in them from the beginning of the year where they were not interested in choosing books, now they bound up to me and ask me if I have read this or that book, show enthusiasm and even say 'Miss book.in.the.life' you MUST read this. Ah its lovely. And one of my SEN children is showing so much improvement in his reading, writing and maths I just want to give him ten million housepoints and stickers to show him how proud I am.

Anyway, toodle-pip hope everyone is ok!

Challenges, books being read and addicted to blogs?

Last night I joined two challenges, anything to get me reading different books! First up I joined Lisa's Dystopian Challenge and then I joined the Something about Me Challenge . I already am formulating lists of what I want to read!

I am currently reading A Brief History of the Dead and am loving it! I was so absorbed this evening on the bus I nearly missed my stop.

I am also finding looking at peoples lit blogs quite addictive. I have built up a list of favourites I frequent and check back regularly to look for updates. Is it just me, am I sad? It's just so nice to talk about books without someone smiling sweetly and going 'OK...' and changing the subject.

Anyway the sunshine is / was bright, I have a lovely evening ahead of marking tests, reading and ahem...just checking if so and so's blog has been updated.

Finished- English Correspondence by Janet Davey

I really don't know what to say about this book, mixture of really disliking it and then kind of ending up liking it slightly. I need to work it out before writing a review so watch this space.

I have really enjoyed browsing through other peoples blogs and signing up for book related sites. Throughout the week I will add links and post some of what I have been looking at. I am loving Library Thing still and have been releasing some more bookcrossing books. The next thing on my list is to join some kind of challenge, there are lots in progress at the moment I can see from peoples blogs so I will look for one that comes up that I can join!

Bits and Bobs

"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." - Austin Phelps
"There is no mistaking a real book when one finds it. It is like falling in love." - Christopher Morley
I found these two quotes on Book Chase today, thanks Sam I hope you don't mind me reproducing these. I think it sums up what I strongly feel about books and reading.

Updated= Book Meme
Found this on so many sites thought I would have to give it a go!
Instructions: In the list of books below, bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you want to read, cross out the ones you won’t touch with a ten-foot pole, put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf, and asterisk (*) the ones you’ve never heard of. In the comments, let me know if you’re up for it. I left some books in just regular old font, these are the ones I am not sure I want to read or not.
1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. +Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. +To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. +The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. +The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. +The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. *A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. +Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. +Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. +Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. +Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. +Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. *Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. +The Stand (Stephen King) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
19. +Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. +Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. +The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. +The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)- well read a bit of it
23. +Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. +The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. +Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)- OH really wants me to read this
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)34. +1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. +The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. +Bible- read parts!
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. +Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. +The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. +The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
54. +Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. *The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. +Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. +The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65.* Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. +One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller) -
69. +Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. +Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. *The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. +Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. *Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. +Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. *Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. +Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. *The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. *Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. *Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. *In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)- partly read
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. +White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. *A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. *The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Umm how do I underline in blogger!