I wish I was brave enough to reread Coraline now that I have a Scottie, but I remember really being freaked out! I don't do a lot of scary or thriller books. Years ago I was on a Dick Francis kick, but then I noticed my dreams were getting really violent. Of course, that may be better than the bad dreams I have now. It is usually the first day of school and the computers aren't hooked up, I have nothing planned, and the kids are being horrible. Every summer I get them and I just had my first one last night. I think I will survive, though.

My cousin actually has a contact that may have a 7 month scottie I could adopt. Since it is a holiday weekend here, I might not hear anything until Monday, but I will keep you posted. My mom is such an instigator. I keep telling her I am not going to get another dog, she keeps telling me reasons why that is a good idea, and then she finds another source! Yah gotta love parents!

inlägg gjort av compskibook vid 8:46 pm (EST) Jul 3, 2008

Nice to catch you before we go. I doubt if I'll be on here much tomorrow, though you never know!

I absolutely love both of those books! I think all his books are very different from all the others but that doesn't mean they're not great. Mantissa, as I said, made no sense to me and Daniel Martin is one that I've got through about the first 30 pages several times now, but no further. A Maggot is another good one, but the two you've bought are perfect gems - hope you enjoy them! I'm hoping to find a few interesting parcels here when we get back.

Skeelo says if Scottie fancies nipping down this way there'll probably be the odd rave going on. I'll have great pleasure in raising an ouzo to you and will give Greece your love. If I can figure out which way Corfu is I'll give it a wave for you.

Take care. Will 'speak' again in a couple of weeks.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:53 pm (EST) Jul 3, 2008

I thought that was probably it. Which John Fowles books did you get? I will warn you that they are very different from The Collector, whatever they are, though The Magus is another of my all time favourite books, despite being a little strange. The one to avoid, if it's not too late, is Mantissa, which makes absolutely no sense at all!

We're off on Saturday and, as far as I know, our village has only just opened it's first two mimi-markets, so the chances of it having an internet cafe are less than nil! I don't even think about computers when I'm away - AND I keep my phone turned off, just checking now and then for texts from either of the kids or Skeelo. I think it's a hangover from when I was working and flatly refused to let anyone contact me during my holidays. I expect to disappear completely from the scene for a couple of weeks, though I'm willing ot nbet I'm going to miss LT. I'll just add to this, in case anyone else is reading with the intent of burgling the house while we're gone, that my very large son will be here with very fierce dog. For a fair bit of the time I expect my daughter and her 6'7" bloke to be here too, so if anyone fancies taking them on, they're welcome to try! Packing takes over my life from today so I don't know whether I'll be back online before we go - though I suspect I'll still find time for a few posts.

Anyway - if I don't get back again before we go - love to you and Scottie, and I'll be back on board as soon as I've got the cases unpacked! Bye for now.
Lyn

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:01 am (EST) Jul 3, 2008

Oh Plus! I got another ER book! Hoping it won't arrive until we've gone, then I won't have to worry about it till we get back! How about you?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:19 am (EST) Jul 2, 2008

Everything okay with you? You've gone very quiet.

Every morning I get onto this thing thinking 'I hope nobody writes to me today then I'll have time for all that ironing, shopping, packing etc' but when nobody does, I start worrying. Off to do mum's shopping in a minute but just wanted to make sure you're all right.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:18 am (EST) Jul 2, 2008

At least you have the excuse of having your real-life Scottie for loving Radley... I'm just slightly addicted. (I'm actually mostly slightly scared of dogs... Although Scottie-sized dogs are usually just kinda cute.)

Yes, you're right, the Radley website is a very dangerous place. Although I'm quite liking it at the moment, as from looking at it, I've managed to convince hubby to buy me a new purse. Though I'm going to have to wait til September for that for our wedding anniversary (apparently 3rd is leather so it seems faintly appropriate!).

And September is when the job starts, too. Although this is all a bit scary as I have to finish the PhD before then. Panic panic panic etc!

inlägg gjort av LizT vid 6:23 pm (EST) Jun 30, 2008

I thought those ER books must be due about now. Quite hoping I won't get one now as it'll probably come while we're away. Also Mount TBR has passed the 1oo mark at last AND I mean to call in to Waterstones tomorrow to pick up the mag so there's little chance of coming out of there empty-handed. Oh dear.

And now I'm REALLY worried about those poor dogs (loving the book, though).

BTW - was it not you that recommended that Stephen King A-Z after all?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:44 pm (EST) Jun 30, 2008

I'm now well into Heart-Shaped Box and loving it but is there something you forgot to mention?

No?

You didn't warn me about those two lovely dogs! Should I be worrying? Please tell me!

No, don't tell me! Yes, do . . . . .oh, Gawd! Now I don't know what to do! I'm getting a horrible feeling about them.

(Hoping I'm not sending this to myself again ;-) ! )

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:18 am (EST) Jun 30, 2008

Oh dear! The message I'd addressed to myself (how many times have I done this now?) was intended for you! Wasn't it you who recommended that book? Oh dear - age is catching up with me.

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend. No, I'm nowhere near ready for the holiday yet, but then I never am until the last minute. I'd have quite liked to save Heart-Shaped Box but couldn't resist and I've just started it. Not only am I enjoying it, but I'm also really missing it every time I have to put it down - just the way I used to with his dad's books. I have high hopes!

Most years (but not all) we hire a car on holiday (the back doesn't really hold up to moped riding) but we're not even doing that this year (even more reason to go well stocked with books). Ray lies on the beach like an abandoned beach ball the whole time. Unfortunately I can't get comfortable doing that either so I kind of hover between short spells on the beach, strolls around the village, back to the apartment for a lie-down, in for a swim, then start all over again. I'm starting to get upset about leaving my baby behind, so he's getting rather more hugs and kisses than he'd really like at the moment!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:16 pm (EST) Jun 29, 2008

So nice of you to let them win! I hope you pointed that out. At length.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:29 am (EST) Jun 28, 2008

Hope you won!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:33 pm (EST) Jun 27, 2008

Thanks for your quick reply and good advice. I really want a puppy, but I have decided not to get one. Gregor is pretty set in his ways and I have noticed he spends a lot of time napping these days. I don't think getting a puppy at this point would be fair to him. He is pretty special to me (obviously!) and I wouldn't want to do anything to upset that. I also don't think it is a good time for me to try and train a puppy. For most of July I will be gone five hours each morning and then I am gone nine hours starting in September. I found a scottie rescue site, and I think I will put my name in for that. An older dog would be better for Gregor. I will keep you posted, and thanks again!

inlägg gjort av compskibook vid 10:24 am (EST) Jun 27, 2008

Rachel's the one who's been teaching The Last Rung on the Ladder? I was so happy to ID that story - I've always loved it and I used to teach English GCSE to adults and always made them read it too (and The Collector, for character study). Lovely to have more nice SK fans around.

I didn't know there was a sequel to Holes. I'll have to look out for that. I finished The Vanishing in bed last night. I can certainly see why it reminded you of The Collector. I thought it was brilliant although I'd spoilt the real surprise by having watched the film. If I have a complaint at all I think it could have been longer. I would have liked to know more about the characters. Still, I really enjoyed it and sometimes a nice quick book is just what I need. I see he has written a couple of others - have you read any of them?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:15 am (EST) Jun 27, 2008

All those PROMISES sound entirely reasonable to me - especially the one about Claire Sweeney. I also want to be one of those cantankerous old women who sit in a corner of the old people's home and mumble ' F--- off!' at everyone that walks past. When my dad was alive he occasionally used to spend a few days in a local home to give my mum a bit of a rest and there was an old woman there who was just like that! She had a ball of purple wool which she spent all day unravelling (no knitting needles in sight) and swore at everyone who went anywhere near her. She was like a role-model for me!

PS - Have you seen the thread from the lady who was thinking of getting a second Scottie puppy? I think she's decided against it now but I said I'd point you towards it as you're the Scottie-woman!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:07 am (EST) Jun 27, 2008

Holes - I love that book!

We have three nephews on Ray's side but they are all grown up now with families of their own and we don't see too much of them. My sister is a wizened old spinster, too bitter and twisted to breed (oops - did I really say that? Maybe you can tell we don't get on?) so no nieces or nephews there. However, I do have a cousin who has a very lovely daughter (there are boys too in the family but I so love this little girl). We don't often see each other or even know each other well but I cherish secret hopes that I might be the one she runs away to when she gets pregnant (I hope not) or in some other trouble with her parents. I'm the one in the family who never really outgrew being a hippie, so I yearn to be a bad influence on someone's kids other than my own. I'm also not terribly good with small children and much prefer teens, so I think I'd be the ideal one to encourage their teenage misbehaviour.

My daughter also has several friends with small children and she is the 'book auntie' to them all - the first present is always a copy of Winnie the Pooh or something like that and she makes a point of giving books for birthdays and Xmas. Luckily the friends concerned are all educated and keen for their children to have books. I have met with completely blank stares before now when giving a book to a child who can't even sit up yet - never mind read!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:00 am (EST) Jun 27, 2008

Hi Jody! I posted this on LTers with Dogs, but I thought I would ask you personally. I am thinking of getting a puppy. Do you think this is a good idea? Was Scottie a puppy when you got her? Did you have to train her? If yes, how did you do it and how long did it take? How do you think Scottie would react if you got another dog? Have you heard of any people who have gotten another scottie when their first is grown? I can see this as being a great thing or I can see this all blowing up in my face. Help! :) Thanks.

inlägg gjort av compskibook vid 8:31 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

It's an across body pocket bag. Which sounds sort of counter-intuitive when you say it like that, but there we have it! So it's not one of the excitingly designed ones, but it's exciting because it's just a loooovely bag :-) And I need over the shoulder type bags cos living in Cambridge = cycling lots. So all in all it's rather a good match for little me :-)

I always think with these sorts of things that if you're getting the use out of them then it's worth paying the extra for something that's well made and you really like. This is what I tell myself anyway! In any case, I can see the husband desperately trying to nudge me away from the Radley website on an increasing basis (especially once the job starts. Ahhh, disposable income!)

inlägg gjort av LizT vid 6:48 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Definitely good to get back at horrible siblings. I don't believe the 'terrible' bit for a second - you sound like a magical auntie! I bet all their friends are soooo jealous.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 3:38 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

PS - About your nieces and nephews - you sound just like the kinf of aunt I wish I'd had! I just wondered if you'd seen those books that were around a year or so ago called 'Lies to tell small kids' (and, More Lies etc). I used to stand and giggle over them in Waterstones. They were full of the horrible things you could tell other people's kids but that you'd kill anyone who told yours. Stuff like 'Mummy and Daddy really love it when you play with your drum kit at 3 in the morning no matter WHAT they say' and 'If you cover a cat with jam it becoms invisible'. One day I'll inflict those on someone. I just haven't decided who yet.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 2:06 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Skeelo tells me all their secrets when we get back. I know they spend the whole time drinking lager and watching porn but as long as their dad doesn't find out they get away with it!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:59 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Oh, I so hope he is looking forward to it. I know they'll have a wonderful time together but I still feel horrible for going without him. Ben does move in here and he takes two weeks' leave too so they'll be messing around all day. I know Skeelo won't miss us but I'll definitely be missing him. And that Stifado! It's the only time I ever miss meat (at least I still eat fish so there's a big swordfish steak with my name on it when we get there!)

In my usual sarky manner I'm just bursting to ask what your in-laws have been calling their children up to now, but I'm going to control myself and just hope you have a good time. Does that mean we won't be hearing from you for a week?

I'm sending a private message too - on its way in a minute.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:49 pm (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Not really. It's only just over a week to the holiday now so I'm getting caught up in all that finding health insurance cards, figuring out what new underwear I need etc. That must have been a good sneeze! I'm just the same with dentists. In fact, I lost a filling a couple of weeks ago but, as it's at the back and doesn't hurt (yet) I'm trying to ignore it. We had a wonderful dentist for a few years and I thought I was getting very brave but now he's emigrated and I'm scared to find another. Plus - he was a private one and I can't really afford to do that again. Good luck tomorrow - you'll feel so great once you've done it, I know!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 11:30 am (EST) Jun 26, 2008

I'm going right now to check out the pooch site. Feel free to recommend any other groups to me! I didn't post the original quotation I had in mind for King, as my eldest daughter vetoed it -- it's from a very atypical King short story, and the only one my kids hate. I love it, and often taught it in my classes when I was a 9th grade English teacher. It really shook the kids out of their preconceived notions about King, authors, and reading in general. But my daughter thought it was too obscure, so I went with another quote from one of my favorite King stories.

inlägg gjort av RachelfromSarasota vid 11:10 am (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Just to say The Vanishing arrived today! I'm thrilled to see it's only tiny! I'm in the mood for tiny books right now. I have about 40 pages to go with Ian McEwn's Comfort of Strangers (only 100 pages in total) then I'll be on to that one. Looking forward to it. How's the throat?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 11:02 am (EST) Jun 26, 2008

Heee heeee! I couldn't find the tranquilized sheep, but the rest of the site was hysterical!

inlägg gjort av mrgrooism vid 9:56 am (EST) Jun 26, 2008

I must give that a bash! Anything that saves me sinking to my o' level German - and THAT I really do barely remember!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 3:13 pm (EST) Jun 25, 2008

Thanks for that - it's interesting that I was up against a whole family pack! It's the second time I've been spoken to in french and I can only guess that the people concerned think they must be awfully clever to know a bit of a language that most of us did in school. I get the idea they're hoping I will come back with something like 'I don't understand you.' I may be ancient but my memory hasn't gone completely. I suppose I could retaliate with a bit of greek? At least - I could if I were clever enough to get back the Greek letters on this thing!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 2:45 pm (EST) Jun 25, 2008

How are you feeling? I hope the bug has left you now. You sound a bit happier if it's possible to tell that by email.

I'm completely puffed and I can only say thank god this isn't a telephone or you'd think I was a heavy breather! My day has been out of sync because Ray overslept this morning and so I had to do the morning walk. It's thrown everything out by around 2 hours and I'm only just back from doing mum's shopping. Anyway, it was a real treat for Skeelo as he always goes in the woods with Ray but we had a change today and went to Saltram House, which is our local NT building with lovely dog-walking gardens PLUS lots of muddy, highly unpleasant water for him to leap into and plenty of other dogs to play with. He's lying on the sofa looking at me out of one eye as if to say 'If you make me move one more time I'm going to have your arm off'.

I wish I could remember the address and I'd send it to you - there is a website for dog horoscopes somewhere or other. My daughter used to send me Skeelo's horoscope every week and they were mostly hilarious but she's stopped now and I'm too lazy to look it out for myself. I only know about Taureans and throats because I am one (a Taurean, not a throat) and so have picked that up over they years. To be honest, I don't think I have any more throat problems that the average person (unless it also means something about foot in mouth!)

Who have I upset? I can't actually remember but I think it may be the Best Villain lot or the I'll Never Read Again lot. Somebody said they had 'outgrown' a particular writer and somebody replied very snootily that they had no right to talk about people 'outgrowing' books as that was somehow implying they were superior to people who still read that author(?) As far as I could tell, the comment was made in all innocence and didn't deserve the response it got so I tried to defend the original writer and got landed on from a great height. Apparently some people will have no truck with the idea of maturing as they get older. Fair enough. Point proved, I suspect. I think I'm going to have to confine my comments from now on to saying whaether or not I own a book or maybe I'll stick with the dog-folks - they seem entirely rational!

I'm now going to put my feet up for a while before I have to start cooking. I'm getting near the end of The Story of a Marriage and don't want to leave it on its own for too long. What a beautifully written book . I so hope it won't do anything to let me down at the last minute. I'm going to go and find out now. Take care.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:46 am (EST) Jun 25, 2008

7 books just arrived and apparently there was another parcel too big to go through the door which has been delivered to the shop. - oh, happy day! Just off to do mum's shopping (after adding those to my library) - bit of a hectic day so far - but will be back with proper reply later. It appears I have mortally wounded another bunch of LTers! I know I was warned by a few people when I first joined this that there were some touchy souls out there but I must admit I'm quite getting to enjoy introducing the cat and watching all the pigeons flap like mad!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 7:36 am (EST) Jun 25, 2008

I'd heard of that site but I haven't tried it yet. I do get quite a lot of stuff from The Book Depository, which is one of those ones you get passed on to by Play.com if they have't got what you want. I can't remember where they are (UK) but they are very good and also very fast. A big box full of books arrived this morning (from Waterstones, I suspect) but were taken away again because there was nobody in and it was our wonderful post-lady's day off so the stand-in didn't know where to leave them (or didn't have any initiative - a bit of both, I suspect). Still, I have that to look forward to tomorrow now.

I do hope you're feeling better soon. Lemon and honey and a couple of large shots of whisky - won't get rid of the illness but you won't care any more.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 3:24 pm (EST) Jun 24, 2008

Was it you who was asking about Story of a Marriage a while ago? (I swear I'll get round to it soon). If so, I just wanted to let you know that Alphaorder has just read it, enjoyed it, and I think, is looking for someone to chat to about it. Comments are on the May Book of the Month Club thread if you're interested.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:13 am (EST) Jun 24, 2008

PS - I just saw from the post under mine that you're poorly at the moment. You never said. I hope you're feeling better now. Throat things are horrible. (I used to have a freind who, at this point would have said 'You're a Taurean, aren't you?' Don't tell me I'm right; it would freak me out.) Take care, anyway, and make sure Scottie knows she has to look after you.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:37 am (EST) Jun 24, 2008

I love that one! I'll never be able to use the microwave again without thinkin gof icebergs!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:33 am (EST) Jun 24, 2008

Hi, Jody. Nice to hear from you. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Rest is all I can suggest.

I've actually had the beard since it grew in at 14. My father always had one, and I probably subconsciously formed my opinion of what men are supposed to look like from his example. I use the ^ tag for books that are actually my father's, in that he bought them for himself. So, they aren't really mine, but I have them right now (and have read almost all of them), and they are good indicators of my reading habits. They help define me as an LT user.

I'm glad to be corresponding with you at this moment- had a bit of a fight with the girlfriend about an hour ago. I don't know why she got so irritated at what she did (5 minutes of wasted driving time?), but she became icy & cut the evening short and I went home upset that I had angered her. I don't feel very good when people that I care about are out of sorts.

Anyway, sorry for my exposition. I hope you feel better soon.

inlägg gjort av monohex vid 4:12 am (EST) Jun 24, 2008

Oh, and because sometimes I'm a total girl: oooh, you collect Radley handbags? I loove Radleys. I'm getting one for my birthday in a couple of weeks and I'm far too excited about it for someone who's on the 30 side of her twenties. Ho hum :-) How many do you have?

inlägg gjort av LizT vid 5:23 pm (EST) Jun 23, 2008

Heh, it scares me a bit that I know exactly what you're referring to! (But have no memory of the conversation. Oh dear.)

Anyway, you are searching for http://xkcd.com/231/. xkcd makes me chuckle :-)

inlägg gjort av LizT vid 5:21 pm (EST) Jun 23, 2008

Aren't they a pain? Much as I enjoy my holiday I pretty much rely on Ray to tell me when to head for the airport. He, on the other hand, can recite what type of plane, from which airline, with how many seats etc we have flown in evey time we've left the country. And he STILL thinks I want to hear all about it!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:38 pm (EST) Jun 23, 2008

Ray would kill for Andrew's job - at least, not the explosives, the aeroplanes part. He's crazy about them, used to go gliding a lot at one time but he still prefers the ones with engines. Although he loves Greece as much as I do I think he'd be quite happy if I just left him in the airport for a fortnight while I go.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:21 am (EST) Jun 23, 2008

Yes, it was fun (about 450 recommendations to reorganise - took hours!) and I got a couple of hours in the end but I'm still completely knackered today. I was going to nip out and get a bit of shopping but I've decided against it as the last time I was sleep-deprived I backed the car into somebody's van - not risking that again!

Re Skeelo's birthday (please don't tell Scottie this bit) I'm utterly ashamed to say I forgot. I mean - I hadn't forgotten when his birthday is, but I hadn't realised the date had come around - I am terrible for doing this ever since I packed up work. I never have a clue what day it is as they're all pretty much the same now. Anyway - he's got so many toys we can barely move but he does love unwrapping presents so, when I finally remembered I wrapped up a Bonio for him to tear to bits. I think I got away with it.

Further to the bit about me never getting any stained glass - before Ray took this up full-time, he was an electrician. The last time we had someone round to fix the telly he took one look at the tangle of wires in the corner and asked me if I had any reason to think my husband might be trying to kill me. When we were first married we lived very near to some good friends, the husband of which was also an electrician. Just so that we could get the job done properly I used to ask her husband if I needed anything doing, and she used to ask mine - they do a decent job if it's for somebody else.

What is it that Andrew does? I know he's in the navy but does he have a trade, or drive big ships?

Skeelo says thanks to Scottie for the birthday wishes. He says that if only his nasty mummy had bothered to throw him a party she'd have been invited!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:14 am (EST) Jun 23, 2008

It may be interesting for him to work with it but everyone seems to think we must have a house full of the stuff and that's not so at all. The only piece we have at home is the first lamp he ever made and, although I suppose it has some sentimental value, it's not exactly the most prefessional thing he's ever done. He'd rather sell things than bring them home. There's a particular lampshade I've been hinting about for years and I suggested straight out that he put a panel in the back door when we renewed it a while ago, but he never 'has time' for that. Everything at home is a rush job! He used to grow quite a few plants from seed and take them down to the shop with him to sell. He was the same with that. I came down one morning to find a lovely vase of freesias (which I love) on the table. 'Oh.' sez I ' aren't they beautful!' Before I could blink they'd gone off to be sold. Ah well, what is it they say about the cobbler's family always going barefoot?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:49 am (EST) Jun 23, 2008

I wonder if the scottie people you met actually read Urban Dog or the newspaper column. Just in the last few days Gregor and I were walking at our waterfront/marina and someone asked if he was a scottie. When I said yes, I was expecting them to say "you don't see them around much anymore."

Gregor does the same ignoring people thing! I don't worry anymore if someone pets him because he mostly seems oblivious. When it comes to other dogs, he usually mirrors their behavior if they are close by. He pretty much ignores ones that are out of reach on a leash. When we walk by homes with dogs barking he will either walk faster or slow right down to tease them and mark a tree. When he does that he gets really puffed up!

Gregor is beginning to be know in the scottie community here. My mom was out and saw a man with a scottie. She told him I had one and its name is Gregor. He remembered us. Gregor and Lady McKenzie meet once or twice each summer.

And of course, our own scotties are alway the nicest ones! Gotta love 'em!

Gregor says hello to Scottie!

inlägg gjort av compskibook vid 9:00 pm (EST) Jun 22, 2008

All husbands have read Bravo Two Zero, haven't they? Can't imagine why. When we were first married I actually read to Ray in bed (Don't Look Now and Watership Down). Sad, I know, but that's how keen I was to get him reading! He enjoyed those but didn't take up the habit himself.

I assume by your next bit that I'm still being 'got at' on that thread? Oh well, I guess some people need to get out more. It is nice of you to back me up there as I might have been quite upset if I'd read it. However, what happened was that I started the thread because it is a subject that I discuss endlessly with a couple of friends - we usually end up getting drunkenly hysterical and threatening to do revolting things to each other for our 'sins'. Apparently I'm due some kind of disembowelling for screwing up books and shoving them in a back pocket - suits me - I still think it'd be worth it. Anyway, almost immediately someone (can't remember who now but it was someone I wouldn't have expected - not the person you mentioned) became very offended because they thought I was telling them how they should read their books. At that point I apologised and dumped the whole thing. I haven't actually looked at it again since (having a life!) but I think that was probably about a week ago so if somebody's still upset they are obviously better at holding grudges than I am. I'm a bit tempted to have another look now you've mentioned it but I don't think I'll bother. If it makes them feel better I guess that's an improvement on stomping into a MacDonalds with a machine gun or whatever it is they usually do.

I think the problem (probably the only one) with LT is that you tend to chum up with other like-minded people and spend time in 'normal' conversations, then go straight from doing that to group discussions, and I know I for one tend to forget that a very tiny minority either don't have a sense of humour or, in many cases, are very young and not good at expressing themselves without getting aggressive. Most people are lovely though.

Back to that thing I meant to tell you about Oscar and Lucinda. I have a theory that people like Andrew and Ray don't get a proper education like the rest of us. I have learnt so many odd things from novels that I would never have picked up otherwise. In O&L there is a bit about a thing called a Prince Rupert's Drop (I'm not giving anything away here, honestly, if you do decide to get it). Anyway - a Prince Rupert's drop is a bit of glass that is the shape of a teardrop. It is formed by very rapid cooling and is so hard that the bulbous end of it can be attacked with an axe or a hammer and it still won't break. However, if you just snap off the thin end with a pair of pliers the whole thing explodes into powder (there are some little bits of film of this happening on youtube).

Ray is a stained glass worker (I mean he works with stained glass, not that he works with glass and is stained) and has been one for around 25 years. He didn't know about this! I was able to tell him all about it in a VERY smug voice and I think I have proved my point. We know so much more than they do! One day I'll find a novel that explains the offside rule and he'll be completely gobsmacked!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:39 pm (EST) Jun 22, 2008

So you've got a husband like mine! I should have known the first time I went to his house and there was one library book there that his mum was reading AND THAT WAS ALL. He now reads about one book a year (my influence) and that's on holiday. I used to put aside the ones I thought he'd love so that he would take them but I don't even do that now as he makes such a mess of them, reading them on the beach, that they're only fit to be thrown away afterwards.

I couldn't agree more about the Mitfords too - what a bunch of nuts! Even Diana still seemed 100% bonkers from those interviews so it's obviously not something any of them grew out of. I think they were also from that class that is always sure they are right and everyone else is wrong - no self-doubt whatsoever - must be great to feel like that. I loved the bit where Diana was being interviewed and said something about how they all thought Fascism was full of great ideas - and then she went on to say 'and, of course, it was!' as if the rest of us were missing something.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:23 pm (EST) Jun 22, 2008

If you think I can bore on the subject of The Collector you definitely don't want to get me started on Greece. I feel exactly the same as you about a former life. The first time we ever went it was to Crete and was the first holiday abroad we'd had in 19 years (couldn't afford it while the kids were growing up). We had no real idea what to expect other than what we'd seen in the brochures but the moment I stepped off the plane in the middle of the night it felt like coming home - when I mentioned it afterwards to Ray he said he felt the same. I think I may have been a Minoan at some point. I listen to people going on about their trips to the Seychelles and the Caribbean and fancy places like that (everyone seems to be going to Cuba at the moment for some reason). I simply can't imagine there could possibly be anything better there than they've got in Greece or at least somewhere on the continent. I'm convinced they only go because they want people to know they've spent a lot. And I'm slightly ashamed to admit that Ben gets the first quick kiss when I get home so that I can then collapse on the floor and indulge in massive cuddles and kisses with Skeelo - don't like to make it TOO obvious.

I've just finished watching Unity. I think I saw something very similar not long ago but I don't think it was the same programme - that one seemed to conclude that she was pregnant while this one seemed a little more uncertain. Interesting programme all the same - (or to put it a little less formally - What a wacko!) I'm sure names matter. If I'd been called Lyn Valkyrie I bet my life would have been very different.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:24 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Briar has kindly allowed me some book time and the VMC booklet has been a lovely read, Useful too to have the list of what is still in print, so thank you again.

As to the picture, I don't know what Scottie's views on cats are, but Briar hates them all. It dates back to when she was a puppy and tried to play with one only to get scratched on the nose. Anyway when she saw one in the park she pursued it a good few feet up a not terribly vertical tree. She came down pretty quickly when she realised where she was, but she did take a few more runs at it while the cat looked on from above.

We tempted her up again by lodging a treat in the tree to get a photograph.

Jane

inlägg gjort av FleurFisher vid 5:06 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

I'll ask Ben about your laptop and see if he has any ideas - must admit it doesn't really sound like his kind of problem but you never know.

We're off to Greece as usual. Back to the Peloponnese (where we've been several times before) but a slightly different area from where we've stayed previously. It's a very small village with just a handful of self-catering apartments and, unusually for us, we're not planning to hire a car this time so it's going to be a very quiet fortnight with lots of sun and a pile of books. You're right, I miss Skeelo terribly when we are away - it feels like leaving a bit of me behind, but Ben takes two weeks of his leave and comes to stay in our house while we're away to look after him so he still has company all day as well as all the usual care you'd expect. I think they have a wonderful time, to be honest, though poor Skeelo gets half-smothered with hugs and kisses when we get back.

I was just starting to look forward to the Unity Mitford thing but Ray has just beaten me to the remote control and turned on the footie (yeuccchhhh!!!!) so I think I'll be watching Unity up in the bedroom.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 2:45 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Hi again,

In researching a little more, I think both you and Andrew are right. They're making just about everything out of maple syrup! There's the maple candy I grew up with, the fudgey kind, but there's also granulated sugar too and all of this:

http://www.mapleorchardfarms.com/maple-p...

But I still think the syrup poured on fresh snow is the best :-)

inlägg gjort av katylit vid 1:19 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Hi Jody, I've been thinking about you too and was going to visit with you today! So here I am.

First off, yes, Mark is home and Pippin was just beside himself when Mark came through the door. It was great to see. No need for all our worries, thank goodness.

Now, maple candy. There are two kinds. There is the more popular, fudgey type, usually maple leafed shaped kind that's made out of maple sugar. That kind is exported all over the world I would imagine. It's certainly popular here in all the tourist stores. The second kind is impossible to sell in stores but is the very best tasting (imo). It's maple syrup that's boiled down a little thicker than usual, right at the sugar bush, and then poured over the snow and eaten, it's called maple taffy and oh my, what wonderful memories that brings back for me :-)

Here's a link to one festival in Warkworth Ontario, the town where my father used to live. He had a sugar bush and made the most wonderful maple syrup. We were so spoiled with it's delicious, smokey flavour and now buying commercial maple syrup just isn't the same.

http://www.maplesyrupfestival.com/maple_...

inlägg gjort av katylit vid 1:12 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Just wanted to let you know there is a programme on Ch 4 (8pm)tonight about Unity Mitford. Don't know whether you're interested (or just have better things to do) but I thought I'd remind you in case you're like me and always miss these things. Not 100% sure whether I'll watch it myself yet!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:08 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

I just read your review and loved it. I'm pleased to see that,on the whole, people found the book very scary except for one person who I suspect may be very young and more attuned to the 'blood and guts' approach. I was intrigued to see that one reviewer calls Clegg 'Jame Wilby'. Maybe the name was changed in the American edition for some reason? It seems like an awful lot of work for no good reason and I've never heard of that happening before. Or maybe she didn't read the book but saw the film instead (as I said, I've never seen the film, but it's the daft kind of thing they do when they film a classic book). I would love to know where the name came from.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:34 am (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Believe me, Jody - eight books is only the tip of the iceberg. At the moment I've got 10 on order from Play.com and another 10 from Waterstones (although that does include a few pre-orders of books that aren't actually out yet). I tell you, it's like a kind of illness. I don't usually have any trouble picking out what to read - something usually 'calls' to me though the new ones are always more exciting than the old ones so there are books that have been on Mount TBR practically since the invention of the printing press.

I must go and have a read of those Collector reviews. I'm always interested to see what other people think. I do think the characters and, in particular, the way they speak, can seem a little odd but I think that's more John Fowles's writing style than anything else. Anyway - I don't think it really matters. Nobody ever complains that Dickens or Eliot are dated, they are just products of their own time, as are books from the 50s and 60s. And I always think subtle creepiness is far more scary that outright gore. I'm sure if the book was written today it would be full of sexual torture etc but I found it so much more scary that Clegg isn't an axe-wielding maniac but a basically 'ordinary' guy who, right to the end of the book, still can't see he's done anything wrong, and is about to go off and do it again. It's the way he keeps saying things like 'I think I was justified to feel angry' when she tries to escape or loses her temper with him, that can give me nightmares. He has absolutely no point of human psychological contact with other people. At one point she says (and I can't remember the exact quote) something like 'You're like glass; you can't be got hold of' and I think she's so right. He has this hard shell of incomprehension around him that makes it impossible for any kind of empathy to penetrate. I don't see him as a particularly sadistic man - he just doesn't understand that other people have feelings. God, I'm so sorry! This has gone on for pages! I swear I could write a dissertation on that book. (In fact, I think I just have!)

Raining here too today. I went to get a good thumping from my wonderful osteopath yesterday and am under strict instructions to do nothing more arduous than breathing for the next week. For once, I'm obeying orders as our holiday is in two weeks time so I don't want to jeopardise that. Then again, I may just go and put the shelves in the two new bookcases in a minute. Think I can risk that much! Skeelo is curled up on the sofa having a nice snooze - he's a very snoozt dog at times. Love to Scottie - hope it clears up for her soon!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:18 am (EST) Jun 21, 2008

Hi again! Loophole? I didn't find a loophole, I think I was just adding books so quickly I slipped a couple in before the gate shut. I am still navigating around, and am trying to add favorite authors and tags, but am stymied. I guess I should take the tour, look at the FAQs, but who wants to read directions first?

Talk to you soon,
Shirl

inlägg gjort av ShirleyUgest vid 9:45 pm (EST) Jun 20, 2008

Bad Jodi! Bad, bad! You just made me buy 8 books!

Well, I went online looking for The Heart-Shaped Box and came away with that and 7 others (including The Vanishing). I just have no will power. How did I give up smoking so easily? I certainly couldn't go cold turkey on books (Good thing I just bought two more bookcases.)

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 2:27 pm (EST) Jun 20, 2008

Yes, I felt Lisey's story might have been better told from a different point of view or even concentrating entirley on Scott's background. Still, having tried twice at least I now know it wasn't just that I was in the wrong mood for it - some you win; some you lose, I guess.

Anyway, that's more than made up for by the fact of a new convert to The Collector! Isn't it truly unpleasant? Even after Miranda was dead and he had his eye on the other girl I was expecting him to either be caught or maybe kill himself. That final sentence about the heater gave me the chills. It felt like - So this is how these maniacs REALLY get started. I think of the book every time I hear of another weirdo who does that kind of thing. I understand there was a film made of the book back in the 60s but I don't want to see it - these things have a way of ageing and I don't believe anything could have the same effect on me as that one single line. Maybe it's time I read it again - you've got me going now.

Anyway - it'll have to wait now as I have Joe King to catch up on - off to the Waterstones site right this minute! That's one I'll definitely be taking on holiday. Thanks for the tip-off.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:18 pm (EST) Jun 20, 2008

I'm so loving that you're enjoying The Collector! I get pathetically excited when people are discovering the books I have loved and I thingk this may be the creepiest, nastiest little book I have ever read. Do PLEASE try and resist looking at that ending (tape the pages together if you have to!) it would spoil things so badly for you and I'll never forget the way I felt when I finished - I desperately want you to feel the same way. Can't wait to hear your final verdict!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:35 am (EST) Jun 20, 2008

The first time I read it I got to just before the guy attacks Lisey in her home. This time when I got to that bit I thought Great, now things are happening, I'll be all right now! but after about another 20 pages or so I just found I was back into not caring and rather hoping he'd finish her off next time. I think the main part of the problem is that it's essentially a book with one character. Some people can handle that well (eg The Collector - though admittedly that has two) but I feel one of SK's real strengths is when he has a cast of thousands. It's a strange thing but I often find characters like Lisey and that hopeless woman in Gerald's game (name forgotten now) quite two-dimensional wherea some of the characters in things like The Stand are very real to me - you'd think it'd be the other way round. I agree with you aboud his writing since the accident, although I really do love his early books with the greatest passion - The Stand, The Dead Zone, Firestarter, all that kind of thing. I felt thing went just a little downhill after Christine, to be honest (I always put it down to giving up drugs, though I'm not sure I have the timing quite right there) After that, I still found his books loots of fun and very readable but they didn't grip me in the way the earlier ones did. There were some exceptions - Different Seasons, Hearts in Atlantis etc, which I felt were as good as any of his earlier works, so I know he can still do it. I won't give up. I love the guy too much.

I haven't read anything by Joe yet. I'm not sure I even realised his stuff was available over here. What have you read and what did you think of it?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:22 am (EST) Jun 20, 2008

If I were the suicidal type I'd be holding a gun to my head right now. I've given up on Lisey's Story again! I think I got about 20 pages further this time than I did last year but I still found I just didn't care what happened to that silly woman or what went on in Boo-ya moon. I've left the page turned down so that if I'm ever tempted to try again I can take up where I left off and not have to struggle through all that boring stuff for a third time, but I suspect Lisey and I just aren't fated to be together. It still bothers me. I don't usually have a problem with abandoning books if they're not good enough to keep me reading but I have so loved Stephen King for so long that it feels a bit like when a very close friend does something so appalling that for a moment, it changes your whole view of them and makes you wonder why you were ever friends in the first place. I've now got my entire emotional future riding on Duma Key when I finally get it.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 7:58 am (EST) Jun 19, 2008

Ah, those Mitfords have ben around forever - they can wait a bit longer for you. If you do see the film of The Vanishing you probably should go for the original from what I hear - much more creepy. The one I saw was just enough to make me want more but I didn't even know there was a book.

Hope you keep loving The Collector. Whatever you do, don't flick to the end - when it comes it makes your blood run cold.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 11:59 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

I just checked your review and it is. I only ever saw the remake, which I'm told was inferior to the original film of the book but I think I'd still enjoy this one. Definitely on the wish list.

I don't want to say too much about The Collector as I don't want to give things awy, but the horror of Fred Clegg is that he is so nerdy and ineffectual. Not the kind of person most of us would take for a baddie (or a goodie, or anything much else) if we passed him in the street.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 11:36 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

And I'm definitely adding The Vanishing to mine - sounds great! Is it the same as the film (2 films, I seem to recall) of the same name?

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 11:31 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

I do so hope the rest of the pig isn't still attached! Skeelo can't have those as they go straight through him so I won't tell him about Scottie's.

I feel the same as you about the 'smucking' but not as much as the 'bools'. It's the only thing I don't like much about King - his love of made-up words. I know it's all meant to add to the character but, for me, it's just annoying. Sometimes it works, but not always. Lisey is certainly not one of my favourite of his characters (though not nearly as bad as the entire cast of Gerald's Game - a book I didn't think was anywhere near worthy of him).

I'm glad you've got The Collector. I'm not sure I'm terribly keen on any of the characters (either main or peripheral) in that one either, and yet the creepiness still works like a dream.

I'm afraid I have a tendency to recommend the same books to everyone so apologies if I've already mentioned this one, but have you ever tried deadkidsongs by Toby Litt. It's one of those that I'm not sure was intended as YA but works really well as such. I wish it had been around when my kids were younger. Very dark but a really brilliant read (and one of my all-time nasty characters, though I can't say who or it'll spoil the surprise).

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 10:30 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

Aha! I may have spoken too soon! P. 318 and I do believe things are starting to happen!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:44 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

Am I ever going to get to like Lisey's Story? I'm more patient with it this time around but I'm on page 317 (and I never thought I'd say this about a SK book) and still nothing's really happened? Does anything happen between now and the end? Usually with his books I'm gripped by the end of the first page. Don't get me wrong - I also love many books where nothing really 'happens' but I do have certain expectations with Mr King.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 9:22 am (EST) Jun 17, 2008

Oh wow! I thought I'd had a pretty good look through all the Stephen King group stuff but I didn't know there was a 'name the SK book' thread. You know where I'm going to be from now on, don't you. I'm actually having another stab at Lisey's Story right now. I will never get used to the idea that there's a SK book I've given up on, so I have to keep trying (and I've only got until September when Duma Key comes out in p/b - I have to read Lisey before then!). So far, I'm enjoying it but then I was enjoying it at this stage the last time too.

I've read 19 Minutes and loved it. Maybe if I'd read it before Kevin I'd have loved it even more but I just think Kevin is such a completely brilliant book that nothing was really ever going to match up to it. All the same, I'm very fond of Jodie Picoult on the whole. I love that she's nice and easy to read but still manages to give me days of thinking 'What would I do?' I'm just waiting for Change of Heart to come out in p/b. Having read the blurb on the back cover I'm sure right now that I know exactly what I'd do in those circumstances (at the moment it seems a no-brainer) but I'm sure she'll make me feel differently once I start reading.

I like The Queen (I mean the film) but it hurts me terribly every time I think thst Americans will see it and think TB is some kind of hero. I know a lot of them think that already but I try to put them right whenever I can. I think you might enjoy the David Kelly book. I often find anything to do with politics a big heavy going but this one is very readable and helps to confirm my prejudices about TB so I can't help but love it. The Mitfords (all half a million of them) are still sitting by my bed right now waiting for me to get back to them. I'll get there in the end.

Good luck with AOL! God, I hate it when these things go wrong. Computers are a world of mystery to me at the best of times and whenever I ring help lines they maight as well be speaking Russian for all I undrestand so whenever something goes wrong I panic uncontrollably. Luckily Ben (grown-up son) is pretty good at understanding them so he often helps me out. If it weren't for him I think every time the screen freezes I'd just have to throw the thing away and go out and buy a new one.

There's a book I've been meaning to recommend to you for ages now but kept forgetting. Have you ever read Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern? It's about an autistic boy who comes under suspicion for the murder of one of his class mates. Doesn't sound like fun reading, exactly, but it was one of those rare books I was thoroughly enjoying in one way when something very unexpected happened that made me burst into tears. I don't mean it was anything horrible either - just incredibly moving. I don't know if it's a very well-known book - I haven't spoken to anyone else who's read it yet, but that doesn't necesserily mean anything, I know.

How's Scottie? She doesn't seem to have been in any trouble lately - do you think she's working up to something? Our local community held a little protest march last week to try and stop them closing our post office and Skeelo came along too. Delighted to find that his best friend, Indie the Jack Russell, was there as well, plus a very tiny Border Terrier pup who fell so in love with Skeelo that he screamed (literally) every time his owner tried to move more than about 4 inches away. I'm not sure any of them understood the seriousness of the PO situation but they sure had a good time together!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 7:12 am (EST) Jun 16, 2008

I did enjoy Helpless while I was reading it but I find I'm forgetting it very quickly now it's over. I thought things were tied up a bit too neatly at the end - sadly, we all know that that rarely happens, if ever. I suppose we've all become so cynical these days (or maybe it's just me) that happy endings are a bit hard to believe. Having read some fairly heavy stuff lately it was rather nice to have a quick read without anything too horrible happening to the characters but it didn't seem very true to life. If only, eh?

I don't know if you're into political stuff at all but one of the best books I've read lately is The Strange Death of David Kelly, revealing the 'truth' of what happened to the weapons inspector. I never believed he committed suicide at the time and I most definitely don't believe it now. I lost quite a bit of sleep over that book as I couldn't put it down at bed time.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:11 pm (EST) Jun 15, 2008

The things we do for these birds! I bet they wouldn't do the same for us. If there's one kind of bird I could do without it would be magpies and yet a couple of weeks ago I was in the kitchen when an immense racket of squawking broke out and I looked to see five baby ones on the garage roof, apparently having their first flying lesson. I must admit they were very cute (they looked a bit like small fluffy kookaburras), despite the fact that I'm sure I'll soon be seeing them out in the road attacking some poor defenceless rabbit or something.

I did notice you'd gone, by the way. I was going to write and check up on you but then I saw a message you must have posted either today or yesterday, so assumed everything was okay.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:31 pm (EST) Jun 15, 2008

:) Your very funny story about your acupuncture treatment got swallowed in the cranky thread, and I'm not going near it, but I really got a kick out of your story. It reminded me of a time I got waylaid in the mall by a little man with a charming French accent. Before I knew it, he had grabbed my hand and was smearing something very strange on it! I almost hit him, but I'm too polite. My mother-in-law and I have the giggles together all the time over things people do, that's why I loved your story, I know we would have been yelled at too, because we would have been in hysterics, though I don't think I would let anyone stick needles in me. Yikes!

inlägg gjort av MrsLee vid 6:15 am (EST) Jun 11, 2008

I've had a bit of fun today, posting those youtube clips on GD and generally butting in on other people's conversations there. I got partway through that cats/engineers thing and then the phone rang so I'll have to have another try some other time - didn't realise it would be so long.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 12:43 pm (EST) Jun 10, 2008

Now that I HAVE to see! Off to the doctor's in a mo, will have a good look when I get back.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 4:56 am (EST) Jun 10, 2008

I haven't seen that yet - will go and have a look, but I'm not sure there's much point in advice at this stage. All they can do now is do their best for the dog. I can't imagine anyone who loves dogs enough to adopt one would take it back at this stage. How awful for them.

On a hapier note, the reason I came back online just before disapearing to bed was because I though - after the genius of the Badger, Badger song, you would be bound to enjoy these if you haven't already seen them. I warn you though, something always goes wrong when I try to forward stuff from youtube so if you don't get the right thing, let me know.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/ki...

and -

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/ll...

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:39 pm (EST) Jun 9, 2008

Thanks for the Green Dragon invite! I've been meaning to take a proper look for ages!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:08 pm (EST) Jun 9, 2008

It's definitely a sign that you need a new bookcase (hope you didn't hurt yourself). I've just been checking out all the catalogues and websites for the same thing but my problem is that I no longer have any room to put one. I'm trying to devise a way of wedging one somehow into the dining room but it's not going to be easy. I really need a separate house for all the books. Until recently I've been pretty ruthless about getting rid of books I don't plan to read again but they're now about the only books I have left (don't ask me where I'm going to find the time to reread them all). I often find myself buying books I've already discarded once just because I miss them.

The more I think about these birds and mice the more I think we're part of nature's plan too so we're entitled to try and rescue a few. (Let's face it, these domestic cats aren't eactly about to starve to death just because we deprive them of the occasional meal.) Speaking of rescue, did you ever see that youTube clip where the lions caught the baby wildebeest, which was then also attacked by a crocodile and, just as you couldn't bear to look any more, all the wildebeest came charging over the hill and rescued it? I think it was actually shown on the TV news at the time. Absolutely wonderful! I cheered so loud I must have fightened the neighbours! (If you didn't see it I'll try and locate it on youtube.)

I do hope you enjoy The Collector. I think it may be the creepiest book ever. Admittedly, I don't find either of the main characters very sympathetic in themselves, but I think, if anything, that enhances the book, making you realise that even basically unlikeable people deserve your pity. Yet another book along similar lines is Joseph O'Connor's The Salesman but you don't want to read too many too close together or they'll lose their shock value.

Three more books arrived in the post from Waterstones today: Mr Wroe's Virgins, Amulet, and The Art of Murder. I think I should easily finish Helpless today and all three look great (as do the other 90-odd on Mount TBR) so I'm utterly spoilt for choice.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:14 am (EST) Jun 9, 2008

PS I meant to add - I see one of the blurbs inside Helpless compares it to John Fowles' The Collector - possibly the most chilling book I've ever read. Have you read it? If not, I suspect you might enjoy it. I do love to be scared now and then and this is very low-key and quietly creepy. Both my kids have read it too and they agree with me so I can't be the only one!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 2:06 pm (EST) Jun 8, 2008

Waterstones loyalty cards - aren't they just the most brilliant invention in the world? For years before they came into being I always said, every time I used my Nectar card 'I wish Waterstones would do this' and they DID! Maybe I should mention it on HH - it's the one thing that makes me think maybe there Is a god!

Okay, here's the story of what I wasted yesterday doing -

I'd just got out of the shower (having dressed, fortunately) and was sitting by the window drying my hair when there was a loud thump on the window and a flurry of feathers. I realised straight away that a bird had flown into the glass (not the first time it's happened) so I looked outside to see what had happened to it. Under the window is a bit of a shrubby patch and, as there was no bird to be seen, I assumed - rightly, as it turned out - that the bird was in there somewhere so I went outside to take a look. As soon as I got outside there was a flash of white and Molly, the neighbours' cat, appeared on the scene,flying towards the shrubs. I yelled No!, threw myself across the lawn and managed to grab her just in time as she was disappearing after the bird.

Now, I'm not completely stupid. I know cats eat birds but I was already feeling responsible for this one so there was I in the front garden, streaming wet hair, nothing on my feet, trying to protect this bird which, to be honest, if it was daft enough to fly into my window, probably wasn't long for this world anyway. I poked around in the undergrowth and found the bird, still breathing, looking very worried, tried to pick it up but it wasn't very keen on that idea. Of course, by now I couldn't leave it because Molly was still lurking. I already had a thorn in my foot and I couldn't go back inside to get my shoes or find something to put the bird in, because if I did, Molly was going to get an early lunch. I am very fond of Molly. Before we had Skeelo she spent a lot of time in our house as she used to creep in through the bedroom windows every time they were opened. But if there's one thing she doesn't need, it's an extra meal. I finally figured out that my only hope was to wait until someone I knew came along so that they could catch Molly while I tried to catch and move the bird. There were no cars outside Molly's house so I was fairly sure they were all out but I was also hoping one of them might turn up and help me out.

In the end, I was out there for over an hour, watching the ground for signs of the bird emerging and trying to distract Molly (anyone who could see me probably thought I was taking part in some kind of beetle-worshipping ritual). After an hour and a bit, she took a dive at the bird who, having now had a bit of time to recover, managed to scrabble its way further into the greenery while I grabbed the cat again. Unfortunately, this meant that the bird had gone too far in for me to see it any more. In the end, and partly because my back was killing me from crouching on the grass, I had to accept that if I could no longer find the bird, maybe Molly couldn't either. I eventually had to give up and go back inside and hope for the best.

Funnily enough, Molly sauntered off at about the same time so I must assume that either she snatched the bird very quickly while I was going back inside (hope not), or she also lost interest and I'm hoping that the bird had had enough of a rest by then to make its escape. I sent Ray out later when he came home, to check for any signs of a massacre but he didn't find any so I'm sort of hopeful.

I think I may possibly be quite mad to do these things. I fully understand that it's just nature for some animals to eat some other animals, so why can't I just let them get on with it? It's a mystery to me. I'm not daft enough to think Molly didn't go off then and eat something/someone else but that's okay as long as I don't have to be there to see it.

BTW, I know what you mean when you talk about being influenced by other people's reviews. I recently bought a book called The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which I thought looked like a good read. When I picked it off the bookshelf the other day, and not knowing much about it, I looked at the LT reviews. Although there are only 2 or 3 of them, they seemed very negative to me. What put me off most was that people seemed to think it wasn't very well written. Usually I could read a bus timetable if it is well written and, conversely, the most exciting story in the world does nothing for me if the writing is poor. Anyway, I went ahead and read the book anyway and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it and thought it was very well-written indeed so booh, ya, sucks to the others - they obviously don't know what they're talking about.

Incidentally, I finished that one this morning and have now started Helpless as you got me intrigued. Gripping, isn't it? (And I'm only about 20 pages in so far. Don't think I'll be getting very much sleep tonight)

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 1:31 pm (EST) Jun 8, 2008

With all the books there are in the world it still amazes me that I have so many in common with other people. I could understand it if we were talking about the latest bestseller but I can't even remember where I heard of Helpless! I haven't started it yet but you've just inspired me to move it considerably nearer the top of Mount TBR. I'm also partway through the Mitford Letters but I don't usually read that kind of book right through in one go. I have a little table beside the bed where I keep letters and short stories, then if I come to the end of a novel after bedtime, but before I'm ready to sleep, I can fill the gap with whatever is on the pile. Some of the books have been there for nearly a year now so don't expect me to finish the Mitfords any time soon. I agree with you about all the nicknames but I do love to read any Mitford things - such a strange yet talented family and all of them so effortlessly witty (though I always suspect Unity might not have been a barrel of laughs)

Where in the world did I send that message that was meant for you? Technology still baffles me! I am getting a lot of laughs from the HH group though whenever I'm on there I seem to get into arguments with one 'believer' in particular (I'm sure you know who I mean) who is very articulate and great fun to argue with but seems to have rather misinterpreted the name of the group. It's really the wrong place to go if you want everyone to agree with you that god exists! Still, you lightened things up brilliantly by bringing Skeelo into the conversation!

Vanilla fudge has been my downfall. I can't just eat one piece; I can get through about a pound of the stuff all in one go. I actually haven't had any for years now (I lie, I bought a small box as a treat when we had that weekend away), but I know it's solely responsible for my ever-increasing waistline.

I'm looking forward to Story of a Marriage. I didn't much enjoy Collector of Worlds and had a bit of a struggle with it. I think I only really got to the end because I knew I owed a review. I decided then that I wouldn't ask for any more ERs until I'd whittled down my TBR pile a bit. Then the June books came out and I've bin and gone and requested two. I've had two books now from f&f and I've been amazed at how quick they are - especially when I read comments from other people who are still waiting for books from about 1843.

Today is one of the days I go to visit my mum so I'm dashing off out in a mo (after I've looked to see whether I need to be offensive to anyone on HH!) but when I come back I'll tell you the story of what I spent an hour or so doing yesterday. You'll wonder why I bothered!

PS - This one just wound up in my own inbox too! I don't somehow think I'm going to be winning any prizes for use of the computer!

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 6:21 am (EST) Jun 8, 2008

Hi! Thanks for the note. I am in Yalta right this minute. I had a chance to vacation with friends in the Ukraine so here I am. What a lovely trip. I am internet cafe-ing so more later! Thanks again, Rox

inlägg gjort av xorscape vid 8:41 am (EST) Jun 7, 2008

Hi Jody, YES! She got a job!! Hurray! It's good she's a cook, 'cause there's such a demand for them. And it turns out that it's in a much nicer restaurant, better pay, nicer people. So she's happy, consequently I'm happy. Things are good. Whew!!! Worrying week though, sure glad it's over.

And as a side-bar, Pippin passed puppy kindergarten with flying colours. He now will "sit", "lie down", "stay" (mostly), and not take me on our walks. We're still working on "come". I think we'll be working on that one a long time. It was a fun class and I'm sorry it's over. The trainer was really great and she loved Pippin, which was sweet of her. He's grown up so fast, hard to believe we've had him now almost 3 months!

Hope you had a lovely, romantic reunion with Andrew. Was Scottie happy to see him too?

inlägg gjort av katylit vid 7:55 pm (EST) Jun 3, 2008

I did not know that Gregor had a "skirt," but it is the perfect name for it. Actually, I think "kilt" might be better for Scottie's, but it is probably a general dog name. He hates it when I brush his beard. How does Scottie like it?

In high school I did watch some reruns of the Tom Baker and Peter Davidson Doctor Whos, but the local PBS stopped running them. Like you I really liked Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, and worried about David Tennent. Now I can't picture anyone else playing the part. I saw the season three Christmas special and the first official show on cable, but then I missed the next episode. I didn't want to watch anymore in case there was something important. Now I just have to wait for my DVD rental.

To combine both topics: I have a remote control K-9 that Gregor likes to chase around.

inlägg gjort av compskibook vid 6:10 pm (EST) Jun 3, 2008

Hi there. I was wondering about you a bit but then I haven't been around as much as usual either so I assumed I'd somehow missed you. I seem to have got involved in a heated religious argument on Happy Heathens and (as usual for the start of the month) I've also been hanging around Book of the Month Club. I haven't been very successful in the games lately - everybody seems to be picking obscure American things I've never heard of, so I suppose I'm not really in my regular haunts right now.

So you've been having a nice romantic weekend - how lovely! You spoilt the effect a bit by confessing that instead of rushing your beloved back home, you dragged him around the bookshops first - always a sign the honeymoon's over ;-) How long is Andrew home for?

I'm glad to hear Scottie's feeling better. We can't help but spoil them now and then. Skeelo is on a diet at the moment and it's all our fault. We got a bit carried away with the titbits and now he's paying the price. I took him to the nutrition nurse today and had to explain that I'm not completely mad (most of the dogs she sees are really obese and she thought at first that we were in the wrong room as he's barely overweight at all), but I am fanatical about his joints as our beardies all suffered from arthritis in their old age and it was so painful to see. I am determined that drastic measures are taken every time he puts on another ounce.

Our weather's not bad at all at the moment, in spite of the occasional flash flood at the weekend. It's now a bit cooler than it has been later so at least we're back to normal walks now.

inlägg gjort av Booksloth vid 5:10 pm (EST) Jun 3, 2008

What a wonderful man for driving out of the way for books!! (I'm serious mine won't go across the street for me to look) :) Is he also a book hound? Like you I love scooping out different bookstores. I don't frequent libraries too much, I'm a kind of selfish person and I like to keep my books at my fingertips for 'reference' also I take pride in my library, it's so much easier to prove that I am a true nerd when people come over!!

You're right Randall Flagg, that is exactly who I was thinking of. I find it interesting how you think about him. I think I understand though the difference you're trying to point out....the difference between truly hating the character (in a sense of a person) or just a poorly written character. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If it's the latter you'll have a hard time finding many of those in Stephen King stories with the exception of Gordy Verril.

You couldn't be more right about my dogs...I doesn't seem like there's three of them most of the time (they have their moments), and I couldn't be happier with them. By the way, it looks like that lemur really took a liking to you :)

inlägg gjort av beckylynn vid 4:51 pm (EST) Jun 3, 2008

Jody -

I saw your comment on the Early Reviewers thread about The Somnambulist. I just finished it today, and thought it was quite good. And I thought of Glass Eaters several times along the way! I don't know why the folks posting on the thread are so negative about it. Of the around 35 reviews on LT, the average rating is 3.5 stars, and about half the reviews are very positive. Give it a go. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Jim (AKA drneutron)

inlägg gjort av drneutron vid 5:14 pm (EST) Feb 22, 2008