Recently bought (acquired) books! Showing 2,451-2,500 of 2,634

[Paul]

Subtle and charming ;-)

[H]

Will we be doing a SS this year? I did the 2014 one, missed the 2015 one so eager to participate if there will be one this year !

[Margo]

My black friday audiobook purchases (on thurday):

The Devil's Work
What You Wish For
The Man in the High Castle
Day Shift
Psychology of Human Behavior
The Secrets of Gaslight Lane
The Girl With No Past
The Shut Eye
Six of Crows
Spell or High Water
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

In fairness to me audible uk have a 2 for one sale and a buy 3 get a £10 voucher as well and its not as bad as it looks. Probably do some xmas shopping tomorrow as audible deals are til end of nov ;-)

[Paul]

Went easy then

[Trelawn]

Impressive haul Margo. The only one I've read is Mr Penumbra

[Margo]

I always splurge a bit for at xmas so it makes to get value for money!

[Margo]

Final trip to sales for 2016 (usual exclusions apply i.e. book club and great offers)

Faithful Place
The Secret Place
The Missing
The Girl In The Ice
I See You
Conclave

Me and Mams final buys - honest :-)

[Susan]

I hope none of these were on your Secret Santa list.

[Paul]

Thankfully Margo didnt take part so we're safe :-)

[Margo]

Unfortunately secret santa doesn't come to those of us that are limited to digital format so we get to have fun on black friday - which these days lasts a week ;-)

[Maria Hill]

Margo wrote: "Final trip to sales for 2016 (usual exclusions apply i.e. book club and great offers)

Faithful Place
The Secret Place
The Missing
[book:The Girl In T..."


ooh tell us how you liked
faithful place when you read it?

[Susan]

I'm interested in the concept of Black Friday translating to countries that don't celebrate Thanksgiving. It's amazing to me that our shopping habits make the transition but how cool it would be if everybody had a day to celebrate things we are grateful for. It would be great to have an international day of Giving Thanks.

[Susan]

Not only that but that Black Friday is basically a holiday. Many people gave up their Columbus Day holiday to have Thanksgiving Friday off. It just makes sense that no one wants to work the day after the holiday and who doesn't love a four day week-end? It makes travelling for the families so much easier.

[H]

We are very anti Black Friday here in the UK, they don't quite do it the same as in the US, I find it all rather distasteful to be honest.

I'm always jealous of thanksgiving dinner because it's a trial for Christmas food haha and who couldn't use more than one of them. But an international day of giving thanks is a beautiful idea, we don't let ourselves pause often enough and really think about what we are most grateful for.

[Susan]

I am glad to hear that. It has really taken a distasteful turn here now with stores opening on Thanksgiving Day. I really really really hate that. Imagine taking people away from their families so you can save $3 on a DVD.

Our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are slightly different but on the same line. I think the meals are different on the East and West Coast. I think people eat goose on the East Coast which we would never do on the west coast. Goose is not popular here especially with the force feeding issue. We probably have more tofu turkey which seems disgusting to me but to each its own. Our community has a big dinner at the Senior Center that the honor prisoners cook and all the donations go to the Toy Drive and the Senior Center. It's nice for people who are on their own so they don't have to eat alone and for those just jumping at the bit to go shopping. :)

[Margo]

You are so right Susan - everyone should have a day to consider al the good things in their lives. We are too fond of complaining. I grew up in the UK and in school they always made a big deal of Harvest Festival which fell around now and would be a similar idea.

I have to admit I enjoyed the Black Friday sales and I got all my xmas online done, saving about 30%.

I hate that shop staff should be forsed to work the day after a holiday. People start to panic if shops are closed 2 days in a row!

[Paul]

I can't see Thanksgiving being happily grasped by the rest of the world.
Its origin is way too embedded in white colonialism to work anywhere else.
Its a nice idea but couldnt really be accepted in a lot of places.
If one of you guys can sell the concept to Africa or the Middle East I will be well impressed ;-)

[Margo]

Ya, I guess that's one of the things I'm constantly thankful for; where and when I was born.

[H]

Lol Paul, would have to be sold as a neutral day of thanks certainly not the thanksgiving they celebrate in the US right now, I find the whole thing very ironic.

People are buying things In the sales they don't need and can ill afford it's frightening.

I've only had goose once and it was far too gamey and oily for me to really say I liked it but at least they weren't force fed.

Gobble gobble gobble! Turkey for life unless I ever manage to get my act together and stop eating meat

[Trelawn]

Turkey is all very well but you really can't beat stuffed pork steak.

[H]

The trick is to brine the turkey for 24 hours beforehand and then cook it wrapped (loosely) in foil on the BBQ after rubbing it with pink salt, garlic and smoked butter and throwing a clementine inside it.

*dribble* God don't get me started on sausage meat, I'm marrying into a Lebanese family and they've never heard of it or bread stuffing. I thought I was going to cry last Christmas.

[H]

I made a fabulous ham last year which I cooked in Coca Cola funnily enough (I've never had a mouthful of the drink in my life) and baked afterwards with the usual honey and mustard seed glaze. It was just the right amount of sweet and quite literally melted in the mouth.

[Maria Hill]

Emma wrote: "I've never been a huge fan of turkey. It's a very bland meat. I far prefer the ham and sausage meat stuffing at Christmas. The turkey is really just because it's going and it's traditional."

I love Turkey with cranberry sauce. I am now a big fan of the Tripple Decker delux sandwich in O'Briens which uses cranberry sauce instead of butter, has turkey, brie cheese, bacon and salad leaves, all toasted (except the leaves of course). I was vegetarian for years until a couple of months ago - so this seems really naughty to me still.



I really don't care much for ham - again that is something I only eat because it's tradition.

[Trelawn]

I have never gotten the cranberry sauce thing. I really don't like it and don't think it brings anything to turkey.

[Paul]

Its almost always about the Ham for me, but the Turkey we had for Christmas the last two years was spectacular

[Susan]

Now that my son is a big bbqer we have smoked turkey. He smokes it for hours and it is delicious and certainly not bland. I love cranberry sauce especially if it's home made and not out of a can but I'll take it any way I can get it. I could not go without stuffing so I feel your pain, Heather. It's awful when your taste buds are wanting something and it's not there.

It's quite obvious that American food doesn't seem popular among you guys. Emma finds turkey bland and our chocolate makes Paul vomit. I guess it's what you're used to. We find your liking of blood pudding and marmite unusual. Each to their own.

As far as Thanksgiving being a celebration of colonialism, Paul, I doubt many Americans view it that way. It's more of a celebration of people who made a long and difficult journey and survived enormous odds in order to have the right of freedom of religion. To many of us, it's a reminder that no matter what we've gone through, there is an end and that we have much to give thanks about. As do we all. It's important to stop and remember to be grateful.

[Paul]

I wasn't questioning how Americans view Thanksgiving but more how those outside would view it if it was being imported.
Its one of those things , like American Football that just doesnt translate hugely outside the US to the rest of the world.

[Paul]

A lot of the food I tried in the US was terrible. Burnt baxon, too much salt and sugar and The bread was full of sugar and nasty. Thank god for Subway when I was there. And the chocolate ( should that name even be allowed for Hersheys) .
I generally don't mind Turkey though. If its cooked right its nice enough. The issue is mostly that people overcook Turkey as its something they only cook on holidays and dry it out .

[Paul]

meant bacon.

[Susan]

I guess it's what you're used to. Our bacon is like a #1 food choice here. As far as the bread, it's what you order. I could take you to many places that have delightful places that have delicious bread.

As far as American football not translating, games in London and Mexico City are all sold out so some people like it. In return we wonder how people are devoted to soccer.

Still we should appreciate our differences not criticize them.

[Maria Hill]

My wee celebration of diversity.


Yes, I know somebody in work who flys over to London to see the American Football games on a regular basis, she is also a big GAA fan both Gaelic Football and Hurling but would NEVER watch soccer - that's English! Don't think she is as fussy about Rugby - which is also English - mmh. Not being a sports fan - I really have fun with her because to me they are all just games.

Yes, love homemade Cranberry sauce the best - it's a great US import. Before that, the traditional Turkey, stuffing, and Ham at Irish Christmas dinners were so dry! The English bread sauce just does not cut it for me they made me eat it when I was in Scotland.

I have never been to the states but have been to central Europe (Czech Republic mostly) and Germany a lot. The bacon there is really different (I don't like it - it's very aartificial . While I love German bread it really tastes nothing like Irish Bread (Irish bread is tasteless in comparison) and I know those who dread it.

To be very controversial I HATE Tayto Cheese and Onion Crisps and Red Lemonade - they are vile - lads really vile. I was brought up in Australia until I was eight so must have developed taste buds eating real crisps (or cold chips as they are called there) and proper soft drinks?

But Irish chocolate, followed by Swiss and German are the best.

Now I am going to have me Dinner.

[Maria Hill]

Also love English crisps the best - they are the closest to Ozzie I can get. Mmh and prefer their style sausages as I prefer coarser meat. Loving their Pork Pies, They can keep their nasty marmite though!

Worship German and swiss cheese. But Irish milk is the best.

In other words, we are so very lucky to live in a world where we not only have plenty of food we can taste the foods from other lands and be very very fussy!

[Margo]

I'm with Susan on black pudding and Paul on american chocolate =)

Not a turkey fan but I don't eat much meat. If it was up to me we would have re heated Chinese food for xmas day!

[H]

Cranberry and port sauce (homemade) is a vital ingredient to a good roast dinner. I didn't know it coming in a can was an option until I stumbled across it on Facebook a couple of weeks ago and it looks vile just like jelly!!!

To be fair to Paul it really does seem you are celebrating a holiday that has its roots in something truly awful and an awful lot of Americans don't seem to be fully aware of just what they are technically celebrating. But yeah..life is what you make it.

I also don't like Tayto crisps, they taste powdered to me. I would choose O'Donnels over them any day!

[Trelawn]

For crisps you can't beat Hunky Dorys salt and vinegar. I agree with Maria about German chocolate, I stock up whenever I visit. It's true that we are lucky to have access to such a diverse range of foods not just from our own country but from around the world. It has made us quite picky though. But I guess it would be boring if we all liked the same stuff. I think we can all agree that Marmite is gross though. I don't know one person who likes it.

[Maria Hill]

I think we can all agree that Marmite is gross though. I don't know one person who likes it.

I do. They are both English though so that may explain it.

[H]

Yep Marmite looks and smells vile, I haven't put it to the taste to be honest!

[Paul]

Following the numerous comments on my book taste from you Susan I nearly spit out my tea laughing at the appreciating our differences comment.
But I did find plenty of places I enjoyed food in the US as well. No where does burgers as well as America.
They play the occasional college American Football game here and they tend to be popular enough but like the London games I think its the variety of something different and the popularity wouldnt extend far enough to sustaining the numbers.
On an odd one Soccer doesnt go down as big in viewing in the US but its actually the most played team sport there. Until Trump builds the wall anyway ;-)

[Paul]

I'm a cheese and onion Hunky dorey man my self although I'll happily eat King and the O' Donovans crisps are really good as well.

[Paul]

Cant remember ever having Marmite.
Think I'd tilt towards German Chocolate, I love Milka but I'd never say no to Cadburys .

[Maria Hill]

Paul wrote: "I'm a cheese and onion Hunky dorey man my self although I'll happily eat King and the O' Donovans crisps are really good as well."

Dear God! No wonder Mr Tayto has to wave at me every day from the window of Arnotts - nobody buys his crisps any more!

[Paul]

But he has his own theme park now Maria. His empire is no longer crisp reliant

[Trelawn]

I've never heard of O'Donovan crisps. What the hell?

[Paul]

Most shops do them now. I'll bring a bag home from work tomorrow.

[Maria Hill]

Bringing the conversation back to books we have bought - I bought a copy of last year. It was background research for a story I was/am still writing (sigh). Me mammy loves it as it talks about all the sweets of her childhood. No crisps in it though that I remember.

[Trelawn]

That sounds interesting Maria.

[Margo]

Tayto forever!!!!!

[Thomas, Moderator]

I buy German chocolate at Aldis. Although I don't mind black pudding, Liz thinks that it is vile. My daughter is the assistant manager of a Subway. Liz and I both like turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes.
My grandson, Donny, asked me "Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It's very time consuming."

[Margo]

That's pretty funny Thomas :-D

[Margo]

Emma I'll be interested to hear what you think of Holding. I was nearly tempted on account of who wrote it.