UK Book Club discussion
The Goodreads Reading Challenge
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Peter's List
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Hmm, yes. Not off to a flying start! :) Seems to be too much else to do.
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Struggling. I'm studying for an exam as well as working so that's my excuse. :) (Only 1 exam, Zoe, lame I know) Do textbooks count? If so, I'm adding this...
MCTS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Configuration Study Guide (70-631), W/CD
Not much on plot but some nice pictures :)
MCTS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Configuration Study Guide (70-631), W/CD
Not much on plot but some nice pictures :)
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sings 'Ain't no stopping us now'.
Can I count The Gruffolo then? I've read it about 50 times this year so far...
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Em wrote: "Can I count The Gruffolo then? I've read it about 50 times this year so far..."
Heh. I know the feeling Em. My son demanded Hamish the Highland Cow every night for what seemed like 2 months. Eventually had to march him into Waterstones to buy something else. :)
Heh. I know the feeling Em. My son demanded Hamish the Highland Cow every night for what seemed like 2 months. Eventually had to march him into Waterstones to buy something else. :)
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Undoubtedly a classic! My son loves it too and it's a book I enjoy reading to him. I have to say though, my heart sinks if he wants Thomas the Tank Engine or Ant & Bee...
Have you tried The Gruffalo's Child? We got it a couple of weeks ago. Not as good as the original but fun nonetheless. You can't go wrong with Donaldson/Scheffler. :)
PS. Sat and passed my exam today. So now I can dedicate some time to the challenge!
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I'm just so glad that he'll sit down & listen - we both enjoy a good story!
Good news on the exam :)
Yep, we've got the The Gruffalo's Child among others but we've now ditched them in favour of The Cat in the Hat as of this week - it's great, a classic and they love it. When I was a kid I used to find the illustrations a bit creepy but that hasn't occured to my two!
We're on the Gruffalo's Child and Stick Man. I really like Stick Man. The words just flow so well (I especially like the page with the dog at the start).
We haven't really gone near the Dr Suess stuff yet. Angus got a DVD of some of the more obscure stories from a relative but I can't stand it so it's been 'lost'. :)
We haven't really gone near the Dr Suess stuff yet. Angus got a DVD of some of the more obscure stories from a relative but I can't stand it so it's been 'lost'. :)
Blissfully short memories when they're young - they only nag for a matter of hours before the "lost" item is totally forgotten I find! Hey, how are you getting on with The Handmaid's Tale? I really like Margaret Atwood and thought that book was excellent but I recommended it to my Dad and he gave up after a few pages to read his 100th Wilbur Smith - I was a bit disappointed to be honest!
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I've hidden a few books and toys that were gifts I wasn't so keen on...(Especially a toy crab that used to scare the living daylights out of the poor child!)
When I'm not reading bedtime stories, I'm a big Margaret Atwood fan too, I particularly liked The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace & The Blind Assassin.
Although if you enjoy the futuristic elements of the Handmaid's Tale, I'd really recommend Oryx and Crake
I'm a margaret atwood fan too! Have you read The Year of the Flood? It has some characters from oryx and crake in it although I have to say I didn't enjoy year of the flood as much as oryx and crake
I have read alot of her books but haven't got to The Blind Assassin yet - it's on my book shelf ready to read though. I thought Oryx and Crake was very good but did leave me feeling a bit on edge (as do quite a few of her books if I'm honest) - perhaps that's part of her appeal for me? I appreciate her slightly sinister imagination! I'll keep an eye out for The Year of the Flood even if it's not quite as good I think it'll still be worth while to read.
Liz wrote: "Have you got Fox in Socks & Green Eggs and Ham, they're pretty good....I've hidden a few books and toys that were gifts I wasn't so keen on...(Especially a toy crab tha..."
I remember Green Eggs and Ham from my own childhood - we don't have it amongst our hundreds of kids books but will have look out for it and Fox in Socks for birthday pressies!
i'm enjoying The Handmaids Tale a lot. I read it years ago (1994?) so am rediscovering it. I took a load of paperbacks of my bookshelves and I'm working my way throught them before putting them to the charity.
Thanks a lot for the recommendations. I will definately follow them up as I am keen to read more by Attwood. This is the only book of hers I have read.
Thanks a lot for the recommendations. I will definately follow them up as I am keen to read more by Attwood. This is the only book of hers I have read.
2. The Handmaid's Tale
Whilst I am the wrong gender to directly relate to much of what the heroine talks about, one aspect really affected me and made me think. She dwells on language, in particular reading and writing, and how keenly she feels the loss of any contact with the written word. This is obviously one way in which the totalitarian government under which she is suffering controls the population (like 1984).
It made me dwell on how much that would affect me. The majority of my waking hours are spent reading and writing in some form or another (work and leisure). To be denied reading material of any kind is almost unthinkable and made me feel quite uncomfortable. Just one look at this site shows that there are a lot of people out there who would feel the same.
I would recommend this book but I would agree with Em that it's a read that puts you 'on edge'.
Whilst I am the wrong gender to directly relate to much of what the heroine talks about, one aspect really affected me and made me think. She dwells on language, in particular reading and writing, and how keenly she feels the loss of any contact with the written word. This is obviously one way in which the totalitarian government under which she is suffering controls the population (like 1984).
It made me dwell on how much that would affect me. The majority of my waking hours are spent reading and writing in some form or another (work and leisure). To be denied reading material of any kind is almost unthinkable and made me feel quite uncomfortable. Just one look at this site shows that there are a lot of people out there who would feel the same.
I would recommend this book but I would agree with Em that it's a read that puts you 'on edge'.
Absolutely, I've lived happily without TV in the past and I didn't miss it one bit but the thought of being without books is truly awful. If we lived in a society that banned or restricted access to books I can't imagine what I'd do. I sometimes think about what book I'd chose for something like Desert Island Discs (clearly, I don't have enough to do?!) and all I can think is it would have to be the thickest brick of a book I could possibly find!
On this theme, have you come across The Book Thief by Markus Zusak? It is based in Germany during the war and does look at the reality of living in a society where freedom of thought and therefore books (unless approved by the Nazi Party) are banned. Also, it looks at the compulsion to read that some of us feel. I'd recommend it.
I have The Book Thief on my bookshelf. I started it a while back but gave up after a couple of chapters. I will give it another go after my current book.
The bit in The Handmaids Tale where the only word she has to read is on an embroidered cushion struck me. Like being stuck in a waiting room with nothing to read. My youngest son has been in hospital a lot recently so I could quite easily relate to that.
So, what would be your desert island book?
The bit in The Handmaids Tale where the only word she has to read is on an embroidered cushion struck me. Like being stuck in a waiting room with nothing to read. My youngest son has been in hospital a lot recently so I could quite easily relate to that.
So, what would be your desert island book?
Em wrote: "Absolutely, I've lived happily without TV in the past and I didn't miss it one bit but the thought of being without books is truly awful. If we lived in a society that banned or restricted access ..."Hi Em
I know what you mean about the TV how depressing it is. Repete repete after repete.
I'll have to get back to you on that. I can never make my mind up, find it hard to chose a favourite of anything but especially books. The truth is I didn't re-read a single book until I was about 30 - there's always a new book to read first. I've got The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde that I must admit I haven't read alot of (its hardback so bit heavy for my handbag). Maybe something along those lines - what about you - any thoughts?
Nick wrote: "Em wrote: "Absolutely, I've lived happily without TV in the past and I didn't miss it one bit but the thought of being without books is truly awful. If we lived in a society that banned or restric..."Yeah, and those soaps just suck people in, before you know it you're like my in-laws and stop taking phone calls when Emmerdale or Enders is on!! When there is something worth seeing, I usually mange to miss it but no excuses now as my friend buys every boxset going so I get to borrow them after. That said, I am offically hooked on "Caprica" and "True Blood"!!! Surely, not just me?
Em wrote: "Nick wrote: "Em wrote: "Absolutely, I've lived happily without TV in the past and I didn't miss it one bit but the thought of being without books is truly awful. If we lived in a society that bann..."Hehe
Me and mum are staying with a friend of mum's. All she watches are the soaps and mum friend know ever one in them like they are framily I just cant believe how sad some people are. I feel like telling her to get a life LOL!!
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I'd like to reread The Handmaid's Tale - it's been quite a while since I read it and The Book Thief is on my to read list...
I just read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - now there's another one about keeping the public 'safe' from the evil influence of books!
BTW Em, my guilty pleasure is also 'True Blood'... but I have to download it here - too much for the local censors!
My desert island book would be either a complete set of Encyclopedia Brittanica, or Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, Twelfth Edition. I've got one of these and I could sit and look at it for hours. It's also so big that it could double as a make-shift shelter. :)
Novel-wise, perhaps The Beach. That's one of my favourite novels.
Novel-wise, perhaps The Beach. That's one of my favourite novels.
The Beach is good but I'd get a bit fed up of reading that and nothing else. Encycolpedia Brittanica - good idea but as I'm a fiction addict it may not suit me. I like the thinking though! It would give you plenty to read that's for sure.
Plenty to read and it would make a ready source of fuel for the camp fire! :) Oh, and there would be plenty of info on how to build a raft, boat, plane, rocket, etc.
Boo!
Yes I'm still here.
Finished Wasp Factory by Iain Banks. Another book that has sat on my shelf since I first read it in the early nineties. Not sure I enjoyed it. It's certainly a weird book. I would recommend giving it a go but I would expect most people to be slightly freaked out by it.
I have read most of Iain Bank's novels (not his sci-fi) and they all have something to recommend them. This has his very inventive use of language and his black humour but has a lot more murder and animal mutilation. :)
To explain my slow progress.. my son Euan has been in intensive care in Edinburgh for several weeks. As a consequence, my life has revolved around work, looking after my other son and travelling to Edinburgh to support my wife who has been living in the hospital. They are both home now so things are gradually returning to normal.
It's put a bit of a dent in my challenge tho. :)
Yes I'm still here.
Finished Wasp Factory by Iain Banks. Another book that has sat on my shelf since I first read it in the early nineties. Not sure I enjoyed it. It's certainly a weird book. I would recommend giving it a go but I would expect most people to be slightly freaked out by it.
I have read most of Iain Bank's novels (not his sci-fi) and they all have something to recommend them. This has his very inventive use of language and his black humour but has a lot more murder and animal mutilation. :)
To explain my slow progress.. my son Euan has been in intensive care in Edinburgh for several weeks. As a consequence, my life has revolved around work, looking after my other son and travelling to Edinburgh to support my wife who has been living in the hospital. They are both home now so things are gradually returning to normal.
It's put a bit of a dent in my challenge tho. :)
Hey Peter, I did wonder what you were up to - you mentioned before that your son had been in and out of hospital. How's Euan getting on? Glad to hear things returning to normal now - it is extremely hard work toing and froing to hospital and not to mention the worry, pretty hard to concentrate on a book with all that going on!
Em, thanks for looking out for me :)
Euan was born in September (a healthy 10lb) but in November he contracted a virus which put him in ITU for a month and left his lungs damaged. He got home for Xmas on oxygen and feeding tube. We were doing pretty well until the end of February when he got another infection and was back in hospital.
Unfortunately Aberdeen hospital doesn't have intensive care facilities for kids so the closest is Edinburgh. Luckily, my wife's sister lives in Edinburgh so she was able to look after her on a day-to-day basis but, as you say, life in the hospital is pretty numbing.
He's going to be on oxygen for the foreseeable future but we are adapting as you do when you have kids :)
Euan was born in September (a healthy 10lb) but in November he contracted a virus which put him in ITU for a month and left his lungs damaged. He got home for Xmas on oxygen and feeding tube. We were doing pretty well until the end of February when he got another infection and was back in hospital.
Unfortunately Aberdeen hospital doesn't have intensive care facilities for kids so the closest is Edinburgh. Luckily, my wife's sister lives in Edinburgh so she was able to look after her on a day-to-day basis but, as you say, life in the hospital is pretty numbing.
He's going to be on oxygen for the foreseeable future but we are adapting as you do when you have kids :)
Good luck peter hope all goes well for you and you family. Be thinking of you all
PS. I've put an picture of the wee boy in my profile.
We had a few weeks in NICU after having premature twins in 2004 and it was the most stressful time of my life! I really do know how hard going this is. (Not made easier by my husband having a car accident when they were 2 weeks old - he was amazingly not badly injured but even so the phone ringing at 3am to inform me sent me into a cold sweat) We were lucky in that my girls didn't need to come home on oxygen but I know plenty of babies that did, to look at them now - you would never believe it. I'm sure it will be the same for you. Hope Euan continues to make a good recovery.
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To Em... I'm glad to hear that the outcome of your stay in ICU was a happy one (apart from the hit to the no claims bonus for your husband!). My wife bore the brunt of it as she stayed there for the entire episode so I can appreciate how you felt. It becomes your entire focus.
The ICU is a strange place. It is very stressful but you soon realise that the people there are the best in the business and you are put at ease. It made me appreciate what the NHS is all about (Euan is going to have to get a flipping good job to pay back all the National Insurance that he's used up in his first 6 months).
The ICU is a strange place. It is very stressful but you soon realise that the people there are the best in the business and you are put at ease. It made me appreciate what the NHS is all about (Euan is going to have to get a flipping good job to pay back all the National Insurance that he's used up in his first 6 months).
To Liz... thanks. Home life is returning to normal. Our other son is a lot happier now that mummy is home. I thought he was bearing up pretty well until I saw the contrast in his behaviour when she got home.
The doctors have said that it is likely that he will be on a small amount of oxygen for two years possibly. However, they seem to change their minds quite regularly so we'll see.
The doctors have said that it is likely that he will be on a small amount of oxygen for two years possibly. However, they seem to change their minds quite regularly so we'll see.
No 4. Dispatches by Michael Herr
A memoir of the Vietnam war by a Rolling Stone magazine journalist. He describes the war from the point of view of a number of the lowly 'grunts' (as he was there with them) in some of the bigger episodes of war (Khe Sanh, etc.). He also describes the antics of the correspondents, who were clearly mental (they didn't have to be there for a start).
If you've seen 'Full Metal Jacket' then bits of this book will be familiar and that is because Herr contributed to the script. He also wrote the narration over Apocalypse Now.
A memoir of the Vietnam war by a Rolling Stone magazine journalist. He describes the war from the point of view of a number of the lowly 'grunts' (as he was there with them) in some of the bigger episodes of war (Khe Sanh, etc.). He also describes the antics of the correspondents, who were clearly mental (they didn't have to be there for a start).
If you've seen 'Full Metal Jacket' then bits of this book will be familiar and that is because Herr contributed to the script. He also wrote the narration over Apocalypse Now.
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Apocalypse Now - there's a cheery film!!Think I'll have to be in a strong frame of mind before I go anywhere near this one.
It's quite a short book (hence it was on my list, need to get the numbers! :)).
There's quite a lot of aspects to the book, which makes it a good read. You get an appreciation of what it was (and is, I suppose) like to be a soldier in war (hideous as you might expect) but also what drives people to go and report on such things. Finally, he weaves around that how the whole thing unravelled.
It gets a bit 'stream of consciousness' at times but for the most part is pretty readable.
There's quite a lot of aspects to the book, which makes it a good read. You get an appreciation of what it was (and is, I suppose) like to be a soldier in war (hideous as you might expect) but also what drives people to go and report on such things. Finally, he weaves around that how the whole thing unravelled.
It gets a bit 'stream of consciousness' at times but for the most part is pretty readable.
No 5. Notes from an Exhibition
Euan update... he's doing very well. He's put on a lot of weight and now has a gastrostomy tube into his stomach which is a lot less hassle than a nasal tube.
:) My reading rate is not improving however.
Euan update... he's doing very well. He's put on a lot of weight and now has a gastrostomy tube into his stomach which is a lot less hassle than a nasal tube.
:) My reading rate is not improving however.
Glad Euan is doing well and putting on weight - good news!You're on a book a month which all things considered isn't bad is it? What are you going to read next then?
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Euan update... he's doing very well. He's put on a lot of weight and now has a gastrostomy tube into his stomach which is a lot less hassle than a nas..."
Good to hear Euan is doing well. How was Notes from an Exhibition?
UK Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Black Swan Green (other topics)Of Mice and Men (other topics)
Of Mice and Men (other topics)
Cloud Atlas (other topics)
Black Swan Green (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Markus Zusak (other topics)Margaret Atwood (other topics)
Wilbur Smith (other topics)
The Pianist
Really enjoyed this book if that's the correct sentiment. It is a harrowing read and some bits you wish that you could unread cause it's sometimes better not to know the things people are capable of.