Just finished - just started Showing 7,701-7,750 of 13,832

[Adele]

It's actually quite good so far, she wrote it alongside Jeff Rovin & it's exceedingly readable (but I am a massive fan of Ms Anderson)

[Lexie]

Of course she should be allowed to write - I'm allowed to write, after all! And I think she's an excellent actor and it may be that she has other talents, too, but it just makes me wonder if it's just another celebrity whose agent wants their face in Waterstone's window. And I like her too much to want to see her go down that road.

[Natasha]

Just finished Wonder and The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio, which were ace.

Now 11% through my first Sarah Waters: The Paying Guests, which I'm really enjoying.

[Pat ()]

Reading a series about a Dartmoor village by Roger Whale. Very gentle and light, I am enjoying them a lot despite a few formatting slips. Needs Kath's polishing them. the first is The Damson Tree

[Tim]

Just finished To the Grave Rather too bittersweet for my taste, but nevertheless a compelling read, and JT's scrapes were more convincing than in the first book. I don't often give 5 stars, but this earned them.

[Steven]

Natasha, I loved The Paying Guests.

[Steven]

recently read the enjoyed Fat Chance by Nick Spalding and The Good Life the new Martina Cole novel. Now reading the Vanishing Witch by Karen Maitland, historical fiction with a hint of the supernatural.

[Natasha]

Steven wrote: "Natasha, I loved The Paying Guests."

19% through. Addicted. Was at it at 6am this morning, *after* sleep, this time. Not as with Wonder that kept me awake till 4:15am.

[Steven]

Natasha (Diarist) wrote: "Steven wrote: "Natasha, I loved The Paying Guests."

19% through. Addicted. Was at it at 6am this morning, *after* sleep, this time. Not as with Wonder that kept me awake till 4:15am."
I always love it when a book is so good it keeps you up reading... not so fun in the morning though when you can hardly keep the eyes open at work. ;-)

[Karen]

Finally finished wading through 'The very picture of you' which was far too Mills & Boon for my taste! Have now reverted to crime, thankfully, and really enjoying Good People - which is set in mid Wales, so just over the border from me.

[Kath]

I'm now reading Wendy Percival's Blood-Tied which is her first novel. I read her second The Indelible Stain First. Typical. But they're excellent!

[Kath]

Just finished Blood-Tied by Wendy Percival. This is just me reading a series of two in the wrong order. Der! Brilliant, though.

Now I'm stating Date Night on Union Station by E M Foner which is said to be a Sci-fi comedy. That sounds like a decent combination to me.

[Karen]

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Reading a series about a Dartmoor village by Roger Whale. Very gentle and light, I am enjoying them a lot despite a few formatting slips. Needs Kath's polishing them. the first is [book:The Damson ..."

Just downloaded the Damson tree, sounds good. Thanks Pat.

[B J]

I've met Roger Whale a couple of times when he's been selling his indy paperbacks at fairs on the moor. He's a nice chap but totally clueless when it comes to punctuation/formatting and he doesn't bother to get his work proofread, which I find infuriating.

[Karen]

B J wrote: "I've met Roger Whale a couple of times when he's been selling his indy paperbacks at fairs on the moor. He's a nice chap but totally clueless when it comes to punctuation/formatting and he doesn't ..."

Oh dear, that doesn't bode well! I get really irritated with typos and poor proofreading.

[B J]

If you use the 'Look Inside' facility, Karen, you'll find several examples of missing punctuation in the first few lines. It's a shame. I love tales set on Dartmoor, and I suspect these stories are ok, but I just can't be comfortable with this many errors.

[Pat ()]

Karen wrote: "Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Reading a series about a Dartmoor village by Roger Whale. Very gentle and light, I am enjoying them a lot despite a few formatting slips. Needs Kath's polishing them. the fir..."


Sorry if I gave you a "bum steer" Karen. I enjoyed them despite the errors

[B J]

It did occur to me after I made my comments that I based them on what I'd seen of the paperback and the author might have corrected them in the ebook.

[David]

Just finished Sanctus which was a rather entertainingy romp through religious conspiracy thriller land.

Just started The Woods.

[Patti (baconater)]

I enjoyed The Woods, David. Solid four stars from me.

The ending left me a bit flat but you may find it satisfying.

[David]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "I enjoyed The Woods, David. Solid four stars from me.

The ending left me a bit flat but you may find it satisfying."

Is this where I make some comment about wood and satisfying that could be misconstrued by those with a certain kind of imagination?

Anyway, I liked Six Years, so I thought I'd give this one a go.

[Patti (baconater)]

This the perfect time to make such a comment.

I can't think of any time being the wrong time, to be honest.

[B J]

I enjoyed 'The Woods' and went on to another of his books Shelter that I found even better.

[David]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "This the perfect time to make such a comment.

I can't think of any time being the wrong time, to be honest."

Like now:

http://davidhadleyauthor.wordpress.co...

[Patti (baconater)]

I'll have to look at Shelter. I'm between books again.

[B J]

He has the knack of leaping straight into the story and involving the reader from the start. Three chapters in and I was desperate to find out what was going on.

[Patti (baconater)]

What did you think of the The Woods ending, BJ?

[Fiona (Titch)]

I've read Die For Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer - Cynthia Eden and listened to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson. Now I am reading Broken Build - Rachelle Ayala.

[B J]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "What did you think of the The Woods ending, BJ?"

I quite like that sort of final scene where everything is almost, but not quite, neatly tidied up and the reader is left to ponder what happens after the book ends, particularly where there are very troubled central characters. It may feel somewhat unconvincing if everything is quickly, perfectly resolved.

[Adele]

Just finished A Vision of Fire & I thought it was absolutely marvellous, far better than I imagined it could be to be honest. Now reading Academy Street

[Steven]

recently finished The Vanishing Witch by Karen Maitland which was brilliant! love historical fiction! Also just read Crossing The Line by Kerry Wilkinson the latest in his Jessica Daniel series. Now reading Little Lies by Liane Moryarty.

[Adele]

Finished Academy Street, one of the saddest, most heart-wrenching books I have ever read. Beautifully written too but don't read if you have a) recently lost someone, b) feeling lonely or c) just generally feeling down

[Kath]

Just finished Gotta Read It! - Five Simple Steps to a Fiction Pitch That Sells by an American author, Libby Hawker. It's about writing pitches (or blurbs) for novels. Somewhat obvious in places - though evidnently, from some of the blurbs I've seen, not to everyone - but it's a good way to organise the things you need to say about your book. Worth a go, if you're a writer. (77p)

[David]

Kath wrote: "Just finished Gotta Read It! - Five Simple Steps to a Fiction Pitch That Sells by an American author, Libby Hawker. It's about writing pitches (or blurbs) for novels. Somewhat obvio..."

I think I'm going to get that one.

[Kath]

It had a few worthwhile ideas in. :)

I'm struggling with Susan Hill's Strange meetings. WW1 story but the writing style is bizarre. It's full of run-on sentences and reads like homework that needs correcting! It's making me seriously twitchy. Need to read it for the local book group.

[Patti (baconater)]

B J wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "What did you think of the The Woods ending, BJ?"

I quite like that sort of final scene where everything is almost, but not quite, neatly tidied up and the reader is left ..."

I thought it was rather too tidied up. Might have had a different view on a different day, mind. I'm moody.

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh And I started the Shelter last night. Don't remember a thing I read before I fell asleep. :(
Hate being this tired.

[B J]

Not being familiar with the American education system I was several chapters in before I realised that the 6'4" central character is only 15. I loved the way complications just kept piling up.

[Karen]

Have now finished Good People which was very intricately plotted - and set in mid-Wales so I consider that my home territory! A good read.
Now started Donna Leon's The Golden Egg as I wanted something reliable to get into for the train journey to the NEC today (caravans & Motorhomes - what a fab day!!) and although it is a bit of a slow-burner, it does have me hooked.

[Patti (baconater)]

B J wrote: "Not being familiar with the American education system I was several chapters in before I realised that the 6'4" central character is only 15. I loved the way complications just kept piling up."

Well, what I read before I fell asleep last night seems to have stuck, which is a good sign.
Can't say I'm feeling enamoured by the characters yet but I'm only at 17%.

[Adele]

Just started reading the first in the Private series by James Patterson. Only on chapter 2 & hooked already

[B J]

Yes, it's definitely plot-driven rather than character-driven. We have a son who saw his father die and buried, but is told he may not be dead; a weird old woman who appears strangely well-informed; a mysterious tombstone in a back garden; a symbol that keeps appearing in unexpected places; a girl who starts a school, disappears and whose parents deny her existence; unidentified men in cars with number plates that don't officially exist; apparent links to the Holocaust - lots of interesting story lines.

[Kath]

Just finished Strange Meeting by Susan Hill, read for out local book group. I must say that if I'd been reading it for myself I'd have ditched it 35% through. It's got some lovely observations on the growing friendship between two very different young officers in the WW1 trenches but oh, the writing style! It was so jerky and... I'd have had my editor's red pen through loads of those run-on sentences. It was obviously written thus for a purpose but I'm damned if I know why and it totally ruined the experience for me.

[Lexie]

I thought I remembered liking it but it's a while ago!

[Kath]

I picked one short passage, sent it to the friend who edits for me and said, 'What would you do if I sent you this?' I got it back with the first bit re-written and the comment 'and the rest isn't even English.' I agreed!

[Lexie]

I must look at it again. Perhaps I'm confusing it with something else entirely.

[Kath]

And I've just read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Atmospheric but a little heavy handed to the extent that I guessed the ending. But two typos (at least - that's what I noticed) in a book out since 1983 with a tradition publisher. Indies face an uphill struggle but some people get away with it!

[Jonathan]

I loved The Woman in Black. Disgraceful that there are still typos, though. The play and film are different beasts but both good in their own right.

[Steven]

I enjoyed The Woman In Black but struggled with a crime book of hers I read recently.

I've just finished Little Lies by Liane Moriarty which is really clever. I read the husband's secret by the same author ealier this year, but think this one is even better.

[Noorilhuda]

I just finished Barbara de Angelis' How did I get here? How Did I Get Here?: Finding Your Way to Renewed Hope and Happiness When Life and Love Take Unexpected Turns - it's non-fiction self-help book. And though I'm a fan of hers, I was disappointed by this book - it doesn't say anything new (that hasn't been said on websites, presentations, seminars - by other people) so yeah, that's about it.

But if you guys are into these sorts of books, do check out her better previous work:
Secrets About Life Every Woman Should Know: Ten Principles for Total Emotional and Spiritual Fulfillment
Are You the One for Me?: Knowing Who's Right and Avoiding Who's Wrong
Ask Barbara: The 100 Most Asked Questions About Love, Sex, and Relationships