laurmurf Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Kate Atkinson's 'When will there be good news?' is the 3rd outing for Jackson Brodie and is fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I loved the Time Travellers Wife too.. and Cloud Atlas. I'm reading The Virgin Blue at the moment by Tracy Chevalier. I just finished Falling Angels by her & really enjoyed it. In fact, I've enjoyed all of her books... Burning Bright is next, although it doesn't get very good reviews on Amazon. I'll give it a whirl though. I also love anything written by Rose Tremain- I think she's fab! I've spied a copy of Memoirs of a Geisha in my local hospice shop...on your recommendations, I'll put it on my list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I also loved Time Traveller's Wife, a book I got into straight away. I've just finished Lollipop Shoes! I've currently got two books on the go (neither are totally brilliant so far) Constance by Rosie Thomas and The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I was intrigued by so many recommendations for The Time Traveller's Wife so I looked it up. There are 832 reviews for this on Amazon and 596 are 5* so I will add it to the four or five others I'm reading. I always have Gormengharst on the go and dip in and out of it. My daughter bought me Bad Science by Ben Goldacre and I couldn't put it down. I now have to pick bits out for my mum so that she stops taking The Daily Mail so seriously. I am still reading Penguins Stopped Play by Harry Thompson, a genius journalist, inventor of Have I Got News for You, now sadly deceased. Just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns .... not as good as The Kite Runner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 I was intrigued by so many recommendations for The Time Traveller's Wife so I looked it up.There are 832 reviews for this on Amazon and 596 are 5* so I will add it to the four or five others I'm reading. I'll add my 5 stars to the other 596! I'd give it 6 if I could! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 At the moment I am reading "Squandered" by David Craig (least I think that's his name - too lazy to go upstairs). Basically it's about the Government and while I have been reading it in bed, it is not advisable. Very depressing, but then I was desperate and it's OH's book. Daytime it's quiltbooks - all sorts. OH wonders how many books on quilting is necessary - hah, lots of them!! Saw Terry Pratchetts latest one in the shop the other day, got excited, but it is a book for youngsters. OH hates me reading his books in bed - I keep laughing too much. Anyone recommend funnies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 I read Terry Pratchett's in bed as well...and laugh all the time My son buys me the latest one for each birthday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruth1 Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 Just re read Terry Pratchett's Witches Abroad which I love and has inspired me to rename Iris(which she doesnt suit) to Lilith which suits her personality well. Am now going to re read some of my Dick Francis and katie Fforde's which are all lighthearted, dont need to think about them books as Im not allowed to buy any new books before Christmas. am hoping for some new reading material from Santa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Ruth, you have inspired me to get out my Witches book just so I can torment OH. I loved that book and I also loved the Moving Pictures one, oh the puns just come thick and fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 Just finished the Katie Fforde, which was light, fluffy and horrifically predictable Started The Chocolate Run by Dorothy Koomson. Still very readable, but her books tend to have a lot else going on in them without being depressing! I will get back into reading books which are a bit more weighty in a bit - honest Just fancy fluff at the mo. Also just listened to The Weirdstone of Bressingamen and The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner with my daughter. Incredibly Tolkienesque without the substance, but she really enjoyed them and is keen to do the Lord of the Rings now. I think We'll have a bit a break from Wizards, and are about to listen to Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) ny Michelle Paver. Looks interesting. Anyone read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Tarpey Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 new Moon Stephenie Meyer- One of my many favorite books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I think We'll have a bit a break from Wizards, and are about to listen to Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) ny Michelle Paver. Looks interesting. Anyone read it? I haven't actually read it but have listened to a podcast of it OH downloaded. Very good, IMHO!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I am now reading the most super book if you like a bit of light chick lit,with a twist. Its called 'A Winters tale', & is about a 40 something hippy girl who inherits the country pile,then starts to renovate it. I am really enjoying it,despite it being a little lighter than the usual stuff I read.I have had a virus,so its all my brain can cope with at the moment There is even a hot gardener Highly recommended. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winters-Tale-Trisha-Ashley/dp/1847560148/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228377697&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I am now reading the most super book if you like a bit of light chick lit,with a twist.Its called 'A Winters tale', & is about a 40 something hippy girl who inherits the country pile,then starts to renovate it. I am really enjoying it,despite it being a little lighter than the usual stuff I read.I have had a virus,so its all my brain can cope with at the moment There is even a hot gardener Highly recommended. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winters-Tale-Trisha-Ashley/dp/1847560148/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228377697&sr=8-1 I had a flick through that in a bookshop last week and was tempted, but wondered if I was being a bit "Mills & Boon" in considering it, so didn't buy it. If you think it's good, please let me know and I still might succumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Half way through & loving it so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Also just listened to The Weirdstone of Bressingamen and The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner with my daughter. I loved these as a kid. The other really great one by Alan Garner is Elidor...have you read it? I'd recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 'Things I Want My Daughters to Know' by Elizabeth "Ooops, word censored!"le - chick lit but with a bit of substance. So good I've bought a copy for my Mum for Christmas. Be warned it will reduce you to tears in places but not as sad as the blurb on the back makes it sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 'Things I Want My Daughters to Know' by Elizabeth "Ooops, word censored!"le - chick lit but with a bit of substance. So good I've bought a copy for my Mum for Christmas. Be warned it will reduce you to tears in places but not as sad as the blurb on the back makes it sound. Just ordered it on audio from the library. I've read a couple of her books before so am looking forward to it. Your book "A Winter's Tale" doesnt' seem to be available on audio Cinammon Sounds good though - a bit of light reading is good every so often, just seems to be all my brain can cope with at the moment (but I do have an excuse!) I was supposed to be listening to "Lollipop Shoes" but I had two of the cds missing, so have had to order it again so I can join in with the book club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I was supposed to be listening to "Lollipop Shoes" but I had two of the cds missing, so have had to order it again so I can join in with the book club. GAH - I have forgotten to start the chat thread about this,haven't I ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 I didn't think I'd seen anything, but then I didnt' want to spoil the book for myself. Hopefully I'll get it though while we're still in December! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I am reading "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre. It is a brilliant book. I am currently wondering how many people I can give it to for Xmas! Bad Science cuts through the spin and misinformation we all read every day in newspapers and see on the TV regarding health issues. It explains how using sciency-sounding words and confusing cause and effect with coincidence has been used by a variety of 'experts' such as nutritionists and lifestyle gurus to promote their wacky theories. The media is vilified for its sensation-seeking headlines that help to create problems. Ben explains how the media cannot be trusted to do science reporting -- even the venerable BBC as he reveals various hoaxes that have been perpetrated on TV, such as the surgical operation performed on TV supposedly using just acupuncture but which in reality was aided by giving the patient anaesthetics! As Ben points out, the newspapers don't dumb down the finance pages, the sports sections or the literature pull-outs - but science stories in Britain's media are always overly-simplistic takes on real science, boiled down to a headline - some daft 'miracle' cure, "x cures/causes cancer", nonsense equations concerning lifestyle choices paid for by travel/health supplement companies, or, the most damaging of all, a good old-fashioned scare story. Ben reveals some quite shocking details of some of the biggest news stories of recent years. A good example is the "World leading MRSA expert" who was working from his Garden shed near Northampton, while several newspapers still gave more weight to his evidence than the Microbiologists who had an actual Lab and knew how to use the equipment. Many chapters had me gasping in shock at how normally sensible people had been hoodwinked by charlatans into wasting money/time or even actively doing themselves and others harm by use of pseudoscience. One particularly worrying case is that of "Brain Gym" that, apparently, is being used in countless state schools as a way of improving children's performance. Apparently one of the exercises promoted by the Brain Gym programme is massaging one's carotid arteries (the arteries that supply the brain) by pressing ones fingers to one's breast bone. As Ben points out, he's "waiting to be impressed by any kid who can stimulate his carotid arteries inside his ribcage, but it’s going to involve dissection with the sharp scissors that only mummy can use." And even if one could, would it improve one's brain function? The scary thing is that teachers have been taught this Brain Gym and appeared to have unhooked their logic circuits during the process. While reading it, it also made me think of all the sciency sounding claims that are made for various animal feed supplements (very prevalent in the horse world) and I wondered how many had actually been scientifically researched. So, I had a quick look for scientific papers on Diatom and red mite control (as I had been sprinkling the old diatom about just yesterday). I found only one paper that actually investigated the effect of diatom on red mites. Fortunately, the researchers did find a reduction in red mite numbers with using diatom but that it only seemed to work for about 10 days, suggesting that frequent reapplication is needed. Interesting...I wonder how many other supplements we use have any solid data to show they work? Read this book and force all your friends to read it too!! You will never be hoodwinked by pseudoscience again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I'm reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I read an article about the film that's due out and thought, I'm sure Son has that book. He does and he has lent it to me. I like the sound of Bad Science though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Have read it and as you say a real eye opener. Check out Goldcre's web site too http://www.badscience.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Inkheart is a great read, just bought the third book in the trilogy but haven't started it yet, is a great story though, hope you enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Funny - I didn't get on with Inkheart at all, & I am a big fantasy fan. I hope you enjoy it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
