The Bookworm's Thread 2016

pollypenny

Feedback on The Road to Little Dribbling - no one in my book group liked it!

I had thought that I was the only one who found it repetitive, superior and condescending, with the occasional touch of effective irony.

Now, this is one I'd have loved to discuss with Errata. Bless her.

VfM4meplse

pollypenny wrote: »

Feedback on The Road to Little Dribbling - no one in my book group liked it!

I had thought that I was the only one who found it repetitive, superior and condescending, with the occasional touch of effective irony.

Now, this is one I'd have loved to discuss with Errata. Bless her.

I'm really surprised! I loved Notes and had heard this was up there too.

pollypenny

Ivevread and enjoyed the two 'notes' and the Australian one. Extracts have been used for GCSE non-literary analysis, too.

Errata recommended Summer of 1927 to me, just before she died, actually. It was ok.

However, Mother Tongue: the Story of English annoyed me. You might remember that I posted about Bryson's explanation of Welsh and Irish pronunciation- simply wrong!

I'm off him totally.

Hobsons_Choice

I've read and quite enjoyed the Chris Ryan (ex SAS) books and was disappointed to hear he no longer writes them but just gives the outline of a plot to other writers and they do all the hard work!
James Patterson's another one I think - though I've never really enjoyed his books - can't get on with the very short chapters either.

VfM4meplse

It took an hour or so to re-read Skinny B*tch:




6/10 for several reasons. Firstly the language, then it's bullying nature. I picked it up again to revisit my thoughts on dairy, but didn't enjoy it in the slightest. It confirmed what I know about corruption at government and regulatory level in the agriculture and food, but I found the description of animals slaughter methods particularly barbaric. I know it goes on but it's something I try not to think about too much.

I first read it after I had a year of being vegan; I have no idea why it struck such a cord at the time

Treasurequeen

Yesterday I finished reading trust me I'm a vet by Cathy woodman the first in the Talyton st George series. I loved reading this book I felt like I was in the book living the characters lives. 9/10 I am a fan of cathys books and can't wait to read the two books that follow this one. up next is a crime thriller.

[Deleted User]

I'm ashamed to say I'm still only 4 chapters in to the Madame Tussaud biography. It's not because I'm not enjoying, I love a good biography and this one is totally engrossing and very well written.

The early chapters centre on the years immediately before the French Revolution and the Revolution itself. It's a fascinating period and one I knew practically nothing about until I started this book:o. There are a lot of historical references that I keep needing to look up and that's slowing me down. Also, there's a cast of thousands :eek:and all the convoluted French aristocratic names and titles is another thing that's stopping me race through it. Definitely a book to reread. The second time should be a doddle as I'll have done the research already:rotfl:


One thing I do know though is that Marie Tussaud was an amazing woman. She had to make casts directly from the guillotined heads of the aristocracy, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette who she knew well from being a tutor to Louis's sister at Versailles.

VfM4meplse

I got through a couple this evening:



8/10, I'll definitely recommend this to patients at risk of Type 2 diabetes. Mostly recipes and limited preaching!



8/10: again a quick 200 page read, plenty of entertaining anecdotes and good old-fashioned common sense.

[Deleted User]

Went to another 'meet the author' this week at the local library and it was David hewson.Very interesting talk and his new book set again in Amsterdam looks good He wrote The Killing for TV.Nice chap and very informative about how he chooses a place to write about.Thoroughly enjoyed the evening.Our local libary system in the medway is really good at getting authors in the natter about their books It was Perter james last month.Free night out with coffee and conversation thrown in what's not to like and gives you an insight on the authors that you read
JackieO xx

pollypenny

Oh, you are lucky, Jackie. No many want to come to North Wales. There is Gladfest, though. A literary festival in Gladstone's library in Hawarden.