Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

jwil

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Yes, same here. I'd never read any Terry Pratchett before The Big Read either. I'd already read the classics before but it was so long ago I thought I'd re-read them for the challenge to refresh my memory of them. I think there were about 18 'new to me' ones on there, including the Stephen King. Katherine by Anya Seton was totally unknown to me but I just couldn't get along with it and gave up on it:o. Otherwise I was doing a lot of reading to cover everything, burning the candle at both ends for months.

Another one that I really enjoyed from that list was A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I've gone on to read all his other books, I'm a real fan of his thanks to The Big Read:j. I still think that one was his best though.

I've not read Katherine either. I don't tend to go for historical fiction, although I quite like the Phillippa Gregory books that I've read. I like John Irving too - he was one I discovered through the 1001 books list. Actually, speaking of historical fiction - I would never in a million years have picked up 'Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett if it hadn't been on the list. I loved it! I haven't read the sequels though but might keep an eye out for them.

Some of the other ones I liked were The Diary of a Nobody by George & Weedon Grossmith, John Wyndham, Primo Levi, Kazuo Ishiguro and Haruki Murakami. I'm not sure I would have picked any of those without the list!

I've just looked it up again, and it looks like they've updated it as there's a load of different books on there. Looks like I might have to have another go :rotfl: I've got the 1001 childrens books list too which I'm working my way through, but not so determinedly as the original one. :cool:

beanielou

Primo Levi is well worth a read.

Willowtree222

Hi Hairy,
Just popping in to say hi.

I read Primo Levi - if this is a man at college, and it was so upsetting, but something that needed reading at the same time. x

HairyHandofDartmoor

So many avid readers on DFW .

My favourite books are psychologial thrillers and classic crime fiction. I also love Ruth Rendell, Margaret Yorke, Mary Higgins Clarke, Christopher Fowler, Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, Ngaio Marsh, Sophie Hannah, Elly Griffiths, Reginald Hill, Susan Hill, PD James, Ragnar Jonasson, Camilla Lackberg, Peter May, Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, Ellis Peters and Louise Penny.

Sorry for the long list, but they are all great crime authors .

HairyHandofDartmoor

I felt more positive when I woke up this morning, despite more rain and gloom. It did brighten up a bit later on.

We got through a reasonable amount of work and I calculated and submitted our VAT return, which is my most hated job. Getting that out of the way always makes me feel better :j.

We also posted DS3's proof of identity for his student loan application. They wanted his passport or birth certificate (not copies). We didn't fancy sending his passport when he has a holiday coming up, so we sent the birth certificate.

We popped into Mr M on the way back and I sucumbed to a £1 fuscia, some marigolds, some geraniums and a bag of multi purpose compost . The whole lot came to £6 which I didn't think was bad.

I hope everyone has had a great day .

beanielou

Well done on the VAT

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks Beanie . Which crime authors are your favourites?

beanielou

I like a lot of the Scottish ones.
Ian Rankin(who grew up near me ).
Quintin Jardine who writes the Skinner series.
I think they are just fab.
They are set in places I know which is a bonus!!
Lots more too

HairyHandofDartmoor

There are a lot of good Scottish crime authors at the moment; Val Mcdermid, Denise Mina, Stuart Macbride, James Oswald etc. I love Rebus too .

beanielou

Val McDermind is a great writer & great too at author talks.
She is a fellow Fifer too

ETA: A great advocate for public libraries too :T