Just been re-reading some Patricia Highsmith - The Talented Mr Ripley and Strangers on a Train. I had the Ripley book a while back but lent it to someone and never got it back. She makes for quite uncomfortable reading sometimes - draws you right into the mindset of this man totally without conscience, you find yourself almost liking him, certainly feeling sorry for him - then you start worrying in case you have psychopathic tendencies too!!

Jeepers creepers you are evil! That's one of the delights of working in a bookshop - you get to have some great talks with all sorts of people, even evil ones....

Mind you anyone worth their salt in that situation should be able to tell when a customer just doesn't want to talk. I just take their money, give them their book and do nothing more engaging than smiling at them and saying goodbye.

Funny I would've thought nattering idly in a bookshop was right up your street

I'm reading Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook - not read that much yet but gawd it's a bit hard work.

I very unwisely started a bookgroup about 18 months ago among all the people that work in the bookshop that employs me - cos we work shifts we never get to see each other. It's been great fun, not one of those stuffy groups where you have to prepare answers and read bits out (I've heard of one local bookgroup that has a rule that you have to take turns speaking about the book, and when you're holding the copy of the book, no-one else is allowed to speak and interrupt you! Jeepers!)

We talk about the book for about an hour then get down to the serious business of catching up with each other and drinking copious amounts of wine.

The really good thing is that you do get to read books that maybe you wouldn't have ordinarily chosen - but sometimes a really dense one comes along like this Lessing one. Maybe the fact that the group meets this Thursday and I have to finish it by then is affecting my view of the book, hmmm?

'The Witches Trilogy' by Terry Prachet

Just started "The Whole Hog: Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs" by Lyall Watson. I'm only on the 2nd chapter so far, but by golly it's interesting!

I am also currently reading David Essex' Autobiography, but although I began it expecting to be enthralled on every page, I have found my mind wondering back to the pigs, so keep putting it down. Sorry David, your life is very interesting really I am sure, but the pigs.........

How's that going Chet? funny,i've never had a yen for them books, or the films...

I just finished Lottery by Patricia Woods. I enjoyed it, a nice light read as I dont usually 'do' fiction, but it only took me a couple of hours and I just couldn't help but think "someone's nicked an idea off Forrest Gump".
Simple man, boats, lots of money.....hhhhmmmm.

Oh well, it got me distracted from The History of Bosnia which quite frankly bores the pants off me.

I gave up on the history of bosnia while i was helping my son to move etc. Will start again after the summer i think. Defo something for a cold winters night when theres sod all else to do.
I got sent two random free books with an order, dean koontz the darkest evening of the year, which was meaningless and boring and i am sorry i bothered to read it.
Now I am struggling with james grippando's "lying with strangers".....now i remember why i dont bother reading fiction these days. Where's the meaty novels?

I've just started Paul Tillich's Courage To Be (the Terry Lectures).
Trouble is, it's really not the sort of book to read when you are tired, and I'm always damn tired....

Just finished The Horsemen by Joseph Keller.
What a fantastic descriptive book, had me hooked! In fact I read it in just 2 sittings.
I am afraid to watch the film, but I want to badly....but afraid it wont be so good, or at least different and not so good, because the book is so descriptive of people's thoughts, feelings, the smells around, and other descriptive stuff that cant be caught on camera so well.
Anyone seen the film? Would you recommend it?

I think it should be a good film, Omar Sharif was the star in it! I will look on play dot com

Surrey lore and legend - Michael Lane

I have to say, this last year i have become slightly addicted to ordering used books off amazon, they go for as low as 1 pence but add to that £2.75 postage, i need to get me a another tall bookcase from the January sales