I promised myself I would get down to the nitty-gritty of actually writing about books more often and forced myself to post this tonight despite already having spent all my working hours on internet (I do this for a living, you know).
Now this is not because I am in love with my own words or because I would like to see people's reaction to my criticisms (who died and made me the expert, right?), but because I believe in word-of-mouth advertising and encouraging people to read and comment is, in my eyes, a noble task.

On this note, I would definitely urge you to grab the nearest copy of Zafon's 'The Shadow of the Wind' and make a run. I say this because you will not want the world catching up with you on the marvellous adventure you will embark on from the first pages. Oh yeah, you might also want to start searching for cheap flights to Barcelona, as you'll surely want to see the set with your own eyes (recommended: www.flycheapo.com)
Zafon is literature with a vengeance and credit is due to this book big time. If you're not absolutely enthralled by the tension by the end of the forst chapter, write to me and I will gladly either:
eat my own hat
donate all my books to local charity (equivalent of cutting veins).

Oh, and do let me know if you guessed it from the beginning. Intrigued? Make a dash to the shop!!!!!

I have no idea why I picked this up at in the shops, let me just say it has been sitting in the pile of books to read for quite some time. I kept picking it up and putting it down again without reading it, but this weekend, laying on my back trying to get it moveable again, I finally picked it up to read, and am so glad I did, because it was unputdownable.

this is Mina Ford's second novel though I haven't read the first one yet. The story focuses on two sisters, twins, who end up leading their own lives and losing touch with each other. Then something happens that makes them want to talk to each other again and so they search for each other. Of course there are the friends who encourage and guide, there are obstacles to overcome, but it was well worth reading.

The blurb on the jacket says:

A funny, poignant and unforgettable novel

It certainly is.

I may just have to buy her first novel and see what that is like

I started off reading this thinking - *meh* it's not written very well! I changed my mind as it drew me in and made me feel the emotions of everyone involved. He did an enormous amount of research in to his subject. Apparently JG only heard about the man's case after reading his obituary in The New York Times.

Ronnie Williamson was a well-known baseball player in Oklahoma. He got some bad breaks along the way and became a bit of an alcoholic and part-time drug user.

His mental health suffered for it and he ricocheted from one problem to another, with the final humungus catastrophe ... being accused of rape and murder.

The book tells the story of his life, his fight with law enforcement, his mental decline and the shoddy legal system running in Ada, Oklahoma at that time.

If you love Grisham, miscarriages of justice or you're right nosy ... go for it

Firstly, let me just say that I am not a fan of bestsellers\blockbusters and the like, and I loathe authors pushing out more than a book a year. hardly any real writers are born in a world where consumerism has taken its toll on reading as well.

Having said that, before you throw the book at me (no pun intended), please take a moment to consider John Grisham's 'A Painted House'. I don't know why, maybe because its down-to-earth, warm tone reminiscent of Faulkner (!) and maybe Steinbeck (please don't roll your eyes in disbelief at this one) caught me off guard.

I wouldn't say it will stay on my absolute 'must- buy- must- own-and-keep'shelf, but it's a quick pick-me-up read with well created scenes.

Must fly.

I am currently waiting with baited breath for "Henry Fielding: A Memoir"
by G. M. Godden. For any of you currently watching 'City of Vice' on Channel Four, Henry Fielding is the sighted one of the two Fielding brothers, who set up the Bow Street Runners. He is also famous for writing the novel 'Tom Jones'.

Anybody else brought new books they can recommend?

I owe a big thank you to the chap on the Southern railway train to Cannon Street reading 'My Name Is Red'. He made me discover a great, tear-provoking book written by a mastermind.

Pass it on! They don't hand out Nobels for nothing!

1) Hardback or Paperback?
Paperback. Hardbacks are too heavy to carry around.

2) Amazon account or Library card?
Amazon account. I'm not good with the whole returning books on time thing =P

3) Fact or Fiction?
Fiction most of the time, but there are a few factual books in my collection, mostly crime-based...

4) JK Rowling or Phillip Pullman?
Has to be Phillip Pullman, anyday.

5) Humour or Horror?
Mostly horror, but again, there are a few good humour books out there too...

6) Jules Verne or Arthur C Clark?
neither, particularly...

7) Lord of the Rings or Lion Witch and the Wardrobe?
erm... again, neither...

8) Book you love to read again and again?
Anything by James Patterson!

9) Book that you think was overrated?
The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown (agree with you there!)

10)Oldest book you own?
Don't have any old ones..

1) Hardback or Paperback?
Has to be hardback as I normally cannot wait till it goes to paperback.

2) Amazon account or Library card?
Both, Amazon for books I cannot get through the library.

3) Fact or Fiction?
Factual books outstrip fiction by 5-1 in my collection

4) JK Rowling or Phillip Pullman?
Has to be Phillip Pullman, sorry Harry...

5) Humour or Horror?
Love to be scared, but equally like a good laugh.

6) Jules Verne or Arthur C Clark?
Has to be Clark for his perception of what is to come.

7) Lord of the Rings or Lion Witch and the Wardrobe?
LotR - no contest.

8) Book you love to read again and again?
The Eight by Katherine Neville

9) Book that you think was overrated?
The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown

10)Oldest book you own?
Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott (printed 1912)

aka Myles na gCopaleen, aka Brian O'Nolan.

One of my favourite writers of all time, responible for the wonderous The Third Policeman, the hilarious The Poor Mouth and the short-but-sweet The Hard Life. And those are just the ones I have finished.

Currently I'm making my way through The Dalkey Archives, and The Best of Myles is waiting expectantly on my bookshelf as soon as I'm done.

But The Third Policeman. So amazing. It’s something of an Irish Alice In Wonderland as the protagonist gets stuck in a world where people fall in love with bicycles (who in turn can assume human properties, and vice versa), where a new colour is found that can drive people to insanity, and where people try to dilute water. Such a wonderful book – original, hysterical, logical, crazily lacking in fundamental logic.

So are there any more Flann fans out there? Surely I can't be alone?

I'm near the end of the book now, and I'm loving it! I've been hooked from - not gonna lie and say the first page cos it was a bit slow to start - the first chapter (it got good quick!).

It's set in the 1100's, but you don't need to be interested in history to love it. It's based on life in the period, so there's a lot of talk of Churches, sin and stuff like that, but it's a very interesting read. It's 1088 pages long, about 2 inches deep. Very heavy, but it's ridiculously interesting.

It's got a variety of different stories interlinked. There's the story of Tom, a gifted master-builder whose life takes rough twists and turns but ends up beautiful, with a tragic twist. There's Ellen, the outlawed single mother with the strength to fight anyone and anything. There's William, the son of Percy Hamliegh and a spoiled BRAT! Aliena, the down-to-earth daughter of the Earl of Shiring. Philip, the man of God willing to do whatever he can to do God's will. Jack, son of Ellen, who has his problems but he's as strong as his mother. Waleron Bigod, one of the main villians of the book. There are many other characters with smaller roles, but all of them are important. Without one, the story wouldn't make sense.

Anyway, this book DEFINITELY gets the Mahima seal of approval! =P More books later!

-Mahima

I'm not really sure if there's much point in asking as there's hardly anyone in this group, but have any of you read War and Peace? I want to be able to say I've read it and I tend to like Russian literature anyway, but I was just wondering what other people thought if they'd read it.

Dear BCUK bloggers,

A heartfelt welcome to the new BCUK Book Group.

Whether reading is your life, or simply a way to chill out after a hard day's work, your opinons and recommendations are welcome here.

We want to hear about the books that you are currently reading, the books you are going to read and the books you have read, regardless of whether you loved it or hated it.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Your BCUK team.