This year is the centenary of the 'unsinkable' Titanic, which hit an iceberg on the fourth night of her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York and sank, claiming the lives of over 1,500 passengers and crew. There are countless books and films on the topic, and even more rabid 'Titaniacs' in different historical camps who will always be ( Read more... )

Books read in 2011: 124 (book 125 won't be finished by New Year's Day!)

First book of the year: George Knightley Esquire: Charity Envieth Not by Barbara Cornthwaite

Last book of the year: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Favourite book (not counting re-reads): George Knightley Esquire: Lend Me Leave by Barbara Cornthwaite

Most ( Read more... )

Day Twenty-three: A book you['ve] wanted to read for a long time but still haven't (That sentence didn't read right)

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Persuasion is the Austen pick of the pops: the novel which all the long-time/serious/high-brow 'Janeites' seem to love and cherish and
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Day Twenty-two: Favourite book you own

What the hell kind of question is that? Which book would I save if the house was on fire, or something? I don't think I have any books that are irreplaceable/autographed/gifts from loved ones who are no longer with me, etc. I'd be pretty pissed if there was a fire and I lost all my books, but then who wouldn't?

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Day Twenty-one: Favourite book from your childhood

The Sweet Valley series by Francine Pascal et al

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Day Twenty: Favourite romance book

This should be a short answer, depending on the definition of 'romance'. Romance as a genre, published en masse by Harlequin or Mills and Boon, not applicable. A book which contains a relationship between the male and female protagonists, but does not follow a cut-and-paste template - I'm going to be perverse and ( Read more... )

Day Nineteen: Favourite book turned into a movie

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Day Eighteen: A book that disappointed you

Just one?

I am regularly disappointed by two different types of novel - sequels and spin-offs. The former is what I call 'second book syndrome', when the next instalment in a series cannot possibly hope to match or better the author's debut, and therefore usually fails, and the latter is the literary band ( Read more... )

Day Seventeen: Favourite quote from your favourite book (Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier)

Oh, I'm getting tired now. I've never posted so much on LJ before!

'I shall never have any remorse for that, never, never. But you. I can't forget what it has done to you. I was looking at you, thinking of nothing else all through lunch. It's gone forever, that funny ( Read more... )

Day Sixteen: Favourite female character

Marguerite St Just/Blakeney, The Scarlet Pimpernel

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