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Post by Oonagh on Oct 27, 2006 22:26:04 GMT
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Post by charlene on Oct 28, 2006 18:29:32 GMT
got the task of picking a book tonight, with From Here To Maternity being so good I'm finding it hard to get into another book, I tried The Time Travellers Wife but can't get into it yet.
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Post by megan on Oct 28, 2006 18:53:50 GMT
I found the same, Charlie and promised myself that I would come back to it one day - I will! I am still reading 'The Glass Room' but not majorly hooked yet. Likewise with 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven.' I keep picking up one, reading a few chapters, and then picking up the other!
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Post by nicc on Oct 29, 2006 1:59:58 GMT
I'm half way through Family Baggage by Monica McInerney. It's a good read, I'm realy enjoying it. Has anyone else read it?
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Post by claire on Oct 29, 2006 10:03:22 GMT
I'm well into a book at the mo by Maureen Lee. It's set in Liverpool in the 1960. Loads of characters but in slightest confusing. It's called Lime Street Blues
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Post by Oonagh on Oct 29, 2006 13:27:39 GMT
I ve read Family baggage a good time ago. I really enjoyed it god must ave been about two years ago. i really like Monica Mc inerney. Im still reading Remind me again why I need a man by Claudia Carroll
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Post by Karen on Oct 29, 2006 18:03:40 GMT
I'm well into a book at the mo by Maureen Lee. It's set in Liverpool in the 1960. Loads of characters but in slightest confusing. It's called Lime Street Blues I've read a couple of her books and enjoyed them all.
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Post by megan on Oct 29, 2006 18:49:29 GMT
I haven't read any of Monica McInerney's books, Nicc.
How are you getting on with the Claudia Caroll, Oonagh?
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Post by Oonagh on Oct 29, 2006 19:38:58 GMT
I like it. I have no time to just sit down and read though. Its feirce annoying altoghter
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Post by Oonagh on Oct 29, 2006 19:39:47 GMT
I have a few monica Mc inerney s books if u want to borrow them megan. No probs
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Post by charlene on Oct 29, 2006 20:21:57 GMT
been reading Fab and 30 short stories really loved Catherine's and Collette Caddel's great read.
Going to start Confessions of A Failed Growen Up by Stephanie Calman tonight.
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Post by Abby on Oct 30, 2006 3:59:51 GMT
Nic, I read Family Baggage not that long ago and really loved it. I've since bought a few others of Monica's and Jo sent me some but I havn't got as far as reading them.
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Post by Oonagh on Oct 30, 2006 17:37:26 GMT
I loved Colette's story as well charlene. I loved it!!!!!!!!
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Post by Shirley on Oct 30, 2006 20:26:39 GMT
I finished Ladies' Night at Finbar's Hotel yesterday. Really good read. The short stories are quite literary. I'd recommend it.
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Post by megan on Oct 30, 2006 21:46:01 GMT
You are very generous, Oonagh. Thank you. I will restrain myself however, and not take you up on your kind offer. I need to tackle my to-read pile first! I am still reading The Glass Room by Kate Holmquist. It's growing on me. It's unpredictable - I like that.
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Post by Oonagh on Oct 30, 2006 21:53:02 GMT
No bother no hassle if you change your mind!!
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Post by megan on Nov 5, 2006 15:49:49 GMT
I have given up on The Glass Room by Kate Holmquist. The main character doesn't do if for me at all! I just can't sympathise or identify with her. Am now reading a book by a German author - Gaby Hauptmann. The book is called 'In Search of an Impotent Man.' It is a great concept. The main character is sick of men thinking about sex all the time and wants a decent bloke who doesn't have a one-track mind, so she puts an advertisement in the paper looking for a clear thinking male who is impotent! She gets lots of replies! The book is about her sorting through the various applicants. And then of course she finds her perfect man amongst them but, but oh dear, he is, of course, impotent!!
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Post by Shirley on Nov 5, 2006 16:50:09 GMT
I'm reading various books about the best way to write a novel, and now I'm more confused than ever. I'm trying to manipulate my draft into a more structured format, and at the moment, I'm completely doubting that what I wrote the first time is any good at all. After reading the how-to books, I feel like my draft totally violates all of the established "rules" on writing. I wish I had read these books before I had written my first draft! But I guess that at least I know all of this stuff now for future books.
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Post by Karen on Nov 5, 2006 17:27:32 GMT
I'm over half way through Welcome To The Real World by Carole Matthews, which I'm loving!
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Rosie
Junior Member
Posts: 31
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Post by Rosie on Nov 5, 2006 18:59:31 GMT
I'm reading Azur Like It by Wendy Holden. It's not bad. I'm only about 5 chapters into it. I've not read any of her books before but going by the blurb on the back of the books they seem quite good.
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Post by megan on Nov 5, 2006 19:42:04 GMT
Hey Karen,
What is Welcome To The Real World about? I loved With or Without you by Carole Mathews, but didn't enjoy Meet You at Platform Eight.
And Shirley, I'm so sorry to hear about those books on Writing. I'm tempted to say Dump the Lot of them! And go with what you feel instinctively. THe first novel I wrote, I had no idea about structure, plots, characters and I didn't even know I was writing a book! But I think that first book may have a better structure than my second book, which I wrote after attending courses and studying lots of different books on writing. A good rule of thumb for me is to avoid anything and anyone that makes me feel bad about my writing. Everyone does it differently. We just have to find our own way.
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Post by Karen on Nov 5, 2006 19:45:04 GMT
Megan - here is the synopsis of Welcome To The Real World, taken from the back of the book or in this case the inside flap...
Fern Kendal has the voice of an angel but, as a badly paid barmaid and pub singer, her talent is wasted. Like millions of others, all she needs is a break, but in the real world she knows that'll never happen.
Evan David's exquisite tones have enthralled opera buffs throughout the world. His agent, his coach, his chauffeur and his chef are just a few of those who pander to his every need. But what Evan needs now is a break - from it all.
When Fern is picked to be Evan's PA for the last leg of his UK tour their two worlds collide. Neither one is prepared for the dramatic effect they will have on each other. For something happens when they are together - and it's more than just music...
Without giving anything away there's also a plot line involving something like The X Factor too!
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Post by megan on Nov 5, 2006 19:53:41 GMT
Sounds good, Karen. Thanks for that. What do you like about it? Is it the characters, the theme???
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Rosie
Junior Member
Posts: 31
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Post by Rosie on Nov 5, 2006 21:16:12 GMT
I loved With or Without you by Carole Mathews, but didn't enjoy Meet You at Platform Eight. Megan - I'm glad I'm not the only one that didn't enjoy Let's meet at Platform eight, but like you, I loved With or Without You.
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Post by Shirley on Nov 5, 2006 21:22:39 GMT
And Shirley, I'm so sorry to hear about those books on Writing. I'm tempted to say Dump the Lot of them! And go with what you feel instinctively. THe first novel I wrote, I had no idea about structure, plots, characters and I didn't even know I was writing a book! But I think that first book may have a better structure than my second book, which I wrote after attending courses and studying lots of different books on writing. A good rule of thumb for me is to avoid anything and anyone that makes me feel bad about my writing. Everyone does it differently. We just have to find our own way. You could well be right, Megan. I'm sure someone else on this site said that before too - I think it was Catherine, if I remember correctly. I have three of these books here - You Can Write a Novel, Write Away and How to Write a Bestseller. My head is addled after them!
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Post by megan on Nov 5, 2006 22:08:17 GMT
I can imagine, Shirley. I take the good bits out of books like that. (there are usually only a few gems for me) and leave the rest well alone. Perhaps consider them to be 'suggestions' rather than instructions. That way you need only take on the ideas that make sense to you.
Have you read any other Carole Mathew books, Roise?
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Rosie
Junior Member
Posts: 31
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Post by Rosie on Nov 5, 2006 22:16:35 GMT
I've read two other books by Carole Matthews- You drive me crazy and A whiff of scandal. I enjoyed both.
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Post by megan on Nov 5, 2006 22:28:40 GMT
Rosie,
Were those two as good as 'With or Without You'? - I adored that book.
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 6, 2006 15:23:04 GMT
I enjoyed reading Driving me Crazy by Carole Matthews! It was brill!
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Rosie
Junior Member
Posts: 31
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Post by Rosie on Nov 6, 2006 18:26:33 GMT
I think You drive me crazy is better than With or Without you and A whiff of scandal. All three books are really good but You drive me crazy just has the edge. I agree Oonagh - It is Brill!
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