Our "lovely" book swap is now closed again and off we go for 2011.

[PositiveAttitude]

Just setting us up.

Are you thinking of your books that you might be putting in? I will have a look and post mine within the next few days. - I will try harder than my awful one from last time, that none of you liked.

Has anybody started reading the book? Couldn't be more different from Room her other book.

Am starting to read it tonight.

Is anyone actually enjoying this Emma Donoghue one? I think three of us have hated it so much we've all dropped it. In an attempt to redeem myself can I suggest another book that we might have a go at? I suggested an Edward Rutherfurd book at the same time as the Emma Donoghue one, PA has read the book I suggested but I know she hasn't read this one. So how about we all have a go at New York by Edward Rutherfurd - it is available to us. It's another historical one but I've read two or three of his other books and enjoyed them, PA has enjoyed them too so maybe we could be onto a winner.

That Emma Donoghue one is the reason that rather than sitting down having a biscuit and a cup of coffee while reading a book right now I'm actually washing my kitchen floor - life is too short for rubbish books.

A very enjoyable . . . romp.' --Independent on Sunday

'An enjoyable romp with subtle intrigue woven into the plot and demonstrates a deftness for dialogue, bringing to life the well-painted characters.' --Press Association

'Donoghue plunges her readers headlong into her deeply researched world . . . Donoghue never allows the pace to falter, while her fresh imagery and fastidious attention to period detail . . . recall the immersive, mock-Victorian milieu of Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White . . . It's in her characterisation that Donoghue is most successful.' --Big Issue

'Although the headline-grabbing timeliness of Donoghue's most recent, Booker-shortlisted work is absent here, her burgeoning reputation as an author is hopefully enough to earn this earlier work a deserved reappraisal.'
--The List

'Blissfully readable and immaculately researched.' --The Times

Are just some of the reviews that The Sealed Letter received - so on this basis I think we can all agree literary reviewers simply do not know their arse from their elbow.

I thought those reviews were for New York!!! What were they reading??? Or rather how much were they being paid to say nice things about it. I will never believe a review again!!

I have read New york, but that's fine cos I am off on my travels next Tuesday, so wont be having time to read anything other than study books and language course books.

Stick it in your pocketbook reviewers!

Good luck on your travels pa

Best of luck with the travels PA.

I am Legend now available.

Hi everyone. Sorry I've not been on this page (or on MN) for ages.

I've nearly finished The sealed letter (smug face). If any of you want to know what happens, without the hassle and boredom of reading it, I shall be happy to surmise!

I haven't thought of a book yet - but if we're sorted out until March, I've still got plenty of time to think.

AF where do you get all your kindle books from? Or is that a you'd have to kill me type question I'm assuming they're not all from Amazon....

Is I am Legend the Will Smith film where he's the only person left on earth?

So, Bob, have you actually enjoyed the book?

Nope Skim read it and just a bit left to go tonight.

I'll get started on the new one later.

DP has been raving on about the game of thrones (was recently a series on sky). Didn't see it, but looking forward to reading it, so I think I'll be trying to get onto that before too long.

Unless anyone fancies it for April? Although it's a series (of 5 I think), so quite an investment of time if you end up reading them all iyswim.

Game of Thrones books are brilliant, I can't recommend them enough particularly if you like fantasy. Someone mentioned to me the other day they may have disappeared from our library, so if they have let me know and I'll put them back - it would appear some people are not very good at downloading and every so often huge tranches of books disappear. I read all five back to back last year and this year am really looking forward to series two starting on the telly in April.

Well done you on finishing The Sealed Letter, so can you confirm that it was in fact a romp and we missed all the best bits?

I've heard that the I Am Legend the book is a million times better than the film and I actually enjoyed the film.

I'm not the only person responsible for the books, there are several mumsnetters who have contributed, but I have a very good source if we ever want to try and find a book.

Started New York and LOVE it (so far )

Kindle is now firmly attached to my hand, but it's a blummin long book isn't it?

Hope everyone else is enjoying it.

Glad you are enjoying it Bob. Tis long, but it sort of has natural breaks, so it doesnt feel that long. I suppose on a Kindle you dont "see" the breaks coming up, so not much help I suppose. I have loved all his books and once I've started one I don't want it to end!!

I'm loving New York too - it's pulled me in instantly, I'm loving my Kindle again.

I am loving the book i am reading at the moment. Its The confessions of the girl who couldn't say no. Its written by someone who got pregnant at the age of 14. Very well written with a good sense of humour. Refreshing read!

I have discovered a website that has links to all the free books off amazon (and cheap ones too) Its a lot easier to look for whatever you want than the amazon website. You click on the genre you like and all the books are there. I did sign up for daily emails, but just never got the time to look every day for what was on offer. Anyway, its this one if anyone wants a look

I'll look out for that one PA.

I had the daily emails from that website too, but cancelled them in the end as I too didn't bother to look at them. I love free books I do.

Hi all,

New York is now downloaded and queued up behind the two I'm reading already

I'll try to get it finished by end of the month. I also gave up on The Sealed Letter. I have Room here also to read in paperback.

How is everyone finding New York? Nobody has complained so I'm hoping you find the second choice better. It's blummin long though, I don't know if I'm going to be finished by the end of the month.

Well, finished New York. Feel like I've done a marathon over the centuries.
Was great though - well done AF.

Are we going to sort out a date / time for talking about it? Or wait until everyone has finished it?

Well done Bob I will not be finished by the end of the month as have only got to the Boston tea party so have got eons to go yet, but I am enjoying it, just am a bit frazzled with real life and not having time to read at the moment.

Shall we wait to do the discussion until the middle of February? Those that have finished can go onto February's book which I know from past experience will be enjoyable but quite an easy read and then hopefully by the end of February we should all have caught up.

Let me know what you all think, plus do you want to do the discussion here or on Facebook? Personally I think for a discussion thing here might be better unless we use the chat feature on FB, but then we won't have a permanent record of our opinions.

Hi - I have to admit I started New York but haven't got past about page 3 yet.

Pondering: should I start it now and catch up with you in Feb, or crack on with Feb's book?

Anyone?

Hi everyone.

I missed out January's book, having read it before (and loved it, in case you had not picked that up before - I would say it is worth carrying on with 5ofus, but it could be a very long slog if you are not getting into it!)

We were stuck at Frankfurt airport for 6 hours (mess up with tickets all my fault which meant we had to buy new tickets 500 pigging euros!! and had to wait for hours and hours, so in between the bawling my eyes out and pleading with the not helpful at all luthansa staff al la "Airport" programme, I sat and read 50% of February's book. really enjoying it. Its an easy read, which I hope you will appreciate after the New york epic.

Must go i am at work!! End of year reconciliations - yuck!!!!

Hello, hello everyone - so very sorry for MN and FB silence, RL has been extremely hectic. OK so half term is over and we've got two and a half books to discuss.

How is everybody fixed for next week - Friday 2nd March?

How have you all been getting on with the books? At last I've finished New York, an absolute epic but have enjoyed it and am moving on to February's book and am hoping to read it as fast as the rest of you have so that I can join in the conversation.

Again, many apologies for being so quiet I've just been swamped.

OK so 8.30 on Friday night. Shall we do it on here because it's easier to have a conversation on here. We'll discuss January and Feruary's books and then we'll be back on track for March.

Whoever hasn't picked a book needs to do so in the next week or so because after March we've run out of books to read - or I'll choose another one and you can all remember what a disastrous choice my first book was.

TONIGHT, HERE, 8.30.

We will be discussing:-

The Sealed Letter
New York
Bloodstream

I don't know why I've typed this, this thread has fallen off all your threads I'm on so you won't see it.

Has anyone started I am Legend? It's brilliant. Can't believe I've avoided it for years because I watched the film and thought it was OK but nothing special. The book is so much better than the film.