Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
MN book swap clubs

Join our Book Swap forum to share and exchange your favourite books.

Original poster

Anyone fancy joining me in a new swap club?

932 replies

artifarti · 30/04/2009 09:24

I love reading and now that DS can entertain himself for a while trashing my lounge is 8 mo I am finally getting back into the swing of things. But I always read the same kind of books and so would love to have something different sprung on me!

Here's the basics of how it works (thank you Flamesparrow)

How it works

[ Arti sits back and waits for the flood of recruits, hoping that she doesn't end up looking like a no-mates...]

OP posts:
Maria2007 · 10/05/2009 08:15

Well tbh I agree with you ladybee! I actually do find it hard to concentrate on all books so I'm not sure it's a good habit. It's like MN: you read a thread, then jump to another etc...

pooter · 11/05/2009 13:32

OMG I just finished Wideacre. I couldnt put it down but now i feel like i've really been through the wringer emotionally. Im boiling with rage at the main character's selfish single-mindedness. My god that book has disturbed me - incest, murder, poverty. I got my friend to tell me what happens in the two sequels as im not going to put myself through that again, yet i needed to know how it all panned out.

Actually, as a bit of light relief i read Alan Bennetts "The uncommon Reader" straight after. Enjoyed it - took about an hour to read and was light, interesting and all about how reading is good for you! So we are really doing ourselves, our families, and heck - the world, a favour by being in this book group

How is everyone else doing?

LolaLadybird · 11/05/2009 15:09

Ooh, think I'll have to get on and read Wideacre next then before it goes back to the library. I'd started it and read a couple of chapters but then stopped to read The Outlander which I'm about a quarter of the way through. Have to say, even in the opening chapters as a child, the main character sounded a bit full of herself!

Plodding on with The Outlander - reviews said it was gripping. Wouldn't describe it as that yet (compelling maybe) but plenty of time for it to rev up. Keep trying to go to bed early to make plenty of time for reading but also slightly hooked on new BBC2 drama The Wire (Dominic West v sexy imho) so that's been taking up time ...!

Hmm, may have digressed slightly from literary matters!

PieceNharmoknee · 11/05/2009 23:17

I love the wire (and Dominic West too Lola )

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 11/05/2009 23:30

I went to hear Kate Atkinson talk about her new novel (When Will There be Good News?) and she said Dominc West would be her choice for Jackson Brodie if her books were filmed/televised.
If you have read the books and know the actor, do you reckon he is a good choice?

LolaLadybird · 12/05/2009 08:35

I don't know the novel so couldn't say. I don't really remember seeing him in anything else although apparently he was in Mona Lisa Smile which I saw years ago. Sadly, I fear it's DW's bad-boy maverick character, Jimmy McNulty, that I'm attracted to more so than DW himself ...!

aristocat · 12/05/2009 11:57

hi girls,
need to check out dominic west - always on the lookout for dishy maletotty men.

BTW pooter loved your thread about the ladygarden.

brilliant !!!

pooter · 12/05/2009 16:57

nooooooo I so regret starting that thread! I had hoped that it would disappear never to be seen again, but now you and a RL friend have seen it - the shame!! (although it did morph into an interesting 'hair as a feminist issue' debate!

LolaLadybird · 12/05/2009 17:13

Hmmm, intrigued . Might do a Talk Search ....!!

whinegums · 12/05/2009 20:50

Ha ha pooter, I liked it too - it did get a bit ranty intellectual in reply to your simple question didn't it?

BeautifulBubbles · 13/05/2009 13:34

My second hand copy of my book came from Amazon today, so I just need to search out some chocolote and I'm all set!

BeautifulBubbles · 13/05/2009 13:35

Sorry wrong book club

Original poster
artifarti · 14/05/2009 14:14

Aaah, The Wire. My DP has been desperate for us to watch it for ages. We started watching it when I was pg but 5 episodes in I threw a hissy fit as I couldn't understand what they were saying and couldn't work out who anyone was. He says now that I am marginally less hormonal we should give it another go.

Just finished Winter in Madrid. Very good, despite a slight anticlimax at the end IMHO.

I've been away and so missed the Pooter ladygarden thread...might have to search that one out...

OP posts:
PieceNharmoknee · 14/05/2009 14:42

@ not being able to understand them - I have to stick subtitles on sometimes

The first season of the wire got me through my preganacy, I watched a lot of episodes during those sleepless nights.

Artifarti I cant remember what email address I used to email you. If I email you, can you email me back to the same address, letting me know which address I used please?

PieceNharmoknee · 14/05/2009 14:48

artifarti I've emailed you

pooter · 14/05/2009 17:37

oh flipping hec! My embarrassing ladygarden thread is only one of the 'topics of the week' in the weekly email roundup.

now, what can i name change to???

Only 2 weeks ish to D day!! I am using my mum as a guineapig reader of my choice. She likes it! Do you have everyone's info now arti?

Itsjustafleshwound · 14/05/2009 18:09

My book I chose was made into a very bad movie with really Marmite actors - so I hope that no-one is put off by that and there will be somebody who might enjoy the book ... (and missed the movie!)

Original poster
artifarti · 14/05/2009 18:17

pooter - great thread, haha! Have everyone's info except Dysgu who is still on hols I think.

My book arrived and I am now re-reading it to check it's not actually rubbish. Am fretting again but can always over-compensate with reaallly nice chocolate...

OP posts:
whinegums · 14/05/2009 19:48

Well done pooter! Itsjustafleshwound, my book was made into a movie too, I suspect it was very bad, as it appears to have disappeared without trace. I didn't want to see it, because I love the book so much.

Dysgu · 14/05/2009 21:37

Hello - I am back from my holiday where I picked up a book enroute and have decided that it is going to be my choice for this.

I will send the details Artifarti and will then work at catching up with all the discussion that has gone on since I went away.

By the way, I have a peanut allergy but love dark chocolate...

aristocat · 14/05/2009 22:18

nice to have you back !!!!!!!

hope you had a good holiday, am going myself on saturday. DC's very excited now.

i am sending to you, Dysgu. will ensure no peanuts.

Dysgu · 14/05/2009 22:22

hurrah on no peanuts - else would have to get DP to eat that and buy me something extravagant (chocolate-wise) in exchange. But no Galaxy either - they guarantee no nut traces but make ugh chocolate!

Where you off to on hols? DD1 had a great time (DD2 probably did too but she is only 4mo so anywhere is fine by her!)

aristocat · 14/05/2009 22:45

ibiza staying for 11 nights.
where did you go?

Original poster
artifarti · 16/05/2009 14:31

Right, have everyone's details now. Only 16 days to wait, aargh!

Happy hols aristocat! (although if you weren't selfishly thinking of your own pleasure, we wouldn't have to wait so long ).

OP posts:
MrsMuddle · 16/05/2009 21:37

I'm re-reading my book at the moment too, to make sure that it's as good as I remember.

Artifarti, when will we get the address of the person we are sending to? I'm away with work from 1-5 June, so I'd like to post my book at the end of the week before.

Looking forward to it.