I was reading a post in one of the books comms about the longest book people have ever read, and it got me curious. How many people have actually read War and Peace? I mean, it's held up as this immense epic that's almost a stereotype of immense, epic, 'classic' novels that no-one ever actually reads. So I'm curious as to how many people have ( Read more... )

The Fatal Shore - Robert Hughes
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Guardian: Reading the riot acts: why wasn't Waterstone's looted?Poor Waterstone's. So unloved. I would have looted you. I'd have gone to town in the history section. I'd have taken a shopping trolley in with me, so I suppose technically I'd have looted Tesco or Sainsbury's too. And I'd have left a nice little note with all the books I'd taken ( Read more... )

I was reading this blog post over at the New York Times about print books and what the future holds for them - and it got me thinking ( Read more... )

Is anyone else on Goodreads? I've been on there for years, but I'm only just really getting into it. I'm denorios over there too - come over and friend me!

So I'm reading The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama by David Remnick, and he consistently uses 'insure' in places where I'd expect him to 'ensure'. Which, yeah, once or twice, I can see as a typo, but it's every time. And I'm surprised something like that wasn't flagged at the editing stage. So I'm wondering if this is an American-English ( Read more... )

( Hardly a surprising choice for a librarian... )

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There are few things in life better for a lazy Sunday than vegging out on the sofa with several hours of a good period drama. And Downton Abbey is most definitely a good period drama.

Having spent all day on the sofa a few days ago with Upstairs Downstairs, I am now repeating the experience with Downton Abbey. Everyone was raving about it, of ( Read more... )

Okay, so I hate those Mills & Boon/Harlequin romance books. I hate them. I really really do. People say they're harmless, but I really don't think so. Most of them are despicably sexist. 'The Sheik's Bartered Bride'? 'The Reluctant Virgin'? And I am not making these titles up ( Read more... )