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fire_engine 
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 Topic: Good books
Posted: 10 April 2008 at 2:32pm |
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I desperately need suggestions of good books - am getting bored on my reduced hours and am planning for when I go on parental leave! I tend to like books I can switch off too but a bit of more serious is OK. Any ideas/recommendations welcome.
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Mum to two wee boys
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BuzzyBee
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 2:42pm |
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Well pregnancy wise I LOVED Kaz Cooke's 'Up the duff' book - very witty! You may have read it already though!
Sorry no other suggestions at the moment as I can't find the time to read! Paulina Simons novels are good...
Edited by Mum2Lucas
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Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :)
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MrsMojo
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 2:49pm |
I just finished reading "always the bridesmaid". I attempted to read it a few years ago but the main character annoyed me so I stopped. I picked it up a few weeks ago and found once I got used to her complaining ways (and found out why she was always so negative) it was actually a good read - definitely the kind of book you don't need to think about.
I'm currently reading another Jack Reacher novel. I  him.
After I finish this one I'm going to get out "the secret life of bees" it looks really good. Here's the synopsis:
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in-mother", Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free from jail. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina -- a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna.
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 3:26pm |
Depends what sort of books you are into, I sorted out my book case the other day and found heaps that I haven't read yet  plus heaps of my old faves.
If you're into thrillers, I loved a book called Brother Grimm, I'll get off my lazy ass and look up the author soon enough lol, it was really good, completely different and you don't see the ending coming like you do with a lot of thrillers.
My grandparents bought me a book called The Commonwealth of Thieves by Tom Keneally for Xmas, it's about the First Fleet after their arrival in Australia, factual but a surprisingly gripping read, he's researched a lot of the convicts who were on the boats and what happened to them after they arrived, who they married, who went back to the UK, who was hanged for thievery etc. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
ATM I'm half way thru a very slow trudge thru A Fine Balance, it's a classic but I'm finding it hard going coz it's a true story set during the caste wars in India in the 70's and reading it you'd think it was set 200 years ago, they have such backward ideas and commit such terrible atrocities.
Classics I've read and recommend, I loved "A Fortunate Life" by A B Facey, down to earth and matter of fact and a good read, I also like anything by Mitch Albom who wrote "Tuesdays with Morrie", I've got two of his other books, "For one more day" and "The five people we meet in heaven" and they were both excellent.
I also like crappy crime novels, but must say the last two PJ Tracey books I read were disappointing.
If you want to borrow some books Flissty, feel free. I have a huuuuge collection!
I also discovered in my clean out that I have some quite random and crappy books. I still have half my uni text books and a heap of management reference books I used when I wrote the book a few years ago, plus pregnancy and parenting titles for Africa...
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
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jack_&_charli
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 5:12pm |
some of my fave authors are
sue grafton
dean kootnz
michael connelly
nikki french
mary higgins clark
i like the crime/thriller type books 
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my2angels
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:03pm |
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i need something to read, Ive read every book I own over and over againb but just dont get time to go to the library at the moment.
I really want to read the latest paulina simmons book, cant remember what its called but i was hoping hubby would get it for me for xmas but he missed all the hints I gave
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:23pm |
I've got the latest Paulina Simmons book (Road to Paradise) Robyn if you want to borrow it?? I got an autographed copy from her as my friend managed to get a copy for me.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:26pm |
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I've only read The Bronze Horseman, would like to read the sequels but I found it a bit lovey dovey for me lol, I skimmed over the romance bits.
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:27pm |
Emma I have them, you want to borrow them??
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:32pm |
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Oooh yes please!
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:45pm |
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My favourite Paullinna simmons book is Eleven hours, its not as long as her others....er but i dont reccommend pregnant women read it
I have just finished reading both the winner of the Booker Prize, The Gathering , By Anne Enright, and the runner up, Mr Pip, by NZer Llyod Jones, and i have to say i definetly preferred Mr Pip (and not because im patriotic) ,even tho the main character is on a pacific island in the 90s and is completley different from us here, she is easier somehow to relate to ,as for the hero of the story Mr Pip (or actually , Mr Watts), i havent met a character in a book ive been as fond of since i read To Kill a Mockingbird (love love love Atticus Finch)
some parts are rather awful, but it was easier to read than the self pitying dialogue of the main character in The Gathering
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 7:50pm |
I am embarrassed to admit, I have never read To Kill a Mockingbird 
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:01pm |
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haha, only reason i did was because we had to read it in 6th form, and everyone hated it (cos they had to read it i guess) and i pretended i hated it too, but secretly , I loved it
its told from the point of view of Scout , a seven year old girl whos father Atticus, is defending Tom Robinson, a black man found guilty of raping a white girl (this is set in Alabama around 1935 btw) even after it is blindingly obvious that he couldnt have done it (hes crippled)
One sentence that always makes me well up is after they find him guilty Jem, Scouts 12 year old brother, says "how could they do it Atticus " and Atticus looks at him and says "they've done it before , and they'll do it again, and it seems when they do it....only children weep.Goodnight "
A Mockingbird basically refers to the idea that its a sin to kill a mockingbird because they dont "do anything except make beautiful music for us to enjoy " -in the book there are a few mockingbirds, namely Boo Radley the next door neighbour and Tom Robinson.
It also has a great part about living in someones skin before you judge.... anyway,. obviously i love it, i mean its not for everyone of course, but some beautiful lessons in it that we should all remember ....
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lizzle
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:01pm |
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OOOOOHHHH you will love it Emma - do you want to borrow my copy?
I LOVE keri Hulme - the bone people - my favouritist book ever - makes me cry
I am reading Jodi Picoult atthe moment for schol
Am also reading best nz short stories
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:03pm |
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oh! I saw Jodi Picoult has a new one out, Change of Heart , i think
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:04pm |
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Oooh yes please Liz! Actually no, I might go one better - that might be my mission for the week, to buy a copy. I know the story, I've just never read it. We did Janet Frame Owls Do Cry for 6th form, I would faaaaar rather have done To Kill A Mockingbird!
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:05pm |
well there you go,.....i have never read Owls do cry 
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:06pm |
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LOL don't bother! It's autobiographical so we spent the whole time having to make compaarisons between that and To the Island.
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:10pm |
haha, thanks for the headsup...i wont bother then ....but you have to bother reading To kill a mockingbird, i mean geez its not like your busy right? with a five year old and twins running around
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Maya
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Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:11pm |
I will, coz it's a classic and I should read it! My mum and my sister both loved it, she did it for school too.
Some idiot bought me Janet Frame's complete autobiography, why oh why would they do that? 
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Good books
