23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. I know, embarrassing, but I've still not read it.

I think it's because it's meant to be so good, I'm meant to love it. And what if I don't? It's a bit of a protest, in the back of my mind. Or it could just be pure laziness.

Ok, I'll read it. I think I've even got it.

22 – Favourite book you own

I've got about a billion books (it's almost true - ask Mike). And about a million of them are my favourites. Can't bear to get rid of them, can't stop buying more.

So picking just the one isn't easy. But I'll stop moaning about my own indecisiveness and tell you about The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I read it a few months ago now and through all the books I've read in the interim this is still one I think about a lot.

I'm sure there have been plenty of books around the same theme, racism in a 1960s USA where black people were mostly, well, 'the help'. And I'm sure this one isn't telling us anything new. But it's just incredibly well written and the characters are very vivid. I don't claim to know much about this period of our scarily recent history, or the struggles of people in this situation (still today, in parts of the world) but it left me feeling like I'd been part of it. I realise that sounds pretty damn conceited and very middle-class but Stockett very much succeeded in bringing this story to life. Two thumbs up!

Hippy happy hoppy lady day.

There's such a lot of celebration today. It's pancake day, here in the UK. In Sweden it's Fettisdagen (when we eat semlor). It's also International Women's Day.

I had pancakes for dinner. And I got cake at work - some students were marking Int'l Women's Day and gave out cake in return for writing a message on their banner. Sweet deal, I thought (geddit?). I've not had a semla yet but might make some at the weekend.

Anyway. To the point. I saw a lovely entry on a blog where the author is celebrating her mum today. It was quite inspiring. So here's a photo of the two best, wonderfullest and strongest women I know (and my lovely dad!). I love you.

20 – Favourite romance book

Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune is a fantastic book. I know it's not exclusively a love story but I think this is what's so appealing about it.

Allende's magical realism is so captivating, it's been years since I read this now but I think I will re-read it very soon.

19 – Favourite book turned into a movie

I always try to view films based on books and the books they are based on as separate entities. Because there is no way a film can contain all that a book can. There's no way they can bring a character or a story to life in the same way.

If I had to choose whether to only read books or only watch films for the rest of my life I would pick books. No contest.

Having said that, there's a whole lot of films based on books that I do like.

East of Eden is one of them. It's based on John Steinbeck's 1952 novel which he saw as his best work. I'm inclined to agree.

18 – A book that disappointed you

The Book Thief. I know I've written about it before but I feel I need to reiterate this point. The cover just looked so good!

I was also quite disappointed with Peter James' Dreamer. I normally love James' stuff, but most of his novels are crime dramas. This one is not. Now I don't mind a bit of ghosty psychic action every once in a while; but I think this one just threw me a little bit because it wasn't what I was expecting.

So overall, a bit disappointing but not a bad read.

Untitled.

You know the Wholegrain 50/50 bread? Looks like white bread but is healthy? At the bottom of the advert it says 'contains 1/3 wholegrain'. Pfft. It's like those mascara adverts where at the bottom of the screen you can read 'fake lashes used and enhanced in post production'.

I hate adverts.

17 – Favourite quote from your favourite book

The young people think the old people are fools, but the old people know that the young people are fools.

16 – Favourite female character

I'm so sorry, I'm going to have to be predictable here. Miss Marple is really the only answer to this one.

15 – Favourite male character

Now I know what I'm expected to say here. At least I know what you're not expecting me to say. But lordy, isn't Jack Reacher just dreamy?

Ok, ok.

I have to say I really like Holden Caulfield. Cliche - yes. Predictable - yes. Sue me.