I was planning to recommend it when I saw the thread. Both dc's have used it and love it. Good starting point and the group thrre is nice and helpful.

James Rollins writes very action packed books where death and injury are common. I read the first two in the series and liked them but am having problems remembering them beyond the plot line. :lol: I can tell you I keep bookshelves at goodreads for each child, I remember thinking ds would like them but they are not on his shelf. Must of had a reason, no idea what it was but....

Finished Mortal Arts, the second Lady Darby Mystery, by Anna Lee Huber and loved it! http://www.thebigthrill.org/2013/08/mortal-arts-by-anna-lee-huber/ Very good. A bit gothic in a mentally ill person in the attic of a big house on the cliffs with a crumbling castle next door way. Looking forward to the third in this series....

Angel -- The term steampunk is one that I have had an extremely hard time wrapping my mind around. Mechanical devices do seem to be a must. Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway is not steampunk because not Victorian but it does use the mechanical devices in a way I loved. Totally different than the Gail Carriger you are currently reading. This list is interesting too. http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2010/02/collection-development/steampunk-20-core-titles/

I just read your blog! Fun! :grouphug: for next week.

Shukriyya -- I completely understand the grass is greener feeling. I have accumulated a huge stack and have roughly 20 days to read them all. Not likely but it is humorous that dh thinks I can! As soon as I start a new book I start wondering if __________ would not have been a better choice, that leads to google, there went my reading time! :lol:

My best friend has been reminding me that I needed to read "The Anatomist 's Wife" by Anna Lee Huber https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anna-lee-huber/anatomists-wife/ since last summer. I didn't want to buy it since the library here had it, so I waited. It rates as a top ten fluff book for her, not so high for me but it was good. I read a pretty scathing review of it just after starting the book and have to say I don't agree with much of what they said. I don't want to link because it did hugely influence me while reading rather unfairly. For instance the foreshadowing was actually rather limited considering that the author was writing the first book in an intended series. Definately a worthwhile read for some here. It does have a bit of a trigger in it regarding pregnancy/miscarriage which bothered me but not as badly as some books.

Ichthus and Conquest do take their materials to a very limited number of conferences (like 3 places some years ;) ) around the country. Mainly to churches. You might want to inquire where they will be and go and look in person especially if you are just starting with young children. I went to one in Coventry two years ago, Bristol last year. I had fun shopping at both. :lol: Also when you are going anywhere loosely school field trip worthy look at the educational portion of the locations website. There is a wealth of stuff just waiting to be used. National Trust and English Heritage have pages of info for most sites which probably doesn't surprise you.

Kareni -- when we first moved to the UK we lived in a small flat near city center and actually learned the area via library visits to most of the 20+ libraries that make up the borough library system. These visits played a huge role in where we settled and ultimately bought a home. So much can be learned about a community by a visit to the library. After reading everyone's responses I need to make an effort to find a library where browsing is enjoyable while we are in the UK. The small library in the village is probably too much of a personal social hub for serious book contemplation no matter what happens to it. FYI the future of that library and most of the others I visited long ago is still unknown, I will update as soon as decisions are actually made.

I just returned from spending a peaceful two hours at a large library while the dc's played chess in a meeting room. It dawned on me during the drive home that I can't remember the last time I just browsed at the library. I generally just present myself at the desk and pick up our holds, maybe pick up a couple predetermined topicwise books off the shelves. Do the rest of you still browse and get to enjoy your library trips or do you pick up and go? I came home with a few new cozy mystery series to try. Mostly bookstore and quilting related. :)

Laura -- At first I thought that was monthly and pretty lean but for weekly totally possible. I am assuming a bus pass or wiil his life be completely walkable? The only actual I know is £200 per month which is food total(including coffee etc) for a friends dd. This is her second year so must work. She is in Glasgow and rides buses daily I think.

The Far Pavilion appears to be available at my library. I added it to my wish list and will give it a try later in the year. Sounds intriguing. I want to third the Howatch Starbridge series. I am part way through and enjoying them. I enjoyed Shrouded Walls, one of the gothics also. I am almost done with my GM Malliet reading fest. I finished A Fatal Winter and am almost done with Pagan Spring. Really like the main character and the village characters. The next one is coming soon....

Just yuk! I hope Laura's dh stays healthy on his business trip. My allergies acted up hanging out with my brothers last week and they didn't even smoke near me, they just smell like it. Pretty sure Beijing would be a very bad idea for me and many others.

Welovetoread -- Happy Birthday to you and your dd! Glad to hear you like your paperwhite!

We have used the library extensively to add more British History in. Many of the WTM materials are availiable through Conquest Books and Ichthus Press.

Shukriyya -- lovely post. As another person who found herself awake far before I wanted to be :grouphug:. At least I have an easy day planned. No long commutes.

It really is complete. The only other thing I used was a printer for study guides etc. Obviously you need the supplies for the experiments. ;) But the cd rom contains all the extras from the supplemental cd apologia sells. Just clicking as reading the text makes things really easy.

Negin -- when you posted your question about books with animal characters these http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Rita-Mae-Brown.html came to mind. I used to enjoy them but haven't read the last 10 or so. Took me awhile to remember the name. That got me thinking about some other cat mysteries. Not sure if Lillian Jackson Braun would qualify but Carole Nelson Douglas with Midnight Louie as the narrator would imo. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2012/06/cat_mysteries_lilian_jackson_braun_rita_mae_brown_and_sheila_rousseau_murphy_books_.html

I just placed what is probably my last Rainbow Resource order. Sad day...I love that company and can't believe their part in our home ed journey is probably over because everything they supply that we need has for the most part been purchased. I didn't even get to spend days looking through their wonderful merchandise. It was simply we need the final EIL book etc. My mommy heart feels sad. On a more positive note I was able to read "Henrietta Who?" By Catherine Aird. It was a page turner which everyone here who likes mysteries could enjoy. It starts with the hit and run death of Henrietta's "mother" and quickly becomes a mystery concerning who is Henrietta really because her mother had never given birth. No real violence and a great whodunit.

I read Dan Brown and have read the Inferno. Possibliy the least favorite of his books for me but that was probably because I spent tons of time on wiki looking up the real Inferno's storyline. I think it would be a fun read for you now after having read the original. I spent so much time wishing I could remember a book that I read 30 years ago better. I found it rather frustrating. I still plan to do the Inferno read just not the along part. Probably April for me and I might even reread Dan Brown when done! ;)

Robin, I hope you are feeling a bit better today! I looked through my library stack and the only book that is remotely close is "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" which is an ebook so not as pressing as the 50 or so other books dd and I have selected for the next month. :lol: I only have one with a number "Takedown Twenty" which is also an ebook. I managed to finish the G.M. Malliet "Wicked Autumn" last night. Good cozy. Great new detective for me.....Father Max Tudor former MI5 special agent. Someone here read a couple of her "death of series...." which I also read last fall. This was very different in feel. Death of ... was a bit of a satire. Purposely having a bit of fun with cozy readers and writers. This book was more typical for a cozy although it did make fun of a typical English village with rather dramatic characters. The descriptions of social interactions etc were spot on per my observations. I got a good chuckle a few times thinking that is just like so and so in my village. The vicar's problems with his parishioners, especially all the tea, made me laugh -- too much tea is apparently a common complaint on visiting days according to my vicar. This one was worth waiting a year to get out of the library, I have 2 more from the series in the stack. Can't wait!

As the pp said in November daylight is roughly 9 to 4. The weather can vary hugely to be honest. We spent a November day in London when the dc's were little where the purpose was a great photo in their handknitted sweaters for the Christmas cards that was so warm I didn't have the heart to put them on them for 10 minutes. I would plan for cold (40's) and wet but pack so you can dress in layers. We have stayed by Heathrow and never minded it. The main thing is to be within walking distance to a good underground station--the more lines going through the better. You my want to google some Holiday House sites for London and see if you can find a reasonably priced apartment. This would allow you to save a lot on food. We generally go for the day so not familiar with hotels etc. Several friends have mentioned that they like to stay at either the Travelodge or Premier Inn near Kings Cross Station. Very convenient and good value. We use Premier Inn generally in our travels and like them. Their sleep 4 rooms work the best with 6 foot ds in the economy range. King's Cross puts you within walking distance of the British Library and Museum. Other attractions are walkable if you like to walk, we do.

Well I missed one when I posted last weeks reads last night, "Don't Look Back" by Karin Fossum was also completed. I read her first novel a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. Norwegian author with a rural Norwegian setting. I love many things about these books but have to say the harsher realities of a murder mystery are blunt. The characters are as a whole blunt but Inspector Sejer, the main character, is a huge kind contrast. Makes for interesting reading. I was on a wait list for "The Dinosaur Feather" before Tress even mentioned it. Looking forward to reading a contemporary Danish author to contrast with Fossum. Currently reading "Friday Night Bites" by Chloe Neill and "Wicked Autumn" by G.M. Mallet.

I finally have my scribbles organized enough to post what I read last week. I had a week without internet reading pretty fluffy books. About the Baby by Tracy Wolff -- parts were set in Eritrea, who would have ever guessed that I would end up with that country for my geography challege! :) Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs -- pretty good but officially tired of that series for a few weeks. Everywhere She Goes and All a Man is by Janice Kay Johnson -- this is an enjoyable romance author imo. The Bridge by Carol Ericson -- the first in the Brody Law series, I think Kareni would enjoy these. I will be watching for more. The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson -- I have read the whole series and really enjoyed the surprise ending for this one. Key Witness by Christy Barritt In this Together by Kara Lennox My Hero by Debbie Macomber -- potentially a fun read for any aspiring romance authors. The Christmas Bride by Penny Jordan -- a favorite romance author of mine. Her books are always nice. A frozen Fire by Charlotte Lamb -- really good. She was an author I loved in my teens, When I read it I knew why. A Man to believe In by Kathleen Pickering