She's obsessed with bathing.

I think when you've read the book you know why. It's either the Lady Macbeth thing "out damn spot" or the showers in the camps. Loved the book by the way. But still don't fancy the film.

Interesting about the washing - filmgoers might suspect it's a device to introduce some nudity. Yes, I think it can spoil you for a film if you've enjoyed the book. I'm probably one of the few admirers of DH Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley' who really disliked the recent film.

Sheila

Yes, I guess it's a sexy book and probably, cynically, they chose to make it into a film not least because Winslett would have to get her bits out quite often.

Yes, I remember now that she did that in 'Titanic'. Until I saw 'The Reader ' I didn't rate her for acting talent, but I hear she's been nominated for an Oscar. I'd think it must be for this film, although she's in another one about to be released and for which I saw the trailer - 'Revolution Road'.

Ooh! I think I'm going to see 'Slumdog Millionaire' this afternoon, depending on the timings. Otherwise it'll be the amateur dramatics one.

Sheila

Apparently Kate Winslet has enormous feet - about a size ten, I believe.
I think she is a great actress but have become mildly obsessed with this fact.

Um, now I've lowered the tone....

oh, I'm really looking forward to Slumdog Millionaire. Heard it on Radio 4 months ago as its book of the week.

PLOT SPOILER WARNING

Looks like it will be 'Slumdog', as 'A Bunch of Amateurs' has left the Cineworld Chain. I'll have to think about whether I want to pay the the Empire's price later in the week.It didn't get very good reviews.

Another one where Kate W took her clothes off was 'Little Children'. I didn't notice anything remarkable about her performance, in fact found it quite boring, but she won an Oscar.

Yes, she is quite big-boned girl which makes me think think she could have Dutch ancestry. The heavy features are an asset in the 'The Reader' role. She makes a believable tram conductor and SS guard. It doesn't say in the film why she never learned to read. Too dim?

Sheila

Sheila, it didn't say in the book either. Could be she was dyslexic. You should read "A Judgement In Stone" by Ruth Rendall. One of my all time favourite books. Can't say too much as it would spoil the story. But being unable to read must be the worst handicap.

Yes, I meant dyslexic, of course. She immediately figured out a way of reading when she got the audio tapes, though, from being able to match words to sounds, so it can't hae been that.

Yes, I think I've read that Ruth Rendell book. Isn't it about an illiterate housekeeper or cook who kills a member of her employer's family? It's a long time since I read it.

My husband reckons Kate W has gained the Oscar nomination for 'Revolution Road', not 'The Reader'. We saw the trailer again, but I can't see how, as she just has to shout at Leonardo Di Caprio. Must be more to it.

Sheila

I really want to read "Revolution Road". Meant to be a great book.

'The story follows a seemingly happy suburban couple with two children in the mid-1950s who find themselves caught between their true desires and the pressure to conform — with explosive consequences.'(from the film website)

Mmm. Sound like ny sort of book, too, although here in the UK revolution was already in the air (social, that is) Can't say I was aware of any pressures to conform when I left school in 1959, but rather the opposite - straight into CND, New Left, bed-sit living. Different for middle-class people, I suppose, but isn't that always the case? The quote made me think of all those Doris Day films. You should see the size of the house the couple in the film live in!

I think I've got a WH Smiths token, so maybe I can get the Yates book. Must steer clear of Amazon one click or I'll be bankrupt. Glad I got to the post this morning before my husband to avoid excessive tutting. I've got 'Lynne Hackle Writing from Life' on the heels of Della Galton.

Sheila

Glad I got to the post this morning before my husband to avoid excessive tutting.

Lol, Sheila! I am lucky. My husband cannot tut at me because he is amore extravagant online shopper than me. Last night I found him pre-ordering the complete audio set of Seamus Heaney's poems. God knows what that cost !

What???!! Oh, I guess he's gainfully employed,so it's not quite so bad.

Here we've been trying to outdo one another in parsimony since we decided to make a budget last September. My husband went out to buy the Daily Mail this morning because there's a free Cranford DVD in it. He announced his departure in a voice dripping virtue. I suspect that he'd like to cheat, but he has fewer opportunities - I'm in charge of online banking. Still, the Lynne Hackles must be my last (undeclared) Amazon transgression. I can't guarantee always to intercept the postman. (There's a story there somewhere.)

Sheila

I've read Revolutionary Road and thought it was fantastic.

oh, well, Caroline, I'll be onto it immediately. Reciprically, can I recommend "All Our Worldly Goods" by Irene Nemirovsky? She wrote "Suite Francaise" which I've just ordered from the library. It's a story about family rivalry, greed and love against the background of two world wars, all the more poignant when you learn the author died in Auschwitz. (it's not about Auschwitz though!)