I read the Martha Quest series in the late 60's and absolutely revelled in it. But I don't remember a baby with special powers. I must have been very naieve. I agree that some of Lessing's work feels a bit dated now, but as Voldi said about Priestley, what matters is that they are of their time, and the Martha Quest series certainly was. I've always intended reading the Golden Notebooks again because I can't remember a thing about them, but somehow never got round to it. June -----Original Message----- From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steven Bingham Sent: 11 June 2013 17:59 To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: What to read next? Hi David I have not read the Golden Notebook but I did read most of the Martha Quest series. These start as a standard fictional biographical novel detailing Martha's growing up in South Africa and her migration to London but then they start getting surreal. She is living in Post-World War II London and somehow the bomb damage and her pregnacy lead her to believe that her child is some kind of an alien with special powers. At this point I gave up. I think it was the third of fourth books in the series. The Golden Notebook was written after this series and I understand that it has weird aspects but don't really know. Steve -----Original Message----- From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Russell Sent: 11 June 2013 15:13 To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ebooktalk] What to read next? Hi all I feel like a change from my usual literary diet of murder and mayhem. I have a list of books for such occasions, books I have wanted to read for ages and just not done so. I just picked a book at random and it turns out to be Doris Lesssing's "Golden notebook". I do not know why it is on my list, although I have heard it is worth reading. Has anyone read it and if so do you have any comments, either positive or otherwise. Not sure I have read Lessing before, so it should be interesting. David ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3199/5902 - Release Date: 06/11/13