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Interesting discussion at Tor.com on What books haven’t you read?.

What books haven’t you read? What “classic” could you just not get into? What was it that made it unreadable? Will you ever try to finish it?

1. The System of the World by Neal Stephenson. Like his stuff and have read all the others. But I just stalled and forgot where things were up to and keep being distracted by other books when I retry.
2. Dr Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Didn't read badly, but just didn't seem worth continuing with. Might try again sometime.
3. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin. Stalled somewhere in the 3rd?? book.

I remember the first time I tried Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, I stalled on the first chapter and didn't continue, despite having liked the Fionavar Tapestry. Left him alone for years. Went back a number of years later and devoured it and have been avidly reading his other novels since.

Mind you, I have quite happily reread the Gormenghast Trilogy several times (though I will admit to not having bothered with Titus Alone for a few years now).

I should stop waiting for Z to finish his homework and head off to bed.

Given the roots were getting a couple inches long and the last time it was done was June or July, it was time to gloop up. Slack method this time - dumped ~1 c cider vinegar, 1 pack Piko's Egyptian red henna and whatever red wine made a vaguely decent consistancy, covered the bowl in gladwrap and left out in the sun for half an hour, then added a spoon full of honey with a spoonful of gelatine to a large cup of boiling water, mixed, then added into the henna and let cool for a while. Z applied, I sat and read for an hour (Pratchett's Maskerade in a nice patch of shade outside), then washed out. Result: hair is back to red. Usual patches of orange scalp.

Reading levels gone up a lot in the past 2 weeks, especially since arriving in Brisbane.
Current list:
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Shards of Honour
Barrayar (together as Cordelia's Honour) by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Warrior's Apprentice
"The Mountains of Mourning"
The Vor Game (together as Young Miles) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop
The Magic of Recluse by L E Modessitt
A Fall of Angels by L E Modessitt
Cetaganda
Ethan of Athos
"Labyrinth" (together as Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem) by Lois McMaster Bujold

Just started Bujold's "The Borders of Infinity" and (as stated) Pratchett's Maskerade. And a blue linen tunic - currently cut out and some bits pinned together.

No job yet.

I think that about covers things.

Oh, and found a bat rookery near where we are staying (about 10 min walk away) so spent dusk last night watching lots of fruit bats drift across the sky in twos and threes and fours... Wildlife count doing well with the bats, little fishies, big fish eating little fishies, turtles, herons, ducks, geese, cockatoos, galas and occasional gecko in the bedroom.