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As discussed in the Blake last Friday:
List five books you have read which you think everyone should read. Your choices could be for any reason. They don't have to be your favourites. Maybe they really made you think, maybe they made you feel, or maybe they were just a cracking fun read.
( Here's five I've picked out from my collection: )
What are your five? What other books should I definitely read?
List five books you have read which you think everyone should read. Your choices could be for any reason. They don't have to be your favourites. Maybe they really made you think, maybe they made you feel, or maybe they were just a cracking fun read.
( Here's five I've picked out from my collection: )
What are your five? What other books should I definitely read?
Goodbye 2012
Jan. 1st, 2013 11:59 pmHappy New Year, everybody! :o)
I was going to post this yesterday, but LJ seemed to be a bit broken. Figuring those Russians are a few hours ahead of us, I realised no work was going to get done to fix it for a little while. And I was right...
These end-of-year posts always make me sad, as so many friends always seem to post about what a crappy year they've had. I hope you didn't, and for those who I know did, I hope 2013 turns out to be a lucky number after all and a much better year all round. It certainly seemed to get off to a good start last night!
For me, I'm happy to say that 2012 seemed to be a year peppered with frequent doses of awesome. Well, maybe I'd rather forget the bit where I got attacked by a falling shop sign, but the summer was great and I really got caught up in the celebrations, going to a Jubilee hog roast, seeing the Queen and Prince Philip, watching the Torch relay (three times), hosting an Olympic party, and (best of all) getting to spend a day at the Paralympic Games.
Earlier in the year, I visited Cardiff, and then later in the year, I went back to (a different bit of) Wales and then the slightly more exotic locations of Geneva for work and Maastricht (and Valkenburg) for pleasure. I also gained a new niece (and, just before Christmas, a new second cousin), visited the seaside, and met J.K.Rowling. And I seem to have had a quite ridiculous number of pub lunches, particularly towards the end of the year...
In semi-traditional style, following my round up of films and books I devoured in the first half of the year, ( here's the same treatment for the second (not-quite) half of 2012. )
I stuck to my 2012 New Year's resolutions of starting/finishing work earlier and reading more books, and I aim to carry those on in 2013.
The last couple of rounds of the Christmas season went well, with going out for Dim Sum on the 22nd, Christmas Day with my parents, Boxing Day at my sister's, the traditional NYEE party/barbecue chez Nightingale, and seeing New Year in last night at Flat of Geek. A few glasses of Jura Superstition seemed like a good way to see in 2013 ;o). Then it was a round of pizza, games and movies this evening before it's back to normality tomorrow.
Best wishes to all for the coming year!
I was going to post this yesterday, but LJ seemed to be a bit broken. Figuring those Russians are a few hours ahead of us, I realised no work was going to get done to fix it for a little while. And I was right...
These end-of-year posts always make me sad, as so many friends always seem to post about what a crappy year they've had. I hope you didn't, and for those who I know did, I hope 2013 turns out to be a lucky number after all and a much better year all round. It certainly seemed to get off to a good start last night!
For me, I'm happy to say that 2012 seemed to be a year peppered with frequent doses of awesome. Well, maybe I'd rather forget the bit where I got attacked by a falling shop sign, but the summer was great and I really got caught up in the celebrations, going to a Jubilee hog roast, seeing the Queen and Prince Philip, watching the Torch relay (three times), hosting an Olympic party, and (best of all) getting to spend a day at the Paralympic Games.
Earlier in the year, I visited Cardiff, and then later in the year, I went back to (a different bit of) Wales and then the slightly more exotic locations of Geneva for work and Maastricht (and Valkenburg) for pleasure. I also gained a new niece (and, just before Christmas, a new second cousin), visited the seaside, and met J.K.Rowling. And I seem to have had a quite ridiculous number of pub lunches, particularly towards the end of the year...
In semi-traditional style, following my round up of films and books I devoured in the first half of the year, ( here's the same treatment for the second (not-quite) half of 2012. )
I stuck to my 2012 New Year's resolutions of starting/finishing work earlier and reading more books, and I aim to carry those on in 2013.
The last couple of rounds of the Christmas season went well, with going out for Dim Sum on the 22nd, Christmas Day with my parents, Boxing Day at my sister's, the traditional NYEE party/barbecue chez Nightingale, and seeing New Year in last night at Flat of Geek. A few glasses of Jura Superstition seemed like a good way to see in 2013 ;o). Then it was a round of pizza, games and movies this evening before it's back to normality tomorrow.
Best wishes to all for the coming year!
Concerning hobbits
Nov. 26th, 2012 10:43 pmHaving re-read The Hobbit last week, I reckon I've figured this trilogy thing out.
( Cut for major spoilers for the half dozen people who haven't read the book )
I really hope they're going to be good. I thnk the second film in particular has the potential to be awesome (even if one of the Lego sets makes me concerned they've messed up a major character-defining moment for Bilbo). I'm worried though that there's just not enough material in the first film to fill it (especially if the typical running time of Peter Jackson's recent films is anything to go by), and the third film might end up a bit messy and disjointed.
I also worry, from the first trailer I saw, that there's going to be too much gloomy foreshadowing of things to come. That sort of stuff has no place in The Hobbit, which should be a very different tone to Lord of the Rings. Fortunately, the second trailer (which I saw for the first time at the cinema today) has more action and humour and seems to be generally a bit more in keeping with the feel of the book.
I suppose it's not long now 'till we find out...
( Cut for major spoilers for the half dozen people who haven't read the book )
I really hope they're going to be good. I thnk the second film in particular has the potential to be awesome (even if one of the Lego sets makes me concerned they've messed up a major character-defining moment for Bilbo). I'm worried though that there's just not enough material in the first film to fill it (especially if the typical running time of Peter Jackson's recent films is anything to go by), and the third film might end up a bit messy and disjointed.
I also worry, from the first trailer I saw, that there's going to be too much gloomy foreshadowing of things to come. That sort of stuff has no place in The Hobbit, which should be a very different tone to Lord of the Rings. Fortunately, the second trailer (which I saw for the first time at the cinema today) has more action and humour and seems to be generally a bit more in keeping with the feel of the book.
I suppose it's not long now 'till we find out...
The Casual Vacancy
Oct. 7th, 2012 11:06 am"It's a town full of Dursleys!" was my initial reaction.
The Casual Vacancy is an odd book. On the one hand, it's packed with fully rounded, interesting characters and is as good a multi-plotted page-turner as JKR has ever written. On the other hand, it's not an easy read at all.
JKR has always seemed to delight in writing horrible characters doing horrible things, but here she digs beneath their skin to see what makes them tick and why they are the way they are. Any worries that by focussing only on muggles (and some of the mugglish muggles you've ever seen) she'd be writing with one hand tied behind her back are quickly dispelled. Do you see what I did there? ;o)
The story is loosely about the fall-out on a small community when one of its pivotal members dies, but really it's about recognising the impacts everyone has (intentionally and unintentionally) on other people's lives and taking responsibility - or not - for those impacts. It raises lots of difficult issues and no easy answers. While there is (black) humour, there is little in the way of relief and the finale is genuinely shocking. This is definitely not a happy book.
Much of what the book has to say about society, disaffected youth and class warfare has been said before, but JKR digs deep into her characters and makes it very personal. Although you may not like many of the characters, you do find yourself identifying with them, often uncomfortably. Well worth a read.
I was fortunate enough to go and see JKR discussing the book live last night, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. (W00t! *Squee!* Etc.) She picked up on this said that she found it most interesting how differently readers react to the various characters, who they like and who they feel guilty about liking. Mind you, she also said she admired the domineering Howard and that the hedonistic bully Fats was her favourite character in the book, so I'm not sure what that tells you...
It was a great event. She did an interview, read out a chapter from the new book, and took questions from the audience. She was on top form throughout, very funny, down-to-earth and engaging. She won the audience right from the start when she punched the air in triumph on being told the Daily Mail didn't like the book very much ;o)
Unfortunately the mic didn't make it to the upper tier where we were sat, so I didn't get to ask her anything. A lot of the questionners were rather gushing - On being told, "I love you!" for about the sixth time, she quipped, "It's great for the ego, this. You should all try it sometime!" She revealed that her next book for adults and next two books for children are already in progress.
Other great comments:
- "My youngest asked me, 'Mummy, if you could only keep either us or writing, what would it be?' I thought about it and said, 'I'd keep you, but I'd be very grumpy.'"
- "If you don't think Krystal is worth saving, then I have nothing to say to you as a human being. Gosh, that's a bit harsh isn't it?"
- "People have been endlessly pointing out to me that 'Barry' rhymes with 'Harry'. I wish I'd called him Kevin." (The interviewer points out that people have also noticed that 'Robbie' rhymes with 'Dobby') "Oh god. There's about 200 characters in the Potter books. It'd be really hard to find a name that didn't rhyme with any of them. Fair enough if I'd called someone a name that rhymed with 'Xenophilias'..."
Afterwards she did book signings. It was all very efficient. Despite the 2,000-strong queue, we were waiting less than an hour. (I've queued longer than that just to buy one of her books!) This meant I didn't have time to say more than "Thank you so much!" to her, but she smiled and said, "Thank you!" back as she handed back my signed book, still very upbeat and not yet worn down by the seemingly endless queue of fans. She says meeting readers is her favourite part of the job. She loves it really.
The Casual Vacancy is an odd book. On the one hand, it's packed with fully rounded, interesting characters and is as good a multi-plotted page-turner as JKR has ever written. On the other hand, it's not an easy read at all.
JKR has always seemed to delight in writing horrible characters doing horrible things, but here she digs beneath their skin to see what makes them tick and why they are the way they are. Any worries that by focussing only on muggles (and some of the mugglish muggles you've ever seen) she'd be writing with one hand tied behind her back are quickly dispelled. Do you see what I did there? ;o)
The story is loosely about the fall-out on a small community when one of its pivotal members dies, but really it's about recognising the impacts everyone has (intentionally and unintentionally) on other people's lives and taking responsibility - or not - for those impacts. It raises lots of difficult issues and no easy answers. While there is (black) humour, there is little in the way of relief and the finale is genuinely shocking. This is definitely not a happy book.
Much of what the book has to say about society, disaffected youth and class warfare has been said before, but JKR digs deep into her characters and makes it very personal. Although you may not like many of the characters, you do find yourself identifying with them, often uncomfortably. Well worth a read.
I was fortunate enough to go and see JKR discussing the book live last night, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. (W00t! *Squee!* Etc.) She picked up on this said that she found it most interesting how differently readers react to the various characters, who they like and who they feel guilty about liking. Mind you, she also said she admired the domineering Howard and that the hedonistic bully Fats was her favourite character in the book, so I'm not sure what that tells you...
It was a great event. She did an interview, read out a chapter from the new book, and took questions from the audience. She was on top form throughout, very funny, down-to-earth and engaging. She won the audience right from the start when she punched the air in triumph on being told the Daily Mail didn't like the book very much ;o)
Unfortunately the mic didn't make it to the upper tier where we were sat, so I didn't get to ask her anything. A lot of the questionners were rather gushing - On being told, "I love you!" for about the sixth time, she quipped, "It's great for the ego, this. You should all try it sometime!" She revealed that her next book for adults and next two books for children are already in progress.
Other great comments:
- "My youngest asked me, 'Mummy, if you could only keep either us or writing, what would it be?' I thought about it and said, 'I'd keep you, but I'd be very grumpy.'"
- "If you don't think Krystal is worth saving, then I have nothing to say to you as a human being. Gosh, that's a bit harsh isn't it?"
- "People have been endlessly pointing out to me that 'Barry' rhymes with 'Harry'. I wish I'd called him Kevin." (The interviewer points out that people have also noticed that 'Robbie' rhymes with 'Dobby') "Oh god. There's about 200 characters in the Potter books. It'd be really hard to find a name that didn't rhyme with any of them. Fair enough if I'd called someone a name that rhymed with 'Xenophilias'..."
Afterwards she did book signings. It was all very efficient. Despite the 2,000-strong queue, we were waiting less than an hour. (I've queued longer than that just to buy one of her books!) This meant I didn't have time to say more than "Thank you so much!" to her, but she smiled and said, "Thank you!" back as she handed back my signed book, still very upbeat and not yet worn down by the seemingly endless queue of fans. She says meeting readers is her favourite part of the job. She loves it really.
Books - first half (and a bit)
Jul. 29th, 2012 03:59 pmI meant to post this about a month ago, but didn't get around to writing it. Last year I managed to get into a good momentum reading books, and one of my New Year's resolutions for 2012 was to keep that up. Here's a run-down of the books I've read in the first half (and a bit) of the year:
( under this cut )
( under this cut )
How can you live like this?
Jun. 18th, 2012 02:23 pmOverheard from a shop assistant yesterday:
"I only ever read one book, and that were The Twits when I were in school. I hate reading. Always have."
I wasn't sure whether to cry or force her to go and join a library.
"I only ever read one book, and that were The Twits when I were in school. I hate reading. Always have."
I wasn't sure whether to cry or force her to go and join a library.
Busy weekend
May. 20th, 2012 11:50 pmThis weekend I have mostly been visiting the Nightingirls, spending a pleasant evening in The Blake, visiting Stainsby Mill, having a fantastic pub lunch at the Hardwick Inn, visiting Hardwick Halls (new and old), baking another batch of raspberry flapjacks, going to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
edy_'s birthday party, going swimming, doing food shopping, doing washing, watching the Sealed Knot re-enactment in the park, finishing the last few chapters of my book, and going to roleplaying.
I'm sure at some point I must've slept, but I don't remember it!
edy_'s birthday party, going swimming, doing food shopping, doing washing, watching the Sealed Knot re-enactment in the park, finishing the last few chapters of my book, and going to roleplaying.I'm sure at some point I must've slept, but I don't remember it!
Book review - Codex Alera
Apr. 5th, 2012 06:42 pmThe story goes that Jim Butcher bet he could make a decent story out of any two random ideas he was given. So he ended up writing a six-volume, 3,000-page, dynastic fantasy epic based on the concept "Lost Roman Legion meets Pokémon".
He somehow managed to make it work, as only Jim Butcher can. Mostly. So long as you refrain from thinking "Brutus! I choose you!" or similar any time a character calls on one of their personal elemental furies. And so long as you refrain from substituting the word "furies" with "furries" in your head. Which would turn it into a series forgwengothelf ;o)
Alera itself is essentially a Roman civilisation, but whose citizens have varying degrees of elemental magic abilities. It is surrounded by hostile races on all sides - the savage Marat to the east, the warlike Canim over the seas to the south and west, the obligatory Icemen to the north, and the mysteriously alien Vord. Infighting among its own High Lords also threatens to tear Alera apart from within.
Thrust into all this are the main characters - a farmboy living on the frontier (because, in the author's own words, "let's face it, swords-and-horses fantasies start there"), his aunt and uncle, an agent of the First Lord, a traitor, and a young Marat.
Comparisons with Butcher's other series, The Dresden Files, invite themselves. Both are action-packed fun. Both are full of immensely likeable, anti-authoritarian, smart-arsed heroes and anti-heroes, who win the day mostly through their own mad genius and their ability to convince others to go along with them. Both rattle along at a good pace before devoting the last 100 or so pages of each book to epic final confrontations that would be ludicrously over-the-top if they hadn't been set up so carefully. All of this is good.
It's not as dark or complicated as Dresden. The plot twists are more obvious, the characters more invulnerable, the line between good and evil more clearly drawn. But it's not really trying to do the same thing. Alera is more an escapist swords-and-sorcery fantasy, where the magic is more super-powered, the conflicts are bigger, and one person's actions can shape a whole continent. There's still plenty enough intrigue, revelations, betrayals and sacrifices to keep you turning the pages.
It's also a single story arc over six books, whereas Dresden is more separate stories with a linked continuity. I read Alera from start to finish in a little over three months, and I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow and following their journey over that time.
And now I really am all out of Jim Butcher books. What else is on the bookshelf...?
He somehow managed to make it work, as only Jim Butcher can. Mostly. So long as you refrain from thinking "Brutus! I choose you!" or similar any time a character calls on one of their personal elemental furies. And so long as you refrain from substituting the word "furies" with "furries" in your head. Which would turn it into a series for
gwengothelf ;o)Alera itself is essentially a Roman civilisation, but whose citizens have varying degrees of elemental magic abilities. It is surrounded by hostile races on all sides - the savage Marat to the east, the warlike Canim over the seas to the south and west, the obligatory Icemen to the north, and the mysteriously alien Vord. Infighting among its own High Lords also threatens to tear Alera apart from within.
Thrust into all this are the main characters - a farmboy living on the frontier (because, in the author's own words, "let's face it, swords-and-horses fantasies start there"), his aunt and uncle, an agent of the First Lord, a traitor, and a young Marat.
Comparisons with Butcher's other series, The Dresden Files, invite themselves. Both are action-packed fun. Both are full of immensely likeable, anti-authoritarian, smart-arsed heroes and anti-heroes, who win the day mostly through their own mad genius and their ability to convince others to go along with them. Both rattle along at a good pace before devoting the last 100 or so pages of each book to epic final confrontations that would be ludicrously over-the-top if they hadn't been set up so carefully. All of this is good.
It's not as dark or complicated as Dresden. The plot twists are more obvious, the characters more invulnerable, the line between good and evil more clearly drawn. But it's not really trying to do the same thing. Alera is more an escapist swords-and-sorcery fantasy, where the magic is more super-powered, the conflicts are bigger, and one person's actions can shape a whole continent. There's still plenty enough intrigue, revelations, betrayals and sacrifices to keep you turning the pages.
It's also a single story arc over six books, whereas Dresden is more separate stories with a linked continuity. I read Alera from start to finish in a little over three months, and I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow and following their journey over that time.
And now I really am all out of Jim Butcher books. What else is on the bookshelf...?
Happy New Year!
Dec. 31st, 2011 01:58 pmOverall I think I will look back on 2011 as a year in which I spent an awful lot of money, but spent it well. After a long, long wait I bought and furnished a house. I went on two enjoyable holidays (to Flamborough and to Cologne), had a fab party weekend away in Hartington, and made several visits to London.
In less-expensive news several friends had babies, I became a godfather, and my sister is expecting her third (and - she swears - final!) child. A close friend coped amazingly well with cancer. We discovered a great new Friday social venue in The Blake, and had several hiccups with the Walkley Cottage. Work was busy but mostly more of the same - no more promotions on the horizon for a while. I succumbed to the evils of Facebook but made up for it by also reading more books than usual. Movies were mostly good but Doctor Who was disappointing. Cake was not disappointing on many, many occasions. The weather was hot and sunny surprisingly often. There wasn't nearly enough snow.
My New Year's resolution is kind of dull - I'm aiming to get up earlier and get into work earlier on a regular basis. This will give me more time to play in the evenings, in theory at least!
Best wishes for 2012 everyone! :o)
In less-expensive news several friends had babies, I became a godfather, and my sister is expecting her third (and - she swears - final!) child. A close friend coped amazingly well with cancer. We discovered a great new Friday social venue in The Blake, and had several hiccups with the Walkley Cottage. Work was busy but mostly more of the same - no more promotions on the horizon for a while. I succumbed to the evils of Facebook but made up for it by also reading more books than usual. Movies were mostly good but Doctor Who was disappointing. Cake was not disappointing on many, many occasions. The weather was hot and sunny surprisingly often. There wasn't nearly enough snow.
My New Year's resolution is kind of dull - I'm aiming to get up earlier and get into work earlier on a regular basis. This will give me more time to play in the evenings, in theory at least!
Best wishes for 2012 everyone! :o)
Tags:
- babies,
- books,
- doctor who,
- family,
- filums,
- holidays,
- house-buying,
- lard,
- parties,
- snow,
- social scene,
- weather,
- work
Since I caught up with all the books some time ago, withdrawal symptoms are starting to set in. So, as I haven't written anything creative in a while, have some (sort of) festive (sort of) Dresden:
( Contains Ghost Story spoilers, and not little ones either... )
Hope you're all having a good break, and to see some of you at the New Year parties later today and tomorrow! :o)
( Contains Ghost Story spoilers, and not little ones either... )
Hope you're all having a good break, and to see some of you at the New Year parties later today and tomorrow! :o)
Gods and Monsters
Jul. 9th, 2011 09:50 pmCatching up with Dresden...
I've just finished reading the last 130 pages of Changes.
And now I feel completely mentally exhausted.
But in a very good way :o)
I've just finished reading the last 130 pages of Changes.
And now I feel completely mentally exhausted.
But in a very good way :o)
In the Yellow Pages under "Wizards"
May. 15th, 2011 10:49 amI'm gradually reading my way through The Dresden Files, as are several other people I know. I'm trying hard to avoid spoilers and I'm coming to the conclusion that other people read a lot more quickly than I do.
Regardless, I'm enjoying the books immensely. They're pulp fiction of the cheesiest kind, but an enormous amount of fun. The characters and the world are full of clichés but they are very well drawn, and the stories rattle along at one hell of a pace.
Definitely at least the second-best fantasy serial about a social misfit orphaned wizard named Harry, who goes around solving supernatural mysteries whilst struggling with relationship issues, finding out about his own past, and trying to stay out of trouble with the magical law authorities that I've ever read ;o)
Regardless, I'm enjoying the books immensely. They're pulp fiction of the cheesiest kind, but an enormous amount of fun. The characters and the world are full of clichés but they are very well drawn, and the stories rattle along at one hell of a pace.
Definitely at least the second-best fantasy serial about a social misfit orphaned wizard named Harry, who goes around solving supernatural mysteries whilst struggling with relationship issues, finding out about his own past, and trying to stay out of trouble with the magical law authorities that I've ever read ;o)
Reviews x 3
Dec. 10th, 2008 10:43 pm1) Watch out, Beedle's a Bard
JKR's latest is a great little collection of fairy tales/fables in the traditional mould, that stand up to the best of them whilst still being very Rowling in style. Enjoyable as the Tales are, the real joy is in reading Dumbledore's footnotes (and the footnotes to the footnotes!). These include such gems as the wizarding world's version of Mary Whitehouse, and the origin of the feud between Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy.
I can't fault what's there; it's just a shame it's so short. There are only five tales, one of which we've read before. 'The Tale of the Three Brothers' is verbatim from Deathly Hallows. The other four tales are all about the same length, so it takes no time at all to read. Since you can pick it up for about three quid, I suppose you can't complain. It's a good stocking-filler really.
I (of course) splashed out for the shiny deluxe version. This is really only worth it if you're a die-hard fan, but there's a not inconsiderable amount of fanboy delight in holding a replica of a £2 million book and reading pages reproduced from JKR's own handwriting. It's a pity that only the introduction is handled this way, although the script used for the rest of the book, and JKR's drawings (10 more than in the standard version, plus separate larger prints) give it an old-fashioned hand-written feel that makes it rather special.
2) Minarets with bells on
On a totally different note, I saw After Rome: Holy War and Conquest this week, which I thoroughly recommend checking out.
This is a two-part documentary on the history of the turbulent relationship between Christianity and Islam, written and presented by Boris Johnson of all people. It doesn't gloss over any of the bloodshed and atrocities on both sides, but it also shows how (perhaps surprisingly) the two religions have often got on quite well at various times in the past. The focus is mainly on the Middle Ages and the Mediterranean (with some stunning locations), but there's also a lot of interviews showing how this history is viewed by people today and how it is relevant to the events of recent years. It's a fascinating insight, and impressively well-balanced.
Of course, how much you like the programme will probably depend a great deal on how much you like or dislike Boris. But even if you don't like him, give it a try - You might be pleasantly surprised. It's available on iPlayer until Saturday evening, so catch it quick.
3) Bittersweet symphony
I'm happy to report that dark chocolate Twixes are very tasty :o)
JKR's latest is a great little collection of fairy tales/fables in the traditional mould, that stand up to the best of them whilst still being very Rowling in style. Enjoyable as the Tales are, the real joy is in reading Dumbledore's footnotes (and the footnotes to the footnotes!). These include such gems as the wizarding world's version of Mary Whitehouse, and the origin of the feud between Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy.
I can't fault what's there; it's just a shame it's so short. There are only five tales, one of which we've read before. 'The Tale of the Three Brothers' is verbatim from Deathly Hallows. The other four tales are all about the same length, so it takes no time at all to read. Since you can pick it up for about three quid, I suppose you can't complain. It's a good stocking-filler really.
I (of course) splashed out for the shiny deluxe version. This is really only worth it if you're a die-hard fan, but there's a not inconsiderable amount of fanboy delight in holding a replica of a £2 million book and reading pages reproduced from JKR's own handwriting. It's a pity that only the introduction is handled this way, although the script used for the rest of the book, and JKR's drawings (10 more than in the standard version, plus separate larger prints) give it an old-fashioned hand-written feel that makes it rather special.
2) Minarets with bells on
On a totally different note, I saw After Rome: Holy War and Conquest this week, which I thoroughly recommend checking out.
This is a two-part documentary on the history of the turbulent relationship between Christianity and Islam, written and presented by Boris Johnson of all people. It doesn't gloss over any of the bloodshed and atrocities on both sides, but it also shows how (perhaps surprisingly) the two religions have often got on quite well at various times in the past. The focus is mainly on the Middle Ages and the Mediterranean (with some stunning locations), but there's also a lot of interviews showing how this history is viewed by people today and how it is relevant to the events of recent years. It's a fascinating insight, and impressively well-balanced.
Of course, how much you like the programme will probably depend a great deal on how much you like or dislike Boris. But even if you don't like him, give it a try - You might be pleasantly surprised. It's available on iPlayer until Saturday evening, so catch it quick.
3) Bittersweet symphony
I'm happy to report that dark chocolate Twixes are very tasty :o)
JKR managed to take it right up to the wire and resisted the urge to write half a dozen superfluous endings.
I, on the other hand, didn't.
This is just one of the many reasons why she is a best-selling multi-millionaire author and I am not :o)
( One more chapter - contains Deathly Hallows spoilers, obviously )
I, on the other hand, didn't.
This is just one of the many reasons why she is a best-selling multi-millionaire author and I am not :o)
( One more chapter - contains Deathly Hallows spoilers, obviously )
Harry Potter and the Multiple Set-Pieces
Jul. 22nd, 2007 03:57 pmWow, who'd have thought that Voldemort would turn out to be Harry's dad? ;o)
Sorry, I'll stop. Here's my inevitable Book 7 review:
( May be considered slightly spoilery by some, nothing major given away, up to you whether you click here or not )
EDIT: It's entirely possible there may be spoilers in comments, over which I have no control - Naughty Ju! ;op
Sorry, I'll stop. Here's my inevitable Book 7 review:
( May be considered slightly spoilery by some, nothing major given away, up to you whether you click here or not )
EDIT: It's entirely possible there may be spoilers in comments, over which I have no control - Naughty Ju! ;op
As a general rule...
Apr. 12th, 2007 12:31 pm...I don't do memes. This is mainly to do with trying to stick to my New Year's Resolution of wasting less time on t'interwebs, and only partly to do with expecting no responses to the current craze other than soul_rider being envious of my GameCube.
So instead I'll ask something entirely different (Woo! Rebellious!): Is it really worth seeing film versions of books you've already read?
Vice-versa I can understand. The film can give you a taste for wanting to read the "proper" story. But to me, reading the book first and then watching the film is akin to enjoying a many-course meal at a fantastic restaurant and then going to McDonalds.
The upcoming film versions of His Dark Materials and The Time Traveller's Wife give me The Fear. I'm already avoiding the Harry Potter films and I'll probably do the same for these.
soul_rider being envious of my GameCube.So instead I'll ask something entirely different (Woo! Rebellious!): Is it really worth seeing film versions of books you've already read?
Vice-versa I can understand. The film can give you a taste for wanting to read the "proper" story. But to me, reading the book first and then watching the film is akin to enjoying a many-course meal at a fantastic restaurant and then going to McDonalds.
The upcoming film versions of His Dark Materials and The Time Traveller's Wife give me The Fear. I'm already avoiding the Harry Potter films and I'll probably do the same for these.
Updatey update of updatiness
Jul. 31st, 2006 11:01 pmActually, I've not got much to report at the moment.
Work is proving quite busy. I had two big meetings in London last week and I've got another one tomorrow - all of which are eating into the time I've got to do "proper" work, and they all seem to generate a huge list of action points with my name next to them. Still, I got my pay rise today, which makes me a whole £49.64 a month better off. Woo! I should make the most of this one, since Gordon Brown ("texture like sun") has decided to keep all public sector pay rises well below inflation from now on.
The small elite group of us down t'pub on Friday concluded there was nothing happening over the weekend just gone, and it did indeed turn out to be the case. I'm not really sure where the weekend went to. (Though I suppose reading 300+ pages of Eragon might have had something to do with it...)
Since my diary is looking similarly blank this coming weekend, I fancy a day at the movies (again!). How about spending Saturday watching Cars at 11:20, followed by lunch somewhere, then My Super Ex-Girlfriend at 15:40? Any takers? The times are only suggestions; I'm happy to move them if folks have other preferences.
There are still two outstanding quotes from last week's movies meme:
4) "If history has taught me anything, it's that you can kill anybody."
16) "I'll tell you something about your famous future: Every day I wake up, it's still the present. The same grimy, boring present. I don't think this 'future' thing exists."
( Clues )
Work is proving quite busy. I had two big meetings in London last week and I've got another one tomorrow - all of which are eating into the time I've got to do "proper" work, and they all seem to generate a huge list of action points with my name next to them. Still, I got my pay rise today, which makes me a whole £49.64 a month better off. Woo! I should make the most of this one, since Gordon Brown ("texture like sun") has decided to keep all public sector pay rises well below inflation from now on.
The small elite group of us down t'pub on Friday concluded there was nothing happening over the weekend just gone, and it did indeed turn out to be the case. I'm not really sure where the weekend went to. (Though I suppose reading 300+ pages of Eragon might have had something to do with it...)
Since my diary is looking similarly blank this coming weekend, I fancy a day at the movies (again!). How about spending Saturday watching Cars at 11:20, followed by lunch somewhere, then My Super Ex-Girlfriend at 15:40? Any takers? The times are only suggestions; I'm happy to move them if folks have other preferences.
There are still two outstanding quotes from last week's movies meme:
4) "If history has taught me anything, it's that you can kill anybody."
16) "I'll tell you something about your famous future: Every day I wake up, it's still the present. The same grimy, boring present. I don't think this 'future' thing exists."
( Clues )
Friday - Tiring but satisfying day at work. Various folks on leave/off sick, so I was in charge of the team. I'm pleased with my own l33t management SkillZ, as we cleared three times our normal workload, without stressing anyone out or pissing them off.
Big thumbs up for the NBT as the new venue for the Friday night social. Whilst space was a bit tight later on, the fact that they do food was a major bonus. As was the choice of good (and cheap!) beer.
Saturday - Somehow managed to sleep for nearly 12 hours, which made the morning rather short non-existant, but I guess I must have needed it.
Went to B's birthday party in the afternoon/evening (a bit later than intended!), which was fab! Great to see so many people there, many of whom I don't get to see very often. And the excuse to play with toys and watch Harry Potter DVDs was just an added bonus :o)
Sunday - Snow! I'd forgotten about the forecast. Went for a walk around the park in it at lunchtime (to burn off a bit more of the food from yesterday's party!). I'm now planning to spend the rest of the day being a lazy sci-fi geek, finishing reading my current Dune novel and watching Doctor Who DVDs.
Big thumbs up for the NBT as the new venue for the Friday night social. Whilst space was a bit tight later on, the fact that they do food was a major bonus. As was the choice of good (and cheap!) beer.
Saturday - Somehow managed to sleep for nearly 12 hours, which made the morning rather short non-existant, but I guess I must have needed it.
Went to B's birthday party in the afternoon/evening (a bit later than intended!), which was fab! Great to see so many people there, many of whom I don't get to see very often. And the excuse to play with toys and watch Harry Potter DVDs was just an added bonus :o)
Sunday - Snow! I'd forgotten about the forecast. Went for a walk around the park in it at lunchtime (to burn off a bit more of the food from yesterday's party!). I'm now planning to spend the rest of the day being a lazy sci-fi geek, finishing reading my current Dune novel and watching Doctor Who DVDs.
