Alexander the Great

@Athena The only thing that kind of bothered me about It was the prejudice concerning heavy metal - the guys who attacked the gay man being heavy metal fans, and the way in which King drew a very clear parallel there. It bothered me because really, most people who listen to metal are so open-minded and continuing the prejudice is such a shame. The Returned review The Returned is based on the French tv series, Les Revenants, which is one of the best tv series I've ever seen. Because of this, I can't express an unbiased view. I've seen the series three years ago - long enough to forget exactly what happened, but to still know who the characters were and how it all looked, so to say. A good thing, too. Because while the novel was gripping, the author doesn't bother much with descriptions. I'm not a fan of the pages-long descriptions of Nature some authors go for, but Patrick really lacked in this department. All we basically know about the town is that there's a lake, a lot of pines, and a valley. The same goes for the character - their appearance is hardly ever described. Even if it is, their hair colour is about the most we get. Because of this, it didn't feel as if he was writing his own story. Which it obviously isn't, but you'd expect a twist, I think. I also thought it was odd he would talk about Monsieur Costa and Madame Payet, but then refers to parents as Mum and Dad. The story itself is very intense, of course. Atypical, too, for the genre. I remember thinking this about the tv series as well - how different it would be if it was American. The story is what kept me reading. The characters draw the reader in as well - they're all so different and so imperfect. Especially with the short chapters and the change in point of view, it was quite unputdownable. But I don't know how much of that I can attribute to Seth Patrick. I would recommend anyone who read this and liked it to see the original tv series as well. The atmosphere is amazing. I've started reading The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud. For reasons that are too complicated to get into here, I found myself in the library with exactly one minute to find a book to take home. I have no idea what to expect! I'm seeing Epica live on Tuesday and Wednesday. Considering I've seen them so often now and that I've seen them four times this year, it's crazy, but I'm nervous as hell and looking forward to it so much.

I'm similar on Twitter - I only follow bands I like and people/accounts related to books/reading and running. It's a calming place that way. It review Long overdue, but finally I read Stephen King's famous novel, It. For me, this was a truly gripping tale. First starting to read this novel, I told my friend about it. She said that this is way too scary for her, and I told her quite confidently that books are never scary to me. It wasn't even a lie - I've genuinely never had nightmares or been jumpy because of a book. After seeing a horror/thriller film or tv series, yes. Never after a book. Suffice to say, It changed that. My dad has a bit of parking my car in such a way that I had to step over a sidewalk sewer to get inside. After a week of reading, I had to ask him if he could please park it further forward or backward... It is not a simple horror story. It's actually quite complex - It appears differently to every character, depending on what their worst fear is. This is further magnified by how very different all of the seven children are. I liked how they all worked together, how well they matched. We spent enough time with each character to get to know them, to see them as kids and then as adults - to really get a grasp of their lives. But never too much time with any specific character, which is a feat with so many of them! My only 'disappointment' was Beverly Marsh. I feel that something is just off about how she was as a kid vs how she was as an adult. It didn't really seem right or credible to me. The 'true' form of It was also a bit of a letdown to me, perhaps because I felt it was quite vague - but maybe that was the point. I like how this novel explores the DNA of fear and courage as well. The non-linear storytelling was interesting. King experiments with different styles and points of view, but not in a jarring sort of way. It's always very clear where we are in time, and who we're reading about. Reading King is always traveling, and in this case that includes time travel. It's a long read, one to get lost in. One that I'm sure I will re-read and discover new things in every time. I'm glad I purchased this one. Now I've started reading The Returned by Seth Patrick. This novel is based on the French tv series Les Revenants, which I adored.

The first two classes nearly killed me, but I went with my brother-in-law who guided me through them and convinced me to keep going. He said the first three times he went, he couldn't follow every instruction, but you just have to listen to your body and build it up. The third time, I was only half-dead. Then the fourth time I managed to follow all the instructions, been building up, and now I love it. I actually love it so much that it made me think about why exactly I hate bicycling so much, found out the reason (it was my old, unaccustomed bike), got a new bike and now bike a lot more!

This guy said to me that I probably read all the Harry Potter novels as well, then. I said something along the lines of: "Of course I did! Have you read them?" and then he responded with: "No, I've got all the dvd's." And his tone implied that both have to be mutually exclusive. Granted, this guy is 23. But since he's got a Master's degree in Laws, one would think he has the ability to concentrate and wouldn't be so short-sighted. He's not a bad guy, not at all, and we do get along. His views just baffle me sometimes - and make me feel old too, when I'm only 26 myself! That's an interesting remark... I work at a judicial officer's office and he's just started his training. He's been with us for a month now and I have noticed that he does struggle as soon as he's confronted with a situation that doesn't fall strictly within his guidelines. Hoping for him that he'll learn, though, or he won't make it. By now, I feel a little bit weird thinking about my new colleague so much on the weekend But I can't help but read this and think that all of it really applies to him. It baffled him that another colleague of mine took a photography class. He didn't see how one could learn to take photographs - it's just pressing a button, right? My colleague and I were surprised, but then she explained the things you learn in a photography class - but he still didn't get it. "Especially with phones nowadays, you just take a picture..." I hope for his sake that if he doesn't expand his mind, he'll at least learn to shut up instead of always putting his foot in his mouth I'm on social media, but mostly to follow the lives of people I know and care about - I'm bad at keeping in touch because I always feel awkward in social situations - and also to follow artists I admire or like etc. But I've never posted an opinion on social media for that very reason. I also don't like the fact that it'll always follow you. All of this! I finished It today. Read the last 500 pages in two days, so my mind's a tad too fried to be writing a review, but I will soon!

This sounds like a very interesting book, especially in light of the recent attempt at breaking that record! I'm going to look if I can find it anywhere around here. Have you read other interesting books on running?

Before I Go To Sleep is quite atypical - and it's astounding as a debut. Many authors who have been publishing for years wouldn't manage it. I'm really enjoying IT so far. I loved Under The Dome as well - I love long novels set in a town where we get to know the stories of all different kinds of people. Something terrible happened yesterday, though. Because we have a lunch break of an hour on Fridays and because a lot of people either go out or they stay at work but are really busy on their phones, I like to take my book. A colleague said that she didn't understand I wanted to read a book that big and that she wouldn't have the courage to even start. Okay, I can respect that, we're all different. But then this newish guy, when he asked what book I was reading and I showed him, he made these big eyes and said: "What? Why would you read that - just watch the movie!" ... my heart, fellow book-lovers. My bleeding heart. As if reading the book and watching the film is the same thing. As if reading the book is a chore. As if... well, I can't begin to explain how equally baffled I was by the utter ignorance of that question. This guy got his Master's degree in Laws. He should have some sense, no? Seriously. I just can't. In other news, Epica's American tour came to an end yesterday and I'm so glad they're coming back home to Europe. This will probably sound silly, but I do have attachment issues for complicated reasons and it's part of why I see my therapist - and even she agreed on Monday it'll put my mind at ease when they get back. I just always get really nervous and anxious when they leave for other continents. So I'm glad for that. Even happier that I get to see them live twice in two weeks ❤️ Also thinking of getting a tattoo. Something that refers to my love for books/reading and also my love for metal music. I don't really have any ideas though.

This is actually very helpful! A lot of people talk about how your time doesn't matter, but it always does to me. I also tend to increase the distance too drastically. I think increasing with 10% at most will help me to not compare my time as much, because the distances will vary more. And maybe it's wrong, but it's only when someone else who's walked the path I walked says that time doesn't matter, I'll be more likely to accept it. I usually don't feel sore after running, and 8k isn't that much more than the 6k I usually do on Wednesdays in one go, or as interval - but I do feel sore in my neck, shoulder blades and lower back today. What you say about stopping to catch a breath on longer runs - it's so good to read that. I always feel so bad when I do that, I beat myself up over it, feel like it doesn't count because I stopped. I'll also do the easier week every 4 to 6 weeks. Your post has been more helpful than anything I've found or read in many many months!

Thank you Also helps to be able to crouch longer in bookstores!

I feel so insanely stupid right now, but I had no idea that Bassie & Adriaan are brothers!

I prefer forums to social media as well, because forums allow for conversation more than social media does. I feel like on a forum, you can talk about so much - obviously the topic the forum was built for, but other things as well. On social media, it takes either a picture or a special announcement to start a conversation, which even then is usually nothing more than likes and the occasional short comment. Or if you post something that is out of the ordinary. But on social media, I really can't talk about books or sports the way I can here. These are real discussions and I wouldn't want to miss them. I'm a Billy-less book lover! They just don't fit in my room and I really like the smaller cubes I have because I can play around with them, and they can be put in the middle of a room and then have books on both ends. Show us a picture of the bookcase(s) when they're set up and filled, @frankie (if you want to)

Thank you! I know I have several advantages - I'm young, so it's easier for my body to adapt. I'm single and living at home, so I do have more time than someone who has a family. And I'm lucky that it only took exercise and changing my eating habits. I know it's not that easy for everyone, that this wouldn't work for everyone. But I feel much happier now. Especially in the small things - being able to crouch for a minute when needed, being able to participate in physical activities without feeling ashamed, fitting into the seat in the cinema - or on a plane, and having no trouble closing the belt. But as I said, I know I got lucky and if someone asks me how I did it, I tell them how - but I'll never say that because I could do it, everyone can and if they don't succeed with this method, they have themselves to blame. Every body's different, every situation's different. But I really never thought I could do this. At first, I didn't set out to lose this much weight. I just started and kept going, then after about six months I had to be at the doctor's and asked him how much I could lose without it becoming unhealthy. So that's my goal now. If you'd told me three years ago I would look like this, have this weight, I'd never have believed it.

Did you manage to pick it back up? I look forward to reading your review. I wonder what it's like, but I have so many books to read (I'm sure you know the feeling!) I've been running 6k, sometimes 7k, for months and months. I want to be better on the 10k, but have been having anxiety that running 8k or 9k or 10k, I won't be able to do it. My time will be bad, I'll not be able to do it in one go. I get so anxious about it, so convinced I'll fail. I hurt myself on my interval last week and was hesitant to do one this weekend (I only do intervals on the weekend, because during the week I run with a club and intervals are a solitary kind of thing). So I made myself do the 8k today - and I did it! My time wasn't very good, but under the hour, which was well enough. I'm hoping I can do more of this!

I was a skinny kid until I was 9 years old or so. Then, bam, I gained tons of weight. It got worse, worse, worse and then worse. I was severely obese, but I always felt like there was nothing I could do. A diet? I was sure that even if I followed one and it worked, I'd never be able to stick to it for the rest of my life, which would be needed to prevent gaining the weight again. I was also that guy who is severely overweight, but still ate very badly, because "I'm fat, but that one extra crisp won't make the change". Only there were loads of extra crisps. I just ate too much as well. Exercise? I weighed so much and my physique was so bad I couldn't run for half a minute. I was convinced I'd just be making a fool of myself. I convinced myself taking my bike to work would have to be enough. Then, when I was 23 and at my heaviest, I took the bull by the horns. I'd lost 2kg being sick and told myself I'd not allow those to come back. Also, a colleague of mine who lives a fair distance from work talked about how she goes running twice a week. And I told myself, "Alexander, get a grip, if she can find the time to go running after work when she lives so far away, you definitely can!" (I live only 10 minutes from work). I started with exercise. Running twice a week. I did Start 2 Run, hadn't really invested in case I wouldn't go through with it, so I wrote the schedule on a small piece of paper I kept in my pocket while running and had to check my watch all the time. I could barely run for a minute. In week five, I got stuck. I couldn't run longer than required at that time and did week five for about three months. I'd always go to the running track and this one guy, a complete stranger, talked to me in November 2014. "You run too fast," he said. "You have to run slower - the ideal measurement is you have to be able to talk while you run. If you can't, you're running too fast." I felt awkward, thought to myself he should just mind his own business, but was too shy to really say anything but "Oh. Okay." Then he said: "You know what? I'll run with you, so you can get the pace, feel it." I was too shy to stop him, and he ran with me, very slowly. That was the first time I ran 600 metres. I felt like the king of the world! That really got me on track (no pun intended). I ran longer distances on end, until I could run an entire tour around the track - which is 1,337 metres. For a while, I ran one full tour, then another tour in Start 2 Run. In april 2015, I ran my first 5k. I was so happy, so proud. My time was of course absolutely ridiculous - I run the 5k in 11 or 12 minutes less now than I did then. I'd started losing weight as well. This motived me to watch my eating habits. I didn't follow a diet - I just ate smaller portions, causing my stomach to shrink and my body to want smaller portions. And I allowed myself candy, chocolate, the works - but not as often as I used to. As a special treat. Now, in September 2017, I've lost a total of 69 lbs. I want to lose 14 lbs more. At this moment, I go running twice a week, spinning twice a week, badminton at times and I intend to bike more now that I got a new bicycle. I want to be able to run 10k with ease - at first, I never knew beforehand whether I would manage 10k, I'd only know once I started running. Now I can run 10k whenever, but I want to run it in a better time. I've been doing 6k to 7k most often lately, and also interval runs, but in light of getting to the better 10k I upped my distance to 8k this morning. And it felt really, really good. The last kilos/pounds are taking their time and while the weight flew off faster than a certain kind of lady's knickers/certain kind of gentleman's boxers, every pound is a battle now. But I'll get there. I quite simply have to. The best part is - I like the healthier food, and sometimes I'll want to reward myself with a snack, open the cupboard, then go for a healthy snack anyway, because I crave it more. And I love running, spinning and badminton. I need it or I become Mr. Grumpy. I'll keep doing it even after I lost all the weight - and that will probably make it much easier to keep the weight. Life is so different already, but I'm often still not used to it. I still go for the large sizes first - how odd it is that I actually have a size small in some brands!

What kind of car do they drive? Today, I had to bring a book back to the library. Usually, I'd have taken my car, but now I took my bike - and then rode on, I just can't get enough! Before I Go to Sleep review Christine wakes up every day without any knowledge of her current life. She wakes up knowing who she is, but not that many years have passed since the last memory she's retained. During the day, she can make and retain memories, but once she goes to sleep, she forgets everything. Only to wake up the next day, thinking she's a child, or twenty years old - not realising she's 47, or that the man next to her she doesn't recognise is her husband. This novel had a slow start for me. It was very intriguing from the beginning, but I had a hard time relating to the main character. However, the concept was so interesting that it kept me reading. Because of Christine's condition and the fact that the novel is written from her point of view, we really only focus on two other characters besides Christine. The main questions are obviously "What happened to Christine?" and "Who is telling her the truth?" Besides these questions, I think the author did a good job exploring more questions about the consequences of Christine's condition and the impact of it, without slowing the story down. Roughly from the middle of the book onwards, it became a bit more plot-driven and the pace was considerably faster than it had been before. Unputdownable, one surprise to the next. In all honesty, it was a bit of a letdown that I saw every plot twist coming a few pages before they were revealed. So I was never completely surprised - but I did like the guessing, thinking about different possibilities, going through the story in my head to see how they fit in. As an author, it must be very difficult to determine how to end this. I think the ending was very well and delicately done. On to It by Stephen King!

My bike's a boy And I have a colleague named Simon, so that'd be slightly odd. Also, my bike's just such an Isaac. Thank you! I rode him home on Tuesday, haven't been able to ride since. This evening, I took him for a small tour in the neighbourhood. Then into the next neighbourhood. Then up to my old school and back. Accidentally. Isaac was happy to be out!

I picked him up after work - it was a 9k drive home, ideal test ride! It's awesome, I love him ❤️ Really liking my book too - Before I Go to Sleep. It's quite intense, though. I wouldn't call it a relaxing read so far.

I name most of my stuff. My previous bike was named Vincent. ... only now do I realise Vincent is the name of Simone's son, and Isaac is the name of one of Epica's guitarists XD I'm picking up Isaac tonight!

Now I have even more faith in Isaac (That's what I decided to name my bike)

I did end up buying a hybrid - a Trek Sport Sport Allant 7.2 I didn't want to get a racing bike since I'm not going to be competing, and spending that much would feel uncomfortable. I'm quite happy with the one I got!

I'd heard about mutism, but never about selective mutism. Very interesting! I've read quite a few books by Dirk Bracke. He's very popular with young teenagers, which is my age when I read his books. I haven't read anything by him since then, though. So I mostly know Het Uur Nul (about aids), Het Engelenhuis (teenage prostitution/delinquency), Een lege brug (about autism and sexual abuse), Blauw is bitter (child prostitution), etc. As you can see, his books are typically about serious issues or struggles and he writes a story about it, which is a good way for teachers to bring up the subject in class. And he's a good writer, so the kids actually like reading the books. He also has a book about a deaf girl. I think the last book I read by him was Zij en haar, about a lesbian girl.

I really hope I won't have to stop seeing her for any reason other than me feeling I'm ready. I've had to stop therapy ten years ago when I didn't feel ready for reasons beyond my control. Then I also saw someone when I was in college for ten sessions, but we didn't click at all. I hope you've got a great bond with your current therapist as well. @frankie I went to the bicycle shop today. I was going to go to the sports store where I get my sports clothes because the clothes are quite cheap there and very good, but my mom said that a friend of hers used to buy her bikes there, but now goes to a shop closer by. This shop has a bigger selection, which is better since the bicycles at the sports store are a limited selection - the chance of finding a good bike which allows you good posture is smaller there. And obviously, it's easier to buy a bicycle at a shop that is at biking distance. I went today - they had a very wide range. I was lucky, though - the first bicycle I asked to try out was the right frame size for me. I tried it out and it was amazing. The saddle is really good - my dad agreed, he tried it out too. I'm usually not a big hero on the bicycle - since I fell a few years ago, I've become quite scared on my bike (to fall). When I tried this one, I felt I really had a lot of control and I was even able to make sharp turns and ride in small circles around my dad without that paralysing fear I'd fall over. It's this one: I do feel like the grey is darker IRL. I'm picking it up next week - they're going to add a carrier, mudguards, lights and a stand. It'll be ready by next Tuesday, but they close at 6.30pm and I have to work until 6.30pm, so I'll go on Friday (I work until 4pm on Fridays). Yesterday, my parents were watching tv and I was in the kitchen getting coffee when they asked if I have an app on my phone to recognise songs. My phone was upstairs charging - there was a car commercial and they knew the song, but couldn't remember the name of the song or the artist. So they asked me to listen if I knew it, but not to look at the car or I'd get distracted. So I sat down and I closed my eyes, they started playing the commercial and about three seconds later I ask: "Isn't that Paranoid by Black Sabbath?" And of course, the typical reaction is: "Yes! That's it!" They then said they'd been wondering for weeks, racking their brains. I asked why they hadn't asked me before and they said; "Well, you're never home!" Apparently I was always doing something sports-related or in the shower Then I also said: "Guys, I'm slightly offended you think I'd need an app to recognise the probably most famous song by the band that pretty much invented metal. I know my roots!" Matilda review I haven't read this since I was a kid - and it was my first time reading it in English. I loved it every bit as much as I did when I was a boy - and I fully understand my younger self experiencing a first crush on Miss Honey. Dahl has a wonderful way with words - his language is playful, fluent, but never showy. He limits the amount of characters he focuses on, and then really finds unique ways of portraying them. In a children's book, I don't expect fully fleshed out characters with complex inner lives. Reading Dahl is always about fun. I do have to say that whereas being a kid, I just thought Matilda was awesomesauce for being strong, independent and going her own way - it's so different reading this as an adult. As a kid, you root for the kids and it is so satisfying that their plans of small revenge work out. As an adult, I was shocked at how little Mr & Mrs Wormwood care for Matilda. I kept trying to imagine how you can have a child and then not love her, kept wondering how they managed to feed her and buy her clothes and furniture for her room and such, without seeming to care a bit about her. It is immensely sad at how they emotionally abuse Matilda by depriving her of a fundamental safe home - which becomes a reality at the end of the novel. Reading as an adult, I felt so sorry for Matilda, and worried about how this would affect her later on in life. As a kid, I fistpumped when Matilda was allowed to stay in England with Miss Honey. As an adult, I found myself wanting her parents to at least put up a bit of a fight, to show an indication they want her around. This is one of those really good children's books that give you different things reading at different stages in life. The kind of book you read as a kid and know you will read to your own kid. I fully remember why Roald Dahl was my favourite author as a kid.

This sounds like a great way to meet some new people! I'm on a Dutch Harry Potter Forum, which isn't very active any more for obvious reasons. But back in the heyday, there was a tight group of members. They'd have meets too, but those were always in The Netherlands and I was a teenager, so I never got to go, sadly.

Apologies if this makes me sound enormously ignorant - but what is selective mutism? Have you ever read any books by Dirk Bracke, by the way?

Sadly, I can't do this - I ordered from bol.com. I could return it, maybe, but it involves going to the post office which I can only do once a week, with a stretch twice, and it's a hassle. I've ordered from Amazon before, but that usually takes a while to arrive. I've just finished Matilda by Roald Dahl - loved it every bit as much as I did the first time. Moving on to Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson. I wanted to read It, but I had to be in the library this week and I got distracted.

It'll probably sound weird, but what I love most about my therapist beside the fact that she knows me so well is that I can get angry with her, or confused, or express any kind of emotion without having to be scared of the consequences. My niece changes so much within days' time, it's insane. She's now discovering her hands and it's delightful. She's very alert, always watching everything intently, following with her eyes, making faces. Last Sunday, I was carrying her around after she'd had her bottle, then sat down with her in the rocking chair. She sat on my leg, her back straight against my stomach (because she'd just eaten) and my hands were folded over her stomach, and she fell asleep like that and it was the most wonderful thing I've ever felt. The baby drink's on Sunday I've not been feeling great lately, but I hope it'll get better. It did get better reading a good book again. I go running twice a week and spinning twice a week, but I still wonder if maybe I don't get enough exercise? I'm considering getting a new bicycle - the one I have now is 15 years old and just not suited for me any more, and I can't make any speed with it. So I'm thinking of a more sports-oriented bike, maybe even a mountainbike. I think I'd much easier take the the bike to work or the library or whatever. Reading Matilda feels so comfortable. Miss Honey was my first crush.