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Hayley

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  1. So you basically did the read-a-thon unknowingly! I’m going to be starting today by reading the occasional page of Silence in the Age of Noise between work (since I won’t be finished until 8). I’m quite close to the end of the book, so might finish it over the weekend. I also started reading the next story in my Penguin Book of English Short Stories so I want to finish that too.
  2. It doesn’t sound familiar to me either. Would it have been a children’s book?
  3. Ooooh have you all seen the new teaser video for Amongst our Weapons?? Any predictions? Do you think the mask… https://twitter.com/ben_aaronovitch/status/1492092298557067266?s=21
  4. Hayley

    Your Age?

    Wow, what a view! I can see why it’s your favourite!
  5. Realised this afternoon that it should have been the February read-a-thon weekend! I wouldn't have been able to do much reading anyway (ended up working two 12 hour days on Friday and Saturday) and I'm assuming others didn't have a chance to participate either, as there were no posts here, so would everyone be happy to move the read-a-thon to this coming weekend??
  6. I actually felt the same way, she was very annoying, but I still remember enjoying it overall. I was at least impressed by the ending! On Chesil Beach sounds quite different to what I usually read but so many people have given it brilliant reviews it’s made me want to try it!
  7. Maybe think of it as an extra early prophecy
  8. I'm looking forward to following your progress on that! I don't think I would remember either! I might wait to see which ones you think are the best
  9. A Very Murderous Christmas 3.5/5 - I really liked it This selection of Christmas-themed crime stories really was a mixed bag. It includes a variety of styles (though most could fairly be described as cosy crime) and, to my surprise, even featured a couple of familiar faces (like Sherlock Holmes and Morse!). There is an element of humour in a few and I thought that worked particularly well (like 'Camberwell Crackers', where the suspect is the owner of a Christmas cracker factory). I also really liked 'A Problem in White' by Nicholas Blake, which wasn't quite like anything I've read before. Almost more of a puzzle than a traditional story, the characters are described largely as though they are nameless pieces on a game board. The ending then asks the reader 'whodunnit?' and you can turn to the next page for the solution (I'm sure there's a name for that 'solution on the last page' style but I don't know what it is). Others fell a bit flat for me and were just very unmemorable. But they were a minority. It is definitely an entertaining seasonal read and I'm glad I picked it up. Also glad I managed to finish it (just!) before the end of January!
  10. Oh, I didn't know that! That does make sense now. I thought the point of that might have just been to show us the true forms of the black riders, which can only be seen with the influence of the ring? Although I wasn't sure whether putting the ring on helped them to see Frodo, and that's how they knew who to try to stab. In which case, I guess we could read it as another betrayal by the ring? Good old Strider to the rescue though Agreed, you have to watch it once we're done with the first book Brian! I had a thought after I posted about Tolkien reassuring us about the ponies - he actually always gives animals voices, thoughts and emotions. It starts with the fox who thinks about it being strange to see three hobbits travelling at night. Does anybody else feel like there's a slight fairy-tale feeling to those moments? Also... Fatty Lumpkin is my favourite pony name
  11. With it being the first of February and having seen loads of snowdrops while walking the puppy this morning, this felt very seasonally appropriate Many, many welcomes, February fair-maid, Ever as of old time, Solitary firstling, Coming in the cold time, Prophet of the gay time, Prophet of the May time, Prophet of the roses, Many, many welcomes, February fair-maid! The Snowdrop - Tennyson
  12. Has to be one of the greatest lines in poetry I didn't know that!
  13. Bingo!?!? Yes, good call Tolkien Okay! - Fog on the Barrow Downs sort of merges into the Tom Bombadill chapter for me. Everything with that character has a slightly over-the-top, dream-like quality and I think it's easy to forget about the hobbits' brush with barrow-wights later! It almost feels a bit random and perhaps even unimportant compared to other events? Although it may be the first example of Frodo acting in a particularly heroic/ courageous way. - I like all of the parts set in the Prancing Pony and I think it's a clever way of showing us how widespread the evil influence is, how it's seeping in to everyday life and isn't escapable. - The Strider chapter I love. I like the way we're introduced to that character, the gradual change from a mysterious, shadowy figure into trustworthy Aragorn and the poem that goes with him. - The mix up with Butterbur and the letter I think explains the apparent carelessness of Gandalf. He didn't mean for Frodo to stay so long in the Shire, but he unexpectedly has to leave and then (for reasons we aren't meant to know yet) isn't able to return. He does try to cover the eventuality by sending the letter telling Frodo to leave soon, but because Butterbur fails to send it Frodo doesn't know how close the danger is and carries on as normal. - Sounding the horn-call of Buckland is a lovely every-day heroism moment (even if they didn't exactly know what they were doing) - I love the fact that Tolkien reassures us about what happens to the ponies! - Wraiths through the sight of the ring are even freakier.
  14. Just saw this one on Twitter and had to share
  15. Aww no, that is rubbish! My thoughts (shamelessly copying Raven and Brian): - A Shortcut to Mushrooms is my favourite chapter of all the chapters in the audiobook, and probably still will be. It feels like the real beginning of the adventure and the moment that we can start exploring Middle Earth. Also absolutely love the opening 'He was lying in a bower made by a living tree with branches laced and drooping to the ground; his bed was fern and grass, deep and soft and strangely fragrant'. - I also love the moment that Frodo realises everybody knew far more than he realised, and planned to stick with him regardless. One of the earliest comments, I think, on the power and strength of friendship in the book. - Agree with Brian on the atmosphere of the forest and would add that I think the references to Hobbit folk lore about the forest are a brilliant touch. Without giving spoilers for later, but I think Tolkien was clever to foreshadow later events with the trees of the Old Forest. - The Tom Bombadill chapter is weird. That's the point that I gave up the first time I tried to read it. I was too young to really understand it anyway, but at that point I was so utterly confused I wondered whether Tom Bombadill was meant to be a dream. Agree with Brian again though, I think the point is to show us that there are powers beyond our (or the Hobbits) knowledge. - I find the songs a lot less annoying in the physical book than I do in the audiobook. Wasn't it Gollum's fault? I think I remember Gandalf saying that Gollum went to Mordor because he wanted revenge, and that Bilbo shouldn't have told him his name was Baggins. I think that's why Gandalf tells him the name Baggins isn't safe and he'll have to change it when he travels.
  16. Just before Gandalf puts it into the fire (after they've been talking about the way the ring chose to betray Isildur and Gollum), as Frodo passes it to him 'it felt suddenly heavy, as if either it or Frodo himself was in some way reluctant to give it to Gandalf'. To be honest it could actually be that it's already getting some grip over Frodo, and so Frodo doesn't want to give it away the same way Bilbo didn't, but since we'd just been reading about the way the ring sort of chooses who to go to, that's the way I read it. Yes, that's a good point. Although the ring actually gets it badly wrong in that case doesn't it? Since Gandalf thinks hobbits are actually particularly resistant to the rings power! We could always switch to three when we get to The Two Towers?
  17. Something I’ve been thinking about from the first three chapters: why do you think the ring doesn’t want to go to Gandalf? Gandalf himself obviously thinks he’d be vulnerable to the ring, since he doesn’t want to touch it, and if the ring did go to Gandalf it would have a far more powerful host - so why does it want to stay with Frodo instead?
  18. The days are short, The sun a spark, Hung thin between The dark and dark. Fat snowy footsteps Track the floor. Milk bottles burst Outside the door. The river is A frozen place Held still beneath The trees of lace. The sky is low. The wind is gray. The radiator Purrs all day. January by John Updike
  19. I have this on my shelf and am now hoping that I don’t find the ending to be too much of a let down! Your review makes me think that it has a stronger link to actual historical events than I expected though, which is nice.
  20. I assumed you were suggesting we skip the prologue . I actually do like Concerning Hobbits but I didn't read it before the book and I definitely think it would have seemed odd if I had, so agree on this point! We haven't gotten to the right part yet, but I think the delay is kind of explained later? Do you think Merry and Pippin actually seem more like individuals in the book, where they blend together a bit in the films? I know what you mean with the pacing at the start but I actually love the first chapter! Tolkien's narrative voice feels so calm and reassuring. I also love the whole concept of the Shire and Hobbits (probably why I like the prologue too).
  21. That’a a good resolution And that’s exciting! I used to love Goosebumps!! Are they as good as you remember??
  22. Excellent . I did manage to get one more chapter in on Sunday evening, so I only have a few stories left in that book now!
  23. Okay, that's fair. I trust your biscuit judgement again . I had beef stew for dinner and it was delicious. I had a second bowl. Comforting and used up all the leftover vegetables.
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