Calexa

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 45 Years, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Child 44, to name a few I'm anticipating in 2015.

GotG my next film to watch! I've been dying to see it since it was first released. I re-watched The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in anticipation of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. I'm hoping the third installment will contain less fluff than the previous two...or my little Tolkien loving heart will be broken by Mr Jackson.

After reading J.K. Rowling's post Harry Potter offering A Casual Vacancy, I was reluctant to venture forth into the mind of Rowling again unless it was back into Potterverse, however, after reading a mountain of reviews that are 95% in the positive pile I have been tempted back into riding the Rowling synapses train again with The Cuckoo's Calling. The book is sitting third in the TBR pile at the moment, but I'm inclined to pick it up next. Hopefully it'll live up to its hype.

Wow, I'm surprised this is the only place Snow Crash come up upon doing a search! Anyways, I was recently given Snow Crash as a gift along with a high recommendation from more than a few admirers of the book. I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on the tale, and writing style?

Currently I have 73 books on my TBR 2015 list, and that is before I have had a chance to whittle away at my recommendation list, and then amalgamate the two. Unfortunately in 2015 I will be lucky to manage even 50 books for the 12 month period (depressing thought)...between starting Maritime College and the plethora of text books I'll need to read, and my writing ambitions it will leave little time for pleasure reading. There were so many books that I wanted to read this year, and didn't get the time...I'm going to have so many books gathering dust on my bookshelves next year. They'll feel neglected and unloved.

I decided to add Stuart MacBride's Broken Skin to my current read of The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman. I've read Cold Granite and Dying Light, the two books that proceed Broken Skin, and enjoyed the journey through the pages of both. I'm hoping Stuart MacBride's third book in the series will be an equally satisfying jaunt.

I love Ozymandias. I remember when I first came across the poem, I found the words, and sentiment captivating, so much so that I had to memorize the words. Theodulf of Orléans'(ca. 760–821) works in religious doctrine can be somewhat tedious to most, however, his poetical works show more than a measure of wit and humour. One of my favourites is... Original Latin: DE EQUO PERDITO Saepe dat ingenium quod vis conferre negabat. Compos et arte est, qui viribus impos erat. Ereptum furto castrensi in turbine quidam. Accipe, qua miles arte recepit equum. Orbus equo fit, preco ciet hae compita voce: “Quisquis habet nostrum, reddere certet equum. Sin alias, tanta faciam ratione coactus, Quod noster Roma fecit in urbe pater.” Res movet haec omnes, et equum fur sivit abire. Dum sua vel populi damna pavenda timet. Hunc herus ut reperit, gaudet potiturque reperto, Gratanturque illi, quis metus ante fuit. Inde rogant, quid equo fuerat facturus adempto, Vel quid in urbe suus egerit ante pater. “Sellae,” ait, “adiunctis collo revehendo lupatis Sarcinulisque aliis ibat onustus inops. Nil quod pungat habens, calcaria calce reportans, Olim eques, inde redit ad sua tecta pedes. Hunc imitatus ego fecissem talia tristis, Ni foret iste mihi, crede, repertus equus.” English Translation (not as delightful as the original Latin): CONCERNING A LOST HORSE Brains can defend you where brawn can’t assist; Often a weakling on wits can subsist. So hear how a soldier, employing no force, In his encampment retrieved his lost horse. He stood at the crossroads and made this decree: “If you stole my horse, then return it to me! For if you should fail, I’ll be forced to proceed Like my father before me in Rome—so take heed!” The men all grew nervous; the thief felt remorse: Fearing for all, he returned the man’s horse. The owner rejoiced; celebration was made By all of the men who had been so afraid. At last they inquired of him, every one, Just what it was that his father had done. “His bridle, his saddle, his old traveling-sack He flung ’round his neck, the poor man, and walked back. So useless his spurs; on his heels they stayed put. Once a great horseman, he came home on foot. Believe me, I almost pursued his sad course: I’d have done the same thing had I not found my horse.”

There are not many things in this life that could bring me to a state of euphoria in 88 seconds, but the new Star Wars teaser did!! Oh boy! Oh boy! But [Anakin whine] a whole year to wait. [/Anakin whine]

1) Pride and Prejudice - love Austen's satirical social narrative 2) Sense and Sensibility 3) Emma and Mansfield Park are equal third.

Though my favourites often change depending on what phase of life I am in when reading Dickens... 1) Bleak House 2) Pickwick Papers 3) Our Mutual Friend

My Grandfather (who raised me) can be given credit for my love of books/reading. Being a gentleman who believes that a mind should never be idle he encouraged my brother--another lover of books--and I to spend spare moments either reading or enjoying a hobby of sorts. As much as I love to read nothing can compare to my closest friend, he is an extreme book-'lady of the night'...he consumes books like food. I honestly do not know where he finds the time to read as many books a month as he does as I know he has a very busy work life 'cause we are work colleagues as well as best friends. However, on the whole most of my friends are moderate readers at best.

On the day of the miracle, Isabel was kneeling at the cliff's edge, tending the small, newly made driftwood cross. The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Stedman.

November has for the most part been a washout for me where reading has been concerned--life has been excessively busy--so much so that I have only managed to finished three books in the entire month. Jo Baker's Longbourn - I must own that I was more than a little disappointed in this Austenesque offering. I found the story labourious...perhaps I just wasn't in the right mindset when reading the book. Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - I loved this warm and quirky little story. I found it very welcoming to the reader's mind. Great Expectations by Dickens - Always a great read. My current read is The Light Between Oceans which is currently being made into a film starring Michael Fassbender and Rachel Weisz. I'm very much enjoying the read thus far.

It really is a film worthy of your time. The acting is brilliant and the premise is heartwarming and encouraging. I'm a huge Alan Rickman fan (He could read my the phone book and I would remain enthralled), and I have found his lesser known roles are actually his best.

I wasn't aware that Ken Burns did film on The Civil War. I was aware that he was a filmmaker as I had seen his WW II film, The War. Unfortunately I have the bound copy of the book, so no extras. I shall now have to track down a copy of the DVD of The Civil War. I have quite a few Civil War (and WW I, WW II) books on my shelves...erm...in my boxes. I love American Civil War history and Native American history. It must be great having a shared interest with your dad. Perhaps I should pester you with questions whilst I'm researching for my current WIP. Thank you for bringing Ken Burns' Civil War film to my attention.

ESB would be close to my all time fav. I love the theme of ESB. Never read the novels?! Anna! TPM, indeed, any of the prequels leave a lot to be desired. I'll also be seeing the new movies as they're released. Even if they are a train crash. I've been keeping up with all the mutterings via TFN (TheForce.Net). I just hope with Lucasfilm and Del Rey's new 'unified canon' that the established essence of the characters will continue through the future novels.

Not at all. Quite the opposite. I thank you for sharing with me, Athena. I read the suggested posts in your thread and now have a little more understanding of your difficulties. The courage you have shown by continually searching for answers is admirable and shows great fortitude. And by putting down your story in words and sharing with us it not only gives you a way of making sense of what is happening to you, but serves as an education and even perhaps a beacon or enlightenment for someone who may be experiencing the same or similar. A friend of mine has Asperger's syndrome; brilliant, absolutely brilliant mind. He managed to painstakingly work his way through university to become a aerospace engineer, however, due to many of the issues you experience day to day he has never been able to work in his chosen field. He works at home as a sculptor in wood and metal. I shall be following your journey from now on in your personal thread. I had actually unplugged it pretty much straight after I played around to see what the problem was. My newly departed microwave is now sitting at a friend's house waiting to be cannibalized for parts--I'm almost certain my friend is building a time machine due to the odd assortment of things he has sitting in his workshop. Thank you. Fantastic, Anna. I am always full of admiration for people who continually wish to push their own personal boudaries of accomplishment. You'll do well, I'm certain of it. I can empathize with the dauntingness (is that even a word?) of returning to study. I've only been away from it for a couple of years and I'm terrified of attending Maritime College in the new year. AND I don't have a family to look after! --- Had my builder start work today. I'm a little apprehensive about this builder/client relationship (I became empty headed for a moment or thirty upon meeting him--this is more than a little shallow, but I was a bit dumbstruck by how aesthetically pleasing he was), he already thinks I'm an idiot. The news in regards to my floors is much better, they are obviously not as idiotic as me, and will require less work to get them in tip top condition again. I've also booked my holiday in Thailand! Yay warm weather. Unfortunately my holiday isn't until December. Tomorrow will see me back out on the boat for a couple of days. The expense of the renovations and the uncooperative electrical appliances mean that I'll need to spend more of the month working out on one of our boats rather than in the co-op office. I hope to be back by Saturday to catch the casino fundraising evening at our only pub. It'll be nice to step into an evening dress and heels instead of my fishy smelling foul weather gear and gumboots.

It's quite a task to narrow a favourite movie list down to ten. Not in order of preference... Star Wars OT--I view the OT as one entity, however, Empire Strikes Back is favourite of the three. Stuart: A Life Backwards Dead Poets Society State of Grace Leon: The Professional A Patch of Blue My Left Foot The usual Suspects Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Warrior I really wanted to add in Mr Smith Goes To Washington, Moon, and The Nun's Story.

Aebleskivers with a mug of coffee. Yummy!

Mmm pie! Savoury I could not go past a chicken and camembert pie, salmon pie, or spanakopita (Greek spinach pie). Blackberry and ricotta, rhubarb, and French silk are my favourites when it comes to sweet pies.

Ooo I had forgotten about Arthur Miller! Tom Stoppard is multitalented. I love his play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. I also adore the film adaptation of the play with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth.

As I understand it Splinter of the Mind's Eye is so dire that it is regarded as the literary equivalent of the Star Wars Holiday Special (which I own lol) in the Star Wars universe. I didn't realise Dark Horse had did an adaptation. I'll have to take a little wander through the Dark Horse website. ESB nearly always tops the list of SW fans favourite movies. Yes, as a huge Star Wars fan, and cinephile, Anna, I've been following the production of SW VII very closely. Actually, none of the current EU (Expanded Universe) post ROTJ will be used as source material for Ep VII or any subsequent movies post ROTJ. The new Lucasfilm (Mickey Mouse Club) released a statement regarding this very subject: "In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, Star Wars Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded. Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe. For example, elements of the EU are included in Star Wars Rebels. The Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems are story elements in the new animated series, and all these ideas find their origins in roleplaying game material published in the 1980s." Lucasfilm and Del Rey are now collaborating on a 'unified canon' as the saga moves forward: "Going forward, Lucasfilm has begun mapping out the narrative future of Star Wars storytelling that will appear on film and television and in other media so that all projects will benefit from real-time collaboration and alignment. The future Star Wars novels from Disney Publishing Worldwide and Del Rey Books will now be part of the official Star Wars canon as reflected on upcoming TV and movie screens." Now the only books/novels etc from the current published list regarded as canon are the novelizations of Star Wars Episodes I-VI.

How disappointing. I've found Goodreads a great place to wander around seeing people's recommendations and ratings of books. The is another place where people can see the old adage 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' at work.

Finished The Silmarillion; a journey I wish never to take again. I honestly found the read excruciating. Started A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I've read many of his books, and have always enjoyed his exuberant story telling style. I am told that A Walk in the Woods is Bryson at his best, and thus far it is proving to be so. Also started The Civil War by Geoffrey C. Ward with Ric Burns and Ken Burns. This book is a research read for one of my WIP. I already knew a great deal about the American Civil War, but this book has been enlightening, and quite simply I have enjoyed the gathering of knowledge.