Madeleine

Same here, but colder too.

Well the hype is starting for Series 6, I can't believe how much Bran has grown, he's almost unrecognisable! Must admit I was a bit disappointed in Series 5, but then I found the book a slog as well. Very dubious about the new series, it will be odd not having a book to prepare me! I have misgivings that a couple of my favourite characters will go, but who knows? The worst thing will be trying to avoid conversations in the office before I've seen it myself, wish it didn't go out on Mondays here as I don't usually get to watch it until the weekend. I have bailed on a few TV series - see "Heroes" thread - but I've stuck with this one as I like a lot of the characters and actors, even if it is very OTT at times. Plus there is nothing like it on TV.

Looks like this is starting again soon - I enjoyed the first show and then gave up during the second series, I'm not going to watch the new version, but at least the original series gave us the lovely Santiago Cabrera! I think it ran it's course the first time.

It's got colder again, although it's definitely getting lighter - still light when I left work just after 5, and this morning it was about half-light just after 7. I've noticed a few magnolias out too, bit early I agree.

I thought the first episode was OK, better than I thought but a bit clunky, but I suppose they had to bring both old and new viewers up to speed somehow. I'm surprised they've kept the original opening titles though, I'd have thought they'd have filmed new titles! Good to see M & S back. Sometimes I prefer the stand-alone episodes, the alien stuff got a bit tedious after a while.

Hi Needle and welcome to the forum.

Lovely and sunny yesterday, but back to heavy drizzle today.

Hi Emma and welcome to the forum. I like thrillers too, and historical, just started a book set in the middle of the 12th century which is my favourite period although I like the Tudors and Victorians as well. I also read around 4 or 5 books a month. We haven't had much snow here, hope it's pretty where you are! Have fun finding your way around the forum, there is a section on historical fiction as well as crime and thrillers.

Hi Shyora and welcome. I love a beautiful cover too! Have fun on the forum, and enjoy finding your way around.

Hi anemone and welcome. I studied some French authors at school - Maupassant, Anouilh and some Gide - can't remember much about them except a creepy Maupassant short story called "sur l'eau" about some fishermen who find a body!

It's got warmer again, but it's windy and drizzly, although thankfully we haven't had torrential rain....yet anyway!

Reviews were mixed apparently, anyway it starts in the UK in a couple of weeks.

As it's a series, and I think the two main characters do progress (only read the first one myself so far), then probably safest to read the first book first, at least there's only one book to catch up with!

I'm not that sure about The Thirteenth Tale, it's only really the beginning which is set in the bookshop, although it does have a strong book connection, but the bookshop link is tenuous at best!

I love the dream wall, but who would have a house that big! It does look a bit clinical, but very crisp and clean. I like the antique bookshelves, although they do look a bit masculine with all the wood panelling. Like the chairs though!

I've read a few, some of them before last year. I agree that Gone Girl is one of the worst books I've ever read, and any time I see a book compared to it, then it puts me off straightaway! I have a few from the list on the tbr piles, such as The Silkworm and The Paying Guests. In two minds about reading the sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird.

I don't know if it counts as buzzwords, but it annoys me when a book has only just been published, and is labelled the number 1 bestseller as soon as it comes out. Or, even worse, and this is happening with films as well, something is tagged book/film of the year - I've seen several ads recently with this claim, and we're not even out of January yet!

I suppose that authors/publishers assume that readers have read the books in chronological order! Some people might come later to a series, perhaps the series is suddenly getting a higher profile eg film or TV adaptation, and a new book is heavily promoted and new readers might not realise there are previous books in the series. It happened to me with Song of Ice and Fire; I started reading the books just before the TV series began, but Book 4 has a major spoiler in the blurb on the back of it - I appreciate that the books had been around a while before the TV series started ,but as they were all re-printed when it started surely it couldn't have been beyond the publishers to take out the spoiler on the back of Book 4? Not sure if the newer editions (they seem to re-print the whole lot every year now) have the spoiler removed, but basically don't look at it if you haven't read book 3 yet or seen the show! But yes reviews are notorious for spoilers, some reviewers do warn of them and say scroll down through the next bit, but some people should be more aware of giving too much away. I'm not sure if it's the authors or the publishers who are responsible for the promotional blurbs though which give away spoilers from previous books, surely they could just say something like "after the traumatic events in the previous book" or a similar hint?

Thick frost here too first thing, now it's cold and bright.

Finally got some snow, only a brief smattering, nearly all gone. The local pond was frozen over and the birds were all standing on it looking a bit confused.

Yes very sad, he had a wonderful voice, and the knack of stealing films from under the big star's nose! Prince of Thieves is one of my guilty pleasures, and he was so funny in Galaxy Quest. He'll be missed by all ages I think, especially from the Harry Potter films.

Very cold here, might even get as bit of snow, I had to scrape and de-frost the windscreen this morning.

Hi Vicky and welcome!

Hi Kelly and welcome!

Hi Sylvia and welcome, what a lovely part of the country to live in. I went to Dedham last summer and it was beautiful. Have you been to Lavenham? Hope you enjoy it on here!