[Lesser Books]

Stuart Macbride:

Chilly Hard Grey Stone (Cold Granite)

Cut Epidermis (Broken Skin)

Fading Illumination (Dying Light)

Meat Abode (Flesh House)

Sightless Optical Organ (Blind Eye)

 

Kelley Armstrong:

Nibbled (Bitten)

Misappropriated (Stolen)

Cheap Tricks* (Dime Store Magic)

Business Illusions (Industrial Magic)

Spooked (Haunted)

Non-People Included (No Humans Involved)

Intimate Imp (Personal Demon)

Co-habiting With Corpses* (Living With The Dead)

Ice Chomped (Frost Bitten)

Raising The Hag (Waking The Witch)

 

* I think I like these ones best - LOL!

[Has anyone read...?]

I have it, but haven't read it yet, so I'll be curious to hear what others thnk of it too...

[What should I read next?]

Have you tried Terry Pratchett? Far from being well-rounded, his world is well-flatted - LOL! The Discworld series is absolutely magnificent. THere are one or two small glitches in its overall wonderfulness (I'm not fond of THe Colour Of Magic, The Light Fantastic, or Eric), but even those cannot spoil what is arguably the best-loved fantasy series still being written. It'll keep you going a while too, as there are over 30 and still counting...

[Sherlock]

THought you all might like to know:

 

(From Wiki)

A DVD (region 2) and Blu-ray Disc (region B) will be released by 2entertain in the United Kingdom on 30 August 2010. It will feature the three episodes and several special features. "A Study in Pink" will feature audio commentaries by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Sue Vertue, while Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss commentate on "The Great Game". The release will include the unaired pilot episode, a 60-minute version of "A Study in Pink" directed by Coky Giedroyc. On 23 July 2010, the BBFC rated the pilot as a 12 certificate for video and online exhibition.

 

Oh, and I've checked the times for Sunday - we're back to the 9pm slot!

[Sherlock]

I thought last week's was a clever play on A Study In Scarlet (hinted at in the title of A Study In Pink)? I'm sure I read somewhere that it was based on that, but it's been many years since I read the story, so I can't remember - LOL!

[Greatest love story ever written?]

I'm beginning to think that Gone With The Wind is possibly one of the greatest, but not because of Scarlett - for me, Melanie Wilkes is the one who is full of love for everyone. SHe loves Ashley as a husband and partner; Scarlet as a Sister; Rhett Butler as a man who has helped her and her family in times of great need; love of cause and country; love of the men in her care as she nurses - the list goes one and on. I've never come across a character bursting with so much love!

[Sherlock]

Ah, I had the right idea, I just didn't move the characters far enough!

Me too - LOL!

[Sherlock]

Is anyone following Sherlock's site The Science Of Deduction?

 

The answer to last week's cryptic message has been revealed (it was done using a Caesar Cypher, moving each letter 15 places, so you got the message "Sherlock I am watching you".

 

There's a second message there now:

'Hi Sherlock

 

SOMNEHCCGTEKOTYRIMOOLAIGU

 

You'll never find out who I am. I live off the grid.

 

cheers

xx'

 

Anyone else worked it out yet?

 

 

If you arrange the letters in order in a grid 5 x 5, you can read the letters down the way and get the message "Sherlock I am coming to get you".

 

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

I love the bit where she's relating to Scarlet about the money from Belle and how she can't tell Aunt Pittypat or anyone else who it came from but that Belle has as much right as anyone else to contribute to the cause if she wants to. It was so funny how she was so shocked herself, but strong enough - and kind enough - to put prejudice aside for a good cause. I think it's an indication of things to come and I'm loving her character. I love Scarlett's outrageousness, but Melly's quiet courage is inspiring.

[Sherlock]

It's not good that they keep moving programs like this, but to be fair they did say it would be on at 8.30pm at the end of last weeks episode.

 

(If it helps, it's worth waiting for!).

Yeah, but I missed them saying that because I was excitedly babbling to hubby about how much I'd enjoyed the episode and how good everyone was in it and how they'd managed to update it without losing the essential spirit of the books, etc. I can't help doing that when I've really enjoyed something - the BBC should really take that into account - LOL! I just don't understand why they keep shifting their schedules instead of just giving a programme a slot and keeping it there for its entire run - it would make so much more sense!

 

Glad it's a good'un though - I'm really looking orward to seeing it.

 

Now, can someone please remind me what time it's on nearer the time next week, so I don't miss it again? I'm that scatter-brained I'll forget if I'm not reminded! I'm counting on you guys, so if I miss it next time, I'll be blaming you!

[Sherlock]

Really hacked off at the BBC now. Tuned in at 9pm to see the second episode, only to find that this week it started at half-past-flippin'-eight! What IS it with them constantly changing the times? They do it with all their programmes (Doctor Who is a prime exaqmple - it never seeme to be on the same time two weeks running while I was watching it). Now we're going to have to download it and watch it later in the week (I'm working Monday to Wednesday this week), which is incredibly annoying. We were really looking forward to seeing it tonight too!

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

In some ways Melanie is one of the strongest women in the book. Strong in a different way to Scarlett, that's true, but Melanie always had an iron will.

I agree - I've just got to the part where she's declaring that she will NOT uninvite Cptn Butler from being a guest in her home, and never will, because he thinks exactly the same about the war as her husband does - he just doesn't word it as politely! Completely going against her "olders and betters" to stand up for what she thinks is right at that young age, and in that society, would take tremendous backbone - andit's actually more than Scarlett did! Scarlett is very hypocritical - always hiding how she really feels in order to keep "in" with people, with only occasional outbreaks of show (such as dancing at the ball when she's supposed to be in mourning), and even that she blamed on Rhett and excused with "it's in aid of our fighting boys!" - LOL!

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

Incidentally, I've always considered Ashley a total wimp and I'm wondering if reading the book will change that - LOL! Melanie, although always coming off as wimpy, was more a gentle soul who desperately wanted to see only the best in everyone and really did believe (rather naively) that people were inherently good and have the best intentions, even if it doesn't always seem so, so I always had a little more respect for her than for Ashley. So far the book is bearing out those thoughts - and I'm loving it!

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

Hollywood certainly tested enough actresses for the role! And you are absolutely right, Leigh was the only real Scarlett.

Have you ever seen any of the screen tests? I have.

In case anyone else fancied seeing them - here are some of the screentests they did for the role of Scarlet. Leigh was far and away the best choice - she was pitch-perfect and had marvellous chemistry with both her love interests. See

.

[What is your fairy name?]

Your fairy is called Hex Elfwand

She is a cheerful sprite.

She lives in places hexed and tainted by black magic.

She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover.

She wears black feathers and rose petals. She has delicate green wings like a cicada.

[Falling for a woman disguised as a man]

Ooh, how about Tipping The Velvet by Sarah Waters?

Synopsis:

In the bawdy music halls of the late-19th century, Nan is captivated by Kitty Butler, a male impersonator. She manages to meet her heroine and soon after becomes her dresser. Heading for the bright lights of London they form a double act while privately, a love affair begins.

 

I've not read it, and it appears to be a slightly different take in that a woman falls for another woman impersonating a man, but I've been meaning to get hold of it for ages now...

[Falling for a woman disguised as a man]

Hoe about Yentl the Yeshiva Boy by Isaac Bashevis Singer?

Synopsis:

Recognizing that Yentyl seems to have the soul and disposition of a man, her father studies the Torah and other holy books with her. When he dies, Yentyl feels that she no longer has a reason to remain in the village, and so, late one night, she cuts off her hair, dresses as a young man, and sets out to find a yeshiva where she can continue her studies and live secretly as a man.

 

I've never read the book, but I loved the film (despite Barbara Streisand being FAR too old for the role - LOL!).

 

Also, not books, but if you like similar things in film, try Victor/Victoria (Julie Andres pretends to be a drag queen and a gangster/nightclub owner (James Garner) falls in love with her, believing that she is a man. It's a marvellous, lavish spectacular with both leads at their absolute best.

 

Also, Tootsie (starring Dustin Hoffman) has it the other way round - he dresses as a woman in order to get a role on a TV soap and a woman falls in love with him, believing him to be a woman.

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

Just wanted to update - I'm about 10 chapters in and LOVING this book! Scarlet is currently staying in Atlanta with Melly and Aunt Pittypat, and has just run into the irrascible Captain Butler again...

 

Oh, on a slightly unrelated but funny note - Xan keeps picking up the book (which has Rhett and Scarlett in the classic pose - Scarlett in Rhett's arms, tipped back) and pointing to the picture,saying, "Mummy and Daddy!" I guess he reckons we're as passionate as them - LOL!

[DO believe the hype!]

300. I only wish I'd seen it on the big screen! It absolutely blew me away and is now one of my all-time favourite films.

[Does beef mince really smell that bad?]

I hate the smell of mince until it's cooked (I have to get hubby to brown the mince for me when we're having it in a meal). I got worse with it when I was opregnant. I have a very acute sense of smell at the best of times, but when I was pregnant I was hyper-sensitive and it's stayed more pronounced (although not quite as bad as during pregnancy) even after having Xan. I hate to think what might happen if I get pregnant again - my nose might just explode!

[In The News (Cont..)]

I know this was yesterday

Hotel room damaged

See, now I think that just punishment would be disqualification from the competition! It would certainly deter future contestants from doing the same thing... But then, I can't stand that show and think the people who appear on it are non-entities who will be on screen for 15 minutes (if they're lucky) and then disappear back into obscurity where they belong, I'm sick to death of all these so-called talent shows!

[In The News (Cont..)]

Love the beanbag gun!

[Self-Published Books]

I've read a handful of self=published books and have had mixed esperiences, same as with those produced by publishers really. Some have been absolutely dire, some have been fairly decent and one in particular was absolutely brilliant (The Messenger by Andrew E Shipley, in case anyone is interested - seriously, it's fab and I'd love to see it made into a movie!). In some cases the authors have very obviously self=published out of pure vanity, but in other cases, the author has produced some very good work but had difficulty finding a conventional publisher for whatever reason and has decided to go down the self-publishing route in order to get their work read. It can be hit and miss, but that's the same for ANY book and any author.

[Percy Jackson Series]

I read the first and second books and enjoyed them. I thought the film was awful and so did my hubby. Dale hadn't read the book at all and the moment the guilty party came onscreen, before they even opened their mouth, Dale said "That's the one - that's the baddie!" and you know what? He was spot on! Now if someone who knows nothing about the story can spot that immediately, there's something very wrong with the direction of the film!

 

I did plan on reading any more of the books as they came out, but never got round to picking up where I left off and the film kind of put me off too, to be honest.

[Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell]

Yes, I have. SHe was definitely th eonly candidate as far as I was concerned!