Mia

Well, I finished Hogfather just before Christmas and my opinion hasn't changed from the first time I read it - I just don't like it. Don't get me wrong, I love the Discworld books and I'm a major Pratchett fan, but this book is strange for me. I found it very funny (as usual), with some laugh-out-loud moments, but it just annoys me a lot. What's even more annoying for me is that I can't say why I dislike it. As I say, it's funny, there are loads of great characters, and it rattles along at a fair rate without any boring bits. So why I don't like it, I don't know... I'd read it when I bought it, but had never re-read it until it was chosen here, so I decided to give it a second chance, but my opinion remains the same. It's one of my least favourite Discworld books and I won't be reading it again. I'd still like to see the Sky version though, to see what sort of a job they've made of adapting it.

Just posting to say that it has been announced that the title of Book 7 will be: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Kind of a strange title... My betting is that the Deathly Hallows is a special time that Voldemort can use to strengthen his powers. Or something!

*Waiting (im)patiently for a showing on terrestrial TV*

I haven't seen that film, so that's probably why its unoriginality didn't bother me. It was a hundred times better than this week's, the one with Tosh and the alien pendant. That was so dull I nearly fell asleep. I thought it might have been more interesting if they had played it from the angle that Extremely boring.

Ooh, I was actually quite impressed with last night's episode (Countrycide). Great title! The team were much less annoying than usual, and the story had lots of tension. Plus only one or two ropey bits of dialogue. I think this was my second favourite episode so far, after the pilot which I loved. One thing my brother pointed out though, which I hadn't thought of - Anyway, 8.5 out of 10 from me!

Well, this week's episode with the "evil fairies" was an improvement on the Cyberwoman one (but almost anything would have been). I think it was written by PJ Hammond, who wrote for Sapphire and Steel, a show I always liked. This was probably my second favourite ep so far, with good acting from the little girl who played Jasmine. Torchwood seemed completely ineffectual as usual! It was a refreshing change that

I can't really remember much about the film, except that I thought Tim Curry (?) did a pretty good job as Pennywise the clown. I think it was quite good, and not as bad as some of the awful King adaptations you get, but it was no Shawshank!

Agree with both of those, especially the first! Books by Terry Pratchett and Sue Townsend make me laugh out loud.

Yeah, when they introduced him as "the cleaner" I thought they meant cleaner as in the film Nikita (ie someone who cleans up the mess/bodies) rather than a Mrs Mopp, but it seems to be the latter! I thought he would turn out to be very dangerous and intense, but not so far. You don't like Tennant?! Sacrilege! I agree. As you say, the Jack attraction is understandable (!) but Ianto... I took it to be an "opposites attract" kind of thing, where they have a love/hate relationship that will probably develop... But yes, she seems to fancy every bloke she sees, apart from her poor neglected boyfriend! As for Still, I will keep watching. I just wish it would be as good as it could be.

I'm getting more and more disillusioned with this... Episode 4 - the Cyberwoman one. What a wasted opportunity! It should have been brilliant, but it wasn't. I'm not quite sure why it's not working for me, as I so desperately want to like this series, but after the first two eps it's gone downhill for me. Things I didn't like about the last episode: I also didn't like the acting from the guy who plays Ianto Jones, he was a bit hammy. On the plus side, er... Oh yes -

I've read the book before, also I've seen the Kubrick film (which I didn't like) and Stephen King's own version, which was better but still not exactly right. I'll have to get on and finish Thud! so I can start The Shining.

Exactly! That's why I have the horrible feeling that this film is going to be the worst book adaptation ever. I think I read something about they didn't want to insult religious people in America, but I might be wrong.

Eww, no! It was sleazy, and not nice at all. She should have got him for sexual harrassment in the workplace! (I do actually fancy John Barrowman, but that sequence was just yukky.)

From what I heard, they're getting rid of the whole anti-religion theme... Which kind of misses the point.

After loving the first two episodes, I was rather disappointed with the third (the one with the alien "seeing the past" thingy). Somehow, it just didn't seem to work for me. And the whole "gun training" sequence - eww! Superfluous, too long, uncomfortable and just icky somehow. I hope the next episode is better.

It all depends on my mood. If I have read something a bit depressing, I will choose something humorous next. Also, I will decide I'm in the mood to read fantasy, or horror, or a thriller (but usually fantasy, to be honest!).

I've got that on my TBR pile, where it's been languishing for the last couple of years. I let myself be swayed by Richard & Judy for the first (and hopefully the last) time and bought it, though I would never normally read that kind of thing. It sounds very depressing, I have to say.

I enjoyed that one! Mine would be: 1) Wuthering Heights - Bronte 2) Far From the Madding Crowd - Mr Depression himself (Thomas Hardy) 3) The Taking - Dean Koontz 4) Bag of Bones - Stephen King 5) Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery(?)

I could read well before I started school - I think my mum taught me. Also, I memorised my stories and the shapes of the words I think. (Yes, I was one of those annoying children who corrected their parent if they missed out so much as one word when reading the bedtime story!) I remember being disgusted by the Janet and John books when I saw them... "Look John! Look! A cat!" I guess my reading age was well above my real age, but they didn't tell you things like that when I was at junior school, perhaps in case you became big headed about it! I do know that I read very, very quickly (and still do). Once, I remember getting a new reading book, and reading it in about ten minutes flat. I asked the teacher if I could change it, but she didn't believe that I'd read it in that time. She quizzed me on the story, and when I could answer every question correctly, she gave me a foul look and was forced to let me get a new book. I remember that very vividly, because I was hurt that she didn't believe I'd read it. I definitely get my love of reading from my mum - thanks mum!

You do know that John Barrowman is gay in real life, don't you? Still, a girl can dream!

Watched the first two eps last night - fantastic! I loved them, especially the first!! They were both excellent stories. It all reminded me of The X Files (from when it was good), and the Weevil looked like something out of Buffy. The acting from everybody was excellent. I particularly liked the acting from Eve Myles(?) (Gwen), because I thought it was good that Too many times on TV, characters don't bat an eyelid at the scary/amazing things they see, and breeze through it with a witty one liner, which annoys me. Speaking of witty one-liners, John Barrowman is absolutely gorgeous and an excellent actor too. Man, that guy has charisma. Oh yes, I loved the fact that Full marks to Russell T Davies for that. I can't wait for the next episode! Great stuff!

I loved Firestarter - I quite like the government conspiracy thing and love reading about people with paranormal powers such as telekinesis etc. I liked the film too, Drew Barrymore did a fantastic job as Charlie. Of course, I realise that all this puts me in a minority!

I'll be watching it, and I'm overjoyed that it's also on on BBC2 on Wednesday. At least some channels care about terrestrial viewers, not like Channel 4. *Still bitter about Lost* :)