Ruth

My friend sent me a link for that the other day - she thought it would appeal to me (she was right)!

Just finished Road to Paradise by Paullina Simons. I always enjoy her books and this was no exception.

I was disappointed in this novel. Here is a short review I wrote after reading it some time ago: "I was a little underwhelmed by this book. Not that I didn't enjoy it on some level, but it was far less enjoyable than I was expecting. Smithson Ide is a vastly overweight, middle aged loner, who numbs his pain with alcohol and food. As the beginning of the book, his parents get killed in a road accident, and shortly afterwards, he finds that his sister, who disappeared years previously, has also died. Smithson takes his old Raleigh bicycle, and just starts pedalling. And then he just carries on. I have a feeling that this is supposed to be one of those 'life affirming books' that makes you feel good. It isn't, and it doesn't. I actually found it quite depressing, and the main character is really not all that likeable. Not awful, but I won't be reading anything else by this author."

I was surprised that they didn't fire James. I like Howard, and am glad he survived. I also thought he was right that Rocky picked the wrong two to take into the boardroom. I do NOT like Phil(?) - the one who is always undermining the team leader. He is full of problems, but no solutions.

Have just finished Bad Dirt, by Annie Proulx. This is her second collection of short stories set in Wyoming, and I enjoyed it much more than her first one (Close Range).

Have just finished The Unknown Terrorist, by Richard Flanagan...good story, with disturbing undertones. Am about to start Bad Dirt, by Annie Proulx. It is her second collection of Wyoming stories, and I had mixed feelings about her first (Close Range), so will see what I make of this.

Just finished The Great Gatsby - wonderful!

Finished reading The Harmony Silk Factory, and ended up really enjoying it.

I thought the boys would win. I think their product would sell a lot more...apparently the figures which Alan Sugar was quoting about what it would cost to produce the boys toys were way over inflated as well...I don't think he wanted the boys to win.

I saw it - I thought it was the weakest Celebrity one so far, and they don't appear to have actually raised any money! Love Jack Dee though. I think Gerald will be fired tonight - he never seemed to really take control of the male team. The girls didn't work well together at all, did they? Carol Vorderman came over about the best - Patsy Palmer was a horror! She was telling Michelle that she didn't want Michelle to tell her what to do, but then in the boardroom, she complained that she didn't know what she was supposed to be doing. I'm not surprised her husband told her not to walk out - he was probably enjoying the peace at home (although actually I suspect it was more likely her agent who told her to stick it out - walking off a Comic Relief project would not look good).

I love this show. I'm kinda sad that it's ended, but on the other hand, at least it ended while it was still brilliant. I got my dad into Homicide: Life on the Street recently by lending him my DVDs (I know Beef likes this show, and I would highly recommend this show to any fans of the Wire - made by the same people), and he is going to borrow my Wire DVDs next.

I don't mind the odd short book. Breakfast at Tiffany's for instance, is a great book, and less than a hundred pages. Quality not quantity means more to me!

I have just finished reading Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. It was superb and I would recommend it very highly:) Next one is The Harmony Silk Factory, by Tash Aw.

Brokeback Mountain - I like the book, but I love the movie. To Kill A Mockingbird?

The same applies to me. I do sometimes read the introduction, but not always. Occasionally I have read the introduction and it has given spoilers about the plot, which does annoy me.

I'm not judging the movies by realism. Did I say I was? The thread was about the worst film accent, and this was one of the worst film accents I could think of. Didn't stop me loving the film.

Finished Milk Glass Moon - I really like the Big Stone Gap series, and this was as enjoyable as the first two. About to start Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen.

Brad Pitt in Seven Years in Tibet (but then again I think he is a very average actor anyway). Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven (and Twelve, etc.) Sean Connery in anything where he is supposed to be anything other than Scottish.

I respectfully disagree about Heath Ledger. He already had one nomination under his belt, and there was Oscar buzz surrounding his performance in TDK before he died. I'm glad he won, and think he deserved it. As I said before, I'm really pleased about Kate Winslet, although I would have loved Melissa Leo to win, because I have been a fan of hers for years. Love Sean Penn (he won an Oscar for Mystic River and has been nominated before). I do think Mickey Rourke deserved this one though, but I think they were too worried about what he might say on stage. Milk is typical Oscar-bait movie fare.

I love love love the US series - especially the first five seasons. I am pleasantly surprised with the UK version. The format is almost exactly the same. Bradley Walsh is really really good in this. I will keep watching.

Finished Autobiography of a Geisha - very interesting read, and highly recommended to anyone with an interest in geisha. Am about to start Milk Glass Moon, by Adriana Trigiani; it is the third in her Big Stone Gap series, and I really enjoyed the first two, so I am looking forward to this one:)

Finished The Color Purple - thought it was a terrific read. About to start Autobiography of a Geisha, by Sayo Masuda.

Hmmm....I would say Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte Persuasion, by Jane Austen A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

I can read in a car, but only for 10 minutes bursts. And never when I'm the one driving:D

I was really pleased that Kate Winslet and Heath Ledger won. Disappointed that Mickey Rourke didn't win though...Sean Penn is an amazing actor, but I thought Mickey deserved this one. I think the Academy were too frightened of what he might say in his speech though!