Talisman

Lola's Theme - Shapeshifters

West is West, which I went to see on Thursday. Although not as good as the original East is East, it is worth seeing if only for the soundtrack, which I loved. It is really more a tale about coming to terms with your past and how to reconcile that with the present and future. Something I guess we can all relate to.

Work harder at what may I ask ?

Soundtrack from the Kings Speech

The Kings Speech

Fish fingers, chips and peas

West is West, Black Swan, Harry Potter, and the US version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I understand they are filming at the moment.

MOST books are in fact now discounted - it is rare for anyone now to pay full price, and herein is as you say, lies the problem. Too many middle men in publishing all wanting their cut and margins being squeeezed until there is nothing left. Nothing left for the publisher, nothing left for the author, and not enough left for book shops to survive. The industry will not regulate itself, so the only solution as far as I can see is to bring back the net book agreement, which should not have been abolished in the first place (everyone said this would happen, but they were ignored), the trouble is, the horse has already bolted ... I must admit, as much as I as an author hate discounting, I would buy a lot less books were it not for 3 for 2's and I increasingly buy from Amazon also.

Delerium - Silence

sweet and sour veg with rice and prawn crackers

a big bottle of water

Wednesday and Thursday's EastEnders

The Korgis - Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime

Finished The Long Haul earlier this evening. I am about to go to bed and start my next book. This is one I have been wanting to read for ages - Independent People by Icelandic author Halldor Laxness, which is set during the settlement period of Iceland. I was very happy to see them reissued as English translations recently, and if I like this one, will no doubt work my way through the rest of his books.

I am about 50 pages from the end of The Long Haul - managed to get about 50 pages read yesterday. It really is an incredible tale of the human spirit over adversity in appalling conditons and I take my hat off to those two young men who completed this epic journey. They have more stamina that I have, that's for sure!

Just about to watch last nights Casualty.

Faithless - Salva Mea - I had forgotten how good this is

Ottakars I am told were far easier to deal with from the authors point of view and more willing to take a risk on unknown authors, recognising that everyone has to start somewhere. I always found Waterstones more accomodating that certain other defunct chains, but I am sure that other authors would say differently.

Eric Prydz - Call on Me

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding - which as others have said, was fascinating. That and Judge Judy (sad, I know). Remember by the way, it's a loan and not a gift, and I want my money back when you get your taxes ...

Yes that is correct, about 20 stores have been earmarked for closure, but no announcements (as far as I know) have been made as to which ones - I am guessing some of the smaller ones and maybe where there are 2 branches in the same town (mostly old Ottokars branches I would imagine or whichever one is less profitable). There is also talk of redundancies at their Brentford Head Office and a lot of the staff there have been put under consultation. It is not a good time for those in book selling. http://thebookseller.com/news/143918-waterstones-begins-consultation-with-head-office-staff.html http://thebookseller.com/news/141627-waterstones-confirms-20-store-closures.html

Finished reading Norwegian Wood by Japanese author Haruki Muratami this afternoon. It was an interesting book, the first I have read by a Japanese author which gave interesting insights into late 60's Japanese student life. I have decided that the next book I will read will be non fiction - The Long Haul by Alex Hibbert. I found it in Waterstones in Redhill a few months ago and should have got it then and there, but when I went back to get it was told they couldn't get hold of it anymore, so I ordered one from Amazon. It is a narrative based on the authors trek across the Greenland ice cap, and so should be right up my street, a blending of travelogue and philosophy. I will probably start it tonight when I go to bed, which will be in about five minutes ...

Jonsi and Alex - Riceboy Sleeps - Jonsi is the former lead singer from Sigur Ros and Alex is his partner.

Usually at the end of a chapter, but if its a long one, or I am tired, at the nearest convenient break.

Orbital - Chime