frankie
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Posts posted by frankie
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Thanks bookmonkey!
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^ Wow, you've made great progress! I'm very impressed!
I haven't started yet. I've been in a looooong reading slump. It started last year and it's not gone away yet. I've kind of maybe gotten back a bit of the feel for reading yesterday, and now I need to finish my current easy read, and Helter Skelter which is a longer, more intense one. I can then think about giving one of the books on my list a go! It's just been so long since I've read more than 1-3 books a month. But I really hope that this challenge will help me get back on track!
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On Monday I reached the two year milestone of not smoking any cigarettes. It's been cheering me up all week long
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On 8.2.2018 at 12:41 PM, Nollaig said:
I'm finding it hard to keep it up to be honest. It's given me an idea for an app (I like designing apps since my cert in digital media before christmas!) - a digital bullet journal. An app with tons of icons and cartoons in various colours (bullets, arrows, squiggles, patterns, objects etc) so that you can just click-and-drag your way to a stunning journal page in no time. Can't find an app like it, and I know I'd use it! What do you do in your gratitude journal, do you draw or just write or...?
That's a great idea for an app!
On 8.2.2018 at 12:41 PM, Nollaig said:Thanks, Frankie! My mood is a bit better lately, and I'm getting a bit more creative again. Working on a portfolio website, gonna start working on designing more apps, entered a competition with one app idea, and am back to digital art a little bit with a monkey for my partner's gaming blog!
That's really good news! I hope your creative mood lasts and prospers!
On 8.2.2018 at 12:41 PM, Nollaig said:My partner has wanted this monkey for ages (his blog is Little Monkey Game Reviews) and his ex-wife (who also drew) always said she'd do it, and never did. And then I said I would, and I got as far as sketching him, but never finished. So, this is my plan for a Valentines Day gift, to get this darned monkey finished for him!
That is such a lovely idea for a Valentine's gift!
I hope you don't mind me asking, but did you have time to finish the monkey?
On 8.2.2018 at 7:18 PM, karen.d said:I'm quite creative, but I still find some of the bullet journals I see on YouTube, as really intimidating! I might give it a go one day!
Bullet journals need not to be creative or artistic at all! The original bullet journal by Ryder Carroll was all about writing stuff down - not about using colors, washi tape, stickers, whatever. Everyone can make their Bujo as functional as they like - or as artistic as they like. Please don't be intimidated by anyone else's bujo!!
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32 minutes ago, Athena said:
That sounds like an interesting challenge. It would definitely be interesting to see how people would get on
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Yes, it would be really interesting, I think!
I'm not up for any challenges, though, I have Round Robin on my plate and that will do for the year! 32 minutes ago, Athena said:You could well be right by saying it depends on what a person is used to and what their tastes are
. Shame about the formulaic-ness. I've only read a short novella-type thing by Minette Walters, so I'm not sure how her novels compare (though I do believe I bought one or two once upon a time!). I haven't read a whole lot of British thrillers, I've read more British mysteries and not a whole lot of those. Back when I was a teenager I read a lot of Robin Cook (US), some John Grisham (US), some Patricia Cornwell (US), and probably some others but I can't remember their names right now
There's also the fact that I get muddled up in the different genres: thrillers, mysteries, detective novels... I don't like to make the distinction between the different types, because I do like them all and I just like to think of them as one genre. I know others would prefer to make the distinction but I'm just not that bothered. Murder and mayhem, that's the stuff!
I haven't read Robin Cook or John Grisham. No, wait, I have read a Grisham but it was a Christmas book and it was baaaaaaad
I liked Patricia Cornwell when I was a teenager, but when I re-read her books a decade later I found them boring! I'd found much better authors by then. (Karin Slaughter, Jeffery Deaver, Jeff Lindsay, Kathy Reichs to name a few.)
32 minutes ago, Athena said:(mouldy brain, now that's an.. interesting image
).
Better not think about it too much before dinner
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I think I've read two, but I'm not sure!
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On 30.12.2017 at 9:05 PM, Janet said:
I hope you enjoy 'Tess'. I love it - but @frankie hates it!
I think you'll like/love it, but one never can tell! On 31.12.2017 at 12:07 AM, willoyd said:I'm pretty confident I'll enjoy it simply because I've loved all the Hardy I've read to date, but we'll see!
I'm certainly pleased it's part of my challenge.
Jänet's right, I hated Tess! With a passion! I never would've finished it if it wasn't mandatory reading. But for your sake I do hope you will like it - I generally don't go about hoping people will hate the books they read I was reading the last pages of your 2017 reading log (I'm still catching up with past logs and new) and I learned that you are working at a library one day a week? That's great!
I'm actually jealous!
I also read your review of the Jacob book by Susan Hill. I'm so sorry it was such a big disappointment! I do wonder what got into her. And WHY...
Happy reading in 2018, willoyd!
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You've got a great pace going, keep it up!
I'm looking forward to your review of Farewell to Arms, I've not read it yet myself.
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I read your review of The Loney from 2017, and I agree, I couldn't see why it had won the prize. I didn't like it at all! I gave it 1/5 I think. Dreadful! It sounded like such an interesting read, going by the blurb, but it wasn't!!
I wish you an amazing reading year in 2018, Madeleine!
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1 hour ago, Athena said:
I've been feeling a lot better so I think what I had a few days ago, was gladly just a 24-thing of feeling dreadful, and is now over (at least, I hope so!).
I'm glad you're feeling better and that yours was a quick 24 hour thing!
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1 hour ago, Athena said:
When I was a teenager I used to read a lot of American thrillers, but nowadays I read more Dutch (literary) thrillers. Must pick up an American or British thriller or mystery at some point. I also have some Scandinavian ones on my TBR.
This made me think of a group read challenge... a challenge where everyone were to read an American, a British, and Irish, a Scandinavian, and what have you, thriller. Contrast and compare! It would be interesting to see if the majority would prefer books from their own cultural/biographical area. Or what other factors would affect their reading.
1 hour ago, Athena said:Wow, that's so nice
! I hope you get to finish the novel soon and that your mojo is coming back 
.
It's a pretty refreshing feeling!! I hope it lasts!!
1 hour ago, Nollaig said:It definitely does factor into it, I much prefer thrillers set in Britain than anywhere else (including Ireland). Maybe because I grew up with shows like The Bill?
I find American ones harder to get into, same with Scandinavian ones.
I think it's what one's used to. I used to read Finnish thrillers/mysteries, and liked them okay, but because I watch so much American TV it was only a matter of time when I would start reading American thrillers. I've read British ones, too, but for some reason I do tend to go for the Americans. I think the American thrillers have a lot more twists and psychological aspects to them than Finnish thrillers, and I like that.
I think I've mainly read Minette Walters but I got tired of them because at a later age I realized that they were rather formulaic in one particular aspect. I have read others, too, but my moldy mind won't give me any names at the moment! -
Yep, that's the one! My favorite moment was
Spoilerwhen he went to help the woman who was in need of some psychological help, to put it mildly! It was so touching.
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I'm watching Olympic hockey! Finland vs. Canada! Canada is a wicked opponent, lord have mercy!
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On 30.10.2017 at 1:40 AM, Little Pixie said:
One thing - the author has quite a potty mouth, but in this case, I found it amusing rather than offensive.
I'm really late to comment on this, sorry! This was in reference to the Julia & Julie book which you'd read. I personally don't mind, because I personally have a potty mouth, too
I saw your book haul and I hope you will love Fangirl and The Rosie Project!
(Although, I'm so behind on reading logs on the forum that maybe you've already read the books!! I must catch up!!)
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On 13.2.2018 at 2:59 PM, ian said:
Book 7: Mustaine: A life in Metal - by Dave Mustaine
Founding member, singer, and lead guitarist of Metallica and Megadeth shares the ultimate, unvarnished story behind his involvement in the rise of two of the world’s most influential heavy metal bands in history. (taken from Goodreads)
My Thoughts
This type of book is only ever going to be interesting to fans. Dave Mustaine started out as one of the founder members of Metallica, but was kicked out of the band just prior to them recording their first album. He's been bitter about it ever since, and the feud was played out publically in the 1980's. Supposedly, you had to be either a Metallica fan or a Megadeth fan - but for me, Heavy Metal is about not having rules, so I was a fan of both. What's good about this book is that he doesn't pull his punches. And most of those punches are aimed at himself. He was a drug dealer. He was an addict of both drugs and alcohol. He was unable to keep his temper and so fought constantly with fellow band-members (who became ex band members very quickly). Despite that, I found it hard not to like the man - he's honest about his short-comings, and there is no denying that he is one of the finest guitar players ever (well, that's my opinion anyway - these things are pretty subjective). Perhaps the only question left at the end of it is "How is this guy still alive"? If you like the music - it's well worth reading. 4/5
Two very interesting reviews of 'metal memoirs'! I'm sorry that the Bruce Dickinson felt a bit lopsided for you, but I'm glad Mustaine's delivered more! I agree with you, it shouldn't be a rivalry between two bands - one likes as many or as few bands as one does! There are no rules. For some reason I've listened more to Metallica and have liked them more, but it's probably just because I had Metallica fans as friends and so I had better access to their stuff than Megadeath's. I think I'll listen to Megadeath on Spotify today. They have some amazing stuff!
I do wonder, have you read Dirt by Mötley Crüe? I can't remember! That's one helluva read
Oh and before I forget: Happy reading in 2018, Ian!
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10 hours ago, muggle not said:
Our library is very good. They almost always notify me when they order a book that I have requested be bought. The library has really purchased many books that I have requested and I try to be selective in my requests as I realize they can't purchase all that I would like.
I know what you mean about trying to be selective, I do the very same
I try to think if the book I would like is one that others would like to read, too! You have a really great library, I have to say! -
2 hours ago, Athena said:
It's okay, that can happen
.
Thanks! I've been missing in action!
I hope to be more around on the forum this year!!
2 hours ago, Athena said:Wow, no 5/5 books
. I really hope 2018 will be a much better reading year for you!!
It can't be worse than last year, it just can't!
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Slap that bass! Slap away your troubles!
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12 hours ago, bookmonkey said:
Where are you Poppy? We got a lot rain and very strong winds, some power out in places, but not too bad. I've seen it's really bad further south. Nearly washed away State Highway 1 north of Wellington.
I'm glad you weren't hit big with it!
11 hours ago, poppy said:I'm in the Tasman region, bookmonkey. It seemed to hit a really big area, I think the cyclone split in two.
Even the word alone, 'cyclone', scares the bejeesus out of me. There are no natural disasters like that or any others in Finland so we kind of live in 'God's purse', as we Finns would put it. Safe and sound.
However, Siberia is telling us what's what, and we've got the lowest temperatures of the year here in Helsinki! I'm glad I'm sick and I don't have to go out!
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2 hours ago, Athena said:
I read Loes den Hollander - Onderuitgehaald. This was a suspenseful thriller, and I liked that the author managed to surprise me. I liked the short chapters. I was a bit confused at something on the last page. This wasn't one of my favourites of the author (though I've only read a few of her work, gladly plenty more to read
), but I enjoyed reading the book and was often thinking of the story even when I was not reading the book.
I think it's always extra exciting when you are thinking of the book you're reading, even when you're not reading it. I don't think it's happened to me in a long while and I miss it! I hope your next read is another thinkable one
2 hours ago, Athena said:Thanks
! I hope you have an amazing reading year in 2018 too, Sari .
Thanks Gaia!
At least it ought to be better than last year!
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Ah second. Well recurrence is equally annoying! Let's keep hydrated!
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I've taken a better look at the profile picture after Lau_Lou's comment and indeed, it's a beautiful profile picture!
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^ So this is your third cold? I've got a cold or flu, too, and it's my third! It's so annoying when one's just recovered and gotten back into normal life and daily rhythm and then it all starts again!
I hope all you sick lot feel better soon!
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1 hour ago, Nollaig said:
Indeed, the characters just felt a bit flat for me.
Have you read any of the Maeve Kerrigan or Kim Stone series (they're the main characters names, not authors)? I love those, and while a lot of it is I do enjoy the murder mystery element, I adore the characters and that's what keeps me reading.
I have to confess this is the first I've heard of those series!
I've googled the authors and they are British and Irish whereas Deaver is American. I wonder if that comes into the equation? Even if on a subconscious level. I think I'm personally more accustomed to American thrillers. Whatever it is, we all have our preferences that rock our respective boats Let's just try and stay out of the water!
I read a huge chunk of Dumplin' last night in bed. It was the most reading I've done in a month, I'd say! I'm hoping to finish the novel today
I hope my mojo's coming back!!
What cheered you up today?
in General Chat
Posted
Thank you ladies!
Madeleine, it was really, really hard, especially for the first few months. I was never a packet a day -smoker (20 cigarettes or more), and sometimes I'd been off cigarettes for some months and sometimes even a year or two, but then I would slip back. Sometimes I only smoked if I'd had a drink, sometimes I smoked on a daily basis. So I was never a heavy smoker. So even I can't imagine how hard it would be for a very heavy smoker to quit!! It was hard enough for me! 
I thought about smoking on a daily basis for a while after quitting, but it would get easier and then I'd go a week without thinking about it. It was hardest when I would go to a bar and have a drink, because I used to smoke like a chimney if I'd had alcohol! That was really the hardest for me. What's odd is that sometimes I could get a craving when I smelled someone else smoking, but at other times I would hate the smell and go stand somewhere else. 
I used to get cravings on a more frequent basis, but it's definitely easier these days. I don't think about smoking every day and I don't think about it for weeks at a time. Or months. It's the best decision I've ever made
And yeah, I do still get a craving, but very rarely. Sometimes if I'm having a really bad day, I think, I would definitely go for a smoke right now if I still smoked. But I don't.
Oddly enough, when I was writing this, I remembered I had a dream about cigarettes last night!
I smoked two and then I thought, Oh dear, I was supposed to have quit this thing! I was so annoyed at myself! 
Thankfully it was just a dream.