Raven

One thing this book is good at is describing what university life was like in the 80s. If you went then, you will certainly find yourself nodding knowingly occasionally as you read.

In my opinion, One Day is a much better book.

^ The Dream Lord is the Valeyard! [/endrabidfanboyspeculation!] I think the another thing, for those who prefer Tennant over Smith, is that Tennant was the most human Doctor they have probably had. Most of the original Doctors were a lot more eccentric, and I like that Moffat and Smith have bought that aspect back to the character.

I read this a few years ago, and to add to what Montmorency has said: Brian has wanted to go to university and appear on University Challenge since he was a young boy watching the show with his now deceased father. Leaving his Mother and drop-out friends behind he heads off to university where he meets upper-class Alice and the more down to Earth activist Rebecca. The light-hearted book charts Brian's progress in getting on University Challenge, and his relationships with the two girls. Myself, I really enjoyed this book for the most part but I hated the ending because For those that have seen it, the film staring James McAvoy - which Nicholls wrote the screenplay for - has a different ending that to my mind it is the ending the book should have had.

^ Yay! We agree on something! (please don't read my review of Black Sun Rising when I get around to posting it!).

I have to disagree Mia and Michelle, Matt Smith has been an excellent Doctor thus far; he nailed it straight out of the box and has been the best and most consistent thing about this new series. The stories have been a bit hit-and-miss, but Smith has been exceptional. Personally, I can't wait to see what they do with the character next year when the writers better understand the way Smith plays the character.

*Finally crawls across the finishing line* Where's my medal? What do you mean there are another two?!! (Review to follow this weekend).

43 books read in 133 days, that makes one book every 3.093 days - you'll do! I got it wrong above, I'm just about to finish book 5 of the year (which is one book every 26.6 days). I still run my finger under every word . . .

I know that feeling, I'm hopefully going to crawl over the line with my fourth this evening. I am the anti-chesilbeach!

Origin: Spirits of the Past Bit meh about this one. Nature retaliates when man gets to smart is done far better in Nausica

I'm not sure if it is a general loss of reading mojo or this book in particular. I'm finding it pretty dry (as you say, some humour may have helped), and I'm still not warming to any of the characters.

Smoked salmon and scrabbled eggs on toast, delicious! (Just wish I had a cup of coffee to go with it).

I think you are pretty much up to where I am, after a month plus of reading!

Memoirs of a Geisha A beautifully made film with some great performances. May have to buy the soundtrack. And get Ziyi Zhang's phone number . . .

The Pratchett article on DS has largely been quoted out of context; it makes more sense if you read the original article. The Daily Mail brigade have been complaining about last weeks kiss and this weeks busty vampires, apparently the BBC are on a mission to corrupt our youth . . .

Yes! For the second week running the judges have sent the smug git packing!

I shall be waching that, as well as flicking over to the Beeb during ad breaks.

A double bill of the original Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Some very interesting ideas, though I felt the former was let down by Motoko's propensity for taking her clothes off to do battle. The combination of 2-D and 3-D animation in Innocence is amazing though.

Pratchett: 'Doctor Who is ludicrous'.

Worth waiting for . . .

I'm surprised the first question Lewis asks each week isn't "Which one of these people do you know, Hathaway?" He would save himself a helluva lot of time . . .

It's even earlier next week, it will be going out at 6pm.

I caught two or three minutes this evening, for the first time, and I must say it looked rather good. I'll have to try and catch it if they ever show it from the start again.

People will be coming for you with sharp sticks (especially for the French and Saunders remark!).