Raven

I voted England, but only because there is no option for Cornwall!

Too. Many. Jokes. Gah! I tend to read late at night, when the traffic outside my flat has died down and everything is quiet.

I quite like the Hairy Biker's attitude "Use butter, 'cause margarine is ****!", but I can't help but feel that most of their dishes are a little on the heavy side. I quite like watching Masterchef as well. Also, I've not seen any of her programs, but I quite like the look of Ching-He Huang*. *That doesn't have anything to do with cooking though . . .

The aliens were good, but the rest of the film was complete bobbins. Yes, we got it that Tom Cruise was a bad parent after the first five minutes, we didn't need or want that "happy" little saga rammed down our throats for the next two hours!

I think Cornwell is pretty much the same herself - she certainly seems to have a lot in common with Scarpetta.

I read all the Scarpetta novels up to Black Notice, which is when I threw in the towel. I liked the early books, the forensic detail in the stories was interesting and the characters were good as well, but with each book the plots seemed to get more and more sensational and at the same time implausible - I tried reading one of Karin Slaughter's novels a few years back, on the recommendation of a co-worker*, and didn't get very far with it because I found that to be too over-blown as well. I've not read a lot of crime books on the whole, but I have read a few of the Morse novels, and the first two Louie Knight/Aberystwyth novels by Malcolm Payne. I think the best crime novel I've read though has to be The Hound of the Baskervilles - hair-raising stuff on a windy winter's night! *She still owes me a fiver for that . . .

As much as I love the 1950's version - I do like a good 'B' Movie - I would pay real money (instead of the Monopoly cash I usually use) to see a decent period adaptation of War of the Worlds. Lord of the Rings has to rank high on my list as a decent stab at a book-to-film transfer, but the one novel I would put at the top of my list Starter For Ten, by David Nicholls. Trying not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read or seen it, after an excellent build up the end of the book was a real let-down for me, as I felt the main character simply ran from his responsibilities. In the screenplay, which, interestingly was also written by Nicholls, I felt he corrected this mistake and gave the story a much more satisfying conclusion. In short, watch the film, skip the book!

I really like High Fidelity, it's pretty much an ode to how much of a self-absorbed a man can be without ever realising it! Nooooo! How can anyone not like Flash?! It's got Queen, and, and Brian Blessed! "Gordon's Alive?!" Classic! I'd have to venture Batman and Robin and The Avengers as entries on my list, very poor indeed. And I defy any of you to watch more than five minutes of Hawk the Slayer!

Gah! My eye's! (We're a few days behind you in the UK, you might need to be using them spoiler tags on what you're sayin' Sunday to Wednesday!).

*Shakes fist at Douglas Coupland* Damn your eyes sir! You can't define me! (37).

I've not read the spoilery bit's above, but I'm looking to read a copy of this myself before I see the film (although I'm told the film doesn't follow the book that closely).

Ah, so you've read The Crystal Star as well then?! I started out reading Star Wars hardbacks when they were first published in the early nineties, and was going great guns with the series until they started churning them out by the bucket load and I just didn't have the inclination or will to keep up. And then The Phantom Menace came out and I don't think I've read a Star Wars novel since!

Great book this; I read it a few years back and really should read it again. For those who are interested, there is a rumour doing the rounds that Hollywood is planning a prequel to last year's film (still haven't seen that myself!).

I think the quote from Lew Grade was "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic". I like the film, but it is easy to see why it failed. John Barry's score is still very good though.

I've tried reading Moby Dick twice now, and it has defeated me both times, but I'm planning to have another run at it this winter.

Not only seen it, but I own a copy - it is probably the most accurate re-telling of the sinking, the modern special effects of Titanic aside. The novel it is based on is also one of the best accounts of the sinking as it pulls together a lot of the survivors own accounts.

I'd agree with that. Major Major Major Major . . . Brilliant stuff!

I've only ever read Raise the Titanic and that was at the end of the eighties, I suspect his writing style may have changed a bit since then so I won't pass comment (Sahara has to be the most stupid/fun films I've ever seen however, but I have no idea how "good" it is compared to the novel).

If you haven't read Triffids, then that is the first book I would recommend. If you aren't in the mood for walking plants and prefer freaky children though, The Midwich Cuckoos is very good as well. I enjoyed Chocky, but I don't think it is as good as Kraken or Midwich. There is a very interesting idea at the heart of the book, but it has dated horribly (the narrator keeps referring to his son as "Old Chap" and the way he treats his daughter is simply shocking!). I once read the opening chapter of Triffids late one winter's night in a quiet, empty house - every hair on my neck was standing to attention come the end!

I first read Day of the Triffids when I was at Uni, and since then I've probably re-read it every couple of years, on average. After reading Triffids I went on a bit of a Wydham Bender*, and quickly worked my way through The Kraken Wakes, The Midwich Cuckoos and Web, before I deliberately decided to start rationing myself to a book every few years to stop myself reading his entire back catalogue in one hit! Of his other novels, The Kraken Wakes has to be my favourite (after Triffids, of course) and I can definitely recommend the BBC audio adaptation for those who have enjoyed the book. I've recently read Chocky and the short story Random Quest (the later after having seen the BBC3 adaptation of it) and ejoyed both, although Chocky really hasn't dated well. I think I like his writing because it is very much of it's day, but at the same time brilliantly inventive. Next up on the list is The Chrysalids, or The Trouble with Lichen - I've not made my mind up yet. *A Wydham Bender is not a form of cocktail, but more like a small glass of sherry to be taken before dinner. The after effects leave one with a disconcerting habit of greeting people by saying "Wotcher!" and calling everyone "Old Chap".

I read this recently, and found it to be more of a social commentary than an attempt to tell a story. Throughout, Wells seems preoccupied with the development of the Morlock and the Eloi, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. The time machine itself, and the character of the traveller, his friends and Mina, are all really just there to dress up Wells' vision of the future, and it's a pretty bleak vision too! For me, the most interesting thing about the book is the ambiguity at the end. Overall, however, I would have to say that War of the Worlds is a much better story, and a much better constructed novel.