Raven

Finished my first ever Dickens this week, in the form of A Christmas Carol, which I got as a free download from Amazon on my Kindle a while back. I enjoyed it, but I read it in fits and starts so I don't think I got the most out of it (getting back into the language took a few pages each time). I think I will try this again next year and actually read it in the run up to Christmas rather than starting it on Christmas Eve!

Enjoying the cricket? Thanks for the best wishes, all!

^ Thanks, both!

I watched this as well, and still enjoyed it, despite having the mess that is The Last Jedi running through my head for most of it... You seem to have a similar watch list this Christmas to me! I watched Avengers the night before last and have Antman and the Wasp to watch tonight!

Happy New Year everyone! I stayed in last night, and was able to work out who's clocks were running fast because of their premature fireworks!

So the tally for 2018 came in at 27, so close to 30 which was my target at the beginning of the year (especially as I have two books nearly, but not quite finished...). Oh well, onwards with 2019 I suppose!

Was hoping to pick up Water Weed myself, this afternoon, but none in stock in Waterstone's Southampton. Will try Chichester, tomorrow!

Merry Christmas everyone!

War and Peace. Set yourself a challenge!

#backpeddle

27...

As far as I can tell, Amazon have been putting up crime author's complete works on Kindle for 99p per book over the last few days - a different author each day. Probably worth a look, if you like your crime novels!

It's very good, so far - with about 80 pages to go! Yes, I did hear about October Man. Did you know it is the first in a series of four novellas? This one is set in Germany, one will be set in the US and the final one will be about Nightingale during WWII (can't remember what the other is at this point!).

Only just seen this, I blame that on the whole - thankfully - aborted forum closure! I think the paperback is closer to 200 pages, but by today's standards it is more of a draft excluder than a doorstop. I really enjoyed this, some very interesting ideas, but I felt the ending was a little light-weight. Must do a complete read through of Wyndham's books. Something for 2019, perhaps!

Not finished this yet - torn between wanting to know what happens next/enjoying new Peter Grant! (Will finish this weekend).

Something that may help is that Google (and other search engines) will accept what is called a wildcard, that is a '*' in place of a term. So, in this case, were you to search for: * Like Me book That might yield some useful results. Hope you find what you are looking for, sounds interesting!

It's not 60s/70s, but are talking about Ender's Game? Probably not, but just thought it was worth a punt!

But thy name be Raven!

Good grief, why?! I mean it isn't a bad book, but It wouldn't say it was the most enjoyable read ever! One of the books I re-read from time to time is Robert Harris's Enigma. Although I know how the story ends, his world building and the story generally are just so good it is a joy to read.

What browser are you using? I'm not sure but I seem to be seeing more ads in Internet Explorer than I do in Edge. Either way, they seem to have been less obvious to me over the last few days.

I'd recommend reading them in order; they get better as they go along (well, certainly at the beginning anyway!). If you like crime novels, give Guards! Guards! a go. It's Raymond Chandler with dragons! (well, sort of *cough*).

He's often commented on struggling with getting the plot the way he wants it in Game of Thrones; my guess would be that he has the back story more fixed in his head(?).

The first two books are a bit of an oddity as they aren't really typical of what comes after. I don't think the series really finds its feet until Equal Rites and (especially) Mort. There is a lot to enjoy, however, with some really great characters. Sadly, I only have a few left to read... As above, if you only tried the first couple have a crack at Mort or possibly Guards! Guards! Although there is magic in both, the latter is more of a detective novel than anything else.

Caught up with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom at the weekend - easily the worst of the franchise so far, although it was kind of teetering on "so bad it is good" territory. Clearly a set up for the next film in the series, though god knows where that will go!

I've only seen the first two episodes, but am meaning to catch up (missed one because it clashed with a live Grand Prix and haven't gone back to it since). Of the two episodes I have seen, I'd say I don't have a problem with a female Doctor, but I'm not sure I like Jodie Whittaker - her performance seems a little forced to me. Having said that, it took me a while to warm to Capaldi as well, so we will have to see how it goes...