Chrissy

It went duller and colder here for a short while, but the overcast sky kept any real 'action' way from view. I watched the Faroe Islands enjoy the eclipse though, which was pretty cool.

I've only just seen this muggle not. I hope you are fully recovered from your fall.

An image appeared in my thoughts when I heard the news, of Terry Pratchett disappearing over the horizon accompanied by a Dark Morris troupe. RIP

I was intrigued Chesil, so wanted to give the different methods a go. It is likely that I'll go back to my roll 'n' peel method in no time.

The water and egg in a glass method worked well, although you do have to make sure that your palm can cover the glass. I could not get the second method to work, although I had only the one egg at this point to try it with. The next batch I boil up I will try a few variations - change the hole size (same, one bigger than the other and shape of hole), and also the expulsion method, whether it is one sharp puff or more of a toot-a-loot method. Oh dear, I seem to be caught up in the many peeling methods now!

A comparison method! I will either be delighted later, or my kitchen will need a good clean.

Yowzer, that was super quick peeling! I will be trying the egg hack later on today, as I will be boiling some eggs.

Charlie is a good one, and easily sorted. If not, there is always the ordinary (jeans and jumper) clothes of Danny ( of Danny, The Champion Of The World). Combine that with a cone of paper (from the sticky cone method of pheasant poaching) or a red mark across his hand (from the caning received from his sadistic teacher).

My favourite Vulcan. LL&P

Beautifully captured muggle not.

Thanks Marie. It was an enjoyable (if that is the right word to use considering the subject matter) read in many ways. The duel narrative works well in the book, and you can really feel the tension in the text as the story develops. We, the reader cannot know the reasons, until Clay himself has heard them, so you have that slight leaning forward compulsion to it.

Oh, I do like this word! I learned a new word over the weekend, it was a word that my husband had not heard of either; parvenu nounderogatory a person of humble origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity. "the political inexperience of a parvenu" synonyms: upstart, social climber, arriviste, vulgarian;

I can thoroughly recommend the three books Nollaig. They are each thought and emotion provoking in their own ways, regardless of whether you like the characters involved. And yes, it is the Unwind series I was contemplating starting, especially since Eleonora had reminded me of them recently. I had heard about the video game Sousa, and had a look at the story of the development of the original book, it's sequel and the video game. Interesting reading (on Wiki!).

Thanks Athena. I am thinking of a post apocalyptic Russia muggle not, with Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky. I will dip into it later on today and see if it grabs me. If not I have a Jeffrey Deaver, a Neal Shusterman and a David Baldacci (the Wish You Well that you recommended) from which to choose. This should remove me far enough away from angst ridden teenage girls for a while!

I can hear the whipping wind and the down pouring of rain. I am so glad to be sitting cosily inside with a blanket on my lap, a cup of hot chocolate on the table, and my sewing bits on my knee.

I love your avatar muggle not. The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd is marvellous, and one of Agatha Christie's best books. I am so glad that you enjoyed it.

12) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. (from thirteenreasonswhy.com) The book runs a duel narrative between Hannah speaking and explaining on the tapes, and the activities and thoughts of Clay as he listens to them. It is a moving story, Hannah is clearly troubled, yet her recordings are beautifully articulate, even when detailing events that show her in a foolish or derogatory light. You can see the snowball effect of the events leading up to her death, and at times want to shout to the book (or in my case, kindle) to not do the thing you know she is about to do. Ain't the grown up ability to foresee consequences a marvellous thing? If only one could have it as a teenager. The two characters feel authentic, and I recognised my young teenage self in Hannah in many ways - without the destructive end I hasten to add. This is my third YA book that centres on a young an troubled teenage girl. This wasn't intentional, but in retrospect I think it was fortuitous for my reading psyche that I read the three around the same time. I noticed certain aspects in each that I found truly appealing, and that enabled me to relate that much better to the girl in each book. In We Were Liars, Cadence writes little fairy tales that express her growing dissatisfaction with her family. She also starts writing notes to herself in an effort to remember what took place at the time of her accident. In The Sky Is Everywhere Lennie is constantly writing, on any and every surface in a bid to express her grief to the universe. And with Thirteen Reasons Why the deep thinking of Hannah is not only verbally expressed through the tapes, but additionally through poetry. I think I should avoid teenage girls in text for a little while. I would hate to spoil my terrific run of great books with a dud!

I say "Yes!", and it is free for kindle on Amazon UK and Amazon.com too - I may have just downloaded it!

I will definitely investigate her new book, thanks for the info Chalie. Such a good but unusual read, but I can't think of a way of describing it without it sounding depressing and not believable.

I found my last book, We Were Liars still stomping about my psyche, and did a rare thing for me and re read the last two thirds of the story again after a day. I'm glad I did as I found a greater depth to it reading it with the knowledge of how the story progresses. Good stuff indeed. 10) Have His Carcase by Dorothy L Sayers The continuing saga of Lord Peter Wimsey. The story opens with Harriet Vane on a walking holiday. She stumbles upon a man lying upon a large rocky outcrop as the tide makes it's way inward. His throat has been cut! Keeping her head about her, and knowing she is too far from anywhere to get help, she takes photographs and makes note of all aspects of the body so as to assist any investigation. Upon hearing of Ms. Vane's involvement, Lord Peter makes his way to her (and the local police's) assistance. A lovely murder mystery, with some well drawn characters and a good plot. We also witness the developing relationship between Lord Peter and Harriet. 11) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson What a wonderful book this is! Beautifully written by Jandy Nelson, this tells the story of Lennie, as she fumbles her way through the profound grief brought about by the death of her sister. I chuckled and cried throughout the book, and even gasped at times with the ache caused by the beauty of the writing. When informed that she should talk about her loss, Lennie replies with "I'd need a new alphabet, one made of falling, of tectonic plates, shifting, of the deep devouring dark." Just how wow is that for a sentence? The language of grief defined by it's lack of appropriate language. The story is interspersed with poems, scrappy poignant poems scrawled on cupboard innards, on coffee cups, on sweet wrappers and music sheets. They move the story forward at times, but also, and perhaps more importantly add greater depth and flavour to Lennie's mindset and her relationship with those around her, including her late sister.

I have read Neverwhere, American Gods, The Graveyard Book and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by him, and I have a few others ready and waiting for me. I love his imaginative and inspiring writing.

It's so nice to read a positive vote for a book I have on my TBR pile, The Universe Versus Alex Woods has manoeuvred itself higher up the pending reads! I should avoid your thread Muggle, my TBR pile is big enough already.

A double recommendation! A girl can't go wrong.