Chrissy

Have a wonderful year of reading Andrea.

Interesting challenge Devi, I hope you enjoy it. I wish you a wonderful year of reading.

Have a wonderful year of reading Ian.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful year of reading Janet.

Have a wonderful year of reading Anna.

A lovely selection to start the new year Melodious. Have a wonderful year of reading.

I thought I would have a wander in here to wish you a wonderful year of reading, Steve.

As always, your lists are fabulous to peruse. Have a wonderful year of reading Kylie.

Have a wonderful year of reading Dex.

I remember starting a thread a few years ago about cold and flu remedies as I was awash with a rotten cold. [have just found it and linked it.] There was a great variety of things that people do or take or avoid during the 'season'. Like Brian, I tend to be quite healthy, but when flu hits I am floored by it. It has been quite a few years since I was last hit by it thank goodness (I actually touched my wooden coffee table as I typed that!), but husband and I started taking a zinc and vitamin c tablet (one that fizzes in water) a couple of months ago after I saw them on super special offer. The big thing for me is carrying a sanitising hand gel with me, and getting in the habit of washing my hands regularly outside of usual occasions, so I wash my hands when I have come in from the shops etc. As I live in a little village I drive rather than use public transport so I also manage to avoid germs that way too!

Your welcome Devi. Thanks Kylie. I can definitely recommend Dorothy L Sayers. She wrote 11 of the books, with a few pretty good final ones written by an associate/fan. Lord Peter is around 40 years old in the books (in his late 30's in the first one).

Thank you all. I wish you all a happy reading year. I had a good year of reading last year, and plan on carrying on with my reading decisions in the same way - if it grabs me I'll read it! I have worked hard at removing any sense of should, shouldn't and not agains. The plan is that I read something that carries me on (and often away) from myself, no matter the genre, age demographic or whether it is new to me or not. Life is definitely too short to allow my favourite pastime get bogged down with self imposed 'politics'. Janet, I would say that the Dorothy L Sayers are similar in lots of ways to the Agatha Christie novels, as they would have been written around the same time, so carry the same sensibility. With the Sayers' books, I think if you develop a liking for Lord Peter's character you will love the series, but I would say that it hinges on that. He is definitely upper class, he has servants, lives in town, belongs to men-only clubs and rattles about the world with a insouciant manner most of the time. For me the character is also highly moral, sensitive, charismatic, perceptive and an intensely loyal man, capable of great humour and profound guilt. It may not be too obvious but I may just be a little taken by Lord Peter.

Thank you ladies, and straight back with the wishes.

I saw Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 over the last few days. I had seen the first one in mixed company a while ago, but this time I was able to really enjoy it properly. Also had a re watch of Deathly Hallows Part Two.

Yep, you can count me in.

I am starting the year with a book of short stories featuring Lord Peter WImsey, and favourite detective of mine. I will review when I am done, but thought I would start the thread with what I am up to.

2011 Reading 2012 & 2013 Reading 2014 Reading 1) Lord Peter Views The Body by Dorothy L Sayers 2) The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club by Dorothy L Sayers 3) Strong Poison by Dorothy L Sayers 4) Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L Sayers 5) Finding Sky (+ Challenging Zed) by Joss Stirling 6) Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling 7) Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling 8) Misty Falls by Joss Stirling 9) We Were Liars by E Lockhart 10) Have His Carcase by Dorothy L Sayers 11) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 12) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 13) The Boy In The Smoke by Maureen Johnson 14) The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson 15) The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson 16) The Shadow Cabinet By Maureen Johnson 17) Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling 18) Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets by JK Rowling 19) Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban by JK Rowling 20) Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire by JK Rowling 21) Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix by JK Rowing 22) Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling 23) Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling 24) A Morbid Taste For Bones (Cadfael) by Elis Peters 25) No Good Deed by Manda Scott 26) 18 Things (My So Called Afterlife) by Jamie Ayres 27) The Psalter by Galen Watson 28) Ill Wind (Weather Wardens) by Rachel Caine 29) Heat Stroke (Weather Wardens) by Rachel Caine 30) Chill Factor (Weather Wardens) by Rachel Caine 31) Fear Itself by Jonathan Nasaw 32) Every Day by David Levithan 33) I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson 34) Another Day by David Levithan 35) Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett 36) A Hat Full Of Sky by Terry Pratchett 37) Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett 38) I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett 39) The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde 40) Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde 41)The Well Of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde 42) Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde 43) First Amongst Sequels by Jasper Fforde 44) One Of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde 45) The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde 46) How The Marquis Got His Coat Back (short story) by Neil Gaiman 47) The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde 48) The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde 49) The Song Of The Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde 50) The Eye Of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde 51) Angel Dares by Joss Stirling 52) Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Well, my reading mojo froze in the cold weather, but I managed to keep my panic at bay, and stuck to reading magazine articles etc. when my books didn't grab me. I think it was partially triggered by my reading of a sh*tty book that basically depressed and angered me, not only by the 'vibe' of the thing but because I bothered with it. 71) Michael, Bob & Paula - Everything You Know Is Wrong by Gerry Agar Gerry Agar was apparently a friend of the Geldofs, but muddled the friendship with PR work undertaken for Paula once she had broken up with Bob. This is a sordid and painful book that shows no one in a good light, especially the author. It appears to have been written to bring more angst to the daughters of Paula, Bob and Michael, and to show how manipulative and manipulated those in the limelight can be. I feel that I let myself down by reading this nonsense, and have no excuse to give as to why I did. *sigh* 72) Unnatural Death by Dorothy L Sayers I thought I had read all of the Lord Peter Wimsey series over the years since I discovered Dorothy L Sayers, but I had missed one! A great story that opens with the intrigue as to whether a crime has actually been committed, and develops from there. I love the way Lord Peter's mind works and he has absolute centre stage in this book. I adore his interactions with Parker, the equality of their relationship and the affection the clearly have for each other is delightful. Thank you to Devi for the bookmark (sent ages ago) I used to keep my place. This is the first fiction book I have read in ages that was in tree book form (y'know, wiv real paper pages an stuff!). The others are ready and waiting by the Dorothy L Sayers bit of the book shelf ready for me to merrily wade my way through the others in the series. So that's the end of my year. Lots of books and happy hours spent reading. Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to starting my 2015 thread.

Such great reviews Frankie. In answer to your spoiler query,

According to IMDB, That's pretty cool I think.

I just read the sad news that Edward Herrmann (aka Richard Gilmore) has died. There will be such added poignancy to my watching of the GG now.

I loved The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, you captured the 'vibe' of it really well in your review. The Magician books have gone straight onto my New Year wish list.

I watched the episode in a roomful of people, so couldn't properly take it in, but felt it was too dark an episode for a Christmas special. I will be watching it again at some point (alone), so will know for sure how I feel about it then.

Cuddles