chesilbeach
-
Posts
13,339 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Books
Posts posted by chesilbeach
-
-
I’ve merged this with the thread for the first book in the trilogy. There is a thread for the second book here: Shadow of Night
-
Finished The Midnight Peacock yesterday, and am now reading The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig, which @poppyshake gave me for Christmas last year
-
I agree Shirley. I didn't think it was a good dance, and the other couple in the dance off didn't make the same mistake as in their first attempt. The judges are supposed to base their decision on the dance-off alone, so if the public didn't vote for that couple, they can't complain that they weren't saved in the dance-off. I'm sad to see that couple go, and I think the competition will suffer for it, but thems the rules.
On the whole though, I have to say this has been my favourite week so far. I loved nearly all the dances (despite not liking some song choices) and felt the whole programme had something for everyone!
-
Went to see Murder on the Orient Express this morning. I must be in the minority of not reading the book or seeing the earlier film, so I had no idea of the story, but how can anyone resist a director and cast like this. I had sumptuous visuals in terms of cinematography, costumes and production design and a great script that has a feeling of the 1930s without being too plummy or full of "gosh" and "jolly hockey sticks" styles of dialogue that period pieces sometimes suffer from. I loved how the tone moves from bright, witty and slightly playful at the beginning, through to thrilling and then to an kind of philosophical feeling. I absolutely loved it.
-
Making the most of a day off with tea and toast in the Waterstones café to accompany some reading time, then off to the cinema for a morning showing. Grabbed a bite of lunch before coming home, and hoping to do some more reading this afternoon. Not much planned for the weekend yet, will just see how it goes.
-
Finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle yesterday. Unsettling at times, but not horrifying as I was expecting.
Today, I've started the last of the Sinclair Mysteries by Katherine Woodfine, The Midnight Peacock. I've loved this series, and a bit sad that the end has come after only four books, so making sure I savour this last instalment and excited to see what Woodfine will write next!
-
14 minutes ago, Litwitlou said:
Just as a sidenote, William Goldman won an Academy Award for the screenplay of The Princess Bride and another Oscar for the screenplay of All the President's Men.
William Goldman is the younger brother of James Goldman who wrote the play, The Lion in Winter. Ha adapted the play for the film version and won an Oscar for the adaptation. The film was the first movie for Anthony Hopkins who played Richard the Lionhearted. Katherine Hepburn won her third Oscar for her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Peter O'Toole was excellent as Henry II.
You can't go wrong reading the Goldman brothers.
Actually, William Goldman didn’t win an Oscar for The Princess Bride, his first Oscar was for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and his second for All The President’s Men. There’s also a very good book about the making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden called As You Wish. I’m keen to find a copy of Goldman’s Adventures in the Screen Trade as a few weeks ago it was featured on a podcast I listen to called Backlisted.
-
What are you up to today?
I’m off to do a bit of Christmas shopping and should hopefully find time to stop for a coffee and a bit of reading.
-
Happy November everyone! What books are you all reading, borrowing and buying today?
-
I agree, makes me laugh out loud every week without fail. That and W1A have both been fantastic over the last couple of months.
-
Definitely taken a turn towards winter the last couple of days. It was only 2ºC when I left the house yesterday morning, and although a little warmer this morning, no sun and a bit grey made it feel just as cold.
-
Met up with poppyshake yesterday for tea, toast and a chat. Had a lovely few hours catching up, and then a wander around the bookshop ... what could be better! Then headed back towards home, stopped off for a bite to eat, then met up with my friend for a trip to the cinema.
Today has been shopping for tools and supplies to carry on the work on the house, then I had to go for my annual flu vaccination. Went for a swim this afternoon, and now putting my feet up for an hour before tea.
Hoping to go Christmas shopping tomorrow. I've actually made a list - something I never do!
-
Thanks @Alexander the Great, I've done another 32 lengths today, and while not "easy" it was a good consistent swim, so looks like I'll be able to stick with that distance now.
-
Just having a quorn fillet and salad today. Last salad of the season now, as the salad items are now all from overseas, and we try to keep our food miles local where we can. Will have to find new fast day recipes for the winter months - going to try an oriental broth next time I think.
-
I've started We Have Always Lived in the Castle - about a third of the way through now.
-
I dislike the theme shows generally. Too much theme and not enough dance for me, and this week was no exception. I did like Aston and Debbie but neither deserved 10s, and I also really liked Alexandra. I was a bit disappointed with Gemma as she's looked great in training throughout the week, and I loved Joe's foxtrot but hated the song choice. I still voted for Susan and Gemma as they're my favourites.
-
I've had a quiet weekend. Got my haircut on Friday afternoon, then started my Christmas shopping yesterday ... mostly browsing and considering but I did manage to buy to presents, so it's a start.
Made the most of the clocks changing and had a lie-in this morning, then up and out for a swim. Did some housework this afternoon, and now relaxing in front of the television for the evening.
-
I've managed to keep up the swimming, although a little erratic and sometimes only once a week, others upto three times. Went this morning, and decided to increase my distance from 24 lengths (600m) to 32 lengths (800m), which has taken me up from about 35 mins to 45 mins. I've improved not having to stop so often and for so long between lengths, and also have moved up to alternating between front crawl and breast stroke, instead of mostly just breast stroke.
-
I read The Whispers in the Wall by Sophie Cleverly yesterday. Haven't read anything today, but have done a bit of re-organising of my book lists ... that counts, right?
Next up, I bought myself We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, because it's the next book being discussed on the Backlisted podcast which is out tomorrow, so I'd better get a move on!
-
39 minutes ago, Litwitlou said:
Now that's balanced reading. One book is witty, light and ends happily; the other is sadder than dropping your two scoop butter pecan cone in the sand at the beach.
Oh, spoiler alert!!!
I had no idea whether Tess was one of Hardy’s sadder books and was just going to see how it panned out.
-
Very slowly working my way through a viewing of Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain trilogy - started with Strictly Ballroom in August and watched William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet this week. Why is Claire Danes not a major film star????!!!
-
It's been my favourite type of day today. Bright blue skies and sunshine, but just cold enough to need a jacket. Looks like it going to get colder over the next few days though.
-
Penultimate episode of the latest series of Taskmaster
-
We've got a subscription to a music streaming service now, so I've been trying to vary my listening a bit more, and this week I've listened to some choral works from the seventeenth century, classic flamenco guitar from the 1970s and some brand new jazz albums!
What's the weather like?
in General Chat
Posted
Bright blue sky, sun shining and temperatures just above freezing. Perfect!