chesilbeach

I struggle with headaches if the typeface in a book is very small or very feint or very tightly spaced, and I will get a headache if I read on my iPad for more than an hour, but I can read a Kindle for hours on end and have yet to suffer a headache (and I've had it for two years now). I have the e-ink Kindle Keyboard and I can adjust the size of the typeface in lower light conditions but it does require a light source to read, just like a normal paperback.

I'm definitely going to be reading the book, but I've got another one I'm part way through that I want to finish first, so I won't be browsing this thread just yet, but will definitely be back (hopefully next week!)

Hello!

I'm with vodkafan and Kylie - trick or treat is an American tradition that has inveigled its way to other countries purely through television, films and mostly propagated by companies selling sweets, decorations and costumes. I don't answer the door on Hallowe'en night (although I suspect the rain might put people off tonight), and I did once find egg smashed on my car the next morning, but it looked like my car was the innocent bystander in eggs being thrown at each other by older kids rather than a direct "trick" and I think we once had some egg on the front door as well, but again the rain had washed most of it away by the time I saw it, but maybe I'm misremembering that

Went to see Skyfall this evening - fantastic. Don't want to give anything away - there were a few unexpected things happen that shocked me, a few things that I wanted to shout "No! Stop it!!!" but everything I wanted from a Bond film. Definitely Craig's best so far.

Finished Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers by M. C. Beaton today. Going back to How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran next

It was originally published in 1998/9 so would need the publishers to make the effort to create an ebook version, and most of them are concentrating on new books or converting books that are still selling lots, the current edition is a 2009 imprint, so unless it's still selling well, it probably won't be top of their list of books to digitise.

It sounds like Skellig - I've not seen the film, but I've read the book by David Almond and it was incredibly good.

Urgh, woke up with the sniffles, sneezing, a sore throat and earache. Have been snuggled up in a new woolly jumper, drowning my sorrows in tea and about to watch a Jane Austen adaptation.

Natalie has definitely won me round this year, and I loved the improvement in both Michael's ballroom and with Victoria generally (when his celebrities have an ounce of dance ability, I find it hard to beat Brendan's ballroom choreography). To be fair to Sid & Ola, I don't think Ola's heart was in it, and I thought when they were talking with Tess afterwards, she was trying hard to look happy and be positive. I do like Sid and before Ola was away, as a couple I enjoyed watching them on It Takes Two, but I think, understandably, Ola's head and heart are back in Poland at the moment. Hated the song choice for Dani & Vincent, and felt that is was too weak to make a great cha cha cha, and coupled with them being first, it wasn't as good as their previous dances. Still think she's going to improve, and I want them to stay in the competition. And doesn't everyone hate those cheesy VTs? I've never found anyone who likes them. Hopefully, that's the last of the theme weeks and we can get back to proper dancing now, although I suspect the Wembley week will be OTT as well, and I'll grumble about that one too.

We're going next week, but I have high hopes since all the reviews say one of the best ever Bond films.

Hi Tracey You've definitely come to the right place, although I suspect that list of books you want to buy will soon increase exponentially after getting recommendations from everyone here!

The first of the Jim Butcher Dresden Files series was in the Autumn Harvest sale and I've had it on my wishlist since you first reviewed it, so it's now finally on my Kindle!

Actually managed to finish a book today! It's been at least a week since I've done that Anyway, I finished Henry Tilney's Diary this morning, then came here and found out on another thread that there was an Autumn sale in the Kindle store, so I've bought the books that were on my wishlist, that were reduced in price, plus I found a new book by one of my favourite authors, so I've bought the following today: Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers by M. C. Beaton Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Storm Front by Jim Butcher Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling The Pedant In The Kitchen by Julian Barnes

Snap!

I was dead set against ebooks, thought I would never convert, thought I would miss my weekly trip to Waterstone's and hours browsing around bookshops whenever I visited somewhere new or on holiday. Then I got my iPad. I was converted immediately, but found I couldn't read on the backlit screen for more than an hour. Thought initially it would just be something I'd use but not exclusively, then got given a Kindle for Christmas, and haven't looked back. I'm now at the stage where the only paperbooks I read are loans, library books and books I buy from independent booksellers when I get chance, but I suspect from now on, this will amount to only about 10% of my reading. I genuinely prefer reading on the Kindle, it's easier to hold and turn pages and I never have a problem with a feint or small typeface any more!

I'm guessing it's the author you mention most often - Jack Vance?

I'm sure I heard somewhere that Colin only had to go back for some reshoots and additional scenes, and that the production team managed to get all his scenes crammed into two days which he went back for last week, so I don't think he'll need to go back. I believe that in the US, if you sign on for a pilot that you are contracted NOT to work on anything else in case the series gets optioned, so I don't think he would have been allowed to sign up to Strictly in that situation, it must be that he's finished shooting enough of his role to be able to fit in Strictly. As for the question of who I'd dance with - like you Kay, if I were a man, I'd want to dance with Flavia, or Karen Hardy from the past, but as a woman, it's a no brainer for me, it would have to be Brendan. There's something about the way he dances and I think he's the best choreographer as well.

Did you spot John in the audience of Strictly last night - what a fab prize!

These are the songs and films: Colin & Kristina: Argentine Tango ‘Goldeneye' from the film 'Goldeneye' Dani & Vincent: Foxtrot 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from the film 'Wizard of Oz' Denise & James: Foxtrot 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from the film 'Toy Story' Fern & Artem: Charleston 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' from film 'Mary Poppins' Jerry & Anton: Quickstep 'Mrs Robinson' from the film 'The Graduate' Kimberley & Pasha: Quickstep 'Get Happy' from the film 'Summer Stock' Lisa & Robin: Jive 'Hanky Panky' from the film 'Dick Tracy' Louis & Flavia: Salsa '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' from the film 'Dirty Dancing' Michael & Natalie: Cha Cha 'Hot Stuff' from the film 'The Full Monty' Nicky & Karen: Quickstep 'Hey Pachuco' from the film 'The Mask' Richard & Erin: Quickstep '9 to 5' from the film '9 to 5' Sid & Ola: Tango 'Here I Go Again' from the film 'Rock of Ages' Victoria & Brendan: Rumba 'Up Where We Belong' from the film 'An Officer & a Gentleman'

The judges scores were all over the place last night, and it's not just Len I would pick out - I have no idea how Darcey could give a 6 to Dani after having already given a 6 to Fern (was there more than ten seconds of Charleston in there?), Michael (better than his jive, but still not great), Jerry (how slow can a quickstep be?), and Lisa (who I love and sold it performance wise and had great timing, but technique was poor on some of the actual jive steps). AND then give a 7 to Colin (not much Argentine Tango going on there, and what was he doing with his foot on the ronde?), Richard (completely messed up one Charleston section and pretty slow for a quickstep) and Nicky (still has terrible posture and kept dropping his elbows and losing the frame). Having said that, looking at the leaderboard are about in the right order for their dances on the night, with the exception of Dani & Vincent, who I think should have been slightly above Kimberley & Pasha and Lisa & Robin, and maybe even above Louis & Flavia, who I loved but should only have scored lower for having so little salsa in it. It's all the fault of these pesky theme weeks - I know Flavia said she had to make it more of a mambo as that's what it is in the film. Poor Sid & Ola never stood a chance - terrible costumes (great to match in the film I guess, but not for a tango), massive overuse of props (get rid of that guitar) and a totally mismatched song for the style of dance. I don't know how the song/films are chosen, whether they're given the dance and told to pick a film and song to go with it, or whether it's the film they're given and have to find a dance that will suit the song, or if they're just told both. However it's done, can't believe you would have a Hollywood theme week without an American Smooth - the perfect fit!

I think on one of his good days, John was always in with a shout, and I have to say, it was pretty close in the final. I was a bit disappointed with their final challenge, as it's usually to make a selection of tea party bakes, so the one big cake I was a bit non-plussed by, but I think John was best on the day. One thing did occur to me though (and this is showing my age) I've realised that James completely reminds me of Callum from the old TV series All Creatures Great and Small - the accent, the hair, the glasses and the knitwear!

Ha ha, I'd never thought of it like that! Reviews tomorrow hopefully, but I have managed to sort out my spreadsheet and database, so book lists are up to date, and TBR is reinstated on first page of this thread. Few more than I'd realised already, but on the plus side, I am reading four of them at the moment!

I'm so far behind on the forum, it's not even funny. A certain television programme has started its new series recently, and as usual, it takes over my life for a couple of months! So, I've got loads of book reviews to write, reading has dropped off, and I haven't even kept a record of what books I've finished the last few weeks Hopefully, I will have a bit more time this week, and will endeavour to catch up (frankie, I will reply to your questions later, but I need to do a bit of bookhousekeeping first, so please don't think I'm ignoring you ). In short, though, My Year With Jane Austen reading going well, been to my library reading group and have a new book to read, built up a tiny TBR (still less than 10 books I think, and loans, reading groups, gifts make up the bulk, but I will find out later after getting my stuff in order ).

I'm about a third of the way through How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran, and I've started Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda Grange.