chesilbeach

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Double Or Die - Charlie Higson

Peacefield, this article on MTV from November says that Chris was heading over to do a commentary with Rob, Kristen and Taylor, so that looks more promising. However, I have read that there are going to be the normal one disc movie only, two disc special edition and three disc limited special edition coming out, so it might be that you have to research carefully before choosing which one to buy to make sure you get that commentary.

I liked Evermore as well, Charm, but it was nothing special but entertaining enough. I know you had Fallen on order, has it arrived yet? I read the two back to back, and preferred Fallen, so I can't wait to hear what you think of that one too.

I'm also watching the Winter Olympics. Womens biathlon now - I love this sport, the bizarre combination of skiing and shooting!

Didn't see the opening ceremony, but I am watching the ski jumping now. Awesome

Surprisingly not! I'm determined to read the books already on my shelves this year, plus I'm supposed to be trying to save money, and so far, I'm doing well. I've been getting my fix of new books from the library, and I think I've had about five books in a row from there where I've been the first borrower, so it's been like having my own copy of the book to read This was a special purchase though, and it was

Just had another thought ... (I'm on a roll today ) I often check out publishers websites. They'll obviously be promoting their new releases, and will have additional information, and sometimes interviews, with their authors. Some of the bigger ones, like HarperCollins, will have various imprints specialising in different genres or authors so you can narrow it down to the genres that interest you. They'll also sometimes produce email newsletters which you can subscribe to that will give you advance notice of new releases, and will even have competitions occasionally to win copies of new books.

Bought only my third book of the year today "It's Only a Movie: Reel Life Adventures of a Film Obsessive" by Mark Kermode. Will definitely be my next read

I would recommend getting one of the broadsheets on a weekend then. I promise I don't work for them, but I do seem to be pushing their paper a lot, but I like the Guardian for their book coverage. The Saturday edition has a books supplement which covers both fiction and non-fiction, mostly looking at the latest hardback releases, which will give you a heads up for what will be out in paperback later in the year. I read their books website regularly to find out about new releases and it's easy to catch up using the archives if you miss a few weeks worth.

I'm glad you got to see it, peacefield It seems absolutely ages since I saw it! I saw it nominated in the Oscars, but then because A Single Man is also nominated, I kept getting the two mixed up as they look so similar when skim reading the screen, so was thinking to myself "I don't remember Colin Firth in it?"

A Topic bar

Title: A Touch of Dead Author: Charlaine Harris Publisher: Gollancz Rating: 2/5 Synopsis: (from fantasticficiton.co.uk) Every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written - in one special volume - from the New York Times bestselling author. New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris has re-imagined the supernatural world with her 'spunky' (Tampa Tribune) Southern Vampire novels starring telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Now, for the first time, here is every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written - together in one volume. Stories include 'Fairy Dust,' 'One Word Answer,' 'Dracula Night,' 'Lucky,' and 'Giftwrap.' Review: Well, I'm really not having much luck at the moment - another disappointing book! However, I should clarify that I did enjoy it, but, boy am I glad that I got it from the library and didn't spend my hard earned cash on it. A hardback book, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d to 208 pages, with a large typeface, big spacing, blank pages, a title page for each story plus a double page illustration at the start of each one, it did smack of publishing a book just to make money. The stories themselves were entertaining enough, but overall, I found them unsatisfying, and I even felt the reveal at the conclusion of "Giftwrap" was slightly sickening. A quick and easy read for true Sookie fans only, but otherwise, one to avoid and poor value for money.

I'm still not sure even that would be a good idea!

Title: Cranford Author: Elizabeth Gaskell Publisher: Bloomsbury Rating: 3/5 Synopsis: (from waterstones.com) "Cranford" is the best known and most charming of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels. It is a comic portrait of an early Victorian country village and its genteel inhabitants, mostly women, whose social attitudes remain firmly unchanging against the modernising world, and whose domestic details dominate conversation. Gaskell describes the uneventful lives of Cranford's inhabitants in this witty and poignant classic which deserves to be read and re-read. Review: Oh dear, my second disappointment in a row! While I loved the writing style, the subject and the characters, I found I'd been spoiled by watching the BBC adaptation first. The trouble with reading the book second was that the stories and events were in a different order to the adaptation, different characters got married (or even died!) than did on the television, and whereas dialogue is obviously important in the visual medium, the style of the writing (similar to a journal) didn't include much actual dialogue and the nature of conversation is implied rather than written. I think if I'd read the book before having seen the series I would have loved it, and although I can usually isolate the two mediums and view them as separate entities, in this case, I just couldn't achieve that. I will, however, look to read North and South by Gaskell, as I've never seen it on screen, and I think I will enjoy the style, and the period, characters and society the author writes about.

Title: Ox-Tales: Earth Author: Various authors Publisher: Profile Books Rating: 2/5 Synopsis: (from waterstones.com) "Ox-Tales" is a set of four compelling and collectible books, each themed on one of the elements. 'Water' features stories by Esther Freud, David Park, Heri Kunzru, ZoA" Heller, Michel Faber, William Boyd, Joanna Trollope, Giles Foden and Michael Morpurgo, and a poem by Vikram Seth. The idea behind "Ox-Tales" is to raise money for Oxfam and along the way to highlight the charity's work in project areas: agriculture in Earth, water projects in Water, conflict aid in Fire, and climate change in Air. The four books will play a central role in the first ever Oxfam Bookfest, a new annual event launching in July 2009. Created in partnership with Hay Festival, the program includes more than 300 events across the UK. Review: I've thoroughly enjoyed my ventures into short stories over the last few years, and I so wanted to enjoy this book what with some of my favourite authors contributing and it being sold in aid of Oxfam, but unfortunately, I found it rather unsatisfying on the whole. The Earth collection included one poem, eight short stories, and one extract from a work in progress. Of these, I did enjoy the Rose Tremain story, and as she's an author I've only read one book by, I was pleased to find I liked this contribution, as I have another book on my TBR list, and lots of recommendations for her others, so I will definitely be reading more. I also loved the extract called "Telescope" by Jonathan Buckley, although I've never actually heard of him, the extract was the most intriguing piece in the collection, and I definitely want to read the book when it's published! Despite not being particularly inspired by this one, I think I will probably get the others, as they are only �5 each and some of that goes to Oxfam, plus I want to see what some of the other authors I admire have contributed, but I have lowered my expectations after this instalment and will be on the look out for some other short story collections by individual authors, as these have been more rewarding.

Me and Orson Welles

You, Me and Dupree

I don't know if I could bear it! Could it ever live up to the books? I think I'd rather just stick with the version in my head. I'd still love to see a decent version of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. All the adaptations I've seen haven't captured the essence of the book at all as far as I'm concerned, so if someone could get that right, I'd be delighted.

Hello Kate!

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Will do. I'll be writing a review in my reading blog when I've finished, so I'll drop you a note in a visitor message when it's there I read it for my reading group a couple of years ago, and I felt uncomfortable reading it too. Not my cup of tea at all, and it's put me off reading any more of her books

Hello Heddy!

Little Lady, Big Apple - Hester Browne

I think it's actually really difficult to find a good magazine about books. All the ones I've found and liked have stopped being published, and the only ones I know about are newbooks which I find a bit bland, and the Waterstone's one BJ has already mentioned, but is obviously very much geared to selling the books so objectivity isn't its strong point. I tend to more often browse through the online newspaper book pages - usually either the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books) or The Times (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/). I prefer the Guardian as I find it better organised than The Times, but both cover a wide range of books and book related issues.