chesilbeach

I'm embarrassed to say we talked all the way through the trailers, so I have no idea what they were I usually hate people who do that, but I hadn't seen my friend in a couple of months, and the cinema we went to is an indie/arty type of cinema and doesn't have the big, brash sound system that blasts out the trailers, so I hadn't even realised they'd started. We did stop talking as soon as the film started though.

Ok, just got back after seeing 'A Serious Man'. I didn't really know much about the film before I got to the cinema, but this particular one produces an A4 fact sheet/write up about each film they show, so I had a quick read of this before I went in to the screening, but I still wasn't sure what to expect! - I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not, but best to be on the safe side. As far as the rest of the film goes, I enjoyed it a lot - it was an interesting and unique take on themes often covered in films. The cinematography and design were great and evoked the period very well. My only complaint? The score. All the way through I kept thinking how similar some of the score seemed to the original Twilight film, and when I watched the credits at the end, lo and behold, it was by Carter Burwell. Not impressed.

I'm not a Sherlock Holmes fan, in fact, I've never read a Sherlock Holmes book or watched any television or film adaptations of them either, but having seen the trailer for the film, I can't wait to see it. The cinematography in the trailer looks amazing, and the whole film seems to have a very epic feel to it. I love both Robert Downey Jr and Rachel McAdams (although I believe the female roles are pretty limited) so that's a big draw for me to see a film as well. I've also never seen a Guy Ritchie film, so I've got no preconceived ideas about what his film making style and skills are which is probably a good thing to stop me prejudging it.

I'm going to see 'A Serious Man' tonight, peacefield, and then I really want to try and fit in a third visit to see that other one some time this week as well.

The Family Stone

Reading output very low at the moment, but did read about 50 pages of The Tango Singer by Tom

I saw it at the cinema when it came out, and bought it on DVD last year, but I'd never had time to watch it until yesterday. I still feel the same as I did in the cinema - it's too long and flabby, and needs editing to cut out about 20 minutes to tighten it up, but it's still a good story and I did enjoy it.

I love the Alex Rider series - there's actually some discussion on these books as well as a comparison to the Young Bond series in this thread

I'm a sucker for a series, and once I get involved I have to read them all! Unfortunately, it doesn't stop at just series - if I find an author I like, I will read anything and everything they write, but if I get one of two books I don't enjoy, I may give up and probably never pick up another of theirs - I find it hard to forgive! These are the ones I've read in the past (series finished) and present (awaiting next book - even in hardback if necessary) Women of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong Agatha Raisin - M. C. Beaton Mapp and Lucia - E. F. Benson Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot Mediator - Meg Cabot Heather Wells Mysteries - Meg Cabot Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot House of Night - P. C. and Kristin Cast Thursday Next - Jasper Fforde Nursery Crimes - Jasper Fforde Young Bond - Charlie Higson Alex Rider - Anthony Horowitz Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella 44 Scotland Street - Alexander McCall Smith The Sunday Philosophy Club - Alexander McCall Smith Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - Michelle Paver His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Twilight - Stephenie Meyer Over Christmas I also plan to start the Jeeves and Wooster series by P. G. Wodehouse.

It has indeed been a good day! And to top it off, I'm just about to put Twilight on

I watched Love Actually this morning, then The Holiday this evening, and now watching Casanova (the BBC production with David Tennant) Can anyone tell I've got the house to myself today and am being completely self-indulgent?

When did you get your time machine? HP7 (part one) isn't out until next November!

The Holiday

Love Actually

CaliLily - they were brilliant Cheered me up no end and great to start the day with a smile!

I had convinced myself that the producers would pull some stunt to make it a three couple final again, but alas, it was not to be. Ali's injury must have still been causing problems as she was wearing really low heels for both dances, and I have to admit, I was a little surprised to see Ricky go through. I thought after two weeks in the dance off, Ricky was a shoo-in for bottom place with the public, with Ali second and Chris first, so when they called out Ricky's name, I knew Ali was going home. I'm a bit disappointed as Ricky's pigeon toes are so distracting, I find it hard to over look them, but I'm glad Chris & Ola went through regardless. The only thing I hope for the final is that neither couple try to attempt anything even remotely close to the World Champions show dance - that sort of thing just leaves me cold. It looks like a mixture of weightlifting and gymnastics, and I can never find any musicality in the routines. In the past, I've loved Darren & Lilia's, Zoe & Ian's and Mark & Karen's the most, and I'd really like to see something like that. Chris & Ola should work on a fun, comic routine, incorporating some of their Charleston while I think Ricky & Natalie should work to her strengths of ballroom choreography and give us a show stopping ballroom routine with better lifts!

I still have memories of nightmares about the TV series from when I was little, so I might give this one a miss anyway I'm such a scaredy cat

Yes, I watched it. She's an entertaining interviewee and I like her approach to writing and reading, but I have to say, although I read the first Adrian Mole book when I was a teenager, I haven't read any since and I probably won't be reading any more.

I'm really sorry you didn't enjoy this one lexie I read it a couple of years ago, and thought it was wonderful. I only remember struggling with one story (I can't remember which one now), but for the most part I thought the writing was beautiful and I enjoyed it a lot.

Although I personally haven't liked all of her books, I did really enjoy My Best Friends Girl by Dorothy Koomson. I think they're probably marketed as chick-lit, and although they're probably aimed at women, but they actually have a story to them rather than just a out and out romance. There is a thread here with some discussion on her books.

Well I might as well continue the theme ... Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton

I'm not much of a collectables person - even bookmarks would just get put on a shelf and fall down the back of the radiator never to be seen again, as I always end up using an old train ticket - but I do like these: Edward's wristband Esme's Bracelet

I've always wondered if kissing an ice cold vampire would put you at risk of an "ice-cream" headache, those shooting pains you get when you eat something really cold? I've never heard of a hot chocolate headache! On a separate (and slightly more on topic) note, I can totally understand why the film Jacob rounds out the character, because Taylor does have an excellent screen presence. However. I don't know if it's just me, but Edward is funnier in the books than the film, and although it's not officially part of the whole Twilight Saga, I loved Edward even more after Midnight Sun which made him a more rounded person for me (as well as making Bella a more three dimensional character).

Sister Of My Heart by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni