Mac
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Everything posted by Mac
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Book set in Eyam about the Plague
Mac replied to NightOwl's topic in Book Search and Reading Recommendations
I read this book some years ago and adored it. I've acted in a couple of plays about the story as well, both as William Mompesson and as the Reverend Stanley (In Year of Wonders, I seem to remember Mompesson's name had been changed to Mompellion, for some reason). Nevertheless, an excellent novel. -
Katrina, I am terribly sorry to read your news. My thoughts are with you right now. There are many here that will be available to talk if you need us. Take care in this appalling time for you.
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I have all four of these on my TBR pile - I'm looking forward to them. I'm also really pleased you like the Jack (JA) Kerley books. I think he's magic, too. Have you tried Michael Marshall Smith's books at all (or Michael Marshall, as he writes under sometimes)?
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What have you been watching at the cinema? (Cont..)
Mac replied to Lilywhite's topic in Music / TV / Films
As long as one goes with the attitude that you're going to switch off the brain and enjoy the action, it's good fun. Full of clich -
I really like books that are set thousands of years ago - there's something about the ancient world that really fascinates me. I may be tempted to give this a whirl.
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3,000 miles or more and you still cannot escape from me! Mwa-ha-ha-haaaarrr! But Jellyfish were a great band from California back in the early nineties. I'm sure it wasn't intentional.
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What have you been watching at the cinema? (Cont..)
Mac replied to Lilywhite's topic in Music / TV / Films
I'm just about to go and see 2012. I'm up for a little bit of total destruction and mayhem! -
Is it possible that I am your brother?
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Oooh, False Memory, great book! How are you finding it? Have you read any other Dean Koontz novels? Who else do you like? What's the square root of 5,894,762? You do realise I was being silly with that last question, don't you? And with that one?
Hope you're well.
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Five "Interesting" *coughs* facts about me: 1: I don't have a television receiver - haven't watched telly for about...erm...six years or so. 2: I'm divorced, but not through choice. 3: I shaved my head for a laugh when I was 24 and it's been the same ever since. Funnily enough, I recognised that I was losing my hair when it started taking longer for me to wash my face... 4: I am a Scout Leader 2 nights a week (nobody say "dib-dib-dib") 5: I love Timothy Taylor's Landlord (it's a beer!)
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Sorry, Eryk. That's my wife you've posted a picture of! How on earth did you get it? Is that you on my front lawn??? (Actually, she does look rather lovely, doesn't she!)
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Good morning, ii. Just wanted to say 'ayup', as I have not graced the site for some time now. I enjoyed your post on the book discussion to be held in a fortnight. It made me chuckle (but, to be quite fair, I am often amused by your writings, it has to be said).
I hope this finds you in the rudest of health and the best of moods. Enjoy your weekend.
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Ach, I've been having a truly cack time of it, of late. Friends dying, work being pooey (racist colleagues!!!), lots of other bits-and-bobs going on, and the added pressure of knowing that I've got to do something that will hurt several people, but...well, you know the thing. Have I got the guts? Is there the courage within me? We'll have to see.
I was born three days after you (well, give or take a few years!). Did you have a good time? I worked and hid. In that order. x
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Hiya. I've been hiding for roughly one thousand years in a cave in my living room. Banks is, as you say, quite brilliant. I really loved The Steep Approach to Garberdale too. The only one I didn't like was A Song Of Stone, but one out of all those isn't a bad ratio.
How are things with you?
I hope this finds you well. Take care. x
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Hiya Giulia. I've been extra-rubbish lately. Please forgive my cack-ness. How are you doing? Did you go to the HGTTG thingy? I'd have loved that!
Hoping you are very well, my friend. X
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Hiya Kelly. It's been ages, 'cos I've been rubbish. Truly rubbish. How are you? Things have been getting me down, recently and I have been hiding in plain sight, working my backside into the ground and then sticking a blanket over my head when I've been getting in. So, I'm sorry for not being much of a presence on here of late. I hope you are well and that things are okay with you.
I love Belle. If I could marry a cartoon, it'd be her. What's not to love? Long, auburn hair; big, brown eyes; that foxy, off-the-shoulder number she wears; and she loves books!
Hope you're well, my friend. Take care. X
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Transition by Iain Banks A world that hangs suspended between triumph and catastrophe, between the dismantling of the Wall and the fall of the Twin Towers, frozen in the shadow of suicide terrorism and global financial collapse, such a world requires a frim hand and guiding light. But does it need the Concern: an all-powerful organisation with malevolent presiding genius, pervasive influence and numberless invisible operatives in possession of extraordinary powers? On the Concern’s books are Temudjin Oh, of mysterious Mongolian origins, an unkillable assassin who journeys between the high passes of Nepal, a version of Victorian London and the dark palaces of Venice under snow; Adrian Cubbish, a restlessly greedy City Trader; and a nameless, faceless state –sponsored torturer known only as the Philosopher, who moves between the time zones with sinister ease. Then there are the renegades: the bandit queen Mrs Mulverhill, roaming the worlds recruiting rebels to her side; and Patient 8262, under sedation and feigning madness in a forgotten hospital ward, in hiding from a dirty past. And these vivid, strange and sensuous worlds cricle and collide, the implications of turning traitor tot eh Concern become horribly apparent, and an unstable universe is set on a dizzying course. Now, that’s a lot of blurb. The book itself is brilliant. I am a huge fan of Iain Banks – there’s only been A Song of Stone which I couldn’t stand – and I always become childishly excited when a new novel hits the shelves. I loved the build up of the character of Mrs Mulverhill (cool name, once you read it), I loved the development and characterisation, I loved the language. I loved the book. I miss the book. I might well read it again. It’s clever, exciting, fast paced, witty (as per) and thought-provoking all in one. Truly good. 9/10 easily. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson Excellent book. I had been on tenter hooks waiting for this, the third instalment of Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. Lisbeth Salander is a wonderful heroine in what is, once again, a marvellously sharp thriller from start to finish. Read the first two. Then read this. It’s ace. 9/10
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Hello there, Paula. I've not been around for ages - if the truth is to be told, I've gone into meltdown with so much going on with work, Scouts, DofE, relationships, weddings and an almost overwhelming desire to run away from everything - and I want to say sorry and hi. I've still got the Harper Connolly books (I got stuck half way through the second one and have only read two books since, very slowly) and should really post them on.
How are things with you? I got really worried when I couldn't find you in my friends section, but then heaved a sigh of relief when I found you renamed as Weave. Nice one. What prompted this change?
Although things are still wobbly (I'm such a lemon!), I'll get my backside back into gear and put up those last reviews, get back on the forum and pull myself together.
I hope you're very well, my friend.
Matt Mac X:friends0:
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Okay. Here's the thing. I got stuck half-way through Grave Secret and floundered quite seriously with my mojo. I picked up Transition by Iain Banks and need to write a review for it (loved it, though). I'm now on The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson and I'm loving this, too. Two of my friends died at the weekend (one only 60, the other only 43), and this has knocked me for six. I'm also a bit perturbed by the outrageous racist jokes that my colleagues tell each other in the faculty office and I'm going to have to blow a whistle, which I'm not looking forward to. This is a school, for Pete's sake! I'll get back on the job shortly.
