poppyshake

I absolutely agree about Gollum's Song .. fantastic. I thought it was Bjork when I first heard it. I do love all the movie themes though and I think I'll get used to Ed's .. I prefer it already to Song of the Lonely Mountain .. but then I do like Ed anyway.

That's put paid to hundreds of clips I would think

Just booked the tickets to see The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug on opening day (or opening day for our cinema anyway) .. must remember to stash sweets and possibly drink in my bag

Oh I love books like these ... gives you so much more of a personal insight into what it's like to be a soldier fighting in a war. Oh .. it would be a bit unfair of me to want to swap my MIL for yours (unfair on you I mean ) but I'd love to have a really nice MIL ... do you do a day release scheme?

Of course It's exquisite I bet the whole series is amazing. Oh dear .. both on the shelf awaiting reading I feel I will like Alone in Berlin .. but I'm not sure about Gone Girl .. oh I don't know In fiction as in life .. we women are the most interesting I like the sound of this .. will definitely look it up

Great review of The Remains of the Day Ruth. I haven't read it but now I really want to I have seen the film but ages ago and I'm a bit hazy on it so I don't think it will spoil my enjoyment. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson .. that's all I remember

Yes sorry to hear that Julie .. not fun at all. Hope you're ok now

Had a few miserable days with an eye problem and got treated, by Alan, to a book I had pointed it out to him at the weekend as a potential Christmas present but I did half hint that it would be lovely if I had it before Christmas because the stories would be so good to read in the run-up I am a shameless hussy when it comes to books. I have learnt how to do just the right amount of hinting .. so that it lodges in the mind but doesn't become an aggravation to the potential buyer .. ie: Alan Anyway it's this book .. Round the Christmas Fire: Festive Stories It features stories and extracts from all sorts of authors .. Charles Dickens, Truman Capote, P.G. Wodehouse, Laurie Lee, Stella Gibbons etc etc. Some of them I'll probably have read but just from dipping into it already I've read new stories. The first two are both ghost stories .. one by M.R. James and one by Edith Wharton which are shiver inducing but thankfully not too terrifying and they're followed by P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit which immediately makes you feel much better I'm going to really enjoy reading it It's a companion book I think to one Vintage released last year called Dickens at Christmas .. I haven't got that one but I might have to find a copy now as they would look so well together It's been a bit of a miserable week but nothing that can't be solved by tea, toast and a good book. I even lit the fire to make it more authentic

Ooh I want it ... badly It's getting good reviews .. hope you like it Kate

Very good books Hayley and bargains too .. how could anyone resist? Hope you enjoy them

It's nice to find out that you're younger than you think .. I don't know when I last did that .. I often do the reverse and end up disappointed This is almost like the year that didn't exist so you can do what you want with it .. possibly get a penguin or learn to walk on stilts I wonder why the man broke into the library to use the loo? .. it's very particular isn't it? .. possibly he's fussy about how he dries his hands I went into the men's loo by mistake this week in my local supermarket I've used the loo there before so why I got it wrong I don't know. I didn't want to use the loo I wanted the mirror and the good lighting (to check my eye for the lens) but firstly I was baffled because I'd seen a lady go in but she wasn't there and then the smell indicated to me that something was wrong .. this was all after I'd had a good look in the mirror I am just so lucky that no-one was in there or came in as I was hastily leaving but I have to say .. it wouldn't be the first time I guess the little bookshop had a lot to live up to .. you had built your ideal one in your head I hope they have a good doggy selection I always think it's annoying when a shop devotes too much space to things that AREN'T BOOKS!!! But then I don't mind at all if the things are book related and like you say, they have to cater for non-readers (why though? ... just point them to the nearest video store ) It's great that she has a shelf for used books .. no doubt you'll get some interesting titles turning up there and it will be a good place to take your unwanted books. I'm sure you will be on first name terms before too long. Keeping my fingers crossed for that flat in Lahti xx It's just what you need

I remember seeing on the LOTR extras that they had wanted to use Liv more (good grief ) and had written a scene whereby she was fighting at Helms Deep I still cringe at the thought and I think she had to learn to sword fight but then they wrote some more soppy scenes for her and Aragorn You are right I bet I don't know if I can whack up the ginger to go and see it .. but then there's always the choccy plus I hate to leave a job two thirds finished I could maybe wait for the DVD though .. but then Alan will want to go I expect though he hated how much time it took

Great review of The Hobbit film Steve I enjoyed it but had some problems with it also. For all that they were gorgeous .. I didn't see the point of making Kili and Fili .. sort of boyband dwarves .. I didn't like James Nesbitt either. I thought the troll scene played out better in the book and I thought the wargs were better in the LOTR. It was too long and they stuffed stuff in that they could have easily left out (though I didn't mind the washing-up song but then I haven't seen the extended.) I loved Hugo, Cate and Elijah in LOTR but was it that necessary to bring them back for cameos? My fave bit was also the 'Riddles in the Dark' section .. just amazing and Martin I thought was excellent throughout. I quite liked the goblin scenes though they took it to extreme lengths .. Barry Humphries' Goblin King was fascinatingly gross. I'm not too worried about the next film .. it's got all the good bits in .. but what on earth are they going to do in the final film? .. string it out for a bit longer obviously

Hello Andi You've reminded me that I need to read Angela's Ashes .. I've got it on the shelf so there's no excuse

Very good and decisive of you Kate .. I know I won't be able to stick at one I feel very guilty to have foisted on you your abandoned and most disappointing book I hope it meant that you got extra pleasure out of all the gems you read afterwards

Well done Alexi Hope you've been able to pick up a book since writing Sari .. very frustrating .. Hayley too Got a torn contact lens stuck in my eye and so can't read Sad as I was going great guns with A Fraction of the Whole and it's not the sort of book to step away from for more than five mins .. I'm more upset about the pain though .. it's really uncomfortable. Hope to sort it out soon but the eye will probably be sore for a few days so extensive reading is out. Wish I could re-live Sunday night again and take my lenses out before I got too tired

I think, sad to say, it was pretty much sink or swim in the sixties (and seventies for that matter ) and though she did have some very strange views and ideas because of her upbringing, she wasn't neglected or disturbed and she was probably streets ahead in ability. I'm not so sure that a school would be able to tell a parent that they're too devout anyway .. that is (or was) probably an area outside of their control. Glad you enjoyed the second half more Alexi

Not exactly .. but perhaps incidentally Yes it is Stella .. well done Janet I'm sure you can guess which one .. I'm so confident you'll get it right I'm going to say yes now

Well they're playing Slade in the shops so it must be time for our annual awards You may well have awesome reads still ahead of you in 2013 .. I sincerely hope you do .. but, in the meantime, which book/author gets your vote. These awards are for books read, but not necessarily published, in 2013. Categories are as follows (skip those that don't apply.) Your favourite read of the year? Your favourite author of the year? Your most read author of the year? Your favourite book cover of the year? The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The book that most disappointed you? The funniest book of the year? Your favourite literary character this year? Your favourite children's book this year? Your favourite classic of the year? Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Your favourite biography this year? Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Your favourite poetry collection this year? Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Your favourite publisher of the year? Your favourite audiobook of the year? Your favourite re-read of the year?

Yes .. female author

I thought this week was much better Yes, it's fair to say that Abbey's dance lacked salsa content .. but I thought it was a similar concept to Flavia & Louis's salsa to 'I've Had the Time of My Life' .. which again was mostly moves taken from a film and they got 10's for that. I thought Abbey was pretty sensational though .. she dances with such confidence. Patrick was a bit flat footed (though as nothing I thought to Chris Hollins whose Charleston always gets raved about yet he had no swivel at all) but I like his attack too. Sophie I though was much improved .. though there's something not right about her feet .. especially when she spins on the spot (I'm sure there's a technical name for this ) .. it's quite ploddy. Why Artem would choreograph an American Smooth so out of hold as that when he must know that Len always has a fit about it (as he did with Kimberley's last year) I don't know .. I quite like the modern AS's myself. Shame as Natalie is a brilliant dancer and would have done a lovely 'Fred & Ginger' I'm sure. A pity about Susanna .. it was a lovely routine but it did get messy. She was an early fave of mine but I'm un-warming to her somehow .. I love Kevin though I don't like .. and hardly ever have .. Ola's choreography .. it just doesn't light my fire .. in my view it wasn't a dance of love at all. I didn't really like Mark's samba either but he did give it a good go and it was an improvement on his jive and rumba.

Oh yay!! So glad you enjoyed it Steve and totally agree .. perfect but too many songs!! Haha .. I loved all that 'eleventy-one/eleventy-first' nonsense in LOTR but Tom Bombadil and Goldberry were beyond tedious (though I liked the Barrow-wight part) .. and again the songs .. and the Council of Elrond Great review

Toast should have been on offer definitely It is a classic Hayley but a more contemporary classic .. that is .. it was published in the early(ish) 1900's No Vimes. You have the dates spot on GG

I'm over the halfway mark with A Fraction of the Whole and it's going very well. So funny and quirky and downright odd .. I love it 711 pages long though .. another great big tome and I wanted a short read after The Luminaries Hope to be able to get another short read for the Kindle .. not sure what though yet.

That's quite alright my lovely xx I hope you enjoy it muchly