ian

I'd agree with that - I have always preferred his short stories to his full novels, although that didn't stop me buying some more just before Christmas

What Brian said - it's a great idea, and congratulations on the new job!

I will try with the jokes - I try my best to keep them clean, although my "research" tends to throw mostly rude ones at me. Not that I object to them - most of them also make me laugh - but rude jokes are a bit easy aren't they? When I find a good pun or other "clean" joke I tend to think that a bit more effort went into creating it. Pus, I'm not interested in offending one group of people while trying to make another group laugh. Having said all that - you can't beat a good joke about people from Liverpool can you?! And as most of the ones I hear come from residents of Liverpool, I assume it's fair game! And on that note.. Two giants are walking the earth. They are both so tall their heads are permanently above the clouds. After a while, the first giant says, "Where do you think we are?" The second giant puts his hand down and feels around - "New York" he says. "How do you know?" asks the first giant. "I can feel the Empire State Building" A week later the first giant asks again. "Paris", says the first giant; "I can feel the Eiffel Tower" A week further on, the second giant thinks he'll give it a try. He puts his hand down to the ground and feels around. "Liverpool" he declares. "How do you know?" asks the second giant. "Cos some ba****d''s nicked my watch!"

Bazaar of bad Dreams by Stephen King Since his first collection, Nightshift, published thirty-five years ago, Stephen King has dazzled readers with his genius as a writer of short fiction. In this new collection he assembles, for the first time, recent stories that have never been published in a book. He introduces each with a passage about its origins or his motivations for writing it. There are thrilling connections between stories; themes of morality, the afterlife, guilt, what we would do differently if we could see into the future or correct the mistakes of the past. “Afterlife” is about a man who died of colon cancer and keeps reliving the same life, repeating his mistakes over and over again. Several stories feature characters at the end of life, revisiting their crimes and misdemeanors. Other stories address what happens when someone discovers that he has supernatural powers—the columnist who kills people by writing their obituaries in “Obits;” the old judge in “The Dune” who, as a boy, canoed to a deserted island and saw names written in the sand, the names of people who then died in freak accidents. In “Morality,” King looks at how a marriage and two lives fall apart after the wife and husband enter into what seems, at first, a devil’s pact they can win. Magnificent, eerie, utterly compelling, these stories comprise one of King’s finest gifts to his constant reader—“I made them especially for you,” says King. “Feel free to examine them, but please be careful. The best of them have teeth.” My Thoughts. It's difficult to properly rate a collection of short stories, and particularly a collection as diverse as this is. What I really liked was the introduction to each story that King has written for each story. In some cases they are very revealing. The stories themselves are a mixed bag. Some are excellent - Ur & Drunken Fireworks were 2 that stand out for me, whereas Blockade Billy wasn't one I enjoyed. That may be because it's about Baseball, and some of it is incomprehensible to me. Overall, I enjoyed the book 3/5

I just read this here at work, and got some funny looks in the office for laughing at the screen!

I've been reading some of the other blogs here, and I'm blown away by how organised some of you are - I am totally in awe! I did wonder if I should do some more specific challenges for this year, but I'm basically lazy, so I think I might have to leave that one. However, I am quite good at justifying said laziness, so I'm going call what I'm doing taking a more naturalistic approach to my reading this year. I'll just go with the flow of "where the books take me". There's nothing like a load of pseudo-philosophical nonsense to justify laziness

I thought it was very clever, I shall probably watch it again on catch-up, so I can try to get all the in-jokes.

Mmm - no not surprising, but it is disappointing. His publishers must be tearing their hair out.

Well, here we are - another year! They do seem to come around quickly - I'm sure I blinked and missed 2015! Still another years means more books to read, and I did manage to bag 3 for Christmas. It would have been four but I got the same one twice. Oh well. So, I'm starting the new year with one of those.The book tin has to take a back seat for now. I find I have to read those books I got for Christmas, as I get asked "Have you read the book I got you?" till I've read it. So it's "The Bazaar of bad Dreams" by Stephen King. Starting off the year in the company of Mr King is never going to be a bad thing in my world, so I should breeze through this one. I've set myself the challenge of reading 50 books this year, which is one more than 2015, but I'm not fixated on that. I would much prefer quality over quantity. My only other challenge is to use less brackets in my posts (no, honestly!). Happy New Year - I hope you all have a wonderful year's reading!

38 for me, which is about average. More importantly, I only gave two of those 2/5 stars, nine had 3/5, eighteen got 4/5 & a whopping 9 got 5/5

Everything on my TBR pile is now a fairly long book, and as I know that I have at least 3 books from family coming my way, I've decided to go back to the collection of H.P Lovecraft to fill the time between now and then.

Yes, there are some books I've read recently that I've had to do this. I think I'd agree that "Book Hangover" isn't quite the right phrase - it makes it sound like it's a bad thing, and I don't think it is. Still, in the absence of a better phrase, I'll go with it! Generally, it's going to be the books with a message or sub-text that would make me do this, but somethimes just a book with some seriously convoluted twists or a series that kills off or major character (yes, I'm looking at you George RR Martin). "Life of Pi" is one that comes immediately to mind, but also "The Kite Runner" and "Room". I'd say I sometimes do the same for films too.

Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz The world's most famous spy, James Bond, has just returned victorious from his showdown with Auric Goldfinger in Fort Knox. By his side is the glamorous and streetwise Pussy Galore, who played no small part in his success. As they settle down in London, the odds of Galore taming the debonair bachelor seem slim—but she herself is a creature not so easily caught. Meanwhile, the struggle for superiority between the Soviet Union and the West is escalating. In an attempt to demonstrate Soviet strength, SMERSH plans to sabotage an international Grand Prix in the hot zone of West Germany. At the Nürburgring Racing Circuit, Bond must play a high-speed game of cat and mouse to stop them, but when he observes a secretive meeting between SMERSH's driver and a notorious Korean millionaire, it becomes clear that this is just the infamous organization's opening move. An orphan of the Korean War, he has a personal reason for wanting to bring America to its knees. He's helping SMERSH decisively end the white-hot space race—but how? With the help of an American female agent, Bond uncovers a plan that leads first to Florida and then to New York City, where a heart-stopping face-off will determine the fate of the West. This thriller has all the hallmarks of an original Ian Fleming adventure and features welcome familiar faces, including M and Miss Moneypenny. Horowitz delivers a smooth and seductive narrative of fast cars and beautiful women, ruthless villains and breathtaking plot that will leave readers hanging until the very end. My Thoughts I've read all the original Bond books but none of the new books up to now. What pleased me with this book is just how authentic it feels. Horowitz uses similar language and his action scenes were, in my opinion, very well delivered. This is the Bond from the books too - a touch more vulnerable; a little bit of self-doubt. Perhaps inevitably, with a book that's both set in the sixties and written to 'feel' like it fits into the original canon, it sometimes comes across as a little dated. One thing - when reading at work in my lunch hour, I can't resist the temptation to go onto Google Earth and look up some of the places my books take me. I was very pleased to see that Wallops air field actually has a road within it called Bond Street! 4/5

It's interesting - I don't read other peoples reviews of a book I'm reading until after I've finished it myself - I don't want my opinion to be coloured by other reviews. When I read what other people had written about The Godfather, I was quite surprised about the strength of feeling that some women have towards who the female characters are portrayed. It's not something that I picked up strongly on myself - perhaps not surprisingly being a man, but I thought it worth pointing out and it would probably influence whether I would recommend The Godfather to a woman to read in future. I suppose you have to allow some leeway for the time in which it was written.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo The story of Don Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia family, inspired some of the most successful movies ever. It is in Mario Puzo's The Godfather that Corleone first appears. As Corleone's desperate struggle to control the Mafia underworld unfolds, so does the story of his family. The novel is full of exquisitely detailed characters who, despite leading unconventional lifestyles within a notorious crime family, experience the triumphs and failures of the human condition. Filled with the requisite valour, love, and rancour of a great epic, The Godfather is the definitive gangster novel. (from Goodreads) My Thoughts I don't know why, but I expected this book to be a really difficult read. However, I simply lapped it up. There is a nice economy of language used in Mario Puzo's writing; nearly everything is understated. There isn't a huge amount of overt violence either, like the titular character himself, the violence is largely implied. Of course it was impossible for me to read this without visualising the film, which follows this to a large degree if memory serves - it's been a long time since I saw any of them. One thing, and it's this that lost one mark for me - the sex. There is some, and most of it is very badly described. There is also one sub-plot involving Sonny Corleone's mistress and a doctor that had me cringing in embarrassment. 4/5

I really enjoyed it - there was plenty to think about and lots of potential for spin-offs or future appearances. The series as a whole has been excellent IMO, but then I seem to be in the minority of people that actually liked Clara.

I have to agree. Not only a strong character, but good writing to be able to maintain the audience's attention for 45 mins. It was a shame that my listings mag virtually ruined the ending for me, but never mind. Looking forward to the finale.

I am hoping to get this for Christmas. I've loved the last two, so I have high hopes for this one

The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffrey Deaver After an early morning machine-gun attack by a madman called the Digger leaves dozens dead in the Washington, D.C., subway, the mayor’s office receives a message demanding twenty million dollars by midnight or more innocents will die. It is New Year’s Eve, and with the ransom note as the only evidence, Special Agent Margaret Lukas calls upon retired FBI agent and the nation’s premier document examiner Parker Kincaid to join the manhunt for the Digger --- or for hundreds, the first moments of the new year will be their last on earth. My Thoughts. This is good stuff. Great character's that you really end up caring about; multiple plot twists that keep you guessing up to the last page and a good, pacy plot. My only slight niggle? There is a sub-plot involving the protaganist's kids that doesn't seem to go anywhere. 4/5

I read a book about Hitler recently, and it did make me want to read Mein Kampf out of curiosity.

I simply don't have room for many books in our house, so apart from a few that I refuse to get rid of or want to read again, most books once read, go off to the charity shop. As most of the books I read also come from there (the Age Concern charity shop by us has a seperate book room), it makes sense to donate and replace at the same time. I get a varied reading choice, the charity gets to sell the book at least twice over, so hopefully everyone benefits.

The last episode of River. While no episode reached the heights of the first one in the series, the series as a whole was excellent - and is Nicola Walker one of our best actresses? She's able to express about six differnt emotions with one hesitant smile.

And then you get the other end of the scale with last Saturday's episode. Sandmen? Really? I'll admit, I have a very low rubbish threshold, but this smashed it to bits. Easily the worst episode I've seen since DW came back on the TV. Hopefully things will improve drastically this coming Saturday.

Make Me by Lee Child “Why is this town called Mother’s Rest?” That’s all Reacher wants to know. But no one will tell him. It’s a tiny place hidden in a thousand square miles of wheat fields, with a railroad stop, and sullen and watchful people, and a worried woman named Michelle Chang, who mistakes him for someone else: her missing partner in a private investigation she thinks must have started small and then turned lethal. Walking away would have been easier. But as always, Reacher’s rule is: If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to make me (Taken from Goodreads) My Thoughts First up, I've edited the above synopsis from Goodreads, as I thought it was a bit too spoilery. I always feel my reviews of previous Lee Child books have been a bit apologetic, like it's something to be slightly ashamed of. Yes, these books aren't going to win any high-brow literature awards, and to some extent, they are all the same. But. I enjoy them. Simple as that. Call it what you like - guilty pleasure etc, there is something quite fun in reading about a man who doesn't shy away from problems, but tackles them head on and in the process takes out a whole crowd of bad guys. The story skims the line of believability at times, but doesn't cross it, so switch off the brain and just enjoy. My mojo was suffering a little, so this was a perfect read for me. Tellingly, I was probably going to bed 20 minutes earlier than normal, just so I could get some extra reading time in. In terms of where it sits amongst the other Lee Child books, I probably out it into top five and certainly better than Personal or Never Go Back. 4/5