Want to play a game of tag???

Lovely Lipyssy over at Lost and Found tagged me for a game of four (the above image is copied from L&F !  Stop over and check out her answers!  I don’t always take part in all of these but I’ve had a go as four of everything doesn’t seem too onerous on the grey matter so here goes – a bit of cheating may also take place!

FOUR NAMES THAT PEOPLE CALL ME (OTHER THAN MY REAL NAME)

  1. OW – which is short for old woman!!!  How very rude indeed – this is because I’m actually 3 years older than my better half!  What can I say – TOY BOY!!
  2. Lynnie – (spoken in a wheedling voice) from various people usually when they want something
  3. PITA – this basically stands for Pain in the Arse – usually muttered under the breath by close family members when I’m being difficult and problematic – or just when I am actually being a pain in the proverbial!
  4. Mum – not really a name but… I answer to it anyway (sometimes)

FOUR JOBS THAT I HAVE HAD

  1. Worked in the Co-op whilst in college – check out, storeroom, deli counter – basically a bit of everything right down to sweeping round at the end of the night.
  2. Clerical Assistant – first job – I loved that job!  Don’t ask me why but I just got on with everyone so well and it was fun!
  3. Working in a typing pool for Manchester City Council – yep the whole 9-5 Dolly Parton thing!!  Without the blond hair and big… yeah those things!
  4. PA to Chief Executive at Stockport Council – you’d think I’d be more organised, but you’d think wrong.  Why be organised when you can be.. not!

FOUR MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED MORE THAN ONCE

  1. Lord of the Rings (all three)
  2. Young Frankenstein
  3. The Princess Bride  – if you haven’t watched this film – just WHY??
  4. Pan’s Labyrinth

FOUR BOOKS I’D RECOMMEND

  1. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
  2. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
  3. I am Legend by Richard Matheson
  4. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED

  1. Saddleworth – a lovely place with moorlands
  2. Manchester – only for six months – a temporary abode if you will
  3. Up on the Pennines near to Todmorden – small place called Sharneyford – lots of rolling hills and sheep!
  4. Stockport – current home

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN

  1. France – Paris, Nice, The Vendee, La Rochelle, Toulouse, Carcassonne  – and more
  2. Italy – Venice, Rome, The Lakes, Bergamot, Milan, Sicily, Sardinia
  3. UK – Cornwall, Devon, St Ives, Wales, Scotland, Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay, Northumberland
  4. Other – Croatia, Madrid, Seville

Haha – spot the massive cheat above!!

FOUR PLACES I’D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW

  1. Neverwhere
  2. Narnia
  3. Camorr
  4. An alternate Victorian steampunk London – plenty of those to choose from

FOUR THINGS I DON’T EAT

  1. Mussels – texture (eugh)
  2. Things that look like a combination of insect/alien – Langoustines, for example
  3. Things that I’ve never tried (yes I admit I’ve not tried them but I don’t want to) – Black pudding and tripe!
  4. Honey – don’t ask me why – I can use it in cooking but can’t eat in it’s natural state.  Makes me gag! (Probably too much info right there)

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS

  1. Apple pie and custard – it’s a childhood thing!
  2. Mashed potatoes – I’m a freak about mashed potatoes!  With chopped up carrots (yum) I know it’s weird but…
  3. Chicken Biryani
  4. Thai food

FOUR TV SHOWS THAT I’VE WATCHED…

Don’t tend to watch a lot of tv but we do tend to buy the box set of popular shows and watch them:

  1. Sopranos
  2. Band of Brothers
  3. Walking Dead
  4. Breaking Bad

FOUR THINGS THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR (THE NEXT 12 MONTHS)

  1. Holidays – I always look forward to holidays!!
  2. Time with the family – birthdays and other special occasions and just any time really.
  3. All the latest books that I’m absolutely gagging to get my sticky paws on.
  4. Having fun!

FOUR THINGS I AM ALWAYS SAYING

  1. No problem!  Why?  Just why.
  2. Alrighty – ditto the above
  3. It is folly – I blame Boromir
  4. Fool of a Took – Gandalf’s fault!

FOUR PEOPLE I TAG

Okay, this is the part I really hate!  1. I feel bad because I’m choosing and who to choose 2. I feel bad because peoples’ time is precious and I don’t want them to feel under pressure to take part.  Anyway I’ve chosen four but absolutely no worries (another one of my annoying phrases that I frequently use) about taking part!!

  1. Jason from Genkinahito – because I think his answers will be cool and different!
  2. Romeorites Sleepless Musings – because, not only is he a rather splendid chap with a moustache, this is a fairly new (to me) blog I’ve started following and it’s a good way to be a nosey sod!
  3. Danya from Fine Print – because I like her book choices and want to know more – nosey much?
  4. Nathan from Fantasy Review Barn – because he’s about to take over the world!!! Mwahahaha and so I want to get to know him first! – that way I can say ‘oh, I knew Nathan when…..’

Anyway, that is all.  If you don’t want to take part no stress, I won’t sulk or take my bat and ball home!  If you’re not tagged but want to do so – then do!  Simples.  Break the rules.

Roll Up, Roll Up….

Art it Up.  This is a weekly meme hosted by Tabitha over at Not Yet Read.  The idea being to see if you can come up with some inspiration for a little sketch or doodle from your last week’s reading or just anything else in general. this week I’ve reviewed The Just City by Jo Walton – which is all about a city that aims to be just and also I’ve read Karina Cooper’s Tempered (No.4 of the St Croix Chronicles review to follow – 1, 2 and 3 here).  If you’ve read any of the St Croix books you’ll understand my circus ‘big top’.  For the Just City I went for the Statue of Justice – but I’ve changed it and tipped the scales!  Both very good reads.  Sketches – well, a bit ropey but strangely I enjoy having a scribble.  Now, check out Not Yet Read for all the goodies!

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He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!

Posted On 14 January 2015

Filed under Book Reviews

Comments Dropped 17 responses

This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn we will be travelling once again through the tropes of fantasy looking at: MESSIAHS

If the world needs saving who are you going to call?  Perhaps there is someone out there destined to save everything?  It sounds like you need…a Messiah.

The Painted Man series by Peter Brett, The Deliverer – identity not yet known.

The Once and Future King – I feel a bit of a cheat because I haven’t actually finished reading this book – but, Arthur!!

Chronicles of Narnia – the children – A prophecy says that four sons and daughters of Adam and Eve will come to Narnia and help Aslan… they did help to free Narnia from the evil clutches of the white witch!

Harry Potter by J K Rowling – oh yes!  I knew I would get Potter on this list.  The only person to survive an attack from you know who!

Bloodsong by Anthony Ryan – Vaelin – this is just a wild stab in the dark but he does kind of feel like somebody who is going to change things and save people!

The Legend of Ellie Quin by Alex Scarrow – this is sci fi rather than fantasy – but Ellie Quin is the main protagonist and the stories are retelling her history – she’s legendary and seems to have changed the world – although I don’t know quite how yet because the series is ongoing!

Guess the saviours from the two quotes below:

‘I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin.’

‘I used to bull’s-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home’

To comment or not to comment – that is the question…

Posted On 13 January 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: ,

Comments Dropped 55 responses

Well, every now and again I like to throw out a random thought about blogging.  Today, it’s about commenting.

Okay, when I first started blogging – I basically had no idea there was a whole blogging universe out there (btw I frequently say that I live under a rock) – people all over the world to talk to about books who share the same love that I do and who won’t be bored to tears by book talk. Just imagine!!

Anyway, my story about getting into blogging is relatively simple and for those who know how badly organised I am won’t come as a surprise. I basically used to keep a book diary, all my books and authors were on there with a few paragraphs, just for me, about each one – full of spoilers and snippets. I loved that diary! However, can you believe I kept this in the form of a never ending draft email.  I know, I know. Long story short I lost my diary when the computer had to be reinstalled – all my files were saved – but not drafts!!  I was gutted. Then my lovely better half set me up on a blog.  I didn’t want it – not at all!  Resisted it in fact. And things were different.  Of course I had no idea that anybody would read what I wrote, and when I realised that they might I had to change the way I wrote my little snippets!  My reviews have probably changed in style slightly as I picked up guidance from others and also because I didn’t want to throw spoilers around like confetti.

But, out of all this, the most positive thing, for me personally, about blogging is the friendships (albeit electronic) with other book lovers – and comments are what gradually lead to these friendships.  I would say I have a very good number of blogs that I rely on for book recommendations – whose opinions I trust and who I look forward to talking to.

I don’t think for one minute that every book blog out there is going to appeal to me or anyone else for that matter because we’re all different but once you find the blogs you enjoy you’ll want to talk to those people and this brings me to the comments.

So, I don’t always comment, even on the blogs I love – which is simply because sometimes I miss things accidentally.  Sometimes I don’t comment because I genuinely don’t have anything to say or, put simply, nothing needs to be said.  Sometimes I don’t comment because the piece I just read is so damned good or intelligent that anything I say will sound trite or I’ll send dumb (this does happen!). However, more often than not, I want to talk to people and generate conversation.  Basically, I do like to comment because I want to talk to people about books (and other things) and blogging gives me that outlet.  If I don’t comment it’s usually purely by chance, maybe I’ve been on holiday or socialising a lot and it’s difficult to catch up with maybe two weeks worth of blog posts.  It’s difficult to catch up isn’t it?  And, after all, this is a hobby.

Now, what about you – are you a commenter or not?  What are your views.  Does it stress you out.  Do you feel it doesn’t matter.  Do you comment regardless?  I’m just interested to know how you all keep up with it – or, if you don’t for that matter (which, actually (doh) – I’ll never know about because, if you’re not the sort of person who comments, you probably won’t comment here!)

Thoughts please.

It’s not possible to have too many books!! (Or is it?)

b2bf5-toptentuesday2This week over at the Broke and Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic for discussion is:

Top Ten 2014 Releases I Wanted (Desperately!) To Read But Didn’t Get To (Yet!)

I’ve decided I hate this post – okay, I don’t hate this post but let’s just say I’m very unhappy with myself at this current time – this has made me look at my book buying habits and realise that I need a shake up.  Or I simply need shaking. Or I need therapy! Or I need my computer rights removing so I can’t look at any more books!!  Anyway, as a result, I’ve made myself a goal – I have to eliminate at least one of the books from the list below, each month – I’ve already managed one (9 more to go) – If I fail, well it will be a disaster – I hate to fail anyway, and if I don’t do this thing my head could possibly just explode (or maybe not)!!  The thing is, I actually want to read them all (plus the other 200 books I have stashed around the house! – what is wrong with that anyway, some women smuggle shoes into their house and hide them – I smuggle books!) I really need to get a grip and stop worrying about missing a book somewhere down the line!!! Plus, I’m going to tell you a secret – but don’t tell anybody else, this is for your eyes only – one of the books on this list I actually bought for kindle – a good few months ago – then, after reading some of the ‘best of’ lists at the start of the year I thought ‘oh, what a good book’ – and actually bought the book version (yes, I’d forgotten I’d already bought it and, ahem, bought it again).  There’s just plain dense and then there’s 20 feet below dense – and then there’s me!  Do not judge and keep this to yourself!  Now, which book to choose in Feb – suggestions (from this list only if you please – no new ideas!)

  1. Tempered – No.4 of the St Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper (didn’t read in 2014 but have managed to read this month!! Review to follow shortly)
  2. Lock in by John Scalzi
  3. Jinn and Juice by Nicole Peeler
  4. Murder by Sarah Pinborough
  5. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
  6. Tower Lord, book 2 of Raven’s Shadow by Anthony Ryan
  7. Sworn in Steel, Tale of the Kin book 2 by Douglas Hulick
  8. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
  9. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
  10. Gemsigns by Stephanie Saulter
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