So you can't write a hotel review on TripAdvisor without registering... here's mine.
The room was fine. Nicely but cheaply decorated, it looked a little like a student room or yes, perhaps something from Ikea. I didn't really see too much wrong with this - at least they weren't hideous. Bright, modern with a nice large window. Unfortunately, the doors to some rooms seemed quite noisy leading to a few disturbances as people got going earlier in the morning than I had intended.
Apparently the room has good swimming and gym facilities but I didn't use them so can't really comment. It is well located, about a 30 minute walk to Nottingham centre, quicker by car/bus/tram (it's got a car park and is close to bus stops etc). Wireless internet was fortunately free as part of the conference I attended but Joe Average visitor is charged £6.50 for a total of 60 minutes access in 24 hours - not cheap. No wired internet is available.
What I can very positively say about this hotel is the friendlyness of the staff. This was demonstrated several times by various members of their staff throughout our stay and was a real plus for this hotel.
Visit their web site.
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Books I Read in January, February & March
Total: 18 books
(3 in January, 4 in February, 11 in March)
The Household Guide to Dying (Debra Adelaide)
The Gift (Cecelia Ahern)
I Was Told There'd Be Cake (Sloane Crosley)
Isabel's World: Autism and the Making of a Modern Epidemic (Roy Richard Grinker)
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (John and Stasi Eldredge)
The Story of Forgetting (Stefan Merrill Block)
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (Devid Sedaris)
Petite Anglaise (Catherine Sanderson)
Rachel's Tears (Beth Nimmo & Darrell Scott)
Reaper Man (Terry Pratchett)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
Drowning Ruth (Christina Schwarz)
Slammerkin (Emma Donoghue)
Leaping Beauty (Gregory Maguire)
Testament (Alis Hawkins)
Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult)
Staring at the Sun (Julian Barnes)
Moving Pictures (Terry Pratchett)
Another trashy library read but a slight improvement on The Gift. The Household Guide to Dying (27/03) has nothing special going for it but is an easy, not-unpleasant read.
I don't know why I continue to read Cecelia Ahern's books because I always come to the same conclusion - The Gift (26/03) is naff, feel good with an element of fancy. Library read.
I Was Told There'd Be Cake (25/03) has a great title but got off to a bad start when the covers made comparisons to David Sedaris. As the book progressed (or didn't) it seemed these comparisons were well made. I liked this book slightly more than his Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, but not much. The lack of progression annoys me without the twists and cunning of a short story collection. Also irritating is the general grumpiness of so many of the anecdotes - more happy thoughts please! On Bookmooch.
Isabel's World: Autism and the Making of a Modern Epidemic (22/03) combines two of my favoured subjects for a non-fiction book - autism and anthropology. A not-too-demanding read which amongst other things 1) considers the seemingly increased prevalence of autism over recent years and the use of the word epidemic to describe the changes 2) compares the recognition and treatment of autism across a range of cultures, both those occurring across spatial borders (e.g. the differences between autism diagnosis in a variety of US states, in Korea or South Africa) and also those occurring accross temporal borders (e.g. the differences between an autism diagnosis in the 21st Century and one in the the 1990s, or earlier periods). An interesting book if a little too US focussed. A temporary keeper I think.
Finishing off a slower read, I've begun Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (18/03) once before, shortly after I bought it but never really progressed with it. This time I managed to reach the end, and I think there discovered the most interesting and useful bit. Whilst most of the book failed to really 'get' me spiritually (I just didn't find it quite resounded with me in the way its many recommenders had suggested - which isn't to say I disagreed with what it said, it made a lot of sense), the prayers at the end were a definite exception and for me carried far more than any of the rest of book.
Again from my Waterstones' binge: The Story of Forgetting (18/03) has a beautiful front cover if nothing else. Fortunately, it's also a lovely book. This book seems to have a nice division in the story-telling (it doesn't always work so well as it does in this novel) with the plots coming together through the course of the book. Gone to Melisa (USA) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for The Story of Forgetting, here.
Another from my big Waterstones' buy, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (17/03) was a bit of a disappointment. The book is a collection of short 'chapters' or recollections from the author's experiences. Reviews and comments from the cover suggested that these memories and observations were 'extremely funny'... I remain to be convinced. Initially I roughly enjoyed the book. It's not poorly written and the lightness of the prose made it a pleasant enough read, but it just didn't capture me. The nature of the book means that the stories didn't progress or draw me in and instead the whole thing began to feel repetitive and slightly grating. I've put it onto BookMooch where it is on a number of wishlists - I hope they rate it more highly than I did! ''Humorist par excellence' or not, I won't be looking out for other books by this author.
One of nine books resulting from my first Waterstones' binge in a little while, Petite Anglaise (16/03) is a very enjoyable, chick lit novel with a little more substance than most. I like the way this book talks round the blog, a nice feature when thrown up against other blogging-related novels like Belle de Jour. Will now have to read up Catherine Sanderson's more recent adventures on Petite's blog! Mooched almost immediately by Janelle (Canada)
I mooched Rachel's Tears from Rachel (UK) during my visit to the US having spotted it in Borders in Santa Cruz. A quick, afternoon read for a relaxing Sunday (15/03). An interesting one-off read - I wish I could find that kind of intimacy with God. Will probably put this back on BookMooch for another reader. This book also has a BookCrossing ID.
Another plane read designed to reduce my aging TBRs, A Short History of Nearly Everything (02/03) is a book I worked hard to acquire and then quickly overlooked. More sciencey than some of my usual non-fiction reads I found this book almost perfectly pitched. The content was interesting without being too challenging and I didn't feel the need to skim chunks because they were going over my head. All in all, a great read. Will put my copy on BookMooch safe in the knowledge that Hobnob has a copy if I fancy a reread.
Mooched from Alexis Housego-Woolgar (UK) on Christmas Eve 2007, a trip to the West Coast of the US seemed like a good opportunity to clear my bookshelf of a couple of those long-standing TBRs. So, starting on the flight out of Amsterdam and finishing up somewhere rather closer to San Francisco, Drowning Ruth (22/02) was actually an enjoyable read once I got my teeth into it. A nice ending that was safely hidden from me until I got to read it (but that also fitted nicely with everything that came before) I was pleased that this book was one that kept you guessing. I'll put this one back onto BookMooch but may well look out for others by the author.
Having treated myself to a few brand new books in Testament and Change of Heart, Slammerkin (21/02) was the first of a bid to reduce the number of books that had sat on my shelves for what seems like forever. I think this book was picked up from a charity shop sometime last year (if not before) and it's sat on my shelf since then, passed over each time I browsed the shelf for something to read. That said, as I progressed through this book, I increasingly had the feeling that I have read this before. But undecided about my verdict for this book, I both liked it and disliked it. Probably wouldn't read it again and it's gone to lunacat (UK) via BookMooch.
Long on my wishlist, I finally caved in and ordered Leaping Beauty from Amazon. Used to the long, descriptive novels Maguire has produced in Wicked and Son of a Witch, it wasn't quite what I'd anticipated but was enjoyable nonetheless. A lovely book of short stories suitable for anyone from around 8 years up (as demonstrated when my much younger sister borrowed the book to read twice - if only due to lack of options - when she came up to visit for a few days).
Yet another of these Dan Brown-esque novels (I'm probably pressing huge insult onto these writers to pigeonhole them in this way - they probably existed before his it's just I never noticed). Testament (06/02) breaks the plot mould slightly by avoiding all this stuff about Holy Grails and the like. Like most of these novels this is a nice easy read with plenty of pages to keep you occupied for a while. Also, as an eternal student I did like the university setting of the story :)
Bought in Sainsbury's Lancaster and started (and finished) almost immediately, Change of Heart (27/01) carries a similar review to probably every other Picoult novel. Easy to read, with a captivating story, I enjoyed this book. Gone to Leanna (Ireland) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for Change of Heart, here.
Staring at the Sun must have been a January read because it seems like an age ago now. Mooched in January 2008 from Bella (UK), it's taken a while to get round to. Originally acquired in response to enjoyment of another of his books (and I can't for the life of me think which, but I suspect it may have been the still unfinished Arthur and George), I've a few of Julian Barnes' novels sat on my TBR pile. In my head I tie this book to Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman but I think I preferred this by some way. The book seemed slightly disjointed - It almost felt like two books given the major shift in emphasis around halfway through. Short and reasonably sweet, I've passed this on to Nellerance (UK) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for Staring at the Sun, here.
A bit behind with my Terry Pratchett's now (and also my book blogging) I read Moving Pictures and Reaper Man sometime between January and March. I think Moving Pictures was probably finished very early in the new year whilst Reaper Man was probably early March. I agree with Hobnob when he says that he sometimes completely loses the plot of these Discworld novels just at the end. I enjoyed most of Moving Pictures but absolutely lost track of the ending; Reaper Man was possibly less good in places but I could follow it even towards the end so probably preferred it of the two.
(3 in January, 4 in February, 11 in March)
The Household Guide to Dying (Debra Adelaide)
The Gift (Cecelia Ahern)
I Was Told There'd Be Cake (Sloane Crosley)
Isabel's World: Autism and the Making of a Modern Epidemic (Roy Richard Grinker)
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (John and Stasi Eldredge)
The Story of Forgetting (Stefan Merrill Block)
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (Devid Sedaris)
Petite Anglaise (Catherine Sanderson)
Rachel's Tears (Beth Nimmo & Darrell Scott)
Reaper Man (Terry Pratchett)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
Drowning Ruth (Christina Schwarz)
Slammerkin (Emma Donoghue)
Leaping Beauty (Gregory Maguire)
Testament (Alis Hawkins)
Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult)
Staring at the Sun (Julian Barnes)
Moving Pictures (Terry Pratchett)
Another trashy library read but a slight improvement on The Gift. The Household Guide to Dying (27/03) has nothing special going for it but is an easy, not-unpleasant read.
I don't know why I continue to read Cecelia Ahern's books because I always come to the same conclusion - The Gift (26/03) is naff, feel good with an element of fancy. Library read.
I Was Told There'd Be Cake (25/03) has a great title but got off to a bad start when the covers made comparisons to David Sedaris. As the book progressed (or didn't) it seemed these comparisons were well made. I liked this book slightly more than his Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, but not much. The lack of progression annoys me without the twists and cunning of a short story collection. Also irritating is the general grumpiness of so many of the anecdotes - more happy thoughts please! On Bookmooch.
Isabel's World: Autism and the Making of a Modern Epidemic (22/03) combines two of my favoured subjects for a non-fiction book - autism and anthropology. A not-too-demanding read which amongst other things 1) considers the seemingly increased prevalence of autism over recent years and the use of the word epidemic to describe the changes 2) compares the recognition and treatment of autism across a range of cultures, both those occurring across spatial borders (e.g. the differences between autism diagnosis in a variety of US states, in Korea or South Africa) and also those occurring accross temporal borders (e.g. the differences between an autism diagnosis in the 21st Century and one in the the 1990s, or earlier periods). An interesting book if a little too US focussed. A temporary keeper I think.
Finishing off a slower read, I've begun Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (18/03) once before, shortly after I bought it but never really progressed with it. This time I managed to reach the end, and I think there discovered the most interesting and useful bit. Whilst most of the book failed to really 'get' me spiritually (I just didn't find it quite resounded with me in the way its many recommenders had suggested - which isn't to say I disagreed with what it said, it made a lot of sense), the prayers at the end were a definite exception and for me carried far more than any of the rest of book.
Again from my Waterstones' binge: The Story of Forgetting (18/03) has a beautiful front cover if nothing else. Fortunately, it's also a lovely book. This book seems to have a nice division in the story-telling (it doesn't always work so well as it does in this novel) with the plots coming together through the course of the book. Gone to Melisa (USA) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for The Story of Forgetting, here.
Another from my big Waterstones' buy, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (17/03) was a bit of a disappointment. The book is a collection of short 'chapters' or recollections from the author's experiences. Reviews and comments from the cover suggested that these memories and observations were 'extremely funny'... I remain to be convinced. Initially I roughly enjoyed the book. It's not poorly written and the lightness of the prose made it a pleasant enough read, but it just didn't capture me. The nature of the book means that the stories didn't progress or draw me in and instead the whole thing began to feel repetitive and slightly grating. I've put it onto BookMooch where it is on a number of wishlists - I hope they rate it more highly than I did! ''Humorist par excellence' or not, I won't be looking out for other books by this author.
One of nine books resulting from my first Waterstones' binge in a little while, Petite Anglaise (16/03) is a very enjoyable, chick lit novel with a little more substance than most. I like the way this book talks round the blog, a nice feature when thrown up against other blogging-related novels like Belle de Jour. Will now have to read up Catherine Sanderson's more recent adventures on Petite's blog! Mooched almost immediately by Janelle (Canada)
I mooched Rachel's Tears from Rachel (UK) during my visit to the US having spotted it in Borders in Santa Cruz. A quick, afternoon read for a relaxing Sunday (15/03). An interesting one-off read - I wish I could find that kind of intimacy with God. Will probably put this back on BookMooch for another reader. This book also has a BookCrossing ID.
Another plane read designed to reduce my aging TBRs, A Short History of Nearly Everything (02/03) is a book I worked hard to acquire and then quickly overlooked. More sciencey than some of my usual non-fiction reads I found this book almost perfectly pitched. The content was interesting without being too challenging and I didn't feel the need to skim chunks because they were going over my head. All in all, a great read. Will put my copy on BookMooch safe in the knowledge that Hobnob has a copy if I fancy a reread.
Mooched from Alexis Housego-Woolgar (UK) on Christmas Eve 2007, a trip to the West Coast of the US seemed like a good opportunity to clear my bookshelf of a couple of those long-standing TBRs. So, starting on the flight out of Amsterdam and finishing up somewhere rather closer to San Francisco, Drowning Ruth (22/02) was actually an enjoyable read once I got my teeth into it. A nice ending that was safely hidden from me until I got to read it (but that also fitted nicely with everything that came before) I was pleased that this book was one that kept you guessing. I'll put this one back onto BookMooch but may well look out for others by the author.
Having treated myself to a few brand new books in Testament and Change of Heart, Slammerkin (21/02) was the first of a bid to reduce the number of books that had sat on my shelves for what seems like forever. I think this book was picked up from a charity shop sometime last year (if not before) and it's sat on my shelf since then, passed over each time I browsed the shelf for something to read. That said, as I progressed through this book, I increasingly had the feeling that I have read this before. But undecided about my verdict for this book, I both liked it and disliked it. Probably wouldn't read it again and it's gone to lunacat (UK) via BookMooch.
Long on my wishlist, I finally caved in and ordered Leaping Beauty from Amazon. Used to the long, descriptive novels Maguire has produced in Wicked and Son of a Witch, it wasn't quite what I'd anticipated but was enjoyable nonetheless. A lovely book of short stories suitable for anyone from around 8 years up (as demonstrated when my much younger sister borrowed the book to read twice - if only due to lack of options - when she came up to visit for a few days).
Yet another of these Dan Brown-esque novels (I'm probably pressing huge insult onto these writers to pigeonhole them in this way - they probably existed before his it's just I never noticed). Testament (06/02) breaks the plot mould slightly by avoiding all this stuff about Holy Grails and the like. Like most of these novels this is a nice easy read with plenty of pages to keep you occupied for a while. Also, as an eternal student I did like the university setting of the story :)
Bought in Sainsbury's Lancaster and started (and finished) almost immediately, Change of Heart (27/01) carries a similar review to probably every other Picoult novel. Easy to read, with a captivating story, I enjoyed this book. Gone to Leanna (Ireland) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for Change of Heart, here.
Staring at the Sun must have been a January read because it seems like an age ago now. Mooched in January 2008 from Bella (UK), it's taken a while to get round to. Originally acquired in response to enjoyment of another of his books (and I can't for the life of me think which, but I suspect it may have been the still unfinished Arthur and George), I've a few of Julian Barnes' novels sat on my TBR pile. In my head I tie this book to Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman but I think I preferred this by some way. The book seemed slightly disjointed - It almost felt like two books given the major shift in emphasis around halfway through. Short and reasonably sweet, I've passed this on to Nellerance (UK) via BookMooch. Think you might like this book? Read my teaser for Staring at the Sun, here.
A bit behind with my Terry Pratchett's now (and also my book blogging) I read Moving Pictures and Reaper Man sometime between January and March. I think Moving Pictures was probably finished very early in the new year whilst Reaper Man was probably early March. I agree with Hobnob when he says that he sometimes completely loses the plot of these Discworld novels just at the end. I enjoyed most of Moving Pictures but absolutely lost track of the ending; Reaper Man was possibly less good in places but I could follow it even towards the end so probably preferred it of the two.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Friday, 16 January 2009
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Film in Four Words (Twilight)
Saw this on my own at the Vue Lancaster this afternoon and overall thought it was pretty good. I saw a trailer for this a few months back and really liked the colour in the starting scenes - a very rich blend of colours (especially greens) is used through this film which I really liked. The film felt like it started very slowly to me, I wasn't really that captured by the film until well over half way through. That said, once it did get going I did really start to enjoy the film. As an adaptation from the book this wasn't half bad - I didn't hate any of the character choices, in fact I thought they were all pretty good (the only exception perhaps being Alice whom I like but she doesn't quite convey the fragility given in the book). The only thing in this film that really grated with me was the make-up, all the Cullens (especially Dr. Cullen) looked like they'd had an accident with some talc, too much on the naff vampire side for my liking.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Books I Read in December
Total: 7 books
Flanimals: A Pocket Guide (Ricky Gervais)
Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer)
New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
Secret Vampire (L.J. Smith)
Brown Owl's Guide to Life (Kate Harrison)
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey (Alison Weir)
Does Flanimals really count as a read? Thom got this for Christmas in his stocking and I read through it that evening.
So it didn't take me long to submit... read the three currently available paperback Twilight novels: Eclipse (26/12), New Moon (20/12) Twilight (18/12). Each book took longer than the last and are reasonably comparable to the older, Night World novels. I enjoyed these three books and am now resigned to the fact that I shall have to make the effort to catch the film at the cinema sometime soon.
Hobnob bought me a copy of Twilight yesterday and as I looked (and only looked for now) at some of the sequels on Amazon last night I remembered L.J. Smith and her Night World series. It turns out they're being reprinted (persumably in anticipation of the release of the final book... who'd have thought it'd be a 10 year wait?) and her publishers have allowed her to make the first book available as a free eBook until December 21st. Read SecretVampire in an hour one morning on my macbook (12/12) - the writing is still suprisingly good even when reading as an adult - perhaps when Strange Fate is released I'll check them all out :)
When I spotted Brown Owl's Guide to Life in the charity shop on campus I figured as a new Brown Owl I really should read it. An enjoyable, light read about a group of women (once in the Pixie six at Brownies) taking on their lives, their weaknesses and their dreams. A pleasant relief from the manic paper writing being done at the time (03/12). Hope to pass it on to some other reader via BookMooch - think you might be interested? Check out my teaser.
Finished Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey on the 1st of December so it just scrapes into this one rather than last month. I really enjoyed this book. A great historical novel for anyone who enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and Philippa Gregory's other Tudor England novels. Like many novels based on true history we know the end at the start but this is a well-written novel which I got myself nicely caught up in. A keeper to sit on my shelf.
Flanimals: A Pocket Guide (Ricky Gervais)
Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer)
New Moon (Stephenie Meyer)
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
Secret Vampire (L.J. Smith)
Brown Owl's Guide to Life (Kate Harrison)
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey (Alison Weir)
Does Flanimals really count as a read? Thom got this for Christmas in his stocking and I read through it that evening.
So it didn't take me long to submit... read the three currently available paperback Twilight novels: Eclipse (26/12), New Moon (20/12) Twilight (18/12). Each book took longer than the last and are reasonably comparable to the older, Night World novels. I enjoyed these three books and am now resigned to the fact that I shall have to make the effort to catch the film at the cinema sometime soon.
Hobnob bought me a copy of Twilight yesterday and as I looked (and only looked for now) at some of the sequels on Amazon last night I remembered L.J. Smith and her Night World series. It turns out they're being reprinted (persumably in anticipation of the release of the final book... who'd have thought it'd be a 10 year wait?) and her publishers have allowed her to make the first book available as a free eBook until December 21st. Read SecretVampire in an hour one morning on my macbook (12/12) - the writing is still suprisingly good even when reading as an adult - perhaps when Strange Fate is released I'll check them all out :)
When I spotted Brown Owl's Guide to Life in the charity shop on campus I figured as a new Brown Owl I really should read it. An enjoyable, light read about a group of women (once in the Pixie six at Brownies) taking on their lives, their weaknesses and their dreams. A pleasant relief from the manic paper writing being done at the time (03/12). Hope to pass it on to some other reader via BookMooch - think you might be interested? Check out my teaser.
Finished Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey on the 1st of December so it just scrapes into this one rather than last month. I really enjoyed this book. A great historical novel for anyone who enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and Philippa Gregory's other Tudor England novels. Like many novels based on true history we know the end at the start but this is a well-written novel which I got myself nicely caught up in. A keeper to sit on my shelf.
Friday, 26 December 2008
J'adore
Following another perfume sampler and then subsequent trials from Lizi's bottle, these are my thoughts on J'adore, a fragrance by Christian Dior:
This perfume smells far more of alcohol than anything else when first applied - it made the room smell rather like I'd had the nit lotion out. Some time later I can't really say I could pin down anything special about this perfume. Probably better than not wearing anything but I wouldn't buy it given the wealth of alternatives - that said, it isn't offensive :)
This perfume smells far more of alcohol than anything else when first applied - it made the room smell rather like I'd had the nit lotion out. Some time later I can't really say I could pin down anything special about this perfume. Probably better than not wearing anything but I wouldn't buy it given the wealth of alternatives - that said, it isn't offensive :)
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Ghost - Sweetheart
I've taken to stashing perfume samplers in my bag for those occasions where I've forgotten to put it on in the morning (and wish to rectify the situation) and for those days when I am away from home. Having found something I quite liked yesterday, I thought I'd blog it for future reference.
(image from Ghost)
I didn't especially notice much about this perfume (definitely Ghost and probably Sweetheart) when I applied it, but later that evening I spent some time quietly sniffing my wrists and enjoying the 'girl-next-door' scent. I really like the comfy smell of this perfume. Sounds bizarre but it felt like the t-shirt and jeans of the perfume world. I'm very tempted to purchase this sometime in the future.
(image from Ghost)Film in Four Words (V For Vendetta)
Magic. A better Matrix.
So many of my films at the moment are second viewings and this is no exception. I love this film. I'm not entirely sure why, but it was one of few that live up to my (scant but positive) recollections the second time. Poor Hobnob is bemused (as he often is by my film choices) but I found this film makes me feel like I'm thinking without sharing his need to scour Wikipedia for the details I might have missed.
I wish I had the imagination and intelligence to create art like this. It's beautiful and philosophic all at the same time. An artistic thought experiment, or something...
So many of my films at the moment are second viewings and this is no exception. I love this film. I'm not entirely sure why, but it was one of few that live up to my (scant but positive) recollections the second time. Poor Hobnob is bemused (as he often is by my film choices) but I found this film makes me feel like I'm thinking without sharing his need to scour Wikipedia for the details I might have missed.
I wish I had the imagination and intelligence to create art like this. It's beautiful and philosophic all at the same time. An artistic thought experiment, or something...
Anyway, I waffle. I love this film. (Just don't ask me why)
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Books I Read in November
Total: 4 books.
To die For (Carol Lee)
Trust me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor (Max Pemberton)
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe (Katrina S. Firlik)
A Wayne in a Manger (Gervase Phinn)
My final health matters book (for now at least) To Die For reminded me of the many books on eating disorders that seemed to be floating around when I was at high school. I'm not quite sure what I made of this book but it probably wasn't all that positive.
All library books this month I think - Trust me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor was another health matters. Enjoyed this book, an amusing easy read. Medicine in itself is really quite interesting... but at the same time I'm glad not to endure the long hours and stressful days!
Another library book, Another Day in the Frontal Lobe (14/11) caught my eye on the 'health matters' selection out on display (I do like the library displays for prompting some new reads). A very interesting (and surprisingly straightforward) read full of curious stories of the operating room and neurosurgery.
Once again starting off my list with a nice, easy read - A Wayne in a Manger (11/11) is a real book but is short and sweet with big writing and an adequate number of pictures. Funny and cute and ever so easy to read. I saw this on the shelf in the library and thought it looked like an ideal way to spend the bus journey home.
To die For (Carol Lee)
Trust me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor (Max Pemberton)
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe (Katrina S. Firlik)
A Wayne in a Manger (Gervase Phinn)
My final health matters book (for now at least) To Die For reminded me of the many books on eating disorders that seemed to be floating around when I was at high school. I'm not quite sure what I made of this book but it probably wasn't all that positive.
All library books this month I think - Trust me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor was another health matters. Enjoyed this book, an amusing easy read. Medicine in itself is really quite interesting... but at the same time I'm glad not to endure the long hours and stressful days!
Another library book, Another Day in the Frontal Lobe (14/11) caught my eye on the 'health matters' selection out on display (I do like the library displays for prompting some new reads). A very interesting (and surprisingly straightforward) read full of curious stories of the operating room and neurosurgery.
Once again starting off my list with a nice, easy read - A Wayne in a Manger (11/11) is a real book but is short and sweet with big writing and an adequate number of pictures. Funny and cute and ever so easy to read. I saw this on the shelf in the library and thought it looked like an ideal way to spend the bus journey home.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Friday, 31 October 2008
Books I read in October
Total: 7 books.
Eric (Terry Pratchett)
If You Could See Me Now (Cecelia Ahern)
Guards! Guards! (Terry Pratchett)
The Almost Moon (Alice Sebold)
Pyramids (Terry Pratchett)
The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank (Ellen Feldman)
So You're 50! (Mike Haskins & Clive Whichelow)
Another hospital read (28/10): If You Could See Me Now arrived from Rachel Bignall (UK) via. BookMooch at just the right time. A nice light read, much like the last book I read by this author (and much better than the last memorable one!).
Having landed myself a spell in hospital I've managed to read not one, but three Discworld this month. Guards! Guards! (27/10) and Eric (29/10) actually mean I've managed to read enough of these books to be almost back on track (just one behind I think). Also Guards! Guards! features on the BBC Top 100 book list taking me to 45.
Didn't know Alice Sebold had another book out so felt the need to buy The Almost Moon urgently in Sainsburys :) Read whilst poorly at home (21/10). Slightly different feel to her other books I thought, perhaps a little more like Sophie Hannah but not quite. Anyway, I enjoyed this but am sending it on to emma (UK) via BookMooch.
Finally read my Terry Pratchett, Pyramids (14/10) forJuly August last month this month, oops! Posted a teaser mid-read too. Not sure I got into this one as much as the last and some of that whole time/dimensions/right angles stuff confused my head! Still, maybe I'll get back on track with these again now :)
I bought The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank from Waterstones in Lancaster before heading to Liverpool to travel to Surrey, Waterstones has supplied a 20% off voucher for my birthday month so I felt obliged to buy some things. Not sure quite what I made of this book, it was an interesting idea but I felt like maybe I hadn't got as deep into it as I would have liked by the end. Ah well.
So You're 50! (04/10) truely counts as a book but then I guess if Snoopy does then it's no worse :) I'm not 50 and I can't see that the quips in the book would be any more funny if I were, but never mind.
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In case you're wondering, I've still not finished Starbook. It seems a slightly more difficult read than some, perhaps the third person writing style?
Eric (Terry Pratchett)
If You Could See Me Now (Cecelia Ahern)
Guards! Guards! (Terry Pratchett)
The Almost Moon (Alice Sebold)
Pyramids (Terry Pratchett)
The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank (Ellen Feldman)
So You're 50! (Mike Haskins & Clive Whichelow)
Another hospital read (28/10): If You Could See Me Now arrived from Rachel Bignall (UK) via. BookMooch at just the right time. A nice light read, much like the last book I read by this author (and much better than the last memorable one!).
Having landed myself a spell in hospital I've managed to read not one, but three Discworld this month. Guards! Guards! (27/10) and Eric (29/10) actually mean I've managed to read enough of these books to be almost back on track (just one behind I think). Also Guards! Guards! features on the BBC Top 100 book list taking me to 45.
Didn't know Alice Sebold had another book out so felt the need to buy The Almost Moon urgently in Sainsburys :) Read whilst poorly at home (21/10). Slightly different feel to her other books I thought, perhaps a little more like Sophie Hannah but not quite. Anyway, I enjoyed this but am sending it on to emma (UK) via BookMooch.
Finally read my Terry Pratchett, Pyramids (14/10) for
I bought The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank from Waterstones in Lancaster before heading to Liverpool to travel to Surrey, Waterstones has supplied a 20% off voucher for my birthday month so I felt obliged to buy some things. Not sure quite what I made of this book, it was an interesting idea but I felt like maybe I hadn't got as deep into it as I would have liked by the end. Ah well.
So You're 50! (04/10) truely counts as a book but then I guess if Snoopy does then it's no worse :) I'm not 50 and I can't see that the quips in the book would be any more funny if I were, but never mind.
---
In case you're wondering, I've still not finished Starbook. It seems a slightly more difficult read than some, perhaps the third person writing style?
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Film In Four Words (The Queen)
Different. British. Captivating. Clever.
I'm not sure what it is about this film, but I'd agree with all the excellent reviews it was given when it came out. Very watchable, very interesting.
I'm not sure what it is about this film, but I'd agree with all the excellent reviews it was given when it came out. Very watchable, very interesting.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Film in Four Words (Prince Caspian)
Much better than Wardrobe.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this film. Having seen The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the cinema almost as soon as it came out and been really quite disappointed, I totally expected this to be awful but felt obliged to watch it anyway. Having waited until it reached the university cinema I was really quite surprised at how un-rubbish this film actually was. A vast improvement and enjoyable.
(Image from Liberty Film Festival, more film info at IMDB)
I was very pleasantly surprised by this film. Having seen The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the cinema almost as soon as it came out and been really quite disappointed, I totally expected this to be awful but felt obliged to watch it anyway. Having waited until it reached the university cinema I was really quite surprised at how un-rubbish this film actually was. A vast improvement and enjoyable.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Books I Read in September
The Fantastic Book of Everybody's Secrets (Sophie Hannah)
Gifted (Nikita Lalwani)
The Final Reckoning (Sam Bourne)
Hurting Distance (Sophie Hannah)
My Favourite Wife (Tony Parsons)
The Book of Air and Shadows (Michael Gruber)
I used to hate books of short stories but seem to have discovered over the past year or so that they are actually generally quite fun - and usually pretty weird, The Fantastic Book of Everybody's Secrets (28/09) is no exception. Gone to Fleur Fisher (UK) via. BookMooch.
I enjoyed Gifted just enough to hang onto it for a reread. I can't quite recall if it was supposed to be based on fact, but I assume that given these two pages (one and two) that it probably was.
The wealth of Da Vinci Code mirrors seems to have reduced substantially in the last year which is probably for the best. Perhaps with this in mind, The Final Reckoning seemed somewhat weaker than Sam Bourne's previous novels. That said, it was an easy read with enough plot to keep me interested and was rather better than the (similarly styled) The Book of Air and Shadows. Gone to Chris Wilkinson (UK) via. BookMooch.
Hurting Distance is the second book by Sophie Hannah that I've read, the first being Little Face and I think she may slowly be becoming someone I might look out for in the future. Like Jodi Picoult's novels, these seem to be crime novels where the interest is not really in the crime at all but in all the other things added to the genre (which is good because I can't imagine ever reading an ordinary crime level unless truely desparate). Anyway, a clever and interesting book. Gone to Jasmin (Ireland) via. BookMooch.
My Favourite Wife - Better than the last Tony Parsons I read, but maybe not as good as some of the others before that. Gone to Lyonsy (Ireland) via. BookMooch.
My first Da Vinci Code style novel in a while, The Book of Air and Shadows is a long but quick, easy read. Not one of the better ones in this style but probably not the worst either. Gone to Kirk McElhearn (France) via. BookMooch.
Gifted (Nikita Lalwani)
The Final Reckoning (Sam Bourne)
Hurting Distance (Sophie Hannah)
My Favourite Wife (Tony Parsons)
The Book of Air and Shadows (Michael Gruber)
I used to hate books of short stories but seem to have discovered over the past year or so that they are actually generally quite fun - and usually pretty weird, The Fantastic Book of Everybody's Secrets (28/09) is no exception. Gone to Fleur Fisher (UK) via. BookMooch.
I enjoyed Gifted just enough to hang onto it for a reread. I can't quite recall if it was supposed to be based on fact, but I assume that given these two pages (one and two) that it probably was.
The wealth of Da Vinci Code mirrors seems to have reduced substantially in the last year which is probably for the best. Perhaps with this in mind, The Final Reckoning seemed somewhat weaker than Sam Bourne's previous novels. That said, it was an easy read with enough plot to keep me interested and was rather better than the (similarly styled) The Book of Air and Shadows. Gone to Chris Wilkinson (UK) via. BookMooch.
Hurting Distance is the second book by Sophie Hannah that I've read, the first being Little Face and I think she may slowly be becoming someone I might look out for in the future. Like Jodi Picoult's novels, these seem to be crime novels where the interest is not really in the crime at all but in all the other things added to the genre (which is good because I can't imagine ever reading an ordinary crime level unless truely desparate). Anyway, a clever and interesting book. Gone to Jasmin (Ireland) via. BookMooch.
My Favourite Wife - Better than the last Tony Parsons I read, but maybe not as good as some of the others before that. Gone to Lyonsy (Ireland) via. BookMooch.
My first Da Vinci Code style novel in a while, The Book of Air and Shadows is a long but quick, easy read. Not one of the better ones in this style but probably not the worst either. Gone to Kirk McElhearn (France) via. BookMooch.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Film in Four Words (The Adams Family)
Better than Team America.
I really didn't get most of Team America, but the Adams family is/was a classic :)
I really didn't get most of Team America, but the Adams family is/was a classic :)
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