Books and things with words in them!

Just finished The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks. This book is not what I expected. The blurb and hype of the book involves a dystopian setting, in the near future, with the worlds surveillance equipment intruding into our lives and the characters living off the grid, being chased by a bounty hunter because of it. Sounded ok to me. Instead, from the very beginning, there's the guff about Jedi like "Harlequins", and their evil nemesis the "Tabula", and "Travellers" who can move into different worldly realms. The concept was poorly introduced, and something I just couldn't get into. It wasn't particularly well written throughout, and there really wasn't much to do about living off the grid. More to do with this central concept that was so boring. I saw it through to the end, only to find that - typically - it's part of a trilogy, of course, so I still don't know how it ends, and never will.

Finished Redshirts by John Scalzi. Nothing to add to what Wolvie said above - a good, enjoyable read.

Finished Personal (Jack Reacher 19) and it was not one of Lee Child's best. A bit of a meandering mess of a story and I'm hoping he can bring Reacher back on form soon. It's been a while since he's written a really good one.

Also just finished The Martian which was just brilliant, easily one of the best books I've ever read. It's one of those books that is better the less you know about it so I'll not give anything away other than it's about an astronaut stranded on Mars. If you see it in Asda for 4 quid (like I did) then give it a go.

David Fincher is turning it into a movie - I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with it.

Just finished All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Also known as the movie Edge of Tomorrow or Live Die Repeat. All very confusing! The book however is fantastic and even the movie is pretty great too. It's a small 200 pages long, but lean. There's no fat or flabby sections - it starts fast and sucker punches all the way through to the end. It's darkly funny and tells a slightly altered story to the movie so it feels fresh too. If you like sci do novels you must read - end of. Best book I've read this year.

Read volume one of Frank Millers Daredevil, you can really see where Bendis was influenced on his magnificent run.

Just finished rereading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, having just also re watched the TV series. Good stuff, heavily influenced humour-wise by Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett but very Gaiman in terms of plot.

Just finished the Unoffical Guide to Walt Disney World 2015. This is a mammoth book, and covers everything you need for your Disney Florida trip. I am going next year and having read this travel guide from cover to cover feel suitably prepared. It's full of tips to avoid long waits for rides, the best places to eat and shop and also covers Universal Studios but not Orlando at large. And it was fascinating stuff, full of quotes from fellow readers and completely unbiased, praising what is right, while also pointing out what would be a waste of money. Pictures would have been nice, but a small negative.

Read the Talent graphic novel.

It's about a guy who survives a plane crash that kills everyone else and who sets out to resolve the fellow passengers final wish due to absorbing their memories and skills.

It was an interesting read.

Currently reading Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey.

Liking it so far.

Just re-read A Christmas Carol. 

Finished Leviathan Wakes, was an enjoyable read.

Just finished My Life in Football by Sir Trevor Brooking, a Xmas present (signed) from my sister.  Brooking was my childhood hero and this was a good read.  Not one for non Hammers though.  Some of it was tough to read - the 2002-3 relegation is still a sensitive subject to me!

The Nobody graphic novel.

Inspired by H.G. Wells The Invisible Man it was a good enough read.

I love the original book  The Invisible Man, read it loads of times as a kid, I so wanted that power  lol

Finished Glory Boys by Harry Bingham - a novel set in prohibition era America, where two WWI fighter pilot aces end up battling against the gangster culture, while the other works for the booze rackets. I'm not too clued up on my American history to be fair (I thought this novel was more about WW than prohibition) and I've never really understood prohibition, why alochol was banned, why it was unbanned, etc etc. As someone who likes a drink (generally in moderation) I've nothing against alcohol! So my feelings on the morals in this book are conflicted when the author and main character are so anti-booze. But, as just a novel, it was speedily written, managed to keep me reading despite it not being quite what I expected, and told a good, golden oldie matinee movie style story.

Started Ghostheart by R.J. Ellory today.

I liked one of his earlier books so hoping that I like this one as well. Only 42 pages in so will see how it goes.

Just finished The Wishing Game by Patrick Redmond. It's set in a boarding school which I have no experience of, and details the serious events of such a life - bullying, rigid rules and friendships of such a place. It sounds like a horrid place to live and learn. When things start to get a bit out of control with bullying, supernatural elements come into play in the form of the wishing game, but they are never directly mentioned in the book. Come the tragic conclusion you could have believed in the occult version of events it just as much the wicked mind of men and I liked that ambiguity. A very clever, well written book.

^^Sounds like an interesting book, think I will keep an eye out for it.

You can have mine if you like. I always like to pass my books on.

^^That would be fantastic if you don't mind.  

Finished Ghost Heart today. Was a good enough read with some parts better than others (makes sense if you read it) but not as good as A Quiet Belief in Angels by the same author.

I have also finished Men's Cooking by Chris Maillard, which is a Haynes Car Manual style cookbook. And when I say cookbook, its not just a recipe book. Although it does contain a fair amount of recipes, its staple fair, like pies, lasagna, etc, and a little uninspiring. But what it does do very well, is teach you the basics. A lot of cookbooks expect you to know how to cook already, but this starts from the very beginning - from what kitchen kit you need, to how to do simple cooking tasks, up to the more complicated ones, and then generally chucking a recipe in there for you to experiment with. As its manual status suggests, its a fantastic instruction guide, and its written in a brilliant lads mag style, with humour throughout.

Thanks to Wolvieware I'm now thoroughly depressed after reading The Wishing Game.

In all seriousness though I would recommend it as it is a very good read.

Haha, sorry to hear that. I didn't expect it to be depressing. But yes, very good.

Just finished Memorial Day by Vince Flynn, a standard thriller about a nuclear attack and a plot to kill the president. It was ok, but because it told the story from both heroes and terrorists perspective it just didn't hold any twists and you just read as events unfolded predictably. Also the book came out right at the height of the war on terror and it's amazing how dated that now makes the book feel.

All You Need Is Kill

Brilliant book. The story line and structure is genius and I was surprised by the downbeat atmosphere. A very quick, easy and ebjoyable read.