Clearing the Backlog...

[Danger Burger]

Neuromancer's good stuff. Although nowhere near as creative (at least in my opinion) as Gibson, you might want to give Neal Stephenson a try. I hear Cryptonomicon is his magnum opus but I've never been able to get through more than 100-200 pages of the 900+ page tome.

I'm enjoying it so far anyway. I had a rough time approaching Sci-fi, I'm not big on space or what ever else I thought Sci-fi was going to be about. I blame the awful covers of books with hyper-armoured men withlazer guns.

I'll likely fly through this Sprawl series first anyway, but its nice to know there are similar guys to aim for next! Thanks!

 

[Uncle Sam]

To preface, I had an infection in my foot that I had surgery on this summer that had me in the hospital for 5 days, and with 6 books of those books, they're reading on the list of approved books by the American Psychological Association, which means I got paid to read them and simply bill them to a client's chart.

The other 11....I just like to read, and the foot thing gave me extra time I wouldn't otherwise have. I can't workout for awhile, so reading is a decent substitute.

Still baffling - and, if secretly reading erotic fiction on other people's Kindles on the train is anything to go by, my reading speed is much faster then average.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

If it was a subtitled porn film on a Kindle Fire, I don't think that counts.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Subtitled? No, I was lip-reading. It went something like, "Mmph, mmph, mmph... mmmmmph!"

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

If the sound effects of porn were subtitled, I don't know if that would make it more or less enjoyable. Sure, "squelch" would appear most often but I think "Oh God" would give it a run for its money.

Thinking back, I'm sure that the first piece of erotica in fiction that I read was either in Jaws or in James Herberts' "The Rats". Doomed from an early age.

 

[LSN80]

Watched two great movies last night, on the theme of actors I think are shit for no reason whatsoever.

First was Dallas Buyers Club. This is the first Matthew McConaughey movie I have ever seen. I have no idea how I managed to avoid him for so long, but he's been getting rave reviews the last while so I thought I'd challenge some of my (and my house-mate's) preconceived notions. It was good. It was very good.

I wonder if I'm alone in thinking that both McConaughey and Leto were excellent, but the movie itself, not so much.

I'll be rewatching Midnight In Paris later though, so we'll see!

Ive NEVER been a Wilson fan, but this was easily one of my favorite movies of 2011.

 

[LSN80]

Still baffling - and, if secretly reading erotic fiction on other people's Kindles on the train is anything to go by, my reading speed is much faster then average.

I love my Kindle. I'm not sure, I've always been a fast reader, so I can knock out a book in a couple of hours. Some nights, with longer books I've really been into, I'll look up and it will be 4am and I'd completely lost track of time.

Which sucks for me when the alarm goes off at 7.

 

[Danger Burger]

I wonder if I'm alone in thinking that both McConaughey and Leto were excellent, but the movie itself, not so much.

Jesus, i didn't even realise it was Leto. On realisation, yeah, wow. Absolutely brilliant on his part. I have nothing of McConaughty to compare this with, which is my only hindrance in judging his role. But hell, being great in everything hardly diminishes anything does it? The plot was a little meandering at times, but the characterism (if thats what it is) was brill. Jennifer Garner still ain't fooling anyone though, the poor thing.

Ive NEVER been a Wilson fan, but this was easily one of my favourite movies of 2011.

Same. Saw it in the cinema. They charged me 15 quid for a luxury viewing though.

Just watched Adaptation anyway. It might well be my favourite movie. Very little to say about it that I haven't said to hundreds of others. It's ingenious. Very much so looking forward to watching Her, which is likely to occur soon!

 

[Барбоса]

I would likely read more books if I did not spend most of the day...er... reading. If that makes any sense.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)

I can see why this short work garnered some criticism from academic circles, mainly because it does not really address what it sets out in the title. It is less about the influence of sea power and more about how it was used by a succession of antique Mediterranean powers. Starr identifies two major states to use sea power to a massive extent - Athens and Carthage - but then only spends a decent amount of time talking about the former. Carthage for all its dominance of the western Mediterranean in the two centuries before the First Punic War deserves more attention.

Rome's use of sea power is also not covered in any great detail, although this is likely due to Starr wanting the reader to go out and buy a copy of his masterpiece, The Roman Imperial Navy 31BC-AD324 - a book that is now seventy years old but has yet to be surpassed on its subject. Of course, I would have gone out and bought a copy of that… if it was not so damn expensive! £100 second hand? Get out of here!

To be honest, the fact that I even thought about it is probably the best thing going about this book. It made me want to read more about the Athenian, Phoenician, Carthaginian, Hellenistic and Roman navies and in the end, that is likely what Starr set out to do.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)

 

[Bernkastel]

How was Valhalla Rising Barbs? Is it worth watching?

 

[Барбоса]

How was Valhalla Rising Barbs? Is it worth watching?

It was just okay. A good build-up, character, atmosphere and story largely ruined by a completely lacklustre, verging on boring climax.

 

[Diet Soda]

1. American Hustle
2. Last Vegas
3. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
4. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. 12 Years a Slave

I did not enjoy it one bit. But then again, I don't think you're supposed to.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained

It looks good, it sounds good (Tarantino going for the increasingly anachronistic and out of place musical choices did not grate on me as much as I thought it might), is well acted and has a good story that at no stage felt like its 160min running time. Yet I could not help but feel that there was something missing. Something I cannot quite put my finger on. Maybe that is a consequence of Tarantino's style.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband

A middle of the road crime caper with Dirk Diggler being dragged into the smuggling game to help his family. It is by no means perfect and follows many of the usual clichés but it was far from offensive. I would say that much like many other movies, it relies a bit too much on a lack of light to convey a sense of mood, making it difficult to make things out.

I managed to get it for just 75p and Kate Beckinsale looks as good as always in it so I cannot complain all that much.


Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)

An easy read about one of the somewhat forgotten men of British history, although I would not quite give it the status of biography as it is more a narrative history of his campaigns in India and at home. Not a problem for me, as that kind of narrative is really what I wanted.

I would also not quite go for the glowing terms in which Harvey depicts Clive, particularly his continual use of 'emperor', which is factually incorrect and even in terms of how Clive wielded the power he gained on the battlefield. At times, Harvey relies too heavily on extended quotations from various sources - individuals involved including Clive himself, contemporary journalists, and historians. I would rather he use his own words, but even when he does, there are editing errors.

Still though, the author does a good job of highlighting many of Clive's military successes against overwhelming odds - the horrendous conditions during siege at Arcot, the machinations of Trichinopoly and what must have been the nerve-shredding wait to see if his politicking would pay dividends or disaster at Plassey and really it is with these military campaigns and the political jousting with the Company and the Indian princes that is the real story of this book rather than a true biography.

Worth a read if you are interested in the career of one of Britain's first colonisers and somewhat contrastingly the first Britain to recognise that such colonisation needed to be well-marshalled to prevent it from becoming purely exploitative.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)

This is a similarly simple narrative biography as that of Clive, although perhaps not quite as fawning on its Nelsonian subject. If there was one thing that surprised me, it was how many different ships Nelson served on, not just as he rose through the ranks but also once he was captain, commodore and various stages of admiralty and how he came to command the Victory, the ship he is associated with and of course died on, really rather late in his career.

It was also nice to see the development in the British hierarchy from Clive's generation to that of Nelson. The former was largely overlooked and at times scapegoated despite his extraordinary achievements in India and his insights into the future of America while the latter was raised rapidly through not just the naval ranks but also of the British nobility. You could argue that Clive made his reputation in imperialism while Nelson was defending his country but that the latter received his viscountcy and then his famous statue despite his reasonably humble origins in a way demonstrates the trail blazed for self-made men by Robert Clive.

8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)

A quick but interesting read, not because many of the jokes were all that good - that the source material, the Philogelos - literally, the Laughter-Lover, but likely used by the Greeks to mean 'the Joker' - is 1600 years old might explain that - but how you can see the development of humour in these witticisms and jokes and how modern jokes use many of the ideas contained in their ancient predecessors, recycling their setting or adding an extra level.

In amongst the laughing at stupidity, there is plenty of sarcasm and witty retorts contained within and a handful of the jokes do stand the test of time such as "How would you like your hair cut today, sir?" In silence. Or the master about to die in a storm at sea telling all his present slaves not to worry as he has freed them all in his will.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander

I had never gotten around to watching all of this so when I saw it for £1 yesterday, I thought why not give it a go. Might be worth a few laughs.

All I can say is "meh."

No really amusing parts, just one or two slight s******s and as a film portraying total morons, it is a very poor, distant second to Dumb and Dumber.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)[/QUOTE]

 

[Danger Burger]

1. Bret Hart autobiography - ★★★
2. Legend - David Gemell (Drenai #1) - ★★★★
3. Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis - ★★★★★
4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey - ★★★★★
5. Neuromancer - William Gibson - ★★★★
6. The Gunslinger - Stephen King - ★★★★

The Gunslinger was good. Well written, good scares, and a cool enough world (which I've heard only gets cooler. I always thought King sucked at endings,but this ended great... If you ignore the fact that there's six more books in the series. I'll definitely be looking out for a cheap version of the next one.

Just moved on to The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. The concept is bizarre, but it's practically a means to collecting a bunch of short stories. If they all come together towards the end I'll be pretty pleased.

I watched too many movies lately to dare share a though on them all, but I watched Joss Whedon's version of Much Ado About Nothing last night and it was pretty good. People talking in riddle is always nice. I could say its a good story, but hundreds of years of literary critics could probably put it better than I ever could.

I stole the stars from Uncle Sam, and was inspired by Barbosa to streamline my approach.

 

[Diet Soda]

1. American Hustle
2. Last Vegas
3. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
4. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. 12 Years a Slave
6. The LEGO Movie

I went during half-term and I think we laughed more than the little snotty-nosed brats sitting around us.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Cold Comfort Farm is garbage. It's well written in as much as the prose is clear, but it's meant to be funny? It's not. Nor is it at all interesting. It's a fucking slog is what it it is.

I stole the stars from Uncle Sam,

This could come as a shock, you should probably be sitting down, but I didn't invent the star rating system.

 

[Danger Burger]

This could come as a shock, you should probably be sitting down, but I didn't invent the star rating system.

You underestimate me, for I am always sitting down.

I don't think stars are for me anyway. I felt like everything should get all five. Not Bret Hart, but the real books at least.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)

Easily the quickest read this year so far and not surprising as this book combined a couple of my favourite EU characters such as the Hand of Judgement and in particular Thrawn, together with roles/cameos for Luke, Leia, Han, Mara Jade and Vader and the introduction of alien warlord and tactical genius, Nuso Esva and his vast domain in the Unknown Regions, all brought together by the masterly hand of Zahn.

The plot is a little convoluted with the Rebels relegated to what was a rather unimportant and ill-defined role in the overall schemes of the Chiss Imperial and warlord, although I would very much like to see more of the war between Nuso Esva and Thrawn's fledgling Empire of the Hand leading up to Choices of One and on to Thrawn's victory before his attack on the New Republic.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion

Not really a big fan of watching fictional Roman history considering I spend my day steeped in the actual history.

I did like the juxtaposition of the barbarians being the ones to chase the Romans and whoever wrote the screenplay had clearly read about the Battle of Teutoburger Walde and then modelled the destruction of the Ninth after it with the rebel scout in Etain playing the role of Arminius. The portrayal of Virilius was good too - a soldier's solider thriving at the arse-end of the Roman Empire. Thought his 'defeat' by Etain could have been handled better. Despite being weakened, he should still have been beating her only for the surrounding hordes to somehow interfere leading to his death.

Still though, there were several storytelling problems but the ones that stick most clearly in my mind are the background antagonists of Thax and governor Agricola (whose name was wrong - the Roman governor of Britain in 117 was likely Marcus Appius Bradua). That the latter could think that he could hide the destruction of an entire legion from the authorities is laughable whilst Thax virtually disappears for the middle part of the movie. And the reason that he is painted as a villain, killing the Pictish chief's son, should actually not have been a problem had he told the complete truth - he had to kill him otherwise they would have been all discovered in the enemy camp. I will still likely watch the Eagle next week but I would say that that will be my fill of Roman fiction for a good while.


Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)[/QUOTE]

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle

It’s a real shame that the Eagle and Centurion were not made in conjunction with each other; even a cursory nod to the events of Centurion - a cameo from Fassbender or West or a suggestion that Aquilius' father had been seen in Centurion defending the eagle to the last. That continuity of characters would have made it a more interesting watch.

Both movies follow a similar premise - centred on a Roman legion in battle, which is always a thrilling sight when done as well as it is here with the testudo but really much else around the main story of retrieving the Eagle - honour, slavery, imperialism - is eye-rolling… "Romans good vs Romans bad," family honour is most important (except for Rome's or the tribes'). The appearance of the deserters of the Ninth was dire and the portrayal of the Caledonii both in actions and appearance seemed rubbish to me. The lack of a decent villain was telling as well, while at times the film followed one of my major annoyances in making things so dark that you cannot tell what is happening.


Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)

Certainly one of the poorer editions from the A Brief History of series that I have read. It is in desperate need of a thorough copyediting with a lot of mistakes making the final cut while the first section could do with being rewritten to take away the feel of it being a series of magazine articles (which there were). If anything though, that gives a experience of the growth of the writer's skill - the early chapter was largely written in the 60s with the latter sections in the 90s and 00s and it definitely makes a difference.

There is nothing new on the most famous of cults - Georgetown, Waco etc. - but there is some interesting information on forgotten atrocities and harmless covens so it could be worth a read if you are interested in such things.

Me, I just read it for the head-shaking stupidity who allow themselves to be taken in by such frauds and maniacs.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation (2013)

 

[Danger Burger]

1. Bret Hart autobiography - ★★★
2. Legend - David Gemell (Drenai #1) - ★★★★
3. Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis - ★★★★★
4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey - ★★★★★
5. Neuromancer - William Gibson - ★★★★
6. The Gunslinger - Stephen King - ★★★★
7. The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury - ★★★
8. Watchmen - Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons - ★★★★★

The Illustrated Man was a good read. Bradbury has been on my readlist for a while, so I was glad to come across a copy. The book was supposed to be about a mysterious man with tattoos, but turned out to be a collection of stories told BY the tattoos, if you'd believe that. The stories were mostly great, short sci-fi with good twists, well worth a read if that's what your into. My only trouble was that the premise of the tale was never really dealt with. I would have been happier (and given a high rating) if he'd skipped all that as it turned out to be completely unnecessary, and left me waiting for something that never occured.

Watchmen I had read a while back, but came across a second hand copy for tenner so I thought I'd see if it still held up. It did. Alan Moore might be a lunatic wizard hack these days, but he could write one hell of a comic in his heyday. The comic is brilliant on several levels; the characters are realistic (for the genre), the mystery plot is juicy as hell and theres great stuff done with what I guess you could call 'metafiction' and the parallels made with the comic-in-a-comic. Sure, its a little complex, a little pretentious and the ending could have used a little work (here's looking at you Zack Snyder) but never to the point that it took anything away from the story as far as I'm concerned. I definite TWO THUMBS UP and reccomendation in general to anyone interested.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm tearing into a book called At Swim-Two-Birds by the lesser academically persued Irish eccentric Flann O'Brien. I'd heard good things of this guy from friends but generally avoided the Irish author writes about Ireland stuff (outside of college requirements) because of great deal of it is a load of misery-mongering faff. This guy was supposed to be a hoot though, and the book was free from a pal, so here we are. So far it's good, besides a miserable aside on Fionn McCool.

I'm just about on par so far for my read a book a week system. WHAT A RUSH!