h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

And very good it is too (the film and the comic in fact)

Saw it in France so no James Osterberg, whoever he might be.

sprout

>>whoever he might be

St Iggy of Pop.

Have just finished "Playing with Fire". Things I have learnt running a kitchen and a company by Gordon Ramsey. Excellent. Unless of course you like strong language

"The Zero Game" by Brad Meltzer, a clearance book on cassette for my long drives. I paid next to nothing, and it was too much. A political thriller with a contirved plot, characters from central casting and writing that repeatedly uses the same riffs ad nauseam. Maybe the author's long shot at somebody in Hollywood needing a story for the next mindless action thriller (settings for chases include the roof of Congressional buildings with the Washington Monument in the background, an 8000 foot deep mine shaft, ...)

HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian

A fellow addict!

I'm currently reading a book about Floella Benjamin called 'Coming to England'.

"A fellow addict!"

Not just O'Brian. I'm into C. S. Forrester (Hornblower) and Alexander Kent (Bolitho) as well!

Hornblower I loved. The O'Brian gave me way too much information about the rear-spar-gibbet-top-mains'l-forrard-mast-crow's-nest thingy. So... Alexander Kent. Where does he come? more towards Forrester or more towards O'Brian?

Yeah - but you're not meant to pay any attention to all that fore topgallant huffing. Unless you want to.

After joining Ed in bashing its flabbiness not long ago, I've picked up Mr Fry's 'Ode Less Travelled'. Mainly because I can't remember much about it now.

I bemoaned it rather than bashed it. It's quite useful as a textbook. It just needed the Fry-isms editing out.

thanks to Swallows and Amazons I knew what a jib and a boom were, and I knew about luffing and tacking - after that... there is just no need for it!!

Ed's just reminded me I've been loaned Persepolis, and should read it soon.

Meanwhile, still plodding through The Hobbit, and I've started on The God Delusion.

About halfway through 'The Stuff of Thought' by Steven Pinker. It's about how our language displays how our minds work.

The idea that language determines the way that we think is making a resurgence today. Pinker shows that that Idea is wrong.

now reading The Return of the King.

Say what you lik about O'Brian...at last there's no friggin' elves in it.

I want more elves, though, not less...
now there's an idea for a nice crossiver fanfic type thingy: Legolas & Gimli finally set off for the undying lands, and run into Captain Aubrey on the way...

Dr Maturin would have thm disected in no time.

Just started Ursula Le Guin's Four ways to forgiveness. It seems that I have had this book for ages but somehow managed to forget about it - I actually discovered it while cleaning the house the other day and I am very happy with the finding!
It goes very well so far - I am reading the first story now and I am very curious about the remaining 3!
Making a cup of and going back to reading...