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I quite like the idea of decorating with bookshelves and old books. In the right sort of room, book-lined walls give an atmosphere. But, in my case, I will never get around to reading enough books to fill three/four walls of bookcases; so some books would be displayed just to pad the...

Sadly, Bobby Fischer passed away today.

Just received and watched a couple of the versions in the new Blade Runner boxed set (sans unicorn in the UK :( ). This is one of my all time favourite films and stands up well after 25 years.... but... Ridley Scott blows the gaff in the commentry and (a) explains the unicorn and (b) says if he...

The "LARGE selection" is a bit dubious..... but an excellent site is librivox. Free, public domain books (basicly pre 1923) read by volunteers rather than commercial offerings.

pretentious postmodern poppycock? :) Actually, I quite liked the NCD stories. I thought the Thursday Next books were shy of a re-draft.

Are you just talking about the Literature section or the whole shooting match?

I don't know. I picked up half a dozen maigret novels from e-bay recently. And "The book people" do 10 maiget novels for £9.99.

Favourite film – Moliere. OK so it’s “Shakespeare in Love” in French, and some of the acting is a little hammy. Even if you can’t recognise Moliere quotes in the French you know when they are coming because of the posture and enunciation of the actors. But it is a fun romp - there is enough of...

Happy birthday

The Iron Kingdom sounds interesting (my knowledge of German history is somewhat pitiable between the 30 YW and the arrival of FderG). Do let us know what it is like when you get around to it. As for Christmas, I may have done well - I received three novels by Emile Zola (Germinal, Ladies'...

The phrase first appeared in the 17th century amongst the American colonies. Two likely derivations are either (a) corresondance back to Europe downplaying the difficulties of the trip or (b) the abundance of herring would lead to a comparison with a fishery and hence a herring pond. I think...

Life's boring if we all like the same. Anyway, at the risk of having flashbacks as I explain a plot as a film progresses... Harmonica is expecting to meet Frank (Fonda) at the train station. Presumably he has written/telegraphed to arrange a meeting, we never find out how this was...

Once Upon a time in the West is I think an excellent film, certainly one of my favourite westerns. Yes it has a somewhat funereal pace. But, I think, that is so that you are aware of what comes before and after each burst of violence, rather than emphasise the violence itself. You watch what the...

Rabelasian and picaresque! :confused: Ta, two new words - not sure when I will ever use them but what the heck. Now I just have to worry about that "perfectly". As apposed to roughly por... ,er no, I don't think I'll go there.

or contrarywise? I quite like "The Selfish Gene". Dawkins is an amusing writer when he isn't on his soap-box.

abecedarian, Who are you thinking of when you talk about the majority of major writers? I can think of a handful that reading the Bible is necessary to understand, but the majority?

Well, I care - I thought you were being helpful, turns out you were just being nasty.

Not really my cup of tea. Personally I don't revel first person narratives where the narrator addresses the reader directly (particularly to unload a bit of exposition) - but preferences vary. Out of curiousity is this a deliberate stylistic choice? I could have done without some of the...

You can interpret it as you will. I am not willing to spend time debating the matter with a person who uses cheap naff rhetoric devices such as you have displayed in so inept a fashion.

OK, you win. Your articulate arguements attacking the words "state" and "parochial" and cunningly cutting and pasting my message so that my phrases appear to refer to something other than original has convinced me that your justice system is superior.