Monday, October 05, 2009

A Fat Book, A Wide Telly And A Pulsating Festival


At long last "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest" is out in the UK. This is the third (and final) part of the gripping Millennium Trilogy which has, of course, become an international publishing sensation. If you have not read any of the series - written by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson - it is not too late to start (and start with the first in the series "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo").  At some stage it will be worth pausing a moment or two and trying to work out why the books are so good - they are thrillers rather than great literature after all - and why they have been so successful. But it looks like being a busy week ahead so I will save that post for some time in the future. For the moment I will concentrate on working my way through the 602 pages of Volume 3 in the series.


When I am not reading I am happy to say that I will be sat in front of my new, disgustingly large, television set. It finally arrived on Saturday but it took two so-called Television Installation Technicians (imagine the acronym) two hours of messing about to eventually inform me that they could not get it to work. According to them, this was because there was something the matter with my Cable Box. As they were leaving, I had a look myself and discovered that they were right, there was something wrong with the Cable Box : they hadn't plugged it in properly. The television is now working and when I am not reading I will be working my way through the back-log of films I have been meaning to watch.

And if all that was not enough, this coming weekend is the Marsden Jazz Festival Weekend. I have a long list of things I still need to do : the menu's need designing, forms need printing, and the website needs a final amendment or two. 



All this means that I might not be around Blogland as much as normal this week and for this I apologise. I will try to post and comment in between everything else - but a fat book, a wide telly and a pulsating Festival are some competition.

17 comments:

  1. I haven't seen if #3 is available yet on this side of the pond.

    I started with larsson's second book (the girl who played with fire) it was what was at the library when I was looking for a read. I often adore quirky, weird, offbeat protagonists - so of course was totally taken by elisabeth salander. I'm still waiting for book 1 to come in - I do like to read things in order but sometimes one must go with what is available - I think I'm #20 in the queue.

    if you like characters like elisabeth, you might enjoy the series of mysteries written by carol o'connell that feature mallory - the first of the series is 'mallory's oracle' - I think there are nine in the series. I consider mallory a savant like elisabeth - who has some, what would we say, 'social issues' when it comes to interacting with others.

    re your tv I sure hope you didn't have to pay for the installation since the technicians were obviously the opposite of savants!

    happy viewing and happy listening - music festivals are great fun!

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  2. Alan you are gonna love watching movies on your new disgustingly large TV! I am amazed every time I watch a film for the first time on our "big" TV.

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  3. Enjoy your book & humungous TV! I imagine the festival preparations are very time-consuming.

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  4. As Luck Would Have It I'm Off Into Hebden Library in a Few Minutes So I will Look Up Mr. Larsson.
    Enjoy The Telly! Watch Out For Me In The Crowd At Old Trafford on Saturday Evening For The Rugby Final!
    I hope The Jazz Goes With A Swing!

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  5. That disgustingly-large TV is disgustingly large.

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  6. My wife is hooked on these books, I have not got into them. It sounds as though you will be pretty busy for a few days. My wife bought me one of the new iTouch sexy boxes for my 64th a few days ago, with a disgustingly large 64GB of memory. I am now moving a huge mass of Blues/Jazz/R&B/C&W CDs across. Bloody amazing. The first mainframe computer I worked on in the mid-70s only had 256Kb of main memory. Yes, you read that correctly.

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  7. Anonymous3:59 PM

    Alan, I've prob'ly got more books on back-log than you've got films-LOL! But like kimy, I like to read 'em in order( I've scads I've put off as I continue my search to complete various series ). And enjoy your film-watching :)

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  8. Hi AB,

    If the UK has anything the equivalent of Netflix, you'll certainly enjoy that telly. I've yet to find the first book in that series here, but will keep looking. I can't wait to hear more about your festival. Enjoy!

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  9. Hi all,
    Glad to see there are so many Larsson fans out there. Done no work for the Festival today - too busy reading and watching my disgustingly large TV

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  10. I'm jealous of your new big screen! Funny that you fixed what the two professionals couldn't figure out...isn't it usually that way? LOL!

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  11. have been pondering reading the Larson series...someone else blogged the recommendation last week, so just might pick them up. i love to read and i am always looking for something new. enjoy the tele!

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  12. I hope you enjoy all three of these wonderful distractions... xo

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  13. I will soon have more time for reading something substantial. At the moment I stick to 'airport' books because they're easier to read in bed!! Hope you enjoy all your recreational activities.

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  14. Hey, I needed a good laugh. Maybe you can send the installation company a bill for fixing the box. What a deal!!!
    I will check out your books. I actually saw the first book on the rack the other day at Barnes and Noble and didn't pick it up. Have a great weekend. You can only blog when you are not doing important and fun things. Enjoy the music! Congrats on the new flat screen. It is on my wish list for now.

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  15. Anonymous10:59 AM

    Dontcha love "technicians?"

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  16. Interestingly, I think I'm destined to read the first book . .there are three copies in one of my filing drawers at work! I have no idea why. And I wish I had a kick arse Telly! Just for the news you realise!

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  17. Anonymous5:33 PM

    I just knew you would not be able to resist once the carpet was laid,suppose you have outdone us in the size dept.We are watching Bev and Jamies but must have touched a wrong button and only bullfights and ads for viagra on the box, maybe the spaniards are losing it.

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