Reading and Writing Goals 2021 - July - Dec - Last 6 months!

 

Hey gang

This is my second update for 2021. Showing what I'm going to read and write in the last 6 months of 2021, as days start drawing shorter and nights become longer.

At the moment I'm behind on both.  I'm only on book 8. Ravenheart by David Gemmell has took longer than expected as I hit a reading slump end of May, into June.

I hope to speed up by years end.

Writing wise I've done some on Cubby-hole short story and blogged.  So hardly anything.

Well these are the books I've chosen to read July to December.  It could change. I will let you know.

July

Ravenheart/Stormrider

Having read the first 2 books in David Gemmells Rigante series on schedule, I hit a slump with Ravenheart, which I started on 13th May.  I'm still enjoying it but think I hit a burnout. I'm about 150 pages to read so won't take long then will read the final book Stormrider.

August

Death Trilogy

I should be reading this now, although glad I waited as I've decided to read Mort.  It will be a re-read but I can hardly remember it.  Plus now I'm older hope to understand it more as took a while getting into it.  Hope to read all 3 by end of August.  If not definitely Mort and Reaper Man.

Sci-Fi September

Transformers Exodus/Exiles

As I've not read many Sci-fi this year so far, except the Sci-fi light Doctor Who novels, I've decided to dedicate September to Sci-fi.  I have older Sci-fi novels that have sat on my shelves longer but these are short quick reads.  Plus I love Transformers!

October

Best Served Cold/ House on Cold Hill

As October features Halloween, I wanted to try a spooky book. So House on Cold Hill fits the bill.  Although I am eager to get back into the First Law books, after the excellent First Law Trilogy so chose the standalone Best Served Cold. Haven't decided which I'll read first and not sure I'll be able to read both in October as Best Served Cold is a chunky book.

November

Malice

I've wanted to get into John Gwynne's Faithful and the Fallen series since I bought the first two books in York in 2018.  I'd heard it's similar to David Gemmell books so eager to start them. Although the books are huge so reading one a month especially in November when it's my birthday and December with Xmas shopping etc.

December

Valour

The sequel to Malice will be my main book for December as will be busy with Xmas.  If it's as good as people say I may start the third book.

Wish me luck.

Writing

I hope to finish the ghost novella The Cubby Hole as well as get back to my sci fi novel.

I may also enter the Costa Short Story competition which is required for 2 August.

Google Costa Short Story for details.

Well that's my reading and writing plan for the rest of the year. Wish me luck.

Neil x

July Quick Update plus pics!

 

Hi Folks!

Just a brief update for July, which has started off sunny and hot.

Well I'm still job searching, looking for office or publishing work.

Writing wise was a disaster in June, as was my reading.  I think I'm in a slump for both as I'm still reading Ravenheart by David Gemmell.  Plus I didn't write in June at all and still have The Cubby-hole to finish.

Hopefully in July I'll get out of the reading and writing slumps and get back into both.  Although I'm still enjoying the CWG zoom meetings.

The next post will be my reading TBR for the next 6 months, July - December. Enjoy.

Enjoy some cool summer pics and chat soon.  Neil x.

The Conjuring 3 - Devil made me do it. - Film Review

 Hi folks

Went to see the third Conjuring film the other day, and they should have stuck with just 2 films or used a different file from Ed and Lorraine Warren's case files.

The film follows the Warren's as they help with an exorcism which goes wrong. Ed is attacked and has an heart attack and the demon escapes into another body.

The person possessed, kills his boss and is put on trial. The Warren's, with a weakened Ed, have to prove the devil exists and a demon made him do it.

The film isn't directed by usual director James Wan, as Michael Chaves takes over, and is less of an horror and more a mystery and court room drama.

I didn't jump at all during the film, unlike the last few films and even the last Annabel film had more scares. The only part I would have jumped was shown in the trailer.

Overall - Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are still great as Ed and Lorraine Warren and the dynamic changes as Ed is ill and can't protect his wife as he used to. But the film is weak and has less scares than previous films and follows them tracking a Satanist.  A sequel not wanted.

Score   -  6/10

New Book Haul

Hi Folks

Just a quick book haul.  A new book I got for Father's Day.

I've been wanting to read Terry Pratchett's "Nightwatch" novel for years, as I've had it since it came out.  Although thought I would read some earlier City Watch novels first as they are meant to be the best Discworld books.  Now I have the first one.

Thanks for the cards as well. X 

Neil

Anniversary Book Haul - Joe Abercrombie!

 

Hi Folks!

Just a quick mini book haul to show.  The first two books in Joe Abercrombies newest trilogy. As I loved his First Law Trilogy books - see past posts for reviews.

For our anniversary the GF gave me a Waterstones book voucher so as soon as shopping became more normal, I jumped at the chance.  Although I've still to read the standalone books first.

Well happy reading x  Neil.  

Two Film Reviews - Peter Rabbit 2/Godzilla Vs Kong

 Hi Peeps

Now the cinemas are opening up after Covid, I'm now catching up on the film's I thought I would only see on streaming services but were meant for the big screen because of their special effects.  The first being Mortal Kombat which I reviewed a few posts back.  The second being Godzilla Vs Kong.

Now I've seen both plus one my daughter insisted on seeing - Peter Rabbit 2 - The Runaway.

Peter Rabbit 2 - the sequel to 2018 hit, which I saw at the cinema with my daughter and enjoyed but can't find a review of it.  I would have given it a 7/10.

Peter Rabbit 2 has Peter again voiced by James Cordon taking his friends from the farm they now share with the McGregor's, played by Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson to Gloucester. Here he meets a bad rabbit who says he knows his father and ends up stealing food with him and his misfit gang. But does Peter want to be this type of rabbit and put his family in danger? And does Bea McGregor want to change her books based on Peter so much that they don't resemble him.

Overall - not as good as the first film. The plot is thin and there aren't as many jokes although I did chuckle at some scenes. The animal CGI was ok but it had some awful action CGI of Mr McGregor.  There was a running gag about Peter having an annoying voice which he does as he's voiced by the annoying James Cordon. The best thing for the Dad's was Rose Byrne as eye candy.

Bels Score -  5/10

My Score   -  6/10

Godzilla Vs Kong is both a sequel to Godzilla: King of Monsters and Kong: Skull Island.  Both films for me were great.

This takes place five years after Godzilla: King of Monsters and sees Godzilla attacking Apex Industries locations. It seems random at first but he is hunting down the heads of King Gidorah.

Not knowing this Monarch thinks Godzilla has turned on humanity.  Apex CEO Walter Simmons convinces Nathan Lind (Alexander Scarsgard) to get Monarch to use Kong to get them to Hollow Earth and the Titans power source. This is so he can power MechaGodzilla fully which is built from the heads of King Gidorah, killing Godzilla and other titans.

Problems arise when transporting Kong thanks to the help of a girl called Jia who communicates with Kong via sign language. Godzilla can also sense Kong and there should only be one Apex Titan so keeps attacking Kong.

Overall - this is a great action CGI monster fight film, and one best seen on a cinema screen.  The humans take a back seat as we mainly see through Kong's eyes. Although some characters return from Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The action is great and the film is shorter than previous films in the Monsterverse series so tightening the story.

Score  -   9/10

June Update and Judy Woods Photos

 

Hi Folks

How are you all, on this bright and sunny June day?

The last few days has seen great weather and myself being burnt going for walks and for a quick pint.

I will keep the update short - my plans in June include :-

Looking for a job and applying for more. Preferably office/publishing work.

More writing, including finishing The Cubby Hole. Plus more blog posts. This will include more Cinema Film Reviews and posts on author events and writing.

Finishing reading Ravenheart by David Gemmell and its sequel Stormrider. Finishing Gemmell's Rigante series.  So far so good.

More exercise and better diet - fingers crossed.

Hope you all have a great June.  Here's some photos from a recent walk to Judy Woods with my daughter.