Life changes

 

Hi Guys n Gals

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had a change or two to my lifestyle.

Well one main change really - that being I've got a new office job in Halifax!  Won't say where for now but I'm enjoying it so far.

This means no sleeping in most of the day and now I'm up and out early.  I'm knackered, but getting used to it.

Hopefully soon I will start the gym too, and once I'm in a routine I can also plan in my reading and writing.

So reading wise, I'm behind and still reading Stormrider, which I hope to finish this weekend. I'm not sure about reading Mort now. I hope to read in my lunch in winter time.

Writing wise will be as and when I'm not tired as sat at a computer all day. Maybe on weekends.

I will also try to blog fairly regularly.

Well chat soon!

Neil x

Free Guy. - Film Review

 Hi Folks

Took the daughter to see Free Guy, the new action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds.

Ryan stars as Guy whose life is one big routine, wakes up, dresses the same each day, goes to work at a bank with his security guard Buddy.

Whilst he is in his routine, chaos is happening all around the city.  It is only when he falls for a sunglasses wearer, Molotov girl, he decides he wants change.

He takes some sunglasses from a robber and finds his life view changed.  He is in a computer game and for all his life he has been a background character.

He eventually ends up helping Molotov girl, who in real life is trying to prove she is the real creator of the game and is trying to get original code which is hidden inside the game.

Overall  - this is a fun action film, with great performances from Reynolds and Taika Watiti as the bad programmer.  Some of the plot is predictable,  especially towards the end, but it is a good film if you like computer games like Grand Theft Auto.

Bel Score  -  7/10

My Score  -   8/10

August Quick Update!

Hi Folks

Just a brief update on what I've been up to, and what I hope to do in August.

Firstly I'm still job hunting but had my first face to face interview so fingers crossed.

It will be good practice anyway.

Reading - I should finish Stormrider by the fabulous David Gemmell by the end of the weekend.

Then I can start some Terry Pratchett!

Writing - started off ok, as I started a new short story for Costa Short Story competition.  Sadly after a few days my personal life took over and it came to a stand still.  I was going to try rush and finish the story a few days before the deadline, but realised it wouldn't be my best work so will finish it and send it next year.

Also it's my mum's 78th birthday in August so will be celebrating that.

Anyway hope you're all well and reading and writing.

See ya

Neil

Independent Haul + Plans

 

Hi Peeps

As a writer myself, I know how hard it is to get published, especially by the big publishers.  That is why, when I can, I support friends. Friends who are either self-published or published by small publishers.

The two authors above (Simon and Duncan), I have met at Edge-lit. A mini writer\reader Con based in Derby.  I went in 2018\2019 and both times were great where I met fellow writers and readers.

But there are other writer friends who have books out including Amanda, Steven and Robin. Also not forgetting Ian - see below.

So what I am planning in 2022 is Independent Year.  Hopefully we will be more Independent of Covid and back at Edge-lit.

I intend to read and review my independent books and hopefully have some author interviews and maybe meet one or two in person.

Then when I'm published (somehow) they may return the favour and review my work and ask for an interview.

Keep an eye out for updates!

Apologies to any author pals I've missed.

Neil x

Book Review - Ravenheart (Rigante 3) by David Gemmell

 

Books read in 2021.  -  No. 7

Hi Readers

Well this book took too long to read!  Not that it wasn't a good book, it was.  I just hit a reading slump during May/June.  Plus this novel in the Rigante series is bigger than previous books.

Set 800 hundred years after the events of Midnight Falcon, the story follows the survival of the Rigante.  They are now living in pockets and their land has now been overtaken by the Varlish. Now treated as second class citizens, the Rigante clans are by law, not allowed to carry weapons or make a profit.  The stories of Connavar are now said to be Varlish history.

This novel follows young Kaelin Ring and his uncle Jaim Grymauch, who is a skilled fighter, as they try and restore the Rigante name. Kaelin is a descendant of Connavar, and it follows his journey of joining the outlawed Black Rigante tribe who live high in the mountains. His relationship with its leader Call Jace, and his love for his daughter Chara.

Describing all what happens in this novel, and the many characters it follows will take ages, as there are more points of view characters in this novel than I've seen in a David Gemmell novel up till now.  A lot happens in this book which is why it is about 150 pages more than a usual novel of Gemmell's.

Overall -  a great book although more to keep track of.  The time gap of 800 years between books annoyed me as there wasn't much different, except more stone houses, and now there are pistols and muskets.  Yes this is flintlock fantasy.  It would have made sense just being 300/400 years between books. 

Also there is some Insta love in this novel.  It happens in a few Gemmell novels but for some reason it annoyed me. There is also some magic but not much as it is dying out because the land is being built on. A theme carried over from previous books. A fine addition to the series but not as good as books one and two.

Score. -  9/10

Cheap Book Haul - July 2021

 Hi peeps

I just wanted to share a quick, cheap book haul which I stumbled upon in HMV in Bradford.  They do an offer of 2 books for £6!  Bargain!

Well here are the books.  All Sci -fi ones. Two are classics. Two complete a collection.

I didn't realise I'd bought a full set of Alien books. One author Tim Lebbon, I follow on Facebook.  Christopher Golden I met at Edge-lit in 2019.

Well I'll post soon. Enjoy the sun and read well.

Neil x

Black Widow - Film Review

Hi Folks

Well took my daughter to see Black Widow, a delayed prequel film about a dead MCU character.  A film which should have been made about 7 years ago.  Especially as most of it is set after Captain America - Civil War, with Black Widow on the run from General Ross and his army.  

It would have made more sense and Scarlett Johansson would have had a better film because if it.  More would have been at stake and you'd have more attachment to the character, wondering if she'll survive.

The film starts off in 1995 and a young Natasha and her sister are having dinner.  Their Dad arrives and urges them to leave, which they do to an old airfield.  After a quick chase they fly to Cuba where you realise they were undercover Soviet spys.  The girls are sent to The Red Room training camp not wanting to go.

Fast forward to just after Civil war and Natasha's sister Yelena (played by Florence Pugh) is chasing another Black Widow and kills her, as she does she is squirted with red mist which breaks her Red Room programming and makes her normal.  She then takes the remaining vials of red mist and sends them to Natasha's safe house.

Long story short, they meet and are pursued by Task Master and other Black Widows as they try to find out where the new Red Room is and break the others programming with the red mist. They enlist the help of their false parents Alexei/Red Guardian (played by David Harbour) and Melina (Rachel Weisz).

Overall  -  an ok film but the action is over familiar and looks a mash up of old MCU films. It is a bit of a woke film with white males either dumb (Red Guardian)  or bad (Ray Winstone) as Dreykov.

An example is Task Master chasing Natasha in a tank veichle which reminded me of Winter Soldier.

A good thing is the eye candy of Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and even Rachel Weiss who has aged well.

I'm hoping the stage 4 films are better. Especially Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.  This film felt underwhelming like the Disney series of Wanda-vision, Falcon and Winter Soldier and even first few Loki episodes. 

Spoilers - looks like from the post credit scene the Hawkeye show will be mainly following Hawkeyes daughter. 

Bels Score   -  8/10

My Score    -   6/10

You should all check out the YouTube channel Critical Drinker for great reviews, as he's a writer he can tell you more of what works both with this film and others.

Here's the link to his Black Widow review -

https://youtu.be/0c5ynKJxnWI