End of Book 1

7 out of 37 baggies done. Book 1 of 4 completed. A pretty productive first day at Hogwarts!

A Year to The Day

I just realized that it's a year to the day (+/- 1 day) since I last posted on this blog. I could blame COVID but really I've struggled. It's hard being away and it's hard not having that sense of security. I still feel like it is all a bit temporary, and a few health issues haven't helped things.

Anyway, I treated myself to a very stupid birthday present - which will form the basis of my blog over the next few weeks until I've done it. Probably not every day (and I'm in Korea next week I think so I won't be doing much then) but I intend to keep it semi-regular.

So, enough of the expense. I am going to attempt the 6000+ Hogwarts Castle Lego set. I picked it up on a nice little sale, fueled by some of my winnings from the ongoing Euros! Consisting of 37 individual bags of lego and 4 (yes, FOUR) instruction booklets we'll have to see how long it takes. The box is bigger than I expected to start with and it looks like this is going to really keep me entertained.

Day 1 - let's see how we get on!

Days 88,89,90 - A hodgepodge

Been an interesting last two/three days - I guess you could describe it as a combination of the old and the new.

For some reason Facebook has been high on the memories this last week or so. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think it is important sometimes not to distort memories too much by looking at them through the larger magnifying glass of life. 

I still get regular items pop up from the last 5 years with Natalie, and to be honest with the years before with other Natalie. I try to look at them in isolation, remember the happy time that came with the good memory, rather than ignore or suppress them because of what came later. For example, last year we had so many cool moments from our trip to Cyprus - and they remain moments that I'll cherish. Because they should. 

And Katie showed me a picture today that she's just had put in a frame of a wedding the three of us went to a few years ago now. I love that she is still able to look back on that evening with love and affection. I love that she is able to just take those moments of happiness in isolation and remember the positives about them. 

You shouldn't look back at your life and retrospectively review events because things didn't end the way you wanted. You shouldn't feel like you have to remember something differently because of what happened later. Live the moment, in the moment. Or maybe what I'm saying is I feel lucky that I don't have to do that.

But a part of looking back at old memories is trying to forge new ones, not easy in these uncertain times for sure. Finding new hobbies, new "obsessions", new loves is always important for keeping things fresh. I managed to find myself a couple of new TV shows to keep me entertained, not to mention a new book series or two. Plus you can see the (limited) progress I'm making on the banjo below!

All-in-all I just think it is so important to take the good from what has been, and try to forge the best future you can. And if you don't give something a whirl, you'll never know what you don't know. If you do make a mistake or go down a path you realise you shouldn't, hey you can usually rescue it before you go too far! 

Till tomorrow,

Tom

ps- how about last night's storm eh? 

Days 86,87 - Feeling it

This week is the first week were it is starting to feel a bit like I'm trapped. I know it is  now week three of working from home but for some reason this week is the one where I'm starting to get itchy feet about how long we are going to be inside. 

It is a combination of things really. Normally this time of the year is when the cricket and golf seasons start and I'm generally found outside most weekends, if not during the week as well. The fact that Katie was supposed to be here this week is also adding to it. I had so much good stuff planned and it sucks watching it all pass us by.

Still, you've got to try and take the positives where you can. Plus it is not one of those situations that can really be affected too much by what you do - at least I think you can only make it worse with inertia, you can't really influence that much the other way. 

So this week has been spent, as most of the ones before really, trying new things and generally doing my best to take advantage of the cards I've been dealt. They aren't amazing cards, but I'll admit that they are probably better than most other people's and I don't have that much of a cause to complain in the grand scheme of things.

Today marked my first proper day having a whack on my new drum kit. I mean I had a wee play over the weekend but I actually started watching the lessons that I signed up for today. Tried a few action shots but unfortunately the angle doesn't do great justice to my (slightly) reduced figure these days!! However, I wanted to get one action shot in so there you go.

In the Music Corner

Also found a spot for Winterfell and The Red Keep in the apartment. Day by day it is feeling more and more like my place and not just somewhere I am in for a year. Obviously once the restrictions are relaxed and I can get out and meet a few more people it'll feel even more like my new home - and I can see myself living here longer if Katie doesn't mind. I've certainly got enough people wanting to visit (including her!) so I wouldn't be too surprised to find me this side of the pond for a wee while yet.

Pride of Place

I hope everything is good with you all back home. I know it is difficult and there has been unprecedented change and challenges over the last few months. Just remember those people that get you through those difficult times, those are the ones to hold onto. 

The world can, and does change, in a heartbeat. Don't take for granted anything, embrace every single moment that you can and hold dear that which you care about. 

Till tomorrow,

Tom

Days 83,84&85 - Long Weekend

Long weekend just about coming to a close. Was supposed to be my first weekend with Katie so sucks quite a bit that it isn't. Actually sucks a lot. Had loads of cool stuff planned, most of which we can do if she gets over later in the year but not all :-( Plus when I came over, with everything that had happened, the light in the distance keeping me going forward was her visit. It is hard, very hard, to not have had that light for the last few weeks. 

However I've managed to fill the void with lots of ridiculously unnecessary purchases! Including some that will stretch my skills (and maybe patience) to breaking point. Still, it is much harder to better yourself if you don't challenge yourself. It is much easier to rediscover yourself and get to the real heart of things if you are giving yourself opportunities to grow and develop. 

It is still difficult seeing the way things are developing back home and just having to watch (especially when people you care about are really struggling with aspects of it). But you have to have faith and trust that people will do what is necessary, even if hard.

First day on the drum kit was a relative success, until I had to involve my feet. Then it was like an octopus trying to cook a paella blindfolded after a bottle of gin. Limbs everywhere, no rhythm and absolutely zero style. Good job it is electronic otherwise downstairs would have heard the sound of collapsing structures in their ears for weeks. It's all a process though, you don't improve without practising and you don't succeed without some failures along the way. It is learning from those things that don't go your way that is important.

Music Corner - where the magic may happen

Banjo was more successful - once I got it tuned. One evening of practice and I can now play (very roughly and with occasional mis-steps) both Ode to Joy and Auld Lang Syne. Once I feel comfortable enough I may even treat you to a rendition - just promise not to laugh at my concentrating face!! Once my keyboard arrives in a few weeks I may be 50%+ of the way to my own bluegrass band.

Bits of The Red Keep

The floor of my apartment is also a jumbled mess of jigsaw pieces as I try to assemble The Red Keep to join Winterfell. It's a bit easier as not everything is grey (and less of it is red than I expected) but it is still a challenge trying to slot everything together and make it all stand up!.

Add on to that the daily Spanish lessons and the ongoing books/games etc. and it's no wonder the time flies past. Hopefully it'll fly to such an extent that it only feels like days between now and when Katie finally touches down on US soil.

A place for contemplation - and the weather for it!

In other news, does anyone know how much a horse costs? Asking for a friend!

Till tomorrow,

Tom

Days 81&82 - Keeping Busy

The last week or so has definitely felt like a transition between things. It is no longer feeling like a short-term trip and more and more like I am here for the year (which obviously I am). I'm not sure why it is now that this has suddenly happened - other than the amount of time I've had to spend in the apartment due to the virus has gone up drastically in the last few weeks. 

I've also made more and more touches around the apartment which are making me feel like this is a more permanent home. And I think this is now the longest single trip away, so maybe that has contributed too.

Part of those "touches" has involved getting myself on with some new hobbies. As well as taking up Spanish, jigsaw puzzles and rediscovering my PS4, I've also branched out into gardening (well, the long-term Bonsai plan) and, more recently, music. As you can see in the video I have decided to embrace my complete lack of musical skill and try to learn an instrument - actually several. The first one to arrive is the banjo, so good luck to the neighbours!

The Office

I find it so important to keep busy. Time can be so fleeting and I think I owe it to myself to try and use it as productively as possible. Plus it helps take my mind of things going on around the world, not to mention some things about my life that I prefer not to dwell on. But it is also important to have variety. To have different ways of relaxing. Some that challenge the brain, some that don't. Physical ones, mental ones, a combination of the two - variety really is the key to keeping anything interesting and fresh.

It's not easy with the restrictions that are in place, and don't seem to be going anywhere soon, but there are 100s of ways out there to keep yourself (and others) entertained. And with modern technology it is becoming more and more practical to spend that time with others as well. 

Katie and I have been doing her schoolwork together the last few days - hopefully freeing Nat up to get on with her uni work and wait for the inevitable call to arms from the NHS. And that's the other key, working together to keep others engaged and entertained through this difficult time takes team-work and some level of sacrifice. 

Tasty Chilli

Being busy is all part of modern life. It's being the right kind of busy that I've been working towards over the last few weeks. Now where did I put the banjo?!

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 78 - Read the instructions

Really good first weekend in the lockdown. Managed to get out to do a bit of shopping but generally spent it in the company of friends. Sunday carried on the theme of Saturday really. I caught up with Katie again, this time as she was doing one of her Christmas craft packs. She's got (or at least had before there was a mass cull) literally dozens of these lying around the bedroom. From "knit your own" scarves to science projects and slime kits through geology kits and "do-it-yourself" crafts.

Today's episode of Katie Crafts (her idea, but I'm running with it as a brand now) was making lip balm. It is so good seeing her embracing the creative side of things during this lockdown instead of resorting to the easy route out of being glued to some sort of electronic device. 

Way too many kids already spend a lot of time on their devices and I think it behoves us all as adults to bring back a sense of creativity and ingenuity. We've got a good chance to break the cycle here, don't take the easy route out. Now of course it is easy for me to say that as I'm on my own over here and you are likely having to deal with your kids and their boredom level 24/7 - but I'll swap you in a heartbeat. I'd take a year of having to keep Katie entertained full time over being on my own and free to indulge my own interests. Don't take it for granted.

Speaking of interests, my exciting new hobby arrived Friday - a bonsai treen starter kit. Imagine my excitement in opening the box, checking the contents, reading the little manual on how to do it. Now imagine the look on the face at instruction 6 - "within 2-3 years your tree will be ready for training"! TWO TO THREE YEARS!!! Talk about a long term investment, I could go get another degree in that time. Still, true investments take time to come to fruition. Things that are worth having don't come easy and you can't shy away when the going gets tough. So the seeds are soaking and the first step in the cycle has begun. Please check back in 2-3 years for further results!!

A couple of other new hobbies are on the horizon too. All I'll say is be glad I'm 4000 miles away and you can't hear me. Oh my neighbours are going to hate me. They might even stop their nighttime adventures long enough to complain. I hope they do lol.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Days 76&77 - Find a way

I'm writing this at 11pm after one of those unexpected days that help to remind you of the power of communication and the benefits of making that connection. My Friday was pretty uneventful, working from home and generally just trying to stay sane in amongst the complete madness of what is happening here.

Saturday on the other hand, was just awesome. 

Firstly, my daughter scared the living daylights out of me at about 5am by sending a message to my Echo - "Daddy are you up?". I don't think anything has made me move as quick in years! 

In her defence, I did tell her on Friday night that she could call me 24/7 and I'd always be there. However for context, I've been away for 77 days now and I can safely say that she has called me out of choice about twice. The rest of the time I've had to employ the trick of getting Nat to make her do it! So it was nice, if unexpected.

We then spent the next 4-5 hours hanging out. She baked banana bread (didn't save me any) and then put this awesome 3D Eiffel Tower jigsaw together. I might have dozed off a couple of times (but not for long). I contributed nothing to either the baking or the jigsaw, but I loved every second of it.

The finished product

It was amazing. 

It just shows that this virus lockdown is no reason not to spend time with those you love. With a bit of willpower and a pinch of initiative there is NO excuse that I'll accept for not reaching out and making those memories. 

There is no reason not to be there, even in spirit. We are 4000 miles away and still managed to hang out - for longer than we used to do when I was home probably! 

And if that wasn't enough the afternoon was mainly taken up with a lads afternoon! A few beers and some great chat, ranging from the virus itself through craft beer, "classic era" WWF/E and Lego Batmobiles. 

For those who haven't given it a go yet, I'd thoroughly recommend the HouseParty app. Pretty much just a simple video chat app but it allowed me, Dan, Gareth and Baz to catch up from four locations pretty much seamlessly - despite a minor overheating issue with my phone and Cadman's inability to keep himself in our shots!

I hadn't realised how much I had missed that interaction. How nice it was just to drink some beers and put the world to rights. We take for granted these people in our lives and we shouldn't. 

My hope is that this virus will change the way the world thinks, for the better. 

It will remind us that everything is fleeting and you never know when it might be gone. But it will also show us that this shouldn't be seen as a bad thing, instead it should be a daily reminder to seize the day. It should be the incentive to live more in the here and now. 

We worry so much about the future, and have so little control over it. But the present, well, the present is something you can influence, something you can shape. So embrace it, mould it, shape it to your will. If you think about doing something, go do it. If you miss someone, call them. If you want to spend time with people you are isolated from, find a way. 

That's the key to all of this. Excuses are easy. Don't hide behind them. Don't use them as an "out". Take some responsibility. Own it. Grasp the nettle.

FIND. A. WAY.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 74 - Losing Track

Spent the whole of today convinced it was Wednesday. Which it isn't. Therefore I also (for some reason) thought I'd done my blog for the day. So once again I am back scrabbling around for things to say. I've actually got two blogs ready to go. I think the second is more important so that's why I've chosen the order I have.

It is warm here at the moment. Today peaked at 32C - but importantly the minimum is 22C. Trying to sleep in that temperature is a pain. Yeah you can put the A/C on, but that plays havoc with my sinuses and throat. So good quality sleep is proving to be something of a lofty ambition. I'll eventually acclimatise but 30+C in March is not usual for me - and I'm dreading the 40C + 95% humidity that apparently greats summer!!

Not much going on as you'd expect. Working from home is pretty efficient so far, and I've managed to avoid being overloaded with distractions. In some respects I feel very sorry for those who are trying to work with loved ones (both human and animals) in the way. But, as I've alluded to on this blog many times, I'd give pretty much anything to be working from home an have Katie harassing me 24/7!!

Did manage to finally finish Winterfell though. Considering I am probably one of the least creative/artistic people ever (just ask Katie about our bottle rocket project) I am classing this as a major, major win. I guess it is no more than putting Ikea flat-pack together, but I'm claiming my moment in the sun.

It's bigger than it looks - honest!

Till later, Tom

Day 73 - A bit of a mish mash

Today's blog doesn't really have any theme or direction to it. I've noticed that most of my recent ones have (quite rightly) focused on the coronavirus and the almost overwhelming sense of helplessness I've been feeling this far away from home, and those I love. 

It has been so difficult, watching developments back home and not being able to do much about it. I know you can't do it all now, but there should be no reason not to spend time with those that you love, those that you care about. Friends and family. Don't neglect them, don't take them for granted, make that call. Being 4000 miles away sucks at times, don't use smaller distances as an excuse. It frustrates me when I see people not taking opportunities that not all of us have (for whatever reason).

Anyway, now that I'm locked down for the next 3 weeks (minimum) there was a real worry that I'd continue on the same vein and forget the purpose of this blog - to stay in contact with folks and give them some insight into life in the USofA. 

Once this clears I'll be back on the road again and hopefully giving you a broader sense of what it is like down here on the banks of Old Blue. But form now I hope you'll indulge me some "me me me" time as I take you through what life looks like for Doctor Tom at the moment!

I've not managed to quite keep up with my 5 things I wanted to do, primarily as two of them involved being outside. But I have still been trying new things (and trying to re-invigorate old things) as I've been pottering along.

Spanish

I've been at this for a while now and I'm getting competent enough to be able to read bits in Spanish magazines and newspapers. Which is nice. Only bits though, and my vocabulary is still woefully short of poor even! But I can pick up sentence structure and I'm beginning to get the hang of written Spanish too. The big test is obviously going to come once I get out and about and begin to meet people who speak it. That'll come after the virus clears.

Gym/Yoga

The gym is closed now. But I've readjusted and got myself a daily exercise routine - plus a couple of runs a week. The weight is coming off slower than it did at the start but I'm losing inches all round (well, not ALL around) so that's good. I've also recently taken up yoga with the brilliant Adriene. I'm doing the 30 days of Yoga one at the moment and am already noticing the difference in flexibility. Though my knees do make noises they never used to!

Take up a new hobby

I have a couple of exciting developments on the way here. 

As well as becoming a full-on 3D jigsaw addict (check out Winterfell now, the main castle is done) I'm soon to be frustrating my neighbours as I try to learn to play the piano. I've got no music talent whatsoever, but what the hell eh? Problem is that the delivery is delayed for coronavirus so it might be a few weeks before it arrives. As long as I can play something recognisable by the time I come back I'll consider it a success. Hopefully you may even get a Katie/Daddy duet when I get good enough - but not yet.

The other one is a secret. Till it arrives on Saturday. Can't give all my secrets away in one blog. But I will give you a hint. Think small. And cute. And no, it's not a pet.

Challenges
Two 10km runs done. And I'm itching for another one. But I'll have to wait until the virus looks like it is clearing up before I commit to anything serious. And the sky-dive is still on. As soon as I can confirm the date I'll be after money for Christie. So be prepared :-) I'm still hopefully I can get 6-10 in this year, but again we'll see.

Other post virus stuff
Once I'm allowed out again I've got even more irons in the fire. I've joined the Baton Rouge Sunday Social Running Club (here), just waiting to get out now. And I've got plans to join a few of the local disk golfers for a round or two. Plus when sport comes back I've got my eyes on a baseball/softball league and a bit of over-40s soccer when I finally pass the milestone.

So despite everything, life is busy. In these uncertain times it is the best way to be. It hurts to dwell on the past, so I'm trying not to. And the future has so much going for it. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Till then, Tom

Days 70&71 - Scary times

Day 70. 10 weeks into my US Adventure. Did anyone see it going like this? Anyone at all? Didn't think so. 

These are troubling times. Louisiana has used a statewide SIP (Shelter in Place) from 5pm tomorrow amidst fears that the escalation rate is higher here than anywhere in the world. 800+ cases from only 3,500 tests are worrying numbers. Thankfully the mortality rate is low (only 20 deaths at last count) but the trends are not good (here).

There is mounting worry here, you can feel it on the local news channels and around the place. People are readying themselves, people are getting preparing for the worst. And this is state that has been devastated more than once in the last 15-20 years by natural disasters. When the Louisianians begin to worry, it's hard not to join in. This is a state with below average health care and below average access to what is needed to fight an epidemic. There are a lot of nursing homes, elder residents and vulnerable. This is getting a lot worse before it gets better.

There is nothing that can be done other than follow the instructions, look out for each other and just wait this thing out. It is a helpless feeling - and that is for someone who is at significantly lower risk than others out there. A stiff British upper lip helps here, as does the fact that I am comfortable in my own company for long periods of time. Which is a good thing as I'm going to need to be.

However, that said, life goes on. You just get on with it, que sera sera, and do what you can. I managed to have pretty good weekend despite all the unease (you'll notice I'm doing one blog per weekend until I can get out more). I managed to speak to Katie for a long while on Saturday and she finally got her first US care package :-) Looks like she enjoyed it.

Other thing I've been making good progress on is my 3D jigsaw of Winterfell. It's a lot more complicated than I first thought but it is taking shape at least. Long way to go but it is keeping the grey matter ticking over and that's about all I can ask for at the moment. 

Stay safe everyone, look after each other.

Till tomorrow, Tom 

Day 69 - Incoming

Judging from the latest information coming out of the Governor's office it seems like a Louisiana Lockdown is inevitable. maybe as soon as tomorrow. His recent statement that if we don't do anything we face the worst-case scenario is alarming in itself. Even more alarming is watching the local news and realising that people still aren't taking this seriously.

"I'm not at risk so why should my life be inconvenienced" appears to be the most common response. Dangerous thinking guys. The needs of the many and all that? 

As things stand it is business as usual at work, but we'll keep an eye on that daily. 

Followed this guy to work today, I think he has the right handle on this whole virus thing (zoom in)!

Anyway, as I'm nothing if not proactive (maybe) I had stocked up on things to keep me busy when I'm stuck within these (roughly) four walls. I've already started yoga and a 30 day abs challenge, but keeping the mental side of things ticking over is just as important. 

A quick trip to the local Barnes and Noble, complete with the requisite social distancing, yielded the following haul + Winterfell (see the video). This should keep the grey matter stimulated for a few weeks at least. Especially those 3D ones, wow they look pretty complicated. 

This whole lot still cost less than a Lego Millenium Falcon. No wonder lego was revenue somewhere in the $4-5bn per year range at those prices!

So we'll see how this all shakes itself out. Not much else we can do in these interesting times. Hope you all stay safe, look after each other and use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate how you want to live your life and what is important to you. I know I will be.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 27 - For Mum

Downtown Baton Rouge

It's about 14 hours until race time. 14 hours till I stand on the line slightly less prepared than I should be (as always). 

For those who haven't kept up the event  I'm doing is the Mardi Gras Mambo Run 10km here in beautiful Baton Rouge. 

I was hoping to ease myself back in with a 5km but they don't offer one. And besides, who ever said this was supposed to be easy.

This is going to be my first Challenge Event of 2020 and to that end I've added a link to my mum's MuchLoved page. Please, please, please go there and donate anything you can spare. Literally anything. There is simply no donation too small. 

Every penny and every cent gets us one step closer to a cure for cancer. It also helps to provide support, guidance and the best medical care possible for those who are fighting - and those who are supporting those fighting.

For the race itself I am actually really looking forward to it. I have missed doing these challenges. They have brought me so many happy memories, so many great stories, so much joy. Doing these challenges directly led to meeting Natalie (and then Katie) so it is easy to see just how much of a profound influence they have had on the person I am today, and how the rest of my life is going to pan out. 

And raising money for The Christie helps to keep me connected with mum. It keeps her memory and her spirit alive every time we think about her. Every time we remember her it reinvigorates her legacy. 

I will forever be grateful for the time I had, even though it was too short. I am forever proud to be her son. And if I can do even the tiniest bit to help raise money, awareness, or even just people's spirits, then I will drag my ass to every start line, every finish line and every challenge I can drag it to, over and over again. The temporary pain is nothing - NOTHING - compared to what others are suffering (both physically and mentally) on a daily basis. 

So on that start line tomorrow I'll be thinking one thing - For You Mum, Always.

Till tomorrow, Tom

BOOK REVIEWS: Myths and Legends

I’ve always been fascinated by mythology and legend. If you look back through the history of human kind, one of the common elements of all great cultures is the need to explain their world as they understand it. Belief systems and such like differ from civilisation to civilisation but the fundamental truth is that everyone is trying to find a framework into which the observable world fits. All the great empires and societies had something along these lines and it is fascinating to delve into and pick your way around them.

So this week’s small offering covers a range of mythological and fantastical topics. We have Stephen Fry’s pair of (audio)books covering Greek Mythology, Mythos and Heroes and Neil Gaiman’s take on Norse Mythology

Mythos and Heroes by Stephen Fry (joint review)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2363136165

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2340134745

Once again, please feel free to point people towards these reviews (and this blog) if you enjoy them. I'm hoping to get a minimum of one batch out per week until I'm caught up - so there should be plenty for everyone.

Till next time,

DT

BOOK REVIEWS: Terry Pratchett Quintet

So it turns out that it has been 22 months since I last posted on this blog (which I originally called the "Daily Stream of Unconsciousness"). I've not exactly been as prolific as intended but - like gym memberships, diets and new starts in general - the turning over of the page to a new year seems as good an excuse as any to start back up.

I've got somewhere in the region of 50 books that I've read over the last 2 years that need reviews. This is going to take some time to catch-up so I thought I'd ease myself back in with a batch from the early part of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I did the Colour of Magic when I read it but have included it again here, along with books 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The Colour of Magic 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1939639505

The Light Fantastic

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1969311014

Equal Rites

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1997947925

Mort

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1997948332

Sourcery
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2003433844

Please feel free to point people towards these reviews (and this blog) if you enjoy them. I intend to get another batch out this week sometime so keep an eye out :-)

Till next time,

DT

BOOK REVIEW: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I’ve had the first instalment of Scott Lynch’s “Gentleman Bastards Sequence” on deck for a while now but finally decided to give it a whirl – and it was an entertaining whirl at that.

Set in a city which bears more than a passing resemblance to Venice (though last time I checked Venice’s canals and waterways were generally devoid of man-eating sharks) this follows the titular Locke Lamora and his Robin Hood-esque shenanigans.

Through flashbacks we learnt that Locke was a pickpocket in his early days, before he managed to cause such a commotion that his master was faced with the choice of killing him or farming him off on someone else. Luckily he manages to find a taker and Lamora eventually rises to lead a band of thieves and con-men – complete with a vast hoard of disguises and useful items which the previous owner acquired along the way. The existence of this stockpile allows Lynch to quickly take Locke wherever he needs to go in the narrative without needing to justify how – he needs a disguise, he has it at his disposal. Convenient but just about creditable so I’ll live with it.

The present-day portion of the story itself is pretty simple. Locke and his Gentleman Bastards plan a sting which will deprive some rich Duke of a significant portion of his wealth, but end up embroiled in a much messier revenge plot which threatens the very fabric of their society – not to mention the very fabric of their own being. Pretty standard fayre, no attempt to reinvent the wheel.

The flashbacks are good, with Lynch injecting them into the present day narrative without feeling too much like he is info-dumping. We get enough of Locke’s history to allow us to understand his motivations and why he makes certain decisions, but those elements that are not necessary to the narrative are kept hidden.

Generally, the whole thing is nicely done and the stage that Lynch has created for the story to play out on has had plenty of care and attention shown to it. The timescale is quite short (and things happen at a fair rate) but the pacing is good, allowing time to absorb details and elements of the world and the people in it – whilst at the same time hastening towards the denouement. You do kind of know how this is going to play out but there are a couple of neat twists in there along the way.

Character-wise there is nothing earth shattering here. Locke is a charming rogue, a master of disguise and someone who you find yourself rooting for. Even when his less savoury elements surface, Lynch has made sure that a justification is in place so we never see a true descent into darkness. The rest of his gang are pretty typical; you’ve got muscle (Jean), comic relief with a vicious twist (the twins) and the naivety of youth (Bug). The bad guys are pretty unpleasant (but not lacking a justified motivation) and the cast is small enough to allow the story to clip along. I felt some of the supporting characters were a little lacking in depth but it’s also a nice change to not have pages and pages of description staring back at you so I’ll take the hit in this instance.

Scott doesn’t shy away from bad things happening to people and there is a distinct level of unpleasantness, filth and cruelty when there needs to be. This isn’t a particularly pleasant place to live and the rotten elements are not shied away from. Plus there are some seriously angry and messed-up people in this story, and pretty gruesome fates are met by more than one main player.

Overall I enjoyed this. It didn’t feel as though anything new was presented here in terms of narrative or plot, but Lynch’s writing makes this a better example than most. The main characters are compelling enough for you to care what happens to them and the pacing means you are always engaged in the journey as well as the final destination.

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5

Till next time,

DT

BOOK REVIEWS: The Colour of Magic (Discworld #1) by Sir Terry Pratchett

I rarely re-read books. It’s not that I don’t find books I want to read more than once, more that there are so many out there to read for the first time that going over old ground doesn’t seem the best use of time. So it is slightly against form that I’ve decided to embark on reading the full Discworld cycle over again. Twenty years at least have passed since the last time I read some of these so it’ll be interesting to see how things have changed.

One thing I did remember is that it takes a while for Pratchett to truly get into his style and rhythm and so I wasn’t expecting the Colour of Magic to blow me away – and it didn’t. I wouldn’t say it is a bad book, but I know there are better ones in the series to come.

I’ll be honest and confess to skimming through large chunks of this because I vaguely remember the details and also because I know from later experiences “how” to read Pratchett – when to skim, when something is important, when he is merely having a bit of fun etc.

As a result it was so hard to objectively look at this and judge it on its own merits. It was a really strange feeling reading it - I felt myself filling bits of information in that I wouldn’t have known the first time I read this and I don’t know whether that helped or hindered. It is no doubt exceptionally difficult to review a book in isolation when you know it is part of a (in this case) 40+ long series, and especially when you’ve read the vast majority of the later instalments.

Considered on its own though, I guess the Colour of Magic is reasonably enjoyable but it certainly isn’t a classic or a must-read. The characters are likeable enough though in need of a bit more layering at this early stage in their existence. Rincewind obviously grows significantly in the later stories but he is a bit one dimensional at this point. The luggage was, I thought, underused but the rest are pretty forgettable if I’m honest.

The narrative is essentially a take on the “buddy” movie, though with definite reluctance on the side of one of the “buddies”. It’s pretty superficial as a whole but there are some genuinely funny moments.

Pratchett’s style of spoofing real life via the fantasy genre was way ahead of its time, though the Colour of Magic isn’t the best example of his work. There are hints here though of what we eventually come to learn (which is that Sir Terry was a shrewd observer of real life and could tell a story with the best of them) though this sputters more than it roars. The Discworld itself felt hugely underdeveloped though again this may be just in comparison to what it becomes.

As a standalone this is undoubtedly not the finished article, and it is fair to say that Pratchett was certainly on a learning curve when this was written. But there are enough moments of genius here to intrigue and I obviously must have liked it enough first time around to keep going with the rest.

Verdict: 3.5 stars out of 5

Till next time,

DT

BOOK REVIEWS: Swords, Sourcery and Something Else Entirely!

It's been a long time coming for various reasons but I'm back with a trilogy of recent reads (though in two cases I cheated slightly and got someone else to read the for me via the delights of audiobooks)!!

We've got the penultimate part of John Gwynne's Faithful and the Fallen series (the "swords"), the opener to Melissa McPhail's intriguing A Pattern of Shadow & Light (the "sourcery") and Dyrk Ashton's entry to Mark Lawrence's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) which definitely falls into the "something else entirely" category.

The reviews are hosted via the following links at Goodreads, who I REALLY wish would give the option to rate at 4.5 stars instead of being stuck with whole numbers!

As always, any comments of ANY description are welcome and if you like the reviews please feel free to direct people to them and share them around. 

Ruin (Book 3 of The Faithful and the Fallen) by John Gwynne

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1438269759

Cephrael's Hand (Book 1 of A Pattern of Shadow and Light) by Melissa McPhail

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1176651230

Paternus by Dyrk Ashton 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1782833653

Till next time,

DT