2023 was the year I ran a marathon in under 3h45m and climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Let's break it down a bit more:

• 2 holidays away - Norfolk with friends in April, and Tuscany by myself in September (my first trip abroad in over 4 years!)
• 1 new arrival in the family - my cousin's baby daughter, Isobel
• 1,023km run - including 1 marathon (setting ( Read more... )

I enjoyed working my way through the entirety of Neil Gaiman's Sandman and all its various spin-offs this year. Beyond that, my reading has been pretty pathetic really - barely more than a book a month! I blame the internet... ;o)

• The Sandman (Neil Gaiman et al)
• What Abigail Did That Summer (Ben Aaronovitch)
• Ready Player Two (Ernest Cline)
• The ( Read more... )

As was the case in 2020, 2021 was another year in which I haven't read as many books as I normally would. I was puzzled by this last year, given all the tedious extra free time I had. However, I reckon I've cracked the reason now - It's because I've tended to do a lot of my reading on trains and trams, and far less travelling has meant far less ( Read more... )

I really can't use last year's excuse of life getting in the way, but I've read surprisingly few books during this strangest of years. Possibly because my mental health's not been great for a lot of the year, and I've found it hard to concentrate. I have also been spending far more time outdoors than in a normal year - when you feel trapped at home ( Read more... )

Life got in the way of my reading time quite a bit this year. I haven't read nearly so many books as I have in previous years, but I still managed to fit in the following:

• Norse Mythology (Neil Gaiman) - I want to sit around a campfire, listening to Neil Gaiman tell stories. This is as close as I'm likely to get.
• The Accidental Further Adventures ( Read more... )

In-between trips to Leeds last week, I went to a lecture at Sheffield Uni by Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveller's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry.

It had the slightly long-winded title, "Work habits: creative procrastination, endless coffee breaks, some thoughts on headphones, or how I eventually managed to overcome inertia and finish ( Read more... )

As I mentioned a year ago, I wanted to spend some time in 2018 actually re-reading some of the books I've already got, rather than merely devouring new ones. And I did. This year, I have re-read:

• His Dark Materials et al (Philip Pullman)
• all of The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher) - now please hurry up and finish writing Peace Talks, Jim!
• Gulliver's ( Read more... )

For the last five years, I've been reading at least one new (to me) Terry Pratchett book each month. Sadly, after 75 books, I have now finally run out. I saved The Shepherd's Crown until last. It was emotional and it did not disappoint. 2017's full Pratchett run consisted of:

• The Unadulterated Cat
• Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook
• The World of Poo
• The Folklore ( Read more... )

I went to an entertaining talk with Ben Aaronovitch this evening as part of Sheffield Uni's Arts & Humanities Festival. He was interviewed by a literature professor for an hour and then took (loads of) audience questions ( Read more... )

Slightly fewer than in 2015, but I easily managed my self-imposed target of two books a month last year, even if I discount graphic novels and non-fiction. I also continued my "one new Pratchett a month" marathon, which sadly I will run out of material for some time this coming year ( Read more... )