book: Lee Child “The Midnight Line”

Jack is back!  Many years ago I lived opposite a coffee shop full of second hand books for sale or swap and a very enthusiastic owner, Lou.  The first time I asked her for advice on what to read next she just walked around the counter and handed me Lee Child’s first novel (Killing Floor).  I worked my way through his back catalogue and get every new book when released.

The movies are good but the books are fantastic.

I am always amazed at how minimalist Lee Child’s writing is – he has the lightest of touch in describing Reacher, the situations he gets in and all those involved.

This story starts when Reacher sees a graduation ring from West Point in a pawn shop.  He buys it and starts to trace the owner knowing that this isn’t something that would be given up easily.

Review of 2017

The annual summary of stuff wot I have blogged about…

(see also 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 )

This blog originally included a lot more about what I did or thought, now it is mainly ‘reviews’ of books read and only really so that I can check if I have already read something.  Enjoy…

Movies watched at Cinema (well this year was two trips to the little cinema at Crieff Hydro, but every little counts)

• March: Dr Strange
• March: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Events (anything significant to remember)

• 12 Nov: Alice Cooper SSE Hydro

Cycling

• 2017 totals:
  331 rides
  169 days active
  153 hours
  1749 miles
  63635 ft gain
• 26th March 2017: Wattbike No Excuses Falkirk Sportive
  : 45 miles : Moving 3h:58 : Total 5h:26
  : Elevation 2416 ft : Av Speed: 11.4 mph : Max Speed: 34.4 mph
• 29th April 2017: Tearfund Drumlanrig Challenge
  : 57 miles : Moving 4h:42 : Total 5h:21
  : Elevation: 3040 ft : Av Speed: 12.2 mph : Max Speed: 30 mph
• 10th Sept 2017: Pedal for Scotland
  : 45 miles : Moving 3h:34 : Total 4h: 03
  : Elevation 2142ft : Av Speed: 12.3mph : Max Speed: 33 mph

BOOKS read this year….

• Jan: Robert Crais “The Sentry”
• Jan: Robert Crais “Taken”
• Feb: Robert Crais “Suspect”
• Feb: Robert Crais “The Promise”
• March: Nelson DeMille “Plumb Island”
• March: Lee Child “Make Me”
• March: David Millar “Racing Through the Dark: The Fall and Rise of David Millar”
• April: Chris Froome “The Climb: The Autobiography”
• May: Nelson DeMille “The Lion’s Game”
• May: Paul Stanley “Face the Music”
• June: Nelson DeMille “Night Fall”
• July: Nelson DeMille “Wild Fire”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “The Lion”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “The Panther”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “Radiant Angel”
• Aug: Michael Connelly “The Wrong Side of Goodbye”
• Aug: James Lee Burke “Lay Down My Sword and Shield”
• Aug: Lawrence Block “Sins of the Father”
• Sep: Lawrence Block “In the Midst of Death” (Matthew Scudder 2)
• Sep: Lawrence Block “Time to Murder and Create” (Matthew Scudder 3)
• Sep: Lawrence Block “A Stab in the Dark” (Matthew Scudder 4)
• Dec: Lawrence Block “Eight Million Ways to Die” (Matthew Scudder 5)
• Dec: Lawrence Block “When the Sacred Ginmill Closes” (Matthew Scudder 6)
• Dec: Michael Connelly “Two Kinds Of Truth”
• Dec: Leslie Charteris “Enter The Saint”

Holidays…

• Feb: Dunoon (50th long weekend)
• March: Crieff Hydro
• June: Craig Tara caravan weekend
• (June: Lewis went camping with Granny and Grandpa)
• July: Lake District
• July: Isle of Lewis
• Sept: Tayview Lodges with Reddicks
• Oct: Sa Coma, Mallorca (First foreign family holiday)

Other Highlights:

• Jan: started YouTube channel for Gaelic Nursery Books
• Feb: new bike – Specialised Diverge A1
• Turned 50!
• April: Lewis 4
• April: Resigned from Vestry and left St Silas after 25 years
• June: New Dishwasher
• Aug: New Washing Machine
• Oct: Sa Coma, Mallorca First foreign family holiday
• Nov: Rachel 1
• Nov: Rachel Dedicated (and we joined) APBC
• Dec: Joined Parent Council at SGG

Youtube uploads:

• April: Easter Egg Hunt
• Sept: Jurassic Kingdom
• Dec: Alice Cooper Hydro Nov 2017
• ..but also started a new channel for Gaelic Nursery Books

Running Totals:

• 2009 – 23 books – 6 Movies – 4 gigs/events
• 2010 – 33 books – 13 Movies – 10 gigs/events – 6 meals – 4 holidays
• 2011 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 1 meals – 3 holidays
• 2012 – 16 books – 7 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 3 meals – 4 holidays
• 2013 – 8 books – 2 Movies – 0 gigs/events – 1 meals – 2 holidays – 1 Son
• 2014 – 1 books – 3 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 4 holidays
• 2015 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 3 holidays – 6 videos
• 2016 – 34 books – 2 Movies – 1 events – 4 holidays – 4 videos – 1416 miles cycled – 1 daughter
• 2017 – 25 books – 2 Movies – 1 event – 7 holidays – 3 videos – 1749 miles cycled