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.

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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