I remember reading The Shoes of the Fisherman years ago.
If memory serves, a movie of that title was also made at the time.
My brother and I both missed Conclave, unfortunately, although it received excellent reviews.
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If memory serves, a movie of that title was also made at the time.
My brother and I both missed Conclave, unfortunately, although it received excellent reviews.
Read the book when it first came out - decent enough but personally a found it a bit meh, but that might just be me*. Was very surprised they turned it into a film and was even more surprised as to how good it sounded... Perhaps a rare case of the film being better than the book? I haven't seen it - have been sort of waiting for it to come out free on a streaming service but I suspect I'm now going to have to wait a bit longer now...
* Since Fatherland I was always a great fan of Robert Harris but felt he had gone off in recent years - I had really looked forward to his book The Second Sleep but thought it was utterly awful (IMO), derivative with plot holes you could drive a bus through... Things seem to have improved a bit with Act of Oblivion (and went to see him talk about that one live) so I guess YMMV.
Actually, I agree with you.
Moreover, I think that the book (along with much that Morris West wrote - The Devil's Advocate is a rare exception) is very dated, and doesn't really stand the test of time.
However, the fact that West was himself a Catholic (and had spent time in Italy) did give him a nuanced understanding of how things actually worked within the Catholic Church.
In the early 1960s - with the Second Vatican Council - I think the idea of a non-Italian pope (and one from behind the Iron Curtain, at that) contributed to the interest that the book generated.
No.
Unfortunately, my own personal view is that the film (movie) is equally dated. (Yes, I watched it years ago).
Personally, I wouldn't recommend wasting my time on it.
Again, unfortunately, I agree with you.
Some of his earlier stuff was excellent, but now, yes, sigh...
In that case, I shall heed your counsel.
Fair enough.
I think perhaps he was a bit like a much more productive Donna Tartt - as he too had one really exceptional book in him … 😉
Again, I agree with you.
Agreed, Donna Tartt's first book was an absolute tour de force.
And anything she has published since, has fallen far short of that compelling work.
However, I think that this is more prevalent than we realise:
For example, I would argue that Ken Follett has written just one really superb book (The Pillars of the Earth); I still read anything he publishes, but nothing comes close - or has come close - to the the sheer narrative sweep and power of The Pillars of the Earth.
Likewise, Louis de Bernieres - everything since Captain Corelli's Mandolin - which worked wonderfully well on a number of different levels - has been a pale (and underwhelming) experience.
How much I loathe (detest, utterly abominate) emojis is on my mind.
If possible, I would disable them completely, in each, every and all (online) communications.
For the first time in my life, I clicked on one by mistake (an outgoing email) - and am still (exceedingly) annoyed more than two hours later.
If possible, I would disable them completely, in each, every and all (online) communications.
For the first time in my life, I clicked on one by mistake (an outgoing email) - and am still (exceedingly) annoyed more than two hours later.
I use emojis VERY sparingly. Actually, I think it's been about 4 or 5 months since I've used one.
I just spent $40 on chocolate. 😦 I guess I can't complain about the economy.
It was Dubai chocolate, the kind with pistachio paste inside. So good. And it was also a limited-time only thing. That's how they get you...
It was Dubai chocolate, the kind with pistachio paste inside. So good. And it was also a limited-time only thing. That's how they get you...
What I think is worse than emojis is people using memojis to represent themselves online. Don't the users realize that most of those things look pretty much alike and really do not individualize anyone?
I agree (even though I’m guilty of this). I think it would be weird if everyone used them. I just don’t want my actual face, nor do I want a picture of a piano or something. So it would be the best option besides the purple “R” I had back when I first created this account.
I absolutely am never going to use a photo of myself as an avatar, nor any Memoji anywhere..... I tend to use an avatar which most fits the site in which I'm participating. Here at MR I've been using what I call the "Sparkly Apple" (it actually was a .gif and back in the day really did twinkle and sparkle prior to changes in our MR platform and host system. It was a gift from a former member of MR not too long after I had been around for long enough (had made 500 posts) to earn the privilege of my first avatar. At that time I had no clue as to how to go about this and she generously helped me out. This will always be my MR avatar.
On other sites in which I participate, since most of them are photography-related I tend to use one of the photos I've shot, usually something which fits in well with the overall ambience of each group, and occasionally I refresh one or more of them.
On other sites in which I participate, since most of them are photography-related I tend to use one of the photos I've shot, usually something which fits in well with the overall ambience of each group, and occasionally I refresh one or more of them.
Yeah, I was gonna ask—how much chocolate was it? If just a small amount, that’s definitely pricey!
I haven’t changed my avatar on here in quite awhile. I probably won’t cause I think it works. I also really have nothing to change it to. I also haven’t changed my Facebook profile picture ever. It’s always been one (real) photo of me—the best professional headshot I have. On Instagram, until very recently, I had a picture taken upwards of my face (the photographer was crouched down beside the piano when he took it) that is an equally good picture. But I wanted something a little different, so I changed it to a picture of me when I visited the Pacific Northwest over spring break.
Though I will say, the Memoji on here is pretty accurate to how I look.
At work I use a professional headshot for Teams and Outlook. A number of my colleagues use very crappy photos. Selfies and the like. But considering I work at a company that sells photographic equipment it always amazes me that they either don’t bother with a photo or use a rubbish quality one.
Very odd.
On here I’ve used my current avatar for years. It’s a drawing my daughter did when she was with us combined with a photo of mine. I’m unlikely to change it for sentimental reasons.
Very odd.
On here I’ve used my current avatar for years. It’s a drawing my daughter did when she was with us combined with a photo of mine. I’m unlikely to change it for sentimental reasons.
It was two big chocolate bars. I’ve only eaten half of one of them so far. By weight the price seems about right. I couldn’t resist the appeal of rare, imported chocolate
And I’ll probably never change my avatar here either. Besides, it does kinda look like me
Yes, I have read about this chocolate.
This week, when dining with my brother, for dessert, we shared a slice of a pistachio cream cake, which the staff confirmed was exceedingly popular (not to mention, rather fashionable).
As normally, I don't much care for cake, I wanted to see what this thing tasted like; yes, it was delicious, but no, it is not the sort of thing I would seek out on a regular basis.
Professionally, yes, on occasion, I have used a professional headshot, and cannot understand - in a professional context, or setting, - why others wouldn't do likewise.
Here, and elsewhere online, I use a coffee avatar, - kindly gifted by another member who used to regularly post in the coffee thread - not least because anyone who knows me - and this has been the case since I was an adolescent (even earlier, as a child) knows of my passion for coffee.
Moreover, I am a pretty active participant in the coffee threads here, posting there regularly.
Same here 😂 hate to show my face in the online spaces!
I use pics of my favourite singers and rappers instead.
Or Apple Watches ⌚️ and Apple products
I'm so glad to be in a comfortable home. My last apartment I hated with a passion. I was uncomfortable there due to the enormous amount of bugs 🤮and didn't think I would be able to get out. Ended up taking a different position at my job and was able to afford this new place. I am so happy.
Nice, did you get housing assistance?
Mold and pests in a house is indeed annoying tbh.
I have to agree with you, @Scepticalscribe. "Pillars of the Earth" is my absolute favorite book (and I'm an avid reader). I read "World Without End" with high expectations but it fell short for me. There are other books that I really enjoyed, but nothing comes close to Pillars.
Why is a pizza round, being given in a square box and you eat it as triangle...
What is on my mind: does the light in a freezer get turned off by a penguin?
What is on my mind: does the light in a freezer get turned off by a penguin?
Nothing in life is more stressful than not having a warm comfortable safe home to live in.
Enjoy your new space.