September’s been and gone in a flash, it seems. Maybe it’s because, working in the retail industry, everything is a rush for Black Friday and Christmas that makes everything fly past in no time! I got to travel again this month, though, so that always helps!
Very slight progress this month. I’ve added a few lines here and there to my next short story, nothing of note, though. Just feels nice to slowly feel my way back into writing! Another little project is taking shape in the wings, though, so watch this space!
S. by Doug Dourst and J.J. Abrams
What a fascinating book and a unique concept this one turned out to be. With a concept from film director J.J. Abrams, Doug Dourst has created something wild with S. It’s a “fake book” called The Ship of Theseus by a fictitious author, and Dourst has created a full novel here. But the real story is the tale of two strangers who share their love for the author’s works and try to unravel the mystery of his identity through notes in the margins. It comes complete with a tonne of inserts such as letters, newspaper clippings and napkin maps between the two protagonists as their relationship at arm’s length grows and develops. Both stories are brilliant in their own ways, but what’s been created here is fascinating. It even features library stamps on the back inside cover, and a Dewey Decimal label on the spine for added feel!
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré
As one of the best examples of British spy fiction, I thought I’d give this classic a go. It follows members of the British Secret Service as they try to uncover a Soviet mole in their ranks. It follows a few different side threads as they pursue their man. Sadly, it made for a dry book that I struggled to follow. By the end, I didn’t feel any sense of satisfaction or anything, just a sense of relief that it was over.
Trigger Point – Season 4
Trigger Point returns with more drama than ever before. It’s gritty, action-packed, and tense from the word go. This season intersperses some elements of looking back in time and at the present, which I actually really enjoyed. The team are locked in a race against time, defusing bombs and ultimately seeking to uncover a bigger plot. The finale amps up the tension with an even bigger risk set to go off at a major sporting event in the heart of London. No matter how over the top the storylines or the plots the team have to deal with become, I still love this series for pure entertainment value.
Vigil – Season 3
Another gritty series making a return with Vigil. The first season was epic, but I remember thinking how they would be able to do future seasons given the reason behind its naming. Instead, they’ve done it twice, and this latest season still knocked it out of the park. Set in the Arctic Ocean on the island of Svalbard. With no “accepted” military presence, a body turns up. Hostilities build between the locals working there, the Russians, British and Chinese. Things ramp up as a Chinese scientist finds herself the centre of a kidnapping plot following her discovery of a potential form of clean energy. It was filled with action, intrigue, political machinations and plenty of hostile Nordic scenery to make a brilliant piece of TV entertainment.
Killing Eve – Season 1
A little late to the party, but WOW! I’m obsessed! I’ve watched Sandra Oh in Grey’s over the years, so I knew her work, but I love her character in this series. But the obvious star of this is Jodie Comer’s Villanelle. Strangely innocent and childlike, yet so aggressive and bloodthirsty, she takes the assassin-for-hire to a whole new level. Rather than cold, clinical, and professional, she takes enjoyment and glee from each kill, which makes her one of the most likeable villains I’ve come across. We binged the first season in no time, so I cannot wait to dive in and see more of this series.
Bookish – Season 2
I was so happy to see this wonderfully cosy series return for a second season. It follows Gabriel Book, an eccentric bookstore owner who ends up solving murders with his extensive knowledge. I know that Mark Gatiss is an acquired taste, but in this series, I’m a big fan. It’s a light series despite the crimes he solves, and though it’s a much deeper series this time, especially following revelations in series one, this second outing is no less wonderful. The characters and story are so well crafted that it makes for brilliant viewing for an evening!
Ludwig – Season 2
Another fantastic series with plenty of quirky elements making for a fun dark comedy. David Mitchell is brilliant as the socially awkward titular character, a puzzle setter who finds himself pretending to be his detective brother after he disappears mysteriously. Alongside his sister-in-law, played by the fantastic Anna Maxwell Martin and his nephew, Ludwig helps the police to solve crimes. In the second season, Ludwig’s identity is now known to the police, and he continues to aid them as a consultant, using his analytical mind, while working with his family to uncover what happened to his missing brother. Something about this series is a fun, cosy watch with plenty of dark humour and intriguing mysteries to be uncovered.
Valheim
Such a fun game, Valheim offers a fun Viking open-world setting to explore. Build a base, battle ethereal gods and challenging Nordic enemies. The world is varied and feels alive; the threats feel challenging, and the boss battles are epic. I’ve always been a fan of Viking history, so getting tidbits of Viking lore through the game makes it all the more impressive. And the base building is so fun, I could lose hours to that element alone.
Dune: Awakening
Now this game has me hooked. Ever since the recent films, I’ve become a real fan of Dune. I love the lore and all of the history there is in it to build on. Made by Funcom (developers of Conan Exiles), I kind of knew what to expect. Missions to carry out, a hostile world to explore and bases to be built. And a lot of grinding to level and upgrade EVERYTHING. And yet, it’s so much better! While Conan had a large map with varying biomes from deserts to mountains, icy tundra and burning volcanoes, the world of Dune: Awakening is all desert, just in varying degrees of searing heat. The name of the game is building a base as you meet the various factions of the Dune world, while balancing water collection and hydration, grinding resources and exploring a world filled with lore. It’s a strangely beautiful game for such an arid location, and I’ve already lost numerous hours to this one!
Luzerne, Switzerland
In September, my wife and I took a trip to Luzern in Switzerland. I’ve never been anywhere so beautiful! A stunning, historic city, mountains and the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen. It was a wonderful place with spectacular scenery, and the food was something special too!
And just like that, it’s October! I’ll have some more project news for you, hopefully next month!
You can keep up with what I’m up to on Instagram, Facebook, The StoryGraph, Threads, and sign up for my Newsletter to get my blog posts delivered directly to your inbox!
