First half was fun, witty, well written, surprising and interesting. Second half was self indulgent rubbish that spoiled the whole premise.

Yes.

Did anyone watch Deutschland 83 last night on Channel 4?
A German spy drama set in the early 80s and quite interesting, I thought.

It looks interesting. I've recorded both that one and 'War & Peace' to view when I get round to it.

Re 'Sherlock'.

Agree with most of the sentiments expressed here. I was enjoying the Victorian stuff (it felt like a loveable self-parody but got quite gripping) and really felt cheated by the dream explanation. I've read comments suggesting that

but that could have been done in a modern setting.

You didn't wonder where all the horses had come from, maybe?

War & Peace. Pretty good, although I'm not keen on the way everyone has to be referred to by their full names, even when just in conversation with each other.

When I was (even more) pretentious as a teenager I read War and Peace just so I could say I had. There were about 8 people all called Pierre, or Peter or Pietr, and loads of Anna, Anne, Ana (memory is hazy now) but it was bloody confusing.

In One Hundred Years of Solitude Colonel Aureliano Buendía is the father of Aureliano José, and of seventeen sons each named Aureliano, by seventeen different women.

It's my second favourite book of all time.

It's full of magic.

No, because Harry Potter is bloody awful as a series of pieces of literature.

You've just said you cannot comment.

All I can say is this: nine of them are my second favourite book of all time.

Anyway, to the book that was actually being talked about, it is magic. 'Magical Realism' to be more precise. Mundane settings for a wonderful storyline in which magical happenings (people unexpectedly turning into a cloud of yellow butterflies, or floating into the clouds whilst hanging out the washing) are just accepted as part of the day's events. The book itself is lovely, and a wonderful place to escape to.

You've just said you cannot comment.

You read a different copy of War and Peace to me

No, because Harry Potter is bloody awful as a series of pieces of literature.

Yep, totally overrated. I don't dislike the story, but the literary style isn't great.

We don't have a wireless thread but last night's episode of 'The Archers' was the creepiest yet in the ongoing Helen/Rob storyline. Course, I knew he was evil two years ago.

I hope they don't get rid of him, he's splendidly creepy.

This! It's a superb performance, and a well-written character. I was in the cinema the other week and I convinced myself that he was the mystery voice doing the 'turn your phone off' annoucement.

Mimi, I'm very pleased that today's kids use the term 'wireless', even if they don't mean steam radio.

How is it possible that in this day and age* we don't have a thread for the wireless?

*1951?

We watched a BBC junk TV thing called 'who's the Boss?' Or something similar, about team hiring of a new position at Brewdog.

Man, what an insufferable bunch of knobs. The CEO was just a giant penis employing a load of beards with jeans that were too tight.