Three days ago, I finished ”’Half-Blood Prince” (HBP), which completes the second time I’ve read the first six books.

It is such a compelling story, plus it’s fun to do a bit of sleuthing.

Right now, I’m trying to calm down from my Harry Potter high, and move on. It’s not easy.

Kid at heart, I adore fantasy … coupled with a magical world … heaven.

The fated romance adds a ticklish element … though this series does not need it.

This 16-hour (I believe) made for TV series has finally come out on DVD.

My husband and I watched a couple in the series out of sequence, which we could reserve from our local public library.

That’s a frustrating way to view something that needs to be chronologically.

Now we can do this!

Please take the link to amazon’s page on this series.

I loved the prose and the way Martin Cruz Smith describes Moscow, its architecture, landscape, people, culture, life outside the big city and Siberia so much that two-thirds through my first reading of this book, I decided to stop and start over from the beginning.

I couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted to absorb Smith’s acute view of life in the U.S.S.R.

Reading about the Soviet Union during the late 1970s/early 1980s, before the iron curtain fell, is an amazing journey. So different from life in the U.S. during that time, yet the people have the same desires/wants/needs.

It’s an incredible study of communism and capitalism.

Two nights ago, we saw the final DVD of this installment.

“49 and up” was broadcast a few months ago in England. We’ve loved the entire series and can’t wait for this next installment to be released on DVD.

Such a fascinating series. You can’t help but contemplate your own life and the various stages you’ve been through.

I especially enjoyed watching these documentaries back-to-back via netflix. Though it would be nice to go back and see the first segment again. Without mention, I believe, one person has disappeared from the group. Two others have not been in most of the newer installments, one because he is a journalist in Britain. The traditional rule of journalism is to stay behind the camera, pen, broadcast, not become a part of the news.

... “7 Plus Seven,” “21” and “28 Up.”

They’ve been great.

The first one is of 14 British kids at the age of seven. Each is interviewed. They come from all socio-economic backgrounds.

The CD also includes the next installment filmed seven years later when the kids are … 14.

It’s neat to see how they’ve changed or stayed the same. To see them in their awkward teens. To hear about their dreams, expectations, views on the world.

“21” starts to get a little dark. Some lives don’t go as expected. That’s what life is all about.

“28 Up” is a great mix of light and dark. Lives change again and/or stay the same.

It’s really quite fascinating to watch this series and see how these once seven-year-olds grow and evolve.

The quote of the program is:

“Give me a seven year old, and I’ll give you the man.”

If you love sociology, psychology, et al, you’ll love this series.

I hope they interview these people within the next year, because they will 49 years old.

yes, this is the book, not the audio cd.

the book, not the audio CD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066356/

This series can be rented on DVD from at least netflix.

well worth the read.

like, Walden, this book was introduced to me in high school. Then in college, I took that class which devoted a third of the semester on this book.

and like many books assigned in class, one is asked to read excerpts of the book, not the entire book.

i hope to finish it some day.

Another all-time favorite book.

This book transformed my life, and continues to do so.

I hope to re-read it.

Had to read this book in high school, and then in college took a class that devoted a third of the semester of this book.