Birdy is a 1984 film starring Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage. It's one of those films you stumble into when idly clicking through the channels .... leaves you a bit brain numb. My dreams took a tangent after this film.

I've only read 2 books in the past 30 years. Had nothing to do one rainy day on Flinders Island. This was sitting on a window ledge..... funny in the way of .. building up tension till you can't bear to turn the page.
After reading this book I changed my life... copied the fictional Herriot and hit the road.... wonder what I'll read next.

A life changing book when I was in my late teens and struggling with identity and meaning, and discovering thought. Who needs drugs when you can have your mind stretched by someone this intelligent, yet willing to be personal.. extraordinary.

My favourite all time book. This book and its sequel, Gormenghast are the pinnacle of the art of descriptive narrative and fantasy. Peake's excellence makes some other pretenders like Tolkein pale into insignificance.