I was also surprised to see (in my Kindle version) the publisher had not included links to suicide support lines. There is his mother Jean, ex girlfriend now living in Germany Michaela, his flat mate Steffi, best friend Karl and his estranged sister Sal, who is living in Melbourne. Although you can add these users to your Contacts list in the same way you add federated users, you won’t see presence information for them.

Contacts Book - Etsy UK Contacts Book - Etsy UK

He takes an overnight sleeper train from London to Edinburgh - a journey of sentimental childhood memory for him – with the intention of committing suicide when he arrives. The book then reveals with how his contacts deal with the news and, in flashback, how he came to be in such a sorry state. His friendship with fellow techie turned taxi entrepreneur Karl has ended, his girlfriend Michaela has dumped him in favour of Berlin gallery owner Phillip and his once close relationship with sister Sally has long since expired. The novel then focuses on James’ journey and the reactions, and actions, of five people on the list, namely his sister, mother, ex-GF, ex-boss, and flatmate. For example, create a contact list named My Book Club and add all the members of your book club to it.

I would have liked if Mark Watson focused on the present with all the messages, rather than focusing on the past. It will not turn you into a blubbering mess; instead you’ll find yourself chuckling along with these characters as they account for the significant roles they’ve played in this man’s life. It is a thought provoking narrative sugar coated in humour that dare I say I found enjoyable and highly readable. After seeing that Hadden is apparently dead and the transmission has somehow been stopped without a 26-year delay, government officials accuse the travellers of an international conspiracy. His books have the same blend of offbeat creativity, humour and thoughtfulness that characterises his stand-up.

Contact (novel) - Wikipedia Contact (novel) - Wikipedia

His partner has left him, he no longer speaks to his sister or best mate, and he's just lost his job. On the People page, select two or more contacts, and then select Link contacts in the panel that appears. Later measurements from the Hipparcos satellite have re-established the distance to Vega at 25 light years. Contacts by Mark Watson has such a unique premise and I was intrigued on how it was going to play out. Without becoming too deep or analytical this is a storyline about communication on all levels, meaningful or otherwise.

The question of who takes responsibility for James’ predicament, who decides to do something proactive and who excuses themselves from the responsibility, all this is masterfully explored by Watson. The film concept was subsequently revived and eventually released in 1997 as the film Contact starring Jodie Foster. And I was surprised that despite my anger at the main character, the further I got into the book the more it managed to also make me feel sympathetic towards him and put aside my anger.