- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest
- The Big Sleep
- 127 Hours
- The Way Back
- The King's Speech
- Black Swan
- The Fighter
- True Grit
- Never Let Me Go
- Source Code
- Boy
- Bridesmaids
- Sarah's Key
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- The Ides of March
- The Help
- Wuthering Heights
- Hugo 3D
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Movies what I saw in 2011...
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
And so Christmas rolls around again...
Christmas was a slightly different affair this year with no Maya to spend it with. Fortunately for me (although not for Maya and Chris), Chris was still waiting for his visa, so he came to mine and we hung out together. Double bonus for me, as it meant I had a resident cook :-). It was a very quiet, laid back affair - lots of eating and watching rubbish TV - just a usual Christmas for me! Particularly enjoyed the back-to-back episodes of 'The World's Strongest Man' that we watched on Christmas Day! Oh - and Top Gear... and Dr Who....
And the books...
December 2011
The Good, The Bad and the Multi-plex - Mark Kermode
As a complete change to vampires, I went to the good Dr's second book. I'm a huge fan of Mark Kermode/Simon Mayo's film podcast from 5Live (and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't listen to it!) and when Tracey was over in London in September we went to see Mark K do a reading from his book. I think Tracey was quite a convert to him :-). This book was as good as his first one (It's Only A Movie) - and is somewhat akin to reading his 'rants' from the radio. And in a nice bit of continuity, there are a few references to Kim Newman in it - he's a horror movie expert and a friend of Mark K's :-). My only criticism of it would be that it had very long chapters with no natural breaks in them - not conducive to book reading on a train!
Anno Dracula - Kim Newman
Well this was a different sort of book to 'A Farewell to Arms'... The starting premise is that Dracula doesn't die in Bram Stoker's book but goes on to marry Queen Victoria. At the same time, Jack the Ripper is slaughtering new vampires in Whitechapel... I wasn't sure about it at the start - I could decide if I just thought it was derivative or not, but I ended up enjoying it. There were several character names that I recognised (eg Jekyll/Hyde, Mycroft etc) and I thought they were introduced very cleverly. At the end I was suprised to discover that this was published originally in 1992 and had just been reprinted. Obviously cashing in on the current vampire craze (he's written further books in the series as well), and I think in the future will no doubt pen one which references Twiglight, Buffy and True Blood - well he seemed to suggest that in the afterword. I'm not sure if I'll read the others - I can't quite decide how much I liked it - they could be good, or they could just be very samey. Well I certainly wouldn't buy them - maybe take them out from a library tho!
November 2011
A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
No I'm not doing a trawl through the classics... it just reads like that at the moment! I read this as Stresa (where I went with Tracey on holiday) features in it and we walked past the hotel the protagonist stays in every time we went to town so I thought it would be good to read it. Can't say I enjoyed it very much - very 'I did this. Then I did this. Then I went here.' style. I was talking to a (male) friend about it yesterday who loved it which sparked a bit of a discussion about female views vs male views, as he really can't get Jane Austen. So I know its a classic and all that, but I was a bit 'meh' about it all. There were some sections where the Italians were talking about the war which were great, but on the whole I was fairly underwhelmed... Not what you're meant to say about a classic I know!
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
For some reason I had never read this - I really don't understand why. But I bought it recently in Waterstone's final "3 for 2" offer - more out of desperation (needed a third book) and I thought it would be good to get a classic. I absolutely loved it - of course that is why it is a classic... but I did think it was brilliant. Although not a 'big' book it seemed to take a lot of reading. There was so much detail in the story telling and the characterisation, that I felt like I'd been reading it for ages, but was still barely into it. All of the characters were so well drawn - and the story felt very true as well. Assuming I'm not the last person to have read it - if you haven't I would really recommend that you do. Next up will be watching the film adaptation of it - amazingly it doesn't seem to have been remade since the 1962 version.
October 2011
Transition - Iain BanksIt took me a while to read this one as Tracey's visit coincided with the starting of it. I don't think I read another one in between. This was another birthday book - from this year, and from Lindsey. First time I've read Iain Banks for years and I LOVED it. A definite keeper, and a definite re-read as well. Not one of his sci-fi ones, but so clever, and despite taking a long time to read it I could still follow the story easily enough. Very clever twisty turny plot involving many different worlds, travellers between worlds, megalomania, right vs wrong. Really really enjoyed it - a great book to be given as it isn't one I would have picked up and read myself.
August 2011
Towards Another Summer - Janet FrameI think this is another birthday book as well - not from this year though - possibly from Fone? I have to admit I've not read much (possibly any) Janet Frame before. I liked this but found it quite tough going - for a couple of reasons. The book, although small, is quite heavy, with a stiff card cover and thick pages - obviously a lot of money went into its production. So despite being carried to and fro work in my bag it didn't look battered at all by the end, and in fact still looks quite untouched! It was written in 1963 but was not allowed to be published while JF was still alive - it is an autobiographical novel about a NZ writer living in London, how she is struggling to fit in, and tells the tale of her going up North for a weekend. Some of her descriptions of growing up in NZ really resonated with me - even though it was set long before I was born, there were aspects of it that I felt could have been describing my childhood. Captures NZ so well - a brilliant passage describing children singing the national anthem had me laughing out loud :-). A hard read, but definitely worth it, and definitely a keeper.
The Cookbook Collector - Allegra Goodman
This is one of my birthday books - a gift from Jackie. I enjoyed this - the story of two sisters and their journey to find love. It is set in the time of the dotcom boom, just before 9/11. The characters are well developed and she has a nice way of introducing a character, and you then get an alternative view of them further on in the book. A subplot about Hasidic jews is also cleverly done and I didn't see the twist coming with that one at all. This felt a bit like intelligent 'chick lit' but it is one I'll re-read, and would recommend it. Great holiday reading!
The Prince of Mist - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Another one borrowed from Kevin. This is by the author of 'The Shadow of the Wind' which has one of the best opening lines ever I think - “I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time.” However I'm not writing about that book... This was written a few years ago, and is aimed at the Young Adult market (one for my sister Leigh then!). Its good - not great, but good. A nice supernatural story (which I always like), but it just felt a bit undeveloped for me - maybe thats because its a translation. Its a nice,quick easy read however, so is worth a look.
July 2011The Night Book - Charlotte Grimshaw
I'm not quite sure who I got this one from - possibly Tracey? Anyhow - a book by a NZ author, looking at relationships between the characters and what links them. Questions the nature of love - between a father and his adopted daughter, the marriage of the next Prime Minister and the secrets within it, all the while mocking the National Party bigwigs. I really enjoyed it - didn't know what to expect as I hadn't read any of her stuff before. Evoked NZ very clearly for me, and the story had me hooked. Slightly ambiguous ending which I wasn't sure about, but on the whole it was really very good.
Cold Skin - Albert Sanchez PinolThis is one that Kevin lent me. Didn't enjoy it very much - the story was good, but I just didn't like the characters. Which for me is quite an important piece of whether I enjoy a book or not. But it was quite short, and very different from Wolf Hall so I persevered. It tells the story of two men on an uninhabited island at the edge of the Antarctic Circle. Or is it...?? Review from The Observer here. Next up will be one of my birthday books I think.
June 2011
Wolf Hall - Hilary MantelAbsolutely LOVED this book - so far it is definitely the best book of the year for me. So cleverly written - so funny and so interesting. Although I do have to admit thinking I was reading about Oliver Cromwell for a bit of it... :-). Definitely my recommendation of the year (to date)
May 2011
Trespass - Rose TremainNormally I like Rose Tremain's books, but this one just didn't work for me. Couldn't relate to the characters at all, and didn't like the story particularly either. I may have been slightly influenced by a friend telling me before I read it that she didn't like it, but this just didn't gel with me at all. One for the charity shops I think...
April 2011
The Passage - Justin Cronin
This is weird - I thought I'd updated this list since March... anyhow - so at some point in April I finished 'The Passage'. A well read book this one - came to me via Philippa, then went to Maya and then back to me. Big fat vampire read - I really enjoyed it. An easy read, but a good one. A book of two halves, but I'm looking forward to reading his next one. Bizarrely, it is only just being released here in the UK so there are lots of billboards advertising it at the mo - I got excited as I thought they were advertising the sequel...
March 2011
The Hand That First Held Mine - Maggie O'FarrellI've read all of MoF's books - she's one of my repeat authors. I really enjoyed this one - she has a way of writing great characters, and her stories really pull you in. This was both sad and uplifting at the same time - definitely recommend it (and her!).
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ - Philip PullmanVery good retelling of the story... Really quite thought provoking - good old PP puts the Christian story under the spotlight again. And who is 'The Stranger'???
The Season of the Witch - Natasha MostertBorrowed this off Kevin. For those who like supernatural type books it is worth a read. Gripping, good characters, good plot etc, but a nice light read at the same time.
Jan - Feb 2011
The Year of the Flood - Margaret AtwoodThis is actually Mhairi's copy - which I will return one day! Really enjoyed this - sort of a prequel/sequel to Oryx & Crake. Well worth a read.
The Lacuna - Barbara KingsolverStruggled with this one. Some of hers I like, but it took me ages to 'like' the character and I'm not good with books when I don't like anyone in it.
Fatherland - Robert HarrisXmas pressie from Maya. Sort of a detective novel, but set in a world where Germany won the second world war. That made it much more interesting, and it was done very cleverly.
The Good, The Bad and the Multi-plex - Mark Kermode
As a complete change to vampires, I went to the good Dr's second book. I'm a huge fan of Mark Kermode/Simon Mayo's film podcast from 5Live (and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't listen to it!) and when Tracey was over in London in September we went to see Mark K do a reading from his book. I think Tracey was quite a convert to him :-). This book was as good as his first one (It's Only A Movie) - and is somewhat akin to reading his 'rants' from the radio. And in a nice bit of continuity, there are a few references to Kim Newman in it - he's a horror movie expert and a friend of Mark K's :-). My only criticism of it would be that it had very long chapters with no natural breaks in them - not conducive to book reading on a train!
Anno Dracula - Kim Newman
Well this was a different sort of book to 'A Farewell to Arms'... The starting premise is that Dracula doesn't die in Bram Stoker's book but goes on to marry Queen Victoria. At the same time, Jack the Ripper is slaughtering new vampires in Whitechapel... I wasn't sure about it at the start - I could decide if I just thought it was derivative or not, but I ended up enjoying it. There were several character names that I recognised (eg Jekyll/Hyde, Mycroft etc) and I thought they were introduced very cleverly. At the end I was suprised to discover that this was published originally in 1992 and had just been reprinted. Obviously cashing in on the current vampire craze (he's written further books in the series as well), and I think in the future will no doubt pen one which references Twiglight, Buffy and True Blood - well he seemed to suggest that in the afterword. I'm not sure if I'll read the others - I can't quite decide how much I liked it - they could be good, or they could just be very samey. Well I certainly wouldn't buy them - maybe take them out from a library tho!
November 2011
A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
No I'm not doing a trawl through the classics... it just reads like that at the moment! I read this as Stresa (where I went with Tracey on holiday) features in it and we walked past the hotel the protagonist stays in every time we went to town so I thought it would be good to read it. Can't say I enjoyed it very much - very 'I did this. Then I did this. Then I went here.' style. I was talking to a (male) friend about it yesterday who loved it which sparked a bit of a discussion about female views vs male views, as he really can't get Jane Austen. So I know its a classic and all that, but I was a bit 'meh' about it all. There were some sections where the Italians were talking about the war which were great, but on the whole I was fairly underwhelmed... Not what you're meant to say about a classic I know!
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
For some reason I had never read this - I really don't understand why. But I bought it recently in Waterstone's final "3 for 2" offer - more out of desperation (needed a third book) and I thought it would be good to get a classic. I absolutely loved it - of course that is why it is a classic... but I did think it was brilliant. Although not a 'big' book it seemed to take a lot of reading. There was so much detail in the story telling and the characterisation, that I felt like I'd been reading it for ages, but was still barely into it. All of the characters were so well drawn - and the story felt very true as well. Assuming I'm not the last person to have read it - if you haven't I would really recommend that you do. Next up will be watching the film adaptation of it - amazingly it doesn't seem to have been remade since the 1962 version.
October 2011
Transition - Iain BanksIt took me a while to read this one as Tracey's visit coincided with the starting of it. I don't think I read another one in between. This was another birthday book - from this year, and from Lindsey. First time I've read Iain Banks for years and I LOVED it. A definite keeper, and a definite re-read as well. Not one of his sci-fi ones, but so clever, and despite taking a long time to read it I could still follow the story easily enough. Very clever twisty turny plot involving many different worlds, travellers between worlds, megalomania, right vs wrong. Really really enjoyed it - a great book to be given as it isn't one I would have picked up and read myself.
August 2011
Towards Another Summer - Janet FrameI think this is another birthday book as well - not from this year though - possibly from Fone? I have to admit I've not read much (possibly any) Janet Frame before. I liked this but found it quite tough going - for a couple of reasons. The book, although small, is quite heavy, with a stiff card cover and thick pages - obviously a lot of money went into its production. So despite being carried to and fro work in my bag it didn't look battered at all by the end, and in fact still looks quite untouched! It was written in 1963 but was not allowed to be published while JF was still alive - it is an autobiographical novel about a NZ writer living in London, how she is struggling to fit in, and tells the tale of her going up North for a weekend. Some of her descriptions of growing up in NZ really resonated with me - even though it was set long before I was born, there were aspects of it that I felt could have been describing my childhood. Captures NZ so well - a brilliant passage describing children singing the national anthem had me laughing out loud :-). A hard read, but definitely worth it, and definitely a keeper.
The Cookbook Collector - Allegra Goodman
This is one of my birthday books - a gift from Jackie. I enjoyed this - the story of two sisters and their journey to find love. It is set in the time of the dotcom boom, just before 9/11. The characters are well developed and she has a nice way of introducing a character, and you then get an alternative view of them further on in the book. A subplot about Hasidic jews is also cleverly done and I didn't see the twist coming with that one at all. This felt a bit like intelligent 'chick lit' but it is one I'll re-read, and would recommend it. Great holiday reading!
The Prince of Mist - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Another one borrowed from Kevin. This is by the author of 'The Shadow of the Wind' which has one of the best opening lines ever I think - “I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time.” However I'm not writing about that book... This was written a few years ago, and is aimed at the Young Adult market (one for my sister Leigh then!). Its good - not great, but good. A nice supernatural story (which I always like), but it just felt a bit undeveloped for me - maybe thats because its a translation. Its a nice,quick easy read however, so is worth a look.
July 2011The Night Book - Charlotte Grimshaw
I'm not quite sure who I got this one from - possibly Tracey? Anyhow - a book by a NZ author, looking at relationships between the characters and what links them. Questions the nature of love - between a father and his adopted daughter, the marriage of the next Prime Minister and the secrets within it, all the while mocking the National Party bigwigs. I really enjoyed it - didn't know what to expect as I hadn't read any of her stuff before. Evoked NZ very clearly for me, and the story had me hooked. Slightly ambiguous ending which I wasn't sure about, but on the whole it was really very good.
Cold Skin - Albert Sanchez PinolThis is one that Kevin lent me. Didn't enjoy it very much - the story was good, but I just didn't like the characters. Which for me is quite an important piece of whether I enjoy a book or not. But it was quite short, and very different from Wolf Hall so I persevered. It tells the story of two men on an uninhabited island at the edge of the Antarctic Circle. Or is it...?? Review from The Observer here. Next up will be one of my birthday books I think.
June 2011
Wolf Hall - Hilary MantelAbsolutely LOVED this book - so far it is definitely the best book of the year for me. So cleverly written - so funny and so interesting. Although I do have to admit thinking I was reading about Oliver Cromwell for a bit of it... :-). Definitely my recommendation of the year (to date)
May 2011
Trespass - Rose TremainNormally I like Rose Tremain's books, but this one just didn't work for me. Couldn't relate to the characters at all, and didn't like the story particularly either. I may have been slightly influenced by a friend telling me before I read it that she didn't like it, but this just didn't gel with me at all. One for the charity shops I think...
April 2011
The Passage - Justin Cronin
This is weird - I thought I'd updated this list since March... anyhow - so at some point in April I finished 'The Passage'. A well read book this one - came to me via Philippa, then went to Maya and then back to me. Big fat vampire read - I really enjoyed it. An easy read, but a good one. A book of two halves, but I'm looking forward to reading his next one. Bizarrely, it is only just being released here in the UK so there are lots of billboards advertising it at the mo - I got excited as I thought they were advertising the sequel...
March 2011
The Hand That First Held Mine - Maggie O'FarrellI've read all of MoF's books - she's one of my repeat authors. I really enjoyed this one - she has a way of writing great characters, and her stories really pull you in. This was both sad and uplifting at the same time - definitely recommend it (and her!).
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ - Philip PullmanVery good retelling of the story... Really quite thought provoking - good old PP puts the Christian story under the spotlight again. And who is 'The Stranger'???
The Season of the Witch - Natasha MostertBorrowed this off Kevin. For those who like supernatural type books it is worth a read. Gripping, good characters, good plot etc, but a nice light read at the same time.
Jan - Feb 2011
The Year of the Flood - Margaret AtwoodThis is actually Mhairi's copy - which I will return one day! Really enjoyed this - sort of a prequel/sequel to Oryx & Crake. Well worth a read.
The Lacuna - Barbara KingsolverStruggled with this one. Some of hers I like, but it took me ages to 'like' the character and I'm not good with books when I don't like anyone in it.
Fatherland - Robert HarrisXmas pressie from Maya. Sort of a detective novel, but set in a world where Germany won the second world war. That made it much more interesting, and it was done very cleverly.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The truly wonderful 'Hugo'
Today I went to see Hugo - which I absolutely loved. It is based on the book 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' which I borrowed off Kevin last year. The book itself is a graphic novel - although most of it is pictures rather than words. And graphic novel does it an injustice, or paints it as something that it isn't.
It is a wonderful story, and the film absolutely does it justice. It was 'very 3D' - most of the other 3D movies I've seen have had bits of it in 3D, but this one really is almost entirely 3D. It makes it quite tiring to watch, but it was so beautifully done, and it really does add to the film.
Just loved it :-). One you could rewatch and rewatch - although at home with no 3D that might be quite difficult!
It is a wonderful story, and the film absolutely does it justice. It was 'very 3D' - most of the other 3D movies I've seen have had bits of it in 3D, but this one really is almost entirely 3D. It makes it quite tiring to watch, but it was so beautifully done, and it really does add to the film.
Just loved it :-). One you could rewatch and rewatch - although at home with no 3D that might be quite difficult!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Talking about heroes...
I went to see Sir Ranulph Fiennes talk about his new book 'My Heroes' - I'd seen the tickets advertised ages ago and for £10 they seemed like a bargain.
He was such a great speaker. Based on his life I'd expected someone who was loud, overbearing and very sort of 'Bear Grylls' ish. Not like that all - very funny - very dry sense of humour, and a wonderful storyteller. The time just flew by, and I certainly left wanting to know more about him and some of the adventures he's been on. He was very clear that technology has improved exploring, and illustrated that with some very funny examples.
I also like how his heroes are not necessarily who you would expect from a man with a military and exploration background. I think the book would be a very interesting read.
He was such a great speaker. Based on his life I'd expected someone who was loud, overbearing and very sort of 'Bear Grylls' ish. Not like that all - very funny - very dry sense of humour, and a wonderful storyteller. The time just flew by, and I certainly left wanting to know more about him and some of the adventures he's been on. He was very clear that technology has improved exploring, and illustrated that with some very funny examples.
I also like how his heroes are not necessarily who you would expect from a man with a military and exploration background. I think the book would be a very interesting read.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Out on the wiley windy moors...
So today I went to see the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights - I knew it had had mixed reviews but Mark Kermode made it his film of the week a couple of weeks back, and I had wanted to see it.
Rather wished I hadn't bothered now. Didn't do it for me at all. I didn't get much feeling out of any of the characters at all - either when they were young, or when they were older. It wasn't the shortening of the story that I didn't like - I just didn't warm to any of the actors. The Observer review is interesting - I just didn't see them bonding as children particularly. Maybe I'm too literal - but it bugged me tht the actor who played Hindley didn't change (and appeared to be almost an adult when Heathcliff is first brought to the house) but Cathy and Heathcliff are played by different actors as adults. The ages just didn't seem to work/gel for me. Personally - I wouldn't recommend it. Has made me want to re-read the book though!
Rather wished I hadn't bothered now. Didn't do it for me at all. I didn't get much feeling out of any of the characters at all - either when they were young, or when they were older. It wasn't the shortening of the story that I didn't like - I just didn't warm to any of the actors. The Observer review is interesting - I just didn't see them bonding as children particularly. Maybe I'm too literal - but it bugged me tht the actor who played Hindley didn't change (and appeared to be almost an adult when Heathcliff is first brought to the house) but Cathy and Heathcliff are played by different actors as adults. The ages just didn't seem to work/gel for me. Personally - I wouldn't recommend it. Has made me want to re-read the book though!
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