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I haven't posted on here for ages and thought i might do so again just to update on the books i've read recently. I don't normally read a lot during term time and uni but love to do so when i'm at home.

The Importance of Being Ernest - Oscar Wilde

I have watched and enjoyed the film adaptation of this play so many times, i thought that i better read this play. I was not let down. The play centres around two gentlemen both pretanding to be an alter ego called Ernest and falling in love whilst being this alter ego. The problem is that both of their partners love them because they are called Ernest. The whole situation leads to a series of funny incidents of confusion. A great read for and hour or so. I'll be looking out for some more Wilde to read.

Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

I loved Anchorman and i thought this was similar and so it was a bit of a must see. It centres around the life of a race car driver with the ups and downs. He has a bad accident that ruins his career and his wife leaves him. He moves in with his mum and with his two terrible children (the source of some great one liners!) and meets his Dad. They eventually get his life turned around and he goes back to the track to beat a gay frenchman (you couldn't make him up!) and restart his life. The film is so funny and if you enjoyed Anchorman and that style of film ( Dodgeball, Wedding Crashers etc) you'll love this film. Loads of great quotes to share with your friends which will keep you laughing all night long.

Snakes on a Plane (2006)

If you just heard the plot of the film you would never see it but with Samuel L Jackson in it, it's a must see. The film is based around an informant that is on his way to LA to testify against a weel known criminal. Now this guy is known for making the informants disappear and true to his form he tries to kill him in the most incredible manner, by realeasing some deadly snakes on a plane. Now this film takes some liberties with the facts and realism but as long as you take this film as a slap-stick style film you will enjoy it. Some of the events in the film can be guessed long in advance but are still funny. The hype this film had was incredible and i have to say i don't think it quite made it. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was good but just not amazing. Enjoyable but not perfect.

The Accidental - Ali Smith

The accidental is a book focused on a family's holiday to Norfolk and the unexpected apperance of a girl in their lives. The daughter of the family is a rebelious and inquisitive young girl who films everything she sees, the son is a moody teenager who is haunted by the suicide of a school girl whom he bullied, the father is an adulterer and lecturer, and the mother who is a journalist working on her new book. One day on their holiday this girl just walks into their lives and just stirs all their emotions up with her frank opinions and she doesn't hold anything back.

The book is great and the story line keeps you fixed because you never know what is going to happen next. The end of the book is particularly impressive right up to the very last minute. A really great read and i will be looking out for other books written by this author.



Other reviews

Tamaranth's Non-Ephemera: #72: The Accidental -- Ali Smith

Cultural Dessert: ‘The Accidental’ by Ali Smith

Mission Impossible 3 (2006)

I finally gave into myself and decided to watch this film against the advice from my friends. I regret my decision. It is truly a crime against the original Mission Impossible. Mission Impossible 2 was a classic sequel failing to live up to its older brother, but this film is just terrible. There are fleeting moments of enjoyable film but is overall a boring film with an even worse plot. Just don't watch it ever!

The Queen (2006)

I wasn't expecting this film to be any good but was pleasantly surprised. Helen Mirren was particularly good as was the actor who played Tony Blair (can't remember his name!). One downsidde for me was the actors who played the quuen mother and the duke of Edinburgh. They seemed to be too comic and didn't add anything to the film. I also worry if people take the film as being a documentary as i didn't believe that it stuck to the truth entirely. As an apparent insight into the royal family in was interesting and enjoyable. It was worth watching just for Helen Mirren's performance on screen. Enjoyable.

Life after God - Douglas Coupland

Boring! This book is meant to be thought provoking but all it is is a list of events in a guys life, each one ending in psychologially phrased sentance that might be thought provoking for a 14 year old but not for the average reader. It's very short and never feels like it gets going which gives you no desire to keep reading. Just a very boring read.




Other reviews:

The Journey of a Servant: Life After God

the Ruf guide to...: Life after God.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

What a ridiculous film! The only thing that saved this film from is the coolness of Samuel L. Jackson. The plot is about a mother, Samantha, who suffers from amnesia and hires a private detective (Samuel L. Jackson) to find out who she was. Not only does she discover that she is a trained assassin, Charlie, and she is getting hunted down by the CIA conducting a terrorist activity to get them more funding. The film is critically floored because of the crazy script that has Charlie/Samantha changing her feelings towards her new family every 2 minutes and the plot involving the CIA planning a huge chemical bomb on Christmas eve. The film is topped off by a ridiculous explosion that comes from 1 truck and takes out have of North America. Quite simply a crazy film!

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

I love Bond films in general but this one does not make the grain. It has all the required ingredients for a Bond film but they just seem to be there for the sake of it. The car is great, a stealth boat is great and it's a first for a Bond film where "the baddies" are not russian in the post cold war era. I think the main problem for the film is that it had to follow Goldeneye which has got to be listed as one of the best Bond films of all time and that just seems to have put too much pressure on them to produce a good film and they got it wrong. Overall it's ok but nothing on a par with the others in it's category.

Trainspotting (1996)

I have to say for someone who likes film it was of some surprise to my friends that i hadn't got round to watching this film until earlier this year. The story is set in Edinburgh and centres around the events in a life of a drug users and about his outlook on it. One of the benifits of the film is that in is not saying that you shouldn't do drugs but just says that this is what will happen and your life will be hell. (That generally gets the message across to most people!) It is an adaptation of a book by Irvine Welsh. The film is tough and gritty and Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle are great in their roles. Kelly MacDonald also puts in a great performance in the film. This is an absolute must for anyone interested in film!

Top Gun (1986)

Since this is one of my favourite films of all time, i thought i'd start hear. Top Gun is oneof the best films of all time because it is so true to its era. If anything was to some up the 80s it would have to be Top Gun. The shades, the music, the cheesy lines, what more could you want? I believe that it is Tom Cruise's best film, and also has Meg Ryan starring in it which is one of her first film roles. The plot of the film is centred around a pilot training centre for the best navy pilots. The egos of the pilot combined with Tom Cruise love interest it the teacher combines to create a great film and a classis. A must see!

Branching out

I decided to mix with this blog a great passion of mine with is film and cinema. I really enjoy going to the cinema and always have done. I have a massive collection of over 300 DVDs and watch them regularly. So therefore i decide to reviews the ones i watch and hope to get others opinion on them.

Notes on a Scandel - Zoe Heller

I picked this up cause i just saw it lying around and i had nothing better to do. The book centres around Barbara who is a lnely teacher in her 60s. She makes friends with a new teacher, Sheba, who later becomes involved in a scandal after having sex with a child. Barbara jumps to her defene in the ensuing scandal. The book is about the relationship between the two women and barabara's feelings about Sheba. The book didn't feel like anything special to me but then i have nothing in common with the subject matter. Still a pleasant read. The film adaptaion of the novel will be interesting with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett




Other reviews

Pretty Literate: Notes On A Scandal

Exxie's Book Lounge: 26. What Was She Thinking?

Macbeth - Shakespeare

I decided to read this as a bit of a break after the count of monte cristo and it is a disgrace that i havn't done it sooner. It was enjoyable as all Shakespear is but i think that i just prefer the comedies and can understand Shakepseare better in that form. It was a good read on a sunny afternoon anyway and i'm glad that i have done so. A must for all

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

Well i finally got through what can only be described as a true epic. The tale of Edmond Dantes is both gripping and interesting for the reader. The plot is stunnigly brilliant and if you don't have a huge amount of time on your hands this will keep you entertained for a month! I personally believe that the story is best at the beginning when it seems fast paced and detailed. The latter half of the book centred around the time when he is in Paris seeking his revenge is too focused on the description and formalties of french etiquete. The resolution of the book can be seen a long way before the end, although there are a few surprises, you always feel like you are waiting for it to end. However this is only a small downside and since i have nothing better to do than read, it kept me entertained with the colourful lanuage. A must for anyone who has time on their hands and enjoys a great adventure!



Other reviews

Jessica Bott: The Count of Monte Cristo

Such a big book

My girlfriend suggested that i should read "The Count of Monte Cristo" and i accepted before realising what i had let my self in for. I've spent hours reading today and only read 100 pages! Just another 800 to go. Should be finished sometime round christmas. i asked my girlfriend how long it took her at which point she laughed and told me she never finished it.

As You Like It - Shakespeare

I decided to read a bit of shakespeare after enjoying it whilst at school. I've heard alot about "As You Like It" and it came higly recommend. It kept me entertained and laughing all the way through. It is a classic shakespearean comedy and is very easy to ready in an hour or two. If you've never read Shakespeare, then this is a good place to start as a novice. A great read!

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian is about an 84 year old eccentric Ukrainian who falls for a 36 year old whom he marries believing that he is saving her from his homeland. He discovers that she is only after his money and she treats him rottenly. The daughters of the eldery gentleman protest and the relationship and o anything they can to remove her from the family home and save their father. The joint campaign by the daughters against the woman means they have to unit after years of arguments if they are to win. The story follows the rejoining of the old family, uncovering their past.

I decided to read the first chapter of this book one evening because i couldnt sleep. I kept reading untill 4 am and had enjoyed it immensly. It was funy throughout even with the serious subject matter. It's easy to read and a joy. Best book read in a long time



Other reviews

Tamaranth's Non-Ephemera: #75: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian -- Marina Lewycka

Of Books and Bicycles: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

Eve's Alexandria review

The Third Brother - Nick McDonell

I picked this book up at the same time as the previous one mentioned. The plot sounded interesting and so away i read. The story follows a student who goes on an intership to a SE Asia magazine company and is sent on an expedition to write an article about drug tourism in Thiland. He discovers a variety of characters and has many interesting adventures with them. The second have of the book is about the death of his parents and the illness of his brother.

I read this book in one sitting and was enthraled form start to finish. I was simply unable to put it down and kept reading. I would recommend this book to everyone and i can't see why someone would not enjoy it. It was fast paced, lots of things occuring and great characters.



Other reviews

Red Radio Music: What I'm Reading -- The Third Brother by Nick McDonell

scarecrow reviews: Nick McDonell - The Third Brother.

No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy

I picked up this book just because the plot sounded interesting and i hadn't heard any of the hype about it. The plot is based around a man who comes across a drugs deal near the mexico border that has gone wrong and left everyone dead with the money and drugs left. He decides to take the monet and run. All $2.3 million. From this point on he is a dead man running. Various nasty characters chase him.

I found it a gripping text that was hard to put down. It was easy and fast to read, although the constant Texan language was sometimes hard to follow. If you want a book to while away the hours and keep you entertained then hear it is. If you want a piece of gret literature, then look else where.



Other reviews

the ledgers of life: No Country for Old Men

Boyd's Blog: Bloody Shambles

Mouth of the Brazos: Book Review: No Country for Old Men

The Mysterious Flame of Quenn Loana - Umberto Eco

I decided to read this because i read "The Name of the Rose" about 4 years ago and enjoyed it alot. The book is about an Italian grandfather who has had an accident and is suffering from a form of amnesia. He goes on a journey of self discovery through literature to uncover his childhood during WWII and what his life has been like since then. He travels to his old family home where he grew up during the war which has been untounched for many years. Whilst there he discovers many books that reignite memories and stories.

I really enjoyed the book and found it very interesting to learn about the era and life as a member of the resistance in Italy. The book was heavy to read as it trawled through many literary references, which many went over my head, but were interesting enough to read. I found myself getting lost in the book for long periods of time, much like Yambo (the amin character) in the books and meories he was describing. I would particularly recomend this book to anyone who has an interest in antique literature and it is still a good read if not.






Other reviews

geniusboyfiremelon: Recommended for Some: The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

Bibliogeographical:: The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

A Guy's Moleskine Notebook

Introduction to the blog

I just thought about sharing my thoughts about the recent books i have been reading as i have recently started reading a lot and enjoying after many years of never reading and i have a lot of time on my hands. I thought it would be interesting to hear peoples comments about the books i've read or if they have any recommendations based on my opinions. So if you've read any of the books i've listed, please leave a comment about it and tell me what you thought about it.

Thanks