This post is as much for me as it is for you - I believe I have read more in the first three months of 2015, than I've read in recent years (my reading list). I'm not intending to offer grand reviews, just a few reflections of my own about the books, movies and shows I've read or seen this past month or so.
Books Read
SE Hinton
Earlier this year I was talking with a friend about people who re-read books - I don't usually - and she said if you enjoyed something the first time, you might enjoy it differently the second time. So I thought about what books I have enjoyed enough to re-read. SE Hinton wrote lots of books, as a teenager, for teenagers. I remember devouring TEX and RumbleFish and the Outsiders as a kid. They might have been the first novels I actually read. So, I downloaded a couple of Kindle - and re-read them. The Outsiders, Tex, RumbleFish, Some of Tims Stories and Taming the Star Runner. Loved them again.
Marikami
Searching for something easy to read one afternoon on the train, I found Marikami's Strange Library was available for Kindle. I have to say I think this is the first of Marikami's novels that I didn't like, and wouldn't recommend. The story was just plain stupid. It was frightening, lonely, pointless. Needless to say, I am hoping that my next Marikami novel will be more to my liking. I have the Elephant Vanishes to read on my holiday later this month.
Halligan
The Healthy Chef
Theatre
James Morrison and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
My partner and I have been fans of James Morrison since we were young. He's an absolutely amazing Jazz Musician who can play an amazing collection of Brass and other instruments. To see him play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, at the Sydney Opera House, was an extreme delight for the both of us.Bell Shakespeare Production - As You Like It.
Many years ago I decided to go and see some Shakespeare Productions because I hated reading when I was younger, and didn't study any Shakespeare. I felt I was missing out on something - all those quotes and references people refer to and I had no idea where they came from. So I decided to go and see some of the Bell Shakespeare productions. John Bell is a brilliant director, and is retiring this year for new things. So I wanted to see something before he left. As you like it was quite different to anything else I had seen. People told me it would be lighter than most other Shakespeare pieces, and it was. Very good. I especially enjoyed the music interludes in this one.Absinthe
Invited by a friend to see this show, which he said would be amazing. We went with a small group of friends to see this apparently 'burlesque - style' acrobatic performance. Loved the acrobatics, didn't necessarily enjoy the Gillionare and Penny's script. This show is apparently from Los Vegas and has been getting rave reviews here in Australia.French Film Festival
- Far From Men - (Viggo Mortinson) - based on an Albert Camus novel, l'hote) this was set at the start of the Algerian War, and includes one of Cumas famous lines about himself - in France I'm Algerian, in Algera, I'm French.... the movie was suburbly crafted, and captivating. Must see! (better seen on the big screen).
- The Connection - About the French Police and their role in uncovering French drug lords and the exports of drugs to the USA in the 70's. Fantastic movie!
- Diplomacy - based on a play, this was set in one room, and it was about the role of the 'diplomat' to convince the Germans to not blow up all the Parisienne bridges and famous landmarks. Needless to say, the 'Diplomate' won.
- Almost Friends - Comedy
- Breathe - Young Adults coming of age
- Three Hearts - kind of a 'sliding door' movie
- Get Well Soon - comedy - of the makes you smile kind.
To close, I wanted to share with you these clip from Far from Men.
I love your posts about cultural things because almost all of them are completely new to me. The authors, books, OK -- the films are French and I've actually heard of a couple! But even the theatre. It always inspires me to get outside of my box!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I completely agree with you about Murakami's The Strange Library. It was strange indeed, as well as all the adjectives you pointed out. I thought it read like an adolescent nightmare, and I was so disappointed.
ReplyDeleteLike you I rarely re-read books – mostly because I still have so many waiting to be read. I looked at your reading list. It is interesting to see what is on such lists – I did not know hardly of the authors. I looked at my list – so far I read about 17 books but they are mostly non-fiction, such as Paris by Gertrude Stein and Le Pieton de Paris of L.P. Fargue. I also read 3 mysteries. I did, just finish a book I read in 1995 – mostly because I had forgotten the details he described, it was “Passage to Ararat” by M. J. Arlen, about the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, I have seen no movie yet this year.
ReplyDeleteWell, look at that - it's been almost a month since I last blogged. I really appreciate the comments you lovely ladies have made. Jeanie - ofr me, sharing the cultural things means alot to me, because without cross fertilisation of ideas, I too wouldn't be stretched beyond my confort zone. Bellezza, lets hope the next new release from Murakami restores our faith.... and Vagabonde - thanks for mentioning those books about Paris - I'm going to check up on them.
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