Skyfall
Whoo hoo, I love James Bond. Particularly of the Sean Connery and Daniel Craig variety. :) I was anxiously awaiting Skyfall for this reason. It didn't disappoint for eye candy that's for sure. I found I was a little bored by the plot, but Javier Bardem was sufficiently creepy to be a great villain. The blonde dye job also worked to make his look match is psychopathic personality. The special effects, fancy props and beautiful costumes were all awesome. Watching it on IMAX also helped. I didn't love the Bond girl, I thought her nails were gross. I loved the new Moneypenny and the twist at the end, though somewhat predictable, was sad all the same. Great addition to the franchise, and I really hope they don't replace Craig just yet.
Breaking Dawn - Part 2
Ugg, ugg and triple ugg. The worst of the lot. Overwrought acting, terrible dialogue and cheezy special effects. The twihards loved it, but I couldn't wait for it to be over. Kristen Stewart as a vampire was probably the worst part about it. Although the awful name Renesme is a close second. I didn't even get any pleasure from laughing in the theatre. That and I could only even get one of the original bunch to go see it with me. I suppose I needed to complete the series to appreciate how truly awful it really is. They really should have stuck to one movie per book regardless of the money to be made.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
October 2012 Books and Movies
Sacré Bleu
Christopher Moore
I generally love this author but I'm finding more and more that his books take a little too long to get into. Once you're there though, the book is great. My only other complaint was that the book was printed in blue ink, which was somewhat hard on the eyes. I learned some more about art history (which is a secret love of mine to study intermittently) and enjoyed some historical fiction. A good read if you're a Moore fan, but maybe not so much if you don't like/get his wacky sense of humour.
Shortbus
Graphic sex in every combination, Sook Yin Lee and NYC, what's not to love about this movie? :) Actually, it was pretty good plot wise, and an interesting commentary on sex and all the hang ups that go along with it. It was pretty weird to see Lee, as I'm used to her as a newscaster, and had never seen her acting a character before. A good film, deserving of its film fest awards.
Christopher Moore
I generally love this author but I'm finding more and more that his books take a little too long to get into. Once you're there though, the book is great. My only other complaint was that the book was printed in blue ink, which was somewhat hard on the eyes. I learned some more about art history (which is a secret love of mine to study intermittently) and enjoyed some historical fiction. A good read if you're a Moore fan, but maybe not so much if you don't like/get his wacky sense of humour.
Shortbus
Graphic sex in every combination, Sook Yin Lee and NYC, what's not to love about this movie? :) Actually, it was pretty good plot wise, and an interesting commentary on sex and all the hang ups that go along with it. It was pretty weird to see Lee, as I'm used to her as a newscaster, and had never seen her acting a character before. A good film, deserving of its film fest awards.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
September 2012 Books and Movies
Where did the time go? Why didn't I read or watch anything? Oh yeah, coming down from the most amazing wedding ever plus starting a new school year equals no time. :)
Friday, August 31, 2012
August 2012 Books and Movies
Anne of Hollywood
Carole Wolper
This started out slowly, got really good in the middle, and then sort of petered out to an unsatisfying finish. If you don't go for an execution, there really isn't much else that will do, really. :)
I love, love, love historical fiction and this is definitely that kind of book. Wolper takes the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and sets it in 2012 Los Angeles. I really liked the way she changes the characters, for example making Thomas Cromwell a Theresa, and changing Thomas Wyatt the poet's name and occupation to just the first name of Wyatt who is a musician. I loved the joke of turning Cardinal Wolsey (who is was yet another Thomas, no wonder she changed all the names) into Carl Wolsey, a slimy investor who ends up going down for fraud.
All the major players are there, in the right capacity, Henry Tudor, Maren Tudor, Elizabeth Tudor, Catherine Aragorn, Ferdinand Aragorn, Leo De Vince (although I can't find a mention of Leonardo Da Vinci ever having painted a Tudor) Mary Boleyn, George Boleyn, the Boleyn parents (although, not named, as the father is another Thomas, and the mother is Elizabeth) and another character named Cliff, assistant to Theresa, that I have yet to figure out which 16th century person he is modelled on specifically.
I'm not a huge fan of shifting 1st person/3rd person narratives, but in this case, it worked. A good read, especially if you are a history nut like me.
Napoleon Dynamite
There were parts of this movie I really liked, and parts I really didn't. The historical artifacts were bang on. Two characters, Napoleon and Deb (who is now on Grey's Anatomy, yay) were particularly good. The ending was really goofy. It's definitely an acquired taste, but give it a watch if you like the weirdly wacky.
Pink Ribbons Inc.
This was as good as I expected it to be. I've long thought that pink washing is absolutely wrong. Highjacking any disease for corporate gain is so distasteful, yet few people speak up about it. In fact, people just keep buying. News flash, buying pink washed Revlon or Estee Lauder (whose products, according to the documentary contain known carcinogens) isn't helping the cause all that much. The biggest impact came from the Stage 4 support group, who, as terminal cancer patients, don't really derive much happiness or hope from a pink ribbon. This doc is a credit to Canadian filmmakers and the NFB. An absolute must see.
Carole Wolper
This started out slowly, got really good in the middle, and then sort of petered out to an unsatisfying finish. If you don't go for an execution, there really isn't much else that will do, really. :)
I love, love, love historical fiction and this is definitely that kind of book. Wolper takes the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and sets it in 2012 Los Angeles. I really liked the way she changes the characters, for example making Thomas Cromwell a Theresa, and changing Thomas Wyatt the poet's name and occupation to just the first name of Wyatt who is a musician. I loved the joke of turning Cardinal Wolsey (who is was yet another Thomas, no wonder she changed all the names) into Carl Wolsey, a slimy investor who ends up going down for fraud.
All the major players are there, in the right capacity, Henry Tudor, Maren Tudor, Elizabeth Tudor, Catherine Aragorn, Ferdinand Aragorn, Leo De Vince (although I can't find a mention of Leonardo Da Vinci ever having painted a Tudor) Mary Boleyn, George Boleyn, the Boleyn parents (although, not named, as the father is another Thomas, and the mother is Elizabeth) and another character named Cliff, assistant to Theresa, that I have yet to figure out which 16th century person he is modelled on specifically.
I'm not a huge fan of shifting 1st person/3rd person narratives, but in this case, it worked. A good read, especially if you are a history nut like me.
Napoleon Dynamite
There were parts of this movie I really liked, and parts I really didn't. The historical artifacts were bang on. Two characters, Napoleon and Deb (who is now on Grey's Anatomy, yay) were particularly good. The ending was really goofy. It's definitely an acquired taste, but give it a watch if you like the weirdly wacky.
Pink Ribbons Inc.
This was as good as I expected it to be. I've long thought that pink washing is absolutely wrong. Highjacking any disease for corporate gain is so distasteful, yet few people speak up about it. In fact, people just keep buying. News flash, buying pink washed Revlon or Estee Lauder (whose products, according to the documentary contain known carcinogens) isn't helping the cause all that much. The biggest impact came from the Stage 4 support group, who, as terminal cancer patients, don't really derive much happiness or hope from a pink ribbon. This doc is a credit to Canadian filmmakers and the NFB. An absolute must see.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
July 2012 Books and Movies
Highland Fling
Katie Fforde
My friend Amy passed this one on, and I thought it was a decent, light read. Too harlequin romance for my liking, with the "explosions went off behind my eyes and my skin sizzled as we kissed" type mooning about, but the story was pretty good. I like the aristocratic Scottish setting, and the different characters. A good read, if you like romance novels.
I See You Everywhere
Julia Glass
Definitely not my favourite of the Glass novels, but still a very interesting book all the same. This focuses on the lives of two sisters over three decades from the early 80s to the early 2000s. There is quite a twist to the ending, but I'm still not sure if it was a good one. Once I got to know the characters, I enjoyed it much more. Not really like Three Junes or The Whole World Over, so be warned. A good read, but not Glass' best.
Katie Fforde
My friend Amy passed this one on, and I thought it was a decent, light read. Too harlequin romance for my liking, with the "explosions went off behind my eyes and my skin sizzled as we kissed" type mooning about, but the story was pretty good. I like the aristocratic Scottish setting, and the different characters. A good read, if you like romance novels.
I See You Everywhere
Julia Glass
Definitely not my favourite of the Glass novels, but still a very interesting book all the same. This focuses on the lives of two sisters over three decades from the early 80s to the early 2000s. There is quite a twist to the ending, but I'm still not sure if it was a good one. Once I got to know the characters, I enjoyed it much more. Not really like Three Junes or The Whole World Over, so be warned. A good read, but not Glass' best.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
June 2012 Books and Movies
The Red House
Mark Haddon
Another very strange but great book by this author. A Spot of Bother is still my favourite, but this was an addictive read. Told by 9 character point of views, sometimes it was a bit confusing. There was so much pathos tinged by humour. Characters were raw, and sometimes made you very uncomfortable. This is a book you could read again and again and discover new things.
The Widower's Tale
Julia Glass
Another great book by this author. A bit slow to start, but once you connected with the characters, you didn't want it to end. I liked the fictional New England setting, surrounded by real towns such as Worchester. I wished that there had been a more satisfying ending for many of the characters. It was kind of left in limbo. I guess I wanted more chapters! A good read if you are a fan of Glass.
Moonrise Kingdom
Another brillant film by Wes Anderson. Everything was so well done, from the quirky 60s inspired props, to the made up New England island. Great child actors, plus Frances McDormand, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, not to mention a whole host of fantastic character actors. The young lovers who run away together storyline was very well written and the whole film came off very well. A definite must see.
Mark Haddon
Another very strange but great book by this author. A Spot of Bother is still my favourite, but this was an addictive read. Told by 9 character point of views, sometimes it was a bit confusing. There was so much pathos tinged by humour. Characters were raw, and sometimes made you very uncomfortable. This is a book you could read again and again and discover new things.
The Widower's Tale
Julia Glass
Another great book by this author. A bit slow to start, but once you connected with the characters, you didn't want it to end. I liked the fictional New England setting, surrounded by real towns such as Worchester. I wished that there had been a more satisfying ending for many of the characters. It was kind of left in limbo. I guess I wanted more chapters! A good read if you are a fan of Glass.
Moonrise Kingdom
Another brillant film by Wes Anderson. Everything was so well done, from the quirky 60s inspired props, to the made up New England island. Great child actors, plus Frances McDormand, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, not to mention a whole host of fantastic character actors. The young lovers who run away together storyline was very well written and the whole film came off very well. A definite must see.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
May 2012 Books and Movies
The Other Side of the Bridge
Mary Lawson
Another Mary Lawson book read inside a week. This time, it's set in Struan, the fictional town nearest to Crow Lake. The story oscillates between the late 1930s until after WWII and the late 1950's early 1960s. There is a familiar character, Dr. Christopherson, but he is the second of three Drs (grandfather, father, son) to carry that name, so you don't really know which one is which. There is a hint, when Lawson describes the Irish setter named Molly, who Kate was comforted by in Crow Lake, but then there's talk of getting the same breed of dog and naming her Molly. Even though it's not expressly said, I get the feeling that the third Dr. Christopherson is the one in Crow Lake, and Kate leaves the North for Toronto sometime in the 70s. That would fit with the authors timeline as well, and she definitely writes what she knows. The twist at the end is well hidden and the book just flows. A must read, especially if you've already read Crow Lake.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I knew from the trailer that I was going to love this. A bunch of retirees go to an Indian retirement complex, read dilapidated old hotel, to live out their golden years. Add Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Bill Nighy, and the guy from Slum Dog Millionaire, Dev Patel along with many others and you have one stellar cast. The cinematography was spectacular, making me want to go to India even more than I already do. An absolute charming must see.
A Touch of Pink
Given the premiss, a gay Torontonian (living with his partner in London), gets a surprise visit from his unaware, very religious Muslim mother, I thought I would like this much more. It was a joint effort between Canada and the UK, but they seemed to get it all wrong. All the British characters were played by Canadians, but the actor who played, Alim, the Canadian living in London, is British. Pretty backwards and wreaked havoc on the accents. There were some great comedic moments, and Aunty Dolly, played by Veena Sood was just hilarious. So so.
Crow Lake
Mary Lawson
This was so good that I read it in 3 days. This is unheard of for me, considering all the stuff I have going on, plus a full time job. I'm having a hard time putting it into words. All the emotions, real or imagined leap off the page and sock you right in the stomach. Kate, the character who provides the first person narrative, is not very likeable. You come away with the impression that she has been irreparably damaged by each turn of event. I liked that it was set in fictional northern Ontario farming community, but named an actual town (New Liskeard, which apparently has now been amalgamated with 2 other townships to form the city of Temiskaming Shores) so you get a sense of the local geography. This book is beautifully written, and even though it's somewhat easy to figure out what happens next, you'll be so engrossed, you won't care.
Saved By Cake
Marian Keyes
I was a mite disappointed that this was a straight up recipe book, but only in as much as I miss Marian Keyes' books so much, not that I don't wish her the very best on her journey to get well. The recipes look gorgeous, and I'm very glad that she has found something that helps so much. The intro was very well written, and it made me pine for more. Even better than some of the short stories I've read in multi author compilations! An introduction or a short story is much less demanding than a novel and I (along with her legions of fans) hope that she will one day return to the novel. And if she never does, we have had a great time reading her work. Good luck Marian!
The Whole World Over
Julia Glass
Another brilliant book by Julia Glass. I loved Three Junes to bits, and have always loved when authors write character crossovers. Fenno is one of the best characters in Three Junes, and he was seamlessly, but never intrusively woven into the fabric of The Whole World Over. The new characters were just as finely drawn, and the story was deliciously twisty. I couldn't guess what was going to happen next and I liked it. I really can't wait to read more from her, and have just now put her other two books on hold at the library. :)
Bite Me
Christopher Moore
This is the third instalment his vampire series that started with Bloodsucking Fiends and continued with You Suck. These have not been my favorite Moore books by a long shot, although I did appreciate the crossover in the first book with the character Asher from A Dirty Job, my first Christopher Moore novel and a book I really did like. It had been so long since I'd read the other two, I'd forgotten who Abby Normal even was. At first, I really didn't like it. I was put off by the valley girl speech and Abby's general annoying-ness, not to mention the character of Jody, whom I never liked at all. But after a while, when old friends such as the Emperor, the Animals and the cops Rivera and Cavuto re-appeared, and the story picked up, it got better. From research on Wikipedia, I just realized that Kona is from Fluke and the whale had Bite Me written on its tail. Not my favorite, and he completely sets the story up for yet another vampire book, but funny enough to make the read worthwhile. (I just went back and read my review of You Suck, number 2 in this series, and saw that I had posted that I would have liked to have seen a book that centred around Abby Normal. Really, I'm sorry I asked... :) )
Mary Lawson
Another Mary Lawson book read inside a week. This time, it's set in Struan, the fictional town nearest to Crow Lake. The story oscillates between the late 1930s until after WWII and the late 1950's early 1960s. There is a familiar character, Dr. Christopherson, but he is the second of three Drs (grandfather, father, son) to carry that name, so you don't really know which one is which. There is a hint, when Lawson describes the Irish setter named Molly, who Kate was comforted by in Crow Lake, but then there's talk of getting the same breed of dog and naming her Molly. Even though it's not expressly said, I get the feeling that the third Dr. Christopherson is the one in Crow Lake, and Kate leaves the North for Toronto sometime in the 70s. That would fit with the authors timeline as well, and she definitely writes what she knows. The twist at the end is well hidden and the book just flows. A must read, especially if you've already read Crow Lake.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I knew from the trailer that I was going to love this. A bunch of retirees go to an Indian retirement complex, read dilapidated old hotel, to live out their golden years. Add Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Bill Nighy, and the guy from Slum Dog Millionaire, Dev Patel along with many others and you have one stellar cast. The cinematography was spectacular, making me want to go to India even more than I already do. An absolute charming must see.
A Touch of Pink
Given the premiss, a gay Torontonian (living with his partner in London), gets a surprise visit from his unaware, very religious Muslim mother, I thought I would like this much more. It was a joint effort between Canada and the UK, but they seemed to get it all wrong. All the British characters were played by Canadians, but the actor who played, Alim, the Canadian living in London, is British. Pretty backwards and wreaked havoc on the accents. There were some great comedic moments, and Aunty Dolly, played by Veena Sood was just hilarious. So so.
Crow Lake
Mary Lawson
This was so good that I read it in 3 days. This is unheard of for me, considering all the stuff I have going on, plus a full time job. I'm having a hard time putting it into words. All the emotions, real or imagined leap off the page and sock you right in the stomach. Kate, the character who provides the first person narrative, is not very likeable. You come away with the impression that she has been irreparably damaged by each turn of event. I liked that it was set in fictional northern Ontario farming community, but named an actual town (New Liskeard, which apparently has now been amalgamated with 2 other townships to form the city of Temiskaming Shores) so you get a sense of the local geography. This book is beautifully written, and even though it's somewhat easy to figure out what happens next, you'll be so engrossed, you won't care.
Saved By Cake
Marian Keyes
I was a mite disappointed that this was a straight up recipe book, but only in as much as I miss Marian Keyes' books so much, not that I don't wish her the very best on her journey to get well. The recipes look gorgeous, and I'm very glad that she has found something that helps so much. The intro was very well written, and it made me pine for more. Even better than some of the short stories I've read in multi author compilations! An introduction or a short story is much less demanding than a novel and I (along with her legions of fans) hope that she will one day return to the novel. And if she never does, we have had a great time reading her work. Good luck Marian!
The Whole World Over
Julia Glass
Another brilliant book by Julia Glass. I loved Three Junes to bits, and have always loved when authors write character crossovers. Fenno is one of the best characters in Three Junes, and he was seamlessly, but never intrusively woven into the fabric of The Whole World Over. The new characters were just as finely drawn, and the story was deliciously twisty. I couldn't guess what was going to happen next and I liked it. I really can't wait to read more from her, and have just now put her other two books on hold at the library. :)
Bite Me
Christopher Moore
This is the third instalment his vampire series that started with Bloodsucking Fiends and continued with You Suck. These have not been my favorite Moore books by a long shot, although I did appreciate the crossover in the first book with the character Asher from A Dirty Job, my first Christopher Moore novel and a book I really did like. It had been so long since I'd read the other two, I'd forgotten who Abby Normal even was. At first, I really didn't like it. I was put off by the valley girl speech and Abby's general annoying-ness, not to mention the character of Jody, whom I never liked at all. But after a while, when old friends such as the Emperor, the Animals and the cops Rivera and Cavuto re-appeared, and the story picked up, it got better. From research on Wikipedia, I just realized that Kona is from Fluke and the whale had Bite Me written on its tail. Not my favorite, and he completely sets the story up for yet another vampire book, but funny enough to make the read worthwhile. (I just went back and read my review of You Suck, number 2 in this series, and saw that I had posted that I would have liked to have seen a book that centred around Abby Normal. Really, I'm sorry I asked... :) )
Monday, April 30, 2012
April 2012 Books and Movies
Damage Control - Women On the Therapists, Beauticians, and Trainers Who Navigate their Bodies
Edited by Emma Forrest
Mister Famous
Carol Wolper
This was definitely not as good as The Cigarette Girl. I couldn't really relate to the over sexed, kind of full of herself main character. Granted, she was the personal chef of a faded Hollywood action star with the same personality traits, but they both seemed underdeveloped. The ambiguous ending didn't fit with the rest of the book and the back and forth point of view to a supposedly significant incident didn't seem necessary to the development of the plot. Give it a miss.
Gianni e le donne (The Salt of Life)
This was a beautiful film. I was really impressed with the writing, acting and especially, the cinematography. It made me want to immediately get on a plane and go to Roma. It's always nice to see a film in a language that you speak, but is also sub-titled in your native tongue. You get the best of both worlds, as sometimes translations are not entirely the same as what's being said on screen. Gianni Di Gregorio (Gianni) is a master of silent emotion. His facial acting was superb, especially when the camera panned down and the body movement matched perfectly. He is both likeable and pathetic, in his search to find a meaningful relationship with somebody, anybody because he feels invisible to his family and friends. The ending is fantastic. This is an absolute must see.
Monsier Lazhar
This is probably one of the very best Canadian films of all time. The child actors are amazing. Mohamed Fellag is absolutely brilliant. The story is both tragic and hopeful. Similarly to the above film, I found it useful to be able to understand the film in French, as well as have the opportunity to read the subtitles in my native tongue. Also, as I learned from mostly Québecois teachers (with a smattering of French-from-France teachers), I'm more used to that accent. I do have a natural affinity for the school setting, but I don't believe that is what drew me in the most. The complexe range of emotions played out in an almost banal setting was so powerful, I cried and laughed, then laughed and cried. Go see it, if you haven't already. You won't regret it for one minute.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
March 2012 Books and Movies
Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office : A Memoir
Jen Lancaster
Loved it! Where was I when this came out? I'm pretty sure I was heavy into the chick-lit back then. Although this book blows traditional chick-lit out of the water. First of all it's a memoir, so everything is real, albeit embellished, I'm sure. I had to keep reminding myself of this, especially when reading about some of Jen's crazier antics. She is laid off from her high paying job in the dot com crash, and her boyfriend then husband also is laid off a while later. They go from living the high life to not knowing where their next month's rent is coming from. It sounds depressing, but while being unemployed for almost two years, she discovers her penchant and talent for writing when she starts a website that I'm looking forward to checking out. People start taking an interest and finally a literary agent takes notice. Obviously a publisher did as well! Apparently she has two more follow up memoirs. Yay!
The Worst Noel - Hellish Holiday Tales
Various
I was interested in this title because a) I don't really care for the xmas season and b) Marian Keyes had written a story for the collection. Unfortunately, it turned out to be quite a disappointment. The Marian Keyes story was a cute piece of fluff, but not up to her usual. I understand though, that she has been struggling with her depression, and potentially wasn't well when she was approached for this project. There were very few stories that really interested me. Some of the authors that stood out were (in case I want to look them up too, I need a record): John Marchese, Anne Giardini, Mike Albo Elizabeth Noble and Neal Pollack. It's not a bad read, if you like short stories, but if you are a real xmas lover, stay far away.
Alias Grace
Margaret Atwood
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Where was I in 1996 that I didn't read this when it came out? Especially since I had already read and loved all her other books by then. Come to think of it, I haven't actually finished The Robber Bride yet... Anyway, back to this book. I LOVE historical fiction, and when it's about somewhere I know very well, even better. Every time a street name, or place was mentioned, my brain would ping. The story, based on the facts of the 1843 Thomas Kinnear/Nancy Montgomery double murder trial convicting Grace Marks, who eventually received a pardon, was far more interesting than I could have imagined. I absolutely felt as if I had been transported back to the 1850s. I even had to look up a few old fashioned words, the vocabulary was so accurate. Transferring back and forth between Grace's first person narrative and a third person narrative for the rest of the characters, you are never sure if Grace is lying or telling the truth. An absolute must read for any Margaret Atwood fan or historical fiction nerd. One of the best reads I've had in a long time.
Midnight in Paris
I'm not generally a Woody Allen fan (shocking to some, I know) but this one was pretty good. And that's saying a lot considering I don't much care for either Owen Wilson or Rachel McAdams (gasp, even more shocking, she's Canadian!) in most roles. What made this watchable was that it was historical fiction and even better yet, 1920s Paris historical fiction. It's just my thing. Gil (Wilson) meets up with the literary and artistic gems of the day (Kathy Bates is fantastic as Gertrude Stein) and the sets and costumes are absolutely stunning. Add the Parisian backdrop, and you have a cinematographic genius. Some of the present day dialogue and plot lines were pretty cliche, and the ending was totally trite, but stepping into the past made it watchable.
Jen Lancaster
Loved it! Where was I when this came out? I'm pretty sure I was heavy into the chick-lit back then. Although this book blows traditional chick-lit out of the water. First of all it's a memoir, so everything is real, albeit embellished, I'm sure. I had to keep reminding myself of this, especially when reading about some of Jen's crazier antics. She is laid off from her high paying job in the dot com crash, and her boyfriend then husband also is laid off a while later. They go from living the high life to not knowing where their next month's rent is coming from. It sounds depressing, but while being unemployed for almost two years, she discovers her penchant and talent for writing when she starts a website that I'm looking forward to checking out. People start taking an interest and finally a literary agent takes notice. Obviously a publisher did as well! Apparently she has two more follow up memoirs. Yay!
The Worst Noel - Hellish Holiday Tales
Various
I was interested in this title because a) I don't really care for the xmas season and b) Marian Keyes had written a story for the collection. Unfortunately, it turned out to be quite a disappointment. The Marian Keyes story was a cute piece of fluff, but not up to her usual. I understand though, that she has been struggling with her depression, and potentially wasn't well when she was approached for this project. There were very few stories that really interested me. Some of the authors that stood out were (in case I want to look them up too, I need a record): John Marchese, Anne Giardini, Mike Albo Elizabeth Noble and Neal Pollack. It's not a bad read, if you like short stories, but if you are a real xmas lover, stay far away.
Alias Grace
Margaret Atwood
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Where was I in 1996 that I didn't read this when it came out? Especially since I had already read and loved all her other books by then. Come to think of it, I haven't actually finished The Robber Bride yet... Anyway, back to this book. I LOVE historical fiction, and when it's about somewhere I know very well, even better. Every time a street name, or place was mentioned, my brain would ping. The story, based on the facts of the 1843 Thomas Kinnear/Nancy Montgomery double murder trial convicting Grace Marks, who eventually received a pardon, was far more interesting than I could have imagined. I absolutely felt as if I had been transported back to the 1850s. I even had to look up a few old fashioned words, the vocabulary was so accurate. Transferring back and forth between Grace's first person narrative and a third person narrative for the rest of the characters, you are never sure if Grace is lying or telling the truth. An absolute must read for any Margaret Atwood fan or historical fiction nerd. One of the best reads I've had in a long time.
Midnight in Paris
I'm not generally a Woody Allen fan (shocking to some, I know) but this one was pretty good. And that's saying a lot considering I don't much care for either Owen Wilson or Rachel McAdams (gasp, even more shocking, she's Canadian!) in most roles. What made this watchable was that it was historical fiction and even better yet, 1920s Paris historical fiction. It's just my thing. Gil (Wilson) meets up with the literary and artistic gems of the day (Kathy Bates is fantastic as Gertrude Stein) and the sets and costumes are absolutely stunning. Add the Parisian backdrop, and you have a cinematographic genius. Some of the present day dialogue and plot lines were pretty cliche, and the ending was totally trite, but stepping into the past made it watchable.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Danny Bhoy
Let me start by saying, Danny Bhoy is one of, if not my favorite comedian. After seeing him at the St. Lawrence Centre in 2008, I was really excited that he was coming back to Canada. I bought the tickets months in advance, and eagerly awaiting the day of the performance. Unfortunately, it was just meh. Some of the jokes were funny, and he's quite amazing at keeping an audience entertained for an hour and forty-five minutes, keeping track of and tying up all loose ends, but some of the new material just wasn't that funny. I liked the fact that he was a "slice of life" comedian who didn't resort to race or toilet humour. Sadly, some of that made it's way into his new material. I would still go see him again, but hopefully he goes back to his old style of comedy.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
La fille mal gardée
It's been ages since I've been to the ballet. I used to go a lot when I was younger, even though money was sometimes tight growing up, there were a few good years where we had a two seat National Ballet of Canada subscription. Since there were four of us, everyone got to go twice.
This production was a little girls dream. Seriously, all the little girls in the audience, from 8 to 80 were mesmerized. There was even a real live pony on stage! :) Apparently he was in the 1990 production as well! This was classical ballet in it most beautiful form. Gorgeous pas a deux and corps du ballet, with the lead male dancer bounding across the stage in powerful grands jettés and showing he had springs in his shoes with countless tours en l'air. All of the leads were debuts, which gave the performance a great energy. There was a great life sized chicken dance, and an impressive clog dance. The use of ribbons and a flexible Maypole was absolutely brilliant. I loved the traditional sets that used large caricature set painting and over the top props. The melodramatic acting between dances was spot on as well. It's a true narrative ballet, with very few noticeable "breaks" in the story to highlight the dancing.
Karen Kain, who is now the National Ballet's artistic director, spearheaded this revival, dedicating the run to Alexander Grant, who created the role of Alain and brought La fille mal gardée to the NBC in 1976. I believe that Kain danced the role of Lise in that production and later in a CBC television special in 1979, but I couldn't find hard evidence on the internet, as much as I tried. It's the oldest continually performed ballet in history, and premiered in 1789.
This production was a little girls dream. Seriously, all the little girls in the audience, from 8 to 80 were mesmerized. There was even a real live pony on stage! :) Apparently he was in the 1990 production as well! This was classical ballet in it most beautiful form. Gorgeous pas a deux and corps du ballet, with the lead male dancer bounding across the stage in powerful grands jettés and showing he had springs in his shoes with countless tours en l'air. All of the leads were debuts, which gave the performance a great energy. There was a great life sized chicken dance, and an impressive clog dance. The use of ribbons and a flexible Maypole was absolutely brilliant. I loved the traditional sets that used large caricature set painting and over the top props. The melodramatic acting between dances was spot on as well. It's a true narrative ballet, with very few noticeable "breaks" in the story to highlight the dancing.
Karen Kain, who is now the National Ballet's artistic director, spearheaded this revival, dedicating the run to Alexander Grant, who created the role of Alain and brought La fille mal gardée to the NBC in 1976. I believe that Kain danced the role of Lise in that production and later in a CBC television special in 1979, but I couldn't find hard evidence on the internet, as much as I tried. It's the oldest continually performed ballet in history, and premiered in 1789.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
February 2012 Books and Movies
Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella
Hmm. Better than some of the mid series shopaholic books, not as good as The Domestic Goddess. I still read it cover to cover in 3 days, so Kinsella definitely knows how to write a hook. I really wanted to know what happened next. That being said, I wasn't invested in Lara (once again, for the better part of the book the heroine was completely dependent on a man) and the Lington coffee shop business was really silly . I did like the ghost character and thought the 20s historical fiction angle was brilliant. It's worth reading if you're a fan of this author, otherwise, give it a miss.
Office Space
I can't believe I missed this the first time around! Cute little movie that really captured the feel of slogging it out day by day in a almost Y2K office environment. Love Ron Livingston as his character Peter and the characters of Mr. Lumbergh (the boss) and Milton, the office whipping boy who is actually secretly plotting the destruction of the company. Some really great laugh out loud moments. I loved King of the Hill and I though Mike Judge's take on The Office, before it was a television series, was great. My only complaint was the lack of female roles, but that is too be expected in Hollywood for anything that isn't deemed a chick flick. Give it a watch, it's pretty funny.
Sophie Kinsella
Hmm. Better than some of the mid series shopaholic books, not as good as The Domestic Goddess. I still read it cover to cover in 3 days, so Kinsella definitely knows how to write a hook. I really wanted to know what happened next. That being said, I wasn't invested in Lara (once again, for the better part of the book the heroine was completely dependent on a man) and the Lington coffee shop business was really silly . I did like the ghost character and thought the 20s historical fiction angle was brilliant. It's worth reading if you're a fan of this author, otherwise, give it a miss.
Office Space
I can't believe I missed this the first time around! Cute little movie that really captured the feel of slogging it out day by day in a almost Y2K office environment. Love Ron Livingston as his character Peter and the characters of Mr. Lumbergh (the boss) and Milton, the office whipping boy who is actually secretly plotting the destruction of the company. Some really great laugh out loud moments. I loved King of the Hill and I though Mike Judge's take on The Office, before it was a television series, was great. My only complaint was the lack of female roles, but that is too be expected in Hollywood for anything that isn't deemed a chick flick. Give it a watch, it's pretty funny.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
January 2012 Books and Movies
The Iron Lady
Absolutely brilliant. Will it ruffle more than a few feathers? Check. Will it start a war of the words between Margaret Thatcher's supporters and detractors? You bet. Was is a incredible piece of filmmaking on the part of Phyllida Lloyd? Yes, yes, yes! :) It's really had to describe in words, but the way the film moves back and forth between time is just beautiful. Perfect casting, from my favorite, Meryl Streep, to Jim Broadbent, to Anthony Stewart Head, to relative newcomer Alexandra Roach. The costuming was impecable. Of course, not all moments were included (a fact that many people are debating on the internet these days) but the ones that were in the film were carefully chosen to present all facets of The Iron Lady, both positive and negative. It's really a shame that some people are so blinded by their love/hate for the woman, that they can't see the beauty in this portrayal. All I can say is, go see it!
Young Adult
This would have been a really crappy movie if it hadn't been saved by Charlize Theron. She was absolutely beyond brilliant. Her character (the popular girl who makes it in the big city, only to come back to her small town to get her old, but now married, boyfriend back) is so well developed. She is a depressed, delusional, destructive, manipulative narcissist who you want to hate, but like in spite of yourself. She makes you take an uncomfortable look inward, especially if you see some of your own behaviour patterns in there. At first, I was bothered by what I thought was excessive product placement. There were something like 10 brands in the first 5 minutes of the movie. After a while though, it became clear that none of these products were being portrayed in a positive light. It's plausible that there were actually no deals made with any of these companies, and the product placement is an unwanted reminded of a) how juvenile Mavis is, and b) what a screwed up consumeristic society we live in. It's not necessary to see this on the big screen, but it's worth a look at home.
The Guard
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Perfect casting (Brendan "Mad Eye Moody" Gleeson and Don Cheadle), great setting (The Irish West Coast, which I've been to and loved) and fricken hilarious. The accent and common expressions take a bit of getting used to, if you're not familiar, but it's not Trainspotting daunting. The premise is that an Irish Guarda (police) and an FBI agent team up to take down a drug ring. It's a little like Hot Fuzz, which I also loved although I thought Simon Pegg would have made a great addition to the case. Good thing I had already gotten a good dose of him in Mission Impossible 4, where he was fantastic. The Guard is an absolute must see. I kind of wish they had named it The Guarda though, somehow it seems much more authentic.
Absolutely brilliant. Will it ruffle more than a few feathers? Check. Will it start a war of the words between Margaret Thatcher's supporters and detractors? You bet. Was is a incredible piece of filmmaking on the part of Phyllida Lloyd? Yes, yes, yes! :) It's really had to describe in words, but the way the film moves back and forth between time is just beautiful. Perfect casting, from my favorite, Meryl Streep, to Jim Broadbent, to Anthony Stewart Head, to relative newcomer Alexandra Roach. The costuming was impecable. Of course, not all moments were included (a fact that many people are debating on the internet these days) but the ones that were in the film were carefully chosen to present all facets of The Iron Lady, both positive and negative. It's really a shame that some people are so blinded by their love/hate for the woman, that they can't see the beauty in this portrayal. All I can say is, go see it!
Young Adult
This would have been a really crappy movie if it hadn't been saved by Charlize Theron. She was absolutely beyond brilliant. Her character (the popular girl who makes it in the big city, only to come back to her small town to get her old, but now married, boyfriend back) is so well developed. She is a depressed, delusional, destructive, manipulative narcissist who you want to hate, but like in spite of yourself. She makes you take an uncomfortable look inward, especially if you see some of your own behaviour patterns in there. At first, I was bothered by what I thought was excessive product placement. There were something like 10 brands in the first 5 minutes of the movie. After a while though, it became clear that none of these products were being portrayed in a positive light. It's plausible that there were actually no deals made with any of these companies, and the product placement is an unwanted reminded of a) how juvenile Mavis is, and b) what a screwed up consumeristic society we live in. It's not necessary to see this on the big screen, but it's worth a look at home.
The Guard
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Perfect casting (Brendan "Mad Eye Moody" Gleeson and Don Cheadle), great setting (The Irish West Coast, which I've been to and loved) and fricken hilarious. The accent and common expressions take a bit of getting used to, if you're not familiar, but it's not Trainspotting daunting. The premise is that an Irish Guarda (police) and an FBI agent team up to take down a drug ring. It's a little like Hot Fuzz, which I also loved although I thought Simon Pegg would have made a great addition to the case. Good thing I had already gotten a good dose of him in Mission Impossible 4, where he was fantastic. The Guard is an absolute must see. I kind of wish they had named it The Guarda though, somehow it seems much more authentic.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
December 2011 Books and Movies
Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol
I really liked this, but it's more the franchise than the cast or storyline. I know that most of the fancy tricks are beyond reality, actually more that they defy the laws of physics, but they are still so cool. The production value is high, the stunts (especially when Tom Cruise is scaling the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa) are cool and the pretty, over the top accessories (fancy cars, beautiful jewellery, designer dresses) make up for the lack of believable plot and dialogue. Keep in mind that this is one of the few franchises (along with James Bond) that I will deliberately go to see, in spite of all of the above. If you feel the same way I do, give it a go, it was fun.
The Coke Machine - The Dirty Truth Behind the World's Favorite Soft Drink
Michael Blanding
It's hard not to read this title and think that it is stating the obvious, but the details of just how badly this corporation are screwing everyone are still quite shocking. From killing workers who are fighting for a better wage in Columbia, to outright stealing water from poor farmers in India, to overt and relentless marketing to children in North America and Western Europe, this company this company is unbelievable in their dedication to the bottom line and to it's shareholders. Its efforts to "do good" are laughable, especially at the moment, with its pledge to donate 5 million over 5 years (a mere drop in the profit bucket) to polar bear conservation (an icon adopted to promote the brand, albeit a fuzzy CGI version) without actually addressing its contribution to the climate change that is causing the issue in the first place! Augh. And the worst part is, it's impossible to avoid drinking its products, especially since there have been a large number of acquisitions over the last couple of decades. It was a very good read and written by a very reputable journalist, so if you can keep your anger in check, then give it a go.
Dish: Women, Waitressing & the Art of Service
This was a great Canadian documentary (featuring one of our local, albeit not the greatest, restaurants) about women and serving tables. I learned stuff (did you know there was a non sexualized topless diner in Montreal?), nodded my head frequently (after many years of service experience in my teens and 20s) and generally enjoyed the tone, view and pace of this film. If you have the chance, especially if you've ever worked in the service industry, give it a go.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1
Remember what I said about Mission Impossible? This is not included in that category. I knew this would be crap. I read the books and they were crap. I've see all the previous movies and they were crap. With the exception of Taylor Lautner's stellar abs. :) It's become a bet with a friend of mine that we can make it through the entire series. I don't know why. Sometimes things are just because. I originally read the series because I wanted to know what was fascinating my students who just couldn't put them down.
So, in this one, Bella and Edward finally tie the knot, and she gets pregnant on the the honeymoon. Delivering the baby almost kills her, and she is turned in order to "live". It ends (did I mention this was a two parter?) with her opening her eyes as a vampire. I can report that I laughed harder than in any other instalment, to the point that I was having a hard time stifling my snorts and giggles. Well, either it was the movie or the hoards of tweens and teens too busy on there cell phones telling everyone that they were at the Twilight movie instead of watching the Twilight movie!
I really liked this, but it's more the franchise than the cast or storyline. I know that most of the fancy tricks are beyond reality, actually more that they defy the laws of physics, but they are still so cool. The production value is high, the stunts (especially when Tom Cruise is scaling the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa) are cool and the pretty, over the top accessories (fancy cars, beautiful jewellery, designer dresses) make up for the lack of believable plot and dialogue. Keep in mind that this is one of the few franchises (along with James Bond) that I will deliberately go to see, in spite of all of the above. If you feel the same way I do, give it a go, it was fun.
The Coke Machine - The Dirty Truth Behind the World's Favorite Soft Drink
Michael Blanding
It's hard not to read this title and think that it is stating the obvious, but the details of just how badly this corporation are screwing everyone are still quite shocking. From killing workers who are fighting for a better wage in Columbia, to outright stealing water from poor farmers in India, to overt and relentless marketing to children in North America and Western Europe, this company this company is unbelievable in their dedication to the bottom line and to it's shareholders. Its efforts to "do good" are laughable, especially at the moment, with its pledge to donate 5 million over 5 years (a mere drop in the profit bucket) to polar bear conservation (an icon adopted to promote the brand, albeit a fuzzy CGI version) without actually addressing its contribution to the climate change that is causing the issue in the first place! Augh. And the worst part is, it's impossible to avoid drinking its products, especially since there have been a large number of acquisitions over the last couple of decades. It was a very good read and written by a very reputable journalist, so if you can keep your anger in check, then give it a go.
Dish: Women, Waitressing & the Art of Service
This was a great Canadian documentary (featuring one of our local, albeit not the greatest, restaurants) about women and serving tables. I learned stuff (did you know there was a non sexualized topless diner in Montreal?), nodded my head frequently (after many years of service experience in my teens and 20s) and generally enjoyed the tone, view and pace of this film. If you have the chance, especially if you've ever worked in the service industry, give it a go.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1
Remember what I said about Mission Impossible? This is not included in that category. I knew this would be crap. I read the books and they were crap. I've see all the previous movies and they were crap. With the exception of Taylor Lautner's stellar abs. :) It's become a bet with a friend of mine that we can make it through the entire series. I don't know why. Sometimes things are just because. I originally read the series because I wanted to know what was fascinating my students who just couldn't put them down.
So, in this one, Bella and Edward finally tie the knot, and she gets pregnant on the the honeymoon. Delivering the baby almost kills her, and she is turned in order to "live". It ends (did I mention this was a two parter?) with her opening her eyes as a vampire. I can report that I laughed harder than in any other instalment, to the point that I was having a hard time stifling my snorts and giggles. Well, either it was the movie or the hoards of tweens and teens too busy on there cell phones telling everyone that they were at the Twilight movie instead of watching the Twilight movie!
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
The Rez Sisters
Tomson Highway is a) my favourite Native playwright and b) in my top five Canadian playwrights of all time. I'd even go as far to say he's right up there in my top five favourite global playwrights of all time. To say I was excited about seeing Factory Theatre's latest mounting of The Rez Sisters would be an understatement.
This is actually the very first time I've even seen a production, although I studied the play extensively in Drama school and had seen the movie it hasn't been produced in Toronto in 25 years, nor in any of the other cities I have lived in. It was well worth the wait. I thought the multi racial casting was a interesting choice, although I wasn't sure at first. I actually read in a review that the reason it hasn't been produced in 25 years is because there has been much arguing about whether or not to cast all native or not. The blocking was wonderful, with amazing multi-levelled tableaux, especially in the scene where the women are all trying to raise money by doing as many odd jobs as they can. The set was sparse and utilitarian but very creative. I loved the costumes, they were quite evocative. I absolutely loved the audience participation, when we all played a game of bingo in the second half, using bingo cards found in our programs. Billy Merasty was especially good as Nanabush/The Trickster turned campy bingo caller. Apparently, his uncle, Rene Highway (also the playwright's brother) originated this role.
I only have a few critiques. I thought that Djennie Laguerre rushed the part of Annie Cook just a smidge. Because French is the actor's first language, this sometimes resulted in dropped lines, or somewhat unintelligible phrases. I also thought that Michaela Washburn didn't play the bisexuality in her role as Emily Dictionary enough. She was very butch, which made her softer side hard to believe.
I always feel closer to plays that I have read and workshopped extensively. This production came very close, but still was lacking a little. I really hope Factory mounts Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (the companion play to The Rez Sisters featuring 7 men and a female Nanabush with the game being hockey) next season.
This is actually the very first time I've even seen a production, although I studied the play extensively in Drama school and had seen the movie it hasn't been produced in Toronto in 25 years, nor in any of the other cities I have lived in. It was well worth the wait. I thought the multi racial casting was a interesting choice, although I wasn't sure at first. I actually read in a review that the reason it hasn't been produced in 25 years is because there has been much arguing about whether or not to cast all native or not. The blocking was wonderful, with amazing multi-levelled tableaux, especially in the scene where the women are all trying to raise money by doing as many odd jobs as they can. The set was sparse and utilitarian but very creative. I loved the costumes, they were quite evocative. I absolutely loved the audience participation, when we all played a game of bingo in the second half, using bingo cards found in our programs. Billy Merasty was especially good as Nanabush/The Trickster turned campy bingo caller. Apparently, his uncle, Rene Highway (also the playwright's brother) originated this role.
I only have a few critiques. I thought that Djennie Laguerre rushed the part of Annie Cook just a smidge. Because French is the actor's first language, this sometimes resulted in dropped lines, or somewhat unintelligible phrases. I also thought that Michaela Washburn didn't play the bisexuality in her role as Emily Dictionary enough. She was very butch, which made her softer side hard to believe.
I always feel closer to plays that I have read and workshopped extensively. This production came very close, but still was lacking a little. I really hope Factory mounts Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (the companion play to The Rez Sisters featuring 7 men and a female Nanabush with the game being hockey) next season.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
November 2011 Books and Movies
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
This was a pretty light for books and movies, unless I missed something that I read or saw just from sheer busyness. :)
I'm a big fan of Morgan Spurlock, and avidly watched all season of his eye opening show 30 days. That being said, I didn't particularly enjoy this film, mainly because I didn't really learn anything new. I'm sure there are people out in the world who would be shocked to know that the pop whose brand is so prominently displayed was placed there intentionally to generate advertisement revenue, but are they really this movie's target audience? I don't know.
It was interesting to see which companies signed on, and which wouldn't have anything to do with him though. Very telling. I did laugh at the fact the the main sponsor (POM) actually thought it was going to be a "real" film, as opposed to a documentary about getting sponsors. It was pretty funny. I'm still looking forward to seeing Spurlock's next project and certainly hope for another 30 days type television program.
This was a pretty light for books and movies, unless I missed something that I read or saw just from sheer busyness. :)
I'm a big fan of Morgan Spurlock, and avidly watched all season of his eye opening show 30 days. That being said, I didn't particularly enjoy this film, mainly because I didn't really learn anything new. I'm sure there are people out in the world who would be shocked to know that the pop whose brand is so prominently displayed was placed there intentionally to generate advertisement revenue, but are they really this movie's target audience? I don't know.
It was interesting to see which companies signed on, and which wouldn't have anything to do with him though. Very telling. I did laugh at the fact the the main sponsor (POM) actually thought it was going to be a "real" film, as opposed to a documentary about getting sponsors. It was pretty funny. I'm still looking forward to seeing Spurlock's next project and certainly hope for another 30 days type television program.
Monday, October 31, 2011
October 2011 Books and Movies
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon
I read Mark Haddon's sequel (A Spot of Bother) before this, his debut. It is absolutely hilarious, and give you a bird's eye view of what it's like to be an autistic teenager. I found it helpful as a teacher, as well as a really great page turner. A definite must read!
The Help
Really worth the price of admission and more. The acting was superb, especially from Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The subject material is hard core. It punches you in the stomach and makes you question everything you ever knew about race relations. How can people have been this way? And how come it's still going on???? A while ago, I reviewed Prom Night Mississippi, produced by Morgan Freeman about a small town's first integrated prom. I watched in disbelief as antiquated views were being expressed by modern day people. The violence was not shown on screen, but still significant, proof that you don't have to do things with blood and gore to get your point across.to gauge where we were, in the hopes to never repeat it again. I cried buckets at the end. A definite must see!
Dragons in the Bath
Cat Wheeler
I bought this book in an Ubud Bookstore just before I left Bali. Vignette after vignette of wonderful stories about a Canadian writer transplanted. Wheeler is a great writer, comedic and light sometimes, serious and earnest at others. Some of the stories nearly made me fall off my chair laughing. There's a bunch of those sound bite reviews in the front, and I completely agree with one of them, reading this book was like eating one delicious chocolate after another. I read it really slowly because I didn't want it to end! I really hope she produces another volume, this was such a great read.
Mark Haddon
I read Mark Haddon's sequel (A Spot of Bother) before this, his debut. It is absolutely hilarious, and give you a bird's eye view of what it's like to be an autistic teenager. I found it helpful as a teacher, as well as a really great page turner. A definite must read!
The Help
Really worth the price of admission and more. The acting was superb, especially from Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The subject material is hard core. It punches you in the stomach and makes you question everything you ever knew about race relations. How can people have been this way? And how come it's still going on???? A while ago, I reviewed Prom Night Mississippi, produced by Morgan Freeman about a small town's first integrated prom. I watched in disbelief as antiquated views were being expressed by modern day people. The violence was not shown on screen, but still significant, proof that you don't have to do things with blood and gore to get your point across.to gauge where we were, in the hopes to never repeat it again. I cried buckets at the end. A definite must see!
Dragons in the Bath
Cat Wheeler
I bought this book in an Ubud Bookstore just before I left Bali. Vignette after vignette of wonderful stories about a Canadian writer transplanted. Wheeler is a great writer, comedic and light sometimes, serious and earnest at others. Some of the stories nearly made me fall off my chair laughing. There's a bunch of those sound bite reviews in the front, and I completely agree with one of them, reading this book was like eating one delicious chocolate after another. I read it really slowly because I didn't want it to end! I really hope she produces another volume, this was such a great read.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Herbie Hancock
I'm so glad we decided to spring for last minute tickets to see this concert. Even the uppermost gallery of Massey Hall sounds fantastic. All the Toronto scene players were there, making up the concert orchestra, including John Johnson (doing some impressive doubling, first on clarinet and then on alto) and Al Kay. I even spotted some ex Glen Gould strings in there. Herbie was fantastic playing Rhapsody in Blue in the first half and delighting the crowd with Cantaloupe Island, Maiden Voyage and Dolphin Dance in the second half. Well worth the price of admission and at 76, who knows how many times he'll be back in town. :)
Friday, September 30, 2011
September 2011 Books and Movies
I started back at school after 14 months off, so September was a bit of a write off as far as leisure time activities. There are some books that I am in the process of reading, and some movies I would like to see, but nothing to post yet. :)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
August 2011 Books and Movies
Rango
I wasn't sure what to think when I saw this movie on offer with Air Canada. Aside from it taking me two separate flights to complete a children's shorter length film, it was pretty good. Depp was exactly the right choice to voice the character of Rango, and the supporting cast was excellent. A good wild west story (heavy handed Hollywood commentary on capitalism, a bit rich coming from that machine) and quirky animation. Definitely worth a watch.
Mini Shopaholic
Sophie Kinsella
I was getting fed up with these books, especially since the last two, Shopaholic and Sister and Shopaholic and Baby were pretty lame, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It started off really slow, but picked up in the middle and really had some very funny moments. I've no doubt that Sophie Kinsella is somewhat tired of Becky and crew, but her publisher (and fans) keep demanding more. Let's face it, it's good money! :) I didn't realize she had another non Shopaholic book out, mostly because I'd gone off her a little, so I'll see how that goes. If you're a fan of Kinsella, read this book, otherwise it's not really necessary, just a nice little holiday diversion.
I wasn't sure what to think when I saw this movie on offer with Air Canada. Aside from it taking me two separate flights to complete a children's shorter length film, it was pretty good. Depp was exactly the right choice to voice the character of Rango, and the supporting cast was excellent. A good wild west story (heavy handed Hollywood commentary on capitalism, a bit rich coming from that machine) and quirky animation. Definitely worth a watch.
Mini Shopaholic
Sophie Kinsella
I was getting fed up with these books, especially since the last two, Shopaholic and Sister and Shopaholic and Baby were pretty lame, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It started off really slow, but picked up in the middle and really had some very funny moments. I've no doubt that Sophie Kinsella is somewhat tired of Becky and crew, but her publisher (and fans) keep demanding more. Let's face it, it's good money! :) I didn't realize she had another non Shopaholic book out, mostly because I'd gone off her a little, so I'll see how that goes. If you're a fan of Kinsella, read this book, otherwise it's not really necessary, just a nice little holiday diversion.
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