Posted by admin on Dec 7, 2010 in
books,
lists 
September and October seem an age away now. I was going through a transitional work period so read slightly less than usual, and a tad more eclectically. You know the drill by now- book title and review excerpt below.
Mister Roberts by Alexei Sayle
This is the first book by Sayle I’ve ever read, and it won’t be the last. The storyline is pure science fiction, but the characters are so recognizable that you soon forget we’re talking about aliens wearing human suits as a disguise. A young boy discovers a discarded human ‘suit’ left by aliens and enjoys wearing it to scare people. His mother nicknames it ‘Mister Roberts’ and treats it as a person- and a money making scheme. Set in Spain the novels delves into the ex-pat relationships the close mindedness of small towns, and just how messed up the parent-child dynamic can be. Touching and funny, this book was devoured very quickly.
Aphrodite’s Workshop for Reluctant Lovers by Marika Cobbold
The title kind of says it all doesn’t it? A read that’s pretty much a letdown from the word go, where the story line is blah, the book is blah- do you see the general blahness that I’m sharing with you?Romance novelist has fallen out of love with love and Aphrodite needs to step in. Cue lots of Greek god shenanigans, a rather paltry love story and a sulky Eros. Yesss, exactly. Don’t waste your time.
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
I’m glad I’m vegetarian. If I wasn’t a veggie reading this book would make me one. I never really think that much about how food gets onto plates, but this book reveals all, in horrific gory detail. The worst part is that it’s not even trying to be that gory, the bare facts are enough to have you forswearing meat forever- like when you learn that fecal matter on chickens is called a ‘cosmetic blemish’ to allow them to sell it. Eww. It exposes what organic and free range actually mean, and it’s not good, not good at all. The book is a little long and can be a bit tedious at times, but the subject mater is very engrossing and the research seems immaculate- especially as a quarter of the book is footnotes that quote the various sources used. Read more…
Tags: Douglas Coupland, George Orwell, Terry Pratchett, The Little Prince
Posted by admin on Nov 28, 2009 in
books 
Another month, another multitude of books that have been devoured. A stranger selection than usual.
Unseen Academicals, Terry Pratchett
Pratchett bravely tackles the eccentricities of football in his latest book, referencing the varying views on the popular sport. You see the wizards of the Unseen University learning to master it, and the street urchins displaying unfathomable skill which seems magical to the wizards. An interesting dissection of how sport crosses all cultural divides, and how it’s perceived by those not directly involved in it.
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
Deeply delicious, this book follows the unlikely tale of a hostage situation, where a house full of wealthy people are captured and then held for over 3 months. The relationships and entanglements that form out of this situation are strangely dark, yet sweet; and though the end is inevitably tragic the journey is unforgettable. Read more…
Tags: books, reading, Terry Pratchett
Posted by admin on Nov 5, 2009 in
books,
news 
I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a play since I heard the orchestral intro to the Terry Pratchett adaptation of Only You can Save mankind, the first book in his Johnny Maxwell trilogy. OK, that became an album rather than the stage show I anticipated, but the same heart fluttering excitement was to be had. When the above image popped into my inbox I was excited all over again, though I’d rather they’d chosen one of his Discworld novels to adapt, rather than his reworking of the Lord of the Flies.
Mark Ravenhill, creator of The Cut has adapted the book for the stage, with the first showing on November 11th 2009. There’s also a competition running in conjunction with this which gives young auteur’s the chance to get involved. The categories are for 10-14 and 15-17 year olds, and they need to film a 3 minute YouTube clip featuring an extract from the novel, with the winning entries reshot and screened in January.
Get your tickets here before they sell out!! They’re currently starting at £22 for adults, and seats are going fast.
Tags: Nation, National Theatre, Terry Pratchett
