What I am looking forward to in 2012
1. The Avengers – Joss Whedon. Enough said. Hopefully Scarlett Johansson won’t be in it enough to ruin it.
2. The Muppets – it is ridiculous that we have to wait until February to see this but reviews in America have been great and I love the Orange trails so can’t wait to see this childhood classic relaunch themselves (much more successfully than the Smurfs, I think)
3. Watch channel – last year they showed Sanctuary and rescued Primeval. In 2012 they are the first channel to show Grimm and Alcatraz. They are becoming a favourite channel.
4. Snow White and the Huntsman – this has been a massive trend in Teen fiction for a while so it will be great to see how a movie can capture this genre (ignoring Red Riding Hood and Beastly from this year)
5. The Amazing Spiderman – wasn’t convinced that this would work but the trailer has be intrigued. What happened to his parents? We will no doubt find out in July 2012.
6. Sherlock – very relieved to find that they managed to get another series of this filmed before disappearing off to New Zealand to film some movie...
7. Hunger Games – I hadn’t been interested in this until I saw the trailer now I have asked for the books for Christmas!
8. The Artist – The Cannes winner for Best actor this amazing French movie explores the end of the silent era in Hollywood and its impact on its star via black white silent movie. Singing in the rain but without the singing!
9. Brave – A female heroine who is goes off to fight the beast herself? Yes please!
10. The Dark Knight Rises – I really wasn’t excited about this. Batman is not my favourite character and after being massively disappointed by Inception (Did no one tell him hearing about other people’s dreams are boring) Kind of put me off getting to invested in this. Nolan will no doubt do a fantastic job, I thought. Oh Anne Hathaway is Catwoman? Oh Ok I like her. That’s good. Oh the trailer is up. Wait the Batmobile FLYS!!!!!! Ok officially excited.
What I will missed about 2011
1. Misfits – I honestly didn’t think that they could last without Nathan but they managed to replace him with someone equally crawly and it continues to go from strength (Episode 3 and 4 this season were probably the most the best)
2. Smallville – We said goodbye to Smallville and boy did they treat us with one of the best seasons so far. Still abit ropy. Still massive plots holes (Didn’t Michael Rosenbaum look old?) but the moment ‘Superman’ flew was so bittersweet I watched the episode again and wished that they were making a Superman tv series. Until the Man of steel comes out with Amy Adams, Erica Durance is my definitive Lois Lane.
3. Morning Glories – This comic goes from strength to strength. Like a series of Fringe – just as one question gets answered another pops up. Cannot wait for the next instalment.
4. Doctor Who – I have to admit much as I like the Rory/Amy/Doctor dynamic, I haven’t found the plots very good (no follow through) and now there is a 9 months wait? I’ll watch it but it won’t be a favourite anymore.
5. Merlin – is my new favourite show at the moment - giving the knights more space to develop their characters and the bromance between Arthur and Merlin is amazing. Cannot wait for the next season.
6. Super 8 – the movie of the year. Spielbergian childhood wonder and JJ Abrahm tension creating an amazing film of epic proportions.
7. Beastly – This was such a great film it is a shame it was dismissed as a teen movie. A great adaptation of Alex Finn’s book. Star roles from the whole cast special mentions for Ashley Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens (I know!)
8. Tangled – I honestly didn’t think that Disney could follow up Enchanted but they did with one of the funniest and catchiest films ever. Welcome back Alan Menken!
9. The Secret Circle – I am so glad this turned out to be good as it was my favourite LJ Smith book as a kid. Following on from the amazing The Vampire Diaries it modernises and de – smultifies the story. I will be tuning in for next year.
10. Fringe – Continues to be amazing. I am now massively confused. Is Peter in an alternative universe or has he just helped Lee get with his girlfriend? The second part will (hopefully) explains all!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Persuading Annie
Persuading Annie 5 starsMelissa Nathan continues to recreate Austen greatest stories in Persuading Annie this time taking Persuasion (my favorite Austen) and modernising it. Annie is the middle daughter of Sir George Markham who owns Markham PR company. She has spent the last seven years trying to get over an 'indiscretion' she had at university. That indiscretion was Jake Mead who is now a Management consultant and the man who has been asked to save the Markham family from ruin.
I love how Melissa modernises a tale about class and makes it a tale of misunderstandings and heightened emotions. She keeps Anne's ridicious family which provides most of the laughs but also enthersize the the bubble that has formed around Annie since she was abandoned by the man she loved. Melissa gives Annie some fire and by telling the story from both Annie and Jake's the reader gets to see how two people fall in love. She even managed put in one of my favorite scenes (when Wentworth, or Jake in this case, gives Annie the letter where he declares his feelings) something which was missed out of the recent adaption of
Persuasion. Melissa Nathan has the sharp, bitting wit to bring Jane Austen stories to life in the modern age and she does it with aplomb. If you are an Austen fan you will love this book and I feel it will be a fantastic addition to any collection.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Acting up
Acting up by Melissa Nathan 5 stars
After so many disappointing reads this month I wanted to re read an old favorite of mine. This modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is cleverly and beautiful realised.
Melissa Nathan captures the wit and imagination of Jane Austen by both having the plot based around an adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice' as a stage play but also giving us recognisable characters from the book to enjoy. Jasmin is our Elizabeth and columnist for a women's magazine. Her opinion is always right so when she meets Harry Noble, the Hollywood star who is directing and starring in the P&P play and he is excessively rude to her, the story is set for misunderstanding and revelations.
This so beautifully realised that I always lament that Melissa Nathan tragically died of cancer in 2006. I love that the story doesn't feel false or untrue and she manages to make the Bennet family scandal relevant to the modern age. I really can't say have amazing this book is, so good in fact that I have picked up the follow up Persuading Annie, her adaption of Persuasion. Review to come.
After so many disappointing reads this month I wanted to re read an old favorite of mine. This modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is cleverly and beautiful realised.
Melissa Nathan captures the wit and imagination of Jane Austen by both having the plot based around an adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice' as a stage play but also giving us recognisable characters from the book to enjoy. Jasmin is our Elizabeth and columnist for a women's magazine. Her opinion is always right so when she meets Harry Noble, the Hollywood star who is directing and starring in the P&P play and he is excessively rude to her, the story is set for misunderstanding and revelations.
This so beautifully realised that I always lament that Melissa Nathan tragically died of cancer in 2006. I love that the story doesn't feel false or untrue and she manages to make the Bennet family scandal relevant to the modern age. I really can't say have amazing this book is, so good in fact that I have picked up the follow up Persuading Annie, her adaption of Persuasion. Review to come.
Fallen
Fallen by Lauren Kate 2 stars
I really didn't think it was possible to make Hush, hush seem like the new Twilight but this book has achieved it. I feel bad that yet again I am giving a negative review but like my taste in films, I'm more inclined to like something then to dislike it so you can imagine how disappointed I have been with the current books I have read.
The main problem with this book is it is so trying to be Bella Swann however Lauren Kate does not have the skill to pace the (very long) novel nor write a sympathetic main character.
Nothing happens for a long time and I mean nothing. This not the months of tension Bella endures as she pieces Edward Cullen's life together. This is Luce, the protagonist, mopping about, lamenting her life and her unrequited love for a certain boy Daniel. Large chunks of the book do not progress the story and are quite frankly boring. It wasn't until the end that the theology the author introduces interested me, unfortunately so I will no doubt buy the sequel to see if the author will settle down and write a proper story and answer some of the questions she has thrown up (as a frustrated Lost fan, I know what it is like to never have anything answered).
All the vital elements to make this a twilight are there: 'ordinary' girl (who doesn't know she has a special destiny/power), mysterious boy who rejects her but can't keep away, 'ordinary' boy who loves her but she doesn't return his affection and depressive, internal monologue. These should all work in Fallen but it is missing the vital spirit that make Bella such a modern and exciting character. She doesn't take no for an answer, she doesn't let Edward's overbearing, old fashioned ways stop her from doing what she wants to do. This is part of her attraction to the reader. Luce is unfortunately a little passive and doesn't ask the right questions or defend herself. This is very frustrating and towards the end you kind of hope the bad guys get to kill her so that your suffering will end!
She offers an interesting theology (even if it is not explained) but describes Georgia (USA) beautifully. The ending was intriguing and the first chapter of the second book 'Torment' hinted that this book will be better paced. The book covers are great too (love the dress).
I really didn't think it was possible to make Hush, hush seem like the new Twilight but this book has achieved it. I feel bad that yet again I am giving a negative review but like my taste in films, I'm more inclined to like something then to dislike it so you can imagine how disappointed I have been with the current books I have read.
The main problem with this book is it is so trying to be Bella Swann however Lauren Kate does not have the skill to pace the (very long) novel nor write a sympathetic main character.
Nothing happens for a long time and I mean nothing. This not the months of tension Bella endures as she pieces Edward Cullen's life together. This is Luce, the protagonist, mopping about, lamenting her life and her unrequited love for a certain boy Daniel. Large chunks of the book do not progress the story and are quite frankly boring. It wasn't until the end that the theology the author introduces interested me, unfortunately so I will no doubt buy the sequel to see if the author will settle down and write a proper story and answer some of the questions she has thrown up (as a frustrated Lost fan, I know what it is like to never have anything answered).
All the vital elements to make this a twilight are there: 'ordinary' girl (who doesn't know she has a special destiny/power), mysterious boy who rejects her but can't keep away, 'ordinary' boy who loves her but she doesn't return his affection and depressive, internal monologue. These should all work in Fallen but it is missing the vital spirit that make Bella such a modern and exciting character. She doesn't take no for an answer, she doesn't let Edward's overbearing, old fashioned ways stop her from doing what she wants to do. This is part of her attraction to the reader. Luce is unfortunately a little passive and doesn't ask the right questions or defend herself. This is very frustrating and towards the end you kind of hope the bad guys get to kill her so that your suffering will end!
She offers an interesting theology (even if it is not explained) but describes Georgia (USA) beautifully. The ending was intriguing and the first chapter of the second book 'Torment' hinted that this book will be better paced. The book covers are great too (love the dress).
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Moonlighting
Moonlighting by Kate Lace 2stars
I normally enjoy the Little black dress series. They are short, fun books which are great as a break after something serious. I brought this as the premise sounded very interesting. Jess Drydon is a Community Support officer by day and a struggling ex dancer by night. Tricked into working at a pole dancing club she is soon recruited her police force to investigate drug dealing which is suppose to be going on at the club. However this seriously impacts on her relationship with PC Matt.
This book started well and the characters are engaging and realistic. I liked Jess and Matt straight away however the author set up the dodgy brother in law too early, hinting at the unanswered questions that Jess and her sister have about him. This is one of many incidents that really makes you wonder if the author really understood her characters as Jess spends the entire novel being very stupid. She ignores all the weirdness with her brother in law and when she is kidnapped, despises the fact that she is a trained policewoman she is completely unable to fathom a way out. Instead we get four chapters of her whining about being locked up and worrying about Stockholm syndrome. If she broke out she wouldn't need to worry about this.
Also the acceptance of stripping in this book was interesting. Either you disagree with stripping or you think it is empowering. You have to pick which. This book tries to make it empowering but in such a uncomfortable way that it should be given out to all teenage girls as an example of why stripping is NOT empowering (don't believe me? Read Living Dolls. Opened my eyes and will change your mind)
I normally enjoy the Little black dress series. They are short, fun books which are great as a break after something serious. I brought this as the premise sounded very interesting. Jess Drydon is a Community Support officer by day and a struggling ex dancer by night. Tricked into working at a pole dancing club she is soon recruited her police force to investigate drug dealing which is suppose to be going on at the club. However this seriously impacts on her relationship with PC Matt.
This book started well and the characters are engaging and realistic. I liked Jess and Matt straight away however the author set up the dodgy brother in law too early, hinting at the unanswered questions that Jess and her sister have about him. This is one of many incidents that really makes you wonder if the author really understood her characters as Jess spends the entire novel being very stupid. She ignores all the weirdness with her brother in law and when she is kidnapped, despises the fact that she is a trained policewoman she is completely unable to fathom a way out. Instead we get four chapters of her whining about being locked up and worrying about Stockholm syndrome. If she broke out she wouldn't need to worry about this.
Also the acceptance of stripping in this book was interesting. Either you disagree with stripping or you think it is empowering. You have to pick which. This book tries to make it empowering but in such a uncomfortable way that it should be given out to all teenage girls as an example of why stripping is NOT empowering (don't believe me? Read Living Dolls. Opened my eyes and will change your mind)
Monday, 9 August 2010
The 19th Wife
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff 4 stars
I started reading this last year and picked it up again recently to finally finish it. My slow approach to this book should not put you off. This was a fantastic read one that engaged me from the beginning fascinated me right through to the end. The core of the novel is a fictional account of the Mormon leader Brigham Young's 19th Wife Ann Eliza and her family life amongst the emerging Latter Day Saint Church. The historical narrative is framed by a modern story of a young man investigating the death of his father, a First - a modern day polygamist, who the police believe was killed by his mother the 19th wife.
The historical story is mesmerising. The character and scenery are so vividly invoked that the reader can't help feeling as though they are reading a genuine source. Ann Eliza is such a fantastic guide and so beautifully realised she leapt from the page.
It is a shame that the modern story is not as interesting and seems to be an addition but this book should be read for the well researched and realistic account of the pioneer life. Beautiful and well written. (NB: Not an ideal commute book as it is quite thick!)
I started reading this last year and picked it up again recently to finally finish it. My slow approach to this book should not put you off. This was a fantastic read one that engaged me from the beginning fascinated me right through to the end. The core of the novel is a fictional account of the Mormon leader Brigham Young's 19th Wife Ann Eliza and her family life amongst the emerging Latter Day Saint Church. The historical narrative is framed by a modern story of a young man investigating the death of his father, a First - a modern day polygamist, who the police believe was killed by his mother the 19th wife.
The historical story is mesmerising. The character and scenery are so vividly invoked that the reader can't help feeling as though they are reading a genuine source. Ann Eliza is such a fantastic guide and so beautifully realised she leapt from the page.
It is a shame that the modern story is not as interesting and seems to be an addition but this book should be read for the well researched and realistic account of the pioneer life. Beautiful and well written. (NB: Not an ideal commute book as it is quite thick!)
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Dracula by Bram Stoker
I have just finished reading by email Bram Stoker's Dracula. I used Dailylit.com who were excellent with a great selection of public domain books and the ability to adapt the length of the email you get sent. I have now started A Study in Scarlett after the recent brilliant adaption of Sherlock on the BBC.
Anyway back to Dracula. This is the second time I have read the book I was inspired by my favorite living author, Meg Cabot publishing her new book Insatiable. It is a modern retelling of Dracula (but not very similar to the original). Meg Cabot mentioned how Mina Harker is a feminist character and not remembering that the first time I read it I decided to reread it. Dracula is unique for being one of the first books to have the entire narrative written in letters and journals. This breaks up the story nicely and means that the reader gets to see how each character learns about Dracula and how they come together to destroy him. The problem with this style of narrative is that just as in real life diaries, there will be lots of activity and then lots of sitting around and talking which gets very dull.
Despite Meg Cabot's endorsement of Mina's feminist credentials, she too becomes annoying and the men spend the majority of book being very condescending. I realise that for the time Bram Stoker is being very empowering of women by writing a woman who has a job, writes short hand and knows the train timetable however in these modern times this view is as condescending as James Bond in 'Live and let die' towards the emerging Civil rights movement. It is uncomfortable to read and insulting when it refers to you.
Ultimately Dracula should be read as the definative vampire lore bible. What to write your own twilight novel? Read Dracula and learn the vampire lore, some of it is as ridiculous as sparkly vampires!
Anyway back to Dracula. This is the second time I have read the book I was inspired by my favorite living author, Meg Cabot publishing her new book Insatiable. It is a modern retelling of Dracula (but not very similar to the original). Meg Cabot mentioned how Mina Harker is a feminist character and not remembering that the first time I read it I decided to reread it. Dracula is unique for being one of the first books to have the entire narrative written in letters and journals. This breaks up the story nicely and means that the reader gets to see how each character learns about Dracula and how they come together to destroy him. The problem with this style of narrative is that just as in real life diaries, there will be lots of activity and then lots of sitting around and talking which gets very dull.
Despite Meg Cabot's endorsement of Mina's feminist credentials, she too becomes annoying and the men spend the majority of book being very condescending. I realise that for the time Bram Stoker is being very empowering of women by writing a woman who has a job, writes short hand and knows the train timetable however in these modern times this view is as condescending as James Bond in 'Live and let die' towards the emerging Civil rights movement. It is uncomfortable to read and insulting when it refers to you.
Ultimately Dracula should be read as the definative vampire lore bible. What to write your own twilight novel? Read Dracula and learn the vampire lore, some of it is as ridiculous as sparkly vampires!
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