I think that the greatest accolade I can give this book is simple, I passed in to my 12 year old daughter who read it in a couple of hours.
The story of Christopher an autistic 15 year old, who sadly experiences the break up of his parents.
Christopher is a mathematical genius and he uses this skill to get by in life, I think to distract him from the chaos of his family life.
This is a wonderfully told yet far too true story of the breakdown of family life in a town like any other in England.
Apparantly , another film is on its way, could be difficult to portray this very complicated young man.
Excellent book!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
50 Books to read before you die No 8 George Orwell. 1984
I seem to remember reading this at school. Yet I do not have as many memories of this book as I have of Animal Farm.
Having seen where Orwell wrote this book on the island of Jura, very close to the Cory Wreckon Whirlpool, I can imagine how he came up with such a dark and terrible story.
There are so many prophesies in this book that are so current in today's society, especially some of the technological ideas that he used.
Voices from the wall and cameras everywhere, how true is that of today's world with satellite and radar traps. You really do not know who is watching you.
George Orwell had a great influence on me as a young man, I suppose that after reading, 'Down and Out in London and Paris' so many years ago, the image of 'Le plongeur' the poor kitchen porter in the huge Parisien hotels has always given me the reality of how bloody hard it is sometimes to get by.
1984 is without doubt one of the very best books I have ever read and it has given me the inspiration to read some of his other work, especially 'Hommage to Catalonia' as I really should understand more regarding the Spanish Civil War. I also remember another wonderful book, 'The road to Wigan Pier'
Monday, April 11, 2011
Película española 2 Barrio
Una película española.
Director Fernando Léon de Aranda. 1999
Críspulo Cabezas, Timy Benito and Eloi Yebra.
Esta película es sobre tres jóvenes hijos en Madrid. Viven en un barrio trabajadora y suenen de una vida mejora.
Aunque esta película es bastante gracioso, es también muy triste.
Esta película muestra el lado escuro de la vida en un ciudad española, personas sin hogar, uso indebido de drogas, la violencia doméstica y alcoholismo. Me gusta mucho una escena con un esquí acuático que es totalmente inútil por los chicos, pero representa nuestra sociedad de consumo. Uno otro chico que esta desperezara para trabajar se convierte un repartidor de pizza sin motor de scooter por consiguiente todos de los pizzas están sobre frio!
Una buena película que es muy triste.
50 Books to read before you die No 7 The Color Purple
What an amazing book! This selection of books has probably given me the chance to read a book that I would not have normally chosen. Why not The Color Purple? Simply because , I had always thought it was a book about women, written for women. Which of course, some of this is true, it is a book about women, but it is much more that I had thought. The book is written in the form of letters, letters to God and letters to sisters. It is a tragic story of the plight of women and another example of the shocking situation in Africa during the colonialism period, especially by us the British! Well the British upper Class!
I now have a copy of the DVD to have a look at the comparison to the book.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
50 Books to read before you die. No 6 Heart of Darkness
Joesph Conrad's classic is but a short story or a novella in a book with 2 other very readable stories about the sea.
This story influenced one of the most famous of all War films, 'Apocalypse Now' with Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando.
Written in the 1890s by Conrad who in fact was born on the Ukraine,I was convinced he was American.
Themes are rampant in the book, Modernism, Imperialism, God knows slavery and racism and the more I think about the appalling European treatment of Africa, it's people, the Ivory trade, it is quite horrendous.
An amazing story, thought provoking, moving, frightening, genius.
Next book, equally anticipated because of my memory of the film, Alice Walker's 'The Color Purple'.
Pelicula española 1 . Te doy mis ojos. España Director Iciar Bollain.
Esta pelicula es de 2004 y los actores principales son, Laia Marull y luis Tosar.
Es una historia muy triste sobre la violencia doméstica.
Yo no conozco los actores pero creo que Laia Marull da una interpretación ¡fenomenal!
Para mí es un tema muy sensitibo y desgraciadamente muy común actualemente en nuestra sociedad.
Me parece que el cine española es una mina de talento y tendré que investigar y descubrirlo.
Mi película próxima sera el Barrio, una película española dirigida por Fernando Léon de Aranoa[1998]
Es una historia muy triste sobre la violencia doméstica.
Yo no conozco los actores pero creo que Laia Marull da una interpretación ¡fenomenal!
Para mí es un tema muy sensitibo y desgraciadamente muy común actualemente en nuestra sociedad.
Me parece que el cine española es una mina de talento y tendré que investigar y descubrirlo.
Mi película próxima sera el Barrio, una película española dirigida por Fernando Léon de Aranoa[1998]
Frankenstein the Movie 1
This version of the film, directed by James Whale is from 1931!
80 years old! Incredible!
The monster, Boris Karloff used to frighten the life out of me on a Friday night, when I was a kid and to be honest is still awesome! As with Moby Dick, the story from the book is very loosely portrayed , however, this does not in any way affect the film. The film is just simply a classic !
Kenneth Branagh made a version of the story in 1994, starring Robert de Niro as the monster. I have ordered a copy, as I understand that he has tried to keep to the story, but there are some awful write-ups on the film. Watch this space for mine!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
50 Books to read before you die No 5 Frankenstein
The second book from the 19 century with a similar theme to that of Moby Dick. Revenge! This book of course is one of the forerunners of Gothic Horror stories, interestingly I always thought that the Vampire story was based in Bram Stoker's Dracula, It seems that Lord Byron had a lot to do with the beginnings of the tale.
I also always thought that ' The Bride of Frankenstein' was a bit of a joke Hammer Horror sequel, but how wrong I was, Mary Shelley has poor old Doctor Frankenstein ditching the future Mrs. Fiend in a basket in the waters somewhere near the Orkneys. I have ordered the oldest DVD film (1934) and hopefully nearest to the story of Frankenstein.
I must admit I did enjoy this book and I am glad that I made the effort to read it. I know there are lots of messages about the industrial revolution and Godwinian philosophy, but its still a really scary story!
Where next? Well, it's time for a short story and one I do not know anything about, including the writer.
Joseph Conrad and 'Heart of Darkness' To be followed by a film (but not a book) that I do know, Alice Walker's The Color Purple.
I also always thought that ' The Bride of Frankenstein' was a bit of a joke Hammer Horror sequel, but how wrong I was, Mary Shelley has poor old Doctor Frankenstein ditching the future Mrs. Fiend in a basket in the waters somewhere near the Orkneys. I have ordered the oldest DVD film (1934) and hopefully nearest to the story of Frankenstein.
I must admit I did enjoy this book and I am glad that I made the effort to read it. I know there are lots of messages about the industrial revolution and Godwinian philosophy, but its still a really scary story!
Where next? Well, it's time for a short story and one I do not know anything about, including the writer.
Joseph Conrad and 'Heart of Darkness' To be followed by a film (but not a book) that I do know, Alice Walker's The Color Purple.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The King's Speech (2)
(2) ? Because it is the second time I have seen this film in the cinema and to be honest I think I would go again!
I can't remember the last time I watched a film twice? Life of Brian?
I love this film, I love the history and the humanity of the story. It deserves every honour it gets , Oscars , the lot.
I can't remember the last time I watched a film twice? Life of Brian?
I love this film, I love the history and the humanity of the story. It deserves every honour it gets , Oscars , the lot.
50 Books to read before you die No 4. Moby Dick
Excellent!
I watched the DVD straight after I had finished the book. The book is just so detailed and of course the film tells the story of the Whale and the chase.
Yet I was beginning to think that the amount of detail would detract from the story of Ahab's revenge. I was wrong.
I found myself looking for the detail described in the book in scenes in the film. Small details, but what a difference it made to my enjoyment of the film, which I had seen before, probably many times.
So , on to the next book. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
I seem to be stuck in the Gothic period, but I must be honest I loved Hammer Horror when I was a kid.
I watched the DVD straight after I had finished the book. The book is just so detailed and of course the film tells the story of the Whale and the chase.
Yet I was beginning to think that the amount of detail would detract from the story of Ahab's revenge. I was wrong.
I found myself looking for the detail described in the book in scenes in the film. Small details, but what a difference it made to my enjoyment of the film, which I had seen before, probably many times.
So , on to the next book. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
I seem to be stuck in the Gothic period, but I must be honest I loved Hammer Horror when I was a kid.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
50 Books to read before you die No 4. Moby Dick
Some thoughts on Moby Dick.
I am about half way through the book now and I must admit, it has really surprised me in the sense of the style of writing. I guess I expected a book that would be written in a more simple style, probably because of my memories of the film and knowledge of the story. Well I couldn't have been more wrong!
In one sense this is an encyclopaedia of all things Whaling. Detailed accounts of species and equipment, all things nautical, of which I can only imagine how these amazing sailing ships worked.
I love the writer's short chapters, especially when describing the Crew which represents the Human race.
Clearly recognised as a classic novel, it is more than obvious that this will jump to number one of my top 50, when I have finished it!
I am about half way through the book now and I must admit, it has really surprised me in the sense of the style of writing. I guess I expected a book that would be written in a more simple style, probably because of my memories of the film and knowledge of the story. Well I couldn't have been more wrong!
In one sense this is an encyclopaedia of all things Whaling. Detailed accounts of species and equipment, all things nautical, of which I can only imagine how these amazing sailing ships worked.
I love the writer's short chapters, especially when describing the Crew which represents the Human race.
Clearly recognised as a classic novel, it is more than obvious that this will jump to number one of my top 50, when I have finished it!
Voces inocentes.
Thanks to the amazing Dvd library at Durham University, I can now access material I would never have found.
This week I found a Mexican film directed by Luis Mandoki.
This film called Voces inocentes, is set in El Salvador in the 1980s. Politically, the film comments on the American involvement in the Civil war. But the message for me was the shocking use of children in the guise of Child soldiers.
More worrying probably to me is, what the Hell did I know about it at the time and to be honest, did we really care?
This week I found a Mexican film directed by Luis Mandoki.
This film called Voces inocentes, is set in El Salvador in the 1980s. Politically, the film comments on the American involvement in the Civil war. But the message for me was the shocking use of children in the guise of Child soldiers.
More worrying probably to me is, what the Hell did I know about it at the time and to be honest, did we really care?
Sunday, March 06, 2011
50 books to read before you die, No 3 Life of Pi
Total genius!
The next time we get a cat, he will be called Richard Parker. This book is going to be made into a film 2012 ?
It will have to be a hell of a film, to represent this amazing story!
What a story, I couldn''t put it down. Surely that' s a sign of a really good book. I took it everywhere with me, it is so good to have a good book to take out of your bag and read with a coffee, for example in a cafe.
Definitely my favourite so far, so this is the rating.
1 = Life of Pi
2 = The Catcher in the Rye
3 = Money
Now a total classic, that I have never read!
The great leviathan himself.
MOBY DICK. Even in the first few pages, it seems to me that another book on the list needs to be read. The Bible! Immediately, references to the Old testament are a really important part of understanding the text. Could be one of my most interesting reads?
The next time we get a cat, he will be called Richard Parker. This book is going to be made into a film 2012 ?
It will have to be a hell of a film, to represent this amazing story!
What a story, I couldn''t put it down. Surely that' s a sign of a really good book. I took it everywhere with me, it is so good to have a good book to take out of your bag and read with a coffee, for example in a cafe.
Definitely my favourite so far, so this is the rating.
1 = Life of Pi
2 = The Catcher in the Rye
3 = Money
Now a total classic, that I have never read!
The great leviathan himself.
MOBY DICK. Even in the first few pages, it seems to me that another book on the list needs to be read. The Bible! Immediately, references to the Old testament are a really important part of understanding the text. Could be one of my most interesting reads?
Friday, March 04, 2011
50 books to read before you die, no. 2 Money. Martin Amis
Ummm
Not quite sure what to make of this book?
I must admit it was quite funny in places, the main character John Self, reminds me of a few people. It also reminds me of the 1980s Bloody awful decade!
Anyway, I am well into a much better book now.
The Life of Pi.
Not quite sure what to make of this book?
I must admit it was quite funny in places, the main character John Self, reminds me of a few people. It also reminds me of the 1980s Bloody awful decade!
Anyway, I am well into a much better book now.
The Life of Pi.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
50 Books to read before you die . 1 The Catcher in the Rye
Excellent!
Swell!
I really enjoyed this book, although set in a time and a place, I do not know. I can relate to a lot of adolescent experiences in J.D. Salinger's novel.
I love the language, swell! Goddamn kills me!
I can also appreciate the tragedy in the story, thank God I am not a 16 year old again!
Definitely recommended,
Number 2
Money by Martin Amis, should be totally different, set in the 1980 's. Some fairly odd critique, but I'll give it a go.
Swell!
I really enjoyed this book, although set in a time and a place, I do not know. I can relate to a lot of adolescent experiences in J.D. Salinger's novel.
I love the language, swell! Goddamn kills me!
I can also appreciate the tragedy in the story, thank God I am not a 16 year old again!
Definitely recommended,
Number 2
Money by Martin Amis, should be totally different, set in the 1980 's. Some fairly odd critique, but I'll give it a go.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
A visit to the Guildhall
We have done it again, getting invited to all of the best places!
Mark, Phil and I in our posh suits. MAES was shortlisted for the E Gov awards and the presentation was at London's Guildhall.
What a place!
Photos to come!
Mark, Phil and I in our posh suits. MAES was shortlisted for the E Gov awards and the presentation was at London's Guildhall.
What a place!
Photos to come!
50 Books to Read before you die.
After visiting one of my favourite places in the world, The British Library.
I bought myself a little souvenir, a bookmark with
50 BOOKS TO READ TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE
Among the list, it has to be said are some of my favourite books.
Over the next few months, ( or maybe Years! ) I will tell you the books on the list and track my progress.
To start with, a short one.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
I bought myself a little souvenir, a bookmark with
50 BOOKS TO READ TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE
Among the list, it has to be said are some of my favourite books.
Over the next few months, ( or maybe Years! ) I will tell you the books on the list and track my progress.
To start with, a short one.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
De Brus Centre / Skelton
Yesterday was spent with a lovely group of Pickle enthusiasts!
We spent the day making Chutney and jams at the De Brus Centre in Sunny Skelton.
Thank you for the kind words and enthusiastic feedback.
Here is the recipe for the Chilli Jam.
Simple as you like!
5oz Chillies, any size any type, depends how hot you like it!
5oz Red Pepper.
Chop them up roughly, including the seeds!
Put them through a food processor.
Take 1/2 litre of CIDER VINEGAR
Desolve 1 kg. of preserving sugar in the vinegar on the heat.
When the sugar is dissolved add the purree of chilli and pepper.
Heat to setting point, it will look quite runny, but it always seems to set!
And that's it!
Eat with whatever you like! Especially a Petch's Pie!
Cushty!
We spent the day making Chutney and jams at the De Brus Centre in Sunny Skelton.
Thank you for the kind words and enthusiastic feedback.
Here is the recipe for the Chilli Jam.
Simple as you like!
5oz Chillies, any size any type, depends how hot you like it!
5oz Red Pepper.
Chop them up roughly, including the seeds!
Put them through a food processor.
Take 1/2 litre of CIDER VINEGAR
Desolve 1 kg. of preserving sugar in the vinegar on the heat.
When the sugar is dissolved add the purree of chilli and pepper.
Heat to setting point, it will look quite runny, but it always seems to set!
And that's it!
Eat with whatever you like! Especially a Petch's Pie!
Cushty!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
You are never too Old!
Today was the first day of my Language degree at Durham University!
God , it brought back some memories of my first degree more than 20 years ago.
The anxiety I felt then and today of being a mature student.
The students seem so young! But then again , they are!
I wil also never get over the buzz of the first Lecture and the Lecture theatre. A learner enquired the other night, ' You really must love learning, Pete'. You are damn right I do!
Somehow, there seems to be a little less stress than in the past, but I am sure that is to do with my confidence, and AGE!
God , it brought back some memories of my first degree more than 20 years ago.
The anxiety I felt then and today of being a mature student.
The students seem so young! But then again , they are!
I wil also never get over the buzz of the first Lecture and the Lecture theatre. A learner enquired the other night, ' You really must love learning, Pete'. You are damn right I do!
Somehow, there seems to be a little less stress than in the past, but I am sure that is to do with my confidence, and AGE!
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