My Stocking Fillers

Firstly, Happy Christmas to you all!

I hope you're having a wonderful day, but I thought I'd interrupt it by sharing with you a few of my stocking fillers, in the field of literature.

On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan

It is July 1962. Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset Coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come...

This book, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize this year, was given to me by my lovely Auntie Jacqui and her partner, Mike. It didn't win the prize but nevertheless, the novel has been well praised. It is a short novel so hopefully I will be back soon to give you some feedback on its good and - perhaps - bad points.

The Gathering, Anne Enright

The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan gather in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother Liam. It wasn't the drink that killed him - although that certainly helped - it was what happened to him as a boy in his grandmother's house, in the winter of 1968. His sister Veronica was there then, as she is now: keeping the dead man company, just for another little while.

Now, this one did win the Man Booker Prize, so you've probably heard of it. Enright was also in the papers around the time the prize was awarded for writing an essay that criticised the McCanns. My Grandma and Grandad bought it for me and I'm sure it will live up to its award-winning status.

Engleby, Sebastian Faulks

Mike Engleby says things that others dare not think.

Another present from my grandparents, this is something apparently "unlike anything he has written before", but since reading Birdsong, I've been a bit of a fan of Faulks. I haven't read any reviews, but it has been recommended to me by a teacher - let's hope it doesn't disappoint.

Suite Française, Irène Némirovsky

In 1941, Irène Némirovsky sat down to write a book that would convey the magnitude of what she was living through by evoking the domestic lives and personal trials of the ordinary citizens of France. Némirovsky's death in Auschwitz in 1942 prevented her from seeing the day, sixty-five years later, that the existing two sections of her planned novel sequence, "Suite Française", would be rediscovered and hailed as a masterpiece.

This, a present from my mum, sounds like an incredible story. My novel is the translation of the original French publication and I can't wait to read it. I'll have to read into the author's own story a bit more too as even that sounds like an amazing, if heart-wrenching story.

So, those are my four Christmas novels. Maybe some of you out there could help me decide what to read first, and, if you've read any of them already, let me know what you think. Hopefully, I'll have a few reviews on the way soon.

Have a happy Christmas and best wishes for the new year.

One of My Favourites

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." - The most famous quote from one of the most "universally" loved classics.

Published in 1813, four years before Austen's death, it has since become one of her most famous novels. It was initially titled First Impressions, but obviously it was never published under that title. Austen also first published it under the pseudonym, A Lady - there's an interesting fact for you.

Anyway, to the real business of blogging - the review. Now, I find it very difficult to review something that's both widely loved and nearly two hundred years old, but I'll give it my best shot.

The best thing about this novel is that, despite being set in a different society from today's, it's still funny. Austen's satire highlights the ridiculous characters in her society - the fussy, melodramatic mother (Mrs Bennet), the husband that regrets marrying (Mr Bennet), and the seemingly charming gentleman (Wickham). Of course, we still have these characters portrayed in modern satires - Monica from Friends, Ben from My Family and Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones' Diary. Therefore, Austen's novel is humourous to both the nineteenth and twenty-first century reader - we can all find a character in her novel that we can recognise.

The character of Elizabeth Bennet, from whose point of view the novel is mainly based, is very interesting; she is stubborn, a seemingly intelligent and independent woman. Quite similar to many modern heroines. However, Austen undermines these characteristics by showing her folly in falling for the dodgy Wickham, and how she eventually comes to depend on Darcy for love and money. Austen constantly ridicules the position of women in her society; they are expected to marry the first man who proposes to them; they are expected to marry for money and not love; and they are expected to marry for high status, connections and a good inheritance. Not exactly the same criteria we look for today. Clearly, Austen disagrees with them too; she herself never married, probably because she didn't believe in a loveless marriage. However, Austen is proof that a woman could be successful without having to marry someone already well-established.

The role of women is a very important theme in Austen's novel; the author suggests that in her society it was up to the woman to marry well first for their family's sake, then their own and to behave properly. Jane Bennet is the proper lady of the family; well groomed, well spoken, good natured and obedient; the perfect asset to her family. Whereas, Lydia Bennet acts as the complete opposite; flirtacious, irresponsible and a shame to her whole family when she elopes with Wickham. Austen has just about covered all the characters in her society, obviously conveying them to the extreme, from the arrogant Catherine de Bourgh to the stubborn heroine of Elizabeth. Austen clearly displays the ridiculous nature of her society and the people in it and with Catherine's obvious ill-breeding and Lydia's irritable immaturity, she makes the novel the successful, comical satire that it is.

Without a doubt, every book lover should read Pride and Pejudice, if you haven't already done so - it's guaranteed to become one of your favourites to be read over and over again.

A Lady.

PS. I've never seen the film - my love stems purely from the novel!

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of "Pride and Prejudice".

The University Front

Well, besides me being a shocking blogger (not posting in over a month), I have in fact been succeeding on the University Front. I thought, as one student to another, I'd share with you all my ups and downs, and just this once I'd like to talk about the ups!

3rd December 2007 has recently become a very important date; yours truly has gained an interview at Cambridge University. At first, I was very excited; mainly, I was glad that all the paperwork would at least count for something! However, it's now a week until the day and I'm starting to feel a bit nervous. I have had a lot of support from everyone, but ultimately, no one can do it for me. This is the real deal (I've even bought new interview clothes) and it's finally dawned on me - I've got an interview at Cambridge! Without a shadow of a doubt, if I get offered a place there, I'll grab it with both hands. It's nice to think that perhaps the thirteen years of hard work will amount to an education so priceless and prestigious.

So, where am I going with this? Well, apart from sharing my own good feelings, this post is also a quick note to all potential university applicants. That is - go for it! To be honest, when first considering applying to Cambridge, I was overwhelmed, under-confident and didn't have the faith of all of my peers that I could do it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not getting ahead of myself, I am hardly expecting the interviewers to jump up and offer me a place as soon as I step through the door. However, at least after all this, success or not, I will know exactly what could have happened. So, if any of you are having doubts about whether to apply for that certain course, college or university, don't. After all, what's stopping you? There's no harm in trying, you won't live the rest of your life wondering what might have been and most importantly we are all at that valuable stage of our lives where there are few burdens of responsibility - we've nothing to lose.

What are you waiting for? Stop dallying and get that UCAS form completed.

Good luck!

Dumbledore's Out in the Big Apple

Last Friday in New York, J.K. Rowling shocked her fans by revealing that the headmaster at Hogwarts was gay. Naturally, whether readers are particularly shocked or not, the news has sparked controversy from the academic to the religious world.

To be honest, all those purple robes and dodgy hats were bound to suggest something but it seems that Albus' sexuality has been welcomed by most fans. However, for others, particularly some religious groups, it has not been well received. Nigel Farndale of the The Daily Telegraph even suggests that "it is quite possible that the intolerant evangelical Christian Right in America will start burning Harry Potter books". Well, they've done it before.

Of course, there is no concrete evidence in the novels to say that Dumbledore was homosexual, it is simply the imagination of the author; "I have always thought of Dumbledore as gay", says Rowling. In my opinion, the sexuality of Harry's mentor is not essential in the books, however, academics searching for a subtext (previously trying to prove Harry's homosexuality) will undoubtedly scour the text to find suggestions of Albus' "passion". Farndale writes that perhaps Dumbledore took a dislike to Tom Riddle because the young wizard rejected his advances; after all, the reasons were never explained and Riddle soon waged war against Dumbledore as Lord Voldemort. But, did Voldemort's terrifying wrath really exist simply because he had a gay tiff with his former mentor? Personally, I think it's a bit extreme to say so.

Nevertheless, Dumbledore was always a man of tolerance and no doubt his iconic character has pleased the homosexuals of the 'muggle' world. So, although a slightly bizarre Potter announcement, the news will undoubtedly cause more discussion than was ever intended and lead to new interpretations of the novels; even if it doesn't have anything to do with the storyline. Question remains, however, why has Rowling chosen to tell us?

Calling all Harry Potter fans to let me know what you think - please comment.

"The Greatest War Novel of All Time"

All Quiet on the Western Front -Erich Maria Remarque

"To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier" - one quote from the whole novel that sticks in my mind. Studying the First World War through Wilfred Owen and Sebastian Faulks, through my history lessons (and a free DVD Dad got with the Daily Mail) I have come to understand that the earth, Mother Nature, is a soldier's best friend. I chose to write my coursework on the subject and I have discovered an immense interest that has led in turn to a deep respect for nature and the poor soldiers of World War One. Just think: the only stable things in your life are the steady rumble of guns and the contaminated earth beneath your feet. How can anyone love that slow, sticky earth that slows you down, gets inside your skin and spits with gunfire? Because, when you finally die, she is your only loyal companion.

Remarque (originally Erich Paul Remark) was born in Germany and conscripted into the army in 1917, aged just 18. After being wounded five times, the final shrapnel wound caused such serious damage that he spent the rest of the war in a military hospital. With first hand knowledge, Remarque has written a fantastic fictional novel from the perspective of a 20 year-old German boy named Paul Bäumer. Paul volunteers to join the German army with his classmates and the book follows the course of the war and the subtle reduction of the group's number. It is a realistic novel that is straight to the point about conveying the horror of war.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the German perspective - I have never before read about the war from any perspective other than that of the British soldier. In British books, the German soldiers live comfortable and securely at the Western front and so they do in this book. Often Bäumer and his friends feast off goose, roast pork and on one occasion, lobster! The length of time that the German soldiers seem to stay at the front also seems significantly less than that of the British soldiers and the level of organisation and regulation seems much higher. However, ultimately, the situation is the same - Paul faces injury, death and inhumanity on a massive scale, on a daily basis.

Three things struck me about this novel: the feeling of comradeship, the brutality of the German forces and the subtle style of Remarque. Comradeship is a huge theme in this book, but the relationships that Paul has with his classmates appear closer than the relationship between two lovers. It becomes most apparent when Paul visits his family whilst on leave; the tone of the book becomes cold as the reader senses the isolation that the soldier feels from life at home. The brutality of the German forces is something unusual and it led me to feel much less sympathy for the ruthless soldiers; there are descriptions of a German counter attack on the French in which they stab the fleeing backs of enemy forces and chase them back into their own trench. This inhumane description probably matches the actions of the British but never before have I read about the ruthless murders of Germans at British hands. It was an honest and brave subject to include - probably giving more reason for Hitler to ban the text in the 1930s.

Finally, Remarque's subtle style; the way he writes is impressive and almost beautiful. I only became aware of it in the final chapters of the novel when I suddenly realised that Germany had gone from being a triumphant force feasting on succulent meat every night to a weak, deteriorating minute force. We see this gradual change in the character of Paul and in the final pages the reader slowly and sadly realises he has become the last surviving member of his class.

However, I don't want to be misleading; Remarque goes out of his way to convey the horrific, brutal truth about war, about men who "run with both their feet cut off", "without mouths, without jaws, without faces". The detachment from normal civilian life, the psychological effects of the guns and the comradeship are all included as in every good war novel; this is, without a doubt, a stunning account of war. However, the greatest war novel of all time? It is debatable. Admittedly, I don't know whether I have encountered a better one (not one from an author who saw the events with his own eyes) but the fact that it is a translation sometimes makes it hard to comprehend. Ultimately, I would like to read more of this genre before making such a definite judgement on a literary position so high.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of "All Quiet on the Western Front".

The Modern Way to Win a Woman

Run, Fat Boy, Run


Directed by David Schwimmer

Dennis (Simon Pegg) is your average bachelor; not in perfect shape, living in a filthy environment, and alone. He is satisfied with a career as a security guard in a women's lingerie shop (which seems to attract criminal transvestites) and regularly forgets his keys, says things he doesn't mean and embarrasses himself in front of the one woman he aims to impress. Run, Fat Boy, Run is the story of this typically useless man as he attempts to win the heart of his former fiance in a not so traditional way.

This film should be credited for its simplicity, its realism and for the completely down-to-earth approach that the director takes in producing a typical romantic comedy. Filled with your regular stereotypes (beautiful lady, worthless single father, stuck up (yet attractive) romantic opposition) they are unusually played with unique and believable character.

Dennis, having left his fiance, Libby (Thandie Newton), five years previously, decides that he is going to run a marathon in order to prove himself to her. Her new boyfriend, Whit (Hank Azaria) is toned to perfection, trained both physically and mentally, and yet slightly flabby Dennis is determined to run alongside him. With the help of a friend, he accidentally earns himself a charity entry, running for Erectile Dysfunction Awareness, and with a pair of skimpy shorts and a flash pair of trainers bought him by his landlord, he sets out to train in just two weeks.

Does he manage it? Why, of course. With a few minor hiccups, it is obvious from the very start that the low-life, part-time Dad will run and achieve his goal with the image of lady and son in mind. It is these elements of predictable cheese that make it of the romantic comedy genre. However, Schwimmer gives it a unique and realistic edge by ensuring girl and boy don't quite reach that happily ever after - men need to know that running miles for us on a whim won't make us theirs forever! There is also a good range of British humour; admittedly a few awful moments where the humour completely fails. Yet, the impressive performances of Pegg, Azaria and Newton make up for it, as well as the good range of music to go with it. If I were to rate the film out of 5, I'd grant it a satisfactory 4. It's an entertaining film, with a good portion of British humour with the always-loveable hopeless pursuit of romance by a not-so-perfect man.

However, if I were to have one complaint, it would be the rating; rated 12, it should, in my opinion be rated 15. There is frequent bad language (which I am aware 12 year olds have no difficulty in using) and some sexual references that I was quite discomforted by knowing there were young people surrounding me. Yet, I suppose I should ultimately leave it up to the experts to decide. So, on a lighter note, if you can think of no other reason to go and watch this film other than Hank Azaria talcing his unmentionables, let that be it. It will no doubt entertain you, and if you are a Simon Pegg fan, it won't let you down.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of "Run, Fat Boy, Run".

Update

I'm [again] sorry to say that I've been falling behind on my posting. But I have a spare hour now, so time calls for an update.

As my last post suggests, I've been a bit snowed under in terms of work, but the good news is that in just a week I'll be on my holidays. Nowhere fancy or foreign - just sitting at home enjoying the familiar comfort of dog fart and cat dribble. I can't wait. By Tuesday, I will also have sent off both my UCAS application and my Cambridge application (just as soon as the postal strike ends - no comment). That will be a weight off the noggin. As I mentioned in my last post, I am dropping a night of work and as of next week, that's done too.

I feeling much more elated than my last entry as, not only have I managed to complete a few things, but I've also managed to squeeze some simple pleasures into my life:

• I have had my hair cut
• I have joined the gym
• I went to the cinema last night
• I plan to do about an hour's worth of shopping later today

All these things, I must say, help to relieve the stress of everyday student life - I even got a relaxation session at the hairdresser's. Not sure why. Can't say I was particularly prepared but it was interesting to have oil rubbed over my face by a total stranger. They even asked me if I wanted to put my feet up whilst I had my hair washed. Nice girls. The gym is slightly more strenuous but it's a wonderful feeling once you've finished - you can feel a bit light-headed I'll admit, but it's fine once you've had a lump of chocolate or three.

The cinema is something I'd like to talk about in another post; I've fallen behind on my reviews so I should like to put in a word or two about the film I saw later on.

One last thing - roundabouts.

Now, if any driver can do them without stalling I'd like to know how. The big ones are starting to get a bit scary (especially as my instructor insists he can't ban all traffic from the road when I'm driving) and I'd like to be able to do one without holding up half of England, or risking my life as I roll onto them. Whatever happened to straight roads? The Romans had it sussed.

Have a happy Sunday.

It's a Hard Knock Life

And don't I know it. It's only been five weeks into the new school year and I'm already feeling the pressure.

Currently studying four 'A' Levels to A2 standard, I have a mountain of work every week. As well as this, I have to keep up a part-time job, search for an institution in which to spend the next three years of my life, write a personal statement, complete UCAS forms, get irate at useless school administration staff.... I think you get it. Oh, and did I mention the full-time boyfriend and the thriving social life? That was a bit of a lie - I don't really have a thriving social life. But, it would be nice to have the time and the option of one.

Well, it's time for a few important decisions. They stand as follows:

• Drop one night of work
• Leave Sundays totally free to catch up on homework
• Complete personal statement by... today? (But I did say that last Sunday)

I'm not ditching the bloke.

However, I'm not very good at giving myself free time (hence the poor attendance to my blog) and I've replaced those obstacles with new ones:

• Driving lessons (Yay! But at least a night a week)
• Participation in The Wind in the Willows (requires me to be at rehearsals Wednesday and Thursday nights)
• Participation in the school production (requires me to be at rehearsals Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons)

So, I've not done too well with Operation Ease-Stress.

But neveryoumind, until I become completely suicidal, it's not a problem. I'm still doing what I enjoy, even if I am running about a bit like a headless chicken.

However, I would like to whinge slightly about my current institution of study; they talk tosh. They have consistently told us since the beginning of term, "Year 13s are our priority" - yeah right. They just about manage to remember we're there at all by 'briefing' us on the same thing every week; "This is your last year of study.. very important.. pull your socks up.." blah blah blah. It will apparently take 3 weeks for them to 'process' each personal statement; meaning it will take them three weeks from the day we give it to them for them to lose it six times ('misplaced', 'cleaner threw it away', 'dog pooed on it' rubbish) until we force them to read it in front of us and tell us, "it's alright." Unfortunately, I have lost faith in my superiors, just as I have done in the every important year of my education (except Mr Brown). This time I will actually do something about it.

... Just as soon as they've written my references.

Got Soul?

I Know You Got Soul - Jeremy Clarkson

Recommended by my Cash Source, this is the first non-fiction book I've read in some time. Standing ninth of eleven books written by Jeremy Clarkson, it proved to be something a bit different to the style that I normally read; but putting a bit of extra knowledge in the ol' noggin never hurt anyone. As a history student, I was particularly drawn to looking at the development of machines through the ages, which is only a little of what this book does.

Naturally, it's Clarkson and his beloved machines. However, this time, instead of the general gobbledy gook, horse power, mumbo jumbo car piffle, he focuses on a few of the 'greatest' machines made by man. As the title suggests, he then gives us a report that ultimately tells us why they "got soul". Each chapter is dedicated to a different machine, from the AK-47 to the Hoover Dam and it is a very interesting read; you get the typical random 'little boy' facts that Jeremy Clarkson so famously loves alongside the unique history of each machine's life.

Although, cleverly written with wit and humour, it is a book of opinion and not just fact. Even if a certain machine has got soul, Clarkson doesn't hesitate to tell us how crap it might have been from time to time - like the futility of the zeppelin. I had already thought that the zeppelin was a slightly stupid idea - having done history, I know it did pretty poorly in the First World War - but I didn't know it was quite such a chore to make it. In fact, Clarkson makes the 17 or so attempts to fly the thing a very amusing read; over several pages he reviews the effort and the stupidity involved and the sheer length of his writing gives you a sense of the length of time and the frustration it took to create. And yet, the German taxpayers kept forking out their money for some dipstick to keep it going.

Clarkson is notorious for his opinions, and doesn't hold back in this book either but I wouldn't say it makes an uninteresting or annoying read. It can be very funny if you can relate to what he says, but if you don't agree that all teenagers are spotty and slow amongst other things, you might not have much time for him. However, I agreed to sit down with this book knowing that the man evokes a little giggle in me from time to time on his hit show Top Gear. I was not disappointed in that this book made me giggle too; his writing style is clearly very similar to his style of speech. So if you find his voice annoying, you won't enjoy his books.

However, I did enjoy this book, but when I did a bit of research on it I saw one man described each chapter as an "essay" and I realised he was right. Further reading showed that many people felt that his style became quite repetitive and I realised both these opinions go hand in hand. I read the book very quickly, in about two days, and in reading chapter after chapter after chapter, you start to feel that his style is very samey and the title he had in mind for each chapter is obviously: "In what ways is the [name of amazing machine] full of soul and what reasons can you give for this?" Nevertheless, he gives very valid reasons for why each machine has soul, except for perhaps the aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which he just seems to find noisy and big. As well as this, he does present his argument with humour and even with a little imagination - there's even a scene involving Nicole Kidman and some serious muscular strength.

So, to conclude, is I Know You Got Soul worth the attention of your own soul? I'd say yes. It's not a challenging read and you can bump up your IQ whilst still having a little giggle. Stay away if you groan and grunt when you see him on the telly and know him as "that tall bloke who won't shut up about his hot wheels." If you like the classic machines and bit of their valuable history, it's a good informative and interesting read. If you like Clarkson, you'll love that his unique style continues to shine through. However, of all the books I've read, I don't think I'd say that this has quite "got soul", a bit of brains, a bit of wit, but no non-fiction for me can really have a heart.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of "I Know You Got Soul".

Apologies

I am sorry to say that I have sinned as a blogger and haven't posted for about two weeks. Shame on me. But, I am currently redeeming myself so I figured I've gotten away with it. I've been thinking about what other reviews I could write but then I realised that I haven't put a normal post up for even longer than two weeks! So here it is, as normal as it gets anyway.

What can I reflect upon? Holiday!

My holiday in Montenegro was very, very good; hot, sunny, beautiful scenery, nice restaurants, lazy and just generally wonderful. I got to have a good ol' chin wag with the parents; considering we didn't have a family holiday last year, we had quite a lot to wag about. There were a couple of minor dramas; Mum fell in the road whilst running but swiftly James-Bond-rolled out of harm's way and came back only bleeding a bit. Then she bled a bit more. Then we decided she should go to hospital. One stitch and five hospital trips later, she was hunky dory again. My sister, in a desperate attempt to get a better tan than me (like that could ever happen), stayed in the sun too long and ended up face down in a fish restaurant. She'd fainted. It was alright though, Mum waved a slice of lemon under her nose and she quickly came around - bewildered at why anyone would dare put lemon on her face. All in all though, very enjoyable. It's always nice to do nothing occasionally.

What next? School!

Yes, school. I'm one of the unlucky few who started school on Tuesday 21st August. Why? God only knows. I had a very odd headteacher who, for some reason only known to him, liked the five term year for schools. So we got it. And a four week summer. Rubbish. However, despite the first depressing trudge to the bus stop on the first day, my first week as a whole has been very good. Although I enjoyed my studies last year (starting in a new place, everything was exciting and different), this year, I am enjoying my studies a thousand times more - already! All of my lessons seem to appeal to me much more; the topics are more interesting, the teachers seem to be more passionate about what they're teaching and there is a bigger determination amongst the class to succeed. Though of course it will be tough, it looks like it's going to be a good year.

Now... Results!

My A/S results came through, along with many others , on 16th August this year. Obviously, there isn't as much of a hoo hah about them as there is for GCSE and A level results (most people don't really understand the point of them) but they are important to some people - A/S students. They might not seem that significant but we still don't want to have spent a year of our life working to gain nothing. I have since learnt that these results mostly determine what grade you will recieve in A2 courses, and to some people's surprise, you can't do that well if you get a 'U' grade. I actually got my grades a day later than most people because I was on holiday, but they were waiting on the doorstep for me when I got home. No, not the doorstep... I meant the other side of the door. The mat, I suppose. But, I don't have a mat. Anyway, to the important bit - the grades. I got:

• English Literature - A


• Theatre Studies - B


• French - B


• History - A

It's fair to say I was chuffed, particularly pleasing was my grade in English because it is most important to me. And I did spell out 'ABBA' deliberately. So, I'll be continuing all four subjects into A2. I'd just like to say well done to all my fellow students on your results; I'm sure you all did very well. And parents, congratulate your sons and daughters - it might not be A level just yet, but it was still jolly hard work.

Something more exciting...? Chicago!

22nd August, my family and I ventured to the theatre once again, this time indoors in Eastbourne, to watch the popular West End musical, Chicago. Obviously, it was fantastic with only a few flaws, but I don't think I'm quite to the standard of being able to fully review West End productions! Another reason for my reluctance to review it properly is that I found myself making every judgement in comparison to the film. The stage show and the film are quite different, the film having a lot more acting and the stage show being all about the music, song and dance. The movie is one of my favourites and so, at the beginning, I was critical of the musical for not being the same. However, I still couldn't help enjoying it and Act Two was an incredible act. The court scene was a particular favourite of mine; it was nothing like the film and so it stood out as unique and original. I stand by the idea that a musical's chorus is far better than its principles; they dance amazingly, precisely in time to the music and each other; they look fantastic, they sound fantastic and I'm sure they have more energy than six rockets combined. All in all, it was very impressive and very fun, and they succeeded in holding my attention strongly enough to stop me singing along.

Well, I think that just about concludes this post. Do enjoy the weather - it's almost sunny in the South East.

Have a happy Sunday.

One Hearty Tale

Marley & Me - John Grogan

Firstly, there's something you should know about me; I love dogs. Not only do I love dogs, but when I read stories/see films/see pictures of them, I go into an emotional frenzy. For example, when I was four I watched an episode of The Simpsons where the family dog ran away due to neglect - I cried. More recently, around two months ago my school teacher made a slide show of pictures dedicated to her recently deceased dog - I cried. I well up simply at the sight of those wretched RSPCA leaflets you get through your door. So, naturally when an American journalist wrote about the story of his life alongside the 'World's Worst Dog', at the end, I cried.

Luckily, I think I was able to disguise my tears as sweat or sea water. The snot was a little more difficult to conceal as I was on the beach in sunny Montenegro and sandy grit kept sticking to my top lip. Not attractive, especially compared to Little Miss Pretty to my right and Big Boobs Super Tan to my left. Nevertheless, I was happy to persevere with this book until the very end in full public view. Sadly, although the book had such an emotional effect on me, it could never be one my favourites.

For me, Marley & Me was a special book before I'd picked it up; it was a gift from two American friends. We hosted Michelle and Melina for five days, and at the end of their short stay, Michelle gave my family and I this book. We'd never heard of it, but apparently it was very popular in America. It was only about two weeks later that I saw Marley & Me on sale in the supermarket where I work. However, the main reason that she gave it to us was because the hero of the story, Marley, is a golden Labrador retriever. My dog too, is a yellow Lab; exactly the same as Marley, minus the 'World's Worst Dog' qualities. Stig (yes, Stig) is in fact the World's Best Dog; he only chewed through two wooden steps, three phone wires, a PlayStation controller and one windowsill. Not bad, I think you'll agree. Anyway, with the antics of my dog in my mind, this book looked like I would be able to relate to it sufficiently enough to enjoy it.

The book itself, begins when John Grogan and his wife, Jenny, are thinking of purchasing a puppy. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Marley, the puppy of their choice, is a hyper-active, destructive, nervous monster. However, in my opinion, this dog is no worse than many others and all of his expensive antics were never conducted in a malicious manner. Marley is all fun, his very existence in the centre of a growing family being enough to keep him overjoyed almost all the time. The book covers Marley's life time and during that, the growth of the Grogan family from a couple of newlyweds to the experienced working parents of three young children. From miscarriage to moving house, Marley shares it all and Grogan now takes the time to share it with his readers.

I would not like to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did. However, there were certain aspects that I disliked about Grogan's style. For one, it screamed American. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word just oozed the stuff. Of course, the vocabulary was spelt slightly differently, according to American grammatical rules, but you couldn't rule out the Yankee lifestyle. The stylish house, the perfect family and of course, the patriotism. Oh yes, even a story about a rogue Labrador can include the "valor and sacrifice" that the US flag represents. OK, I should give Grogan a break; his style is American because he is American and everybody loves a bit of patriotism, don't they? Naturally, I'm biased for being British, but by golly don't the Americans love America.

The second thing I disliked about Grogan's writing was his tendency to repeat himself. Over and over it seemed the author was writing about the destruction his dog had caused as if it was something new to get excited or horrified at. The dog constantly flung slobber over furniture, chewed through walls and stole food... for his whole life. Whereas it was interesting to learn each new destructive technique when it first arrived, Grogan began telling his readers what they already knew. It made some aspects of the book, sometimes whole chapters, slightly irrelevant.

The third thing, I think was down to personal taste. On the back of the book read comments such as "very funny" and "heartfelt and frequently hilarious". In my opinion it was not frequently hilarious. The stories he told had the potential to be very funny, I'll admit, but the style in which Grogan retold them was not. Grogan is a magnificent story-teller, recounting events with much detail. For this reason, each 'hilarious' event was easy to conjure up in your mind. However, despite this, I still didn't find reason to laugh. A frequently hilarious novel is one that actually makes you laugh out loud - frequently. For me, this book did neither.

However, don't be put off, my mum has just stuck her nose into the first few chapters and already she's giggling - out loud. So, for some this book obviously does carry the characteristics of a comedy. As well as this, as I've already mentioned, Grogan is a fantastic story-teller and he most definitely appeals to his audiences well. Obviously, this comes from his experiences as a columnist, where he must find a subject of appeal. Even I, despite a few grumbles, felt totally drawn in by my relationship with my own dog. Everything he said about dogs, particularly Labradors, was complete truth; they really are an extremely loyal breed. Just like Marley, my dog follows me round the house like a magnet, despite stiff hips. It was the fact that this book told a completely down-to-earth story of love and devotion, happiness and despair that makes it a bestseller. If you're a dog lover, you'll enjoy it. If not, I doubt you'll find much enjoyment in it at all. Nevertheless, don't hesitate to try it; it's well written and has been well enjoyed by many.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'Marley & Me'.

So, are the Harry Potter books worth all the fuss?

According to my poll, 4 out of 5 people believe so. Well, I'm still on my holidays, basking in the 35 degree sun, on the beach, by the cool, blue sea with... sorry, got carried away. What I was getting to is that, fortunately, I have the time to try and tackle the 700 page Order of the Phoenix, which, as I previously guessed, my sister has surrendered to me - unread.

So, this is really just a short post to remind all you fellow English lovers that I am pursuing my curiosity about J.K. Rowling's, so called, 'masterpieces' but in the mean time, I'm also reading up on a few other styles. My next battle is the latest Sophie Kinsella installment, Shopaholic and Baby. I say battle, but really it's a breeze. It's just some light-hearted entertainment that will possibly put me off shopping... Nah! Could anything?! It'll probably just make me wish I was richer, which in turn will depress me. I will then organise a spending spree to cheer myself up. And so the cycle continues... On a plus, I might be richer than I think - it's pay day :) However, being in a foreign land, I can't check my balance. So, I'll have to get back to you on my actual economic status.

Have a good evening.

PS. If you hadn't guessed, they do have the Internet in Montenegro, so there's no break from my blogging.

Fact in Fiction

Hitler's Canary - Sandi Toksvig

I like to read a variety of books just to get a taste of every kind of writing. It's entertaining, exciting and, in my opinion, helps shape a good writer. This book indeed is very different. Based on the experiences of the author's father in World War Two, it does not take place on the Western Front or in Britain or France like typical war novels - this is a story of a young boy on his home soil in Denmark. A little bit of fact, with a little bit of fiction.

Hitler's Canary, written from the point of view of a thirteen-year old boy, portrays the effect of the Second World War on Denmark. Unlike Birdsong, this novel does not follow the life of a soldier but a boy called Bamse's outlook on how the war affects his country, his family, his friends and even himself. Not too much gore, a little terror and a lot of of bravery.

The novel is written for a young audience, between the ages of 10 and 14, but can easily be enjoyed by all. It is a fairly light-hearted tale of adventure packed with some good ol' 'lessons to be learnt'. However, don't be fooled into thinking that Toksvig treats the war as a simple adventure to be enjoyed - far from it. She successfully writes in a style that children will enjoy whilst still emphasising that the war was a very serious thing; "It wasn't funny at all."

It is also interesting to read about the war from the point of view of a child, something not often read about or experienced (except perhaps in the famous diaries of Anne Frank). However, totally different from the diaries of the young Jewish girl, Hitler's Canary shows how this young boy got involved in the protection of the Danish Jews by being part of the resistance. Yet, the beginning of the book, (when Bamse is only ten) shows that at first the war was too big an issue to understand and undoubtedly, children were unsure how to react if foreign soldiers occupied their cities. Nevertheless, this book shows that children of all ages were affected and had a difficult time all of their own.

Bamse, the main character of the story, has to struggle to keep up with the antics of his older brother, a freedom fighter in the resistance. As well as this, he wants to keep his more docile father happy by not upsetting the Germans and carrying on as normal. In addition to this is the need to please his best friend, "one of the most daring boys in Denmark", a Jewish boy. Naturally, he has the age-old dilemmas that all children suffer at some stage; please your friends or your family? Not always easy to please both. However, a particular highlight of this book for me is the constant fear this young boy reminds himself of and the courage he always finds and never credits himself for.

Toksvig cleverly covers all aspects of the occupation; the soldiers' tendency to take and use whatever facilities they want; the bravery of ordinary citizens in smuggling the Jews out of danger; the fear felt by the Jews in occupied countries. Yet, her style is very simple and entertaining to keep her young audience interested. I particularly liked the hooks she used at the end of some chapters. "it would also be her last", begs the simple question - why? Toksvig uses similar one-liners to keep her reader reading.

I first picked up this book because I thought it had a fun title; 'Hitler's Canary' I later learned was the Allies' name for Denmark in the early stages of the war. I took a closer look and it seemed to be a book aimed more at younger people. But I have a younger brother, and it was on a 3 for 2 offer so I thought 'why not?' On reading the blurb, I saw mentions of the theatre and it got me a little more interested. It turns out that this book, although it has a couple of quotes from the odd Shakespeare play, is not about the theatre, and not entirely about having fun. It is a good way to introduce the terrifying experiences of Nazi occupation in World War Two to children across the globe; it doesn't get too deep, Toksvig shapes it into a digestible adventure story and finally, there's a note at the back giving a few horrifying statistics about the Second World War. Most importantly, they are well selected; they are nearly all about the children, whom, of course, the war affected too.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'Hitler's Canary'.

Just an Update

Well, the summer's just begun; days almost rain-free, parents dragging bored kids round supermarkets just to keep them quiet, and the depressing sight of white socks and sandals. As a student, I have work to keep me occupied over the period. As a student, I just can't be bothered to do it. But, if there is one thing to enjoy about the summer, it's the lie ins.

Today, for the first time in about seven years, I slept past midday. It's quite a memorable day for me because I'm generally an early riser - but everybody has an off-day. I had to check about three different clocks just to make sure that it actually was 12:15 pm. I don't know how people can do it; I feel like I've missed half the day - well, yes I did, but that's besides the point. How on earth am I going to fit in all the important things that I have to do into my day? Stroking my dog, reading, adding to my blog, watching a film... I just don't know how I'll manage it.

Anyway, to the point of the post; Harry Potter. I might have mentioned that my brother kindly offered the fifth novel (Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix) to me and that I wanted to read and review it sometime soon. However, I returned home the other day to find my sister tucked up in bed, her nose stuck right in the pages. "Well, I haven't read it yet and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about" was her reply to "Er... what do you think you're doing?" So it seems I'm not the only one. Only, now I'll be left to wallow in my curiosity for more weeks to come until my sister finally surrenders the book to me (probably half-read). I suppose, this is an update just to let you know that I haven't forgotten about this important topic. Just hang in there, the review is on its way.

While I'm at it, I may as well let you know that I will be jetting off to sunny Montenegro on Friday 3rd and probably won't be offered the luxury of the Internet whilst I'm there. In which case, this spot might go cold for a couple of weeks. However, never fear, for holidays are the best time for reading. Therefore, upon my return I will have more reviews in my head than you can shake a stick at - enough to keep you satisfied and entertained for all the days you've missed.

I will also return 17 years of age. I expect birthday comments (12th August) but I also expect that this blog will become a bit of progress diary for either how much or how little I improve as I attempt to learn to drive. It might cost a bit of money to start with - but why else would I slog my guts out at work three days a week? (Only three days!) I'm a student, I'm allowed to be part time. It'll certainly save me money in the long run in comparison to the extortionate fares of trains and buses. The only way I managed to get a discount on rail fares was by giving them twenty quid first!

Anyway, I'm side-tracking, I'll save it for my letter to Gordon Brown.

Enjoy your day.

The Shakespeare Experience

Thursday 26th July 2007 - a nice day for a picnic or a nice night for an open-air performance. Well, alright it wasn't nice. In fact it was terrible. Nevertheless, at around 6:30pm I ventured out into the p*****g rain with my family to support the locals at a National Trust theatre event - a production of The Taming of the Shrew. Despite the weather, the performance was very impressive and the actors clearly ignored the showers and continued to give it their all.

This one of Shakespeare's earlier plays, is a comedy filled with confusions, satire and a good ol' fashioned dig at women! The Taming of the Shrew, however, is not all that it suggests. There is a shrew (Katherine), the tamer of that shrew (Petruchio of Verona) but there are also many other characters, as themselves and sometimes in disguise. The story starts with two sisters, Katherine and Bianca, Bianca whom has many suitors but who is also denied marriage by her father until Katherine is married before her. Katherine, as her notorious title suggests, is a bit crabby and tends to just throw a wobbly whenever she's confronted by a male. Thus, it seems Bianca has no hope. The story progresses into a twisted tale that I shall not go into for your own sake - we'll be here forever.

I was very impressed with the actress playing Katherine; she was a strong performer, cleverly focusing on her facial expression and posture to create the perfect miserable cow. She had scowling down a tee and a heavy stomp - all she needed was a pair of big, black boots and a 'Nirvana' hoody and she might have looked like a proper teenager. Unfortunately, the actress playing Bianca was slightly weaker, so she didn't match up to her fellow actress. Yet, I think I can say she was sufficiently girly enough to match her girly part; perhaps being a weaker actress played to her strength as that character.

The most outstanding performances for me personally, however, were the performances by the Tailor and Petruchio of Verona. The Tailor, although only a minor part, perfected his character to what I imagine to be his own interpretation of the man. He was a hunched over, elderly man, complete with a funny little voice and a comical stutter. He may have only had a few lines, but he certainly got the audience's attention with his excellent stage presence, and I couldn't help but give a little giggle or two. Otherwise, I always remember to respect my elders.

Petruchio of Verona on the other hand, was a much bolder character, but with an equally brilliant stage presence. He kept up his husky voice, nearly always shouting to emphasise his authority and strength of character. He used his props well (hitting his female servant in the face with a fake ham - I think it was an accident...) and wore the clothes of a madman like he was born in them. It may be fair to say he was the most convincing character of them all. Except perhaps the minstrel, who managed to sit on the same upside-down pot for the duration of the play. If it were me, I would have at least protested to get a proper chair, after all, there is no such thing as a small part, only small actors. And he wasn't that small.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable night. I am being very positive, probably because my most vivid memory of the night was my uncontrollable laughter at the cold wet faces of poor English folk in rain macs. Particularly my father's, whose most enjoyable part was probably the battenberg we'd brought for our picnic; he's not really into Shakespeare, he's a Sheridan man. Likes the tights. But, my hat's off to all the actors for continuing so bravely throughout several downpours and the impressive performances of nearly all of the actors. The comedy was there, the farce was certainly there, and there was even a boy wearing hair gel, which I'm sure Shakespeare would've disapproved of - the rain soon sorted that.

So, many thanks to the National Trust for providing such a treat, and there could still be more to come from them - we might win some gardening advice on the raffle.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'The Taming of the Shrew'.

A Day in Literary History

Yesterday, 21st July 2007, was an important day for modern literature; it was the release date for the final chronicle in the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has no doubt already been purchased and read cover to cover by millions, but I can't count myself among them. Ever since finishing book number four (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) I haven't kept up to date with the ones to follow it. As enjoyable as the books are, I myself feel that I have read better examples of British literature.

However, the release of the seventh novel has intrigued me and my curiosity is leading me to read the fifth book (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). I want to find out what the fuss is all about, and to see if the final three novels can shift my opinion from "Well... they're alright" to "They're blimmin' fantastic!"

I hope in a week or so's time to be able to review book number five and the whole Harry Potter situation. But, I need your help. First thing's first, vote in the poll on the left hand side of this blog, just so I can get an idea of whether I'm a total outcast of opinion. Did you queue up outside bookstores in the early hours of yesterday morning to buy the last novel? I'd have liked to have queued, gone in, picked a book on gardening and bought that instead - just to catch a few reactions and because I can. But, still being under the legal driving age, and living in the sticks, doesn't make these things easy for me - so technically I can't. [Sorry, straying slightly there.] Secondly, leave me a little comment. Feel free to totally tear me to shreds - I probably am a freak for not being crazy about J.K. Rowling's masterpieces. But also feel free to sympathise - I'd like to know I'm not alone.

Have a happy Sunday.

Mission Accomplished

Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

Yesterday afternoon, after much determination, I finally finished reading Birdsong written by Sebastian Faulks. I will assume that many of you have heard of the novel, first published in 1993, or at least of the author as he recently attempted a Bond novel. However, if you haven't heard of Birdsong, here's why it's worth your undivided attention.

First I must confess that the main reason for my reading of this book is because it is part of my A level syllabus and soon I will have to pick it apart and analyse it for coursework. However, I was determined to finish reading it beforehand. I have succeeded, and I can easily admit that the novel is one of the best I have ever read.

Written to reveal the horrors of the First World War on the Western Front, it appears to hold nothing back. If as a reader you like honesty and belief from your authors, then Sebastian Faulks is the man for you. From vivid sex scenes to the vile retrieval of rotten bodies from the battlefield, every sentence, every metaphor, every simile is guaranteed to evoke images previously unimaginable. Some made me feel physically sick, others made me read on in awe, but despite the unpleasant imagery, I didn't want it to end.

The book is well structured; the beginning, set in France, 1910, is designed to prepare the reader for war. Not only does Faulks use clever word association ('battle', 'invade', 'innocent') to subtly convey the idea that war is inevitable, but he also uses nature to describe stagnant, decaying natural scenes, similar to those of the trenches. However, despite his descriptions of peacetime locations being similar to those of the war, there is a clear difference in humanity in pre-war France. The characters live in a well-run, respected, upper class town house, exposed to luxuries such as the choice of "at least a dozen meats". Compared with the then sparsely fed soldiers, forced to live in filth with only the comfort of another man's body to sleep upon, the contrast is severe, enhancing the horrible situations of those involved in war.

The novel follows Stephen Wraysford's journey through war, from 1910 eventually revealing his life up until his death. He is a strange, solitary character, who seems indifferent to emotion. For this reason, his encounters with death, fear, lust and loneliness allow you to imagine how you would feel, had you ever been unlucky enough to be put in Stephen's situations. He is an ordinary character with a disrupted background, yet he almost always appears controlled and secure. His self-control is challenged by the effects of the war and it is interesting to see how the war affected people of all natures through Faulks' characters.

As well as a view on pre-war France and life during the war, Faulks also sets part of his novel in the 1970's, following the life of Stephen's grand-daughter. At first, these sections of the book seemed unnecessary to me, however, it soon becomes clear that the author wants us to see the post-war affects on some people. Through Elizabeth (the grand-daughter) we re-visit some of the British soldiers that Stephen fought alongside, only to discover that, sixty years on, the war hasn't left them. It is a slightly shocking view on the length of devastation the war caused.

If I have any criticism of this book, it is Stephen's final battle of the war. It is not a physical battle, but a battle with life and death. In this final chapter it is clear that the author was faced with two choices; convey the reality of the duration of his task in a believable way and let the character die, or try and convince the readers of the reality and let the character live. Inevitably, from the modern sections of the book, the character lives. Therefore, there are elements of Stephen's battle that become unbelievable, particularly how he manages to live without food or water for around a week having already been suffering from exhaustion, a damaged arm and other psychological effects of the war. Nevertheless, the final chapter is exciting, thrilling and satisfying and I went back and read it again because I couldn't bear for it to finish.

Finally, this novel has been credited by many critics and is obviously a suitable book for A level study. However, I think this book is best enjoyed without having to read into too much depth. So, if you enjoy historical fiction, particularly the type close to the truth, then it is well worth reading Birdsong. It is easy to lose yourself in Faulks' imagery, and I was deeply moved by what was conveyed to me. I grew to love and hate the uncomfortable, unfortunate characters and was horrified in knowing that their lives in war were absolute reality for some men. Now, with no first hand experience of either of the World Wars, I hope nothing so horrendous hits European soil again.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'Birdsong'.

Welcome

Well, that greeting is as much for me as it is for you. I have to confess I am a complete blogging virgin and not much of a pro on anything requiring me to enter a code to prove I'm human. In fact, I shouldn't prepare yourself for any fancy, whiz-kid features as my knowledge of computers is far from advanced. However, let's hope that I can allow any other astounding personal qualities to shine through the technology and entertain you more simply. No need for crazed cartoons with eyes that suggest glue-sniffing making shrill noises to attract your attention and will you to click to play 'Shoot the Nobody' for a cash prize of minus £1000.

Well, now that we both have been introduced to this blogging business, I find this a favourable opportunity for my mentioning who I am - (get the quote?) I am a young person (I don't respond to kid, child, youth or 'erbert) who is passionate about two things in particular - the theatre and the English language. I enjoy every aspect of theatre; acting, directing, singing, dancing and just about anything else that involves the stage. However, don't be fooled, I'm not merely a mindless performer (oh no!) I live for the theory behind the practise too. Delving into the mind of a playwright to uncover the symbolism and the possiblities is a particular highlight of mine. Naturally, I try my best to go the theatre as well as take part in the performance, but don't get me started on the difficulties I have with public transport.

In pursuit of my love of English, I have in the past been involved in Youth Public Speaking competitions, writing and presenting my own speeches as well as writing reports and programmes for college events. Of course I read to fuel my knowledge of literature, although I have to confess, I've recently let myself slip a little.

Yet - here's the good part - I am now seeking to reform my state of slacking by entering the World Wide Web and sharing my experiences with other fellow theatre and book lovers. Hopefully, this will give me (and you) the opportunity to show appreciation for the ones who've laboured to give us the impressive, expressive literature we enjoy.

I hope to share the experiences of my studies and all the reading, viewing and performing I do in my own time. Naturally, accompanying this will be the ups and downs of student life that comes with having a youthful thirst for knowledge. Feel free to share your experiences - but fellow students, be warned, you might set me off on a rant.

So, please journey with me as I blog my way through year 13.