A Definite Don't-Read

Charlotte Gray - Sebastian Faulks

Why? Why? Why did I read this book? It's taken me about a month or so to get through it purely because I had no motivation to get to the end. And, exactly as I expected, I gained nothing from actually getting to the 497th page.

This book supposedly follows the epic 'odessey' of Charlotte Gray, a Scottish girl sent on an errand in occupied France for an under-cover agency. It is the peak of World War Two, and Charlotte is not only on a mission on behalf of the allies, she is also on her own mission to find her lover, Peter Gregory, a pilot missing in action.

There are many things wrong with this book. The most prominent is the number of characters - there are so many that a) you can't remember who each of them are b) you don't care enough about the outcome of any of their lives and c) even by the end of the book , even Charlotte seems to have a forgotten about half of them.

The second thing that wound me up is the lack of action. This novel is the journey of one woman but really, it's just about her survival, her ordinary day-to-day life, which in a fictional novel tends to wear on you a bit. After all, I don't read a book to satisfy my need for the mundane. Yes, it's about WWII and yes, she undercover in France. There is, of course, a sub-plot following three jews who are taken into the extreme and awful conditions and in theory it seems disrespectful to find the story uninteresting. However, there really is nothing exceptional about these particular sub-plots and because the characters are so undeveloped, sympathy for them specifically is limited.

Finally, there is just so much of this book. So many long, long pages of Faulks' style - journalistic, unemotional writing. Even where there is potential for excitement (a suppressed childhood memory that led to Charlotte's teenage depression, Charlotte nearly exposing herself at the public baths) it is completely brushed over and ignored as the author moves onto another sub-plot soon to be forgotten.

I know I'm being very negative about this novel but I really couldn't justify anything positive. Not only was I dissatisfied at the end but I was dissatisfied and frustrated throughout the entire book. I made no connection to any character, including the eponymous protagonist and I guess I just got nothing from Charlotte Gray whatsoever. I was bored, and this review is the only good (?) thing to have come from reading this one. Sorry Faulks.

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

The Fresh Face of Comedy

The Hangover (2009)
Directed by Todd Phillips

The story of a stag do gone horribly wrong, this film is, in my opinion, the best comedy of 2009 to date. Far from the repetitive, comedies of recent years this movie brings fresh faces, great one-liners and a new style of comedy altogether to the 21st century.

The film stars Bradley Cooper (Phil), Ed Helms (Stu) and Zach Galifianakis (Alan) as three guys desperately trying to remember the events of the previous night in Vegas. Hungover and confused, their journey takes them on a hilarious trip around the city, as they attempt to find Doug, the groom-to-be. From babies to strippers, tigers to Mike Tyson, the guys find themselves in awkward and bizarre situations all thanks to a heavy night of booze and babes.

Although Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis have been seen on the big screen before, this is the first time they have been seen together as the principal actors. From the weird and quirky Alan to the cool, smooth Phil, the three characters gel unbelievably well, despite the diverse personalities. There was a danger of creating classic and cliched characters - the cool, popular Phil meets geeky Stu and token freak, Alan. However, the men's relationship is far from it. This is not another teen movie, it's a mature approach to a crazy night of alcohol, and the humour is drawn from something different.

This comedy is great and has the audience laughing from start to finish. The humour appeals to the masses - both the young and the old, male and female. There is nothing offensive or overtly crude and none of the random humour of Anchorman or the perhaps immature laughs had from Superbad. This is pure fun, and Galifianakis' impecable comic timing with unintelligent one-liners is fantastic.

This film is funny because it's believable, because we've all had a night similar, if on a (hopefully) more minor scale, and because this is something new. Gone are the cliches and the loose plot lines and in their place is some heart. You pray the guys will get to the wedding, and finally on their return from Vegas, you witness them in their ordinary, grown-up lives. It's a reminder that we're all capable of doing something (maybe two or three things) a bit stupid.

My only criticism of the film is the Chinese, gay, gangster, kung-fu (anything else?) character. Most guys I've spoken to have found him hilarious, girls just don't see the point, and I guess I'm one of them. I didn't laugh and I found him a bit pathetic. He was a very odd aspect of the film (though very little of it can be deemed 'normal') and definitely the weakest. Any other style of character could have served the purpose of his role just as easily and, unfortunately, he's just not that funny.

Nevertheless, this is undoubtedly a must-see film. Don't wait for the DVD to come out - make the most of the big screen and watch it in the cinema. Let Phil, Stu and Alan live out your irresponsible fantasies and enjoy the consequences.

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