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".