What I’ve Been Reading
Walking Free by Munjed Al Muderis and Patrick
Weaver – Munjed fled Iraq in the midst of a war via a boat and then
spent time in a WA detention before being able to walk free as an Australian
citizen. Munjed tells the story of his upbringing and the tragedy of war and how
he needed to escape. His story is tragic nad awful but ultimately uplifting. He
is now a renowned surgeon helping amputees with state of the art prosthetics, my
brother-in-law being one of his patients. This is not for the faint hearted, the
things Munjed saw and suffered under Sadam Hussein and then his own
extraordinary journey of escape, no one should have to experience. He is also
the perfect example of why we should not persecute refugees, and what excellence
he can bring to our country.
Good Mourning by Elizabeth Meyer – I
enjoyed this memoir about Elizabeth Meyer and her time working at Crawford
Funeral Home, one of the best in Manhattan. Elizabeth was in her 20s when her
father died and found her socialite existence wasn’t quite where she wanted to
be anymore. Fascinated by the funeral home she decided to ask for work there.
This shocked her family and high flying friends. But Elizabeth was determined to
make a go of it and found she was quite the natural when dealing with people at
their very worst moments. The book tells many amusing, and sad tales of working
in a funeral home, from the mundane to the physicality to the extraordinary.
Well worth reading.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: my life by Sophia
Loren – a lovely biography about Sofia’s rise to fame and becoming
Sophia Loren the star. The men she met along the way, the movies she acted in,
the stars she acted with.
Ransacking Paris: a year with Montaigne and
Friends by Patti Miller – I saw Patti speak at the Newcastle Writers
Festival and realised I had this book in my reading pile. It is about a year she
spent in Paris writing a book about a friend who had passed. She moved to
Montmarte with her husband and spent the year exploring the city, writing, and
also reading her favourite French authors including Montaigne. I loved the
little things Patti noticed about the area she lived in and the things she tried
to do to fit in and learn the language better, eg joining a choir. Well worth
reading this interesting memoir/travel book.
Gudinksi: the godfather of Australian Rock ‘n’
Roll by Stuart Coupe - I admit I know a fair bit about Gudinksi and I
am not a fan of him as a person, although he has bought great things to our
country and discovered and helped many a great artist. This was nothing new or
any great shakes, but a decent enough read.
Carole King: a natural woman, a memoir by Carole
King – I love Carole and I guess reading this I realised I knew a lot
more about her than I realised. I thought this would be a great enlightened book
for me, but really I didn’t learnt anything much I didn’t know. Having said that
is was well written, ripping read and a great insight into the writing process,
her amazing musical mind, and the great life she has lead. Highly
recommend.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by
Ransom Riggs – this is the first volume in a trilogy of fantasy book,
possibly aimed at teens. It begins with a young boy and his grandfather. Odd
things have happened in this young boys life and he wonders whether they really
did happen or it was make believe. His grandfather is ill and passes and the odd
things begin to escalate. On his deathbed his grandfather told him some very
strange stories and now the boy is determined to get to the bottom of it all. He
makes the journey to his grandfather’s childhood stomping ground and begins to
find some other very odd things and people. There is a lot of lead up to the
reveal in this book, but hang in there if it feels a little slow, things start
happening in the most wonderful ways. It reminds me of Harry Potter in some
ways, and then nothing you’ve ever read in other ways. It is to be made into a
film by Tim Burton, so I am eager to see what he does with this mystical and
magical book. Yes, I have deliberately not written about what is found, that is
up to you to discover!
The Natural way of things by Charlotte
Wood – I struggled with this award winner, I found it clunky and try
hard. I knew nothing about the story going in, bar it had something to do with
misogyny. I think knowing a little may have helped me digest it better, but I am
reticent to say a lot here. It begins with two women transported to some sort of
‘camp’ and they don’t know why and you as the reader do not either. There are
other women there and they are not treated well. I went through many theories of
what was happening as I read until things slowly revealed themselves. By that
time I was a bit over the premise I must admit, and it seemed like the author
deliberately wanted you to think of every situation, sometimes it felt like
this, sometimes that. I found that distracting and too much. The subject matter
is dark and disturbing. I can see what she is trying to do, but I didn’t care
and the ending left me cold.
Tiny Beautiful things by Cheryl
Strayed – This was a collection of Cheryl’s advice columns before she
became well known. I like her tell it like it is style, and found the book
interesting as it revealed much of her own life as it did giving
advice.
The Autobiography of Eric Clapton as read by
Bill Nighy – this was a great read, not long, but interesting and
capturing the key points in Eric’s career and personal life. It was a little
discombobulating being read by Nighy as his voice is so distinctive that
sometimes you forgot it was about Clapton and not him. I do love talking books
though, so it was lovely company back and forth to work for a week or
so.
More Fool Me: a memoir – read by Stephen
Fry – I fear my ‘love affair’ with Mr Fry is on the wan. This, his
third, biography, featured some of the things I have loved most about Fry.
Covering the 80s into the early 90s, it talks about Blackadder, Fry and Laurie,
other TV shows and the movies her made over this time. It included the most
amazing stable of friends and acquaintances from Ken and Em, to Hugh Laurie, The
Royals and everyone in between. It was also the time of his huge cocaine habit.
I enjoyed his stories, but found he came across too pompous at times, too much,
too post. This got up my nose, I do think he was a bit of a twat during that
time due to his coke habit and I possibly this was what he was trying to put
forth, but that made him seem even more twatty. I didn’t hate this, it is a
fascinating autobiography, just a bit much at times, possibly due to him reading
it himself.
What I’ve Been Watching
Force Majeure - is a Swedish film
about a Swedish family on holidays in the French Alps. During a pleasant lunch
an avalanche hits and rocks their world. How the family react to this almost but
not quite tragedy will change their lives forever. This was a really interesting
but possibly little bit too long film. The reactions to the avalanche take a
while to hit the surface, though you see them festering, and once they do the
comedy turns to drama. It is an interesting film, about human
reaction.
Tangerines – this is a great little
Estonian/Georgian/Russian film. Set in Georgia at the height of the
Georgian/Estonian war in the early 90s, two elderly men remain in the village
whereas everyone else has fled. Ivo is helping Margus harvest his large
tangerine crop. A small conflict breaks out in their village and only two men
survive, both wounded and both from each side. Ivo takes them in and assists
them to recover and whilst initially tense and lovely bond between the group
forms, despite all being on differing sides of the war. Tangerines is a simple
but really touching film. It shows the futility of war and how tiring and
upsetting it is for everyone, and that both sides are equally as confused and
upset about it all.
Girlhood – a gritty but in parts cute
comedy drama about teens in rougher parts of outer Paris. One girl is a bit of a
loner, no friends, inward, and shy but meets a group of sassier girls and you
watch her blossom, sometimes not for the better.
Danny Collins – oh what has happened to
Pacino, he deserves better than this drivel. He plays a singer/songwriter down
on his luck and estranged from his family and trying to make it all better. No
no no no no! and let’s leave it there.
Big Eyes – I enjoyed this Tim Burton
film based on a true story. Amy Adams is perfect as Margaret Keene, a painter
and single mum, struggling to make it on her own. She meets Walter, played
wonderfully by Christoph Waltz, who sweeps her off her feet and changes her
life. When he decides it is better to sell her unusual paintings of people with
extra large eyes by saying he painted them himself, this is the beginning of a
complete relationship breakdown. Quite a fascinating story.
Holding The Man – oh what a beautiful
Australian film this is. A great and compelling story, with exceptional acting.
The true story of a beautiful relationship between two men who meet as young
boys at school in the early 70s and the resistance and homophobia they fight
along the way. A great supporting cast of Australian who’s who are included, but
it is the two main performances from the young men that grab you and take your
breath away. I cannot recommend this glorious film highly enough. Be warned, it
is very sad, so make sure you have sufficient tissues.
Welcome to me – this was a very odd
film, about a mentally disturbed woman, off her meds, who wins millions in the
lottery. She decides she wants to have her own TV show, like Oprah, to bring
attention to her life and her mental struggles and those that have done her
wrong. This is a dark dark comedy, that is more jaw droppingly odd than funny,
although there are laughs within. Kristen Wigg is great as the melancholy lead,
but I found it a little too disturbing in parts.
David Hockney: a bigger picture – a
fascinating documentary on Hockney and the style of painting/art he is taking on
in his later life. Involving landscapes and photography we follow him around the
English countryside, painting and taking photos and incorporating the two into
the most magnificent and huge pieces of art. Remarkable insight into the mind of
a great artist.
Salt of the Earth – A Wim Wenders
documentary about Sebastiao Salgado, a photographer who has spent most of his
life documenting hidden and third world communities. These are the people in the
world suffering the most despair and his photos show that. Wenders and
Sebastiao’s son follow the great man around filming him and gaining his insights
on life, his art, and what he captures and learns. Stunningly shot, Salgado’s
photos are astonishing, and the documentary is beautiful, shot in black and
white with many still photographs and also glorious close-ups on Salgado’s old,
weathered, and enlightened face. This is must see for every human!
Empire S1 – this is a bit of a soap
opera story, set to the background of a music empire. Definitely not my type of
music and most of the characters are abhorrent, yet it sucked me in. Terrence
Howard and Taraji P. Henson are stand outs.
iZombie S1 – I loved this light zombie
comedy very much in the vein of Buffy. Olivia is a great doctor with a perfect
life who goes reluctantly to a party one night and gets turned into a zombie.
Unsure what to do, she dumps her fiancee, gets a job in the morgue with the one
person who knows she is a zombie and tries to pretend she is not a zombie. Her
job leads her to the local police, and she assists them as a ‘psychic’, whereas
the truth is, she eats the brains of the dead which allows her to take on their
persona and help solve their murder. It’s kind of a crime a week show, but with
great humour, zombies, and Olivia’s friends and families trying to work out what
on earth is wrong with her.
Game of
Thrones S5 – oh my, this show just gets better and better. I loved this
season, dragons and zombies and deaths – it had it all. Brienne of Tarth is fast
becoming my favourite character above Daenerys and Tyrion which is saying
something. I don’t like to say too much as I am well aware many are not caught
up and I hate spoilers, so shan’t to that to others. But the set design, huge
cast and epic stories just get better with each season. If you are not watching
Game of Thrones, you must get with the program!
Nurse Jackie S7 – this was the final
season to a show I once loved but has been dragging it’s feet for some time. It
was an ok tie up of event, but this great show deserved better and should have
been
The Blacklist S2 – oh how I love this show, really it
is all about Red, played with delicious insight by the wonderful James Spader.
We get closer and closer to what Red is up to this season, and his young
Protegee, Lizzie, falls more and more down his rabbit hole. It is difficult to
describe this show. But it is totally worth watching, if only for Spader, He
holds your attention whenever he is on screen, he just has that kind of
presence.
Derek S2 and special – my love for Ricky Gervais is high
and I know Derek is not for everyone. Gervais plays Derek a young man, who is a
little simpler in his needs than others. Gervais walks a fine line with Derek
but in my opinion he gets it just right. The show, and indeed the character, is
more melancholy and even dramatic than comic, though there are moment of
hilarity. I like how he places his own life insights and beliefs into this
lovely character and subtly showcases what he really thinks of the world. And
how can that be harmful? If you have been unsure about Derek, give it a go, it
will win you heart as it has mine.
The Leftovers – based on Tom Perrotta’s
book, this astonishing series has left me gobsmacked and wanting more. Set in a
small town of Mapleton, New York, it follows the remaining town members three
years after a tragic world event. The event similar to a ‘rapture’ had 2% of the
world’s population disappear in a moment, never to be seen again. This is a
significant amount of people with almost every family in the world effected.
There is no knowledge of what happened or where they went. The series doesn’t
really go into why but how those that are left behind survive and interact with
each other. It is not pleasant, many cults form, and people work against each
other. Terror is heightened and every one is on edge. Justin Theroux is the
superb lead, The town’s chief police officer with way too much trauma on his
plate. Looking after his wayward town, and rebellious teenage daughter, his Dad
– the former chief police officer - is in a mental institution, his step-son
nowhere to be found as he took to the road, and his wife has joined the main
cult. He holds it all together with a great supporting cast including
Christopher Eccleston as the local priest, Liv Tyler as a confused young woman
who joins the cult, and many more. This show has gripped unlike a show has in a
long time, it is dark, weird, funny, sad, addictive, thrilling, and absolutely
fascinating. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
What I’ve Been Listening
to
Here’s the thing podcasts by Alec
Baldwin – been catching up on these including Amy Schumer, Jimmy
Fallon, Mickey Rourke, and Molly Ringwald.
Supertramp – I know they are a bit
daggy, but I don’t care, I have been enjoying there best of in the
car.
Songs to play by Robert Forster – easy
listening, laid back pop as you would expect from Forster, really
enjoyable.
Saskwatch – bought the new album and
also been replaying the old one, cool groove, I’ve really got to see them
live.
Sarah Blasko – love her new album,
bought it earlier in the year and been sitting in my pile. Her voice is like
little angels blowing angel dust into the air.
Prince – of course, I have been
listening to lots of Prince after his untimely death, makes you realise how
great he was and what we are going to miss!
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