Zombie Love

#9 Warm Bodies

 The book was written by an acquaintance of JC's so we went to see this out of loyalty and I loved it! I think I just have a lot of love for a lot of things.

It's a zombie Romeo and Juliet, with Nicholas Hoult playing the main character 'R' and 'Julie' being played by Teresa Palmer. A fun new take on a classic love story!

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

#6 The Hundred Year Old Man...

It's just a great title for a book really isn't it?!

I really enjoyed this one and although it was a bit clumpy in places I still found myself wanting to return to my kindle to pick up where i'd left off.

Fun, Friendly, Clever and a bit of a giggle i'd definitely recommend this one! so it's a ****/*****


Desperate to avoid his 100th birthday party, Allan Karlsson climbs out the window of his room at the nursing home and heads to the nearest bus station, intending to travel as far as his pocket money will take him. But a spur-of-the-moment decision to steal a suitcase from a fellow passenger sends Allan on a strange and unforeseen journey involving, among other things, some nasty criminals, a very large pile of cash, and an elephant named Sonya. It’s just another chapter in a life full of adventures for Allan, who has become entangled in the major events of the twentieth century, including the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project. As Allan’s colorful and complex history merges with his present-day escapades, readers will be treated to a new and charmingly funny version of world history and get to know a very youthful old man whose global influence knows no age limit. An international best-seller, this is an engaging tale of one man’s life lived to the fullest.

Bright Young Things

Saying as i'm so awful at writing reviews i'm going to go for a slightly different format for the 50/50 project from now on, less reviewy- more bloggy with an added 'oh this is what i read/watched today'

I've just been away in London for a few days over the half term break. I had a wonderful time, packed in lots of friends, food, shows and wine :)

#5 Bright Young Things

I got to finish book #5 Bright Young Things by Scarlett Thomas


"Bright Young Things wanted for Big Project.' They're in the prime of their lives but our bright young things are all burnt out. Six sparky twenty-somethings just out of university and working dead-end jobs, they are all bored to tears with their lives and looking for a way out. When a mysterious job is advertised in the newspaper, they all apply. What they least expect is to find themselves prisoners on a deserted island. There's food in the fridge and they have a bedroom each, but there's no telephone, no television, and no way to escape"

It was dated, cheesy and had an unsatisfactory ending but I enjoyed it as a mindless holiday read. So i'd give it a
Rating: ***/*****




Very thankful today for good friends, the ability to travel and the means to enjoy nice things

When God was a Rabbit

#4 When God Was a Rabbit

I loved this book. Everything about it was wonderful! I've discovered this year that i'm really terrible at writing reviews... I don't think my vocabulary is good enough to review things... or maybe my ability to relate one thing to another is underdeveloped because I haven't read enough? Well whatever it is, I hope this year will go some way to rectifying this, however I need to write these reviews as soon as I finish reading the books and not weeks after (like this one!)

This book was a present from my housemate JC and her impeccable taste in literature meant I was sure I was in for a good read. This book is honestly one of the most pure and truthful accounts of childhood and love I have ever read. Beautiful in its complex simplicity and a joy to read!

#4 When God was a Rabbit

Blurb: Spanning four decades, from 1968 onwards, this is the story of a fabulous but flawed family and the slew of ordinary and extraordinary incidents that shape their everyday lives. It is a story about childhood and growing up, loss of innocence, eccentricity, familial ties and friendships, love and life. Stripped down to its bare bones, it's about the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister

Title: When God Was a Rabbit
Author: Sarah Winman
Medium: Paperback
Publishing Details: Headline Review, 2011
Stars: ****/*****

Park It!

#8 Parked

#8 Parked: My sister loves Colin Morgan... she's a little obsessed, so she was happy enough to force me to watch this for what was her 3rd and my 1st time!

It's slow... like a lot of indie dramas tend to be, but this lacked the sparkle that makes slow special! It's definitely near the bottom of my top low budget Irish films list... i've seen around 4!
Morgan gives an excellent performance and the characters are pretty well developed, but the pace just killed it for me.



Film: Parked
Director: Darragh Byrne
Released: 2010
Watched at: Broadroad Lodge (The Parents' House)
**/*****

Letters to a Young Gymnast

Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10. She soared into the hearts of millions overnight when she appeared on the competition circuit at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Raised in a tiny village in Romania, she was sent off to a government run Gymnastics school after being discovered by Béla Károlyi, argubaly the sports most famous and conroversial coach. He, a Hungarian born national, coached the Romanian Gymnastic team until his defection, along with his wife, to the USA in 1981. After having trained many American gymnasts to Olympic glory, he was made National Team co-ordinator in 1999.
His wife Marta now holds this role and helped put together last years' 2012 Olympic gold medal winning line up of Maroney, Wieber, Ross, Raisman and Douglas. The Fierce Five, as they have now been dubbed brought home team gold for the first time since the magnificent seven  in 1996. (When the Karolyi's were at their coaching prime)

This book is not so much a story of Nadia Comaneci's career as a gymnast as a story of what life in Romania was like. There was lots of gymnastics, but none of it inaccessable to non specialists. I found it difficult to read in places, because although Nadia now lives in the United States with a American husband and their child, I still felt like I was reading a book in broken English at points. The gramatical structure of many sentences was basic and stilting in parts. However I still found this book interesting and enlightening, but then again I will read anything about gymnastics that I can get my hands on!
Expect a few more gymnasts' autobigraphy reviews because I have some more on my to read pile!

Blurb: In Letters to a Young Gymnast, Nadia Comaneci tells how she found the inner strength to become a world-class athlete at such a young age. Now a woman of tremendous poise and self-assurance, she offers unique insights into the mind of a top competitor. From how to live after you’ve realized your dream to the necessity of “a spirit forged with mettle,” Comaneci’s thoughts on athleticism and sacrifice are eye-opening.
 
Title: Letters to A Young Gymnast
Author: Nadia Comaneci
Medium: Paperback
Publishing Details:
Stars: **/*****

Enough films for a short film festival!

I'm going to need to make a habit of blogging my films immediately after I see them, or this year is going to be quite unsuccessful!
Last week I watched 4 films, and this week, owing to a family tragedy I have spent a lot of time in the house with my cousins needing some light entertainment, explaining films number 6 and 7!

#2 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof:  This screen adaptation of Tennessee Williams' hit stage play features Elizabeth Taylor with an immensely skinny waist and dresses to make any girl jealous. This is the first 'old' film I think I've watched on purpose. And I must admit I quite enjoyed it.

#2 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Film: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Director: Richard Brooks
Released: Sept 1958
Watched at: Home
***/*****





#3 Charlie Wilson's War: I honestly have no idea what to say about this. I was bored from start to finish; its only saving grace was the fact that it was only 97 minutes long! I'm not opposed to political films, in fact I quite like them, but I found this slow and clumpy. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts just didn't do it for me!

#3 Charlie Wilson's War

Film: Charlie Wilson's War
Director: Mike Nichols
Released: 2007
Watched at: Home
*/*****










#4 The Great Gatsby: One of my favourite books of all time, so it's a surprise I haven't actually seen this before. Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in all their beauty do a good job at portraying the hopelessly obsessed Jay Gatsby and the beautiful but unhappy Daisy Buchanan. The glamour and lose morals of the extravagant 20's and 30's. Very true to the book, which at times was to its detriment as the story was dragged out at points. Overall an enjoyable watch and left me very much looking forward to Baz Luhrman's offering later this year.

#4 The Great Gatsby

Film: The Great Gatsby
Director: Jack Clayton
Released: 1974
Watched at: Home
***/*****







#5 The Dungeon Masters: I do love a weird documentary and they don't get much weirder than this one! The film follows a number of 'gamers' as they play Dungeons and Dragons, a popular strategic RPG (Role Play Game) It looks at how they cope as their fantasy lives clash with the real world. Slow in places, this documentary lacks the compelling narrative that other documentaries of this nature need. But overall and interesting look into this strange world.

#5 The Dungeon Masters

Film: The Dungeon Masters
Director: Kevin McAlester
Released: 2008
Watched at: Home
**/*****








#6 My Big Fat Greek Wedding: A firm favourite of mine, it's a bit like a big tub of Ben and Jerry's and a class of Coke- ultimate comfort viewing! The sugary sweet and predictable narrative always makes me laugh and the Greek family reminds me a lot of my own crazy extended family, living in each other's pockets and sharing all elements of our lives. A 4* rating from me :)

#6 My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Film: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Director: Joel Zwick
Released: 2002
Watched at: Pancake House
****/*****








#7 RV- Runaway Vacation: Robin Williams stars in this silly family comedy. 'Peeta' from the Hunger Games and 'JoJo' of noughties pop fame play Williams' disconnected kids. Familiar faces also pop up in the form of 'Spencer' from Criminal Minds and 'Annabeth Schott' from the West Wing. This silly, slapstick comedy had us in stitches- exactly what we needed this week. But no amount of tragedy could convince me to give me this film more than 2 stars!

#7 RV- Runaway Vacation

Film: RV- Runaway Vacation
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Released: 2006
Watched at: Pancake House
**/*****