Moving On

SO although I haven't posted here in two years, just thought I would leave a post to say this blog has moved!

www.agoodbookblog.wordpress.com

Truth is subject to too much analysis.

So today I was about to tell someone they should definitely be writing a blog when I realised that I shouldn't be telling other people to post, I should just be making myself do it.

I want to feel awful that I haven't posted on here, haven't even tried. But the problem is I don't. It's like any other thing I say I love, anything else I attempt. I usually give up and, unfortunately, it's classic Psych 101 as to my reason.

If I don't try, I can't fail.

If I don't try, no one can ever tell me I'm not good enough.

I went to an audition this week for a very popular music TV show that airs near Christmas. I didn't get picked (TV producers, *sticks tongue out*) but I was so pleased I tried. For once, I actually tried.

But then I got to thinking.

• I picked an obscure song.
• I didn't have on an ounce of make up, or do my hair.
• I wore my work jeans and trainers (which are not exactly flattering or fashionable).

It makes me wonder whether I subconsciously sabotaged myself; I knew I wouldn't get picked, so I picked a bunch of other things I could blame it on when it didn't happen.

Urgh. Sometimes I hate psychology.

Until next time.

If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.

So, it's been about four and a half months since I posted here.

I think that must be a record.

I changed jobs and moved AGAIN so life's been a little mad, although, since it always seems to be like this, maybe I should just get used to it. I'm now settled (I think) and have no particular plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

I'm not going to make any promises to myself with this new post, I just want to see how it feels to write again. I realised I haven't written creatively in almost a year and that's kind of depressing. I still call myself a writer and a singer but I haven't comitted any real time or effort to either endeavour for a very long time.

Maybe this blog can simply serve as proof that I haven't given up. I've been feeling a little lost lately, not really sure who to be without poetry, or music, or academia, and I want something to show that I am attempting to find the person I want to be again. She's still around, and I'm pretty sure she's just fighting against my inherent laziness to get out.

Until next time.

The Eternal Hiatus

I can never quite seem to keep up with myself, can I?

Thing is, in the last few months, I've changed jobs and moved home. And while my job now leaves me more free time, that free time is much more active. Being alone, although rubbish, is very condusive to creativity. Solitary activities, like this blog, like reading, etc, become more difficult to pursue. I may just be easily distracted but I'm enjoying have a bit of social freedom again and I want to make the most of it. I have a lifetime to read, and expand my cutural horizons, but so few to drink myself stupid on a Saturday night.

It feels difficult to find the time, and inclination to read/write, let alone the inspiration. And to be honest, without the inspiration it feels forced and slightly pointless.

I wish I could promise myself I would write on this more, or even write privately more but it feels empty. I am attempting, however, to reclaim some of my "me-ness" and I suppose I should really include writing and reading in this equation.

Gah. I need more hours in the day.

The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits

Came across this brilliant blogger yesterday and thought that this piece in particular definitely applies to me. My mindset when it comes to forming new habits it exactly this: rampant enthiusiasm for about two days, and then complete and utter dimissal.

Hopefully reading posts from this guy will help me to focus on actually forming the habits before I break them!

Zen Habits

The pink stars are falling.

A few nights ago, I finished Under the Dome by Stephen King, a book I’ve wanted to read since it came out. Stephen King is, undoubtedly, a god of science fiction and this book does nothing to dispel that notion.

Under the Dome is, at its heart, a sci-fi human drama story. The inhabitants of a small town in the United States suddenly finds themselves trapped beneath an invisible and impenetrable dome. As the US Army attempts to break through the Dome, those on the inside are panicking, leading to a series of events that no-one could have predicted.

I haven’t read a lot of Stephen King but, what I have, I love. The Cell I read a few years ago (who doesn’t like the idea of our mobile phones sending us all insane?) and Carrie when I was a teenager. Carrie has stayed with me though. It’s possibly one of the most perfect pieces of fiction ever put together. It’s terrifying, but at the same time, beautiful, and I thought the way he was constantly changing the style and genre throughout was brilliant. The Hollywood film with Sissy Spacek was a startlingly poor adaptation (I actually saw a Sky One two-part version some time before it and that was excellent), especially after all the raving I had heard. I think it’s because of my total love for Carrie as a novel that I am inclined to elevate my expectations of any King book.

Under the Dome was, without question, a tremendous novel. It was epic, scary, full of gore, and with enough dirty cops and politicians to have even the most docile citizen up in arms. And I loved it for all those things. The thing I didn’t love was the length.

It was long. Ridiculously long. Over 900 pages of Stephen King’s depressing dome-y world is enough to bring anybody down. I did enjoy the book, but I really wish it had been shorter. It’s difficult to say if anything could have been omitted because I can’t define what contributed to the sombre and bleak landscape and what didn’t. I am pretty sure, though, that if the book had been shorter I wouldn’t have been so pleased to finish it. Carrie is a tiny slip of a book and I find myself coming back to it again and again. Under the Dome, while technically brilliant, is probably not something I’ll ever pick up again, or even something I would recommend – my friends would laugh at a novel that size.

I enjoyed the novel a lot but Under the Dome has, unfortunately, put me off anymore Stephen King epics. And it’s very likely I’ll be picking up a few more light-hearted reads in the near future.

Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.

In January this year I signed myself up for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Set yourself a target of books to read in 2011 and see if you can reach it. Now, I enjoy reading. I generally have at least one book on the go. And when I was 10, I once read 60 books in just over a month. Because of all these factors, I decided that a target of 200 wouldn’t be too bad. It would be difficult but definitely not impossible.

Six months later and witness my impending failure.

We’re halfway through the year, and I’m floundering at a measly 39 books. According to my stats, I should have read almost 100 books by this point. That’s not a great statistic and it’s certainly not a good omen.

I’m still hoping to hit 200, although its now sitting on the ‘never in a million years’ side of impossible. But I shall soldier through, possibly picking some slightly shorter books along the way (it’s not cheating, right?).

Anyway, wish me luck and, hopefully, I’ll at least break 100.

You may delay, but time will not.

So we had a bit of a last minute cancellation of Book Club last night. There were too many of us that either couldn't make it, or couldn't really stay for too long that we decided it was best to postpone. Beloved will now be discussed 10th July, making this our second two-month book (also, both two-months have been for my books. Odd that....). Hopefully, this means that everyone will have read the book and have a lot to say about it - even if its not all good!

I've seen him on the news. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me...he's one of us.

Yesterday I received an amazing little present in the post; a hardback proof copy of The Power of Six, the second in the Lorien Legacies series by Pittacus Lore. I adored the first book and have been anxiously awaiting this second offering.

If you haven’t read the first book, I Am Number Four, be aware that this review may contains Spoilers.

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
 
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next.

John Smith is Number Four and the death of yet another of the Garde, Number Three, has caused him and his guardian, Henri, to flee their home and find another, this one in Paradise, Ohio. John’s special abilities, or Legacies, begin to develop, bringing with them chaos and exposure.

As the battle between John and the Mogadorian scouts sent to kill him approaches, Number Six arrives, a blonde girl with a feisty attitude. Both decide that the plan to keep all the children apart will only destroy them eventually and battle the Mogadorians so that they can escape to find the others. Six and John leave, taking Sam Goode, a human ally, with them.

Power of Six follows on the story, but instead of John, we are focussed on Number Seven, a girl named Marina. Living in a convent in Spain, her guardian has abandoned her for God and Marina is forced to cope alone as her Legacies arrive, and with them, the threat of the Mogadorians.

I skipped through this book in all of about four hours, enthralled by the action and intensity in the writing. The extraordinary is definitely the key with the pacing, as each storm cloud, or night time excursion, brings with it the possibility of more Legacies or Loriens being revealed.

It is intriguing to read through Marina’s (Seven) story, and her fascinations with John Smith, and know all we know about the other characters. It pulls the reader in, as every moment that we’re involved we’re waiting for them all to find each other. Marina is a brilliant character on her own, but, from witnessing more scenes between Six and John, it will be great to see the dynamic this group pulls in once they’re all together.

This novel definitely feels more cinematic than the last, and perhaps that’s because of the reception of the first. There is a plan for six books, but, after the failure that was the first film, I don’t think the film franchise will happen alongside. I didn’t mind the first film, but whereas the book can cater to adults and teens, the film industry tends to feel it has to pick one age range. It went for teen and, unfortunately, ended up losing a lot of the subtly and maturity of the novel. On a visual point, the cover pictured is not the cover I had on my proof. Mine was white with a blue, embossed symbol. Much simpler and I definitely preferred it.

Battling against my rational brain at this point is, however, my disdain for author James Frey. The pseudonym Pittacus Lore covers James Frey and Jobie Hughes, and, to be honest, I have issues with Frey as a genuine author. After the scandal with A Million Little Pieces, I can’t really have any respect for that author. On a personal note, I really wish bookshops and libraries would stop promoting it as a memoir, because it’s mostly rubbish.

Either way, Power of Six definitely makes a great sequel to I Am Number Four. I’m super excited to see where the series goes after this!

So..Bloggers gone crazy...

I do have a review of Power of Six by Pittacus Lore to upload but for some reason, Blogger has gone crazy with my formatting and images so I can't upload it at the mo. As soon as it can, it shall happen.

Grrr.

Make no mistake, we are artists. We are athletes. We are bobble-heads.

Hellcats has been cancelled!

Now, I know this show didn’t exactly have a lot of intellectual merit but it wasn’t trying to be smart. It was trying, and succeeding in my opinion, to be a fun, frivolous little snippet of T.V., perfect for those wanting to relax and switch off their brains. I liked this show, I mean, my favourite film is Bring it On! so this was always going to be right up my street. And that’s exactly the market it should have been aiming at.

As far as I’m aware, it was being shown on the right kind of channels (UK = MTV, US = The CW) and the ratings weren’t atrocious. As the series progressed, they fell but, by that point, the episodes were more serious in nature and had a lot less dancing cheerleaders flying around the screen.

I was really interested in the story, and with the whole series ending in such a cliffhanger, I’m quite disappointed I’m not going to see how it plays out. Thing is, any show like this is an aspirational one; people watch it because they want to emulate the characters on screen and seeing them do things you can’t do (flip, dance, fly ten foot in the air and land safely back on the ground) is all part of that. By making Hellcats like every other CW drama, they took away its main appeal and it became just a slightly sub-par teen drama.

I am definitely realising it takes a lot to get a show renewed. Last year, I got into Privileged, which then got cancelled, and this year it’s been Hellcats that’s got the axe. I’m not saying that either of them were perfect but they could at least finish up the endings of the seasons.

On a positive note however, the CW is FINALLY letting go of One Tree Hill. That show has been dead since Peyton and Lucas skipped town, now all that’s left to do is bury the rotting carcass.

Who you are is five words, Dead Girl In a Trunk.

Just a quick one to reinforce all my twitterings about the fabulous The Killing. An American remake of a Danish drama series, it's completely brilliant and, at least in my opinion, is very similar in structure and tone to a lot of British crime serials. Shows like Waking the Dead and Silent Witness follow one case through multiple episodes, intriguing the viewer just as much with the lives of the suspects as with the detectives. The Killing is very similar and it does it so unbelievably well.

To be honest, I'm a little bit in love with it. It's a serious, intelligent, unsensationalised, american crime drama and it is a absolute breath of fresh air. In amongst all the predictable, over-the-top stuff, it really stands out.

Go watch it. Seriously, it's amazing.

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

All bad literature rests upon imperfect insight or upon imitation.

So last month’s offering was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, chosen by MB. I was so up for reading this book; it’s been something I wanted to pick up for ages. I was thinking about picking it myself for Book Club just a little while ago but changed my mind. I’m so very glad I did because unfortunately this book was a huge disappointment.

Great Gatsby starts with Nick Carraway, just moved to New York in the 1920’s. He rents a house and ends up living next to the wealthy, but mysterious, Jay Gatsby and they begin a friendship. The book then follows the exploits and indiscretions of the many fashionable, wealthy people who they associate with and eventually ends with destruction.

The book is supposedly a commentary on the distortion of the American Dream; the protagonists discovery that all that is now sought is money, not achievement. It is hailed as one the greatest pieces of American Literature ever produced and regularly appears in ‘Must Read’ lists, online and in print.

I, however, did not finish the novel. I found it the plot dull, the pace and style of writing slow, and the characters one-dimensional. I wish I’d been the only person in our group to feel this way, sometimes holding the opposite viewpoint is fun, but unfortunately for Mr Fitzgerald, I wasn’t.

Not everyone disliked the novel, MB and CB both enjoyed it. It sadly just didn’t reach the desired heights for the rest of us. The general consensus tallied with my opinion, which was that it was boring. We also came to the conclusion that our days of reading American Literature should soon come to an end. The vast majority of books we’ve read during Book Club have been of the American persuasion, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, we’re all just getting a little tired of reading about the same culture. On that note, however, it was my choice next and I did choose an American book…oops.

Overall Score: 4.5/10
Next Month’s Choice from: CC (me)
Next Book: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Date of Next Meeting: 12th June 2011

The future of the high street bookshop.

Having been in the process of packing up and moving house again (four times this year!), I have left blogging a little to the wayside. But, since the big W has been officially sold off and faith is gradually being restored in the high street bookshop, I felt a need to express my opinion. 

I love bookshops. I think anyone who enjoys reading does. Whether you shop in them or not is, in some ways, irrelevant. Just having them about, walking in and seeing row upon row of bright new paperbacks puts a little smile on my face. I’ve worked in bookshops as well and my days as an Ottakar’s Weekend Girl were immensely enjoyable. And a lot of that was due to the people. The store I worked in was full of brilliant, funny, intelligent, and eccentric characters, and, although the friends I made in that store are still mad (and still working their crazed magic in stores across the country), they seem to be getting fewer and far between. 

I’m not saying they’re not there anymore, but many bookstores (and not just the big brands) are becoming identikit models, where even the staff are forced to fit the mould. So much of what made these shops cosy little havens from the big bad high street was in the warmth and obvious enthusiasm for books that their staff possessed. Being encouraged to push uninteresting titles or vaguely relatable product is sure to drive many of the staff screaming from the building. 

I haven’t ever visited Daunt Books so I can’t say with any authority that I think James Daunt is going to change anything once he’s set up as Managing Director. To be honest, the stores I’ve passed of his look a little stuffy and, before Friday, I genuinely thought they were Second Hand shops. I hope he does a good job with the W but I’m not throwing myself wholeheartedly behind him. I like the idea of bookshops being more about books but I think he has to be careful not to squash all the joy out of reading. 

The main problem stores have now is getting customers in the building. All you need to do is take a look at a good library (which, I’ll grant you, there aren’t many of) to see that they’ve found other ways to draw people in; competitions, cafes, art galleries. The thing to remember is that knowledge isn’t everything. Just because you know all there is to know about Post-Modernist Literature doesn’t mean I want to here you blather on about it for twenty minutes; give me someone with enthusiasm over knowledge any day. One bubbly, passionate bookseller, eager to find you something you will genuinely enjoy (not just something you’re “supposed” to read) will probably have many more satisfied, returning customers, than one who makes you feel guilty or stupid. 

Whatever happens, I like the high street bookshop and I’m not keen to see it go anywhere. A sentiment echoed by many a fellow bookworm, I’m sure.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.

Ooooh. Couldn't leave you without this little tidbit I found.

HBO Praying for American Gods

Now, after reading Neverwhere for Book Club, I am not Neil Gaiman's biggest and brightest fan. To be honest, I found his writing confusing and kind of pointless. I like fantasy but I think I prefer it in films and TV shows than in novels. Teen fiction kind of gets away with it but in adult novels I find it slightly ludicrous (I know, big old hypocrite). So in some ways, it could be really interesting to see a film essentially written by an author I'm not too keen on. I'd like to know whether the movie variation makes any dents in my opinion.

A story about a teenage wizard facing off against a dark lord beats one about a sparkling, lovesick vampire anyday.

So my teen fiction love affair remains unwavering at present. I wish I could say I was attempting to move on and be a grown up with my reading but I'm not. I like living sqaurely in my literary-youth. And because of that I was very excited to find this brilliant article on new teen movies ariving soon.

The Next Harry Potter or Twilight?

This little article is great - I was excited to find that Wake by Lisa McMann is being made into a film - although I think it's kind of funny that everything is supposed to be "the new Harry Potter/Twilight".

Nothing beats Harry Potter. And I shall be a Gryffindor till I die.

Actually, I'd probably be a Hufflepuff, but, you know, I like the idea of all that partying.

You have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy.

Yeah. So. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I didn’t read it, I’m afraid to say. Not through any overwhelming desire not to, just from a general lack of enthusiasm. I will attempt to read it in the next few months, as the impression I got from the group was that it was definitely worth it.

Group was a little distracted for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (it was sunny and we had barbeque food, you know how it is) but a good ole’ natter was still had by all. I even attempted to put in my two pennies worth (*whiny voice* I’ve seen the film!) but I couldn’t really contribute properly. Hence why I should always read the book.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was pretty well received and scored fairly average. Since our first few meetings, we’ve become a lot more conservative with our scoring; our first book still has the highest score.

Overall Score: 7.5/10
Next Month's Choice from: MB
Next Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The first rule of Fight Club is...

Gah. My Book Club reviews have completely disappeared over the past few months and I am kicking myself a little for that. Book Club hasn’t gone on hiatus and I have been going to the meetings, I just have been very lax in posting a review on either of the previous books.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk was our February title and we met, as always, in our faithful local to discuss the book. It’s the first time we had our brand new group together (all eight of us; SJ, MB, AG, SA, CB, CR, HB and me!). We’re still an all female group and someone made the very good point last week that we should probably try and include a token male at some point. So we met, we talked, and then we came second in the Sunday night pub quiz…because, of course, book clubs are awesome.

We were, as a group, completely aware that we weren’t exactly the target audience. The novel is for boys, full of gore and disgust, and those things didn’t exactly fill some of the group with happy fuzzy feelings. Although most of us enjoyed the ambiguity and really different nature of the writing style, it isn’t for everyone, and its most certainly a departure from standard dramatic fiction.

Fight Club is a book so visual and graphic in its descriptions, it could have been lifted straight from the movie script. The film version of the book did enter into the discussion on more than one occasion and although there are some significant differences (mainly near the end), its one of the few adaptations where we felt the book was done justice.

Palahniuk is an immense writer; filled with passion and fire, his writing is powerful in its venom. Since we had previously read American Psycho (Brett Easton Ellis) the similarities with that were also marked. Palahniuk has said that Ellis was an inspiration and the violence in the book definitely shows that.

Overall though, the novel came out ok. Myself, SJ, AG, and MB did all recognise that had we not read Ellis beforehand, we probably would have enjoyed Fight Club more. It still got a pretty decent score though and we came away with another novel (what I’m going to describe as a bloke’s book) for the next month.

Overall Score: 7/10
Next Month's Choice is from: SJ
Next Book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

No one is looking for me. That’s the truth.

Entangled was picked up because of an intriguing blurb and, I’ll admit, a pretty cover, and I was looking forward to this teen mystery. Trapped in a room, with no idea how she got there, and encouraged to write down what’s happening, Grace begins to decipher her story. Problem is, as readers, the plot is entirely predictable from the beginning and the ‘twist’ at the end is more of a forgone conclusion. So as Grace figures out the root of all her problems, we’ve already sussed them out, called the psych ward, and had her thrown into therapy.

Clarke’s writing is well done; the problem here is such a basic plot. I’ve read a few reviews saying things like ‘I was on the edge of my seat!’ and the only thing I can say is, if you were, you’re obviously a little bit slow on the uptake. Clarke never makes any intention of hiding the outcome of the story from us, and as soon as Grace’s life starts to head downhill, it’s a struggle to keep reading.

It’s not that it’s a bad book. It’s fine. It’s just not exactly challenging. Now, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I enjoy reading teen fiction because, a lot of the time, it’s simpler and, because of that, more enjoyable. Thing is, simpler does not mean dumbed-down and, even though I wish it wasn’t, that’s exactly what Entangled is.

I didn’t hate it, even if it sounds like I did. Unfortunately, it just didn’t peak my interest once I’d got past the pretty pictures on the cover. I have no troubles with style, just please, next time, add a little substance in too.