Intimacy

Intimacy - Hanif Kureishi


Thoughts and Opinions
This book is well... interesting i suppose. I'm not entirely sure what to think of it apart from it's complete unnecessary use of truly awful language at times that really doesn't add to the integrity of the book. It's safe to say thats its a characer development book and you get to see into the life of a rather synical man who can be really hard to like. I would suggest to read it, just out of curiosity and if you fancy a light book and have nothing in line, it's only small and took me two days to read.


Basic Plot
A man wants to leave his wife. That is all you need to know really, the book is his thoughts on the subject and the reasons why he is doing it. As well as reasons why he doesn't want to do it. As well as other, sometimes quite vulgar thoughts on his other relationships.

Verdict
I think that many people would like this kind of character development book where nothing really happens but you get a real insight into one person. These books can be interesting and to be fair this one isn't uninteresting but it's not my cup of tea shall we say? If you have time give it a read but it does have harsh language at times so if you are easily offended  i would avoid it.

Life Of Pi

Life Of Pi - Yann Martel

Thoughts and opinions
I love this book, i think its clever, thought provoking, intriguing and at times a little bit disturbing. This book is definitely one that requires a lot of thought in order to see its true meaning and answer the ultimate question. Which story do you believe?  This book claims it can make you believe in God. Don't let this put you off reading it though, even an athiest like me found it a really good and interesting read. No, i still don't believe in God.

Basic Plot
An Indian boy, after the sinking of a ship, ends up stuck on a life boat with various animals. The most dangerous being a fully grown bengal tiger. The book is all about his journey and how he survived for 227 days in the pacific ocean. You learn a lot about his past including education and religion.

Verdict
I would strongly advise you to read this book, it really is fantastic. Don't forget to read the Authors note at the beginning, it could change your prespective of the whole book. Make you ask questions about the way Pi acts towards certain events and keep you thinking all the way through about his state of mind.

WC:211

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Thoughts and Opinions
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, i thought it was clever and intriguing. However the way it was written made the characters out to be in love with each other the majority of the time expecially when it came to Dorin Gray himself. It was a little off putting. The focus on beauty and living the life most people dream of but don't dare to think of actually doing it. You can really see the science of the time coming through in this book through conversation of the upper classes and the new view on religion due to this.

Basic Plot
For those of you who don't know. Dorian Gray sits for his portrait and due to the belief that beauty and youth are everything in life once the painting is finished he vows he would do anything to stay the age he is when he sat for the painting. From then on all of Dorians age is taken by the painting and he remains youthful. All the evil that Dorian does, cruelty or drugs the affects also show on the painting rather than on Dorian himself. In order to keep his secret he hides away the painting and makes sure no one can ever access it.

Verdict
I would recommend for you to read this book, however it cn be quite heavy at times. It's not a book you can read in just a couple of days but it is very enjoyable.

WC:253

Paul (film)

Paul - Film

Thoughts and opinions
Again this is another film i absolutely love and watch over and over again. This is one of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's amazing series of films together with Seth Rogen as Paul. It also has the same produces as Hot Fuzz so if you enjoyed that film you're bound to like this and vice versa.

Basic Plot
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are science fiction geeks from England and struggling comic writers. They're taking a trip to America for their Comic-con festival and to take a tour of the alien sightings throughout America. On the way they bump into an actual alien escaped from the government trying to make his way home. Pegg and Frost take on the challenge to out run the government and help Paul get home. The problem being Paul couldn't look more like an alien if he tried so this isn't going to be easy. And they pick up a love interest on the way just to make things more complicated. A film wouldn't be a film without some kind of love interest.

Verdict
Definitely yes, do give this film a watch.
Its funny, outrageous and at times just ridiculous. The cringe worthy moments are sparse but well worth the wait!

WC:212

I Love you Man (Film)

Film - I Love You, Man.

Thoughts and Opinions
This is one of my favourite films i watch over and over again, it just never gets old. Paul Rudd and Jason Segal are both great in this film. They work great together, they're so funny and no matter how many times i watch it i always laugh at the same things and even new things i hadn't noticed before.

Basic Plot
Paul Rudd is about to get married, however he doesn't have any real male friends. He goes on a man hunt for his best man and goes through a series of cringe worthy 'man dates' with various people. Jason Segal is his last hope so does all he can in order to create an amazing friendship. We all know what happens when people try too hard... I can't fail to mention the straining relationship with his fiancee Zooey that is a vital part of the film. 




Verdict
At times it's awkward, cringe worthy, embarrassingly funny and just plain fantastic. I really really think everyone should watch this film. 


If you are easily offended, don't like bad language or rude jokes or have a weak stomach then maybe this film isn't for you.


WC:199

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens


Thoughts and Opinions
This book is a classic and i would recommend a read. Most of you will have seen the play/musical/film or all three. The majority of the films are a very good likeness to the book so you already have a feel for the events and characters before you start reading.

This book always has something going on throughout, the way Dickens gives you an insight to all the various characters and their actions is quite clever. You will learn about Oliver's actions in one chapter and then learn about Sykes actions in another chapter seemingly during the same time frame so the reader is always up to date.

The continuity flows very well, you don't get lost in the time line and wonder what happened where and if you missed it.

However this book is filled with 'coincidences' and 'fate' plays a major role through out. Which you do occasionally think (if you're a cynical person) what are the chances of that happening? Without these things the book wouldn't flow the way it does and come to a dead end so you can come to appreciate these things.

Verdict
Give this book a read, you can overlook the amount of coincidences throughout and appreciate the adventure one young boy takes to avoid the life of crime. This is a classic and i'm sure the majority of you will like if not love this book.

WC:241

Mystery Man

Mystery Man, Murder Mayhem and Damn Sexy Trousers - Colin Bateman.


Thoughts and Opinions
I HIGHLY recommend this book and the series of books by Colin Bateman. They are from the point of view of a rather strange, cynical, hypochondriac. This makes the book very funny indeed, i used to read these books while work was quiet (i worked in a pub and when it was quiet there would be, at times, no customers).

I literally laughed out loud at certain parts and found myself gasping in shock at some cases within book. Or Simply gasping at cringe worthy events.

Basically a struggling bookshop owner starts to take on detective work as people turn to him when the private eye next door closes down. You get to see his every idea and thought on people and circumstances which you can relate to.

Verdict
Read it! This book is the first in the series and there are quite a few that follows, the ones i have read such as Dr Yes. and the Day of the Jack Russell, i have found just as funny as the first. Bateman never fails to deliver with these books. Find one, read it, love it.

WC:200

Silas Marner

George Eliot, Silas Marner.


Thoughts and Opinions
Well this isn't my sort of book, personally i don't think that anything really happens throughout the book. Nothing that would make me say 'wow' and make me want to read on to find out what happens next!

However it is a bit of a light hearted story, something with a simple plot to just sit down and relax with. There is many themes within this book. Such as transformation of character, acceptance within a community as well as delicate and difficult things called relationships but honestly that's about it.

Verdict
This book isn't for people who like a lot of action and suspense and it's not what i would call a page turner. If you really enjoy classics and have read other things by George Eliot i'm sure you will enjoy this heart-warming story.

If you've got nothing else to read or do you might as well but don't put aside a lot more interesting things for this book. It's not really worth it.

WC:171

Hound of the Baskervilles

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Hound of the Baskervilles.




Thoughts and opinions
This is the first one i have read of the Sherlock Holmes collection but i do have the first couple in line to read, i have seen the films which i believe are quite true to the book in terms of setting and mannerism with the characters. I do also love the series of Sherlock Holmes the modern day interpretation i think is brilliant.

The books are quite different to the current series for obvious reasons they are set in a different time which makes an incredible amount of difference in the way the characters interact with each other and the way the mystery's are solved.

Hound of the Baskervilles is a good book and a bit of a page turner, it took me just a few days to read this book although it is quite small i enjoy the way it is set, using letters from Dr Watson to Sherlock to give a break to the descriptive narration.

The letters also allow things to move on quite quickly which could be long and drawn out if just written as events that would have occurred in the time span Watson is writing.


Verdict
I would recommend anyone to read this book, but only if you are interested in the mystery type books otherwise you may find this book a bit drab it's not exactly a lighthearted read either it does take some thinking in order to work out where the storyline is going, but don't worry if you don't figure out the culprit because there is an explanation at the end.

WC:272

Alice in Wonderland

Lewis Carol, Alice in Wonderland.

Thoughts and opinions

If you haven't read this yet, i recommends that you do! I'm sure most of you have seen the cartoon or a film but none compare to the actual thing. 

To say that Lewis Carol specialised in mathematics and logic really makes you think more about the book. The way he plays around with these aspects is really quite clever. Nothing is really logical or makes any sense and yet  as Alice points out throughout the book, she is no longer surprised by the usual happenings. 

Perhaps this acceptance of the unusual  is Alice's acceptance of her growing up and going through puberty. Her innocent and childlike view on the world is distorted as she gets older and has a more mature view of things.

I am not going into an in depth analysis of these books just thought i would give you something to think about while you are reading this book.

There is a lot of use of poetry and to understand them more i would recommend that you research the originals. This would make the poems more humours and the story slightly more sensible. 

Verdict

Even if you don't fully understand the happenings in this book i think you may just enjoy the strange adventure Alice takes and the way it is written.

WC:224

Intro

Ok, so this is my first blog so it may take a while to get used to this so please bare with me.

My aim is to write about the many books i need to read for my English degree as well as the occasional film i think is worth mentioning.

Also anything else entertaining i think people may be interested in.

Feedback would be much appreciated. I would LOVE to know if anything i have said has influenced your decision to read a book, watch a film etc.

Please feel free to disagree with me as well, the more opinions the better!

Thank you!