Monday 12 November 2012

The Booker Award


Hello, I have been selected by my friend and fellow writer Katie Oliver to participate in The Booker Award. Thank you Katie :D I've to choose 5 favourite books of mine. Now, I did do a Desert Island Books blogpost over at Resolution Corner a while back where I named 10 favourite books so I feel it'd be cheating to just nick them from there, so I'll do 5 different ones. I hope that's okay.


1. The Ring Trilogy (Ring, Spiral and Loop) by Koji Suzuki

I used to love horror stories/films when I was younger. Now, not so much. I can't remember the last time I watched a scary film and the last horror story I read was one of my own abominations. I read this trilogy (in order, would you believe, that usually doesn't happen to me) and I loved how original they were, how a virus could kill people through a video tape. It sounds ridiculous but it works. The film adaptations, I've seen both American and Japanese (though not the Korean) and they seem to have changed the plot somehow so it doesn't work as good. It's worth reading these if you like a good horror story but don't want to put with the gore. 

2. The Walking Man Trilogy (Ritual, Skin and Gone) by Mo Hayder

I love Mo Hayder. I once wrote to her asking for a signed book plate and she sent me one, even writing a little message on the envelope I got back. I'm not a huge fan of crime novels. I read my first one back in 2007 and after realising that they were all pretty much the same I got a bit bored with them. Except for Mo Hayder's. I will read anything that woman writes. I don't usually get emotionally attached to characters but I did with this trilogy (I've heard she's writing a 4th one even though technically 'Gone' is the 5th in the series so maybe that should be she's writing a 6th one). Full of nitty gritty and weirdness, murders and personal issues. Her other book 'Pig Island' is even weirder. 

3. Whip It - Shauna Cross

This book made me want to buy a pair of roller skates and elbow someone in the face. Brilliant novel made into a brilliant film by Drew Barrymore. Bliss Cavendar is the main protagonist that doesn't want to go along with her mother's pageant plans and instead sneaks behind her back to join a Roller Derby team. Mix a great bit of clichéd insubordination with a cool sport and you've got a high octane punky novel. I did actually contemplate signing up for our local Hull's Angels Roller Derby team after reading this book but there's a waiting list and I like my nose just the way it is, thanks. 

4. The Island of Doctor Moreau - H G Wells. 

Two words: The Sloth. 

5. The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri 

I haven't actually read all of this but I'm fascinated by Dante's depiction of Hell and it's 9 circles. I have a habit of flicking through it and reading parts of the version I have with Gustave Dore illustrations accompanying it. I also love the Botticelli paintings of it too. I've been lucky enough to have seen a Dante statue in Verona, Italy and would some day like to see the rest in Florence, his home town. I have an interest in Renaissance artists and writers. 

Thank you Katie. I hope that's okay.

I'd like to pass this challenge onto Ian Little  go on, I dare ya :D

Monday 19 March 2012

Les meilleurs films Français jamais


J'aime les films français. Ce sont ceux que je possède et nous avons vu.

Marion Cotillard films -

Love me if you dare
Taxi 1
Taxi 2
Taxi 3
La Vie En Rose
A Very Long Engagement

Audrey Tautou films -

A Very Long Engagement
Amelie
Priceless
Happenstance
He loves me...he loves me not.

Daniel Auteuil films -

Jean De Florette
Manon Des Sources
The Closet
Apres Vous
36
Hidden
My Best Friend
Romuald Et Juliette

Misc films -

8 Women
La Cage Aux Folles
La Cage Aux Folles 2
Mr Hulot's Holiday
Tatie Danielle
Le Diner De Cons
The Martyrs
The Triplets of Belleville
Delicatessen
Angel-A
Switchblade Romance
The Grand Voyage
The Chorus
Tell No One
I've Loved You So Long
Micmacs
The Singer
The Orchestra
Écoute le temps
Pot Luck
Dante 01
Crimson Rivers
Crimson Rivers 2
Paris, Je T'Aime
Anything For Her
Summer Things
The Three Colours Trilogy
The Visitors

Own but haven't watched yet -

Taxi 4
Cyrano De Bergerac
Persepolis
The Illusionist
The City Of Lost Children
Beautiful lies
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
The Man On The Train
Coco Before Chanel
French Twist
The Science of Sleep


German -

Run Lola Run
Das Experiment
The Edukators
Goodbye Lenin!

Spanish -

Fermat's Room