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25

The Great Book Project 12 of 20 – Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Thursday, November 25th, 2010

Coming up to Christmas people! Excited about it this year. Not so much about the pressies, I’m looking forward to the nights out and family gatherings. It’s been a tough/awesome year so I’m determined to go out with a bang. Every weekend from now till the first week in January is currently booked out. There is my birthday, a wedding in London, works nights out, friends nights out, a good friend coming back from Australia and another totally awesome dude coming up from London. It’s going to be epic.

Life of I

Since my last post on this project I decided to read a couple of books not on the list. I read Hector & the Search for Happiness by François Lelord and I am Legend by Richard Matheson. Both great books, I am Legend steals it though. Why oh why did they change the story so much for the movie. FAIL.

So the other night there I finished Life of Pi by Yann Martell. I went into this book having absolutely no clue what it was about. You might find that hard to believe, but remember, I have a Kindle and there is no need to see the front or back cover if you don’t want to. After the first few chapters of the book I began to worry. I was BORED with it. “What in the Hell is going on here?” – I thought. If it hadn’t been for the book being part of my project I would have probably given up. Over and over we are given lessons on the behaviour of animal after animal. I was at the end of my tether, but was encouraged to keep going not only by the need to fulfil my project duties but was also encouraged by a workmate to stick with it.

I’m glad I did. This book was a total roller-coaster of enjoyment for me. So much so that I thought I would add one of those wee graphs that Total Film Magazine (or is it Empire? Can’t remember) do to show their enjoyment during the movie.

As you can see the book only gets better. One third into the book something finally happens of interest and from then on in it only gets better.

There are three books I would consider to have an truly amazing ending. The Hobbit, Walter Tevis’s Mockingbird and this book.

All in all this was a tough reminder to stick a book out because you never know what surprises you are in for.

I have to rate this on the book as a whole so I’ll go for a 7.

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

I’ve already started on my next book which is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

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Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | 3 Comments »

2

The Great Book Project 11 of 20 – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

I feel exhausted. Not just because I’m just back from my first gym session in over a week, but just from life in general. Been super busy with my business, I’ve changed to a new team in my part time job at Capita and just the sheer volumes of bloody work involved in keeping a house (who knew?).

Most of the Lads at Gommit’s

I’ve had some fun times in-between though. Couple of weeks ago it was my good mate Grommit’s Wedding. Had a blast. Always great to get the whole bunch under one roof. Also, kudos to them for probably they best wedding meal I’ve ever had. Yum.

So A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius marked my heartbreaking return to paper books. The Kindle store did not stock this book so I had to put it aside and call on ebay to deliver me this chunky, beast of a novel.

(And if this wasn’t bad enough, I was checking my Kindle a few days after I started this latest book (I missed it so) and I noticed a defect on the Kindle screen. I shat it. Contacted Amazon support and they sent me out a brand new Kindle that was at my door within two days. I honestly can’t believe how good the customer service with Amazon was. I’ll be making sure that if I buy anything on-line in the future my first port-of-call will be Amazon. Big up y’all.)

An Unstaggering Moron

I had heard great things about this book. Personal recommendations. So I was looking forward to getting to this point on the list. I opened the book and was initially completely weirded out. The acknowledgements section lasted around 80 pages, and there was also an introductory section titled ‘Suggestions and Rules for Reading this Book’ which had, amongst them, the author outlining pages ‘you can skip if you want to’. Of-course, I suspect this is all intended to be quirky and cool, but I donno man. I was getting the feeling this was the author trying way too hard. But as I came to see was part of the books theme.

This memoir by Dave Eggers outlines his struggle after both his parents die within 15 weeks of each other and he is left to look after his little brother – Toph- on his lonesome. In the memoir he is trying to be the ‘cool’ father figure; He is trying to be the ‘cool’ author to us, the readers; and he is trying to make his way in a ‘cool’ career.

Reading the book you know that it’s all exaggeration and extravagance, his words are part of a plea for us, the readers, to find greatness in his life and works. Hence, the self indulgent title.

I thought it was great in places, especially the beginning, but if truth be told, the more this went on the more I was getting fed up with it. And I promise you it wasn’t because I’ve been desperate to get back to my Kindle.

Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Next up it’s Life of Pi as I still can’t get Austerlitz or Payback at the Kindle Store :-(

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Posted in Books, The Great Book Project | 1 Comment »

19

Never Let Me Go

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Just finished reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro . It was pretty special and I’m therefore really excited about the prospect of the forthcoming movie. Screenplay is by the guy that wrote Sunshine and 28 Days Later and directed by Mark Romanek who is renowned for beautiful visuals and originality. I think it is a perfect combination for what this book deserves to be on the big screen.

Have a look at the trailer and featurettes of the movie. You’ll definitely be intrigued.

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Posted in Books, Movies | No Comments »

11

The Great Book Project 10 of 20 – Atonement by Ian McEwan

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Half way there folks. Who would have thunk it? And ultimately, who cares? Haha. Well, I do but, I’m also surprised at the traffic I’m getting to these posts so some people are at least following along. At the beginning of the week I was at a funeral of an uncle and one of my 2nd cousins asked me “How’s your books going?”.

A Pure Stoater

Anyway, enough of me trying to convince myself that these blog posts are worth it.

A couple of years ago I watched the movie of this book. I loved it. Probably the first ‘period drama’ I’ve regarded as completely awesome. The long scene on the beach at Dunkirk comes to mind. As a result in my initial post about this we project I wondered if I should take it off the list. I know what happens at the end etc, etc. But I decided to keep it on and see if the book had anything more to give.

I’m totally glad I did. And at the same time I’m now completely gutted that I hadn’t read the book before seeing the film.

This book really blew me away. It had everything that made the movie great, obviously, but had so much more in the book that sent it to a new level of greatness. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that Atonement is the story of how an overly dramatic, naive young girl misinterprets a series of events one day during a family gathering. The result has unimaginable consequences for the future of the family. The book’s title Atonement refers to the young girls plight through the rest of her life to make amends for what she did on that day.

I watched the movie again since finishing this book on Thursday last week. It really does the book justice but there are some scenes I wish they had included in the movie (even though I can understand why they ain’t there). The moment in the book where Mace intervenes on the killing of the RAF pilot. The chapter with Emily Tallis having a migraine was one of my favourites in the book yet there is a 10 second shot of her in her bed in the movie. Briony finally having her play performed to her.

If you can’t be arsed reading the book, then please give the movie a bash. Here is the trailer:

Without a doubt my favourite book so far.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★½☆

Moving back to A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius next. I had to buy this off eBay as Amazon still don’t have it in Kindle format. Back to old paper format. Aww man!

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Posted in Books, The Great Book Project | 4 Comments »

22

The Great Book Project 9 of 20 – One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night by Christopher Brookmyre

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Scottish Fun

Could that be the biggest blog post title ever? Might be.

With all the madness going on just now it’s a wonder I’m getting time to read. But seems like I am. Last week, for example, was the first time I have had the chance to see my Gran since I got married. I thought she might suplex me when I arrived at her door but she was quite the opposite. I’ve been really busy with Lucid Studio stuff and both Gemma and I are totally into the interior decorating now. Nearly finished the living room. Which means only one thing…Invasion. Invasion for the house warming party. This weekend I’ll be doing a bit of flat-pack building then some painting. Jesus, listen to me. I’ve lost the plot.

So, aye, what have I been reading that I don’t have time to be doing? One Fine Day In The Middle Of the Night by Scottish born Christopher Brookmyre. A book about a high school reunion on an Oil Rig that goes haywire when invaded by terrorists. In case you don’t know, Mr Brookmyre’s speciality is comedy so if this plot sounds a bit mental then you’d be happy to know it’s all in the name of a good laugh. Even so, I did think the story was pretty tight and worked really well.

I loved the really obscene Scottish humour in it. The moments with Charlie and Eddie catching up on the bus and when they were at the bar on the Rig. Those moments were pure gold. I would have preferred to read them ‘at it’ for the entirety of the book. But, as I said, the story did hold up and kept me interested.

Maybe one day I’d read another Chris Brookmyre novel, but there is just too much on my ‘to read’ list that I’d be more excited about.

I’m going to take a break from my list for a week or so, I’ve just got into this reading palava so much that I’ve got this massive list of books that I can’t wait to read. I’ve started reading a book called The Stars, My Destination so once I finish that I’ll get back to the project.

By the way. Sorry for not having my usual stupid picture of myself holding my book. I just couldn’t be bothered, and I look like shit these days.

Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

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Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | 2 Comments »

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