Book 91: A Children's Treasury of Milligan

I sometimes find Spike Milligan's poetry mildly amusing and enjoy the wordplay. I quite liked some of the poems at the start of this book. For example

Rain
There are holes in the sky
Where the rain gets in,
But they're ever so small
That's why rain is thin.

However, I didn't enjoy the latter parts of the book so much. I guess it's Milligan's style, but really it just seems like a lot of made up nonsense words. I can understand why they'd be fun, but I'd rather make up my own and share them with my family than read someone else's published in a book. Maybe I'm just in a grumpy mood today!

Book 90: I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

I was not expecting to enjoy this book but - once again - it turned out to be brilliant. I had been put off by watching a film version a few years ago; I didn't like some aspects of the plot and felt no particular reason to be drawn to the characters. This changes entirely when the story is viewed through the journal of the protagonist, seventeen-year-old Cassandra. The cover quote from J K Rowling reads "This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met", and I am certainly obliged to agree. Viewed through her eyes, the telling of the family's extreme (yet very cheerful) poverty and the near-despair of her Father ever writing again is transformed. When Scoatney, the home of the Mortmain family's landlords, is inherited by a young American, he and his brother come to England to live at the place. The intriguing story of the brothers' growing friendship with Cassandra and her sister Rose is interwoven with Cassandra's own relationships with Rose, her brother Thomas, stepmother Topaz and the enigmatic Stephen. A very compelling story, emotionally evocative, enjoyable, at times amusing and somehow true to life.

Film 69: "Strictly Ballroom"

I can't say I wanted to watch this one, but I'm glad I did. I waited till I could get Kate in the room to watch it as well... you know, so I could still claim to be manly and whatnot and not forgo man points for popping in a DVD called "Strictly Ballroom"

Synoahpsis:

Scott Hastings, a rogue, aussie ballroom dancer has a passion for dancing and a desire to perform his very unorthodox steps in a ballroom environment. Putting his own career at risk, infuriating the judges, alienating his former ballroom champion mother, and losing his long-time dancing partner, he abandons the traditional steps in favour of something new.

He teams up with Fran, a beginner who may not have the moves but has all the heart to dance the very unconventional steps with Scott, but with no support from their parents and a fierce opposition from the dancing community, do they have what it takes to become the new ballroom champions?

The best bit:

Kate and I wholeheartedly agree the best bit was clearly when Scott tries to convince Fran's dad that he is a proper ballroom dancer, and not a hinderance to her career, by dancing the Paso Doble... Scott and Fran both get a lesson on dancing from the heart.

Marks out of 10:

I did not dislike it, I'm compelled to say. It was fairly funny, and even with a predictable plot, the jokes and dancing make the film very watchable indeed. 6.2

Film 68: "Superman"

Due to Kate's persistence in making me review my recently watched films, I thought I'd better get on reviewing Superman.

Synoahpsis:

I don't know how I've managed to gain such familiarity with the entire plot of the film and whole world of Superman through secondhand allusions to the film (as well as watching one or two episodes of "Smallville"), but I felt like I was watching Superman for the hundredth time.

Basically, Superman (Kal-El) is sent to Earth by his parents when their home planet, Krypton, is on the brink of implosion. His Dad, Jor-El, an elder of Krypton, knows the planet is in peril, but is shunned by the council and placed under supervision. He still manages to launch the rocket just in time, so cool beans.

Superman arrives on earth in Nebraska or somewhere corn-filled like that and has to grow up among the humans hiding his supernatural powers fueled by Earth's sun and such like. He's taught never to interfere with humankind's history...

When a mysterious real estate investor begins buying up worthless southwestern desert land at exorbitant prices, reporter Lois Lane investigates, only to uncover the twisted plot of Lex Luthor. Can Superman save her, and the Western seaboard in time???

The best bit:

I hate to give spoilers, but the part where Superman turns time backwards by spinning around the earth in the opposite direction really really fast and changing it's rotation is just ridiculous and awesome.

Marks out of 10:

Great special effects for the time, fun plot, and good inclusion of many aspects of the Superman comicbook world in a short space of time. Fun to watch as well. 8.0

Book 59e: Bagthorpes vs The World, by Helen Cresswell

And again...

This time the hapless family is beset by financial woes - chiefly imagined, but woes nonetheless. Mr Bagthorpe decides to embark upon a scheme of self-sufficiency in order to cut expenditure. He also invites elderly, eccentric Aunt Lucy to visit, in the hope of wooing her to write the family into her will. Naturally the conjunction of these two objectives is not a happy one, especially when overshadowed by irritating cousin Luke's progress to the final of Young Brain of Britain.

I admire the way Helen Cresswell weaves her plot together through the series of books. I understand now, for example, the origin of Daisy's pet goat. (Her current Phase, for those interested, is to do with mortality and involves conducting funerals as frequently as possible, and predicting the demise of elderly ladies based upon the intensity of their wrinkles and the length of their legs).

Another moderately enjoyable read - and the fifth of ten. Trouble is, I've now run out of readily available library copies - I have no idea where 59f to 59j are to be procured!

Book 59d: Bagthorpes Unlimited, by Helen Cresswell

The most disjointed volume so far detailing the unusual history of the Bagthorpe family... unwanted visitors, lots of maggots and the world's longest daisy chain feature in this tale of the Bagthorpes' efforts to be immortalised somehow or other. They don't really seem to care how. It begins with their wishy washy cousins, Esther and Luke, one of whom is to have poetry published whilst the other competes for the title of Young Brain of Britain. The ensuing efforts of William, Tess and Rosie to become famous (whilst ordinary Jack looks on) are eclipsed and frustrated by four-year-old Daisy, in league, of course, with Grandma. Mr Bagthorpe, meanwhile, has been offered the chance of a lifetime to be interviewed by the Sunday Times. He is delighted - until he realises what the photographer is likely to find when he arrives at the house. As with the other Bagthorpe books, I quite enjoyed this story, with its familiar and (in most cases!) likeable characters.

Book 59c: Bagthorpes Abroad, by Helen Cresswell

There is not much to be added in reviewing my third Bagthorpe Saga book. (It's not actually third in the series, but I don't think that matters much). Things remain much the same in the egotistical, strong-willed family which is, as ever, afflicted by the unintentional misdemeanours of niece/cousin Daisy (who appears to have acquired a pet goat). This time, Mr Bagthorpe announces his intention to take the family on holiday. Their great astonishment transforms to disgust when they arrive at the destination: a bleak, dingy, ill-equipped and (most importantly) allegedly haunted house somewhere in the depths of Wales. As usual, chaos (and much rowing) ensues. A speedy read.

On to the next one!

Book 89: Watership Down, by Richard Adams

Wow.

Watership Down, as I'm sure you're aware, is a book about rabbits. But here's the thing: it's still good. Really good. Very good indeed. As Noah says, it begins with the exodus from the main burrow of a small group of rabbits who fear something vague and unspecific. The mystical Fiver, his wise, quiet brother Hazel, storyteller Dandelion, genius inventor Blackberry, fighting rabbit Bigwig, small, nervous Pipkin (and a couple of other minor rabbits!) set out on a long and arduous journey. The obstacles they meet along the way are many and various, and give rise to reflection on the state of human society and relationships. I agree with Noah that the mythology Adams has created (augmented in the book by fragments of rabbit-language) gives an authentic feel. Tales of El-ahrairah are interwoven very meaningfully with the main story of Hazel and his group of followers. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the short quotations at the beginning of every chapter. Normally I find these an irritation, but Adams has chosen them so very well that they truly enhanced my reading of the story.

Normally I dislike stories about anthropomorphised animals, but this is different. The rabbits retain rabbit-like characteristics, and yet make us think about our own human characteristics. It's a truly implausible tale, but its telling makes it feel plausible.

By the way Noah, it's 'elil', and specifically 'homba' if you mean a fox. But I'm sure you knew that.

Definitely among my favourite of the books I've read for this challenge. What more can I say? Read it!

Book 59b: Absolute Zero, by Helen Cresswell

That's (b) out of (j), by the way... still a long way to go with this particular series! But I'm glad to say that I enjoyed Absolute Zero, the second book in the Bagthorpe Saga, rather more than I did the first. It's hard to say exactly why, but I almost feel that, over the five months since I read Ordinary Jack, the characters (well, mainly Jack, to be honest) have remained in my head and I almost feel that I've got to know them. This tale of extraordinary woes* begins when Uncle Parker wins a competition with the prize of a luxury cruise in the Caribbean. The two natural effects of this are firstly that everybody in the Bagthorpe house starts entering competitions left right and centre, and secondly that Daisy, Uncle Parker's pyromaniac-turned-hydromaniac four-year-old daughter, comes to stay at the Bagthorpes' house. She forms an unlikely alliance with Grandma and they get into all kinds of trouble; meanwhile the other Bagthorpes are in fact winning some of their competitions, catapulting the family to instant TV fame. Needless to say things do not go absolutely swimmingly (if you'll pardon the pun). Whilst not the most hilarious book I've ever read - in fact, not exactly funny, not in a making-you-laugh kind of way - I still enjoyed the story.

* Not in a Lemony Snicket kind of way, but still, quite extraordinary

Film 67: "Watership Down"

Got to watch films two days in a row! Epic.

Synoahpsis:

As wikipedia has graciously informed me, the name for this film, based on the classic children's novel, is taken from the real life destination of a group of rabbits fleeing their warren because of the warnings of a clairvoyant bunny named Fiver. Sensing an impending danger for all of his warren, Fiver and his brother Hazel go before the chief (yes, there are chief rabbits) to warn him. Promptly ignored, the two brothers round up a contingent of rabbits from the warren and flee from the Owsla, a sort of military caste, in search of a new home.

Encountering many dangers from Elihi, Howden (or something like that) and Dogs (no mythical name for dogs provided), the rabbits face a plethora of peril as the journey on. What's wonderful about the story is the rich use of mythology and intricate anthropomorphism throughout the film. It's no wonder that the book it's based on, something Kate's looking forward to reading, I'm sure, remains Penguin's best selling book to date.

The best bit:

The opening. From the beginning, you are entranced by the legend of creation of the world by Lord Frith and El-arairah, the prince of rabbits. The animation changes form a sort of cave drawing look when the modern day story of Hazel and Fiver's journey to realistic rabbits in beautiful english countryside starts– it makes for good retroactive appreciation.

Marks out of 10:

The plot is relatively uneventful, but the story is told quite well. I haven't read the book, but I expect that it would be amazing to read aloud. The pace at which it needs to be told for the sake of filmafying it detracts from what I suspect is a thumping good read. Also, I found myself thinking at several points "why am I watching a film about rabbits?" This might have been a good story for me when I was 7, but I found the film to be a bit dull, so 5.4.

Film 66: "Stand By Me"

Watching films is difficult. I just got back from America, where I failed to see any of the films I was gonna catch up on, but hey, there was a DVD from lovefilm in the post, and I had two hours in between meetings and prep, so I gave it a whirl.

Synoahpsis:

Basically, 4 kids hear about a dead body lying near the railway tracks some 30 miles away, and resolve to lie to their parents, take some camping stuff and walk there to see it. For some reason, I thought this was the source of the parody/film archetype of someone getting their foot stuck in some train tracks as a freight train comes raging forth, so I spent the whole movie waiting for someone to get hit. That didn't happen.

Instead, I got to see some really interesting character development happen as these 4 twelve-year-old boys embark on a grim yet joyus adventure. It was awesome to see them connecting in new ways, struggling together and coping with difficulties from their personal which parallel what happens to them in the adventure. Still waiting for that train though.

The best bit:

Probably the ending... starting from when they make it back home till when the credits roll. It wasn't mega happy, but it was good and it was exactly the way the film should have ended.

Marks out of ten:

For a fairly but not greatly interesting story interspersed with great dialogue, a fine ending and some harrowing moments throughout, I'd put the film at 7.5

Book 88: Emil and the Detectives, by Erich Kästner

I very much enjoyed this brief tale of a lad from the country town of Neustadt who goes by train to Berlin to visit his grandmother. Emil's mum sends him with some money for his grandma and warns him to be careful of it. But disaster strikes! Before he reaches Berlin, Emil's money is stolen from him. Desperate to get it back before he meets his grandmother, Emil turns detective. This is a very joyful childhood story in which the characters enjoy an implausible amount of freedom as they cavort about Berlin on a quest to bring justice. It has a promising title, and I wasn't disappointed.

Book 87: The Mennyms, by Sylvia Waugh

By the end of the first sentence I was confirmed in my sneaking suspicion that I had read this book before but just didn't remember the title. But Noah said that didn't count, so I read it again. I'm quite glad I did because it's a pretty good book, and I reckon this time around I was more aware of the character and relationship aspects of the tale than when I read it before.

First off, though, a note to Noah: don't read this book. You won't like it. In fact I'm not even sure if you'll like the review... and the reason is that it's a story all about life-size, bafflingly sentient, cloth-and-stuffing rag dolls. They even have button eyes (to which frequent reference is made). Naturally these beings - and especially blue-faced Soobie - find it difficult to mingle with the other residents of their town, instead electing to do everything by post and telephone (I think the internet would have had quite an impact on their mode of existence). All is well - until the letter arrives. It comes from Albert Pond, an Australian who has recently inherited ownership of the house they rent, and who is struck with a desire to visit England and to stay with his tenants. Boots, umbrellas, hoods and sunglasses serve as sufficient foils to recognition when out and about, but how can the Mennym family possibly avoid detection if a human being comes to stay? And then, in the very midst of this consternation, Soobie makes a deeply disturbing discovery up in the attic.

Raising questions about sentience, souls, God and creation, as well as issues of family, relationship and maturity, this was an enjoyable and compelling story with plenty in it to discuss. The only effect of having read it several years ago was a constant dim awareness of what was about to happen - and I honestly can't say whether that spoiled the story or not.

Book 86: Struwwelpeter, by Heinrich Hoffman (in English translation)

Read: Monday 15^th November 2010, snuggled up by the radiator in my room.

Review: A collection of cautionary tales for children, all totally politically correct and not remotely shocking or disturbing. Honest. They even rhyme.

I have endeavoured to work out who to credit as translator, but failed. The edition is by Dover Publications, USA.

Time: Five minutes? Maybe ten? This is a short book!

Book 85: White Fang, by Jack London

Read: November 2010

Review: At first, I have to confess, I found this book incredibly dull. Tis one of many with which, were it not for the challenge, I would have neglected to persevere. It is, after all, a book about a dog. Thankfully this dog is not anthropomorphised; his thoughts and feelings are described from a human point of view, but with constant reminders that he is, in fact, a dog. Or a wolf. Or something in between. The tale of White Fang, cub of one wolf and one half-wolf, born in the wild but taken in to the community of men at a young age, began to get interesting about a third of the way through. In spite of the overly liberal peppering (and frequent repetition) of moralistic and philosophical explanations, I enjoyed reading about the life of the wolf and how his different treatment at the hands of different people brings out the full variety of his character. The opening sequence, which lasts several chapters and is the only part of the book told from a human point of view, seemed irrelevant at first but, with hindsight, it has the effect of setting the scene, demonstrating the type of book this is to be, and providing us with some background knowledge of our protagonist and his lupine race. As the wolf’s character develops, reading about his exploits becomes more interesting. To me the parallels between wolf and human are only too obvious, as the widely different treatment recieved at the hands of White Fang’s three owners results in corresponding behaviour on the part of the animal. Interesting.

Film 65: "Jason and the Argonauts"

I finally got a film in! I'm SO busy these days. I finally have had a chance to watch a film as an engaged man... someone who's set to marry the most beautiful, loving and charming woman on this earth. What am I doing watching films??

Synoahpsis:

A romping good grecian adventure... this really old movie follows the story of Jason as he receives an command from the gods to quest for the fabled golden fleece- an item of great healing and defensive power rumored to be hanging from a tree on the other side of the world. Follow Jason as he talks his way into acquiring the finest ship in all Greece, the Argon, and assembling his crew from the strongest and most fearless greeks in all the land. With then without the help of the queen of the gods, Jason conquers bronze giants, captures tormenting harpies, sails under the armpit of Poseidon and much, much more.

I think Madea even comes up toward the end.

The best bit:

The bronze statue of Telos gets a little upset with Hercules and goes on a bit of a rampage. Even in this day and age, I still can't figure out how they made him look to convincing.

Marks out of ten:

I loved it at first, but the plot went to broad too quickly, and the film makers ruined their great progress in telling the story of Jason. Because they did so well with the effects... particularly for the time, I think they can be forgiven in part with a 6.9

Book 84: Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery

Read: On the way to and back from my weekend trip to Cambridge at the start of October half term

Review: At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book. The young protagonist failed to engage me; I'm not sure if it was because I was in a grumpy mood, but I was starting to think that, were "Anne with an e" present in reality, she would soon become exceedingly irritating. However, just like Marilla Cuthbert, I warmed to her as the book went along, and by the end of it I'd have said she was quite a likeable character. On the whole I enjoyed this harmless, fun tale of childish exploits in a very proper village in rural Canada.

Book 83: I'm the King of the Castle, by Susan Hill

Read: Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October.

Review: The only book this really reminded me of was Lord of the Flies. It's that kind of book. It deals with deep, dark, tormented childhood and adolescence, and the complete inability of some adults to understand that. It's hard to review this book because it deals with something so completely beyond my experience: two very different boys, growing up in parallel situations, one motherless, one fatherless, and both lacking anybody to love and understand them. When they are thrown together, completely against their will, and obliged to live in the same house, the tension and cruelty is unbearable. It's a bleak book! And I'm scared to admit that it may be an accurate portrayal of some people's childhoods.

Book 82: A Traveller in Time, by Alison Uttley

Read: I finished it on Friday, I think. Read this one in bed mostly, a little bit at a time.

Review: Penelope, the quiet youngest sister, is different from her siblings in that she sees people from the past. Not ghosts; rather, she is prone to unexpected transfers between her own time and another. Penelope's mother suspects that, like her grandmother, she may have "second sight". The logical way to deal with this is of course for her to be packed off to Thackers, the ancestral home where the family has lived for generations. Nobody ever finds out about Penelope's forays into the past; they are tinged with sadness as she becomes close to those she visits, yet with a lingering sensation of missing her family of her own time. The book is an interesting comparison between past and present - although 'present' seems to be some time in the 1800s - in fact one of my favourite aspects of the book was the way that the descriptions of contemporary life were decidedly archaic and some of the vocabulary even obscure.

Book 81: The Book of Dead Days, by Marcus Sedgwick

Read: Sunday 10th October, after church and a sunny stroll into town to have lunch with Noah.

Review: A dark tale, with its events mostly taking place at night, in graveyards and tunnels and small cramped spaces. A tale of desperate measures as Valerian, the apparently heartless and certainly troubled illusionist, seeks to avoid the mysterious dark fate he refuses to explain to his ill-treated famulus, known only as Boy. Full of clues and hints, and involving a definite change in the protagonist's character, I would rate this book as average-to-good. Certainly good enough to keep reading for a whole afternoon!

Time: About five hours, I guess. But I also made shortbread and did some work in that time. And spent ages frustrating at the internet because it wouldn't let me find out about eBook readers.

Book 80: Uncle, by J. P. Martin

Read: Between August and October, in amongst lots of other books. It's a lovely edition, which Claire and Matthew presented to me on the occasion of their getting married (and on account of my being a bridesmaid), and which was very much appreciated.

Review: This is one of those books where the author sets up a fantastically rich background - a wonderful world full of bizarre and interesting characters - but then sadly fails to do anything interesting with the setting. I understand that these were tales told to Martin's own children, and written down later in life. As such they make perfect sense: an ever-ready background for small-scale telling tales about Uncle, the distinguished elephant in the purple dressing gown, and his altercations with the crowd of miscreants living across the way at Badfort. Uncle's own residence, Homeward, is full of towers, oil lakes, underground railways and farms in unexpected places. I enjoyed the world Martin created, but be aware that this really is a selection of made up bedtime stories melded together into a sort of book. Light hearted and enjoyable, but you sort of feel like it's the kind of joke where you had to be there.

Book 79: My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell

Read: Another one that spanned a little while (though not quite as long as 17 years). I began this one shortly before leaving Scarborough, but then put it down for ages and only picked it up again once I'd taken up residence in the fine town of St Albans. Finished it last night!

Review: A pleasant mixture of natural history and family anecdotes, one or two of which had me laughing out loud for quite some time. I enjoyed this book - it felt warm and friendly to read and I was slightly disappointed when I finished it. Because it's a collection of anecdotes, this is the kind of book which you can easily put down for a week (or more) and then return to for another dose of gentle amusement. We hear of the lives of various members of the Durrell family as they depart England for the sunny climes of Corfu, where an exciting range of faunae - and an eclectic array of inhabitants - await their arrival. Most enjoyable. The kind of book one feels ought to be accompanied by a cup of tea and a slice of home-made cake.

Time: Who knows? I seem to have given up on this whole timing-myself-reading thing - probably because I no longer have enough spare minutes to spend reading books in a matter of hours. Alas.

Book 78: The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy M Boston

Read: I'll come to that later. But I did actually finish it a week or so ago - I apologise, Noah, for not posting the review sooner. It won't happen again! (Well, at least, I hope it won't; I blame too many episodes of The Office).

Review: I enjoyed this. I always enjoy books about children, but this one seemed to have a particularly good level of magic, innocence and uncertainty about reality in it. At one level it's a scary book - it is about ghosts - but at another level it's about how we form relationships. (Gosh I feel pretentious - I don't think I'm very good at reviewing books!) Anyway the story is of a seven year old boy named Tolly, left behind in England by father and stepmother, and going to spend Christmas in a huge old empty house with a great grandmother he has never seen before. His arrival - by boat, through a flooded garden - emphasises the strangeness of these new experiences, but Tolly soon becomes more familiar with the house and with its mysterious inhabitants.

Time: I think this has got to be the longest time it's ever taken me to read a book. I started it one evening when I was nine, but the description at the beginning of Feste, the ghost-horse, scared me so much that I hardly slept that night. I remember it quite vividly - everything was strange and black and yellow and I had to go in and wake up my mum and dad. The next morning when I woke up I was really poorly with hepatitis and stayed off school for nearly a month. And... I finished it some time last week. I'm glad to say that this time around I got away with just a cold, and haven't had to miss any days of school so far.

In total, then, I guess this one took me 17 years! (I did re-start it, though, and it only lasted me a few days - it was very good, and quite short).

Book 77: Coram Boy, by Jamila Gavin

Read: The first book to be started and finished in St Albans! I began it some time last week and finished the day before yesterday (when I ought to have been asleep for school).

Review: At the beginning, although the story was in some ways interesting, I didn't feel really grabbed by it and would happily have stopped reading had it not been a challenge book. In a way, though, I'm glad it was, because the second half was more engaging. In places very well-written, in other places less so, Coram Boy is kind of like an eighteenth-century August Rush, only more gruesome. The first few chapters deal with Meshak, an introverted lad deemed by those around him to be an "idiot". He tags along after his father, ostensibly a pedlar, but with a hand in a much deeper and darker trade. Suddenly, though, the story switches to tell us about the lives of Thomas and Alexander, two choirboys at Gloucester Cathedral - Thomas from a poor family in the back streets of Gloucester; Alexander from the luxurious country house of Ashbrook. But whilst penniless Thomas is free to follow the life he chooses, Alexander's exacting father demands that his son give up music the very day his voice breaks, in order to return home and learn to run the family estate. The second half of the book draws together all of these threads in the tale of two lads of the next generation, both living at the Coram hospital for the education of orphans, yet also both of very different backgrounds.

Time: Oh, ages. Nearly a week, I reckon. Even though I did read parts of it whilst walking from my house to Noah's! This teaching business is keeping me pretty busy doing other things (not to mention living in the SAME TOWN as my wonderful boyfriend!)

Book 76: Goodnight Mister Tom

Read: In America, over the summer. I don't remember the exact dates. This review is long overdue - sorry Noah!

Review: I think this is one of the best books I've ever read. Bear in mind that I read a lot of children's books, but I loved this one. It's so evocative of character, and the story drew me in just right, so that I wanted to read it all the time and not do anything else.
The story begins as William, evacuee, is deposited without ceremony on the doorstep of Tom, reclusive older gentleman who lives with Sammy the dog, and owns a horse, and generally doesn't get involved in the community. Willie, a filthy and cowering seven-year-old, covered in bruises, appears afraid of almost everything. From a grudging acceptance of his responsibility Tom gradually learns more and more about Willie - later Will - who in turn begins to speak, even to smile, and, shyly, to play with children from the village and other evacuees. As the plot progresses we learn where Will came from, discovering also the origins of Tom's apparent misanthropy. I'd spoil it if I tell you how I ended up feeling, but I heartily recommend this affecting story.

Time: Hmmm... again, I can't remember. Sorry! But I know I read a lot of it lying on my mattress in the blue room in Noah's house in Florida. I think I also read some in the sky.

Film 64: "Sahara"

Lazy day, take two.

Synoahpsis:

This turned out to be one of those big action explodey movies. Quite cool. The story here is that two treasure hunters venture to war-torn Mali in search of an American civil war iron iron ship they believe floated all the way there. They encounter a team of W.H.O. doctors investigating a mysterious plague which is taking the lives of hundreds of villagers all over remote regions of Western Africa. But with a private military seeking to eliminate the adventurers chasing them all over the deserts of the country, this plague seems to be more than meets the eye.

The best bit

The firing of a Civil War-era canon directly into an enemy Hewy gunship mid-air was awesome. The boat chase wasn't too bad either.

Marks out of ten: An unique plot rare in a block-busting ensemble of hollywood A-listers and special effects brought up the score of an otherwise predictable, contrived and unbelievable film... so I'm giving it a 5.5

Film 63: "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"

Woo! I finally got a day off the new job which means a chance to cut into the massive lead Kate's got. So let's review some Gilbert Grapeage.

Synoahpsis

This was a young, small town man's story of adversity, isolation, heartbreak and love starring Jonny Depp and Leonard DeCaprio. Growing up in the rural, middle American farming community of Endora, (I'm assuming Iowa) Gilbert hasn't experienced much of life outside of his home; he spends all of his time between providing for and attending to his morbidly obese home-bound mother, autistic younger brother and two sisters. In the opening lines of the film, Gilbert remarks that "Nothing much has ever happened in Endora, and nothing much ever will."

One pastime Gilbert does take part in is taking his younger brother, Artie, to watch the motorcade of trailers/caravans pass trough Endora on their annual pilgrimage across America. When one of the cars breaks down and is left behind, Gilbert meets a short-haired, free-spirited young woman who seems to take an interest in him. The story of the film is told over the 1-2 week period that the caravaners must wait to receive the order for their new part... and what a 1-2 week period it turns out to be.

The best bit:

Well, I'm never sure where to pick out the best parts of these emotional, touchy-feely moments. Gilbert is so overloaded with the pressures of caring for his brother and mother while yearning for independence and normality that the audience ends up just waiting for him to crack. It takes a very long time... rather than pick out a particular scene, I would say the best bit of the film is Depp's acting: you can see his building frustrations and disappointments building in his body language, expressions and actions throughout the film.

Marks out of 10: The story was very well told and did get to me in places. There's loads of character development happening, and it's highlighted by the progression of certain actions and developments in the film... try observing what's happening in Gilbert's life every time he lights a match. It will rock your world. I generally don't appreciate films set in bleak landscapes like the southwest of the states or the wheat fields of middle America, but it was still good enough to warrant a very solid 7.9

Book 75: Journey to the River Sea, by Eva Ibbotson

Read: Monday 16th - Wednesday 18th August
Review: I really enjoyed this tale of an orphaned girl who is taken out of school to go and live with some obscure relatives who are rubber planters in Brazil. Maia expects the exciting world of the Amazon to open out before her, with all its plants and animals and its mixture of exciting cultures. But when she arrives, in the care of the upstanding governess Miss Minton, things are not entirely as she expects. And then, who is the mysterious lost boy that detectives from England are searching for? And is it possible to make friends with the local Indians? Although some of the villains are implausibly villainous, and everybody's love for the protagonist seems a little exaggerated, I had fun reading this story, which deals with issues of freedom, the responsibilities of adults and the rights of children.
Time: Two days. Begun on the flight from Sacramento to Gainesville; finished at Noah's house in between a lot of swimming, thwarted attempts at sleeping - and a trip to the mall!

Book 74: The Box of Delights, by John Masefield

Read: Thursday 11th - Sunday 15th August

Review: Apparently I had read this book before (or had it read to me), but I don't remember that. I found it an engaging if at times implausible fantasy novel. I mean to say implausible even within the narrative framework, in the way of children going missing for several days (in 1950s Britain) without the matter attracting any apparent concern. But I enjoyed the book. It reminded me somewhat of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, partly I am sure on account of the snowy Christmas setting, the evil-threat-to-mankind theme, and the boy hero being entrusted by adult strangers with significant objects. I have to say that I think Susan Cooper better, but I did enjoy this tale, and it had some delightfully hilarious quotes - for example the following from Maria, a girl aged about eight: "Oh no... thanks. They know that I can look after myself. I've generally got a pistol or two on me and I'm a dead shot with both hands." Sadly Maria did not play a very major part in proceedings.

Time: Three days? In between all kinds of American gallivanting, including several over-large meals (of course), Taco Bell (!!!), swimming in the lake, and a visit to San Francisco.

Book 73: Kensuke's Kingdom, by Michael Morpurgo

Read: Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th August
Review: Another island adventure story! A touching and heartfelt tale of eleven-year-old Michael and how his life changes completely when his parents, both made redundant from their jobs, suddenly decide to buy a yacht and sail around the world together. Life aboard Peggy Sue is different and has its challenges - but they are nothing compared to what comes afterwards for Michael. Classic Michael Morpurgo.
Time: A day, or maybe a bit less. In between playing on the Wii, losing at Scrabble (Noah beats me at EVERYTHING), a bit of sleeping and going out for real American pancakes.

Book 72: The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke

Read: Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th August
Review: Brothers Prosper and Bo, aged 13 and 5, are on the run in Venice. Their somewhat mean aunt, Esther, wants to adopt Bo - but will have nothing to do with Prosper. She hires a private detective to search for the boys, who have become part of a small gang of street children living in an abandoned cinema under the protection of the Thief Lord. But when the mysterious Comte requests them to steal a peculiar item - and when Prosper and Bo are spotted by the detective - and when the Thief Lord's identity is revealed - things begin to get complicated. I enjoyed this story with its themes of childhood, adulthood, maturity and responsibility. The Venetian setting of the tale adds to the fun.
Time: About a day. Started on the plane; finished at Noah's mum's house in California. In between some much-needed sleeping and a drive through the beautiful Californian scenery. Oh, and a trip to a Mexican restaurant, where I had the hugest burrito I have ever seen. My tummy is still hurting. And I didn't even finish it!

Book 71: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Read: Started on a boat, continued in a tent, finished on a plane. Read between July 24th and August 9th.
Review: The classic tale of woe and shipwreck, shift and survival, disaster and disquisition. Robin Crusoe, a young man of Yorkshire, goes utterly against his family's counsel by going away to sea. A series of misadventures fails to dissuade him from further voyaging, and thus he finds himself so famously washed up alone on a remote and apparently deserted island. The book gives a detailed account of the practicalities of his survival, interwoven with the philosophical and theological reflections occasioned by such an exile.
Time: This took me ages! About three weeks I think. Summer is busy! I've read lying on a bunk aboard Lustre, by torchlight in my tent at Soul Survivor, in the loft at Claire's house in between tying bows for wedding-related items and finally on yesterday's (really rather luxurious) flight from Heathrow to Philadelphia. I find it appropriate that I began this adventursome tome aboard a boat and finished it high up in the sky.

Book 70: The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall

Read: During July really. I can't remember exactly when I started, but I think I finished it on July 31st. It was read mainly in the car and on the train.
Review: Chas, just like everyone else in his class, is keen to collect 'war souvenirs': bullets, helmets, bits of aeroplane - especially anything with writing or symbols on. But when he finds an entire German plane crashed in the woods, with the machine gun still attached, things begin to get a little out of hand. I didn't entirely enjoy the beginning of this book, but the story drew me in and by the end I would agree with the comments on the back, which describe it as an interesting exploration of wartime themes for both adults and children.
Time: I guess this one took me a couple of weeks, but only cos I was so busy in between! I read it on the way down south, even reading in the car a bit, until we stopped for a surprise birthday youth hostelling trip! (I was surprised! And it was fun). Then I had a break during Harriers (I started Robinson Crusoe instead - it felt more appropriate to read that on a boat) and finished it in my tent on the first night I was at Soul Survivor (whilst the others danced the night away in Mr Boogies - or, in Noah's case, fell asleep in the cinema).

Book 69: The Thieves of Ostia, by Caroline Lawrence

Read: Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st July. My 14th challenge book.
Review: Flavia, adept at solving life's small mysteries (such as the whereabouts of a missing ring) is rescued from a pack of wild dogs by her new neighbour, a boy called Jonathan. He and his father Mordecai and sister Miriam have different beliefs from the Romans surrounding them. But can Jonathan, along with the slave Nubia and the wild boy Lupus, help Flavia to solve her first criminal mystery? The competent storyline of this children's mystery is augmented by a sub-plot of friendship and responsibility and themes of language, communication and belief.
Time: Two days. In between going to see India in her Year 6 show (Troy Story - it was good - well done Indy!); visiting Grandma and Grandad and going on a trip to a garden centre with very competent soup and an impressive (metal) ostrich and (living) peacock; and driving back to Scarborough to pack up the rest of my belongings. That's it. This will be my last review as a resident of Yorkshire!

Film 62: "Star Wars" Episodes I-VI (6/6 reviewed)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away...

REVIEW WARS

Actually, it's just me looking at Star Wars. I can't actually review it, because it seems that everyone's seen it, loves it, knows all about it, and any attempt to review it would be but a silly attempt to squeeze something new out of one of the oldest pillars of modern society.

I'll just write something short.

Reviewed in chronological order of the film's release date.

Synoahpsis, "Episode IV: A New Hope":

The special effects may seem a bit cheesy now, but when I thought about the fact that this film predates CGI and animation programs, it's actually quite staggering. From the opening shot of the Federation cruiser, to the battle over the small moon that is the Death Star, the film now and has always had an epic feel.

Kudos Mr. Lucas for making something that awesome.

The best bit:

I just can't help but love the high speed fight between the rebels and the Federation fighters through the trenches of the Death Star. It just make you feel good about life.

Marks out of 10: I'm I allowed to give it anything other than a 10??? Well... yes: amazing effects, fun story, and a great creation of a world you dare to dream actually existed, but there's not much other than some fun battles going on, so 8.9

Synoahpsis, "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back":

The title promises a strike back of the Empire and Strike back it does! This is a grand follow-up to the already huge-scale space epic that was "A New Hope". Taking you from the rebel base on frozen wasteland of Hoth, racing through asteroid fields, trudging through the swamps of the great Jedi master and fighting to the death in the city in the sky, this film is a worthy sequel to Lucas' spacey design.

I wonder if they made these films all at once, like with "Lord of the Rings" or if they decided to follow up Episode IV with Episode V because it grossed so much in the box office. Seeing as how the film makers continue to weave an intricate story throughout the multifaceted universe of "Star Wars", and also how the special effects seems to have gotten even more complicated, I'm sure the movies must have been produced in the full knowledge of each other.

Anyway, fun film... the series of events were a lot more interesting to keep up with than with the last one. More intense acting and some worthwhile character development happening, so good times. I would only complain that Yoda, after growing up with all of the Yoda hype and film references, particularly to the way he speaks, turned out to be a little disappointing. I don't think that's the film's fault though.

The best bit:

Seeing the Rogue squadron fly around and through the legs of the Imperial walkers to trip them up with some tow rope was a lovely experience.

Marks out of 10: Being faithful to the level of jaw-dropping special effects as the first film with the addition of some interesting plot twist brings this film's score up to a 9.3

Synoahpsis, "Return of the Jedi":

This too, was awesome. I think that I ought to just go and see films whenever people stand, mouths agape at the fact that I haven't seen them yet.

Luke and Leia travel back to Tatoine (spelling on that one?) to find a carbonite-bound Solo in the custody of big bad Jabba in order to bust him out. Some fighting happens, and the group goes off to stop the Empire from completing their work on the new replacement death star. Luke learns that in order to finish his training, he must face his father (or maybe that happened in the last one too... I'm confused now). But again, awesome big-scale effects, and a darn good time.

I wasn't a fan of the Ewoks though. I don't think a primitive race of cuddly, moon-dwelling teddy bears would last very long in this particular galaxy.

The best bit:

I loved and hated the big chase on the hovery motorbikes through the forest. I kept looking away because I thought any second someone was going to whack into a massive tree (I wasn't disappointed). There haven't been too many scenes in the history of film that can make me turn away from the screen... well scenes without Hugh Grant in them anyway.

Marks out of 10: Loved the film, but not quite up there with the last one. Great ending though. 8.9

Episode I "The Phantom Menace" - Watched Prior to Challenge

Synoahpsis: "Attack of the Clones"

You know how some movies are more of a bridge between good films rather than a story in it's own right? Attack of the Clones did have some good moments, but it was more of a building block between Episodes I and III than anything else.

Tensions are mounting as the separatists build up an increasingly powerful droid army. Palpatine wants the Republic to breed a clone army, for he fears the Jedi are no longer powerful enough to keep the peace, or so he says. Other folks aren't so sure. Meanwhile, Obi Won is sent to investigate the attempts on the life of Senetor Amidalla (or is she Padmé)? His search for the bounty hunter Jengo Fet takes him to a mysterious planet which has been removed from the Jedi council's archive.

There, he discovers some not boring things. Anakin, on the other hand, has a more personal struggle throughout the film- he's loved Padmé for years, and now that he's assigned as her personal body guard, can he fight his feeling, for the Jedi can't know love.

The best bit:

I know people hated having to wait ages and ages to finally see Yoda whip out his light saber and go to town, only to not win, but I still found it awesome seeing that little green dude flying around like a monkey.

Marks out of 10:

I don't think this is anyone's favorite Star Wars. I did like it. It was entertaining, fun effects for the most part and a very necessary transition. Worth a watch, but not worth seeing twice. 6.3

Synoahpsis: "Revenge of the Sith"

Now we're talking. By the end of the last film, the senate voted emergency powers to Chancellor Palpatine, who ok'd the creation of the clone army (dressed in storm trooper gear) and the clone war has begun. Anakin and Padmé, on the other hand, just got married (oooo.... he's not meant to do that) and are living a life of secrecy. Palpatine has also taken quite a shine to Anakin, and has appointed him to the Jedi council as his representative (much to the Jedi masters' displeasure), but refusing him the rank of master leaves Anakin feeling untrusted.

Power hungry and afraid of his premonitions of loosing his wife coming to fruition, Anakin pledges his allegiance to the teachings of Palpatine, who is actually the sith Lord Sidious. Fighting, phasers, saber fights and drama ensues and Obi Won and Padmé try to keep Anakin from slipping ever further toward the dark side.

The best bit:

There was definitely a lot of cool stuff in this one. Obi Won taking down general Grevious was fun stuff... two guys fighting with 5 light sabres. What's not to love?

Marks out of 10:

You do wonder how someone so cute and pod racery can become the world's favorite super villan, and this film does an amazing job of showing Anakin's slow and steady decay into the dark side. The interactions between him and the other Jedi are quite good, particularly his relationship with Obi Won throughout the film, culminating in the final battle on the volcanic planet which looked a bit too cartoony. Good stuff though. 7.8

Book 68: The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Read: Sunday 18th and Monday 19th July. This is the 13th book I've read since starting.

Review: It's hard to review a book you've heard so many people talk about. I liked it, I mean I really liked it. It killed me, if you know what I mean. I found that I could empathise with the narrator, Holden, and his feelings of depression and dissatisfaction. The actual story as written takes place over about three days, but a lot that happens before then is cleverly woven in. Although in some ways this is a very sad book it has brief glimpses of brightness. I very much enjoyed it. It was easy to read, too. But I'm finding it hard to write a review that its protagonist would not consider 'phony'!

Time: I guess this was about two days. In between, we went to church, climbed Roseberry Topping (photos to come) and had a most pleasant day out in Whitby.

Book 67 (the twelfth): Cirque du Freak, by Darren Shan

Read: Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July
Review: Not my kind of book at all! Full of gore and vampire lore; the only bit I liked was the astonishing performing spider. But I did like the way the book treated the vampire myth more seriously than some films I've heard of. It's framed as a real-life account of two boys and their dealings at the Cirque du Freak with Mr Crespley who, Steve instantly realises, is a vampire. Darren doesn't want to believe it, but the evidence is too great. He is horrified to hear Steve challenging the vampire - and then begging to become his assistant! But Mr Crespley declines. A series of unfortunate events bring Darren into the necessity of further consultation with the creepy Mr Crespley. And what choices can Darren now make? How can the story end? This tale is well thought-out, and well told too, in the style of a thirteen-year-old-boy. Just... not really my kind of book.
Notes: Noah, this is the prequel to The Vampire's Assistant. I'd guess the film people put the two books together then took the inferior title, because it has the word 'vampire' in it. And, you know, audiences might not realise what it was about otherwise.
Time: About 24 hours, in between spending a nice day at the seaside with Lukie, Mum and Dad, having tea and cake and fish and chips, and trying some most delicious liquorice flavour fudge!

Book 66 (the eleventh): Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot

Read: In pieces over several days (it is a book of poems, after all)
Review: I particularly enjoyed the metre and rhyme of these poems - they'd be fun ones to recite aloud, and I was pleased to catch my first ever sight of the word "prestidigitation" in published literature. The subject matter is, naturally, cats; the poems each describe a particular cat and his or her peculiarities. I think my favourite poem was Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat, but I also rather enjoyed Macavity: The Mystery Cat.
Time: Ages! Almost a week! Reading one or two poems at a time, in between prose reading, and about a million other activities. Life is busy!

Film 61: "Romancing the Stone"

Aww, this one was just lovely. The plot was a little predictable, but for all I know, this is because so many film makers have replicated the story since. Here's a lovely summary...

Synoahpsis:

Joan Wilder is a cat-loving romance novelist who, after receiving a strange parcel in the post one morning, returns home later that day to find her apartment ransacked... a ransacking most foul. She receives a phone call from her sister, informing her she's been taken hostage in Columbia (dun, dun, dunnnnn). Joan must travel there in order to exchange a treasure map (then contents of her strange parcel) for her sister's life.

In Columbia, Joan gets into a bus crash in the jungle on her way to the exchange and discovers that the Columbian police are interested in her treasure map as well. As a police officer tries to take the map by force, a mysterious, rifle-wielding, man emerges from the jungle and saves her. The man agrees to take Joan to a phone, for a fee (which she just does not like at all), and the two begin their run together from Columbian police, kidnappers, and general bad guys through the rainforest.

The man convinces her to search for the item referred to on the map... a treasure known as El Corazón. They get the huge stone, keep running from the bad dudes, get Joan's sister back, and escape with their lives. Joan and the rifle-wielding guy go their separate ways after loosing the stone to a hungry alligator. Good thing he really liked her, because he eventually found the stone, bought a giant sail boat and took it back to Joan's place (along with his new alligator skin boots). The two sailed off happily together, their boat (sails hoisted) atop a truck in NYC.

The best bit:

100% had to be when the alligator jumped up out of the water and bit off the hand of the Columbian chief-malefactor just after he got ridiculously the big jewel.

Marks out of 10: A bit cheesy, predictable, but fun 6.3

Film 60: The James Bond Series (5 of 21 reviewed)

Films. The James Bond films. Yes... All of them.

I have to watch all the Bond films. 22 films resulting in the $4.8 billion franchise that is the 007 series. To my credit, I've already seen "Casino Royale", and I've played the video game Goldeneye, but I don't think that counts. I shall be reviewing these 21 remaining films in whatever order I receive them from Lovefilm, but they will appear chronologically on this here blog, in case you're interested.

Off we go!

Synoahpsis, "Dr. No"

The highly entertaining first installment of the Bond series kicks off with a murder most foul in Kingston, Jamaica. It quickly becomes apparent that some sort of fiendish plot is afoot.

Basically, this Chinese/German guy called Dr. No (who dresses very much like Dr. Evil, but I'm guessing it's the other way around), has been shooting out some radiation and interfering with NASA's rockets launching from Cape Canaveral. This all has something to do with world domination, I'm sure, but I wasn't clear on how the good doctor planned on doing that one.

So good old Jimmy sneaks onto Dr. No's secret and very off-limits island to find out what the dealio is, there upon meeting a shell-seeking Bond girl who doesn't like strangers. Bond eventually woos the girl, establishing the pattern to follow in subsequent films, I'm sure, and causes the radioactive rocket-interfering secret base to blow up along the way.

It was fairly fun to watch, but not that much actually seemed to happen in the film, and it could have done with a slightly more elaborate plot. As the first one of Ian Fleming's books to be put onto the silver screen, it was a good start.

The best bit:

The car chase on the Jamaican back roads between James, in his cool little roadster, and three guys pretending to be blind driving a herse and shooting at him. Bond does some fancy driving, causing his pursuers to veer of the side of a cliff, tumbling down and exploding, as ya do. A bystander asks what happened, to which the smug Bond replies "They were on the way to a funeral."

Marks out of 10: 5.0

Synoahpsis, "From Russia with Love"

This one was loads more fun. It had real cold war Russians in it and everything... even one of those cat-stroking faceless evil supervillans!!

a grand chess master working for SPECTRE devises a plot so thick, it just might get audiences everywhere to watch it. They set up a trap for the British Secret Service... particularly for their expereinced 00 operative, James Bond. What's the bait? The trap itself – knowing full well that British Intelligence see traps as challenges.

Anyway, Bond must extract a Russian dissident and a cutting edge decoder machine from the Russian consulate in Istanbul, but is there more to this woman than meets the eye? Well... yeah... it wouldn't really be a Bond film, otherwise.

The best bit:

The tense exchange aboard a sleeper carriage bound for Trieste between Bond and the highly trained SPECTRE operative sent to kill him.

Marks out of 10: A huge improvement over the last film in terms of story line, effects, action sequences and more warrants a solid 6.5

Synoahpsis: "You Only Live Twice"

This one was quite fun. I won't be spoiling anything by reveling that Bond dies in this film. Well, not really, but right at the start, we see him get assassinated and receive a hero's burial at sea, but he's not dead at all! Oh no... in fact, he's more alive than ever, and he's off to uncover the evil plot behind a U.S. spacecraft being mysteriously abducted whilst orbiting our fair blue planet.

This film also contains ravenous piranha, so look out for that one when you open the DVD case.

The best bit:

The flight of "Little Nelly", Bond's helicopter which folds apart and stows neatly into 4 large suitcases. Bond takes to the skies in this tiny helicopter loaded with guns and air -to-air missiles, only to find himself, not surprisingly, in the midst of a fierce dogfight with 4 baddies over the Japanese isles.

Marks out of 10:

For special effects and the inventiveness of the gadgets, as well as a quite amusing and hopefully farfetched plot line, I'd give this one a 6.2.

Synoahpis: "Moonraker"

This one was a little crazy. A space shuttle is on loan from the USA to Britain only to be hijacked in transit... from the top of a flippin plane. What follows is Bond's whirlwind, globe-hopping adventure all over the world to track down the missing shuttle, Moonraker.

Cut a long story short, he finds the spacecraft and uncovers a truly and fantastically diabolical plot to kill all humans on earth with a crazy nerve gas... but you know... Bond stops it from happening, so cool beans.

The best bit

No question... the massive fight in space between the U.S. space soldiers (which I'm sure are training at some undisclosed location even now) and the private malitia of the Drax corporation. There were way too many lasers, and it basically looked like the big fight out of Star Wars Episode IV.

Marks out of 10:

This one was very farfetched and way, way too cheesy. 4.0.

Synoahpsis, "Quantam of Solace":

So I went from watching the very 1st Bond film to the very last straight away, and I must say, there is a difference. The film opens with the same old hugely long credit sequence set to a backdrop of silhouetted women dancing about with bullets firing about in slow motion, so good stuff.

This was one of them globe-trotting, fast paced, action blockbusters, and a thumping ok one at that! Right from the get-go, we see Bond in a car chase in Italy, though we, the concerned audience, have no idea what's going on... and we don't care: there's a car chase! Guns! Aston Martins! Explosions! Who needs a story??

Basically, Bond uncovers the plot of a frighteningly embedded secret organization to control the world's resources by overthrowing governments, establishing dictatorships, wheeling and dealing in oil and land with big Western governmental bodies and all sorts of things. Bond and the Bond girl work to uncover the scheme, chase down the baddies and save the day for the people of Bolivia, fighting baddies, upsetting MI6 bosses, evading explosions and possibly even forge a deep and lasting friendship along the way.

The film was entertaining but a little disappointing, especially in light of Craig and the writers falling well short of the bar they set themselves in "Casino Royale".

The best bit:

It's a toss up between Bond's aviation talents whilst fleeing for his life from a trigger-happy fighter plane above the deserts of Bolivia and the big boat chase sequence through the busy harbor of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

Marks out of 10: 7.0

Book 65 (the tenth): Holes, by Louis Sachar

Read: Friday 16th July (and a bit in the earliest part of Saturday 17th, when I really should have been asleep).

Review: I enjoyed this modern-day fairy tale about a boy named Stanley, his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather, the notorious outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow and the mysterious Madame Zeroni. Accused of stealing the famous Clyde Livingstone's own baseball shoes, Stanley is sent to the correctional facility that is Camp Green Lake. It's an accurate name, except that nothing is green. And there is no lake. Every day, each boy in the camp is forced to dig one hole, exactly five feet deep and five feet in circumference. Ostensibly the reason is that the activity is character-building - but Stanley begins to suspect that the Warden may have a hidden agenda. The different threads of this narrative are competently woven together to make for an interesting, enjoyable read. As for whether Stanley's character is improved - you'll have to make that judgement for yourself.

Time: About 17 hours, but with lots of time in the middle spent on a fun day out to Helmsley and Pickering (both excellent castles). We also visited an amazing cafe in Pickering which was full of all kinds of astonishing confections, and where I sampled the most delicious hot chocolate I have ever tasted. Probably.

Book 64 (the 9th): The Kite Rider, by Geraldine McCaughrean

Read: Listened, actually, to an (unabridged) audiobook, on Tuesday 13th, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th July.

Review: The wonderfully gripping, very well-told tale of Haoyou, a lad living in China under the Song Dynasty. The story begins with a harrowing description of the death of Gou Pei, Haoyou's father, at the hands of the mean and merciless first mate of the ship he is a sailor on. Di Chou forces Pei to drink large amounts of rice wine and then ties him to a kite, which is flown high in the sky as the ship's wind tester. This apparently is a superstitious custom observed before any voyage sets sail. When Pei does not survive the flight, the horrified Haoyou runs to tell his mother; he is further shocked and enraged when Di Chou attends the funeral, and offers to become his mother's new husband. The tale continues in a series of unexpected twists and turns as Haoyou and his duty-defying cousin, Mipeng, seek to evade first Di Chou and subsequently an escalating series of unpleasant people and events, culminating in a stand-off with Kublai Khan himself. Full of emotion, sometimes harrowing, and with moments of hilarity, this is a masterful tale of duty and destiny, superstition and belief, weather and luck, elephants and Mongols and kites. Definitely the best book so far! Read it!

Audiobook: I also really enjoyed Anton Lesser's excellent narration.

Time: Seven hours, six minutes and 58 seconds! Although my listening was spread over several days; it mainly occurred in the car on the way to and back from my trip down to Harpenden, where I spent two days in my new school, met my class, spoke to the parents, did a cover lesson, and got to know my way around.

Film 59: "The Lord of the Rings" (Trilogy)

This one was quite fun to do as it was own little side-challenge. Kate and I were discussing the three "Lord of the Rings" films shortly after I obtained the extended editions of each film. I posited that it would be rather difficult to watch all of them in a single day, and Kate, quite naturally, challenged me to do so.

What are the stakes of this side-challenge, I hear you online film aficionados asking... only a free ice cream from Cold Stone (just as soon as Kate and I get to the States, that is)!!! 12.5 hours, 4 snack breaks and 6 toilet trips later, the challenge was done.

Kate should have known better.

Synoahpsis, "The Fellowship of the Ring":

The first of the three installments of this saga had me absolutely riveted from very start. Actually, that's a lie; I've fallen asleep during all 4 of my previous attempts to see this movie. This time, I was considerably more interested in the film, especially as there was so much at stake. Knowing my propensity to loose interest in the realm of Middle Earth, I thought it would be best to try to really keep up and delve into Tolkein's world. I therefore switched on the subtitles, and followed the progress of the story according to my map of Middle Earth on the back of my DVD case.

Suddenly, it all made sense. I found that, with a bit of scope and geographical awareness, it was much easier to get into the story, and I ended up loosing myself in the film.

The first part of the adventure begins with Frodo getting a super creepy ring from old Bilby. The tall and eventually shiny guy tells him it's sort of a big deal, and he's now being hunted down for his new bling, and he needs to leg it before the baddies get there. The adventure begins.

To make a long story unjustifiably short, 4 short dudes, an eventually shiny guy, a garden gnome (but not in a garden), one of Santa's helpers, and to tall chaps with swords all set out from the North pole to throw the ring in the fires of Mt. Doom because Royal Mail didn't exist yet. They battle some evil guys, get about halfway there and disband. Roll credits.

I should have done this review before watching the other two films, because, in light of them, this whole film was just 3 hours of exposition for some good times to follow.

The best bit:

The whole film is a glowing example of epic cinematography and amazing story-telling. My favorite scene would have to be whole of the passing through the mines of Moria. From the reading of the dwarves journal to the plummet of Gandalf, It was one of those edge-of-your-seat bits of the story.

Marks out of 10: 7.1

Synoahpsis, "The Two Towers":

Ah, this was a lovely bit of film now. The fellowship's interests have been divided. There's the obvious tossing of the ring to be considered, but the kingdom of Rohan gets all attacked and whatnot, but their possessed king, Theoden, didn't seem too helpful. The whole of Edoras has to be moved to Helm's Deep for fear of obliteration from the orcs armies of Mordor, and that's just not fun for anyone. I don't remember how Merry and Pippin end up going to the forest of Fangorn, but the ents are awesome. Pretty much from the moment you meet the giant tree dudes, you want them to join the fight against Sarumon (whose name seems far too close to Sauron for coherence, I mean, c'mon J.R.) but this takes a while.

You would have thought that when Frodo and Sam get to the black gate that the series would have to be nearly over, but hey, it's only the halfway point. Anyway, there's a big battle that happens, humans win (score), Isengard falls to some flooding (which seems like it wouldn't take an army of trees to accomplish... maybe just some fireworks?) and Frodo gets even closer to Mordor with the help of Gollum/Smeagol, so everyone's happy.

Oh, and the eventually shiny guy turns up after a battle with a dragon or something like that all shiny now, which I think is more flattering. I still need to clear some points up about the shininess with Kate before too much time goes by.

The best bit:

While the battle for Helm's Deep was pretty epic indeed, it wasn't my favorite part. I enjoyed everything that happened in Fangorn really... it looked like a lovely forest to be in, and the slow meeting conducted in Entish reminded me of many a church meeting in the past!

Marks out of 10: 9.2

Synoahpsis, "The Return of the King":

Almost there! This film, 4 hours long as an extended edition, pretty much dwarfed all of the other movies and battles put together in scale. By the time I got to this film, I knew where everything was, thanks to my handy map of Middle Earth, and I appreciated the story line thickening up a bit with the addition of Boromir's family history.

I love when filmmakers know you know the films they've made. The opening of the film saw Smeagol murdering his brother over the ring of power... a nice little detail you don't pick up in the other films. This is odd, but not uncharacteristic of Gollum. His story is so intertwined with the ring's that it's very fitting that the beginning of the series and the end of the ring heavily involve him. Starting the film out this way just sort of echoes the ring's violent nature and brings in tension to the story of Frodo, Sam and Gollum, which gets the most screen time in this film.

Anyway, Helm's Deep turns out to be fine. The folks at Mordor don't like that, so why not attack Mina Tirith? Story lines build and converge on this huge battle, which, I'm happy to say, the goodies win (sorry for the spoiler). Oh, and Frodo, minus one finger, does manage to get rid of the ring, so woo!

Then some confusing things happen in a series of scenes which make it look like the film is about to end (something that can be very frustrating in the 11th hour and 49th minute of watching the series), but end it does. I think I still have to have a proper chat with Kate about boats, but it was a nice end to an amazing tale.

I can't believe I've been so hard on or at least ambivalent about these films. There is so much detail in the story that I want to actually read the books (someday), and so much work put into production that I want to check out other films directed by Peter Jackson. Good thing King Kong is on my list!

The best bit:

There were so many it's hard to choose, but I really did like seeing Sam rescue Frodo from the top of a tower in the middle of Mordor. Watching that scene start, I actually said aloud "Now how the heck is Frodo gonna get out of that one?" It did seem a bit unlikely that Sam would have been able to get up so quickly and so lacking in flesh wounds, but good for him.

Marks out of 10: 9.1

Book 63: Redwall, by Brian Jacques

Read: My 8th book, read between Sunday 11th and Wednesday 14th July
Review: An irritatingly engaging, too-safe children's fantasy novel about Matthias (a mouse) and his quest to defend Redwall - the mouse abbey, sheltering an assortment of innocent woodland creatures - against a vicious band of marauding rats. Full of quick quarrels implausibly resolved, 'somehows' and the odd loose end; overshadowed by a feeling of unbroachable ultimate safety for our protagonist, no matter what scrapes he gets himself into; yet, for some reason, once I'd got about a third of the way through, strangely compelling - almost enjoyable.
Time: By far the longest yet - three days! In my defence, those three days were also spent at church, having an afternoon at the castle and on the beach with mum and dad, packing up almost all of my belongings, loading them into the car, driving to Harpenden, staying the night with total strangers and spending my first ever day in my new school.

Film 58: "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"

So here it is... my first review– a lovely little milestone on the majestic road leading to Kate's swift and merciless defeat. What better way to start this venture than with a Disney movie?

Synoahpsis:

"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is a lovely little story set in the turmoil of 1940s England. Like the start of so many wartime family films, we see the city dwelling children, our protagonists, being ripped from their families and evacuated to the safety of the English countryside whereupon a witch is found. The kids and their magical hostess quickly get over their differences and begin a lovely whirlwind adventure for a spell which the witch played by "Murder she Wrote" star Angela Lansbury needs to aid in the war effort. Hilarity and creative problem-solving ensue.

I quite enjoyed the film. I normally don't like the sort of films which are partially animated (ya know, like "Pete's Dragon" or "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" sort of thing, but I was pleased with this one. I still haven't worked out whether Nazis would have carried row boats on their submarines or not, but I'll leave that question to the historians of the world.

The best bit:

Definitely the comically violent animated soccer game refed by Mr. Banks of "Marry Poppins".

Marks out of 10: 5.8

The Book List

I'm slowing up! That's the problem with having to pack all your stuff in between doing exciting holiday activities like going for walks and swimming in the sea: reading time is dramatically reduced. I haven't been on a train for five whole days!

Anyway, in the meantime, I've got a list of books I still need to acquire. If you have a copy of any of these books... please lend it to me! Email me, text me, send the book by carrier pigeon - get it to me somehow! (Otherwise, Noah might win - and then he'd be able to make pretensions to claiming that films have a modicum of superiority over books, which we all know to be fallacious).

The books:

Richard Adams, Watership Down

Lucy M. Boston, The Children of Green Knowe

Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 2. Absolute Zero

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 3. Bagthorpes Unlimited

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 4. Bagthorpes Versus the World

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 5. Bagthorpes Abroad

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 6. Bagthorpes Haunted

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 7. Bagthorpes Liberated

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 8. The Bagthorpe Triangle

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 9. Bagthorpes Besieged

Helen Cresswell, The Bagthorpe Saga: 10 Bagthorpes Battered

Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy

Cornelia Funke, Thief Lord

Jamila Gavin, Coram Boy

Rumer Godden, The Black Narcissus

James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small

Susan Hill, I’m the King of the Castle

Heinrich Hoffman, Struwwelpeter

Brian Jacques, Redwall

Erich Kastner, Emil and the Detectives

Edward Lear, Complete Nonsense

Jack London, White Fang

Michelle Magorian, Goodnight Mr Tom

J. P. Martin, Uncle

J. P. Martin, Uncle Cleans Up

J. P. Martin, Uncle and His Detective

J. P. Martin, Uncle and the Treacle Trouble

J. P. Martin, Uncle and Claudius the Camel

J. P. Martin, Uncle and the Battle for Badgertown

Geraldine McCaughrean, Kite Rider

Spike Milligan, A Children’s Treasury of Milligan: Classic Stories and Poems

L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Jenny Nimmo, The Snow Spider

Marcus Sedgwick, The Book of Dead Days

Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

Sylvia Waugh, The Mennyms

Kaye Webb, I Like this Poem: Favourite Poems Chosen by Children

Robert Westall, The Machine Gunners

Kit Wright, Hoping it Might Be So: Poems 1974-2000

Book 7 (or 62): The Iron Man, by Ted Hughes.

Notes: I need to change my labelling system so it matches up with Noah's. Otherwise, how would we be able to tell that I was ahead? I started with 1 as my first book in the competition. But of course, I had already read many of the 100 books on my list. I therefore jump ahead by 55 (the number I'd already read), making my Book 1 into Book 56, and this, Book 7, into Book 62. The only flaw with this system is that some list items contain more than one book or film. 'The Bagthorpe Saga' by Helen Cresswell, for example, in fact contains ten books. To solve this problem, I'll use letters when a list item is more than one book. So without further ado...

Book 62: The Iron Man, by Ted Hughes

Read: Saturday 10th July, in between tidying my flat, starting to do some packing and welcoming my parents, who have come to visit.
Review: "The Iron Man came to the top of the cliff. How far had he walked? Nobody knows. Where had he come from? Nobody knows. How was he made? Nobody knows." As poetic a tale as one might expect from Ted Hughes, which raises some interesting questions about purpose, belonging and acceptance. This book seems to me to ask a lot of questions without really answering any of them - but at the end I felt the peace described in the space-bat-angel-dragon's eerie singing. And that, I've always thought, is the sign of a good story.
Time: I guess about eleven hours. Breaks for sorting, tidying, packing, food, a quick trip into Scarborough to buy parcel tape, a walk on Filey Brigg, and a decidedly bracing evening swim in the North Sea followed by hot chocolate.