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!