Book 7 of the 50 Book Challenge

Cat Confidential by Vicky Halls, 326 pages

Started February 7th, finished February 11th.

This is another re-read.  An essential one as we have 2 new cats in the house.  Very timid cats.  I am not into 'Pet Whispering' and was very dubious about this book when my mum first recommended it to me about 5 years ago.  However when I lost the cat I had at the time I was devastated and read the chapter on 'Coping with Bereavement'.  It was very informative.  This led to me reading the entire book over a few days.

I am so glad I chose not to ignore it.  This isn't a book about counselling your cat.  It's a book about understanding why your cat behaves as it does and how you can help a cat behaving as it shouldn't.  On the whole it's a great sensible book which makes you take a step back from your assumptions.  Assumptions all cat owners have.  I've yet to meet a cat owner who isn't surprised by the logical way at least one of their assumptions is explained to be wrong in the book.

The author is a cat lover herself who aims to get us to stop anthropomorhising our cats.  They aren't human and though there are occasional similarities they are very different beasts!  The books is full of case studies to help illustrate the points raised.  These made me laugh, cry and look at myself.  It's nice to find a very helpful informative book that is a joy to read.  My only quibble is her use of homeopathy.  In her defense she doesn't claim any scientific evidence.

I'd thoroughly recommend this book to any cat owner.  You may be seeing one or two more of her books on here as we try to give our cats the best home possible.

4.5 pawprints out of 5

Total so far, Books - 7, Pages - 2,147

Next - Vendetta by Michael Dibdin

Book 6 of the 50 Book Challenge

Cross of Iron by Willi Heinrich, 478 pages

Started January 27th, finished February 7th.

This one is a re-read but the first reading was a long time ago.

Another one that's been hanging around the 'to read' pile with intent.  So I decided it was to come on holiday with me.  I didn't read half as much whilst away as I meant to but I did get into this book.

As well as having read the book I'd also seen the film.  My incredible sieve of a memory had left me with only a vague memory of events.  I found the writing style took a little time to get into but not enough to put me off.  It's a fascinating look at life on the other side of WWII.  I have no idea how accurate the tale is but as the author fought for Germany on the Eastern Front, in the division described in the novel, I'm assuming it's pretty close to the truth.  It tells the same story as other books on war that I've read.  War is a horrible experience.  The interesting thing is the similarities to be found in people the world over.  No matter what 'side' they are on.

I can't say the book is enjoyable but that's solely the fault of the subject matter.  I'll be keeping the book and will probably come back to it in the future at some point.

3.5 pawprints out of 5.

Total so far, Books - 6, Pages - 1,821

Next - Cat Confidential by Vicky Halls

Book 5 of the 50 Book Challenge

Ratking by Michael Dibdin, 265 pages

Started January 21st, finished January 27th.

I've been meaning to get into the Aurelio Zen series for a while now.  Just somehow Dibdin never got to the top of the 'to read' pile.  It got a meteoric rise to the top when the BBC screened adaptations of the books.  I had to get to know Zen myself before I saw someone else's interpretation of him.

Zen's a Venetian living and working in Rome, sent to work on a case in Perugia.  He's pretty typical of fictional detectives.  There's nothing super original in the character so far.  The interesting part of the book comes at looking at the day to day corruption in Italy.  Something that never fails to fascinate me.

The case Zen's sent to solve is a pretty interesting tale.  Kept my attention throughout and kept me interested to see who was guilty, who was innocent and who was in the grey areas.

The thing I liked most about the book is the sense of place the author gives.  His descriptions of Italy are great.  When a book makes me want to buy a 'plane ticket it's doing something right.

4 out of 5 pawprints.  I'm looking forward to the second book in the series :-)

Total so far, Books - 5, Pages - 1,343

Next - Cross of Iron by Willie Heinrich

PS.  Two more of my Twitter buddies have joined the challenge.  Their blogs can be found:

http://amarettolatte.wordpress.com/

http://www.warpfactor.co.uk/

Happy Reading!

Book 4 of the 50 Book Challenge

How to Drink by Victoria Moore, 327 pages

Started January 16th, finished January 21st.

I can't remember where I got the tip for this book.  It was either online somewhere or a newspaper article.  I'm just really glad I followed it up.

This is a book that helps to fill the whole in the drinks world not covered by wine or cocktails.  The food world is well served by the number of books dedicated to it.  The drinks world is badly served in comparison.    If you're looking for a book on wine, well you could choose from 100's of titles.  Cocktail recipe book, hundreds.  But not every drink is wine or a cocktail.  

This book looks at times of year and what drinks suit the seasons.  It also gives recommendations for foods to suit those drinks.  There are plenty of recipes for drinks in there.  Some you'll know, many you won't.  Soft drinks are given plenty of time too.  As are tea and coffee.  Wine and cocktails are there but don't takle over the whole book.  They are mentioned where they should be.

This book is probably going to cost me a fair few bob as I work through the ones I need to try.  Also the ones I need to do properly, rather than the corrupt versions we have become used to.  I've already managed one.  A Campari Spritzer in Northern Italy.  Wrong time of year but the right place.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in food and drink.  It is definitely going to add flair to my dinner parties, BBQs, Girls Nights, etc.

Total so far, Books - 4, Pages - 1,078

Next - Ratking by Michael Dibdin

Private Lives at Oldham Coliseum

This is the final show on this season ticket.  Oldham Coliseum is my local theatre and we always get great value from our sesason tickets.  If you're nearby and are interested their website is here. I recommend it as great value for money and a good night out.  It's the only theatre I know of where the cast join the audience for a beverage in the bar afterwards.

I was looking forward to this play a lot.  I saw Blithe Spirit a few years ago here and absolutely loved it.  Sitting down and seeing the Art Deco set I was ready to go.

The cast were great only 4 parts and a cameo.  Every one played really well.  I was a bit dubious about one of the cast's costumes but that was part of her character, poor woman.  The sets looked nice.  Everything was as it should be.

The only problems was I just didn't like the characters in the play.  It was a case of spending time with four people I really didn't like.  While I was with them big things were happening to them.  I couldn't care less.  I was surprised by how unlikable all the characters were.  It seems I need someone to identify with on stage.

The production was great but unfortunately I felt let down by the script.  2.5 out of 5 pawprints.

I would like to see another Coward play.  As the two I have seen have been at either end of my enjoyment spectrum.

The Rum Trail

Last Thursday Mr Meks, a couple of mates and I departed on  Rum Trail.  The purpose of the trip was to discover more about a drink I was unfamiliar with to say the least.  My knowledge stems from a few teen mishaps with Bacardi.  Hence it's not been tried since.  The only rum to have crossed my lips has been unidentifiable in daquiris or the like.  As I've been getting more interested in food and drink lately I thought this needed remedying.  The idea was 6 bars, 6 tasters of rum, an explanation on the history, origin, etc of that rum and a cocktail made to show it's mixability.  

As there were more than 6 drinks involved here I thought it wise to keep some kind of record as the night went on.  memories were going to be hazy if they existed at all.  I used Twitter for this.  Tweeting the rums as they happened to my rum loving web buddy whose blog can be found here.  By 'favouriting' the tweets I'm hoping to be able recreate my experience.  Here goes.....

First up, Selfridges basement where I was dismayed to discover we were tasting Bacardi (see above).  A Cuban White Rum which is apparently now produced in Puerto Rico.  I was pleasantly surprised to find it no longer makes me feel ill.  Although for the life of me I couldn't pick out any notes except Bacardi.  I'm a Philistine.  Bacardi was then mixed into everyone's (except mine) summer favourite - the Mojito.  It was a damn good Mojito but I'm not a fresh mint in my drinks kinda girl.  Mr Meks was very pleased with his though.

Next Keko Moku in the Northern Quarter.  My first time in this fab little bar.  It won't be the last.  Here I tried my first ever Dark Rum, Gosling's Black Seal.  I realised how long I've been missing out on Dark Rum :-(  It was a lovely drink.  It was mixed into a Dark n Stormy, Bermuda's national drink.  Also one of the world's few trademarked cocktails.  I loved this drink, my favourite of the night.  Although it's very sweet and I wouldn't be drinking many of them in one evening.  It was Ginger Beer over ice, topped with Black Seal.  It looked amazing the rum floating made it look exactly as the name suggested.  As you got further down the ingredients mixed and it just got better.  I'm now thinking a holiday in Bermuda is a damn fine idea.

Next door to Socio Rehab next.  Where we tasted a Guatemalan dark rum, Ron Zacapa, Centenario Rum Sistema Solera 23.  This taster was served with dark chocolate.  That's never going to do any harm.  This rum was nice but not as much to my taste as the Gosling.  The cocktail was a very well mixed affair containing, Cherry and Orange.  As well made as it was it just wasn't to my taste really.

Over to Stevenson Square next.  I didn't even know there was a bar on there.  Hula Tiki Lounge, a fun basement destination.  Here we tried Havana Club, I 'think' it was a golden rum.  Things were getting a tad foggy by this point.  The rum must have been making me more accepting as we had a Pina Colada or something very similar.  Normally I wouldn't dream of drinking one.  Although it was way too creamy and very sweet I polished mine off.

We then all piled onto a minibus, over the river and into Corridor.  Here it was  Jamaican Appleton Rum, which was pleasant enough but I can't see myself buying a bottle anytime soon.  I can't for the life of me remember the cocktail name,  It was a small drink, strong and fruity.  You can't really go wrong with cocktails in Corridor though, it's their speciality. 

Back on the bus and the trail ended in one of our favourite bars, Mojo.  Here we tasted a Venezuelan rum, Diplomatico that out tour guide raved about.  I can't actually remember what it tasted like, just that I thought I liked the Gosling better.  Then we were fed a lovely Caribbean BBQ.  Followed by various free-flowing rum punches from the bar.

The tour guide we had was amazing.  He had the knowledge and the passion needed to keep a group of rum drunks interested in the subject of what they were drinking.  All for £25.  I can't recommend it enough.  the last tour is Thursday 10th Feb.  Be there if you can, tickets are from Selfridges.

The moral of the story, I like my rum darker rather than white or golden.  I just wish I hadn't missed out on so many years of enjoyment.

5 pawprints out of 5

I'll leave you with a pic of a Dark n Stormy while I go off to search for some Gosling's Black Seal.....

Mogadishu at The Royal Exchange

Last night we saw the final play on our season ticket.  Mogadishu by Vivienne Franzmann.

This was the blurb from the flyer: When white secondary school teacher Amanda is pushed to the ground by black student Jason, she's reluctant to report it as she knows exclusion could condemn him to a future as troubled as his past.  Once the boy and his peers have decide to protect themselves by spinning a story of their own, Amanda finds herself sucked into a vortex of lies in which victim becomes perpetrator.  With the truth becoming less clear and more dangerous by the day, it isn't long before careers, relationships and even lives are under threat in Vivienne Franzmann's GRIPPING and URGENT play.

The play has won the  Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting   The writer is an ex-teacher herself and her experiences must come through in the play.  I will be reading some interviews later to see how much of herself and her experiences she put into the teacher character.

The play opens with a bang.  Grabbing your attention and letting you know it isn't shy of tackling the hard-hitting subjects it raises.  It's set in a place I'm not familiar with.  I haven't been to school for many years and when I was there the issues raised in the play never crossed my path.  It does seem very realistic though.  The first issue they smash you with is race and 'playing the race card'.  Something I haven't seen put on the table so bluntly in the art world before.

The majority of the cast are teenagers.  All are fantastic in their roles.  I hope they all go on to have long careers in the acting industry.  They play gritty roles in some instances and play them excellently.  The 'precocious child actor' never rears it head once.  The cast members I couldn't really believe in were the 2 members of school staff.  They didn't come across as real, but acting.  The stage is one of the most minimalist I've seen there.  Letting the actors draw your eye fully.

I was thoroughly gripped by the first half, it was tense and sucked you right in.  The second half I found a little too long.  The whole play could have been shortened by 30 minutes.  I'd have dropped the extra issues brought in during the second half.  It is still a fantastic play though.  One which I'd urge people to make the effort to see.  You have until Feb 19th to see it at The Royal Exchange, Manchester before it transfers to The Lyric, Hammersmith

I can guarantee it will have you discussing the issues it raises as you leave.

4 pawprints out of 5.