Book 50 of the 50 Book Challenge

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, 359 pages

Started July 6th, finished July 18th.

This read was brought on by the impending film adaptation.  I've long been meaning to watch the TV serial from the 70's.  As I'm one of 'those people' I needed to read the book first. 

I'm glad I have read the book before watching it.  I'm sure it's easier to grasp the beginnings of the tale in book form.  Learning who's who and from which department they're from.  Along with whether they are currently in favour or not.

The book gives a great sense of Cold War atmosphere.  Once you get into it and you're more familiar, it's much easier to follow the flow of the story.  It is a great story that I can't say isn't well told.  It just seemed to drag for me.  I'm not sure whether I was reading it too late at night or it was the author's style.  I haven't read anything else by le Carre.  I'm not in a rush to remedy this either.  I can't find fault, I just couldn't get a rhythm of reading that matched the writing.  I'll be interested to see how they adapt the story into just a film.  Hopefully they will do it justice.  I'm currently two episodes into the TV version and it's very well paced to match the book.  I have no complaints about this book but it's never going to be one of my favourites.

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 50, Pages - 14,691  DAMMIT!  I failed to make the page count within the allotted number of books.  Never mind I'll keep going until I hot that 15,000.

Next - More Cat Tales from Moon Cottage by Marilyn Edwards

Book 49 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov, 276 pages

Started June 29th. finished July 6th

I don't think I've ever read any Asimov.  This makes me feel kinda lacking when I say I'm a sci-fi fan.  In fact it's really a disgrace as I grew up with his books on the shelves and never got around to any of them.  This one I borrowed from my dad with the promise it was one of his best.

Now as I sit trying to type about the book I'm at a loss on how to describe it without spoiling the experience of the book.  It would also be hard to explain what it's about.  That's where Asimov's skill seems to lie.  making something complicated easy to understand.  Unfortunately I lack the skills to relate it back.

This was a brilliant book.  You had the science, all in a believable, not magical state.  A glimpse of  a future world.  The biggest plus was real people.  People as we are now and always have been, imperfect, ambitious, not ambitious enough, bitch, sulky. No Dystopia or Utopia just a future I can believe could come around. It was definitely a strange read but a very enjoyable one.  You had to really immerse yourself in the tale.  Then you were repaid many times over.  I loved the other worlds he built as well as he portrayed our future one.

The life forms he invented drew me right in.  Whilst keeping me guessing on certain outcomes.  I definitely need to get more of his books read.  Any suggestions?

This is one I'll read again in the not too distant future.  I'm dying to see how much more I get from it second time around.

4.5 out of 5 pawprints 

Total so far - Books 49,  Pages 14,332

Next, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre 

Captain America, The Northern Quarter shines.

We took our nephew to see this last night.  He is a fan of 3D so the Avatar glasses came out of retirement.  I can't see how the 3D added to the experience but it didn't manage to spoil it either.

I have to admit I was most interested in seeing the scenes shot in Manchester and Liverpool.  I knew nothing of Captain America's story so I was quite happy to believe what I saw on screen.  I'm a fan of origin movies.  I find a character's development, if done well, to hit the right buttons with me.  Manchester was hardly recognisable.  Just the odd window frame or doorway stood out.  You'd think they were trying to disguise it or something.  Liverpool's Albert Dock was more obvious.  

This was big budget, summer blockbuster stuff.  It didn't disappoint.  I though the leads were great.  I don't seem to recognise any of them except for Hugo Weaving.  maybe that helped me sink into their characters quickly.  Big, pleasant surprise to find Mr Tucci on my screen.  He along with Toby Jones, Tommy Lee Jones and Dominic Cooper as support cast is pretty impressive.  The difference between weed to superhero was great.  I like the way they have little references in there without shoving them down your throat.  e.g.  Howard Stark.  The film looked very good.  Gave a good sense of the 1940's in a brighter more comic book fashion.  The surrounding cast were also very good.  This film won't be having you ponder its significance long into the night but it is good fun.

One bone I have to pick.  Every time Captain America put on a helmet I wasn't sure if it was him or Miles from This Life.  I've certainly never seen them in the same room.....

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Book 48 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, 196 pages

Started June 28th, finished June 29th.

Another read whilst on holiday.  How I wish I still was....  I'm always unsure on Wyndham with what I've read, What I've seen and what I know the synopsis of.  I can only be sure that until I've read all his output I haven't read enough.

I definitely haven't read this one before, it was totally new to me.  I really feel that John Wyndham has been a tad overlooked on the science fiction scene.  I think he put a lot of big ideas into the mix and people don't realise they were his ideas.  If I hear one more time that The Walking Dead opening scene ripped off 28 Days Later I will scream.

This book seems to be set after an apocalyptic event.  The setting resembles the English countryside with what seem to be relics of the past.  Nothing is ever set down on the page though.  You are given pointers to what may have happened and where.  These are scattered throughout the story and give you a little more each time without giving you definite answers.

The story follows a young boy from a religious family.  A very religious family.  The religion they follow has decided that God hates 'mutants'.  Anyone not pure in form is a travesty and never seen again.  As the boy becomes older he starts to question what he has always been taught.  Especially when his life experiences call 'facts' into question. The story then takes the boy and those around him on a journey of discovery.

I loved this book.  It's was one of those where you're gutted you've finished it.  Wyndham tells a tale perfectly.  Revealing things at just the right rate and leaving enough to let you wonder.  This story is definitely sci-fi yet there was a touch of the scary tales of Boogie men.  With aspects of the wonder of exploration seen in old sea-faring tales.  Alongside a study of humanity.

I'm unsure on the author's thoughts on religion.  He's hardly giving it the two thumbs up here.  Whether he is against it I don't know.  Maybe he was just using it as a tool to progress the story.  It was definitely well suited to that purpose.

This is definitely a keeper I'll read again and again.

5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 48, Pages - 14,056

Next - The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

Book 47 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Elephant to Hollywood by Michael Caine, 385 pages

Started June 26th, finished June 27th

Another holiday read.  I love being able to bury myself in a book on holiday.  Too many distractions and things like work at home.

I have never been a Michael Caine fan.  From the little I'd seen of him he came across as cocky and that accent grated on me.  As for his films, every clips I'd seen had a heavily accented 'My name is Michael Caine' slant to it.  I prejudged.  The fact that my name was Kane growing up didn't help.  

I suppose you're wondering why I bought the book then?  It was a last minute, at the till, 3 for 2, Waterstones decision.  I'm glad I bought it.  It turned my opinion of Mr Caine mainly on his head.  He seemed a genuine bloke in print.  No bigging up of his achievements.  Gave thanks to the people who'd helped his career.  It was an often amusing, always interesting ride through his life.

He tells his story very well.  No gossiping or bitching.  He's done enough himself to easily fill a book without that kinda thing.  Reading this has given me the urge to go and see some of his films.  It seems I'm missing out.  Especially as I thought his performance in Is Anybody There? was so wonderful.

This is just the type of 'film star' biography I like.  I'd definitely recommend it to any Michael Caine fan, British Cinema fan or Hollywood fan.

5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 47, Pages 13,860.  Looks like I won't make the page count within 50 books.

Next - The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pt 2

Off I trotted to Manchester's IMAX yesterday for my traditional HP watch with my sister.  I wanted to see this in 2D but that wasn't an IMAX option.

You've probably read reviews of this film that will be far more heartfelt than mine.  I've enjoyed the Harry Potter phenomenon very much.  Both the books and the films.  I haven't got that passion for them that most fans have though.

This seemed a fitting end to the franchise.  I found the first half dragged a little.  The same can't be said for part 2.  It whizzes along, tying up loose threads as it goes.  The effects were an addition to the film and enhanced it.  The plot took centre stage.  The performances were the best they've been.  Although I've never totally been convinced by Daniel Radcliffe.  My major problem was the 3D.  It was truly awful.  So awful that I would recommend people see this in 2D on a normal screen than follow my example.  Only the prime focus was clear.  Any faces in the background, you could only see the shape, no features.  These were people whose reactions we were supposed to be seeing.  Warner Bros, you should be ashamed.

I'd say Rowling created a wonderful world and story with the books.  I think the films were done as well as such a rich world and amount of plot can be in cinema form.  The only problem is that she created so many great characters that you can't see enough of them in the final outing.

I enjoyed this franchise but I am not upset that there won't be any more.  I'll probably see them all again and I'll definitely read the books again.  I don't need any more though.

(With 3D) 2 out of 5 pawprints.  

(Eliminating the negative effect of the 3D) 4 out of 5 pawprints.

What do you wanna be?

Some people wanna be free, They wanna be free to do what they wanna do, And they wanna get loaded, And they wanna have a good time...

If you wanna get deep down, go with them.

BUT, some have different goals in life.  They wanna be....

This post was inpsired by @emma_lou1983 posting about a crisp butty.  Ain't it funny how minds work ;-)