Travelling in a fried-out combie

So what really happens when you get Permanent Residency status for Australia? H and I are about to find out.....

Monday, August 18, 2008

My Number One Fan

I'm currently on a whirlwind 5 week tour of Bristol, the Isle of Man, Bristol again, London, Brighton, Leeds, Bristol again, Thetford and Norway. It's my first time back since packing the bags and heading to Australia two and a half years ago so there's a lot of squeeze in, including two weddings. The first of these was for Mike and Ella in the Isle of Man a few day ago. It was there that I met my Number One Fan.....















Mike's Mum!

And what a pleasure it was too. Winner.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Book Forty Two

It feels like I have been reading this one for years. A good friend of mine said it was her favourite books so I thought I'd give it a go. Hmmmmmm. I'm not convinced. I must talk to her about it now that I've finished it. Aaaah, the joy of reading and the discussions that follow, and the realisation that I never take anything in, forget key bits and completely miss the point of the book along the way. I blame that nasty football injury a few years ago.....

Oh, and it’s being made into a movie as well.....




Monday, May 12, 2008

Book Forty One

The main reason I wanted to read Jaws was to see how Peter Benchley built the suspense that gripped us all in the movie.

I don’t think he did, and to be honest, I found it rather boring. And the finale is both rushed and ridiculous. I wonder why he didn't write Jaws 2.....

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Book Forty

An interesting story, but an even better movie! Go see it.....

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Shark!

Book Thirty Nine

Loved it. Just like I loved Book Thirty Eight, even though some of this was also made up!



Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Book Thirty Eight

I first heard about this book a year or so ago when a friend recommended it to me. I then heard about it again in Thailand when one of the people I met over there also recommended it. And when I finally bought a copy, Sam asked me if it was the one with the root canal procedure. I didn't know because I hadn't read it, but yes it is!

I also knew before reading the book that the story was somewhat fabricated, and I also made the mistake of reading the introduction before getting stuck into it. As soon as I had I wish I hadn't. Why do they put story-spoilers before the story had even begun? Anyway, I ploughed on regardless, determined to keep an open mind. But from the first page I was hooked.

It's a story about addiction and rehabilitation and I reckon it's my favourite book of the thirty eight I've read since living in Australia. Even if some of it has been embellished, I found myself not caring, and enjoying it for what it is – a fascinating insight into the life of a drug and alcohol addict in a rehab centre. Part of me wishes that I'd read it before I found out about the controversy surrounding the book. But then I suppose I would've been disappointed, and deceived, when the truth came out. As it stands, I absolutely loved it. At least he conned Oprah though!


Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Book Thirty Seven

So this is a very, very dark version of Book Twenty Nine. It's another one that made me feel sick a couple of times, and I was very conscious of the title, the cover and the content as I read it on the ferry too and from work!

It was a spontaneous purchase a few weeks ago. It's a catching title afterall and it stood out one evening when I was on a book-buying mission after work. I remembered reading a review of it in the local free MX newspaper one night and it sounded rather interesting.

It's also the first book I've read that is written by an Australian. I'm a fan of Australian movies and now I'm a fan of Australian writing. It's a bit of a sweeping generalisation I know, but I've got off to a good start with this one, even if it is rather disturbing. But then so was Wolf Creek, right?