In 2008, I listened to Outlander by Diana Gabaldon on audiobook and liked it. The audiobooks are excellent; they are narrated by Davina Porter. She does such a great job that sometimes when I am reading the books, I hear her voice for the character's. Back in November 2011, I decided to finish what I started with this series. I read Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn, books 2-4 of the Outlander series,…
Month: February 2012
Season 1 - I don't watch a lot of HBO shows or have so in the past. I missed out on "The Sopranos", "Deadwood", "Rome", "The Wire" and probably a couple others I can't name now. I do plan on watching "Game of Thrones" (have season one since it aired) after I read the book(s). I know HBO shows are critically acclaimed, but I don't always want to watch a lot of shows with violence,…
While I do not consider myself an aficionado of the deer stalker hat wearing detective, a Sherlockian, this is my second Holmes/Conan Doyle inspired book in a month. Also, the miniseries. I must say that I do love the Holmes stories and this anthology of short stories reminds me of the good times I had listening to the audiobooks of the canon a few summers ago. Like all anthologies, I was more engaged in some…
Short reviews of movies or series I haven't mentioned so far in the month. Great Expectations (2011) (01 01 2012) - This is technically a TV miniseries, but I often put these in MM especially since I saw this in one big go. I could write a whole post on this new adaptation, but I will sum it up as being dark, creepy, and very faithful to the book. The casting of Anderson and Winston…
I have read both of Eugenides other books: The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex. In fact, I liked the latter so much, I even own after having it seen it discounted at Chapters. I don't really buy new books often. I have enjoyed his work. It's really in the characters, prose and to a certain extent, how good Eugenides is about writing about gender and relationships. With TVS, the characters seem both real and mythical. That…
A friend recommended this to me, and another friend told me that it was making its way round her workplace at library too. I hadn't really heard about this book until they mentioned it to me. I was told that it was very layered and well constructed. For the most part, I agree. There are personal mysteries to it and unlike in real life, there are pieces of the puzzle that give you almost a…
This lists any series or seasonal shows I have watched in marathons during the month, but also whenever I want to write about shows I am watching. Smaller mini series will tend to go in Monthly movies. Switched at Birth - Watched episodes S1x01 to S1x11 in a few days and the new episodes since. I haven't watched any ABC Family shows since the 90s I think. I was quite surprised how much I liked…
I have read or listened in audiobook all the Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle canon. I really enjoy the Holmes and Watson partnership. Watson humanizes Holmes and the pacing and the writing of some of the Holmes stories are fun and very good. I admit some of the later stories seem a bit forced and Study in Scarlet is a bit odd at times, but all in all, I really like the Holmes stories…
How did I miss this BBC adaptation in 2009 I wonder? I watched curiously as I do with all adaptations. This is at least my fifth Emma adaptation. Discounting Clueless, the other two adaptations that one can compare this 2009 one too is the ITV one with Kate Beckinsale and the Gwyneth Paltrow version, both done in 90s. Romola Garai can be gorgeous as seen in Amazing Grace, I Capture the Castle, and Vanity Fair,…
The Transporter ( rewatched 03 01 2012) - This was my third or fourth time seeing this film. I think I love it a bit more every time that I do. I do like action and crime movies, but I am picky about them. There should be some plot, some characterisation, but really I watch these kind of movies to escape. My love for this film is strange in that, I don't care about the…
This novel is different to the film adaptations I had seen of this novel. I rather liked the tone and pacing of it. It's a thriller written at the time of World War I and while there are some contrivances, it's a bit like watching a good action film, you don't really care because you become invested in the protagonist's adventure. There are no female characters in this book other than "extras" which is fine…
The premise of this book made me pick it up. I like the whole, "What if you wake up and you're older than you were the day before?" premise. It would be fascinating to see how one and the life has changed. Sophie Kinsella did a similar one in Remember Me? but that one was more light hearted. This one was also chick lit but focussed more seriously on women in their middle age. There…