Cleaving

Recently I read Julie Powell’s new book Cleaving: a story of marriage, meat and obsession.  I loved reading her first book Julie and Julia and this new book was okay but not as special as the first book.

Cleavingis another biographical work and it is a personal tale of infidelity and how the author dealt with that. Running away to learn the art of butchery and some independent travel gave her snatches of space to work through her issues.  I loved reading the butchery segments and kind of wished that had been all there was to the book. They were Julie’s relationships and I don’t want to trivialise that but I didn’t feel I really wanted to read about it.

To be fair romance novels mostly bore me and I had to keep reminding myself this wasn’t just another novel but someone’s life.  Usually I enjoy biographies but then that wasn’t the point of this writing either. I guess I just wanted more Julie and Julia and I just didn’t get it.

judge first, facts later

Some friends and I have decided to start a book group.  I think we’ve all thought about it at some time but never got round to it.  A chance conversation over lunch and a plan was hatched.

We contemplated the different ways of doing this.  We don’t think we’d ever reach any agreement on reading the same book but we want to be able to discuss so we decided to do it around a genre each month and take turns to pick one.

We also decided that rubbish is generally banned thogh it will be interesting to see how we define that. We did decided we don’t ever want to be discussing Marian Keyes or airport blockbuster novels.  Honestly we are such snobs.  Besides if you look at my reading list fro the previous year I have nothing to be sniffy about. *cough* Torchwood *cough*. I can’t wait to see where our ‘ideals’ take us.

Our next genre is “trashy romance novels”. Oh the irony.  To be fair I have NEVER read a mills and boons or anything remotely close. Some titles typical of the genre were recommended but I’m having trouble getting started. I found it hard to get past the front covers without feeling the vomit in my mouth, titles about “rainbows” and pictures of silver hearts – ick. I fell about with laughter when I opened them – my goodness I’ve never seen print so huge.  Seems like barely 20 words to a page (I exaggerate slightly) – must be so you can pretend like you’re reading a real book – as long as no-one sees the actual page.

I’m being completely judgemental from a place of complete ignorance but why let the facts get in the way.  Off to start my book – I think I’ve found one I might actuallt be able to finish.

written on the cards

I’ve just finished the first of the three new Torchwood books – Pack animals by Peter Anghelides.  I liked it but I wouldn’t say I loved it.  Other Torchwood books I’ve polished off in an evening but this one took several days.  I think it took me time to adjust to where it was in the Torchwood timeline but nice to have the old gang back together again.

The MonstaQuest set of game cards come to life unleashing aliens, beasts, weather events and freakish plantlife upon the people of Cardiff.  Amid much dismembering of bodies and a seemingly rival outfit called Achenbrite, Torchwood eventually save the day.

There are bits of the story you just feel like you’ve read or seen before – the cards coming to life, Ianto as the invisible man. Still, not a bad read.

just not harry

Yesterday I popped into town to pick up a copy  of  The tales of Beedle the Bard, the latest from J K Rowling.  Clearly I wasn’t as enthused as I have been about the Harry Potter books in the past as I didn’t rush in the day it was launched.  I finised reading the book before I even got home – waiting for the bus and during the short bus ride.  It was okay, but it wasn’t satisfying.  Then again I guess I’m older than the target market for the book.

Considering I went into the bookshop to buy only this book, I managed to leave with 5 books and a DVD.  I was very excited to see the new Torchwood books were in store and decided to grab all three. I’ll review those as I read them.

information hygiene

You think carefully about what you put in your mouth.  You wouldn’t pick up food off a fotpath and eat it. You know you can eat chocolate or chips for every meal. You allow yourself some treats but you try to keep it in balance.

Do you think as hard about what you fill your mind with? I can never eat MacDonalds again after watching Supersize me. In the same manner I couldn’t ever bring myself to read a MIlls and Boons.  Any Jackie Collins novel is off my list too. There are so many great books out there and so many interesting and thoughtful blogs, I don’t need to be filling my mind with the written equivalent of junk food.

Every now and then you need to take a brain vacation.  Just like once in a while you treat yourself to sugary fatty snack sometimes you just yearn to read something which relaxes the mind. Or something which your mind processes as fast as candyfloss dissolves in your mouth.

I decided to treat myself to a Doctor Who novel – well okay, 2 Doctor Who novels.  Then I wondered how they compared with Torchwood novels. I’ve just picked up my second Woodie novel for the week. This is starting to feel like a binge. I managed to read a graphic novel as well. It is a history of a family who lived during the holocaust. It was an amazing story and so well done but the balance is still off and I thirst for more Torchwood. My brain is enjoying its holiday from worthier tomes.

loyal till the end

If you start reading a book, do you have to finish it? I do.  I can never bring myself to walk out of movies either.  Part of me always thinks it is going to get better. This is just a bad patch, the story will improve. You might miss something really good if you don’t finish.  I have this habit of just putting the book to one side and starting another.  The half finished books sit beside my bed taunting me with their bookmarks poking out at various stages.  Some have been there for so long I fear I’ll have to start over, I can’t remember what I’ve read already.  I always blame myself for not enjoying a book – I’m not in the mood or I’m not paying enough attention, but that’s completely wrong of course.  I get hooked on certain authors and read everything they write.  Every now and then your favourite author disappoints – they try something different and itdoesn’t click for you. 

No-one likes to think they picked a dud book.  And besides these “hard to get through” titles aren’t random unknowns. Some are award winners but awfully tough going.

this may change your life

I know what you’re thinking – yeah right.  This is no Tui advert, I mean it.

Much has been written about Randy Pausch, a man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2006. He keeps an online diary of his life and that in itself is an inspiring read. 

In September 2007 he delivered an amazing lecture which you can watch online.  That lecture is now available in a book too, The last lecture, and I read it in less than a day.  I just couldn’t put it down.  I already was familiar with most of it having been one of the thousands to watch the lecture online.  I’ve never met Randy and I don’t know him personally.  He did the lecture and the book for his kids but I also hope he realises what a fantastic thing he has done for the complete strangers who come across his lecture and book. I wonder how many of those people will take time to write a thank-you note.

The other lecture I’d recommend you watch is Randy’s lecture on Time management – it may be 86 minutes long but it will save you time in the long run.  It is just filled with practical tips on ways to improve your use of time.  I’ve been putting his tips into action for a couple of months now and for the first time in years I can say that my email is under control and that’s all due to Randy – so thanks Randy!

i’m just not that into Borders

Specifically I’m talking about Borders bookstores in New Zealand. Now I know there are many reasons to dislike them not least of all the potential to damage the local independently run bookstores.  Wellington is blessed with some brilliant stores and I hate that Borders attempts to lure me away from them.

Now I won’t deny I’ve purchased at Borders, those special deals are hard to walk past. The chance of me shopping there much more are lessening by the day. They annoyed me right from the first time I went to their website.  They asked my to pick my favourite borders and yet my all time fave Borders is in Europe and that one wasn’t on the list. Actually they wanted me to pick the closest store to me – it isn’t my favourite and never will. Say what you mean, don’t be all cutesy about it.

Why is it, every single time I buy at Borders they insist on asking if I get their emails with the deals – WHY? I’m so sick of it, all I wanted was the newspaper, I’m already signed up, leave me alone. And then there’s those emails and their special offers. Hey, I’m happy to take that 30% off a DVD or whatever the offer is. But, seriously, you want me to print out the voucher wasting paper and toner and bring it into the store. Even worse you tell me I can use it up to four times and you want me to print four copies. How many trees does Borders waste on vouchers each week. It is really starting to annoy me. Dymocks have a plastic card and give me a percentage of every purchase back in discounts. Unity has a ten trip card again giving a percentage off my 11th purchase.  Why are you so environmentally unfriendly Borders?

So, you can use the Borders vouchers four times, well, if you take in four copies of each voucher that is. But do you know what? You can’t use them in a single transaction. You can stand at the till and do four separate transactions though.  How crazy is that. Those rules just make you look silly Borders – SILLY.

Now I have even more reason to detest Borders. To show their commitment to the environment they now charge 10 cents for each plastic bag.  Now I turn down plastic bags most of the time. If it is pouring with rain outside and I’ve just spent $100 on books or DVDs is a bag too much to ask for. I can’t help but feel Borders is being a complete hypocrite here.  If it really cared for the environment it wouldn’t make their customers print out discount vouchers to bring into the store.  And if they really cared for their customers they wouldn’t make them go through the farce of the checkout merry-go-round on the odd occasion a customer wants to use more than one voucher.