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Films 10, 11 and 12, Book Seven
Jan. 31st, 2010 06:15 pm( Films! )
Book Seven - Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger
JD Salinger died this week, age 91, so I thought I'd read Catcher in the Rye again, as everyone seems to think its amazing book, a brilliant commentary on youth and all that, but I just didn't get that at all when I last read it. And no, I didn't get it this time either! It is well written, an interesting read, but there is nothing that jumps off the page at me as being so deep and meaningful as most people seem to think it is. I don't care much for Holden Caulfield, so although I am interested in him and his activities on a superficial level, to see how they turn out, theres nothing deeper than that, and I don't take anything away from reading the book. Its not like things like 1984 and War of the Worlds, where the ideas and the story just jump off the page at you, its just a story about a boy who leaves school and goes to New York for a few days. So, although it is a good story, and I would recommend it, everyone's raving and expectations of it makes it feel less good than it is, I think. So I'd only give it 5/10.
This weekend was nice and relaxing (well until Sunday morning, haha!) so didn't really do much. Tidied out some bits of my bedroom on Saturday and found seven pairs of headphones that only worked on one earphone, haha. They look useful for some kind of craft or cyber project though, so I don't want to throw them away. Also found a working cd walkman, and tape walkman, and lots of batteries for them, so thats great! I didn't know I still had my tape player :D And found the computer cable and instructions for my phone, so I now have a new ringtone and message tone on my phone, as I put some more songs on there. However no one has called me, or text me when I could hear it, yet, so not sure I'll remember I've changed it, haha.
It was the "Rock Night Promotions" band night on Saturday night at the Beehive. The first band wasn't too great, just a normal generic "local band", i.e. not that good. But then Nadir Rising played, and they were excellent, as usual! They finished with a cover of "One Vision" by Queen as well, so that was great :) Same as normal with the people there, though Emma and Nick were there and I talked to them a bit, which was really nice, haven't seen them for ages.
Sunday was quite eventful, really! First I got up early to watch the final of the Australian Open - argh so nailbiting, especially at the end!! It was between Andy Murray and (of course) Roger Federer - and although he did beat Murray in 3 sets, the last one went to a tiebreak which went on for a while (ended up 13-11 I think) and it was increasingly clear that Murray is quite evenly matched with Federer, there were some shots that Federer didnt get, which he would of had he been playing a player who wasn't as good. Murray will win the Grand Slams he deserves - he just needs to get over the hurdle of beating someone who has been in 19 grand slam finals! Hopefully at Wimbledon Murray will do it! :)
In the afternoon we went to a Antique and Collectors Fair in Berkhamstead, which was good. There were quite a few nice Royal things I wanted to buy, but unfortunately as I've got so much commemorative stuff from 1953 - present, I want things which are earlier - but they're so expensive! Even the unusual stuff from the Silver Jubilee and the Coronation is quite a lot too - there were some lovely pin badges, but the stall holder wanted £10 each for them! I also saw a great looking commemorative brochure for when King Edward VII opened Shenley Mental Asylum - unfortunately it was £65, but I would love something like that, thats my two interests in one item! :) There was also a Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Commemorative plate for only £10!! but looking closer at it, it was smashed to pieces (in about 6 or 7 pieces!) and had been glued together again, so I didn't buy it. In the end I just got some Silver Jubilee ribbon :D
So all in all, a quite good weekend. Would have liked to have gone out to do some dancing at some point...but I'll save that all for 13th February and Assemblage 23 :)
Book Seven - Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger
JD Salinger died this week, age 91, so I thought I'd read Catcher in the Rye again, as everyone seems to think its amazing book, a brilliant commentary on youth and all that, but I just didn't get that at all when I last read it. And no, I didn't get it this time either! It is well written, an interesting read, but there is nothing that jumps off the page at me as being so deep and meaningful as most people seem to think it is. I don't care much for Holden Caulfield, so although I am interested in him and his activities on a superficial level, to see how they turn out, theres nothing deeper than that, and I don't take anything away from reading the book. Its not like things like 1984 and War of the Worlds, where the ideas and the story just jump off the page at you, its just a story about a boy who leaves school and goes to New York for a few days. So, although it is a good story, and I would recommend it, everyone's raving and expectations of it makes it feel less good than it is, I think. So I'd only give it 5/10.
This weekend was nice and relaxing (well until Sunday morning, haha!) so didn't really do much. Tidied out some bits of my bedroom on Saturday and found seven pairs of headphones that only worked on one earphone, haha. They look useful for some kind of craft or cyber project though, so I don't want to throw them away. Also found a working cd walkman, and tape walkman, and lots of batteries for them, so thats great! I didn't know I still had my tape player :D And found the computer cable and instructions for my phone, so I now have a new ringtone and message tone on my phone, as I put some more songs on there. However no one has called me, or text me when I could hear it, yet, so not sure I'll remember I've changed it, haha.
It was the "Rock Night Promotions" band night on Saturday night at the Beehive. The first band wasn't too great, just a normal generic "local band", i.e. not that good. But then Nadir Rising played, and they were excellent, as usual! They finished with a cover of "One Vision" by Queen as well, so that was great :) Same as normal with the people there, though Emma and Nick were there and I talked to them a bit, which was really nice, haven't seen them for ages.
Sunday was quite eventful, really! First I got up early to watch the final of the Australian Open - argh so nailbiting, especially at the end!! It was between Andy Murray and (of course) Roger Federer - and although he did beat Murray in 3 sets, the last one went to a tiebreak which went on for a while (ended up 13-11 I think) and it was increasingly clear that Murray is quite evenly matched with Federer, there were some shots that Federer didnt get, which he would of had he been playing a player who wasn't as good. Murray will win the Grand Slams he deserves - he just needs to get over the hurdle of beating someone who has been in 19 grand slam finals! Hopefully at Wimbledon Murray will do it! :)
In the afternoon we went to a Antique and Collectors Fair in Berkhamstead, which was good. There were quite a few nice Royal things I wanted to buy, but unfortunately as I've got so much commemorative stuff from 1953 - present, I want things which are earlier - but they're so expensive! Even the unusual stuff from the Silver Jubilee and the Coronation is quite a lot too - there were some lovely pin badges, but the stall holder wanted £10 each for them! I also saw a great looking commemorative brochure for when King Edward VII opened Shenley Mental Asylum - unfortunately it was £65, but I would love something like that, thats my two interests in one item! :) There was also a Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Commemorative plate for only £10!! but looking closer at it, it was smashed to pieces (in about 6 or 7 pieces!) and had been glued together again, so I didn't buy it. In the end I just got some Silver Jubilee ribbon :D
So all in all, a quite good weekend. Would have liked to have gone out to do some dancing at some point...but I'll save that all for 13th February and Assemblage 23 :)
