Book Eight, Films 13 and 14
Feb. 4th, 2010 01:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spooky_missYou know, I never realised I watched so many films! Although maybe now I’m writing about them, I’m making the effort to watch more. I do feel like I watch a lot of TV as well – but its not just random things, its series that I watch every week – currently Being Human (Sundays, 1 hour), Larkrise to Candleford (Sundays, 1 hour), University Challenge (Mondays, 1/2 hour), and QI (Fridays, 1/2 hour). Just recently there has also been a really interesting programme on the British Family, with episodes on Children, Money, Divorce and…well another one that I can’t remember! It was so interesting, all about how things have changed over the years and how families have changed. I love programmes like that. My favourite series at the moment is Being Human – it is just so amazing!! I don’t even usually like things like that (“supernatural” things) – but, as the title suggests, this is a lot more about how they cope with their issues (of being a werewolf, vampire and ghost) and “being human”, so it’s a good mix. The characters are so likeable and believable. I wish they’d hurry up and explain who the scary looking religious man is though, I really want to know!
But anyway, on with the books and films!
Book Eight – The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker
This is a non fiction book, about the slave trade, and specifically the slave ships which took the slaves from Africa to America and Britain in the 18th century. I didn’t really know anything about this before I read the book, so it was really interesting. It described how the slaves were gained by the slave ship owners, and what conditions were like for them on the ships, talked about how they were treated, what punishments they were given, and how the captains controlled any uprisings while they were crossing the Atlantic. Then there were also chapters on life aboard a slave ship for a sailor, how the sailors were treated and how they became sailors on slave ships. It was good as it had lots of first person accounts of what happened, from captains, normal sailors, and the slaves themselves, and finished with a quick chapter on how the abolition of slavery came about. It was a well rounded account as it showed all sides of the story and how the voyages were for all involved, the ship’s crew and the slaves. It was interesting to read as I didn’t know anything about this – this isn’t a topic we studied at school and I haven’t really had the chance to look into it through anything else. Its not my favourite historical subject, but it was interesting, so I give 7 / 10.
That ends the books I have read in January – I read eight in total, which is a good start. I’ve decided I will read one fiction and then one non-fiction book, otherwise I end up getting bogged down in the non-fiction books and not get on well with the fiction books. I have, amazingly, not bought any books from charity shops since October! (although I have donated money to charity instead, to make up for their loss!) This year I am determined to work through the piles of books I have to read in my bedroom – currently I am reading a book that Kt bought me for Christmas, The Cemetary of Secrets, which is a historical crime book, its great! And then next I have The Life of Graham, biography of Graham Chapman, so that should be good
Film 13 – Chocolat
This is such a lovely film! I really love it. It is the story of Vianne, who comes to a small French town and opens a chocolate shop, and how it changes the inhabitants of the town. It encourages a wife to leave her abusive husband, helps the village to accept the “river rats”, and eventually teaches the Comte of the town to become more human. It does have Johnny Depp in it – but that’s really not the only reason why I like it. Judi Dench is excellent as well. Its just such a feel-good story, adapted from a great book by Joanne Harris. Definitely recommended for when you want something which is just a nice film, nothing deep and meaningful, its just nice! 9.5/10
Film 14 – Hot Fuzz
This is another brilliant, feel-good film, from the director and stars of Shaun of the Dead. This is one of the best British films, in my opinion, and it also stars lots of classic British filmstars, including Timothy Dalton as a supermarket owner! It stars Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel, a very high flying police officer who gets transferred to a sleepy Gloustershire town, as he is “making everyone look bad” in the Metropolitan Police. When he arrives in the town there begin to be some very suspicious deaths, and he is determined to investigate them, even though the rest of the town (and the police force there) don’t seem to think there is anything wrong. He is helped by Danny (played by Nick Frost), another police officer who is a bit dumb at first but soon begins to realise that something is up. Everyone in the film is such a “character”, they are all great. It has so many references and tributes to other films and books, same as in Shaun of the Dead and Spaced, also directed by Edgar Wright. This is definitely one of my favourite films. Its funny without being silly, and all the little references are great. So, therefore… 10/10!
I think I’m going to have another quiet weekend – it’s the rock night on Friday, but haven’t got anything else planned, so will probably just stay in and read my book. On the Open University website they have short courses which are free for you to print off, so I’m going to work my way through some of them in the next little while – they only take about 4 or 5 hours to do each one. I am definitely thinking of doing an Open University course (probably “Starting with Psychology”) but I’m just a bit worried about if I do it and don’t pass – it would just all be a waste then. Although I definitely need more things on my cv, as its really not that impressive at the moment. I have a degree – but it’s a bad grade, so compared to everyone else who has a degree as well, I need other things to make myself look better. I have found quite a few OU courses that I’d like to do, which is good, I just need to find the courage to go for them and not worry!! I do feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, so I need to get out and *do* something with myself. I really enjoy the weekends when I go out and go and see Katie and things, but I’m not really doing anything during the week, so I need to do something else. Oh, apart from the quiz on Tuesdays – which we did quite well in on last Tuesday. They have started an extra quiz, which all builds up to a grand final in March, and we are joint first in that at the moment, so that’s excellent so far! Hopefully it’ll continue and we can get into the final – the top prize is £500
But anyway, on with the books and films!
Book Eight – The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker
This is a non fiction book, about the slave trade, and specifically the slave ships which took the slaves from Africa to America and Britain in the 18th century. I didn’t really know anything about this before I read the book, so it was really interesting. It described how the slaves were gained by the slave ship owners, and what conditions were like for them on the ships, talked about how they were treated, what punishments they were given, and how the captains controlled any uprisings while they were crossing the Atlantic. Then there were also chapters on life aboard a slave ship for a sailor, how the sailors were treated and how they became sailors on slave ships. It was good as it had lots of first person accounts of what happened, from captains, normal sailors, and the slaves themselves, and finished with a quick chapter on how the abolition of slavery came about. It was a well rounded account as it showed all sides of the story and how the voyages were for all involved, the ship’s crew and the slaves. It was interesting to read as I didn’t know anything about this – this isn’t a topic we studied at school and I haven’t really had the chance to look into it through anything else. Its not my favourite historical subject, but it was interesting, so I give 7 / 10.
That ends the books I have read in January – I read eight in total, which is a good start. I’ve decided I will read one fiction and then one non-fiction book, otherwise I end up getting bogged down in the non-fiction books and not get on well with the fiction books. I have, amazingly, not bought any books from charity shops since October! (although I have donated money to charity instead, to make up for their loss!) This year I am determined to work through the piles of books I have to read in my bedroom – currently I am reading a book that Kt bought me for Christmas, The Cemetary of Secrets, which is a historical crime book, its great! And then next I have The Life of Graham, biography of Graham Chapman, so that should be good
Film 13 – Chocolat
This is such a lovely film! I really love it. It is the story of Vianne, who comes to a small French town and opens a chocolate shop, and how it changes the inhabitants of the town. It encourages a wife to leave her abusive husband, helps the village to accept the “river rats”, and eventually teaches the Comte of the town to become more human. It does have Johnny Depp in it – but that’s really not the only reason why I like it. Judi Dench is excellent as well. Its just such a feel-good story, adapted from a great book by Joanne Harris. Definitely recommended for when you want something which is just a nice film, nothing deep and meaningful, its just nice! 9.5/10
Film 14 – Hot Fuzz
This is another brilliant, feel-good film, from the director and stars of Shaun of the Dead. This is one of the best British films, in my opinion, and it also stars lots of classic British filmstars, including Timothy Dalton as a supermarket owner! It stars Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel, a very high flying police officer who gets transferred to a sleepy Gloustershire town, as he is “making everyone look bad” in the Metropolitan Police. When he arrives in the town there begin to be some very suspicious deaths, and he is determined to investigate them, even though the rest of the town (and the police force there) don’t seem to think there is anything wrong. He is helped by Danny (played by Nick Frost), another police officer who is a bit dumb at first but soon begins to realise that something is up. Everyone in the film is such a “character”, they are all great. It has so many references and tributes to other films and books, same as in Shaun of the Dead and Spaced, also directed by Edgar Wright. This is definitely one of my favourite films. Its funny without being silly, and all the little references are great. So, therefore… 10/10!
I think I’m going to have another quiet weekend – it’s the rock night on Friday, but haven’t got anything else planned, so will probably just stay in and read my book. On the Open University website they have short courses which are free for you to print off, so I’m going to work my way through some of them in the next little while – they only take about 4 or 5 hours to do each one. I am definitely thinking of doing an Open University course (probably “Starting with Psychology”) but I’m just a bit worried about if I do it and don’t pass – it would just all be a waste then. Although I definitely need more things on my cv, as its really not that impressive at the moment. I have a degree – but it’s a bad grade, so compared to everyone else who has a degree as well, I need other things to make myself look better. I have found quite a few OU courses that I’d like to do, which is good, I just need to find the courage to go for them and not worry!! I do feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, so I need to get out and *do* something with myself. I really enjoy the weekends when I go out and go and see Katie and things, but I’m not really doing anything during the week, so I need to do something else. Oh, apart from the quiz on Tuesdays – which we did quite well in on last Tuesday. They have started an extra quiz, which all builds up to a grand final in March, and we are joint first in that at the moment, so that’s excellent so far! Hopefully it’ll continue and we can get into the final – the top prize is £500
