Wednesday 24 March 2010

Push by Sapphire.



The lead up to the Oscars and after Monique won the Oscar for best supporting actress, I heard many things about Precious and I was more and more curious to watch the film. I knew it was about a young girl who had a tough life growing up and but the film had an uplifting message towards the end -at least that's what the trailer implies. Also, most of these sad films (sorry to generalise) do end with an uplifting message.


Someone I knew had been to see the film ( a few cinemas re-released it after the Oscars) and said it was terrible and it made her feel incredibly glum and she said, quote: I know sad things happen in this world but I don't want to have to pay to go see it happen.

I had a different view on it (without even watching it)I think that some times it's good to be taken away from your comfortable life and to be shown how difficlut some people's lives are, how trivial are problems can be in comparison. The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Pianist (the film) all haunted me for days but they resulted in me having a more positive outlook on my life, it may seem silly to read about someone else's life to realise how lucky I am but that's exactly how they made me feel (along with other emotions-mainly sadness)

After missing out on seeing the film, I decided to buy the book instead.

I started it and finished it yesterday, it's incredibly short. I'm not sure if I can actually describe how I felt but I don't remember ever feeling so disturbed in all my life. Reading about the abuse made me feel empty and lost. Completely disgusted.

In a way, it shows me just how strong human beings are and how far they can be pushed, I was amazed at how the character was still able to go on. It also lost my faith in people, I can describe how, it just has. I hope this feeling fades and I'm sure it will do.

Brick Lane by Monica Ali.



It was a good book in the sense that I finished it and I was kept entertained throughout but I found the charaters frustrating.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.



I first heard about this when reading the "The Time Traveller's Wife" (which I LOVED-a truly remarkable book), on the front cover of the book, it stated "the next The Lovely Bones" since I loved "The Time Traveller's Wife", I felt absolutely complelled to read The Lovely Bones, I read the plot summary online, I wasn't at all intrigued, it just didn't seem like my kind of book but I went ahead and read it anyway. I was more intrigued when I found out that the film had been adapted into a film and Rachel Weisz had a part in the film, I had to read it before the film was released. One thing I love doing is reading the book and the watching the film adaptation, I love seeing a book brought to life.

I went ahead and started reading and it was one of those books I just couldn't put down, it kept the reader hooked and wanting to know more and more. It really was...well, lovely! It was well written and the characters were charming. It may seem silly describing it as lovely since the film is about a young girl who was murdered but it was how the family were supporting each other that I loved, how they were there for each other and Susie-even though she was gone-played a big part in their lives.

One character I didn't like was Abigale (the mum). I understand that everyone has their own way of dealing with things and it was made clear later in the book that she was already feeling quite isolated prior to Susie's death (the picture Susie took) but I just felt she had a responsibility as a Mother and I can't believe she thought it was just okay to just leave them all and that sending a few postcards will make it okay. I mainly felt sorry for Buck-who I adored- he was only 4 at the time. I was disappointed in her and I most definitely wouldn't have been so easily forgiving.

The film was very well done, I was a little unsure on the choice for Mr Harvey. Stanley Tucci is one of my favourite actors and I didn't particularly like the idea of him playing such an awful character, the transformation however was brilliant and left Stanley unrecognisable. The young actress who played Susie did a superb job, she played the part flawlessly.

Julie and Julia by Julia Powell.




If I could give one piece of advice in regards to the book, it would be this: do not read it. I was intrigued by the trailer, it looked like something I would really enjoy especially because Meryl Streep is in it (one of my fave actresses). I always feel complelled to read the book before watching the film so I bought the book.

At first, I felt the book was a little slow to begin with and I kept expecting it to pick up and eventually gain my full attention but the book was just dull, that's the only way to describe it. I have one chapter left (just after she turns 30) and I can't even find the energy to finish this book. There is no real flow to the book and Julie just continuously throws in a random story now and again (what was the whole thing about David Strathairn all about??!) and there's no real structure to it. I also hated Julie with her constant negativity and screaming at Eric-ALL THE TIME!!! Shut up already Julie, this was your idea so just get on with it.

I didn't see the point in including the mini instalments on Julia, I found myself just skimming through it just for the sake of completion but didn't find it at all interesting.

End. Of. Rant.