Blogging has taken a somewhat back seat over the Christmas and New Year period, not just for me but for all the Blogenge (I’m not explaining again…..!) partakers.

So I’m going to start my ball rolling again, and you never know, the others might get back on the wagon too.

So what has happened to write about recently? Well I’m afraid I’m going to have to fall back on my safety net topics – films, books and music.

I finished two great books recently. Not my usual Fantasy type of books but I decided to take a break from them for a while and picked up two books that have been recommended to me.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This was an utterly fabulous book. It’s a story about a young German girl who is fostered by a family who live in a small town during the Second World War, focussing on Jewish and non-Jewish Germans and how relationships between the two were affected by the Nazi regime. It’s about a little girl growing up during this and the effect that words and stories had on her. Fantastically well written – I would highly, highly recommend it!

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I really didn’t want to like this book, and I don’t even know why. It seemed too hyped and one of those books that everyone seemed to be hammering on about, so I picked it up just so I could say “Well, I read it and didn’t think it was all that actually” in a very snooty, and superior way. But curse everything to hell I bloody loved it. The style takes a bit of getting used to at the beginning (or I thought so anyway) but I was hooked after the first 3 or 4 chapters. Very well thought out and brilliantly written – it means I shall now join the robotic hordes that will declare it’s brilliance to all.

I went to see Avatar over Christmas and I’m not going to spend much time talking about it. Visually brilliant, plot wise tedious and predictable. Make of that what you will, but I certainly didn’t think it was the best film I have seen and will quite frankly be quite put out if it wins the Best Film Bafta. I may even write a strongly worded letter…….

I also was introduced to Tim Minchin thanks to a very good friend of mine. Possibly my favourite musical comedian ever (him and Bill Bailey can battle it out.) I love his philosophy on life and he combines brilliantly witty lyrics with astounding piano playing. But he can also temper his silly side and come up with beautiful and quite heart rending songs. I simply can’t stop listening to him at the moment – I’ve even managed to learn a couple of his easier songs on the piano.

Great stuff!

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