What have I been doing?
1.) On Friday I saw Ash who were awesome! We were totally motivated and stood all though the second support act, which meant we were one person away from the front, until maybe the last 20 minutes of a nice long Ash set (when moshers tried to squish us). Awesome, actually better than I was expecting and I was expecting good things. That makes 3 bands so far this year and I’ll be at Latitude and possibly Reading festival later in the year. Awesome!
2.) Watched ‘Date Night’, which made no sense and totally killed the momentum of what could have been a sweet exploration of marriage, but still managed to be hilarious. About ten minutes in I decided that Tina Fey and Steve Carrell would make a great real life couple in an alternate universe.
3.) Finished the weekend watching a repeat of the 2010 Leszno Grand Prix which was a cracker. Speedway season is back people and if you fancy seeing a new form of motorsport I bet you can find a track nearby.
3.) Bought the rest of the Orange shortlist. Now, it’s not as bad as it sounds. I bought ‘Black Water Rising’ and ‘The Woman on the Green Bicycle’, but left the other two alone (saving money = good). Then Friday, before I left for Ash, I got a phone call from my mum to say she was in Waterstones, Orange shortlist books were part of the 3 for 2 offer...so she got the two I was missing.
4.) Made a start on ‘ Black Water Rising’, the thriller on the Orange shortlist. It’s pretty good, if a little slow. I’m finding the exploration of racial politics, through references to the main character’s past, more interesting than the present day crimes. I’m sure it will all tie together at the end and the present day crimes will become political.
5.) Made a massive push in my Anna Karenina reading. I’m now about 20 pages from finishing the first part so I’ve met Anna and her brother, Anna has met Vronsky and Kitty’s world is getting rocked. More on that in a later post. You can read Danielle’s first post about the read-a-long too. I think she’s a bit surprised about how easy it is to read and so am I. Must remember that not all Russian writers are unbearably earnest like Pasternak.
How has life been with you?
13 comments:
Anna Karenina has suprised me with its readability as well! You're at about the same place where I am in the book. I'm glad to hear you're liking it thus far.
You've been busy! And how cool of you mom to get you the two Orange books you were missing. yay for moms!
Date Night was some good theater fun. Carrell and Fey were a great comedic pair.
Hmm you're convincing me that perhaps I should give Anna Karenina another go. I couldn't stand it. I think I was 17 or 18 when I started reading it and had not long made the transition from YA to 'grown up' books so it was quite a heavy one to slot in there!! I'll be interested to see how you go :)
I very nearly had an accident on my walk home from work last night as it takes me past two Waterstones shops both of whom were tempting me with that 342 deal. Managed to resist but only because I wanted to see if actually would end up cheaper online. When did books get so expensive? :(
Can't believe you are going to Latitude on the year I am not! Hope you have a fab time and enjoy it.
irisonbooks it seems so easy so far. There have been a few places I ahd to think hard, but otherwise whoosh. I guess that's the feeling you get when an author really gets the way people act and renders it so well.
Stefanie I know she is great and I have until June to finish up the list now.
Christy aren't they great? I loved the real Triplehorns as well - the girl who was Summer in 'That 70s Show' was hilarious. 'You just took our reservation? What kind fo person does that?' If only the plot had made a bit more sense.
Elise I don't know how it would have sat with me at 18. I think I'd have found everyone very hypocritical and scorned them. Maybe it's one for later life.
Peta noooooo so close, but so far! I'm looking forward to it, especially as we will be having posh Tangerine fields tents this year because the people I'm going with didn't want to bring tents from overseas (score).
Books do seem very expensive right now. Or maybe it's that they take forever to move from hardback to paperback. I want authors to be able to eat, but at the same time I will be sad if books reach luxury spending levels. They are clearly a necessity.
Who can resist 3 for 2 right? Looking forward to your thoughts on all those Oranges.
Sounds like you've been having a grand time! :)
I'm so out of it, I don't think I've really paid attention to what's on the Orange list but have to check out the site soon to see which books I need to look for. Enjoy your book buys!
I succembed to that Waterstone's three for two offer... but I didn't get the Black Water Rising novel, although I hovered over it. Will be very interested to hear what you think of it.
Ooh I'm going to Latitude too. It's close to where I live and couldn't miss the chance to see Belle and Sebastian for the first time. Excited!
mariel I am super excited for them and they only seem to be playing 2 concerts in the UK this year. I actually may swoon if they play 'Seeing Other People'. Who else are you looking forward to (ahhh Florence)?
litlove I finished it this week, so I'll have thoughts soon. What did you pick up?
Busy! Not much time to blog. I'm glad you are enjoying Anna K. -- I loved that book!
Post a Comment