Christmas Term 2011

It's been a while since I last wrote, so I have a few things to mention.

I'm in the third year of University now and I only managed to read one book this term that wasn't on my module list. The much hyped book, 'The Night Circus,' which was written by Erin Morgenstern. Morgenstern is also a painter, check out her website here: http://erinmorgenstern.com/

The book was very imaginative, but was definitely more style than substance. It's the kind of book you should read for a distraction/escape but nothing more than that.

I have been working for Oxfam Bath as their Press and Publicity Co-ordinator which has been exciting, helping them to secure them coverage in The Bath Chronicle etc. No doubt I'll be using this blog to write about this a lot more over the next few months.

Check out and join these groups:

Oxfam Bath Blog: http://oxfambath.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfambath/

The African Climate Connection: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/african-connection-more

If you're interested in getting involved, then follow the blog or join the Facebook group.

On a final note, I recently published a travel piece I wrote about Thailand on The National Student website. Take a read here:

http://www.thenationalstudent.com/Travel/2011-11-03/The_Colours_of_Thailand.html

A fair few links for you this time, sorry about that! :)

Costa Rica and Niffenegger

I just returned from a two week trip to Costa Rica, in Central America, and had a fantastic time. I went dolphin watching, snorkelling, spent lots of time on the beach, swimming in natural volcanic hot springs, feeding monkeys, surfing and zip lining through the cloud rainforest. Pretty incredible. One of the best parts of travelling is finding inspiration from new places, which provides you with a lot to write about. But another great part is having some time to read. I spent hours reading under a tree, by the beach, relaxed in a hammock.

The book I was reading was called 'Her Fearful Symmetry' which was written by Audrey Niffenegger. Niffenegger also wrote, more famously, 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' The later is one of my favourite books and the reason I decided to read 'Her Fearful Symmetry' in the first place. It was a gripping, occasionally uncomfortable ghost story with unique, well developed characters. The story is centred around two twins, Valentina and Julia and what happens to them with they come to live in a London house left to them by their deceased Aunt. Niffenegger is fantastic at creating characters and a story that is out of the ordinary. However, this book didn't quite compare to her debut. But she's going to have a tough job trying to beat that! I'm not put off however, and plan to read more of her novels in the future.

Films and Turquoise Ink

26th July 2011

Quick post. Wanted to mention a couple of films that I've recently watched and enjoyed. First of all, 'The English Patient.' Apparently one of my Mum's all time favourites and I can see why, it's right up there on my own list of must sees.

The film came out in 1996 and is based on the novel of the same name. It won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The story is set during the second World War and focuses on a burns patient, a Hungarian Count named Laszlo de Almasy. Flashbacks show us the fleeting memory of his affair with a married woman, Katherine Clifton, in the Sahara Desert where he was making maps. The film switches between the past and present, slowly unfolding the background story and how Almasy has come to be in the position in which he finds himself. It is gripping, beautifully shot and the acting is fantastic. The cast includes, amongst others, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Juliette Binoche. All three were Oscar nominated for their performances. Rent this film asap, but be prepared for an upsetting end.

The second film that I wanted to mention is 'A Good Year' starring Russell Crowe. Here the protagonist, the hard and ambitious stockbroker Max, inherits a large French House from his recently deceased Uncle Henry. He visits France with the intention of selling the property, but soon falls in love with the place and people there. Including a spirited young French girl. He learns how to soften up and eventually takes on the house and the vineyard attached.

'A Good Year' was a light, easy film to watch. It caught my attention, as usual, because of the cinematography. The lighting was soft, which I like, and the story was very sweet. Another aspect that caught my attention was a scene in which Max uses turquoise coloured ink to write a letter. I thought it was a really nice touch, using a unique coloured ink to write letters is almost like creating a trademark for yourself. So now, I am in search of some turquoise coloured ink to write with!

Turquoise Ink:

7th July 2011

I have just spent the afternoon finishing off Chris Stewart's 'A Parrot in the Pepper Tree,' which is the sequel to his hugely successful 'Driving Over Lemons.' Both books talk about Stewart's life in Las Alpujarras, south of Granada in Spain. It is here that he runs a sheep farm with his wife, Ana, and daughter, Chloe.

Both books are beautifully written and very funny. He talks about the locals, the landscapes and how he deals with this new life after leaving England behind. As someone very interested in travel writing, I admire his style very much.

Very inspiring. Give both of these a read.

20th June 2011

Have been so busy with finishing off the second year of Bath Spa university that I haven't been blogging as much as I should have been. Or reading as much as I should have. However, I did recently finish a book entitled 'Jim Thompson: The Legendary American of Thailand,' by William Warren. My Mother's partner, coincidently named Jim Thomson himself, gave me this book to read. I went to Thailand in the Summer of 2009. Whilst I was there I visited the house of Jim Thompson in the country's capital, Bangkok, which is why I find the subject of Jim Thompson so fascinating and why I wanted to read this book about his life.

Jim Thompson was an American businessman that went to live in Thailand during the 1940s. He re-established the failing Thai silk industry and promoted it all around the globe, especially in the U.S. Thanks to his contribution Thailand now has one of the most well known and successful silk industries in the entire world. During an Easter Sunday afternoon in 1967, he went for a stroll in the Malaysian jungle and was never seen again. His disappearance is a huge mystery and remains unsolved today. William Warren aims to give the background of Thompson's life and success and provide some of the facts surrounding the man's disappearance.

My trip to Thompson's house, made of teakwood and filled with antiques, was one of the highlights of my visit to Bangkok. The silk was extremely beautiful and now, after reading Warren's book, I know more about its background. I would love to visit the place again.

Photographs from my visit to Thomson's house:

Read the book by William Warren and then go to Bangkok to see for yourself!!! :)

'Think Floyd' and Fuji Velvia.

I discovered Pink Floyd when I was about ten years old. At the time I was really into theatre and performing and went to a drama club every weekend. Pink Floyd tribute band, 'Think Floyd' were looking for some kids to sing in one of their concerts, I was one of the kids and ever since I have loved them. It was a trip down memory lane, then, when I found out 'Think Floyd' were playing at Komedia in Bath on the 17th March, where I am now a University student ten years later.

They were just as amazing as I remembered. Pretty near perfect, both instrumentally (if that's a word) and vocally. They concentrated mostly on Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here with a little of The Wall.

Check them out. If you're a Pink Floyd fan they are unmissable:

http://www.thinkfloyd.net/

I was slightly disappointed when they didn't play 'Another Brick in the Wall' but pretty thrilled when they played 'Echoes.' 'Echoes' is not my favourite song ever but I think it has some of the most amazing lyrics I have ever heard in my life. Which I will put below here, so take a read or try and get hold of this song for a listen:

Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant tide
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine.

And no-one called us to the land
And no-one knows the wheres or whys
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb towards the light

Strangers passing in the street
By chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can

And no-one calls us to move on
And no-one forces down our eyes
And no-one speaks and no-one tries
And no-one flies around the sun

Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes
inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning

And no-one sings me lullabies
And no-one makes me close my eyes
And so I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky

On another note I recently watched 'What Dreams May Come.' The film itself (plot-wise) was pretty good/interesting. But what made it so great was the way it was made with Fuji Velvia film. Visually, it was stunning.

Check out what Velvia is, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvia

Some images of the film:

Here is the trailer, watch between 1.40 and 2.40 for some of the best looking scenes (in my opinion.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHCtLzmras

Enjoy!

Haruki Murakami

Just a quick summing up. Just finished reading 'Sputnik Sweetheart' by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, which is the second novel I have read by him. The first I read a while back, entitled 'Norwegian Wood.' My housemate, Hannah, is heavily interested in Japanese culture and has nearly all of his books, so i'll definitely be planning on borrowing and reading a few more in the future.

'Sputnik Sweetheart' is narrated by K, a teacher in love with his best friend, a writer named Sumire. Unfortunately for K, Sumire is in love with an older married woman called Miu. Miu takes Sumire with her on a journey across Europe. Eventually Sumire disappears on a small Greek island and K is called to come help Miu search for her. This is where things start to get more and more surreal concluding in an ending that I didn't altogether understand. However, I think that is actually what made this book more intriguing to me and defines Murakami's unique style. The actual prose was very vivid and dream-like which I liked. If you enjoy metaphorical writing or are looking for something a bit different to sink your teeth into, start reading some Murakami!