What a task I set myself in the reviewing of Atonement, Ian McEwans Booker prize winning novel of 2001 and a work which was listed as one of the top 100 reads of all time by Time Magazine. Atonement is part love story, part war story and also a story about stories. The first half [...]
In celebration of the National Year of Reading well be revisiting some great works of fiction during 2012; old favourites and some recent bestsellers. There is certainly a diverse list of books noted below (including one non-fiction) and thankyou to everyone who contributed suggestions. Now we have to decide which books to choose for review/discussion. [...]
I remember the movie Pearl Harbour for the great soundtrack, special effects and tumultuous air attack. What I didn't expect on visiting this historic site was the sense of serenity which pervades every inch of the area; despite the throng of visitors. Tour buses unload with military precision at the site which is managed by [...]
There's been more hype about December 21, 2012 than there was about the Y2K scare at the turn of the century. Remember all the dramas? Computers would blow up affecting everything from skyscraper elevators to microwaves. Well I can't say we had too many problems up here in sunny Boomi. As a precaution I pulled the power [...]
During the last season one of the participants on Master Chief was eliminated. As the contestants are vying for the MC title its a necessary part of the program, eventually there can be only one. As always it is the ability to concoct a certain dish that the judges base their decision on when it [...]
Someone once said that it is better to be very good at a couple of things rather than having a little knowledge about many. It makes sense I guess, until you find yourself wishing things were different. It helps to be skilled in a number of things. For instance if I knew how to weld [...]
Here is part two of summer readables. Enjoy! The Villa Triste (Mantle 2010) by UK author Lucretia Grindle is one of those books that could have had a more engaging cover. I'm sure many browsers would pass it by when it deserves more than a cursery glance. In 1943 Italy signs the armistice that slides it [...]
The Observer recently posted their take on predicted advances for the next 25 yrs. The article covers everything from energy to shifting world powers. Most of the points raised don't really tell us any thing new, for example everyone expects India to take a step forward in the world powers game and I don't think [...]
Happy New Year to all. Here's to joy and good health as we enter a new decade. As promised here is the first of my summer readables for January 2011. There is no particular form to these. I've chosen works I've read over the last five months and thrown in a couple of old favourites from [...]
Occasionally I read something that intrigues me. Somewhere amid the last months reading which spans a book on droving in Australia through to Vanity Fair (apologies I cant attribute), I came across an article on the late great actress Sarah Bernhardt (c. October 23, 1844 March 26, 1923) to read about her life go to http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/bernhardt001.html [...]