Reading on a Weekend

[bookgazing]

Making a post last Wednesday didn't really work out. And I was reminded that without scheduled posts weekday posts probably aren't going to happen. So, I'll try using the Reading on Wednesday format but on a weekend and see how that goes.

What are you currently reading?

Nothing. I've been hopefully carrying "Ascension" with me to work and back, but I've been so beat this week (your monthly reminder that periods suck) that I haven't had much energy for reading on the bus. I might start it this weekend, but there's A LOT of new TV and some leaving the house going on tomorrow so it might be a Monday book.

What did you recently finish reading?

"Ancillary Justice" which I would now like everybody I know to read and talk to me about. Renay, I left you a comment!

What will you read next?

Definitely "Ascension". Onwards with the Hugo reading!

What are you watching?

I've watched a little bit more of "Person of Interest". Carter is so great! And I ship Reese/Finch like anything. The way Reese says Harold is lovely.

Regular TV has been lacking this week, plus the final episode of "Dracula" was on and it was soul destroying. My joint second fav is probably dead, which is terrible news. Tomorrow though, well tomorrow is going to be a great TV evening. "Call the Midwife" returns and then I can choose between either new "Mr Selfridge" or "The Musketeers".

In other news...

It was my birthday this week and I took a day off. I received some presents including cool books like "The Fishing Fleet" and the box set of "Hannibal" so I can catch up. And I ate tapas, pancakes and got a bit drunk in my house. Good times!

I also made a resolution to make birthday cards for all my friends cards and send them out on time for the rest of the year (small goals are good).

Oh and I saw "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" because Idris Elba and history. I had no idea Naomi Harris was going to play Winnie Mandela, so that was an added bonus. The film did take a whistle stop tour through Mandela's life, which meant the pace was quite fast, but I thought that style worked surprisingly well. The shots didn't feel overly simple or symbolic, which would have been an easy trap to fall into with so much content to work through. And it was a very smooth ride of a film (except in a couple of places during the Robben Island years, where some details felt rushed or a bit choppy).

Next on my watch list is "12 Years a Slave" which promises to be very visceral. I haven't seen a Steve McQueen film yet, but the clips I have seen always give me the feeling that his films are kind of interested in the working body and ooze sweat, grime and bodily pain.

Comments

[chaila]

Happy Belated Birthday!

I really need to watch Mandela.

the clips I have seen always give me the feeling that his films are kind of interested in the working body and ooze sweat, grime and bodily pain

That is a pretty accurate description of 12 Years a Slave. I haven't seen any other McQueen films either; I'm not sure I want to, but I'm glad I saw this one?

[bookgazing]

All the bits where he is wearing ridiculous 80s clothing were especially amazing. I kept thinking how great Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy would have been if he'd been Ricky Tarr (with that awful sheepskin coat). Not that Hardy wasn't great in that role though.

[bookjourney.wordpress.com]

Sounds like your birthday was fun!

[bookgazing]

It was thanks :)

[litlove.wordpress.com]

Happy belated birthday! I am so glad it was a fun one. I will let you watch 12 Year A Slave first and review it before I do. I'm intrigued, but I fear that I lack the guts to watch it. Ratings for distress would be much appreciated!

[bookgazing]

I think I can tell you before I see it that you will probably not be able to deal with 12 Years a Slave. I read a description of what happens to the main female character in the last scene and it sounds terrible, and I don't even think that's supposed to be the worst bit. I'm not sure I'm going to be great at dealing with it but I really want to see it so going to try and push through this one time.

[janesgravity]

Happy late birthday!!!

Mandela and 12 Years a Slave are both on my to-watch list. :-)

[bookgazing]

I really enjoyed Mandela :) I also saw a bunch of films on the trailers that looked good and it's been a while since that happened.

[janesgravity]

I love that feeling :-)

[(Anonymous)]

Happy belated birthday! Each year I think I should be in time to send you and Ana a birthday card and somehow January always rushes up on me. I might have to go for belated cards instead :-)

I still don't know whether or not to watch Long Walk to Freedom. I've seen a few of these movies who try to put a whole life into one movie the past few years and it always seems a bit hurried or as if they had better have chosen one part of the life instead? I gather from your thoughts that this one is actually quite good though.. This shall teach me to be more of a sceptic about not-so-stellar reviews of movies in the "official" sources.

-Iris

[bookgazing]

Well it got the same rating as Desolation of Smaug in the papers I read so I am kind of like >.> It depends what you like. I do like slice of life films but I feel like they shape the narrative more than straight forward biopics sometimes and that's cool, I enjoy crafted narrative agendas but sometimes I just want to see everything. One of the things I liked the most was probably that this film wasn't afraid to bluntly show Mandela's less than stellar side (his relationship with his first wife)but never let you forget that he was also a great freedom fighter.

[theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com]

Happy belated birthday! I hope it was lovely.

And that's a great way to look at McQueen's work. Hunger and Shame both do the same, although Twelve Years a Slave is more accessible than those two.