Ah, Bridget Jones, the epitome of feminist, bad-with-men-woman and food/drink intake obsessive. Bridget Jones is a 30something career-girl who is unable to settle with a man, has a gay best friend (hag-fag) and records every unit of alcohol, every calorie and every cigarette she consumes each day.
The book (or woman) is an example of a (then) modern-day career-girl. Throughout one year, Bridget Jones juggles her jobs, friends, men, cooking and crazed mum while trying to maintain a Zen-state. And failing, with humorous consequences including bad choice of clothing (not that I'd know without reading this book), blue soup, hangovers from hell and a boss whom she is unable to stop falling for. It's all good though, because it makes a good read at the expense of others.
I've been a fan of the film adaptations for years and seen them way too many times so when I found this book in a charity shop it had to be bought and read ASAP (I'd been reading a book on the Manson murders but due to a broken radial head (aka outer elbow) I fancied something more upbeat). It's amusing, light-hearted, merry and worth the 75p I paid for it. Not forgetting that Bridget is almost the exact replica of my mum.
Although this book has a very similar storyline to the films, there are certain parts which were not added to the film and vice versa. Not that I was disappointed (although I do rather like the Darcy/Cleaver fight mid-film), after all, change/difference is good. I also liked that it was very much like Jane Austen's horrible novel Pride and Prejudice as it gave me a basic idea of the story.
Now, after much blabbering and jabbering on, what do I give the novelisation of one of my favourite films with some of my favourite actors?
4 out of 5 (and not because it's a favourite film)
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Saturday 20 August 2011
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
You thought The Hangover situation was bad? Try this account for size.
A classic tale of drug/alcohol consumption and Gonzo journalism, Fear and Loathing is a story which every drug user and anybody interested in the effects of drugs should read.
The semi-fictitious account tells of Raoul Duke's journey to Las Vegas to find the "American Dream". What that is we don't know, but it's something which leads Duke to buying $200 worth of uppers, downers and other dangerous drugs and take a crazy weekend trip away with his 300 pound Samoan attorney.
Throughout, Duke and his attorney frequently munch on acid tabs, take a load of mescaline, drink/take heavy amounts of ether and even a drug which is made, partly, with human blood. All while attending a drugs and narcotics convention. Not forgetting trashing cars, racing up the Vegas strip and running from hotels without paying. How they survived, God only knows.
The writing in this book is sometimes slightly scrambled and tangent-y but it all adds to the nature of the story. Plus, it makes it look like it was written by a druggy. However, it was still a decent read which was another hard-to-put-down book and worth the amount of time I spent looking for it in charity book shops.
I've read and heard of a lot of drugs but some of the stuff described and listed in this book sounds impossible to exist. But, as this is an account by Thompson we're obliged to believe that they're real. Would I try them if the offer was there? I don't know fo' sho', but why not?
Fear and Loathing is a book which pays justice to the phrase "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" - the whole account is not something you'd want to casually tell your parents or friends about when you got home, jet lagged and still hungover.
A fast read and my sort of holiday which receives a rating of 4/5
A classic tale of drug/alcohol consumption and Gonzo journalism, Fear and Loathing is a story which every drug user and anybody interested in the effects of drugs should read.
The semi-fictitious account tells of Raoul Duke's journey to Las Vegas to find the "American Dream". What that is we don't know, but it's something which leads Duke to buying $200 worth of uppers, downers and other dangerous drugs and take a crazy weekend trip away with his 300 pound Samoan attorney.
Throughout, Duke and his attorney frequently munch on acid tabs, take a load of mescaline, drink/take heavy amounts of ether and even a drug which is made, partly, with human blood. All while attending a drugs and narcotics convention. Not forgetting trashing cars, racing up the Vegas strip and running from hotels without paying. How they survived, God only knows.
The writing in this book is sometimes slightly scrambled and tangent-y but it all adds to the nature of the story. Plus, it makes it look like it was written by a druggy. However, it was still a decent read which was another hard-to-put-down book and worth the amount of time I spent looking for it in charity book shops.
I've read and heard of a lot of drugs but some of the stuff described and listed in this book sounds impossible to exist. But, as this is an account by Thompson we're obliged to believe that they're real. Would I try them if the offer was there? I don't know fo' sho', but why not?
Fear and Loathing is a book which pays justice to the phrase "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" - the whole account is not something you'd want to casually tell your parents or friends about when you got home, jet lagged and still hungover.
A fast read and my sort of holiday which receives a rating of 4/5
Wednesday 17 August 2011
The McAtrix Derided by Robertski Brothers
"A parody ... Or is that just what THEY want you to think?"
The McAtrix Derided is, as one would expect, a parody of the film series/franchise The Matrix. It follows a similar concept of being plugged into a machine, fighting the bad guys and a future world.
It's a simple book with scenes you'd find in a crime novel except dumbed down with the characters fighting by flapping their arms, kicking enemies down with the Can-Can and a Frurnchman [sic].
The McAtrix follows all the concepts within the Matrix but makes them funny and actually worth reading (much unlike the Matrix sequels).
Throughout the book you'll more than likely notice a lot cultural and social references with quotes like "You want to kill Bill", "Lots of Peaugeot 308s" and "I'm going to have to press you ... I really need your decision now" (I can't remember where (I've heard this quote but it, or very similar, has been on some recent trash TV). We can't forget the War of the Worlds (English version, not the Hollywood crap) destruction and references to H.G. Wells (author of WOTW).
For a parody it's well written and easy to follow, lacking any pointless plots. It also sticks pretty close to the actual Matrix film(s) with characters' names being modified only slightly except it's set in London (this meant I knew of some of the areas it spoke of - I was even on the way to one of them whilst reading it).
I don't really have any complaints on this book; it was a read which was a good escape, not too heavy and amusing. 4/5
The McAtrix Derided is, as one would expect, a parody of the film series/franchise The Matrix. It follows a similar concept of being plugged into a machine, fighting the bad guys and a future world.
It's a simple book with scenes you'd find in a crime novel except dumbed down with the characters fighting by flapping their arms, kicking enemies down with the Can-Can and a Frurnchman [sic].
The McAtrix follows all the concepts within the Matrix but makes them funny and actually worth reading (much unlike the Matrix sequels).
Throughout the book you'll more than likely notice a lot cultural and social references with quotes like "You want to kill Bill", "Lots of Peaugeot 308s" and "I'm going to have to press you ... I really need your decision now" (I can't remember where (I've heard this quote but it, or very similar, has been on some recent trash TV). We can't forget the War of the Worlds (English version, not the Hollywood crap) destruction and references to H.G. Wells (author of WOTW).
For a parody it's well written and easy to follow, lacking any pointless plots. It also sticks pretty close to the actual Matrix film(s) with characters' names being modified only slightly except it's set in London (this meant I knew of some of the areas it spoke of - I was even on the way to one of them whilst reading it).
I don't really have any complaints on this book; it was a read which was a good escape, not too heavy and amusing. 4/5
Saturday 6 August 2011
Blood Secrets by Craig Jones
I came across this book in a charity bookshop (where else do I buy my books these days?) and simply HAD to buy it due to the publisher's request printed on the back: "Under no circumstances should you reveal the plot of this book to anyone" and a short blurb of "It starts with a murder. Then the evil REALLY begins."
Although I'm unable to reveal the plot, I can give a brief description of the book
Irene is a young and successful university student who has everything going for her when, unexpectedly, she meets kooky Frank - a slightly odd, not-too-handsome history major. What follows is a whirlwind romance-cum-marriage, a child and the suburban lifestyle until Frank starts acting strange.
Beyond that, the reader is left guessing what will happen next (and usually getting it wrong) and, when you think you've got it sussed, something new happens and you're back to guessing square one.
It's a mixture of suspense, shock, horror, gothic and psychological mind-fucks which is impossible to put down until you've read the words "The End".
This is a fantastic read which is strangely and unfortunately out of print now with an author who appears to not even exist: Having spent quite some time online trying to find even the slightest piece of info about Craig Jones, I've come to the conclusion that it must be a pseudonym or that he simply wrote a couple of books and didn't want anybody to know who he was or is (the Internet wasn't exactly mainstream in 1978 so it wasn't too hard to keep a low profile).
I can, however, safely repeat what others have said and tell you that I won't be forgetting this book any time soon, I'll be re-reading it sometime and that it's level with Victims by Shaun Hutson (reviewed previously).
This little masterpiece gets a 5/5 rating from me.
Although I'm unable to reveal the plot, I can give a brief description of the book
Irene is a young and successful university student who has everything going for her when, unexpectedly, she meets kooky Frank - a slightly odd, not-too-handsome history major. What follows is a whirlwind romance-cum-marriage, a child and the suburban lifestyle until Frank starts acting strange.
Beyond that, the reader is left guessing what will happen next (and usually getting it wrong) and, when you think you've got it sussed, something new happens and you're back to guessing square one.
It's a mixture of suspense, shock, horror, gothic and psychological mind-fucks which is impossible to put down until you've read the words "The End".
This is a fantastic read which is strangely and unfortunately out of print now with an author who appears to not even exist: Having spent quite some time online trying to find even the slightest piece of info about Craig Jones, I've come to the conclusion that it must be a pseudonym or that he simply wrote a couple of books and didn't want anybody to know who he was or is (the Internet wasn't exactly mainstream in 1978 so it wasn't too hard to keep a low profile).
I can, however, safely repeat what others have said and tell you that I won't be forgetting this book any time soon, I'll be re-reading it sometime and that it's level with Victims by Shaun Hutson (reviewed previously).
This little masterpiece gets a 5/5 rating from me.
Victims by Shaun Hutson
Another gruesome novel from the psychotic writer Shaun Hutson has been read and now reviewed for your pleasure.
Victims tells of an effects man who, after having an eye transplant, is able to see who is next on the killing list of a maniacal killer, copying the methods of previous, legendary killers. As more people are killed, the fx man is forced to work with the police and is dragged into obsession.
Fast-paced, gory and filled with mystery and suspense, Victims is the perfect horror novel and, so far, the best I've read (And I've read a lot). You can't go past 5 pages without curling your toes at the in-depth descriptions of gore which is the way I like my words to be.
The book was a fast read, finished in three sessions but the content makes up for the shortness. Hutson's chapter construction is interesting also with the book having chapters of only 4 pages max along with titled ones which tell the story of a child making a discovery.
Throughout the book you'll be thinking you've solved a question but you may just be wrong.
Victims is possibly my book of the year and deserves a 5 out of 5 mark. Nice work, Shaun.
Victims tells of an effects man who, after having an eye transplant, is able to see who is next on the killing list of a maniacal killer, copying the methods of previous, legendary killers. As more people are killed, the fx man is forced to work with the police and is dragged into obsession.
Fast-paced, gory and filled with mystery and suspense, Victims is the perfect horror novel and, so far, the best I've read (And I've read a lot). You can't go past 5 pages without curling your toes at the in-depth descriptions of gore which is the way I like my words to be.
The book was a fast read, finished in three sessions but the content makes up for the shortness. Hutson's chapter construction is interesting also with the book having chapters of only 4 pages max along with titled ones which tell the story of a child making a discovery.
Throughout the book you'll be thinking you've solved a question but you may just be wrong.
Victims is possibly my book of the year and deserves a 5 out of 5 mark. Nice work, Shaun.
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