Skyfall

I am not quite sure how I have not managed to sit down and write about the amazingness that is Skyfall when I saw it nearly a week ago. Friday 26th October was opening night for Skyfall, the latest Bond film starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Feinnes and her majesty Dame Judi Dench.

Having read my first Bond novel almost a year ago now, I feel a new kind of relationship with Bond as Fleming's creation. Who am I kidding? Bond is sexier than ever in this film and, I don't know about you, but it's partly because he's starting to look older. Oh and they've slipped in some back story for Bond this time, which although controversial, definitely makes Bond even more sexy... I mean, who doesn't love a troubled soul? A troubled soul with no shirt. JK Rowling could have learnt a few things in that department for some of her conflicted characters...

What I find interesting about Bond as a series of novels, though, is the way in which someone like Fleming can write an essentially two dimensional character and use it to his advantage. In this day and age we all want complex characters, intricate plots, lots of things keeping us entertained all the time, and a 2D character with no apparent emotions, personal aspirations or history doesn't appear to immediately provide that. What it does though, is to allow the writer (whether it the original author, someone new or even a director) to write on top of it. The basis of the character remains the same so that they are recognisable to us all - we root for Bond probably mainly for this reason, although there are of course other factors - but all the variables like the settings and, most importantly, the writer's creativity, can be constantly changed without affecting the classic iconography of this infamous agent.

Recently, Idris Elba of The Wire, Luther, Prometheus and all-important provider of the sexiest voice behind any Vodaphone ad, has been at the centre of rumours regarding Daniel Craig's successor. I mean who knows if it's true but I would certainly be up for some shirtless Idris action. If it isn't Idris Elba, though, I would suggest one of the following would make an entertaining Bond...

Tom Hardy: Now-that's-what-I-call-guns Bond

Prince Harry: Royal Red-head Bond

Thomas Sangster: Baby Bond

Dumbledore: Kick-ass Magic OAP Bond

Joey Essex: Blow-dry Bond

And because you can't have a bond post without a token shirtless Daniel Craig... here you go:

The Case of the Random Penguin

So if you haven't heard, I'm not quite sure what log you've been lying under. Publishing giants, Penguin and Random House, have decided to join forces in what the press release describes as a 'joint venture'. Basically, they just created the Super Publisher: a big gigantic penguin, probably the size of a house (obviously), waddling violently through the congested book market, throwing copies of Fifty Shades of Grey at speechless Hachette who are probably planning to buy up every single stall at next year's London Book Fair in an effort to take on this burgeoning Super Publisher.

Change is always scary and I have to say I was slightly concerned as I'm not a massive fan of having one company dominate the literary market. That said, it isn't the end of publishing, things are just changing and the publishing industry more than most should be pretty used to that notion with the gradual taking over of Kindle and its chums.

Pearson PLC and Bertelsmann who own Penguin and Random House respectively obviously think this is a good move, though. The quotes and press releases though just seem too full of suspiciously fluffy words like flourish, flair, creative energies and that famous word, 'passion'. And seriously, the least they could have done is call it Random Penguin. Think of the logo potential!

Despite my suspicions, it's certainly exciting. Makes a change from the usual literary headlines surrounding the erotica boom, the sad but inevitable demise of Waterstones and the transformation of the book world into an Amazonian Kindleforest.

The Song of Achilles

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grown into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

The Orange prize lost its sponsor this year but I’m pleased to say it doesn’t seem to have lost its ability to pick a good book. Winner of this year's prize, Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles (or the 'dong' of Achilles as I wrote originally... not actually altogether inappropriate...), is perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, though. From the blurb someone might see the Trojan War, angry hairy men who believe in fantastical Greek gods and the soldierly duty of a young mythological prince rather dull. I, however, see this as an exciting historical epic (with gods and stuff) but, first and foremost, as a love story. A love story with hunky men that have sexy battle scars and togas and feathered helmets. Mildly aware that I am demeaning a classic, although sometimes controversial, story that is centuries, millennia old…

The embarrassing part is that despite floaty goddesses and angry war gods sending disease and *gasps* no wind for an army’s sails, I had somehow persuaded myself (quite easily it seems) that this was an historical novel… I was like ahh cool, love to read about what really happened with the Greeks taking on the Trojans with arrows and giant wooden horses. I think I got confused when I had to explain to myself how in the recounting of a famous event some of the characters could have been real and some… namely a pretty central half god/half human character…  must be fictional… I fear this blog may have turned into some kind of tribute to my simple mind. Perhaps someone else could chip in here, you know, say I’m actually not that stupid? I’m not. Honest.

Anyway… the novel. It’s beautifully written. Sure it has some metaphors in there that make it beautiful, but for me the real pleasure is in the way the writing flows. It’s just so easy to read. Easy almost to the point that I wondered if I’d picked up the wrong title. I’m not quite sure why I was expecting a challenge but it wasn’t so I was pleasantly surprised.

The relationship between the iconic Achilles and Patroclus is carefully built and culminates in a truly touching final scene that did make me well up. I like to blame that on the too-many glasses of Aperol Spritz that evening but I think Miller needs the credit there.

There's plenty of sex in here too if you're missing your dose of Fifty Shades...

The only blip for me was a short period in the middle. I can’t quite put my finger on what was lacking but there is a sort of transitional point in the narrative that just dragged a little bit. The concluding chapters though more than made up for it with plenty of action and 'oh what have you done' moments. For those well-acquainted with the myth, don't be put off - it's a great story and one that you can understand why, from this book, has stood the test of time. 

This book gets 7/10. I originally gave it an 8 but after some thought I wondered if perhaps I was raving about it so much because the end affected me so much. Had I been asked to rate it at half way through, maybe I'd have given it a lower rating. As a result, I've gone down the middle but I do recommend this book. Particularly if you like soldiers and mythology and good old forbidden love.

Spineless Classics

Spineless classics? No, I don't mean the kind of story that will weep and nod at any criticism or be walked all over. This fantastic project seeks to provide books literally without spines. How? By putting each book all on one page and very pretty they are too. The text of each book has been originally shaped into an appropriate image, many satisfyingly intricate, so that they can be enjoyed up close as a novel and far away as a clever silhouette.

I've come across this project before but it wasn't until visiting the Cheltenham Literature Festival this year that I saw them properly, not just online or advertised in magazines. They're not cheap but they're good fun and if you're looking for something to fill 'that space' above the sofa, have a look at www.spinelessclassics.com 

  

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

This is one of those horribly embarrassing moments where I write a post for my book blog and I haven't read the book. At least I'm up front with you all, though, right? I desperately wanted to be able to put it down to me being, you know, too mature and grown up for a novel that was written for the generation beneath me but no, it was first published in 1999 when I was just 10 years old, leaving all my teen years to get stuck into this exploration of the awkward, angst-fuelled, self-conscious years of a teenage introvert. Tragic life story? Actually not.

Since I seem to be in the mood to reveal embarrassing facts... I wanted to see this film for two reasons. Neither reflects well on me. One: Emma Watson is in it. Two: Ezra Miller is in it. I was slightly disappointed to find out that the evil hotness that is Ezra Miller is unequivocally gay in this film... turns out it doesn't matter.

Perks of Being a Wallflower was really quite good, I thought. I think I'd expected something a bit wallpapery, perhaps unfairly. It was full with all you'd want from a teenage coming-of-age drama: awkward first dates, weed-fueled house parties, To Kill a Mockingbird, and angst, plenty of angst. One thing that this film didn't have were desperately shaven actors in their 30s playing teenagers. I genuinely believed Logan Lerman couldn't grow a beard if he tried.

I hadn't actually come across Lerman before but what a great performance! As for Emma Watson, I spent her first few scenes feeling extremely tense. The kind of agonising, shoulder-rising, eyes squinting nervousness that comes with anticipating potential disaster for someone you want to do good. Again, unfair assumption. Although it took me a little while to accept that this character has rational reason to fear her exams because she's not actually Hermione Granger... overall Watson put in a good performance. The accent wasn't awful and by the end I did believe she was Sam.

At 23 I thought I'd moved past being affected by teenage dramas - The OC finished (and this might upset some of you) FIVE years ago, One Tree Hill finally came to a close earlier this year and 90210 and Gossip Girl just never seemed to quite maintain the awesomeness of, say, Gilmore Girls. Shh.

But, and you thought Gilmore Girls was embarrassing, I actually cried in this movie. What's that about? Well, I put it down to a solid plot, plenty of teen anxiety to relate to, spot on lip trembling action from the cast and, probably, an element of nostalgia for days when responsibility stopped at making a functioning clock in your design technology class (or not, as the case may be...). Oh, and maybe because I've always wanted a gay best friend and don't. To the extent that I insist some of my poor male friends are secretly homosexual. To their faces. Their very confused faces. I apologise to you ALL.

Despite it being emotional as all good teen dramas should be, it's also laugh-out-loud funny. Plenty to keep you smiling and you end up feeling kind of good in that mushy glazed-eye kind of way.

Anyway, overall I give this film (adaptation - see I do still talk about books) a healthy 8/10.  It didn't get a 9 because my shoulders still hurt from the anticipation of Emma Watson's acting, even if it was unnecessary. Sorry Emma.

Hilary Mantel Makes History...

...and in more ways than one. Hilary Mantel has written two novels in her Tudor trilogy and as of last night has now won two Booker prizes. An impressive feat and one that puts her into the history books rather than just writing them as she becomes the first British author and the first woman to win the award twice as well as the first author to win twice with such a brief interlude between the two (Wolf Hall won in 2009). She joins only two other authors who have achieved the same double-win, South African novelist, JM Coetzee and Australian writer, Peter Carey.

Last night's glamorous award ceremony held at London's Guildhall, complete with literary glitterati and those all-important ice sculptures, was televised live on BBC news. The hall, rather suitably (maybe we should have guessed the winner from the very beginning), played host to a number of Tudor trials including those of Archbishop Thomas Cramner and Anne Boleyn's cousin Henry Howard who would be sentenced to death after being accused by Henry VIII of trying to usurp the crown from Henry's son, Edward. 

Will Self was the favourite to win but Mantel's insurmountable writing that brings to life the Tudor court swooped in to collect the title. The shock on Mantel's face told it all.

You can see the announcement for yourself here via the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19966267 and thankfully they have cut out much of Sir Peter Stothard's speech... I'm sorry, I'm mean - maybe it stems from the minor immature disappointment that it wasn't Booker panelist and Downton Abbey star, Dan Stevens...

You can read my review of the winning novel here. 

J.K. Rowling Webcast

I can't help but rabbit on and so every time I write, the posts seem to get longer... this time you'll be pleased to know I'm going to leave it to someone else - my all time favourite author, cheesy as it may be. Please let us bow to her royal highness... 

Ok just one thing.. Edinburgh is pronounced EdinBRUH not EdinBURROW. Easy mistake.