Friday, April 13, 2007
New blog
Here's my new blog so all those people who read my blog can both move with me.
http://t-wiki.livejournal.com/
Hopefully, they won't disappear for ages and I won't forget my password...
Byeeeeeeeee
http://t-wiki.livejournal.com/
Hopefully, they won't disappear for ages and I won't forget my password...
Byeeeeeeeee
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Well read
Well the big read top ten list is out http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6405737.stm and, what a shock to see Lord of the Rings and Pride and Prejudice battling it out at the top.
Can’t really complain too much as I do actually like both books. Some of the other novels there seem to be high up because they ought to be there rather than everyone really likes them.
OK, I have a thing about Dickens actually being a crap author. Part of me was definitely turned off him by my inept sixth form English teacher but there is something awful about his writing. I think his modern day equivalent would be an Eastenders scritpwriter.
Have to be careful about what I say about the Bible because a) not read all of it, obviously and b) don’t won’t to upset anyone with the mistaken belief that it’s literal truth.
Basically, it’s inconsistent, badly written in parts, tautologic and could do with another severe editing. But it is about the greatest story ever told and John’s Gospel, the Psalms and Song of Solomon make up for everything.
Harry Potter books. What? Yes. They are a good read and it does sound a bit snobbish to point out they’re for children. BUT THEY’RE FOR CHILDREN. They aren’t even the best children’s books – Goodnight Mister Tom and The Silver Sword are miles better. And the films have been crap.
I’m still torn about Lord of the Rings. Yes, it’s a brilliant read, a thrilling, breathless epic. But I can also understand why critics deride them for their lack of analysis and poorly developed characterisation. Tolkien kind of wrote it as a back story for English folklore, seeing that other civilisations had them. Personally, I think he should have just promoted the fantastic stories from Old and Middle English.
1984 – should be higher up, not least because it’s now the New Labour handbook on how to really destory the UK. Everytime I read it, I realise how much closer we are becoming to it, cctv on every corner, Britain regarded as USA’s lackey, paucity of language in Newspeak, problems over health and crime dressed up as good news...
Why To Kill a Mockingbird isn’t higher up than number five I don’t know because it’s the best book I read throughout school and college – and one I’ve gone back to since. Required reading about growing up, tolerance, understanding and ignorance.
Still can't believe I've read eight out of the ten books
My list would be (in any order)
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Bible
Les Miserables
To Kill a Mockingbird
1984
Goodnight Mister Tom
Complete works of the Gawain Poet - Pearl, Patience, Cleanness and Gawain and the Green Knight
The York Mystery Plays
Lord of the Rings (for when I just want to read)
Anthology of my favourite poets - including Larkin, Cope, Christine Rossetti, Robert Frost, James Herrick, Carol Ann Duffy. OK, that's a bit of a cheat but my gaff, my rules
Can’t really complain too much as I do actually like both books. Some of the other novels there seem to be high up because they ought to be there rather than everyone really likes them.
OK, I have a thing about Dickens actually being a crap author. Part of me was definitely turned off him by my inept sixth form English teacher but there is something awful about his writing. I think his modern day equivalent would be an Eastenders scritpwriter.
Have to be careful about what I say about the Bible because a) not read all of it, obviously and b) don’t won’t to upset anyone with the mistaken belief that it’s literal truth.
Basically, it’s inconsistent, badly written in parts, tautologic and could do with another severe editing. But it is about the greatest story ever told and John’s Gospel, the Psalms and Song of Solomon make up for everything.
Harry Potter books. What? Yes. They are a good read and it does sound a bit snobbish to point out they’re for children. BUT THEY’RE FOR CHILDREN. They aren’t even the best children’s books – Goodnight Mister Tom and The Silver Sword are miles better. And the films have been crap.
I’m still torn about Lord of the Rings. Yes, it’s a brilliant read, a thrilling, breathless epic. But I can also understand why critics deride them for their lack of analysis and poorly developed characterisation. Tolkien kind of wrote it as a back story for English folklore, seeing that other civilisations had them. Personally, I think he should have just promoted the fantastic stories from Old and Middle English.
1984 – should be higher up, not least because it’s now the New Labour handbook on how to really destory the UK. Everytime I read it, I realise how much closer we are becoming to it, cctv on every corner, Britain regarded as USA’s lackey, paucity of language in Newspeak, problems over health and crime dressed up as good news...
Why To Kill a Mockingbird isn’t higher up than number five I don’t know because it’s the best book I read throughout school and college – and one I’ve gone back to since. Required reading about growing up, tolerance, understanding and ignorance.
Still can't believe I've read eight out of the ten books
My list would be (in any order)
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Bible
Les Miserables
To Kill a Mockingbird
1984
Goodnight Mister Tom
Complete works of the Gawain Poet - Pearl, Patience, Cleanness and Gawain and the Green Knight
The York Mystery Plays
Lord of the Rings (for when I just want to read)
Anthology of my favourite poets - including Larkin, Cope, Christine Rossetti, Robert Frost, James Herrick, Carol Ann Duffy. OK, that's a bit of a cheat but my gaff, my rules
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Old comedies that should be on
Got a great dvd for Christmas (cheers John) of Joking Apart which was a sitcom in the 90s and is very funny.
Only problem is that the BBC didn't think so and stopped it after two series, never even repeating the second series despite the fact it could show it for free.
It also never released it as a dvd and a fan and tv producer had to go and do it so that the series could see the light of day
Have now just looked up another sitcom that I thought was brilliant. 'If you see God tell him' starred Richard Briers and Ade Edmondson and was hilarious. It only had four episodes of 45 minutes length and was a very dark comedy. I remember the BBC getting loads of critcisms for portraying the police as racist - it was actually a throwaway remark and - of course - the BBC has refused to show the series since. It's also not out on dvd.
ALl of this is such a shame because there are other series that are fantastic and don't see the light of day, yet the BBC see fit to come up with all sorts of crap and release them on dvd and repeat them endlessly (My Family immediately springs to mind).
Anyway, if anyone else remembers If you See God Tell Him', email the bbc and get them told.
Only problem is that the BBC didn't think so and stopped it after two series, never even repeating the second series despite the fact it could show it for free.
It also never released it as a dvd and a fan and tv producer had to go and do it so that the series could see the light of day
Have now just looked up another sitcom that I thought was brilliant. 'If you see God tell him' starred Richard Briers and Ade Edmondson and was hilarious. It only had four episodes of 45 minutes length and was a very dark comedy. I remember the BBC getting loads of critcisms for portraying the police as racist - it was actually a throwaway remark and - of course - the BBC has refused to show the series since. It's also not out on dvd.
ALl of this is such a shame because there are other series that are fantastic and don't see the light of day, yet the BBC see fit to come up with all sorts of crap and release them on dvd and repeat them endlessly (My Family immediately springs to mind).
Anyway, if anyone else remembers If you See God Tell Him', email the bbc and get them told.
