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Miscellaneous media reviews
Jan. 18th, 2005 09:20 amI've had quite a saturated few days.
Last week, I read Lovely Bones and Lucky, by Alice Sebold. I got given them as a present a while ago, and had kind of avoided them for being trendy. As it turned out, I really enjoyed both of them, but particularly Lovely Bones. It's a bit cloying in parts, but the story of a murdered girl watching her family evolve and carry on after the event was very poignant. Lucky was the story of the author's own rape at college, and was a mix of gruelling and inspirational.
I went to watch Coffee and Cigarettes at the Gloucester Guildhall, which is a pretty neat arts centre that I haven't visited for ages. It was all shot in black and white, and consisted of a series of sketches where characters just talk, and the sketches are only linked by coffee and cigarettes. Personally, I liked it, but I could see that people who liked more linear and coherent plots would find it frustrating.
I also read Like Mother, by Jenni Diski. It's the story of a fairly unhinged young lady and her growing up, told by her newborn baby. Who has no brain, and is called Nony. Short for non-entity. With that overall premise, it wasn't really going to be cheery, was it? It is nonetheless a really well-written book, and quite absorbing. I felt sorry for the woman - even though she was an utter bitch, her upbringing with two alcoholic and unhinged parents wasn't going to help her become sane and balanced.
And last night I watched the "Team America, World Police". Written by the South Park team, directed by the godlike Trey Parker, puppet sex and ironic songs. What more could you ask for. These guys have been accused of beign silly, and sometimes their stuff does get a bit routine these days, but I think they actually do have, like, you know, stuff to say ;)
Last week, I read Lovely Bones and Lucky, by Alice Sebold. I got given them as a present a while ago, and had kind of avoided them for being trendy. As it turned out, I really enjoyed both of them, but particularly Lovely Bones. It's a bit cloying in parts, but the story of a murdered girl watching her family evolve and carry on after the event was very poignant. Lucky was the story of the author's own rape at college, and was a mix of gruelling and inspirational.
I went to watch Coffee and Cigarettes at the Gloucester Guildhall, which is a pretty neat arts centre that I haven't visited for ages. It was all shot in black and white, and consisted of a series of sketches where characters just talk, and the sketches are only linked by coffee and cigarettes. Personally, I liked it, but I could see that people who liked more linear and coherent plots would find it frustrating.
I also read Like Mother, by Jenni Diski. It's the story of a fairly unhinged young lady and her growing up, told by her newborn baby. Who has no brain, and is called Nony. Short for non-entity. With that overall premise, it wasn't really going to be cheery, was it? It is nonetheless a really well-written book, and quite absorbing. I felt sorry for the woman - even though she was an utter bitch, her upbringing with two alcoholic and unhinged parents wasn't going to help her become sane and balanced.
And last night I watched the "Team America, World Police". Written by the South Park team, directed by the godlike Trey Parker, puppet sex and ironic songs. What more could you ask for. These guys have been accused of beign silly, and sometimes their stuff does get a bit routine these days, but I think they actually do have, like, you know, stuff to say ;)
