Week eighteen Book twenty-five : Best Foot Forward

 

Was not expecting that much, I like Adam Hills, but now enough to say I love Adam Hills. What was likely to be a funny and witty memoir by an Aussie comedian I like (love) and respect (seriously) - what I got was an addictive and unputdownable stand up gig that lasted a couple of days.

If you like Adam Hills, joyousness, happy stories and general Aussie banter, then this is for you. 

Or Spicks and Specks.

Or Stand up.

Or celebrity name dropping (cough Billy Connolly cough).

Or the Last Leg.

Or, well you name it...

Week seventeen Book twenty-four :Wham! George and Me

 

An unabashed teen of the 80's reads a book about some of the most famous teens (initially) of the 80's. Hardly a big surprise that I enjoyed it. I did thoroughly enjoy this memoir though, filled as it is with the coincidence, determination and luck that accompanies most of these stories (at least the true ones). 

Definitely a reminder of that time, and the course of the fame that I watched grow from Young Guns onward. It's a definite sore spot that I never saw them, or George live, and after his death why I spent a fair amount of time and money seeing acts I wanted to see, before another year like 2016 happens. 

I'll also confess to a deep sadness when Andy talks about George's death, or moves deliberately to eulogistic terms to describe him. 

If you're a fan you'll love it, if you're not then you probably won't read it, but you could do worse.

Week sixteen Book twenty-three : The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez

 

Delightfully written and wistfully delivered story. Provided you don't examine the events too closely, or think too much beyond the superficial romantic nature of it all.

The bilingual writing, the cultures mixing together and the fact it's (mostly) set in a bygone era, are forgiving enough for the selfishness and phallocentric machismo that drives much of the narrative.   

A lot of people pay the price of one man's desires, where women exist to serve the destiny of men, or to curse them and be overcome. 

So there's a bit to forgive, but it's still engaging and it's still beautifully written.

Week sixteen Book twenty-two : Like Brothers

 

Insight into the minds of the Duplass brothers, reads much like you would expect it to. If you like the brothers work (I do) and you wanted to know how that worked (I did) and what pitfalls happened (Go on) and being so close and yet having partners and children is like (Fascinating).

I did enjoy, not the least because they are easy going and smart, usually not much of a combination.

But like their movies, they work well and you don't really know why but you just feel it? (Uh huh, go on!).

No that's it. (Oh, OK. That's good?)

Love you (Love you too), 

Affectionately, Stink Monster.

(Read the book, it will all make sense).

Maybe.

Week Fifteen Book twenty-one : The Thursday Murder Club

 

A ripping yarn, full of character and charm. Though it was a slow read, mostly because you can easily imagine Osman narrating the book to you, and he's not as fast as the voice in my head.

Not a whodunnit, so much as a "look over at the left hand, ignore the right" kind of mystery. Whenever you think you have it, the rug is gently slid from under you, to plonk you in the comfortable armchair of being lead up the garden path.

A few problems with the resolution, but it's not about the trip home, it's the holiday before that.

Week fourteen Book twenty : The Unexpected Spy

 

Hard to define this book as it's fascinating and highly offensive at the same time. Is her story interesting? Yes. Is she likeable? No. Is that sexism? I sincerely hope not. Was she treated poorly because of her gender? Yes. Did she treat others poorly because their (gender, race, religion, country of origin)? Also Yes. 

Can you learn something from this book? Yes? Did the author? If she did, she missed the bigger picture of her own arrogance, racism, prejudices and yes even her own sexism. 

I expected to be reading about battling sexism in the CIA and FBI from the blurb, but instead got a love letter to American Exceptionalism written by an "Ugly American" trope masquerading (barely) as an Enlightened Internationalist.

Week thirteen Book nineteen : Fight Like A Physicist

 

A short but interesting overview of basic principles of Physics applied to the Martial Arts (all of which, regardless of discipline, creed or origin - are bound to the same laws of Physics). 

Will make more sense to actual martial artists, and a good understanding on the science of it all is no replacement for training and experience. 

But like all things that could do with demystifying, colouring in your understanding with a grounded science, this is a good set of things to know/understand/realise.