Because of You - Rebekah Gibbs

Because of You - Rebekah Gibbs (2009)

Being a middle aged woman, who has escaped any scary health things (thankfully), I sometimes delve into the world of health story auto biographies. In this one, 35 year old ex-casualty actress Rebekah is 7 months pregnant when she discovers a lump on her breast. It turns out to be a nasty agressive one, so as well as dealing with a new baby, she has to go through surgery and chemo at the same time.

A bit of a quick easy read, I think I managed this one in about 2.5 hours or so, thus earning it a 3/5. It was an interesting patient perspective without turning preachy. You know the books? The ones that say the author changed their diet to only eating carrots and yams and drinking cat urine, and now the cancer is gone forever!! They annoy me - oh yes they do. I guess people have to find their own path when dealing with cancer, but I think you still have to do things that make you happy, when you can while you can, and if it means a bit of cake and a drink of whatever you fancy, then I say go ahead.

All Pets Go To Heaven - Sylvia Browne

All Pets go to Heaven - Sylvia Browne (2009)

I've always thought that when thing are over, I'll be surrounded by all the pets we have ever had. It is funny, if I talk to my dad he doesn't remeber all the cats we have had, when I had thought they were important members of the family. I guess though we had a few birds, and I don't remember their names.

2/5 - I found this one a bit dry and repetative, but it was a quick and easy read.

Under this Unbroken Sky - Shandi Mitchell

Under this Unbroken Sky - Shandi Mitchell (2009)

Brutal is a word to describe this story of a poor immigrant farmer, who is struggling with his family to make a living in the late 1930s in the praries of northern Canada. After getting out of prison, Tredor Mykolayenko returns to his wife and five children and tries to make their lives better. Disputes occur over the ownership of the land, which has been in his sisters name and resentments between Tredor and his brother in-law loom large.

4/5 - it is quality writing and a compelling story, but somehow it made me a bit depressed, with the grim dark farm, I looked forward to steping out into our summer sunshine.

Sex and the City 2

Sex and the City 2 - DVD (2009)

OMG the horror!! Truly, the most awful movie I have seen in some time, and I even didn't bother finishing it, I was sooo appalled. The horrid tacky clothes that looked like they had shopped in Donatella Versaces house of crap, the over the top holiday destination, that looked like it was filmed in Miami, would have all been fine if it wasn't held together by a boring, dull, tedious and tired script. It wasn't funny, or witty, or even clever, just droll and pathetic.

The first scene was an indication that it was going to be bad, I don't mind the gay wedding - that was the only good bit about it, the horrid cheap and tacking looking set with over the top choir, and minister and the most awful dated dance/song routine - le shudder!

In a time, when everybody is pinching pennies and worried about losing their jobs, this was just done wrong. I don't think that Carrie should be baking cookies, or planting lettuces, but I hate the whole flashy money thing, it is not a world that anyone I know lives in.

So a big 0/5 for this baby - it makes NZ TV look good, and that's saying something.

3,096 Days - Natascha Kampusch

3,096 Days - Natascha Kampusch (2010)

Kidnapped at age 10, on her way to school, Natascha Kampusch was made famous as the girl who was kidnapped and held in a cellar for close to 8 years. Abused physically and sexually, I did not realise that she was also starved and kept underweight while trapped. You have to admire the girl, for putting her own story out there in her words, as so much has been written about her.

The book was small and quick to read, but you get the feeling that there is so much more that is unwritten, but it is truly a miracle that she survived and got away, and from the interviews I have seen, seems smart and capable. I think though, that the pervs that do stuff like this deserve to be strung up in the middle of town. 3/5

Savage Lands - Clare Clark

Savage Lands - Clare Clark (2010)

Early America must have been a desolate and scary place, where life in the colony was hard and full of hardship. In the 1700s, French girls were paid to come over and marry the soldiers and men who were trying to make a living in Louisiana. Elizabeth Savaret arrives and finds herself married to Jean-Claude Babelon, an infrantryman.

Although the book was well written, and the characters were interesting, I found myself somehow a bit disinterested, and a bit tired of it by the end. 2/5

Dewey's Nine Lives - Vicki Myron

Dewey's Nine Lives - Vicki Myron (2010)

I guess after the success of the earlier Dewey book, author Vicki Myron would be encouraged to do another story. This one is about cats who have touched others lives, a bit about the impact of Deweys story and also what has changed in Vickis life.

It was ok, I'll give it a 3/5 but it is pretty light stuff. Any animal lover knows the impact that special pets have on your life, and how your life can be made better by sharing it. It didn't make me teary, and in fact I would have loved more stories, as some seemed somewhat drawn out.

Nowhere Boy

Nowhere Boy - DVD (2009)

I guess if you are of a certain age, you know the story of John Lennons childhood, and how the Beatles got together. I guess I had read about it in a few biographies and magazines from way back, so I found the beginning of the movie a bit slow. However the performances were great, in the end I thought it sweet and sad at the same time. It tells how his background damaged him, and the thought of him ringing his aunty every week, made me feel that the naughty rockstar boy really cared about her, and all she did for him.

3/5

Mad Men 3

Mad Men 3 - DVD (2009)

Le sigh, I have all caught up on the mad men DVD series. Secretly I love the stylish decors and fashions, and of course we all love the Don. Don celebrates a manliness that is appealing in a Hollywood that seems to full of manboys, you know the male actors who are 40ish and act 20, and also have the flabbiness of your brothers unemployed friend.

There is also a part of me that hates the sexist attitudes, the racism and the snobbishness that seem to be prelevant in the portrayed era. Still it does a great job of showing the secrets stewing underneath the picture perfect surface.

So I have to give in now, and stop with the DVD series, they sure are a big time suck. Time to knuckle down to packing, and start some new series in 2011.

4/5 - and I can't wait for a new series. If only for the motor mower episode - classic.

One Day - David Nicholls

One Day - David Nicholls (2009)

Another book being turned into a movie. I had read good things in blogland about this one, but it was a bit so so for me. It felt like a story I had already read, and seemed a rehash of sentimental rom com movies. You know the premise, young in their 20s guy and girl meet, and keep in touch, secretly wish for each other, wait til they are middle aged and hook up again.

I feel like I am slowly chugging my way through a few books slowly, as I am attempting to try to pack my stuff up, so that I can move next month. So the books need to hold my interest, otherwise I am returning them to the library quick smart.

3/5 for this one.