Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs

Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs (2012)

Awww Kathy Reichs, have you been out brainstorming with Mr Lee Childs and cra cra Patricia Cornwell?  Been discussing how to write a formulaic thriller for a dumbed down audience?

It started out promising with Dr Bones helping in the autopsy of three small babies found hidden in a residence, with a missing mother.  Then we went haywire, you know the bit where Dr Bones becomes detective Bones, and travels here and there digging into every ones business, investigating the murders and of course the obligatory being held hostage by one of the accused.  Don't you know I hate that?

Surely in these recession proof times, even the medical examiners office has had to pull up the purse strings, and Doctor would be chained to her desk, being expected to investigate several cases at once?  Not out running around town with the two men who are secretly in love with her, like sulky puppies.

I have already had to relegate you from the buy now to the borrow from the library pile, now you might just have to get demoted to the stop reading pile, and join your buddies James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell in the why bother pile.

2/5

War Horse

War Horse - DVD (2011)

The Flu Festival of 2012 provided me some opportunity to sit on the couch over the weekend, and catch up on the reading pile and watch some DVDs.   I had wanted to see this one, but didn't want to spend the money at the cinema.  There are quite a few that come out that I can easily relegate to the might look at later pile of movies.

So this is the story of a  farm boy and his horse Joey who are separated  during the first world war.  Drafted into service we get to follow this Joey, as he is sent into battle.

Of course as soon as it starts, we get an inkling of the ending, but even though the journey is somewhat predictable, it is hard not to be touched by this story.  The visuals are also quite stunning, especially the English countryside which is probably filmed in somewhere cheap and European.  3/5

Real Estate Stalking - Tauranga

Yesterday when I was sick, I decided to see what I could buy if I had a couple of million bucks to spend (I wish).  I found this house in Tauranga NZ.  Isn't the view from the front deck lovely? I could quite happily sit out here with a glass of wine in the evening, and Pops and I would be  cosy curling up on the couch reading a book, or watching the tele.

The kitchen was a bit too laboratory for me, but hey - I am sure I would have thousands left to make it more homey.

You can find it for sale on trade me at: http://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential/for-sale/auction-472156168.htm

Literary Tattoos

Me, well I don't have any tattoos, but I like the idea of using a favorite picture, quote or lyrics on your skin, words that resonate with your life.  I often peak at http://www.contrariwise.org/ which is a blog where people post their literary inspired tattoos (that's where these pictures come from).

I haven't found anything that I would be happy to live with all my life yet, maybe one day, maybe never.  But, I like looking at other peoples beautiful pictures and haunting words.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn (2012)

This is the story of a modern marriage. On the day Nick and Amy are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick arrives home to find that Amy is missing.

That's all you need to know, as the story switches between both their stories, their current lives, and how they got together years earlier.  Two different versions of a marriage, with twists and turns everywhere.

I enjoyed this book a lot, from the first page when I picked it up I didn't want to put it down, and carried it around with me all weekend.  Normally, it is the type of book that I avoid, as so often it is filled with a predictable storyline, but I felt that the author was able to give a fresh voice to a story we think we know.

So I have to say it is worth a 4/5, almost pushing a 5.

Prime

Usually I am a bit dismissive of New Zealand TV.  You see my budget can't afford Sky TV, so I am stuck with poor peoples free Television, where most of the channels seem to be run by fifteen year old boys, who rotate series of Friends and specialise in Adam Sandler movies - yuck.

Thank goodness for Prime TV, for at least they show Game of Thrones, Mad Men and this week I have seen them start to advertise for season three of Downton Abbey.  I do love my books, but I don't want to read them every night, and a few hours in front of the box is good downtime in the evening.  Oh and how can I forget Antiques Roadshow.  Someone on their programming committee must be  middle aged  me thinks.

Still, the evenings are getting lighter here, and next week I think our daylight savings time will start, so there will be time to potter in the garden, and spend with friends.

Front Room Fabrics

Yesterday I spent my $5 jar money on a much needed Dyson vacuum cleaner. I could have gone budget, which I have in the past, and that resulted in ones that break down after a year or two.  I must have super strength hair or something.

Anyways, I'm unlikely to travel to New York and go shopping at Anthropologie, but thank goodness for online shopping.  This lovely duvet is from front room fabrics in modern.  I actually have the pillow cases, and maybe next years $5 jar could get me the duvet cover.

I do love it so.

Jackpot

Jackpot (2011)

A mild mannered factory manager decides to chip in with his ex-con workers for a football competition.   This leads him to be being found in a strip club, lying in a puddle of blood underneath a large woman, clutching a shot gun, with 8 dead bodies surrounding him.

There was plenty of violence in this Norwegian thriller, but because there were lots of laughable scenes as well, it made a good balance, and I could see producers wanting to remake it for a US audience.

Beats watching NZ tv.  3/5

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag - Jennifer Gilbert

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag - Jennifer Gilbert (2012)

I do like me a good little memoir.  It doesn't have to be from somebody famous, or a name dropper to make an impression, sometimes the best ones are about semi-ordinary lives.   Jennifer Gilbert was living an ordinary life with big dreams of a new job in New York, when a trauma changes everything.

This trauma turns her life inside out and she returns home with her parents and plans out her new future, and it was this part of her life that was most interesting.  A new career in event planning, her relationships and path to motherhood are thoughtfully retold with a sense of strength and humour.  So much so, that I stayed up late last night and woke up early this morning to read this book.  4/5

City of Ravens - Boria Sax

City of Ravens - Boria Sax  (2012)

Initially I was drawn to this story by the cover, with the ravens sitting over the Tower of London.  I've been there, and you can't help but be drawn to the great black bird that roam around.  Of course, those ones can't fly over, as they have had their wings clipped to prevent them leaving.

The author mainly looks at the origin of the Towers birds, and the truth regarding the idea that the Monarchy will fall if the birds ever leave.    He also explores how other European cultures have their own myths and beliefs about this regal bird.

Although I learnt a little bit, I found that some of the facts were repeated over and over, and I would have liked to learn a little more about the mysterious birds.  2/5