In Pieces - Sally Field

I enjoyed this memoir more than I expected to.  Rather than being the typical celebrity tell all, this is the story of the real Sally Field, the one that grew up with a rather sad childhood, with few friends and a bit neglected by her actress mother, with a step father who bullied and abused.

The little I knew about her came from shows and movies, but I nothing about her background or life.  Primarily this book focuses on her childhood and young adulthood with 2/3 of the story about her life until age 30, and then skimming over the last 40 years.  I did like that it was not full of boring meetings or stories about obscure plays and shows which I am normally left skipping pages to get through. 

I felt she let all of her vulnerability show in this book, describing the times when she was abused by people who should have taken care of her by family members and people she worked for or were in relationships with.  4/5

How We Made

I found a little series tonight on the Guardian website called How We Made.  There are a variety of small articles about how certain songs/tv shows/Magazines/films  were made or inspired.  I enjoyed reading How We Made All Creatures Great and Small and How We Made One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.  I didn't know that Michael Douglas produced One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, or that it was filmed in a real Mental Hospital with patients used in the movie.  Interesting facts.

Music Monday - Let It All Go - Birdy + Rhodes

I have heard Birdy sing before, she has a lovely voice, but I had never heard of the guy but their voices go nice together.  Dreamy video.

The Other Woman - Sandie Jones

So Emily thinks that life is going to be pretty perfect when she meets handsome Adam.  The only thing is that he has another woman in his life - his mum.

It was an ok read - I enjoyed that it was not too drawn out and long.  I just couldn't help but be annoyed at Emily.  It just seems that who would put up with being treated like that?  I don't know, but I don't think I would be staying in that situation and in the end I was a bit over their story. 3/5

Friday Night

Friday night here at the house of Q and there is no energy to watch a movie tonight.  I have watched the news and Graham Norton and am ready to retire to my bed with the cat and my book.  I did watch this little clip on you tube and it never fails to make me smile and want to watch old movies over again.

Music Monday - Words Are Dead - Agnes Obel

I really do love the tones in Agnes Obels singing, and although it can be a bit difficult to understand what she is singing, it is lovely and gently background music, soothing and haunting at the same time.

The Survivors - Kate Furnivall

This book is set mainly in a Displaced Persons camp directly after the war.  Klara and her 10 year old daughter Alicja are just trying to survive, when Klara spots a face from her past who she knows will cause trouble.

I had trouble believing this story, it seemed a bit disjointed and I couldn't visualize Klara and what she got up to.  I felt like I needed a bit more backstory to understand why she made some of the decisions she did.  She also seemed to push her daughter into some pretty risky situations rather than protect her, and in the end I didn't like her much based on her choices. 

So I struggled a bit to get through this one.  2/5

Ninja Warrior

Oh my goodness I enjoy watching a bit of Australian Ninja Warrior thats on the tele at the moment.  I do have to watch it with my remote on my lap s there is a bit too much chit chat for me.  I don't need backstories or pictures of their family.  I just want to see them do the course.  By the way - I have no interest in doing the show myself.  My bones would snap and I would sink like a bowl of jelly on the first obstacle.

Music Monday - Henry Lee - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

I've always had a love for Nick Cave and his dark goth punk voice, with beautiful lyrics,  and that he always reminds me of a Victorian poet.  I was looking through Ticketmaster the other day and saw that he was touring.  None of my friends would be interested, so I bravely bought myself a solo ticket so that I can go and enjoy the concert.  I have never been to one by myself, and am actually looking forward to the show. 

Middle Aged Lady Movie Night - Mollys Game

Middle Aged Lady Movie Night has happened again.  This means the candles are lit, and the dent is made in the sofa and a movie is chosen.  Best of all it is a 99c special on Apple TV,  much better than spending $17 at the cinema.  I am sad and old now, and quite happy to enjoy the movie by myself at home, rather than getting dragged out to see it at the cinema.  As I seem to have the 200 day cough too, I haven't seen a movie at the theatre since July.

Mollys Games is a story about Molly Bloom, who was a promising young skier who has an accident injuring her spine,  finds herself in Los Angeles working as a waitress and an assistant to a guy who organizes Poker games with his friends every week, which he asks her to help run.   She then ends up running high end games with sports stars, actors, rappers and heads of business, taking in lots of money. 

Jessica Chastain is pretty mesmerizing in the lead role, I think she does a stellar job of making a pretty boring topic watchable.  I have no understanding of card games no matter how many times people have explained to me over the years, I have no head for remembering the rules or what cards have been played and gambling has no appeal to me whatsoever.

Then combining card games with law/court stuff makes it even more of a downer for me, two of the most boring combinations that I could think of it.  It is redeemed somewhat by having Idris
Elba as her lawyer,  and the combination of both of them working together made it a 3/5 for me.

Mind That Child - Dr Simon Rowley

I am a bit of a sucker for a medical memoir, and this one comes from NZ Dr Simon Rowley, a Consultant Pediatrician working in Auckland,New Zealand.  This one works well, combining stories about his own upbringing, his education, marriage and role as a father with stories of his patients and families.  He comes across as the type of doctor that we should admire, knowledgeable, sensible and open to learning from the families that he looks after.  4/5

Music Monday - Beneath Your Beautiful - Labrinth

This is one of those songs that I hear lots and always stop to listen when it is playing as it is so beautiful.  We could all use with a bit more beauty in our week -especially on a Monday.

Origin Story - David Christian

                                                                    

This is one of those books that makes me realize that some people are incredibly smart, and in turn makes me aware of how little I understand. Origin Story is indeed the big history of everything as described in the title. It takes us out into space 13.8 billion years ago and describes what happens as the big bang brings our little earth into being, and how the beginnings of our planet and then live itself evolved. 

I have to confess that a lot of it was still over my head, but it was an interesting journey reading about how we came to be and our tiny little space in the universe. 4/5

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life - Eric Idle

Eric Idle is one fifth of the Monty Pythons Flying Circus, a group of comedians that started performing in the 1960s at University and went on to provide the now famous tv series from 1969- 1974.  In his biography we get to learn mainly about his young adult years, writing for other comedians and then his own group.  At the time their style of comedy was original and controversial, but became hugely popular in the UK and through out the world.

After the series finished there came several movies, and it was interesting to read about the development of these, namely Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian.  He certainly has led an interesting life, and with a large group of friends being from the entertainment world, his stories are littered with his friendships with George Harrison, Robin Williams, Billy Connolly as well as many others.  He came across as genuine and likable, and I think like all good biographies I enjoy the ones like this, that aren't too long and boring, and  where like Eric they have a huge love for their family. 4/5