Middle Aged Lady Movie Night - JoJo Rabbit

Well there is no choice but to have a Middle Aged Lady Movie Night at the moment, as all the cinemas are closed due to the lockdown.  I wonder if many of them will be able to return after this.  So there is no going out for movies anymore,  its all on the couch, and I am happy to mix and vodka and orange and put my feet up on the couch.

I saved JoJo Rabbit up for a Saturday night.  I like Taika Waititi, his other movies have always put a smile on my face with his special type of Kiwi humor.   JoJo Rabbit is the story of a young German boy, who in the Hitler Youth has formed his own prejudices.  It is hard to picture the movie unless you see it, as he has an imaginary friend, a bumbling Hitler played by the director Taika.  I don't know I just found it all a bit overdone.  I liked the performances of all the main characters, but felt that the supporting roles were all a bit stereotype slapstick, and to me distracted from the storytelling.  Rebel Wilson seems a sweet girl, but always plays the same bumbling simple big girl role, and Stephen Merchant as the evil Gestapo officer.

It is hard subject matter to turn into a comedy, and it I could not help but think I would have loved the story if it had a more dramatic serious tone.  For that I give it a 3.5/5

Music Monday - Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

A bit of calming music for Monday.   My mind needs to look and listen to other things, and I think I need to turn away from the news now.  I feel satiated, and ready to find some joy.  This old elephant looks content standing in the garden listening, and I am sure you can see him smile.

Miss Austen - Gill Hornby

This is the story of Cassandra Austen, Jane Austens older sister who years after the authors death goes to a family home to try and retrieve some of the family letters.  Afraid that they may be published, putting a bad spin on the family story, we get to hear about the girls earlier lives and their romances. 

It is always interesting to think about how a womans life at the time was determined by the men of the family, and how there was little security for those who were unmarried or poor and their destiny was at the whim of fathers and brothers.  4/5

Me - Elton John

I was a little surprised how much I liked this autobiography, as I wasn't expecting it to be so amusing and such an interesting read.  I guess over the years I have read bits about Elton Johns life, and knew that he didn't have a great relationship with his mother, but I didn't understand how hard and lonely a lot of his childhood was. 

You do have to admire his talent and success are a result of his hard work, but boy he seemed to have a wild ride along the way.  He doesn't hold back in this book in talking about his drug use,suicide attempts and sex life and I enjoyed his honesty.  It is so nice to know that after years of feeling unloved he has found love with his husband and sons. 

The best bit though of the book I think is that the tone of it sounds just like he is sitting on the couch next to you having a bit of a bitchy catch up, and I felt like I could have read on for longer. 5/5

Music Monday - Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

Thanks for the music Kenny Rogers.  Doesn't this song make you think of summer nights in the 70s?

Music Monday - To Die for - Sam Smith

My gosh, I keep listening to this haunting song by Sam Smith, and only looked at the video tonight which seemed terribly sad.  Music is a good distraction at the moment - and we all need a bit of that.

Angels At My Fingertips - Lorna Byrne

I am not sure what to write here, as I have read this book with a lot of skepticism.  Since a young child Lorna Byrne has been able to see angels surrounding people, and her own guardian angel, as well as others that visit to guide us.  She tells us about our own guardian angel, that is with us everywhere helping and protecting us.

I like the thought of my own bodyguard,  and that as people die that their angels are there to wrap their wings around us and help guide us as we die.  More than that I am not sure I am enough of a believer to fully get everything she writes about.  3/5

Music Monday - Dance of the Clairvoyants - Pearl Jam

I was watching some music videos over the weekend and came across this new song from Pearl Jam.  I have it on repeat as I like the song, and the video is pretty awesome too.   I have never been a huge fan, although I do like Eddie Vedders voice and some of the songs like Daughter and Better Man have always been on my play lists, I haven't listened to any new music from them in years, but something about this song appeals to me a lot.

The Sun and Her Flowers - Rupi Kaur

I wanted to be all millennial and be able to enjoy some new poetry as I do my yoga on a cliff, but its just not for me.  I've had a couple of periods in my life when I have read some poetry books, but it never sticks with me and I have figured out that I will never be able to quote some wistful words and am best to stick to my usual fiction and non fiction tomes. 2/5

Simple - Diana Henry

I got this one out from the library, and while the pictures make the food look tasty and I would not eating some of it, I did not feel like it was food I would cook.  Really, it wasn't simple for me.  I am unlikely to buy pomegranates and figs and found it mostly a bit  too fancy and expensive for my tastes and budget. 2/5

Wham! George & Me - Andrew Ridgeley

I was just a teenager myself when the short shorts of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley bounced onto our tv screens.  It was always a bit cheesy but I bopped along like the rest of my friends.  I may have ogled their pictures in the teen magazines, but I was unaware of their stories - of them meeting as young teenagers at school and becoming best friends.  I never quite realized how young they were when they found fame and were making us sing along to Club Tropicana and Wake Me Up Before You Gogo.

I liked this book, it was easy to read and not dragged down by lots of boring facts, but rather follows their stories in a light and breezy way.  I am sure the author is holding back lots of juicy stories, they must have had their fair share of parties and silliness, but I liked that it has some restraint.  4/5

Music Monday - In the Air - L.A.B.

A bit of kiwiana music to start the week off with a laid back vibe - although it is making my middle aged ladiness tense that they aren't wearing their seat belts.  This song is number one in our spotify charts this week, and I must admit to enjoying it from the first listen.