Film Friday

 The intention with this - hopefully - is to post shorts on movies I've watched during the week.

Let's see how I go.

The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Tom Hooper, focuses on the coronation of King George VI after the abdication of Edward VIII.

Unfortunately the new king has a very bad stammer. And with the Royals more in the public eye than ever with the rise of radio, it's imperative that the King be seen and heard as a leader, and not just a figurehead. Enter a rather unconventional speech therapist.

I remember going to The King's Speech at the movies years ago, and enjoying it. It holds up very nicely on second viewing and both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are - as expected - very good. Guy Pearce does a nice supporting turn as Edward VIII, while Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth (we would know her as the Queen Mother now) doesn't have a lot to do but be quietly supportive. Definitely worth watching.

Watching a Heath Ledger movie will never not make me feel a little bit sad, and even the sheer absurdity of A Knight's Tale hasn't changed that. 

I found a copy of this on DVD at an Op shop for, I think, $2 and honestly - the price was right. It's a fun movie with a great soundtrack as the medieval son of a thatcher tries to become a knight and win jousts. That's honestly it, that's the whole movie.

Review - In Memoriam by Alice Winn

 

This was a tough one. Ellwood and Gaunt, both 17, desperately in love with each other, but not wanting the other to find out, are on the cusp of World War 1.

At 17, they're both too young to enlist, but the War comes for both young men.

Their relationship comes to a head in the trenches, and in the brief, quiet spaces in between, but that doesn't mean there's going to be a happy ending.

There's something relentless about In Memoriam, in the way it pulls you in to the trenches with Gant and Ellwood, and all the young men they know and get to know over the course of the war.

The book is interspersed with lists of the injured and dead, printed in the newspapers, and - for me the most hauntingly - in Gaunt and Ellwood's boarding school paper.

This is one of those books - it's well-written, and it has stuck with me, but "enjoyment" is the wrong word for how I felt reading it.

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Another week has sped by somehow. Capitalism once again trapped me in its ancient jaws and I was forced to work for a living. I was feeling out of sorts on Thursday, so took a sick day, and let Son of Mine take a day as well. We both tucked up in the living room and watched The King's Speech, a movie I have not watched in many years. 

I went to my friend's place as usual last night, for cross-stitching and reality TV watching. We're currently watching Survivor: Australia vs the World, and the Celebrity Traitors UK. I love the Traitors, it's my favourite show.

I'm working on a Stormtrooper cross-stitch kit that's destined to be a Christmas present for Son of Mine, and also have a couple of older WIPs on the go.

We went to the library today, and I borrowed books but they're all the way across the room and I cannot remember any of the titles. I also rented the Jodie Foster season of True Detective as I've been wanting to watch that for a while.

Son of Mine and I watched A Knight's Tale this afternoon. I found a copy of it in one of the local Op shops - I go quite frequently and one of the things I do is scour the DVDs and books. Also the clothes - I've found some nice cardigans, a very nice work skirt - and a formal outfit that I wore to the aforementioned (in a previous post) work event.

Anyway.

I finished In Memoriam by Alice Winn last week. It's very good, but can be hard to get through as the bulk of the book is set in the trenches of World War 1. I'm still reading The Royal Wardrobe by Rosie Harte, and the Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. I also started The Eye of Ra by Michael Asher, which I randomly found on a bookshelf when I was moving things around. I think I bought it at either an Op shop or the yearly Rotary sale, but I really don't remember.

Son, friend of mine and I went to a book sale at a small country school a few weeks ago, and I still have the books I bought from there in a bag as I have absolutely nowhere to put them. As Terry Pratchett apparently said, "If you have enough book space, I don't want to talk to you." He'd be loving my house at the moment!!

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 2; It's Monday! What are you reading? 2

Another week has gone by somehow. The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/ Let's see. My week was much the same as always, although we had a work event on Friday night which meant panic-buying shoes and putting makeup on. I did it, and the night was a lot of fun. Somehow though I forgot I'm 54, and definitely paid for all the dancing the next day. I work Saturdays, and it was a VERY long day. I didn't do much last night except watch some TV with Son of Mine and blink once in a while. I'm still reading the same books as last week, and I think I'm about halfway through all of them. I would hope to finish In Memoriam and The Royal Wardrobe this week, but we shall see. How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 1; It's Monday! What are you reading? 1

 

It’s been a minute (over a year) since I did a blog post, but I’ve decided I want to give my braincell some exercise, and writing is an excellent way for it to get its aerobics in.

 

Anyway.

The Sunday Post – a chance for a chat and a catch-up – is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It’s Monday! What are you reading? Is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-473/

 

Let’s see … I’m a bit rusty after so long. Some highlights:

• Son of Mine turned 18 in May. Somehow there is a fully grown adult living in my house. We had a family potluck lunch on the Sunday after his birthday, which was greatly enjoyed by all.
• I got a new car last month, a white Kia Sportage as my previous car – that I did love dearly – had been off the road for many months. So she was sold to a new owner.
• I think that’s it as far as highlights go.

I’m currently reading a non-fiction book called The Royal Wardrobe by Rosie Harte, which is a non-fiction look at royal history – specifically British royal history – through the lens of fashion. Each chapter or so is about a different monarch, so it’s not a deep dive, but it is interesting.

 

One of my goals this year was to finish The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, and I’m not sure if I’m going to get there, although I’m nearly halfway through Wolves of the Calla, which is book 5, so we shall see. I’m also reading In Memoriam by Alice Winn, about two young men who fall in love against the backdrop of World War I. I’m loving it so far, but given the setting I’m braced for sadness.

 

How about you? How was your week? What are you reading?

Review - The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

 

It is 1918. The Great War is dragging on in mud and filth and blood.

In Halifax, Canada, nurse Laura is struggling with tragedies of her own. She had been a nurse in Belgium but was sent home after her hospital was bombed. She then lost her mother when a ship in the harbour exploded.

Her brother Freddie - a solider - is lost somewhere overseas, presumed dead.

However, Freddie isn't dead. Trapped in a pillbox with a German soldier that Freddie only knows as Winter, they fight their way out and across No Man's Land against extraordinary odds.

However, they can't survive alone, and there's a very bad man with a violin who is looking for stories ...

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a lot of things - it's a family saga in a way, as Laura and Freddie fight to find each other. It's a war story in the most intimate and tragic sense of the word, and it's a love story, with as many layers to that description as you can think of.

It's also a ghost story, and blindingly beautiful and tragic.

Katherine Arden wrote The Winternight Trilogy, which I did greatly enjoy.

But The Warm Hands of Ghosts is on another level of elevation, and I loved it.

Sunday Post 57; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 57

 The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

So capitalism once again trapped me, and I also did not win Lotto. I mean, I didn't buy a ticket, but semantics.

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night, and my new shift has started so I worked Saturday and I have Sundays and Mondays off.

I went to my friend's place today for our usual reality TV show and stitching session and we may switch to Sunday afternoons for the time being.

Son of Mine had a friend over last night for a sleepover, and he's off at another friend's tonight for a party/sleepover combo.

I have big plans. I'm going to cook some dinner and watch the last two episodes of season two of Feud.

Maybe do some stitching.

I finished The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden and absolutely loved it.

I also finished The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie, which was a fun read.

I'm now re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring, and still picking my way through Wizards and Glass.

I also started The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell, a murder mystery which is proving to be very entertaining so far. 

How about you? How's your day? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 56; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 56

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

First, thank you for the kind words about Freya. Her ashes are now home with us, and I miss her greatly.

Okay. 

I worked 6 days last week as my roster is temporarily changing to Tuesdays to Saturdays. It means I'll have Mondays off and I am not upset about that. I don't mind working Saturdays - I hate working Sundays. 

Son of Mine turned 17 (somehow) this month and I feel VERY old. And tired. 

What else have I been doing? Working. Reading. Stitching. Getting colder as winter is coming. 

I've been watching Ripley on Netflix, which is very good and Feud Season 2 on Disney, about Truman Capote and his "Swans" which is also very good.

I finished The Hobbit, and The Warm Hands of Ghosts. AND The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie.

I've decided to pick up The Dark Tower again as well. I got part way through book 4 and stalled out due to the very extended flashback. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks in general and this one is something like 500 pages. But I do want to finish the series so I'm chipping away at 10 or so pages as often as I can. I've read about 100 pages that way so it is working.

I'm also re-reading The Lord of the Rings now that I've finished The Hobbit.

How about you? How's  your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 55; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 55

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

First of all, thank you all for your kind words. Unfortunately, Freya crashed and passed away under the anasthetic. The vet even did CPR, but it wasn't enough. He thought she had an underlying condition beyond just the bad teeth. And I agree - between the Thursday when I took her to the vet and the Monday she had the surgery, she was losing weight. And she was only 3.5kg to begin with when she was healthy. 

She was such a constant presence, small as she was, and we all miss her greatly.

Everything else has just been ticking over as normal.

Work has been busy and mostly I've just been super tired.

I'm re-reading The Hobbit, and I'm also reading The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden, which is very good so far.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Maree's Movie Night - the director's short cut

 

You know when you come home on a Friday night and you just want something short, fun and stupid but you want to watch a movie?

Right here. This is the one. Actually any of the Bill & Ted movies would work but this is what Netflix suggested so I went with it.

Uh ... something something, music. Something something time travel.

Dave Grohl and Kid Cudi are in it for some reason?

Lower your expectations. Lower than that. Lower. Lower.  There you go. Bill & Ted Face the Music is nothing but a good time. :)

And now, for a complete shift in tone. The Happy Prince was, apparently, a passion project for Rupert Everett. He stars as Oscar Wilde in his last, fading days in Paris.

There are flashbacks to previous times and the narrative of Mr Wilde's incredibly sad fairy story is woven throughout the narrative. There are a couple of surprising cameos from the likes of Colin Firth and Tom Wilkinson, but it's really Everett's film.

Colin Morgan takes on the rather thankless role of Bosie, and manages to restrain himself from chewing the scenery. 

The heart of the movie - for me - was Edwin Thomas as Robbie Ross, a long-time friend of Oscar Wilde's who stuck by him through everything. Definitely worth watching.

I'm trying to show Son of Mine some fun/classic movies he may not have seen.

Today's pick was National Treasure.

Nicolas Cage. The Declaration of Independence. Sean Bean with a bad dye job.

Honestly, what's not to like???

Sunday Post 54; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 54

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Last week .... work set the same trap for me it always does, so I had to go to the office.

I also had to take Freya to the vet as she's been drooling a lot, and off her food. 

Vet: "Her heart is beating way faster than it should be. I want to test for hyperthyroidism.

Me, who is ALREADY paying out of pocket for Lily's hyperthyroidism (internally) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Luckily, Freya does not have it, she just has bad teeth which are making her feel unhappy. She already had teeth out about three years ago, but now her back molars have to go. I have tomorrow and Tuesday off work (pre-arranged, nothing to do with cats) so I'll be taking her in for surgery in the morning.

We came fourth at quiz on Wednesday, and I got drafted for a fundraiser quiz on Thursday. They're always for a good cause, but I hate fundraiser quizzes because they take so long and it's a gamble for how well they're organised. This one .... was not. I got dragged into it because a friend was one of the people organising it. I think we came third, but I left early as I had work the next day.

Friday night I completely powered down. I watched TV I think.

Saturday morning Son of Mine and I went to the library, and we re-watched some Good Place, and Golden Girls. Saturday night I went to my friend's as usual. We finished a show, so watched The Happy Prince, a Rupert Everett movie about the last days of Oscar Wilde.

Today Son of Mine and I watched National Treasure and I worked on a couple of blackwork projects I have on the go.

I had to DNF A Curse Dark as Gold - I was struggling with it more than I was enjoying it and life is too short. So now I'm reading Pet by Catherine Chidgey and I think I'm going to re-read an Agatha Christie, as I finished RuPaul's memoir.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 53; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 53

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let me see... work happened to me again somehow as I was not the lucky winner of the $30 million Lotto powerball at the weekend. I worked yesterday as well, filling in for a workmate who was on holiday. Six day weeks are no fun but the overtime will certainly disappear into bills and Son of Mine's birthday as soon as I blink. He'll be 17 next month, somehow. 

We came third at quiz on Wednesday night, so we're not having the greatest run but at least we placed.

My work bestie who moved away in February was down this week to visit her family and gather more of her stuff so we had a dinner date on Thursday night. It was absolutely the best to see her, but now I miss her even more.

Friday night I watched Bill and Ted Face the Music, which was exactly the 90 minutes of stupid fun I needed.

Today I was feeling a bit ... ehn. I think because of working six days, and Son of Mine had a friend over last night for a sleepover. I just needed to get out on my own for a bit. So I went and bought myself some new pillows and went to the library. It was exactly what I needed. 

I didn't do much this afternoon, some stitching while trying not to fall asleep.

I'm still reading RuPaul's memoir, and A Curse Dark as Gold. My endeavour this week is to make time for more reading and stitching, and less for Instagram reels which are my Achilles heel.

Anyway. How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Two reviews

There's a war brewing, between Ankh-Morpork and Klatch, over a patch of land that has risen out of the ocean. 

Sam Vimes just wants to do his job, and go home at the end of his shift.

But - somehow - he gets dragged into the war.

Mr Sir Terry Pratchett had a wonderful knack of highlighting the absolute absurdity of aspects of the human condition. In this case, he turned his laser gaze on the absurdity and tragedy of war.

Jingo is hilarious, while also making some very, very savage points.

The trouble with reading a new-new book, that's the first book in a series, and is very, very good, and was published in January ... there's no book 2 out yet.

The Principle of Moments is a sci-fi/fantasy/historical hybrid of a novel. There's time travel, which I'm not usually a fan of, but it also has one of my absolute favourite tropes, which is found family.

A boy in 1812 in love with a prince, time travels to try and find a cure for the displacement he suffers each time he travels. A girl enslaved on a planet in the distant future finds out she has a destiny she knew nothing about. And an alien discovers the same thing about himself.

This was SO good, and such a satisfying read - I shook the book when I'd finished it to see if the second one would magically fall out.

It did not.

 

Maree's Movie Night - The Marvels

 

I have to admit, I have not kept up with the Marvel multi-verse. 

There's just too much. I haven't watched Ms Marvel, and I'm sure there are others that feed into this, but it didn't really matter.

I went into The Marvels with VERY low expectations, but I ended up enjoying it very much of a lot.

I mean, to me, the plot is something, something, something aliens, but what the movie hinges on is the forming bond between Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel and Captain Monica Rambeau.

They all find out accidentally that they can swap places with each other, and everything just descends into chaos from there. 

Also there are alien kittens. 

Super fun, full of heart and honestly a great watch.

Sunday Post 52; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 52

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is  hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

It was a short working week due to the Easter break, which was nice. The days off I mean. The other parts ... well let's just say I didn't win Lotto. 

We came fourth at quiz on Wednesday night, which isn't ideal, but it keeps us humble. I GUESS.

Friday night Son of Mine stayed at a friend's place so I merged with my couch and watched The Marvels. Which I enjoyed, I thought it was a fun movie.

Saturday morning, friend and I went to the library, and I went to her place as usual on Saturday night.

Today I was feeling productive somehow, so Son of Mine and I did some baking. We made some chocolate chip cookies, and a lemon loaf. 

I've done some stitching today as well, and that's about it, I think.

I finished Jingo by Terry Pratchett, and The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson.

Now I'm reading The House of Hidden Meanings - RuPaul's memoir, and a book called A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, which has been on my bookcase for YEARS. 

Every so often I delude myself and try to alternate reading a library book with one I own. It usually goes ... badly, but it doesn't stop me from trying. 

I've also started culling my shelves. I've done one so far. I took a bag into work, and anything that's left from that will be donated.

Anyway. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Maree's Movie Night

 

I have a weakness for heist stories. And found family stories.

Often, these two things seem to go together, and that's the case with Lift.

Kevin Hart leads a crew of thieves who specialise in "lifting" works of art to liberate them from private collectors.

After they've "lifted" a Van Gogh, the crew gets tangled up with Interpol, who are trying to bring down an international terrorist who profits off natural disasters.

He's expecting a delivery of $500 million in gold bars, which is where the crew comes in. Because Interpol hires them to steal the gold.

Is the premise ridiculous? Yes. Was I entertained? Also yes. It was fun.

Nicolas Cage as Dracula, and Nicholas Hoult as the hapless Renfield, set in modern-day New York. This movie is not going to win any awards for greatness, but it's the kind of stupid fun that's entertaining for 90 minutes.

Not ideal if you have a weak stomach though, as it is also VERY gory.

Fun, but gory.

Sunday Post 51; It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 51

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Once again, capitalism struck when I was most expecting it, and work happened. 

I didn't go to quiz on Wednesday night, as Son of Mine's school had the audacity to schedule parent/teacher interviews then. The way it works here, is you get an interim report, and on it the teachers indicate if they want an interview or not. Three of his teachers did, so I had to like ... parent.

It was fine. I always get "Son of Yours is a great kid but needs to focus." Which. I didn't need to miss quiz to find out, I already knew.

It was a short week, and I had Friday off. I watched TV, did some reading, did some stitching, played some Dragon Age. Full on power down mode in other words.

I worked yesterday because overtime is nice sometimes. I didn't go to my friend's last night as I worked, but just came home and powered down again. 

Today I haven't done much of anything, and I don't have work until Wednesday, so I have very few plans.

I'm still reading Jingo by Terry Pratchett, and The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Maree's Movie Night - Road House reboot

 

My question here is - why. Why Road House. The original is fine as it is, and honestly - go watch that instead.

I sat through the whole movie (the new one) and honestly I was mostly just ... bored. And confused.

It's set in modern-day Florida for some reason? Like, that doesn't make sense to me? And Dalton has a backstory, which I don't like. Mysterious drifter? Yes. Former MMA fighter with a Dark Past? Meh. 

And - I don't know - the antagonist was mostly just annoying rather than deeply, deeply evil. He was an awful person but I did not care what happened to him.

One of the things that drove the original - for me - was the soundtrack. This time around a different band plays every night and I just couldn't connect to it.

Stick with Patrick Swayze.

Sunday Post 50; It's Monday! What are you reading? 50

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see. Work happened to me again without my permission, but I've survived somehow.

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night, which is fine but honestly I prefer to win.

Son of Mine went to a friend's for a sleepover on Friday night so I settled in with some stitching and watched the Road House reboot. It was .... meh. Review coming later this week.

On Saturday morning I watched another episode of The Fall of the House of Usher before Mum's Taxi was called and I picked spawn up from his friend's. We went to the library, and then I spent the rest of the afternoon playing Dragon Age and watching You Tube before I went to my friend's as usual.

Today I haven't done very much at all, and it's been nice. 

I finished The Labours of Hercules, and I'm re-reading Jingo by Terry Pratchett - I read it many years ago but Discworld is always a good place to visit. I'm still also reading The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Two reviews

 

Sir David Suchet's portrayal of Agatha Christies Hercule Poirot is possibly one of the most recoginsable TV characters of the past 30 years or so.

One of the reasons, I believe, is the thought and effort David Suchet put into bringing Poirot to life.

It's easy to play Poirot as a caricature or entirely for humour or indeed to miss the point of him entirely (looking at you, Kenneth Branagh) but David Suchet dove into the character himself - before he even brought him to life on screen.

Poirot and Me dives into that transformation, and the consideration and thoughtfulness brought to bringing him to life solidifies the little Belgian detective as a truly great fictional character.

David Suchet has written a truly fascinating memoir centered around the TV show, the character, and how Poirot impacted his life in some very unexpected ways.

Summer and Leo are con artists, living in Summer's van and travelling around California, looking for the next grift.

Summer's speciality is pick-pocketing, credit card fraud, and identity theft, while Leo seduces wealthy men.

When Leo meets billionaire tech guru Michael Forrester and gets invited to his private island, both girls think they've struck gold.

Then Leo goes missing. Summer travels to the island, relying on her wits to get her through, to try and find out what's happened to Leo.

Most of You Can Trust Me is great - the tension is palpable as Summer tries to find out what's happened to Leo, and Leo's chapters give that reveal slowly over time.

Then everything gets a bit ... Hollywood thriller racing towards the conclusion. I would have been happy with something a bit longer that built the story up more.

ALSO  - and I don't know if this is just me - but there's a massive plot hole. I still can't get my head around it.