Just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. A random purchase, purely on the back of needing a new book, and it was the only one that ASDA had that appealed at the time. I quite like the idea of reading ‘classics’ every now and then.
I had no pre fixed expectations of this book, I knew nothing about it. I liked it. Unexpectedly funny, in a Napoleon Dynamite kind of way. A story of a the inner ramblings of a churned up “nobody understands me” teenager, with his angst baggage of psychological and social perceptions. The outside illustrated a particular time and place at ‘street level’ – the late ’40′s New York. A fascinating snapshot of the city.

My favorite lines from the whole book would be this quote by the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Stekel “the mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one”

Just finished reading Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A superb novel. This won the 2007 Orange prize for fiction. It’s the second book I’ve read that holds this titled (the other being Small Island)

Half of a Yellow sun is set in Nigeria in the 1960′s. A volatile period of African history. As well as enjoying this gripping story of civil war, of love, of strength of character, magnificently told, I feel enriched with what felt at times like first hand knowledge of Biafra and Nigeria in the late 60′s, it’s people, it’s culture and it’s land.

Anyone who likes reading about a new place, anyone who likes gripping character driven Novels, I’d suggest this as a read.

It must be hard being as consistently original and cool as Radiohead are. Their new album, called ‘In Rainbows‘ released today, is the latest in a line of very unique pop. It’s a classic of tomorrow in the true sense of the word. Radiohead could, on the back of their huge, loyal yet fiercely underground fan base release an album without any hype and it would sell. Sales do not seem to be the driver here at all, so much so that you can’t buy it in the shops. It all seems very ‘anti sales’ in it’s pitch to market. The website is the only place you can get it (yea, you and millions of myspacers I hear you cry) but they’ve gone about it in a very considered poke in the eye to the music manufacturing industry kind of way, by offering it at a value of the lister’s discretion. For a download, you could put zero pounds. I put a tenner.
They seem to be actively encouraging the download by making it a commercial ‘no brainer’ as the hard copy is 40 pounds sterling and you have to wait another few weeks to get it. Will the box version have all the CDi vanden plas extras on it? you know, DVD’s, picture booklet, interviews, hidden tracks and the such..? who knows. It’s way more of a statement if it didn’t.
After my first listen through (on laptop speakers unfortunately) I like. 4 stars with room for growth. It seems to come together in the last 3 tracks. I’m now looking forward to listening to it on decent headphones for the one on one intimate experience. I’m especially looking forward to listening out for the subtle nuances of the production – which is another one of those unique edges to Radiohead that I’ve always loved.

The (first) DragonDrop Bottled Lager review.

conducted 23rd Sept 2007

Judges : Matt W, Steve T. NB: We acknowledge that this is by no means exhaustive research

See our research here

Conclusion / Result summary :

Conclusion / Result summary :

1 – Leffe blonde
2 – Herold
3 – Cusquena

Whilst Leffe blonde was the overall winner, we decided that the Herold was the one we’d be buying again – 6.6 is a bit o.t.t. especially for a mid weeker – a good suppin’ lager though – good for Friday / Saturday nights. The Herold – a strong all rounder and the Cusquena would be a perfect day time / BBQ beer.

THIS is the future. Check out this ‘Jaw Dropping’ demo of Seadragon and Photosynth Thanks to CMK for the heads up on this.

Sat at work way early. Planned to get in for 7. Due to the A59 being blocked, thanks to a landslide I’ve had to pick out a new route. My new route via (sort of) West End village only adds 8 mins (yesterdays new route cost me 60 mins). Get to chip off at 12:30 today, tomorrow it’s time for another airbourne adventure!

I’ve just finished a truly memorable, superb, could not put down page turner of a book. One of those few and far between books that you really don’t want to end. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen beautifully unfolds a story of 1930′s touring circus life in the 1930′s. Hundreds of people strong, the travelling community moved by train, setting up a gig at the crack of dawn, breaking down at by dusk then moving on, through the night in trains. A time when freak shows and animals were still a major part of the show, a time when alcohol was illegal (yet still readily obtainable for those in the know), a time when American was racked by depression, a time long since forgotten. I’m so glad I picked up this exquisitely and most believably researched and fantastically written book less than a week ago.

Finished reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (translated into English form Japanese) this morning.

Like “Norwegian Wood” – one of the things I liked about Kafka on the Shore was the character development. Kafka on the Shore is an incredible story, perhaps the sort of plot that if you saw it in a film you would have an “as if!” cynicism but as a book, I think it works. Ghosts, talking cats, and limbo worlds are all here, even raining fish and leeches. If you’re after something different to read, give it a go.

It’s Felix’s 7th Birthday today. Happy birthday my boy
He got loads of goodies – I think the one he liked best was a remote control submarine which, if the truth be known is a lot smaller than we thought it would be by the size of the box it came in! Anyway – he’s reet cuffed with everything.

Went to monks cross waterworld for his birthday treat yesterday. Much fun on the waterslides etc. Burgerking got our food dollars after that. As fast food places go, I think I favor BK.

Polished off a book I’ve been randomly reading. I say randomly because I’d never heard of the author, needed a book, in a hurry (Runcorn a couple of weeks ago… running out of time for my Lunch) and picked up a few – liked the look of Norwegian Wood by Murakami Haruki (translated from Japanese by Jay Rubin) Haruki, I later discovered is a very well known writer in Japan and this book, seems to be a very different sort of thing to what he normally scribes. I really Enjoyed it – medium paced about not much in particular but some really interesting character development. A think I really liked about the book was how the main character was an avid reader, he kept citing and describing the virtues of books he’d read. My ‘must read’ list has grown lots!

Just popped home to put the boys to bed. Superb afternoon.. Can’t wait to get back there (Music Party at the Theater) This pic was Nuns Bleeding Guns on the main stage – Felix’s favorites (I love em as well ! ) Sort of The Doors meets Hawkwind.