Susan Hated Literature

It is January, so that means the Six Nations is just around the corner, and I’ve just gotten my ever-so-secret instructions from the Irish Rugby Supporters club that’ll enable me to purchase my ticket for the match against France tomorrow. Nice one. Just the one, but that won’t stop me. I’m so heading to Croker for the rugby.

We will also get a chance to buy two other tickets, either for France or for England. I’m aiming to get to for the England match, have half promised B#5 that if I get them he can come along. But we’ll see what happens.

Anyways, a before Christmas Donagh of Dublin Opinion got in contact regarding books of the year, but of course it has taken me this long to get around to it. And because I rarely buy hardback books, and pay no real attention as to whether a book is new or old, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to regard this as a “Books of 2006″ type post, more a “books I enjoyed in 2006″ list.

In no particular order, my top reads of 2006:
• The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
  This is a children’s fantasy sequence, arthurian in places, the first in the series of 5 was published back in 1965, but they really aren’t that dated at all. An example of some great writing, with no effort made to talk-down to a child’s level or anything so nasty.
• On Another Man’s Wound by Ernie O’Mally
  Ernie O’Malley’s account of his life fighting the Irish War of Independence. Entertaining and gripping account of how people from all sorts of backgrounds ended up on the same side.
• Seeking Whom He May Devour by Fred Vargas trans. David Bellos
  I loved this book, which I picked up because of the cover
  
  but I loved for the writing, characters and the plot. Mainly for the character of Adamsberg though, he is great, and I’m waiting for more of Vargas’ work to be translated from French so I can enjoy them.
• The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
  Anther old children’s fantasy, though this is very, very different to The Dark is Rising. It is simple, and childlike and totally adorable. A little dated, but who cares.
• Thud! by Terry Pratchett
  Terry Pratchett is nothing less than a genius. Everyone should at least try to read some of his Discworld novels. But just because you don’t like one is no reason not to try another. I enjoy most of his books, but I LOVE his watch ones. Vimes has to be among the greatest of all fictional characters ever thought up.

And of course honourable mentions must go to the following:

Hilary Mantel’s Beyond Black

Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace

George Hook’s autobiography Time Added On

Temeraire by Naomi Novik

We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Back from the Brink Paul McGrath’s autobiography, written with Vincent Hogan

Check out the other lists and reviews from this technorati page

Tags: 6nations2007, Alias Grace, Back from the Brink, Beyond Black, Croke Park, favbooks2006, Favourite books, Ireland V France, irishblogsandbooks, On Another Man's Wound, rugby, Seeking Whom He May Devour, Six Nations, Temeraire, The Dark Is Rising, The Little White Horse, Thud!, Time Added On, We Need To Talk About Kevin

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Dir: Chris Noonan
Writ: Richard Maltby Jr

• Renée Zellweger - Beatrix Potter
• Ewan McGregor - Norman Warne
• Emily Watson - Millie Warne
• Lloyd Owen - William Heelis

I don’t ever remember reading any of Beatrix Potter’s books, but I’m still familiar with them, but for many other people I’m sure they are fond childhood memories. They are after all among the best-selling children’s books of all time.

Although back in the early 1900’s most of the publishers that Miss Potter approached didn’t really see the potential of her stories about rabbits and ducks. It wasn’t until the Warne brothers decided that her book would be perfect for their younger, inexperienced brother that she became a published author. The two elder Warne’s didn’t consider that Potter’s books would make any money, and so it didn’t matter if Norman messed up.

Of course he didn’t mess up, and Beatrix Potter’s books went on to become incredibly successful, and Beatrix and Norman found themselves falling in love. Something that Beatrix’s mother was not at all impressed by. A tradesman in the family! How terrible.

There is nothing all that fantastic about this film; it is however a charming and enjoyable story. The illustrations that occasionally come to life add a lot to the film, but never get in the way of the story. And while the film misses out on a lot that went on in Potter’s life, it still covers quite a bit of ground, and makes everything quite believable.

I was a little annoyed by Zellweger in certain points, but I can’t point out any real reason why, her mannerisms perhaps. However for the most part she does very well in the role, with no trouble with the accent. McGregor’s role is, in a way, quite similar to his character in Moulin Rouge albeit it less melodramatic, and as usual he carries it off with ease.

Despite the amount of trailers for animated films that went on before the screening that I saw, this is not a film for children. It isn’t that there is anything that might be unsuitable for them, rather there is little that might hold their attention. It is a biopic, not a comedy.

In a way it is a little too simple a story, because there is much more to Beatrix Potter than her books, or indeed her buying land in the Lake District to preserve the countryside. She had quite a scientific mind, although because of the attitude towards women at the time she wasn’t taken very seriously. Still, it is a lovely film, not overly sentimental, but perhaps lacking that something special to make it stand out.

IMDb | Past the Popcorn | list of online works |

Tags: 7 Stars, awwww, Beatrix Potter, C20th, Chris Noonan, Emily Watson, Ewan McGragor, fictional bio, Lloyd Owen, Miss Potter, Renée Zellweger, Richard Maltby Jr., romance

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