Susan Hated Literature

Luna Nina says:

1. Incomplete ::
2. Bobby ::
3. Chopstick ::
4. Trauma ::
5. Hesitate ::
6. Leap ::
7. Magnify ::
8. Yards ::
9. Alexander ::
10. Fracture ::

mine’ll be under the cut.

I’m all caught up on Heroes now, and have to wait until Jan 22nd for the next episode, but its no big deal because while I’m liking it, I’m not loving and needing more and more of it. It is, in many ways, quite predictable and I hate the previously voice-over man sections. They are just bad.

I took Manny to back to the shop yesterday, but while they are willing to replace him they don’t have any in stock at the moment, so I’ll be heading back next week. Luckily I live just round the corner so don’t have far to go.

I’ve just finished reading A year in the centre by Brian O’Driscoll which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. It is a diary of the year he was Lions captain, so plenty of bits of interest to any rugby fans.

Over at Crooked Timber they are marking the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. This was when the Irish aristocracy fled the country after an unsuccessful rebellion against the ebil invading Englanders. It’s an interesting whatif article, as it takes a quick look at how Irish history might have been different with an established native aristocracy in place. Reckon it was probably for the best in the long run, but then again, I am anti-aristocracy, so no real surprise there. Although I do kinda wonder how on earth there are still titles such as Earl of Longford^[1] that are inherited by posh British folks. Surely after the War of Independence we should have gotten rid of all those peers? Not that I know anything about how they are organised or whatever. I merely object on moral grounds.

When I was reading A Year in the Centre BOD describes how Prince William turned up and he seemed like a nice fella, but I was thinking how if I met any royalty^[2] then I would probably resent using their formal titles. I’d make exception for the head of state, because I’d expect any citizen of any other country to have respect for our Pres, but any of their family members? Like whatever!

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Author: Brian O’Driscoll
ISBN: 1844880788
796.333092

They say flying can do strange things to your mind, and an aeroplane is not the best place to commit thoughts to paper, but what the hell: the little diary of a year in the life of a professional rugby player has to start somewhere, and cruising at 550 mph at 37,000 feet with my feet up seems as good a place as any.

Starting at the end of 2004, this covers a year in the life of Brian O’Driscoll, Ireland’s number 13, and one of our best rugby players. 2005 saw Ireland come close to a tripple crown, and also saw a fairly large number of Irish players travel to New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions. O’Driscoll as captain.

No doubt the Lions’ tour was the main reason behind this diary; but things don’t always go to plan. Brian ended up playing only a few minutes against the All Blacks, leaving injured after a dangerous tackle dislocated his shoulder, but then again, that incident created more than enough controversy to sell a few copies.

The book is written in diary format, which actually works quite well because we get O’Driscoll’s actual reaction to events, rather than his thoughts on things well after the event. But the writing itself isn’t very good, more blog than book, again though, that probably fits, as it makes the events more immediate.

I’m guessing that only rugby fans would be interested in this book, and I’d recommend it to them, O’Driscoll comes across quite well I thought. Some nice touches that get across the fact that he is fairly down to earth and not obsessed with himself, although the hair does get mentioned on one or two occasions.

As for the spear tackle incident, well of course that is covered, and because of the way the book is written we get to read O’Driscoll’s thoughts directly afterwards. He used a dictaphone as he couldn’t write, as well as his feelings a few days after when he had thought things through.

I’ve always thought that he comes across as a little bit smug on the telly, albeit in those 2 and 3 minute segments, but that is more the fact that he always has that little grin on his face, but he had never seemed to take the media side of his life too seriously, which is only right.

You can’t take any of the celebrity stuff too seriously. A couple of years back I was ‘voted’ sexiest male in Ireland, which caused a bit of a fuss. C’mon, guys, get real, it was just a bit of a laugh. Mum loves me and my sisters will stick up for me but that is a complete joke… I was absolutely delighted when I unexpectedly plunged out of the top fifty last year, a washed-up former sex symbol whose time has been and gone.

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Travelling with the 2005 Lions
Author: Paul Daly
ISBN: 1903464935
DDC: 796.333640993
See also: Library Thing ; Official Lions site |

Sunday 29 May 2005, Schipol Airport, Amsterdam
I hated rugby once, you know. In first year at secondary school, we hauled our bags up to the top of St. Patrick’s Hill every Monday afternoon, to run around in the freezing muck.

I had hoped to enjoy this, but in the end it was a little meh. Maybe because I hadn’t seen any of the rugby from the Tour, Sky Sports keeping it all for their viewers. Or maybe because New Zealand were so dominant. Or maybe because I’m not a Woodward fan. Or maybe because the style of writing was only meh-worthy.

This is the story of the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, where they lost all their tests against the All-Blacks, and where Brian O’Driscoll was infamously spear-tackled and out of the tour within the opening few minutes of the first match. Dislocated shoulder, one that took over half an hour for the medical team to put back in.

But the book it more a personal diary than a real look at the rugby, so it is amusing and easy reading. Light and entertaining rather than interesting. Aside from some nice little anecdotes, for instance, did you know that at a press conferance Paul O’Connell once pulled down Alastair Campbell’s trousers?

Still, it is worth a look if you are interested in rugby, but it isn’t anything special.

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Last Sat. saw the first test match between the British and Irish Lions and the New Zealand All Blacks. I made a brief mention of it, but haven’t really commented on it since.

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Well, 21 - 3 isn’t a good result now is it? And it looks like three players are now ruled out of the tour. Biggest blow being O’Driscoll in the 1st minute. He’ll be a loss, but even if he’d been on the pitch for the whole match I doubt he could’ve made a huge difference to the end result.

I didn’t see the match. I’m not shelling out extra for Sky Sports. So I’m not so sure how valid the Lions’ complaint it.

“”I am in no doubt whatever that it was deliberate foul play, a double spearing. It was a cheap shot which has put me out of the tour,” he said.

“But the truth is it could have been an awful lot worse because they could have quite easily broken my neck. I was turned upside down, in the air and speared into the ground.”

Sky News reported that the dislocation was so severe it took 30 mins to put his shoulder back in. Ouch.

In other news I bought an elephant today.

Obviously not a real one

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