I watched 'Eragon' last night. I really enjoyed it.
'Eragon' is the story of a handsome farmboy (Ed Speleers) who becomes a dragon rider. Jeremy Irons does some narration as well as playing a part in the film, and I find his voice rough and silky like choc chip icecream. Melting in my mouth yet gritty enough to need chewing.
The special effects were fabulous - the dragon seemed real, and I want one. I thought her voice (Rachel Weisz) was a bit wishy-washy though. I thought the names of the tribes and wotnot were a bit corny, like a try-hard Tolkein (although all fantasies seem that way to me).
Overall I thought this was an enjoyable and mostly gripping film. ***1/2
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Secret River
No, this does not mean that I've finished the book (I know, how pathetic) but I am a few pages from the end.
I read the massacre passage last night. I didn't want to keep reading, but I felt I couldn't stop. I was compelled to see how it all fit together in that sick way it does. The final section of the book seems a mockery to me - a mockery of the so-called gentlemen who made it big down under. How weak Thornhill really is, to do what he did and then literally sit on the metaphoric Aboriginal Tribe. I know now what the "secret" is in that River too. How sick I feel, knowing that this is what our society comes from. At least Adelaide began with people who chose to come here, but yay. That just shows where their talents lie (smirk).
I love the way Will thinks of his wife, Sal. I love it that he thinks about her intimately, even when she is going about her daily chores. I love it that he loves her grey hair, and how she is becoming more beautiful as she ages. I secretly (now publicly, since I am bloggin it) hope that Monte thinks that way about me. I don't actually here it when he speaks of me as beautiful. Perhaps I am immune to the words after so long; perhaps they are not being spoken...
And Sal had 5 children! How impressive. I related to the whole pregnancy and birth thing, obviously, and I felt I could relate to Sal. I have a similar personality I think: stubborn! I love my husband and kids the same way. I couldn't relate to Will at all, and I think that as the novel cntinued I began to admire him less and less - to the extent that I find him somewhat deplorable at the end, how sinister and corrupt he became.
I wonder what message that is giving us - the harsh Australian landscape corrupts us as we corrupt it. One of my favourite essay questions to give my kids is: "power currupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely." How far is this true in "The Secret River?"
I liked the portrayal of the Aboriginal people. Grenville shows how they defended their land and culture vigourously. In contrast, the settlers appear inexperienced against the harsh land. Whereas the Aboriginal people eat fresh meat and vegetables, the settlers eat salt pork and damper!
Overall I think this is a brilliant novel. Grenville writes so beautifully and descriptively. There are lots of passages in the text that I would use in my teaching, to show examples of different descriptive styles. I love Historic Fiction, especially Australian stuff, so this was really to my liking!
I'm just editing my post at 5am the next morning. I woke up with a pretty sick baby and have not been back to sleep yet. I finished the novel. At the end, I really do not like or admire Will. I am annoyed that he became rich and succussful, flaunting his money about frivilously. I admire Sal less too, not for having a sixth baby, but for suspecting foul play and never mentioning it. I admire Dick for leaving, and I feel desperately sorry for Blackwood. He lost everything.
So this is what our country is built on. Lies, deceit, corruption and murder. The settlers who tried to make this a mini England yet failed with dead poplars and roses that never took root. Covering up precious landmarks that belong to the Indigenous. How ashamed I feel to be part of that, and yet proud to be Australian! These things I knew before, but Grenville puts them to us in a way that is different to that wich was portrayed to us when we were in primary school. This is confronting; this is adult.
I recommend this novel. Even if it took me months and months to finish (hey, I'm a busy woman!!).
I read the massacre passage last night. I didn't want to keep reading, but I felt I couldn't stop. I was compelled to see how it all fit together in that sick way it does. The final section of the book seems a mockery to me - a mockery of the so-called gentlemen who made it big down under. How weak Thornhill really is, to do what he did and then literally sit on the metaphoric Aboriginal Tribe. I know now what the "secret" is in that River too. How sick I feel, knowing that this is what our society comes from. At least Adelaide began with people who chose to come here, but yay. That just shows where their talents lie (smirk).
I love the way Will thinks of his wife, Sal. I love it that he thinks about her intimately, even when she is going about her daily chores. I love it that he loves her grey hair, and how she is becoming more beautiful as she ages. I secretly (now publicly, since I am bloggin it) hope that Monte thinks that way about me. I don't actually here it when he speaks of me as beautiful. Perhaps I am immune to the words after so long; perhaps they are not being spoken...
And Sal had 5 children! How impressive. I related to the whole pregnancy and birth thing, obviously, and I felt I could relate to Sal. I have a similar personality I think: stubborn! I love my husband and kids the same way. I couldn't relate to Will at all, and I think that as the novel cntinued I began to admire him less and less - to the extent that I find him somewhat deplorable at the end, how sinister and corrupt he became.
I wonder what message that is giving us - the harsh Australian landscape corrupts us as we corrupt it. One of my favourite essay questions to give my kids is: "power currupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely." How far is this true in "The Secret River?"
I liked the portrayal of the Aboriginal people. Grenville shows how they defended their land and culture vigourously. In contrast, the settlers appear inexperienced against the harsh land. Whereas the Aboriginal people eat fresh meat and vegetables, the settlers eat salt pork and damper!
Overall I think this is a brilliant novel. Grenville writes so beautifully and descriptively. There are lots of passages in the text that I would use in my teaching, to show examples of different descriptive styles. I love Historic Fiction, especially Australian stuff, so this was really to my liking!
I'm just editing my post at 5am the next morning. I woke up with a pretty sick baby and have not been back to sleep yet. I finished the novel. At the end, I really do not like or admire Will. I am annoyed that he became rich and succussful, flaunting his money about frivilously. I admire Sal less too, not for having a sixth baby, but for suspecting foul play and never mentioning it. I admire Dick for leaving, and I feel desperately sorry for Blackwood. He lost everything.
So this is what our country is built on. Lies, deceit, corruption and murder. The settlers who tried to make this a mini England yet failed with dead poplars and roses that never took root. Covering up precious landmarks that belong to the Indigenous. How ashamed I feel to be part of that, and yet proud to be Australian! These things I knew before, but Grenville puts them to us in a way that is different to that wich was portrayed to us when we were in primary school. This is confronting; this is adult.
I recommend this novel. Even if it took me months and months to finish (hey, I'm a busy woman!!).
Welcome
Chances are, if you are looking at this page, you have received my email. I am thinking we can do a blog for our reading group. We can add posts, reviews, questions and general comments about the books we are reading. We can suggest new titles, discuss films and even reviews we have seen. We can also post links and upload pictures. It'd be great if you could join up so you can write posts too!
The blog is easy to use. Once you have signed in, you go to 'Dashboard' and click on 'New Post' and write away. When you have finished, you can 'Publish' and then we can all see your post. I can explain it at parent group next week if you want.
Why a blog? I guess it's an official yet fun way to share ideas. We can't all be at parent group together each week, so this way people won't miss big discussions and things like that. Also, we can write posts at any time, so if we have a brainwave we can get online and write about it.
Maybe I am nuts! (said in tone of Deb in "nemo," in regards to her sister Flo!) But I hope you can joing anyway. Also, Michele is a legend about blogging now, so she can show you what to do!
The blog is easy to use. Once you have signed in, you go to 'Dashboard' and click on 'New Post' and write away. When you have finished, you can 'Publish' and then we can all see your post. I can explain it at parent group next week if you want.
Why a blog? I guess it's an official yet fun way to share ideas. We can't all be at parent group together each week, so this way people won't miss big discussions and things like that. Also, we can write posts at any time, so if we have a brainwave we can get online and write about it.
Maybe I am nuts! (said in tone of Deb in "nemo," in regards to her sister Flo!) But I hope you can joing anyway. Also, Michele is a legend about blogging now, so she can show you what to do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)