(no subject)
Books!
In March I read one book and started another. I read Unwind by Neal Shusterman which is a Young Adult novel that doublefourtime bought me for my birthday. It's really good, definitely one of the best YA novels at the moment. It's about a future USA where instead of abortion there's a practice called 'unwinding' where, between the age of 13 and 18, a child can be given back to the state to have their organs harvested in order to be used in donation. It's an interesting concept, and you end up caring about each of the main protagonists, who have ended up on their way to the harvest camp in different circumstances. I also think that Risa, a female ward of the state (an orphan) who is sent for unwinding because she's not talented enough at anything, is a really strong girl & feminist, which I appreciate. Connor, our main main buy, if that makes sense, is not a perfect hero, which I like. I recently read Gone by Michael Grant, and I found Sam to be too perfect a hero. I like a bit of badness on my boys, okay.
I have now lent this book to my younger cousins (13 and 15), I hope they like it.
I started Rose Madder by Stephen King in March because Himself wanted me to read it. I'd only read one King novel previously, which was The Shining, which I absolutely LOVED, I read it on holiday about 6 years ago. I couldn't get into Rose Madder to begin with, so put it down to read something else. However, I've persevered, and it did get better. I just finished it, and although I don't think I'll be rushing towards any other King novels any time soon, I am glad I took Himself's recommendation.
In April I've been reading Rose Madder and I also read A Beginner's Guide to Acting English by Shappi Khorsandi, who is a stand up comic whose family was exiled from Iran when she was a small child. I'd seen her on some comedy programme and really liked her comedy, but the book, although interesting and touching and somewhat poignant, just doesn't encompass the bits of her life I'd have liked to read about. None-the-less it's a good read.
I haven't been reading much recently, which is a bit rubbish. Must try harder!
Gigs!
The Decemberists/o2 Academy, Leeds/11th March
I think, right, that I could have seen them on a different night and had a wildly better time, which is unfortunate because I do love the Decemberists but they didn't really play anything I knew. Sam enjoyed it though I think. I sat at a table and wrote part of an assignment, so the night wasn't completely lost.
Romeo & Juliet/Opera House, Wakefield/17th March
My mum's colleague Louise wanted to see this, and asked my mum, who politely declined but said that I would probably go, so indeed I did. I love going to the theatre anyway, no matter what's on. I never did Romeo & Juliet at school so it was all new for me, but I really enjoyed it. The set was just beautiful, all black wood with neon lights around Juliet's chamber and acting as a cross whenever Romeo talked to his dad. The costumes were lovely, and there was a very diverse cast of 7. I had a really good time and so did Louise.
The Maine/Cockpit, Leeds/22nd March
This was supposedly sold out, but whoever said that can't count because it was one of the least amount of people I've ever seen in the Cockpit. Maybe everyone left after Never Shout Never - I wouldn't know because Sam and I went for curry instead, only going in for the Maine. They are still one of my favourite groups of faily boys, bless them. They were really into it and every time I see them they get tighter and grow up a little more into their potential. Some of the newer songs are a bit disappointing but overall it was a strong show. Even if they are a bit rubbish, I still love 'em.
Patrick Wolf/Academy 2, Manchester/26th March
Sam and I didn't set off for this until lateish, over t'moors to Manchester-town, whereupon we found the BIGGEST queue to get into a car park ever, but once we were in the queue there was no way to go back, so we had to wait. There were lots of middle aged dudes in leather jackets wandering around - not exactly looking like Team Wolf - but it turned out the Stranglers were on at Academy 1, so I blame Hugh Cornwell. Yes, I do realise he's not actually in the Stranglers anymore, w/e. Anyway we managed to get inside in plenty of time for Patrick, and, like, wow. One of the best gigs I've ever seen - definitely the most energetic I've seen him. Sam isn't keen on Patrick on record but really enjoyed him live, which I think says a lot. He played a shit ton of stuff, including Tristan which was AMAZING, and Damaris which I LOVE, and the Magic Position which EVERYONE sang, etc etc. I love Patrick, I don't even care when he's a douche because he's such a fucking genius.
Shazia Mirza/Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds/2nd April
When I went to see Romeo & Juliet I saw a flyer for Shazia Mirza's stand up so I emailed enthusiastically to Sam and we decided we must!go!see!her! She did NOT disappoint. She was so funny, really really hilarious, I wish we'd been able to see her again on the same tour. There was a very strange man by himself who kept laughing inappropriately and out of sync with everyone else, and you could tell by the end that he was really annoying her, but she kept completely professional. I am all for more women in comedy and especially women from minorities, she is a hero in that sense. I also think she doesn't put on a character to do her comedy which some people do, but that she's really authentically herself. We really, really enjoyed it.
Himself's band/Barnsley & Doncaster/21st & 22nd March
Himself played 3 gigs last week, having decided that actually he won't leave his band just yet. I didn't go to Sheffield on Wednesday, but I went to Barnsley on Thursday and took my aunt and cousin with me. They really enjoyed it too. The sound was a bit fucked in that the vocals were a bit low, but it was a decent show. On Friday I went to see them in Doncaster with my mum, stepdad & stepsister. It was a much better gig that they headlined and all really enjoyed. Their old guitarist Dunstan (hands up who remembers Dunstan) came to see them, and ended up chatting up my stepsister, who is only 16, and he is twice her age, haha. It was again a really good gig that they enjoyed, and I did too.
I have also bolstered my Good Wife quotient for a while by actually bothering to go and see them.
They'll be playing around Yorkshire/Derbyshire/Manchester in July so if you would like to come along drop me a line and I'll let you know the ins and outs :)
Long post is long! How are you?
In March I read one book and started another. I read Unwind by Neal Shusterman which is a Young Adult novel that doublefourtime bought me for my birthday. It's really good, definitely one of the best YA novels at the moment. It's about a future USA where instead of abortion there's a practice called 'unwinding' where, between the age of 13 and 18, a child can be given back to the state to have their organs harvested in order to be used in donation. It's an interesting concept, and you end up caring about each of the main protagonists, who have ended up on their way to the harvest camp in different circumstances. I also think that Risa, a female ward of the state (an orphan) who is sent for unwinding because she's not talented enough at anything, is a really strong girl & feminist, which I appreciate. Connor, our main main buy, if that makes sense, is not a perfect hero, which I like. I recently read Gone by Michael Grant, and I found Sam to be too perfect a hero. I like a bit of badness on my boys, okay.
I have now lent this book to my younger cousins (13 and 15), I hope they like it.
I started Rose Madder by Stephen King in March because Himself wanted me to read it. I'd only read one King novel previously, which was The Shining, which I absolutely LOVED, I read it on holiday about 6 years ago. I couldn't get into Rose Madder to begin with, so put it down to read something else. However, I've persevered, and it did get better. I just finished it, and although I don't think I'll be rushing towards any other King novels any time soon, I am glad I took Himself's recommendation.
In April I've been reading Rose Madder and I also read A Beginner's Guide to Acting English by Shappi Khorsandi, who is a stand up comic whose family was exiled from Iran when she was a small child. I'd seen her on some comedy programme and really liked her comedy, but the book, although interesting and touching and somewhat poignant, just doesn't encompass the bits of her life I'd have liked to read about. None-the-less it's a good read.
I haven't been reading much recently, which is a bit rubbish. Must try harder!
Gigs!
The Decemberists/o2 Academy, Leeds/11th March
I think, right, that I could have seen them on a different night and had a wildly better time, which is unfortunate because I do love the Decemberists but they didn't really play anything I knew. Sam enjoyed it though I think. I sat at a table and wrote part of an assignment, so the night wasn't completely lost.
Romeo & Juliet/Opera House, Wakefield/17th March
My mum's colleague Louise wanted to see this, and asked my mum, who politely declined but said that I would probably go, so indeed I did. I love going to the theatre anyway, no matter what's on. I never did Romeo & Juliet at school so it was all new for me, but I really enjoyed it. The set was just beautiful, all black wood with neon lights around Juliet's chamber and acting as a cross whenever Romeo talked to his dad. The costumes were lovely, and there was a very diverse cast of 7. I had a really good time and so did Louise.
The Maine/Cockpit, Leeds/22nd March
This was supposedly sold out, but whoever said that can't count because it was one of the least amount of people I've ever seen in the Cockpit. Maybe everyone left after Never Shout Never - I wouldn't know because Sam and I went for curry instead, only going in for the Maine. They are still one of my favourite groups of faily boys, bless them. They were really into it and every time I see them they get tighter and grow up a little more into their potential. Some of the newer songs are a bit disappointing but overall it was a strong show. Even if they are a bit rubbish, I still love 'em.
Patrick Wolf/Academy 2, Manchester/26th March
Sam and I didn't set off for this until lateish, over t'moors to Manchester-town, whereupon we found the BIGGEST queue to get into a car park ever, but once we were in the queue there was no way to go back, so we had to wait. There were lots of middle aged dudes in leather jackets wandering around - not exactly looking like Team Wolf - but it turned out the Stranglers were on at Academy 1, so I blame Hugh Cornwell. Yes, I do realise he's not actually in the Stranglers anymore, w/e. Anyway we managed to get inside in plenty of time for Patrick, and, like, wow. One of the best gigs I've ever seen - definitely the most energetic I've seen him. Sam isn't keen on Patrick on record but really enjoyed him live, which I think says a lot. He played a shit ton of stuff, including Tristan which was AMAZING, and Damaris which I LOVE, and the Magic Position which EVERYONE sang, etc etc. I love Patrick, I don't even care when he's a douche because he's such a fucking genius.
Shazia Mirza/Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds/2nd April
When I went to see Romeo & Juliet I saw a flyer for Shazia Mirza's stand up so I emailed enthusiastically to Sam and we decided we must!go!see!her! She did NOT disappoint. She was so funny, really really hilarious, I wish we'd been able to see her again on the same tour. There was a very strange man by himself who kept laughing inappropriately and out of sync with everyone else, and you could tell by the end that he was really annoying her, but she kept completely professional. I am all for more women in comedy and especially women from minorities, she is a hero in that sense. I also think she doesn't put on a character to do her comedy which some people do, but that she's really authentically herself. We really, really enjoyed it.
Himself's band/Barnsley & Doncaster/21st & 22nd March
Himself played 3 gigs last week, having decided that actually he won't leave his band just yet. I didn't go to Sheffield on Wednesday, but I went to Barnsley on Thursday and took my aunt and cousin with me. They really enjoyed it too. The sound was a bit fucked in that the vocals were a bit low, but it was a decent show. On Friday I went to see them in Doncaster with my mum, stepdad & stepsister. It was a much better gig that they headlined and all really enjoyed. Their old guitarist Dunstan (hands up who remembers Dunstan) came to see them, and ended up chatting up my stepsister, who is only 16, and he is twice her age, haha. It was again a really good gig that they enjoyed, and I did too.
I have also bolstered my Good Wife quotient for a while by actually bothering to go and see them.
They'll be playing around Yorkshire/Derbyshire/Manchester in July so if you would like to come along drop me a line and I'll let you know the ins and outs :)
Long post is long! How are you?