The Hare with Amber Eyes - a family biography

I was excited to start reading this book, because of the European history. I had spent a weekend in Vienna not long before reading about the family's move there at the turn of 1900, until the second world war. It seems we had stayed with friends very close to the area where the Ephrussi mansion was, and so I could quickly take myself back to this amazing city. I must say I was ignorant of Edmund de Waal, sometimes described as the greatest living british potter, and of netsuke, apparently tiny wooden hand crafted amulets, exported from Japan to Europe as part of the Japonisme movement also around 1900. So I was caught in the tension set up by Edmund that these netsuke were more than a device to trace a rather tragic family story. I think he wanted to project something deep and psychological about why people collect and share objects within and beyond families - but I was left feeling a bit confused and disappointed - is there anything deeper than some families have more secrets than others - and that some secrets are genuinely lost and others need to be stitched together? Anyway, I decided just to enjoy the family story - of a large Jewish family dispersed from Odessa to Paris and Vienna and the twisted fates of both arms - interrupted by the dreadful wave of anti-semitism linked to the second world war. The lives of the wealthy and the challenges of sharing inheritances between generations of people with different interests and skill sets were cleverly described. I do wonder why the family did not leave Vienna, as many succesful Jews must have - but their choice to stay enabled the creation of a very different set of circumstances. I liked the way these netsuke connected the family - originally bought by Charles in Paris, somewhere around 1880, given to Viktor and Emmy in Vienna as a wedding present. They were seemingly undervalued amongst the many ostentacious art objects and remained in Emmy's dressing room, as objects the children loved playing with. It seems they were lost during the war, but they were rescued by the family's maid and hidden in a mattress, until they were reunited with the family. It is not clear whether they influenced (great uncle) Iggie to move to Japan, but it seemed important that they were taken 'home' before becoming part of Edmund's home in London.

Moonrise Kingdom - young love in strange places

Almost at the end, it became clear that Moonrise Kingdom was the descriptive name of a time-limited tidal inlet, where Sam and Suzy really set up their alternative camp-house and recognised each other. This was also the site for their clichaic falling in love scene. It seems as if I am attracted to quirky films at the moment. Although I have not seen other movies by Wes Anderson, I should have expected it. This story was set in 1960's conservative family America, on an island off the coast of New England. I liked the way the movie began by panning through each room of a family house, some empty, some with adults and children occupied in normal activities... We realised early on that, while this might have been a normal family, fairly unusual communication and relationships were the norm. On the other side of the island was a military style scout camp, from which orhpaned Sam had run away. It was kind of fun to realise that Suzy and Sam would meet up in the middle of a large wheat field to enact their planned escape, and that Sam had learned a lot as a scout! Their social alienation as children united them as they recognised and valued this in each other. But then, the adult issues overtook and reduced this film; an unhappy marriage, an affair between 2 disturbed adults, the usual immature ego competitions between adult scout leaders vying for control and a rare and terrible thunderstorm... So the usual formulas of cat and mouse took over and eclipsed the humanity of the scouts trying to protect Sam being taken away again and prescribed ECT by 'Social Services'. Overall, an entertaining film, celebrating eccentricities in a visually spectacular style.

Moon - a quirky film from the other side

I was loaned this DVD after answering yes to the question about whether I like sci-fi films - well I don't dislike them but then I am not a real fan - but maybe that is due to limited exposure... So I decided to get into this one, despite it being released over 3 years ago... Sam Rothwell, the only real actor played Sam Bell, an astronaut miner, who was extracting helium 3 from the dark side of the moon, to solve the earth's energy crisis. He lived alone on this futuristic moon base and was 2 weeks away from returning to earth at the end of his 3 year contract - at least that is what he thought, until he realised that the next astronaut had been thawed and was ready to start working - a super enthusiastic clone. So I was with the first Sam, assuming he was the real one and this new one was the first clone - but as he challenged Sam, we realised that perhaps Sam was also a clone - this was at first unnerving. But then it became clear that maybe human bodies only last 3 years in this hostile environment, psychologically and physically. Had the corporation, Lunar Industries, solved the human resource and safety issue by cloning enough 'people' to keep their mine going ad infinitum? The skype type of interface with his earth family may well have been a re-run of old tapes. The only other interaction he had was with the robot Gerty (voiced by Kevin Spacey) - and this was also confusing because while we expected total confirmity to the company mantra, there were hints of almost human understanding, at least before he rebooted Gerty as he walked away... And then I found out that the director and writer Duncan Jones is David Bowie's son - and that it had been made on a shoestring budget... Did he really overdose on Major Tom and Ziggy Stardust as a child?

Goodbye First Love - a french romantic treat

It is such a treat when a random Sunday night movie turns out to be a real surprise. Despite a slightly cheesy title, I quickly relaxed into the subtle french romantic imagery. It is so easy to reimagine oneself as a stunning french 15 year old school girl being seduced by an older college student, who looks very calm and cool on his bike. Glimpses of inner city streets, an urban studio lovenest and several suburban family homes all created a sense of normal life... Of course, no teenage life can ever be normal and the inherent tension is just below the surface... Sullivan wants to drop out and travel to south america with his mates to explore and find himself; while Camille wants to build the long term dream of being with him, enjoying their french lifestyle in town and at her family's house in the mountains above the Loire river. It really is quite a simple story of how they both find themselves, reconnect and make somewhat more mature decisions. What is special is the aesthetics of beautiful places, clothes, settings and the quick screen catches of somewhat incidental events. The producer Mia Hansen-Love has captured the excitement of living on the brink of the rest of your life and charted the emotional roller coaster within the natural rhythm of life. Camille's romantic idealism and dependence gently gives way to a creative professional independence. Yet when they meet again, I was wondering how much they both really had changed - the tension was palpable - the challenge for them both was real and the question of the strength of first love asked again...

Impressed and entertained Distant Thunder by TD Griggs

I so enjoyed reading this book in bed this morning and it was such a treat to finish it - I was gripped to the last page and I was so impressed - it was not the obvious cheesy ending although it was heading there fast - but there was a stunning twist in the tail of the tale and I was genuinely satisfied ... and there could be a sequel! This was a very interesting book - and probably not one I would have chosen by topic - the Empire, colonial trade and wars, and class differences are not really my thing - they are what made this country great but I don't think they are so relevant anymore. Needless to say, I was gripped by the power of the people and the diversity of settings. Frank Gray got me in - he was seriously flawed or maybe damaged by being in the wrong place at the right time and it seems this haunted him way beyond what seemed reasonable - but then probably that is quite realistic. Grace Dearborn was a believable bolshy rich girl who really did seem to be able to survive on her own. She played the romantic to its logical conclusion and I was pleased that finally I saw a pragmatic compromise. These two great characters also played in some great places, London, country England, Bangalore, Vienna and the Sudan. There was sufficient detail to go along with them without it being a tourist guidebook - and I realised the author T D Griggs knew his history and geography well. I am not sure that I would call this a historical romance because it was slightly deeper and more challenging than that - but not as complex as a classic thriller. Nevertheless, I would recommend this for the summer holiday.

Salmon fishing in the Yemen - a pleasant surprise

My first thought was why would you try and make a film about this absurd idea - but then it became clear that the process of putting it into action may well be more entertaining. Ewen McGregor plays a dedicated but aspergist scientist and his engagement with the project was an entertaining 180' turnaround. He flipped the tables on his lazy and disengaged boss and captivated the project's assistant to create a delicate romance in an interesting trio. The indulgent sheik who dreamed of bringing fly fishing to the deserts of Yemen was equally engaging and by the end I was almost believing that it was all possible. Kristin Scott Thomas plays the Prime Minister's press secretary is a wonderfully arrogant and expressive way and she uses dry political humour very well. There is an quiet underlying theme of following your dreams with faith that is quite pleasantly idealistic.

an unusual Paulo Coelho book - The Winner Stands Alone

I needed a book to read on holidays in Noosa - and had to choose it in the airport at Dubai... So when I saw a (comparatively) new book by my old time favourite author, Paulo Coelho, I was tantalised. It sounded different from his previous introspective escapes, where the reader quickly associates with the key protagonist and evaluates their own personal response with that described by Paulo. Sometimes I have found it a bit too esoteric and idealistic, but I have always enjoyed personally engaging with Paulo's characters and plots. This time it was different.The protagonist, Igor is a well developed russian entrepreneur. While it is comparatively easy to understand his ambitious workaholism and feel regret for his failed marriage, it is difficult to understand his plan to turn worlds upside down (by rampant and unprovoked murder) in order to win back his only love. I read voraciously to try and understand his motive and psychological state and was disappointed to conclude that he was just another sociopath. In contrast, I felt a lot closer to his ex wife Ewa, who seems to have pragmatically decided on a divorce, and married an ambitious and successful clothing designer, although I felt she was quite shallow in her attempts to deal with some bizarre text messages from Igor. What was quite clever was how Coelho weaved life stories together as we traced several young things in their quest for a chance at success and ultimate fame. He described the superficiality of the lives of the famous and powerful and I almost felt sorry for the new kids who were still trying to hold onto some personal integrity. But overall I felt disappointed and frustrated at the final scene and really still don't have my usual positive take home message from this book... maybe in time I will find the hidden gem!