The Imitation Game

Yet again over a month since I’ve been here. Time flies so fast. But I’m back and I want to say a word or two about The Imitation Game.

I didn’t know who Alan Turing was. And to tell you the truth I went to see this movie because Benedict Cumberbatch was playing the leading role. I’m not into mathematics or science.

But I’m very happy I did went to see The Imitation Game. The movie was entertaining and intriguing. It was touching and it made me mad. Such a huge unfairness, a brutal destiny of a man with a great talent. What a shame for those who forced him to live like that. It’s always hard when a person can’t be who he truly wants to be.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a superbly brilliant, talented and nuanced performance and I think that he’s great, just great. Simply because of that I enjoyed the movie. But it was a great story too.

I have no bad things to say about The Imitation Game. It gave me moments of joy and sorrow. It gave entertainment and a portrait of an intelligent, and fairly unknown man. It’s good that this movie was made. I’m sure that today many more people know who Alan Turing was.

The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles and The Slow Waltz of the Turtles

My friend recommended Katherine Pancol‘s books to me so I grabbed the first one The yellow eyes of crocodiles and started to read.

The beginnig of the book moved on a little slowly but I was persistent and continued reading. After a while I started to enjoy the story. It was a story of growth, a survival story of a woman and a story of her family relations. After almost 700 pages, as the book ended, I was pleased that I didn’t give up. I liked Josephine and hoped the best for her. And I decided to read the second part of the trilogy, The Slow Waltz of the Turtles.

I don’t know why but the second book was a little different. There was violence, murder, subordination, exercise of power and more. I was confused, where did this come from and why? There was Josephine and her problems with love and life, but I started to read a novel about relationships and life. I didn’t start to read a crime novel. It almost felt like Katherine Pancol didn’t know what she wanted to write so she put in a little bit of everything. And, after almost 800 pages I was dissapointed. I didn’t want all those ugly things to happen in these books, the story didn’t seem like that. Of course life is not always pretty, but all the things that happen to Josephines sister Iris, well, just too much, when you think about this trilogy.

I’m still thinking if I want to read the third part, The Squirrels of Central Park are Sad on Mondays. I guess I have to, so I’ll know what’s going to happen to Josephine. But before that I’m going to take a little break and read something else. These books are so chucky that you just don’t read them like that, in a couple of days. I have to prepare myself before I read the last one, because it’s going to be heavy, I’m sure of that.

All The Truth That’s in Me

There has been many words of praise about this book, “A distinctive novel that incudes a powerful message”, “A tale of uncommon elegancy, power and originality”. That’s what some say about All The Truth That’s in Me, by Julie Berry. It’s just confusing when you read a book and you don’t see those highly praised elements in it.

Is there any other who didn’t love the book, because I didn’t like it. Usually I don’t like books that are written in second person narrative. This book was no exception. I get the idea, acceptance, survival, growth, courage and all. They are good things and the main character of the book is a survivor. I agree and I love it, but the way this book was written just wasn’t for me. And it was a surprise that this book was actually a historical novel, I didn’t see that coming. The cover of the book didn’t give any clue nor did the back cover.

All The Truth That’s in Me was a letdown and I didn’t enjoy reading it. I was happy when it ended. I really wanted to like this book, but I can’t.

The Sherlockian

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore was entertaining. I bought this book from sale and it was cheap. I started to read it with no expectations and I was positively surprised. The story was well written and interesting, so it took me only a few days to read it. I enjoyed the two stories, the present day and the historical tale with Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stroker. Two different crime stories in two different times.

When I read this book, it made me want to read the real Sherlock Holmes stories. I’ve read only The Hound of the Baskervilles. Maybe I’ll go to the library and lend me some books of Conan Doyle.

The Sherlockian is not the best book I’ve ever read but it was well worth the money I spent on it. Probably I’ll forget about it soon, but it offered me some good entertainment. Mission accomplished.

In The Pleasure Groove – Love, Death & Duran Duran

I’m happy that this book was not available when I was a teenager. I felt deep love for John Taylor, the bassist of the band Duran Duran. My love for him was blind, he was flawless and the most perfect man in the world.

Years went by and I became an adult, so my enthusiasm decreased (luckily), but I was quite excited when I read that John Taylor was writing a book about his life. In the pleasure groove – love, death & Duran Duran was an interesting and great reading experience. Because Duran Duran was one of the most significant things in my life when I was young, my feelings for the band are still very warm. Reading this book brought back many wonderful memories.

What does this book tell you about John. Success doesn’t bring happiness. Alcohol and drugs mess up your life. On stage, performing, he was happy. After, lonely and confused.  John tells his story honestly and I love that.  In The Pleasure Groove – Love, Death & Duran Duran has opened new realistic perspectives about a phenomenon called Duran Duran. The book is also a story about survival. John’s life is better now, without alcohol or drugs.

Biographies are not my favorite form of literature and I only read biographies if the person in somehow meaningful for me. This book was just that and I feel very lucky that I was able to read it. I’m not able to give any critique, I’m too partial for that.

Jane Eyre

My friend recommended Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Brontë) to me. I’m not so much into historical novels but I decided to give this book a change. It was worth it. I absolutely fell in love with this book, I was captivated by the story. I have no idea why, but I was.

Some books don’t become outdated, they are current and fresh always, at any time. I think Jane Eyre is one of those books. Jane Eyre is a book about a woman’s life told with vibrant and beautiful language. I think the novel was ahead of its time and is dealing subjects that are still relevant, women’s independence, love, social class and many  more.

If I had to choose books to take to a deserted island, Jane Eyre would be one of them. And I think that, when some time has passed, I will read Jane Eyre again.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

The Eight

It felt that it never ends.

Katherine Neville’s book The Eight  seemed interesting, when I saw it in the bookstore.  Another book about chess and old mystery. Nuns, murders, history and the present day. When I started to read this book I was expecting an entertaining reading experience.

It wasn’t so entertaining, it was a bit boring. The book just didn’t convince me. It has 667 pages and it took me ages to read it. Sometimes I read the same number of pages in three days, when the book is good and interesting.

The idea of the book was good. Not very original but good. That good idea didn’t help, it just was too long. The narrasion was not fluent, I felt that it took a long time to read just one page. This book may be an international bestseller but it didn’t impress me. Sorry.

The time in between

The time in between (El tiempo entre costuras). María Dueñas has written a wonderful book. I must admit, in all honesty, that in the beginning this book seemed (just a little) boring. But I was persistent and kept reading. It was worth it. Sewing, relationships, history, war, espionage and more. I’ve never read a story like this, and I’ve read a lot. Over 600 pages was nothing.

I worried, stressed, rejoiced and loved with Sira, the heroine of the book. It was so interesting to accompany Sira through all the difficult and happy moments of her life. I love handcafts and the description of  fashion is fascinating.

Sira is a seamstress. In the beginning she’s innocent and naive. She is also brave, persistent, patient and humble by nature. At the same time she’s deceptive and knows how to present herself as a woman who knows all and doesn’t give a s**t about other people. In the end she’s a grown-up, confident woman. And the end is happy, that always makes me happy.

I recommed this book to those who love handcrafts, fashion, history and a good story.