I’m currently sitting in the livingroom with the xfactor final about to start. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to get my usual end of year post done.

I present to you my favourite things of 2011

Top 3 Movies

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Attack the Block
Melancholia

Top 3 TV Shows

Community
Modern Family
House

Top 3 Books

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

Top 3 Albums

Um, Uh Oh by Say Hi
No Witch by The Cave Singers
Tron Legacy by Daft Punk

Top 3 Songs

Someone Like You by Adele
Devils by Say Hi
Paradise by Coldplay

Top 3 Podcasts

Skeptics Guide to the Universe
Books You Should Read
TEDTalks

Top 3 Games

Bejewelled Blitz (iPhone)
Football Manager (mac)
Words With Friends (iPhone)

Top 3 iPhone Apps

IMDB
Eurosport LIVE Scores
Momento

Top 3 Real Life Moments

Finding out I was to become a dad!
Weeks holiday in Cape Verde
Being an Usher at my mate Duncan’s Wedding

Well whaddayaknow! I finally did it. My task to read the Times Top 20 books of the Naughties has been completed. It only bloody took me over a year! Don’t get me wrong I read other books along the way. I’m slow, but I’m not THAT slow. Also, I’ve pretty much had the most eventful year-and-a-bit of my life during it. I got married, moved to a new house, continued to develop my own business, went on two holidays, been to three weddings, my own stag do in Cardiff and shit load of other stag do’s.

The final book, and therefore the Times’ Number one book of the Naughties, wasn’t a let down. It really is a great book. It’s a hard slog, and almost draining to read. I can’t help but think of the word GRIM. The book is set in the future after the world has experienced some kind of apocalyptic event (we never find out any details) and we are following a father and son as they head south to warmer climate and the promise of something better.

The book’s main subject is centered around the father justifying survival of both himself and his son. Coming to terms with the prospect of ending both his son and his own life. What is there to live for after all? The earth is now a barren, grey, wasteland with no-one except the occisional survivor. There are some disturbing moments in the book. Definitely up there was the moment the dad holds a gun to his son’s head about to pull the trigger completely convinced in his reasoning.

This was a pretty small book. And it had to be. I actually read most of it on a flight to London for my good mate Duncan’s wedding. See pics here.

I do recommend it, but if you can’t stick too much of that kind of tone then give the movie a try.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Here is a list of the books I read  as part of my the project. Remember, some of the books were removed from the list as I had already read them; I asked people to recommend books to fill the gap in the comments of this post.

My favourite was Atonement as you can see from the ratings. I have a wee soft spot for Suite Fransaise too. Especially ‘Part 2′ of that book. I highly recommend you check both of them out.

So yeah. It’s been emotional, as a mate in work would say. I have no clue what to blog about now though. haha. I am however, looking forward to reading any book I want. This project has really opened my eyes to books I would never have picked up otherwise. I’ve learned a lot and it has strengthened my love of reading. So, in short, everything that I intended to get out of this hair-brained project.

Holy hell. This post has been a long time in the making. I’ve just been so bloody busy with stuff that I’ve not had a chance to come up for air.

I actually read Persepolis while on holiday in Cape Verde on the first week in July, but when I got home I had a few projects on the go with my business that have pretty much dominated my life for the last 2/3 weeks. It’s only in the last few days that I’ve started to feel like I can afford to mess about with my time.

So here I am, ‘ramping down’ from my projects (hate that term) and I’m able to bash out some words on the old bloggedy.

I had a great time at Cape Verde, thank you for not caring. Check out some of my photos. Sat about the pool all day and ate and drank far too much.

While there I read the book in question but also read part two and half of part three of The Hunger Games trilogy. Get inabootit if you can. Amazing books.

Persepolis

Persepolis was a very quick read. It’s actually a graphic novel. Just black and white slates. But don’t let this fool you. This book never made number two in the Times top 100 books of the naughties for nothing.

Within the monochrome pictures we are given a historical look into the plight of an Iranian woman through the different stages of her life. Dealing with the tyranny of a government beset on keeping its people, and especially the woman, under the grip of Islamic Law. Having to cope with Iran’s War against it’s neighbour Iraq and, worst of all, dealing with the strange and wonderful enigma that is the Muslim male.

In many respects this book is a carbon copy of a previous book in my project Reading Lolita in Tehran, but the way they approach the same topics couldn’t be further apart. I enjoyed how this book takes such a serious and terrifying subject and shows it in a light comic book style.

After reading the book I watched the movie adaptation which, basically, takes the slates and gives them movement. But somehow I didn’t feel like the movie had the same impact as the book. I would recommend the book over the movie any day.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Next up is that last in my project. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’ve still not started it yet as I pretty much haven’t touched a book since coming back from holiday but with any luck I’ll be finished this project very soon!

Tomorrow is when I start back on the pre-holiday health kick.

I actually finished this book before going to Bristol but this is me just getting round to putting the words down.

Dreams of Ma Da

This episode in my project was the only venture into the biographical genre. Thinking on my feet here, I don’t think I’ve ever read a bio. It’s not my idea of what sitting down to a book should be. When I read a book I want to be told a story, something with characters and arcs and resolutions. I realise it’s possible for these types of books to have this to a certain extent, but not in the way I’m looking for.

Interestingly thought, this book by Barack Obama is very different from the usual approach. Mr Presidente wrote this before his climb up the political ladder and he wrote it in a narrative structure. We get a feel for people’s personality, not through him telling us flat out, but by conversations and actions laid out in the story.

What’s clear through the story of his life is that our Barry didn’t have it easy, and that he is a totally likeable and stand up bloke. He gives us an extraordinary insight into the life of a young black man, and his family, living through various degrees of racial oppression. Yet he doesn’t come across as being bitter; instead he finds ways to tell us why those days were like that and how the good old US of A has turned out for the better.

After reading the book I have not doubt the US is in good hands. Bazza seems like a fab dude, and I would definitely vote for him if I lived in the Home of the Brave.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

I’m beyond close to the end now. Next up in my project is Persepolis, which is actually a graphic novel and then I move onto number one in the ‘Times top books of the decade’ which is The Road. I just ordered the paperback of Persepolis from Amazon the other day. I downloaded the Kindle Sample but, alas, it was practically unreadable so I’ll be going back to paper for a bit.

Right now I’m reading Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb outwith the project. Loving it so far.

To be honest I’m looking forward to finishing the project now. It really has done what I wanted it to do, which was to open my eyes to the enjoyment of reading and help me find what I like and don’t like about the medium. These books so far have been the stabilisers I needed and now I think I could remove them and be comfortably on my way.

I was just a passenger to the other lads who were making the plans. They’ve done many before and have a history of the ‘great outdoors’. I was told to get my ass out of bed at 7.00am as we were heading to The Bridge of Orchy to do not one but two munro’s. Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh.

I really enjoyed it actually. It was really hard, but great fun. Being out in the elements with good mates getting some decent exercise. In all we done 11.4k (7.1 miles) and climbed around 3200ft.

Here is a wee diagram I made using info from mapmyrun.com

Also have a ganter at some pics from the day:

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

I think I’ll need to get some proper gear if I’m going to be serious (my feet were a bit sore), but I’m looking forward to more.

I went back to my original post, looked at the comments and realised my next one would have to be ‘The Catcher In The Rye’ as suggested by my old workmate Dave.

It’s a book I’ve always wanted to read. I remember a few people in my year doing it for their RPR (Response to Personal Reading) at high school and it’s one of those books that always pop up in the ‘best books’ lists.

Holden a Kindle

So aye, this book didn’t take me long to get through, I finished it in less than 10 sittings. That’s fast for me. All things considered I’d freely admit that I’m a pretty slow reader. However, if you are wondering why so long since my last post, I didn’t start this right after the last book in The Project, I read a book called Slaughterhouse Five in between. It was alright. Not as good as I thought it would be after the recommendation from my trusty buddy Steve, but was a decent wee read anyway.

If you didn’t already know ‘Catcher In The Rye’ is a coming of age story set from the point of view of a young lad – Holden Caulfield – who has just been kicked out of school for flunking; he has a bit of a scuffle with his flatmate then, on a moments whim, decides to live it up in New York City and spend all his cash before his parents find out he’s been chucked out of another school.

What we get now is an insight into a young guy who seems a tad confused at the world (although he wouldn’t admit it). Constantly frustrated by those around him, fighting insecurity with aggression. One minute he complains of being lonely then when he gets some company he goes out his way to be back to his lonesome again.

I found myself feeling sorry for Holden. I could kinda relate to his confusion. I thought he was a smart, caring lad at times. Especially when talking about his family. Some of his observations about life were on the money and showed a side that made you wonder how he could be getting on so badly at school. But God help those around him. His outward actions were on a par with Kevin a la ‘Kevin and Perry Go Large’.

The main problem with him, in my option, was that, throughout the book, Holden was unable to understand how his actions affected other people. He spent all his time moaning about how other people’s actions affected him. At the end of the book though, something happens that causes Holden to understand this. And that is why I think it’s a great book.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Next up is Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama. See ya soon!

I’m not one for poems (see this post for details), but I was at another Humanist Funeral on Saturday morning and the speaker read out a poem that I instantly loved. Thought I would post it here:

The Dash by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning..to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears, 1964 – 1994
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth..
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars..the house..the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you”d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we”ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile..
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’’s being read
With your life’’s actions to rehash..
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

I’ve also been a bit of an arse when it comes to the bevy. Something has changed. My theory is that it’s to do with FOOD. I seem to forget to eat after a few pints. I need to get my stomach full before going out and, if the session is likely to last more than, say, four hours, then I bloodly-well better have a Gregg’s or something in-between too. (DISCLAIMER: I’m not daft enough not to realise that it might be too much drink!)

Perfect opportunity to try this theory is this weekend where I’ll be hitting Edinburgh with the boys to celebrate the arrival of my mates boy Maxwell. Congrats Andy!!

Payback Yo!

So in-between my panic attacks and drunkeness I’ve been slowly crawling through the next one in my project. The full title is actually Payback: Debt as Metaphor and the Shadow Side of Wealth. Going into this I thought I was in for an economics lesson; learning how banks work, how debt is managed etc. But I should have paid more attention to the sub-title. This book is actually nothing like that. It’s about debt as a psychological principal. Let me try to explain that a bit better:

If you are in debt then you owe someone something; therefore you believe that the person you owe something gave you it in return for something else of equal value. It’s all about Balance. You have to be in dept because you recognise that what you received is a fair trade for what you will owe. What do you say to a bank teller when you want to know how much is in your account? “Can you tell me my BALANCE please?” You know the symbol used in many banks? A two pan balance? This book is about fairness, not just in monetary terms but also from a moral standpoint.

Margaret Atwood goes into great detail on the subject. From debt to your god, original sin (Btw did you know that in the original bibles the actual word used in place of Sin translated to DEBT) to the different types of debt used as a plot device in literature. Such as The Christmas Carol as plot driven by monetary debt and The Godfather as moral debt.

I really enjoyed Atwood’s tone. I found her quite funny at times which was surprising. Sadly though this book was let down by drawing out a topic that could have been adequately summarised for me in a few pages. It’s not that Atwood didn’t find ways to keep it interesting, its just that it isn’t a topic I would find myself wanting to read about in my spare time.

I think I would give her another go; I think that a fiction book by her would be awesome. Sadly, overall, this book didn’t interest me enough to warrant a high rating. Sorry Margaret.

Rating: 4.5 out of 10 stars

I’m near the end folks. Four more to go. The next one in the list (number four of the Times top 100 books of the decade) is indicated as Masterworks of the Classical Haida Mythtellers trans Robert Bringhurst (2002). But I’ve realised that this is actually several different books. Bit of a bummer. So what I’m thinking of doing is either reading one of the books or reading number 21 in the top 200. Need to make up my mind. I’m sure that Kindle availability will have a big say in my decision. Opinions on the matter in the comments if you please.