Keris Stainton's Blog, page 49
February 13, 2012
Mr Popper's Penguins
I wasn't actually that bothered about watching this film. We saw the trailer over and over for what seemed like years and I assumed it would be one of those films where all the best bits were in the trailer. And the trailer wasn't that great. Well. I was wrong.
We sat and watched this on a Sunday afternoon and we all loved it. Yes, it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect – Mr Popper gets the penguins, they're a menace, he learns to love them and they teach him how to live – but it's sweet and funny (very funny in parts) with a satisfying (and not too saccharine) ending.
Plus there's one bit with a penguin behind the bathroom door that had all of us in stitches. Fab.
(New York's Tavern on the Green is heavily featured – Mr Popper is a property developer who plans to buy it from its owner (Angela Lansbury!) and tear it down. I knew the restaurant had closed recently, but having googled it I found it's reopening as a cafe (i.e. not a super-expensive restaurant) so that's good news.)
February 12, 2012
52 Books: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
I bought this book when it first came out, but then, for some reason, put off reading it. I really wish I hadn't because I LOVED it.
Amy's moving from California to Connecticut following her father's death. Amy's not willing to drive and her mum (who's already moved out) needs her car brought over, so arranges for Roger, the son of a friend, to drive both her daughter and her car cross-country.
Amy's feeling guilty about her father's death and abandoned by both her mother and her brother (who's in rehab). Roger's just been dumped and wants to know why. Neither of them is all that keen on a road trip, that is until they decide on a detour.
The book is interspersed with receipts, postcards and trivia from each state Amy and Roger pass through, which was a really nice touch (and REALLY made me want to go on a road trip), but the main thing I loved about this book was how real it all felt. I genuinely didn't want it to end and this morning I found myself looking forward to getting back to it and then was really disappointed when I remembered I'd finished.
Can't wait to read Matson's next book.
February 11, 2012
"Revenge rarely gets served up like that…"
Just watched Jamelia on Room 101 and I was reminded of why I'll always love her. (The sound and picture are out of sync, but watch it anyway – it's fab.)
February 10, 2012
Have you ever seen a "fire rainbow"?
A few weeks ago, we were driving home in the late afternoon and I spotted something I described to the boys as "a bit of rainbow."
It looked so cool that I took quite a few photos, but a) we were in a moving car and b) crappy BlackBerry phone and so the photos were all rubbish. I deleted them and thought no more about it.
But then I saw this photo on Tumblr and, recognising it as a "bit of rainbow", clicked over and learned it's actually a Circumhorizon Arc or "fire rainbow" and they're really rare. In fact, this article says "If you are very lucky you may see a fire rainbow once or twice in your life."
Fabulous. (Do a google image search – some of them are incredibly beautiful.)
So. Have you seen one?
February 9, 2012
NEWS: The Big Writing School
The wonderful Suzy Greaves (who was instrumental in me becoming a writer) has put together a 6 month programme with the best writers, agents, bloggers and agents in the business, including *self-deprecating cough* me.
I'm available as a mentor in the Big Writing Programme and you can also sign up for my masterclass: How to write a YA book proposal that sells in which you will learn…
How to craft a kick-ass query
How to write a stand-out synopsis
How to avoid teen cliches (and know your audience)
You will. Oh yes, you will.
February 8, 2012
Crashed potatoes
I'm no cook, we know that. So when I find something easy to make and absolutely flippin' delicious, I feel I should share.
I can't remember where I first read about 'crashed potatoes' but I'm so grateful. They work best with little new potatoes, but I didn't have any of those last night, so I just cut the long thin potatoes we had into three.
Leave the skin on, parboil for 10 minutes, then stick them in a roasting pan or dish, add olive oil, salt and pepper (and I put in loads of garlic, cos I love garlic) and then gently squish the potatoes with a masher. You just want the skin to burst. Roast for about 15 minutes (depending on the size of your spuds, it could be a bit less or more – I checked mine after 10).
They don't look like much on the photo, I know – this is partly because I can't find the charger for my lovely camera and so I'm stuck with the unlovely BlackBerry – but they're ace, I promise you.
February 7, 2012
Balloon tree
I've been meaning to write about this for a while…
One of the things I wanted to do last year was a family tree, so when I spotted this balloon family tree by LittleMars on Etsy, I snapped it right up.
We actually got one of the names wrong – can you believe David didn't know his own grandmother's name? Actually, not just that he didn't know it, but that he told me the wrong name! – but apart from that I absolutely love it.
Now maybe one day I'll get it out of the post tube and onto the wall…
February 6, 2012
Blogs and birthdays
Today is my 9th blogaversary.
It's not the 9th birthday of this blog exactly, but I did start a personal blog on 6 February 2003 as a way to make myself write every day and as a distraction from the job I wasn't happy in. I soon got completely addicted and I've had dozens of blogs since, but I've always had a personal blog and have blogged a LOT over the past nine years.
Blogging opened up a whole new world to me and not only would I not be where I am today career-wise, I wouldn't have met most of my lovely friends. I can't even imagine…
Today also would have been my dad's birthday. I wrote a post about him over on Girls Heart Books yesterday. Would love to know what you think.
