Kelvin Fowler's Blog, page 18

The Rehearsal

[image error] by Eleanor Catton

Victoria University Press

[Borrowed paperback]

I found this book quite hard to get into and the themes a little narrow. The story is mostly focused on a drama student and a saxophone teacher with pupil. The book also deals with the ripple effects of sexual abuse.

Eleanor is a fantastic writer and 'The Rehearsal' is a very good read.

3/5

# morning coffee

Miles Davis, prose & Julius Meinl; chillin an on ice.

#morning writing

Post holiday blues, moody jazz & memories of good books & good coffee.

Wake

by Elizabeth Knox

Victoria University Press

[Kindle eBook]

This book haunted me, it was fantastic. Elizabeth Knox has spun this tale with both depth and maturity. 'Wake' a story about an invisible monster and the human psyche was out-of-genre for me, but I loved it. I highly recommend this book.

4.5/5

Words Will Break Cement

The Passion of Pussy Riot

Masha Gressen

Granta

[Borrowed paperback]

Good book with interesting material, giving wonderful insight into the Russian court and penal systems. However it read like a poorly translated disjointed newspaper. The books needs a story thread running through it.

For anyone wanting a critical account of Russian politics in general and specifically the Putin years, this is well worth the read.

2/5

#morning poetry

Prince
Grande
Espresso

Red nose burnt
Miles Davis
Julius Meinl

Poetry
Poetry
Poetry

#morning writing

Poet Fuel; Sonny Rollins & Julius Meinl.

Hue & Cry 7

Hue & Cry Press

[Journal]

Another excellent edition by Hue & Cry

My highlights this time were:

Airini Beautrais - This is a story about a man
Jessica Todd - The Body
Xin Cheng - Touches
Zarah Butcther-McGunnigle - from Autobiography of a Marguerite
Breton Dukes - from the Novella Empty Bones
Frances Mountier - Arson
Ruth Corkill - The Sleepwalker

3/5

Roll Around Heaven All Day

A Piecemeal Journey Across America by Bicycle

by Stan Purdum

Communication Resources

[Kindle eBook]

This was an excellent, educational and insightful trans-America travel cycle book. Stan's style of writing kept me turning those pages. His imagery and detail of life on the road was so real that I could feel the wind and sun on my face.

Excellent book

4/5

Texas Buyers Club

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto

This was an excellent film. It was based in 1980's  HIV culture and is focused on the life of a rodeo star and his quest to overcome his prejudice whilst search for retroviral drugs.

There were some sex scenes include that I felt were not really needed, but other than this it was a very well told story and great film.

4/5