Brandnooz box opening: March 2015

So on Friday we got yet another box with goodies! Again, none of the items is "brand new" as advertised, all the stuff is already available in shops. That doesn't mean it's not worth it though. For example last month we got this mint syrup, local and bio and all the other fashion words written on the label, and the lemonade from it was really delicious. March box contained some magazines. In the one about living we got some ideas suitable for our apartment and some "must have" items, we can't afford. On the other hand, the women magazine was rather disappointing. See, I don't buy these, as they're stupid, but when I do, all I care about is clothes, sex and funny stories. This one had no funny story and very little about sex and clothes. Boring!

 As for food, I really like the rapsberry jam. What I find interesting is the whip cream without lactose (sorcery!). Dijon mustard and mayonaise are the two things that have to be in every kitchen and sweets and salted crackers never last long in our home. What I don't like is the chips with chicken flavour, because I've tried it and it tastes weird. Also, Asterix fruit drink is not what I was looking forward to, as we have the 18+ subscription, I would expect to receive more alcoholic beverages, not just beer (which was in two out of four boxes). But it is still nice to get these little surprises every month... It's like getting presents.

Best breakup/ melancholy albums

Being in a happy relationship is a great thing really. But sometimes I get nostalgic and think about all these breakups, listening to all kinds of songs, great ones, actually. But they are those kinds of songs you don't usually play. I am glad that as far as I can see there is no breakup ahead of me (hopefully), but sometimes feeling nostalgic and perhaps melancholic is not bad. And these are my favourite albums:

Hunger Games movie series

I have to admit, I've read the books before seeing the movies. You can read about my opinions on that here. But this article is focusing on the movie adaptations. As every reader I was of course disappointed about some of the features in the movies, about the cuts and choices. But an overall is quite fine. Katniss Everdeen is sometimes overacting, but that's it. If I can ignore the fact, that some characters were eliminated, some characters poorly chosen and some information unsaid, I must say it's a pretty good movie. The soundtrack is very well chosen (I especially appreciate the "Hanging tree" from Mockingjay pt.1). It's a pity that the first movie had no advertising at all in our country so I learnt about it's existence in a review of the second movie (which didn't have a big campaign either), which was when I read all the books and then saw the first two movies.

I was quite worried about the third one, as they split the book in halves (which is a very "in" move in a movie industry nowadays). The campaign was huge, you could see Katniss burning on almost every corner. And then the premiere came and the people were saying that it was quite annoying, nothing happened, etc. And when I came to see it, I was like: "Why do you hate it so much?" I get it, there was not much of an action but if was quite precise. In a way I am happy that they are making two movies of the book, because there's so much essential information, that if they made just one movie of it, they would have to cross out a lot and the readers would probably hate it. And I didn't. Which is a good thing, I guess.
Anyway, wait for the last part. The very end is a little stupid but what comes before it is going to be (or should be) pretty huge.

Series of Unfortunate Events - great to read if you're and adult too

After having to go through my Psychology notes and book in order to pass the exam (got an A, like a boss!), then writing a 4 pages essay about the intercultural topic of White Teeth, 4 pages of culture traditions in Šumava, another 4 concerning The Story of Lucy Gault (what a strange book) and skimming the Economics book (the worst thing ever!) I just needed some rest. And as my idea of free time is reading a nice and easy book, I've decided to read Lemony Snicket. I must admit, I never cared about the series when I was younger. Maybe because at the time it appeared in Czech translation, I was so into Harry Potter and then Lord of the Rings, that I wasn't interested, I don't know. Anyway, even though it is a book for children, obviously, I enjoy reading it now. I got it in English, of course, so I keep up my level a bit.
I must say, sometimes it's pretty ingenious. After reading about a snake called Virginian Woolf that cannot be let near a typewriter I had to pause for almost 3 minutes, as I was laughing hard (the lady in the train looked suprised).Also, the beginning of 6th book got me: The book you are hold­ing in your two hands right now-as­sum­ing that you are, in fact, hold­ing this book, and that you have only two hands--is one of two books in the world that will show you the dif­fer­ence be­tween the word “ner­vous” and the word “anx­ious.” The other book, of course, is the dic­tio­nary, and if I were you I would read that book in­stead."

 The good thing is, that the book is quite predictable. It's like watching CSI (or Scooby-Doo, which I hate). Being familiar with the scheme of the book series makes it easier to read even when you are tired.Also, each book is very short, so even when I'm short of time, I manage to finish it in one day, which is great as I have to deal with other texts and if I had to split the story, I wouldn't remember the beginning when finishing it.

I also enjoy the explanations of some complicated words. Some are really funny to read.

One more thing. I'm not sure If I would want to read it as a child. There are so many dead people and other dreadful things! It would make me terrified of other people. But perhaps more grateful for having a loving family.

Overall: Totally worth it. Better that sitting all day watching some sitcoms or series that just repeat themselves (I'm looking forward to my everyday episode of Bones though). And, there's a movie, not so bad, even though it only consists of the first three books.

Why you should / shouldn't read Kazuo Ishiguro

I've been working on my book list for my English finals. I already have those thirty books we were supposed to have (unlike the others, I believe you should read everything on your list and not just an extract from each book), but I am still trying to make the list more interesting. I've read several present authors we were recommended - ok, I've read them not only because they sounded interesting but also to make an impression, but I don't think that's wrong. Anyway, Kazuo Ishiguro was one of the recommended. I started with Remains of the Day and, as I didn't quite get it, I continued with Never Let Me Go. Now I understand a little better.

If I stay

I quite admire Chloë Grace Moretz, so I was having a hard time waiting for the movie, as I missed it in the cinema's. But then I discovered the book. And as I am one of those who believe that Book Is Always Better (with a small exception, which was Green Mile and LOTR, the movies are equally good as the books), I decided to read it first, so I could be bitching about how different the movie is and how they screwed up , that's what I do... Anyway, this is the book review. And below is a movie trailer with Czech subtitles.

Reading people

This is not technically a book review but I thought I'll just put it there. I like it when people read in public. And this guy in particular... well, it was a very interesting view. The only problem was that there was a couple in my was and I didn't want to look like stalker or to spook the object by coming closer. Also I used my compact camera and I changed some settings a bit earlier and didn't realise that I changed the size of the picture, so it turned out that it is really small! But I still like it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Have you seen the movie? I did. And I loved it. I loved Emma in her short haircut, I adored Ezra Miller (as much as I do in every movie he's in) and Charlie, oh Charlie, how much I felt sorry for you! I didn't get to the book until last week, because it was not available in Czech and, to be honest, I was too lazy to read it in English. But that is exactly what I eventually did. And I love the movie a little less...
The book is perfect. You know the kind of books that make you feel horrible and awesome at the same time? Well that's the one. The language is simple (I didn't have to look up any words, except for "jaundice"), the letter form makes it interesting and the story line is easy to follow. On the other hand, the movie didn't depict Charlie's personality as well as the book did (in it's defense I must say that it must have been really difficult). But the truth is that Charlie is a really complicated personality, with many "little secrets" and he's a teenager. Sometimes I know exactly how he feels, the confusion, the disbalance, despair, and I had no such stories in my life as he did. But I felt the same. The feeling I'm trying to describe is best shown in one of the final scenes in the film, when Charlie says:
"There is so much pain. And I-I-I don't know how to not notice it."
Dr. Burton: "What's hurting you?"
Charlie: "No, not... not me. It's them! It's... it's everyone. It never stops. Do you understand?"
That is, I think, the crucial moment. The one that explains everything. That some people feel the urge to help the others, to make them happy and not care about themselves...
It is difficult time, growing up. No matter if you had stuff like Charlie going on or not.
When I first watch the movie and then read the book, I try not to say "The book was better". And I won't do it now. I think both movie and book are worth it.

We are infinite...

John Fowles and The Collector

So, I am studying English at college and recently we had this book on the list. And As I have no idea how am I gonna do it next year if I want to finish bachelors degree on time, I decided to read some of the books I need for the finals in advance. This one was actually a great choice.
I like the way this book is divided. One part is told by the male character Clegg and the other part by the female, Miranda, his prisoner, which enables you to see both sides of the problem. Some moments make you actually hate Miranda, even though she is the one kidnapped, she is the victim, but you feel sorry for her kidnapper instead. The novel is very disturbing and intense. In the end I decided I never want to read it again. That's what I say every time I read a book that terrifies me.
Truth is, that there was something about the book that really disgusted me, puzzled me, terrified me. And it was the discussion we had about it at school. Teacher asked us who's read it. There were like three of us. Then she wanted to know whether we liked it. And a girl answered that it was similar to Fifty shades of Grey and that is why she liked it. The first think that came to my mind was this:

Then I tried really hard to actually think about what she said. I actually found a few things that connect the two books:
1. there is a girl and a guy.
2. the guy is rich and is a little weird.
3. The guy is misusing the girl (can't find another word, that would fit both cases).
4. The guy fancies the girl.
 Well, that's about that. That is literally all they have in common. My mind was going to explode! I believe that the girl read a different book (probably some Fifty shades of other female bullshit novels). The teacher gave her a very puzzled face and replied, that she hasn't read that so she can't agree with her. My faith in humanity and future of reading was restored when I told about it to my friend. She laughed hard, then pulled new Pratchett's book out of her bag and started to read, not minding the lecture.
So, read The collector. Do it, you'll love it. Or hate it. Probably both, but that makes the book even more exceptional.

Fifty shades of whaa...?!

My first book review would be about 50 shades of Grey. I 've decided so for several reasons. Firstly, it is quite new and popular amongst women, it's a little controversial (well, a lot controversial for a mainstream) and I'd had mixed feelings about it before I even read it. In the end I came to conclusion that all women should read it. And then probably throw it away as a complete trash. There is a lot, a LOT of wrong in this book.
So let's start with the main character, Anastasia, shall we? She obviously has a eating disorder. And in this world, that is not a good example for young women. It's ok to be thin, I have no problem with that, but it is NOT OK to eat only one apple in a day and nothing else! The main protagonist is always someone we envy. It's fine to envy nice hair, great looks, sex appeal etc. Not eating is not ok, did I mention that?

Next, the sex thing. I must admit, that it turned me on a little. Sometimes. But most of the sex scenes made me laugh hard! Christian is actually a cat, because otherwise I cannot explain all the sounds he makes. And the "Come for me" thing? Absolutely hilarious. Also a bit disgusting. "And my body followed his command" - I mean, what are you, Anastasia? A dog? Sex doesn't work that way. It just doesn't. And neither do most women. This might make you feel, that it is normal for a woman to come everytime she is "commanded". Or f**ked. Well, no. Most women are quite delicate. And difficult. So men should try more, women should tell them what they like and most importantly - loose themselves. Relax a bit. And not worry about the simple orgasms most female character in books and movies have. Real women don't (well, some do, you are lucky ladies).
And as for the S-M issue. Triple NO. First, you don't agree to S-M play when you had no sex yet, no experiences and hate pain. And if you are offered so, you run. Or call a police. Or both. You definitely do not sign a contract about leting some guy beat the hell out of you. I know nothing about the community of people interested in BDSM, but I know something about bringing a little pain and dominance into your sex life. And the fact, that many women after reading the book bought their whips and wanted to get slapped by their SO and then found out, that it hurts (surprise, surprise!), really puzzles me. And some got angry because the guy refused to play this game. Well, that guy was quite wise, really.

I believe, that 50 shades are readable. Good book for a vacation, to get turned on. But do not try the stuff advertised in it at home. And finally, do not force your boyfriend to read it (a friend of mine did, they did not last long, as she loved it and he hated it), keep it for yourself. In some cases, do not even tell him you are reading it. Have fun...

P.S. - I wonder what they're gonna do about the movie... I might go and see it, just out of curiosity, secretly in disguise, of course :-)