Winter Reads...

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson- 3 stars ***

This is the third book in the Millennium trilogy, the second of which I read whilst in Turkey over the summer (see previous post). It took me absolutely ages to read the final segment, as aside from being over 700 pages long, I have also been insanely busy with work, so find very little time that I can justify spending reading rather than doing something more constructive. However, I have eventually completed it, and have to say that the trilogy as a whole is probably the best I have read (aside from the obvious LOTR).

It is completely different to what I normally read, and I practically stumbled across it, as my friend lent me the first one as I had forgotten a book to read whilst on holiday. After devouring that one in less than 2 weeks, it has taken me a further 2 years to actually get round to completing the set.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest was my least favourite out of the three, but I think that is partially down to my stop-start technique of reading it, as it isn't exactly light subject matter so takes a while to get into, and most of the time I had barely done that before more pressing issues began to call. It is still a tremendous book though, filled with phenomenal characterisation, a very clever plot, and aspects of everything from crime to sex to history contained within it. Steig Larsson has clearly gone all out on his research, as there is not anything that I felt the need to look up or question throughout the whole series of novels, signifying what an incredibly bright man Larsson obviously was.

This third book, begins with heroine Lisbeth Salander in hospital after being shot and buried by her half-brother Ron Niedermann. Because she is under arrest for the murder of now at least two people, she is in a secure ward under surveillance. Blomkvist asks his sister, who is a women's rights lawyer, to defend Lisbeth. He then also gets to work trying to chase the missing Niedermann, who is the true murderer of the victims Lisbeth has been framed for.

As well as this there are more than a few sub-plots, and it is essentially the book that ties all the loose ends up and ends with heroine Lisbeth Salander being cleared of all charges and reconciling her friendship with Blomkvist. This is after she dismissed him from her life in the second book when she discovered she had romantic feelings towards him. The full synopsis is extremely complicated, and heavily related to the previous books so I don't want to give too much away! It is available here for those interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Who_Kicked_the_Hornets'_Nest

If you have not discovered this fabulous author yet then get to it, you won't be disappointed. The first film of the big-budget trilogy (there is a Swedish version of them also available) is set for Boxing Day release, and stars Daniel Craig and Joely Richardson, so you'll want to be up-to-date.

Weekly Update!

Christmas Coffee & Present Buying!

This week was my last one being fairly free before my manic life begins next week, where the minimum I will be working is 43 hours a week! Monday I was working at the pub, and on Tuesday evening I popped round to my friend Charlotte's house for a catchup, as it was my only weeknight with a chance to socialise!

On Wednesday after work I went to Chris' and we went for a coffee and shopping in Crewe before going to the cinema to see The Rum Diary (see previous post). Unfortunately he was at work at 8am on Thursday, so I had a very early drive home, and no chance to catch up on my sleep before I dashed off to the Trafford Centre with my mum. It looked really nice with all the decorations up. As well as a gorgeous monochrome dress from Dorothy Perkins for myself, I managed to get all the rest of my Christmas presents bought which is such a relief, as I had no idea when else I would have had chance to go shopping!

On Friday I worked and then got the metro into Manchester in the evening, where I met Chris to go to the Christmas markets (see previous post). On Saturday I had a crazy day, as I worked at the pub, and then went straight to Millington, where I was babysitting ten children while their parents had a dinner party. They were pretty wild to begin with, but once they'd eaten and it got later on, they lost a bit of steam and calmed down. I finished at midnight, so it wasn't too late a night at least.

On Sunday I had another early morning, but at least this time it was for pleasure, as I met an old university friend in Manchester for coffee. It was really great to catch up and enjoy a tasty Christmas coffee and cake. Afterwards I went shopping for a bit with my mum, and then when we got home we had a very festive afternoon, putting the Christmas tree up and wrapping presents. Lovely!

Nights Out...

Manchester Christmas Markets

Yesterday, as one of my only free evenings before Christmas, Chris and I decided to go to the Christmas markets in Manchester. We went a couple of years ago, but he missed it last year (I went with my parents) so we wanted to make sure we managed to fit it in, as it really gives you that Christmassy feeling, and it's always bustling and full of people in the Christmas spirit.

Chris got a train straight from Crewe, so we arrived fairly early at just gone 7pm. We had a bit of a wander around the crafty-type stalls as you enter, and then I bought a raspberry mulled wine, which was lovely and warming, as it was a bit nippy! They have lots of different things for sale - glassware, woolly jumpers, wood carvings, homemade soaps and bath salts, lots of foreign food such as Bavarian cheeses and Belgian chocolate, pretty, much anything really! It is a good place to go if you're struggling for present ideas, as there are plenty of quirky gifts available, Chris got some coasters for his brother that are made from the middle of vinyl records by Oasis, and they had a huge range of other artists too from N.WA to Frank Sinatra.

We were getting a bit hungry around this time so started looking at some of the food stalls. I have a bratwurst every year so decided to go for something different. However, after considering pretzels, paella, hotpot and a savoury crepe, I eventually choose a chorizo, so not much different from usual really! Chris had a cumberland sausage with lancashire cheese and onions; we were lucky we arrived when we did, as he got the last one! We went and took some photos of the fat Santa that sits on top of the town hall, and admired all the Christmas trees and other decorations that were for sale in the outer wooden huts.

After we had eaten we went in search of one of the other markets, on Brazenose Street. However, upon arrival we realised it shuts earlier than the main one, at 8pm, so we'll have to come back to see that one another day. Having seen everything on the main one, we decided to head home, but with a quick detour to the fudge stall, where I bought some cherry and vanilla, and chocolate and hazelnut flavours to eat on the metro as my dessert. That's the only bad thing about visiting the market - you come home about 2 stone heavier from all the gorgeous food!

Winter Views...

The Rum Diary - 3 stars ***

I'd read a few reviews of this before seeing it, and wasn't really expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it contained a good cast, was detailed without being too long and overdrawn and was something a bit different. It is based on the gonzo journalism book by Hunter S. Thompson of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas fame.

The story is about a freelance journalist called Paul Kemp, who moves to Puerto Rico to write for the San Juan Star, a newspaper that is falling apart due to its alcohol fuelled writers and aggressive editor. He moves in with one of his co-workers, Sala, played by Michael Rispoli, and is introduced to his way of life - drinking rum at every given moment, and dabbling in drugs and gambling on cock fighting. One scene in particular, where the pair are on a 'trip', was very interesting to watch, and unlike anything I have seen previously. I was later told that the majority of the film version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is portrayed in such a way, so I may well watch that soon.

Kemp intends to write about the exploitation of the country taking place by the Americans living there, but ends up falling into a partnership with one such American - Sanderson. Sanderson wants Kemp to write a brochure to encourage the planning permission for a new hotel development on a private island nearby, and eventually Kemp is forced to sign the contract. Together with Sala though, and their alcoholic friend Moburg they cook up a plan to expose the companies dealings, but it falls through and Kemp is forced to flee back to New York.

The eye candy comes in the form of Amber Heard, a relatively unknown actress, who is unquestionably gorgeous, with a tanned glow and long blonde hair. She is the girlfriend of Sanderson, causing a dilemma when Kemp becomes obsessed with her, after meeting her skinny dipping while he is drunkenly commandeering a pedalo one night. Despite the good acting of both, there didn't seem to be that much chemistry between Depp and Heard, personally I found it to be more of a naive young girl: caring guardian type relationship (except from the sex scene of course!).

I'd say this film at times feels like the middle film of a trilogy, as there were parts that seemed in there purely for information, and the end is left fairly open. However, I loved the scenes near the end based at the carnival, as they were a feast for the eyes, and were full of vibrance and energy, and watching Johnny Depp for a couple of hours is never going to be a bad thing in my book. Worth a watch.