Fifty Shades of OK- the movie!
A friend, who hasn’t read the books, got a ‘BIG’ surprise when she sat in the audience of the premiere of the Fifty Shades of Grey film.
However, her simple verdict of the blockbuster bondage and sadomasochistic adaptation of E.L James’ book pretty much summed it up, even for those who’ve read every mercurial word.
“Pretty good, I think”
The War of the Wives
This is the kind of book you can easily read in between bits of life.
After finishing up a full-time job at netball and the Firebirds and before tackling the long to-do list that includes re-arranging the tupperware cupboard and sorting the winter and summer linen I picked it up and enjoyably ploughed through it in two days. The groceries and the drop-offs were squeezed in.
Bubble Boys-the soapy opera of sport!
Let me say from the start I know Michael Blucher, the author of Bubble Boys, a 371 page in-depth, yet easy to read examination of the “increasingly complex world or our nation’s sports stars”, personally.
Let me also say that just as he showed no bias or favouritism when writing this book, at times about friends, colleagues, bastards or good blokes, I too will be fair and just.
I loved it!
Magical Christmas Reads.
If the perfect Christmas present is to lie back with a good book, then these two recommendations are my way of re-gifting in the best possible way.
Both are so different.
But in common- a glitter of fantasy.
This is no fairytale..A novel step-mum read.
Here’s a novel idea.
A story where the central, strong and well developed character is a stepmother but not vain or evil.
How to…..feel like you have fifty shades of no clue!
Tonight I am off to see the Queensland premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey, the film. I am going with an open mind, but I don’t think the words “I liked the movie better than the book,” has ever come out of my mouth or anyone I know who likes to read. Here’s what I thought about the books back in 2012!
After reading the Fifty Shades trilogy, by E.L James, I now know 45 new ways to have sex. In theory that is!
Forget plot and storyline and character development.
You don’t need to assign a genre, like erotic romance or relationship thriller.
Instead these books should be found in the self-help section , under How To.
Unleash your inner Viking!
Wicked, scheming women, men who want to be kings or kingmakers, devious plots, religious debates, sexual affairs, back-stabbing, betrayal, murders and plenty of revenge. The ingredients in
Bernard Cornwell’s series of viking novels are delicious and more-ish.
Probably because, just like following a good recipe, they’re all based on facts.
The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow
An aussie school teacher in England sets out on a sailing/rowing adventure, leaving the border near Wales and like Dr Dolittle, who set sail and bumped into Africa, kept going until he bashed into the Black Sea.
In this travel memoir, A.J Mackinnon (Sandy) rows, sails, struggles, hauls, wades and drags his way for a year and 12 countries along canals, up and down locks, rivers and creeks. He writes beautiful prose about his many adventures on board his tiny boat, Jack de Crow, sometimes too poetically and verbosely that it hurt to continually conjure up the images of the people and places he describes so vividly and often so humorously.
Room
Room by Emma Donoghue
Like an exercise addict- starting is the challenge but once you have, it’s enjoyable, makes you feel breathless but exhilarated and suddenly you’re obsessed – such is ROOM.
It’s a profound and wondrous story told through the eyes and words of a child born to a woman held hostage by her abductor (and the child’s father) in a small room for years.
Author Emma Donoghue unwraps her story like a child who’s afraid of a present: slowly, timidly then faster and more furiously until you’re left wide-eyed and amazed.
This is one of those books, that while you may find it a bit bemusing in the beginning will have you thoroughly and completely hooked before you realise and you’ll be putting off dinner and even talking to others until you’ve finished. It will also make you have pause about a the power of motherhood.
A stunning, provoking but entertaining book.
Karryn Wheelans 
