You’ll already have gathered that I hate January. The weeks are 10 days long but the weekends are getting shorter. Time moves so slowly during the hours of 9-5:50 but then speed up dramatically. I don’t know how it happens. I feel like I’ve been back at work for 3 months and we’re not even 20 days into the New Year now. Still, I shouldn’t complain. I have a job and, come January 31st, they might be in short supply. Especially in Digital Marketing. When the UK starts to go to shit and all the big companies are moving out, I doubt social media campaigns and blogging are going to be high on everyone’s list of necessities. So, I’ll keep plodding along and count my lucky stars. I used to work in catering and, if the economy does take a tumble, that’s always a hard-hit area. But let’s not get too political. This blog is about books and, thanks to Audible, I’ve smashed my reading targets for the week. 4 books in one week. I’ve never done anything like that since I left university. Is this what other book bloggers feel like all of the time? It’s euphoric!

Weekly Blog Posts

• BOOK REVIEW – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

As well as reading the audiobooks that I’ve had on Audible for ages, this weekly audiobook habit is a good time to get round to listening to books that I haven’t read in w while. Last year, I listened to Neil Gaiman’s recording of Coraline one Sunday and I loved his narration of Norse Mythology in 2017. He just has the perfect voice and temperament for narrating audiobooks. Plus, it always helps when the author reads out their own books. It brings a whole new level to it. So, after getting a really good deal on it, I decided that I wanted to listen to The Graveyard Book this weekend. It was really relaxing. Well, until the point that I started doing a mystery jigsaw and got really stressed out. But that’s hardly the book’s fault. Read my review to hear if my reread of this book was worth it.

• TUESDAY REVIEW – Jojo Rabbit (2019)

I wasn’t supposed to review this film this week. If I was sticking to my personal schedule, I should have been reviewing Cats but I’m still traumatised. Instead, I decided to review this as soon as I’d watched it. Okay, not as soon because I got home late and had work the next day but basically as soon as. I’ve been desperate to see this film and was really annoyed to miss out on the chance to see it early at the Bradford film festival. So, I waited like the patient person I pretend to be. I saw it with a friend on a really lovely night out when we did everything. We had dinner, snuck in a quick round of bolwing, saw a film, and hung out in an arcade until my train arrived. It was a blissful evening. Go check out my review to find out how much the film contributed to the night.

• BOOK REVIEW – Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

I had a random Monday off last week because I had a hospital appointment. I had no other plans so it was, essentially, a free day. As I’ve been dreadful at reading physical books lately, I decided it was worth getting another audiobook in for the week. I needed a review for Wednesday and would give me some breathing room with my current read. I also decided to give the jigsaw another look. It didn’t go well. Who would have thought that doing a Sherlock Holmes mystery jigsaw would be so frustrating? Turns out that having the picture on the front of the box is directly linked to my enjoyment of assembling the jigsaw itself. But, this isn’t about that bloody jigsaw. If you’re a Miranda fan, read my review but, maybe, prepare for the worst.

• T.HROWBACK THURSDAY – The Great Dictator (1940)

To start off, I’ve been freaked out about the fact that this film is 80 years old this year since I wrote this review. I mean I know it’s old but 80 freaking years. It’s crazy that it still kind of stands up to this day. I had a lot of options of what I wanted to watch for TBT this week but, in the end, this classic seemed too good to miss. Charlie Chaplin’s portrayal of a Hitler-esque dictator is one of cinema’s greatest pieces of political satire. It’s the reason that Taika Waititi’s portrayal won’t ever be the funniest Hitler on film. Though he is a close second. The Great Dictator is an absolute delight of a film and shows what a fantastic performer Chaplin really was. If you’re also feeling a bit nostalgic then head over to my review.

• FRIDAY FAVOURITES – Bond Theme Tunes

It was announced this week that Billie Eilish would be writing and performing the theme song to this years Bond film. We have no idea what she’s got planned for No Time To Die. I hated both of the previous two songs, so I’m going into the new one with an open mind. Whatever Eilish does, it won’t be as dull or boring as Sam Smith or Adele’s tunes. And why not give her a chance? Bond title songs have always been hit and miss. There are plenty of dodgy ones already that, if Eilish’s addition doesn’t work, it won’t be the worst. Thanks to Madonna, nobody from now on will ever write the worst Bond song ever. But I guess it’s all a very personal thing. I know that my top songs might be controversial to many. Head over to my post to see them.

Just Finished

• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This time last Sunday I was listening to Neil Gaiman narrate the story of young Bod and his adventures in the graveyard. These stories are so delightful and Gaiman’s performance really brings it life. What a great way to spend the day.

• Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

A bonus day off meant bonus audiobook. Many people might say that staying in and listening to a book was a waste of a day off but not me. It’s all one step closer to my goal of 50.

• He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

I’ve been unstoppable with audiobooks this week. After finishing the Miranda Hart book on Monday, I couldn’t face going back to physical books so I started this one. It’s another I’ve had in my Audible account for ages. I started listening to it on Monday night and spent most of my Tuesday listening to it at work. It certainly made the day go quicker.

• James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes by James Acaster

I really like James Acaster’s sense of humour. He’s super weird but in such a funny way. I religiously listen to the podcast he does with Ed Gamble and I think their adverts are the best podcast ads around. Well, after Adam Buxton I guess. So, I wanted to give this book a try but it only seemed fair that I listen to him tell them himself. I’ve heard a few of these before, either on TV or as clips from the radio, but hearing them fleshed out was great. Another good distraction from work on Thursday.

Currently Reading

• On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous edited by Ocean Vuong

Still making slow progress with this one but I think it’s a really great book. So well written and engaging. I really want to know about Little Dog’s story. I just need to get over my book inertia.

Recently Purchased

After a few disappointments, my book buying ban is going strong. Although, there are still some things sitting in my Waterstones basket.

Recently Watched

• TV:
  • Zumbo’s Just Desserts – This show is both amazing and really boring at the same time. I love the insane desserts they make but the actual cooking side of it is so boring. If they could somehow make the format better, this show would be perfect.
  • The Thick of It –  This classic BBC comedy is so good. Considering how fucked the political situation is at the moment, it seemed like a good idea to go back and watch this. This seems tame nowadays.
  • AJ and the Queen – I watched one episode of this because I’ve spent ages watching the trailer screaming “that’s not a boy, it’s clearly a girl. Nobody’s falling for it” to the screen. I wanted to be proved right and, unsurprisingly, I was. I love RuPaul’s Drag Race, so wanted to love this. I just feel as though it’s trying too hard to be something it isn’t,
• Films
  • Son of Rambow– I’ve had a desire to watch this film for ages. It’s such a lovely British comedy starring so many people I love.
  • The Invention of Lying – Fun Fact: this was the first film I ever took the time to write a review of. I tried to send it to my University newspaper but they didn’t want it. They never read it, so it wasn’t a quality thing. They were just that shit. The paper did eventually do a review of the film in which the writer just described the entire plot. They don’t know what they were missing. My review was cut-throat.