wedding

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

book haul, books, currently reading, recently watched, review, Stephen King, wedding
So it’s the day after my sister got married and I’m fucking exhausted. All I can think about it sleeping for a day. The last few days have been incredibly unhealthy and I need to get back into my healthier routine and start doing some exercise again. I also need to try and curb my spending for this week because wedding are fucking expensive. Still, the week off I took in preparation has proved to be useful in terms of getting shit done bookwise. I finished the book I started just over a week ago, which is better than I’d expected. There was probably some sort of bridesmaid duties I should have been doing instead but it all turned out fine in the end. My plan now the wedding is over is to hide away in my room with my books and make sure nobody takes my picture again. For someone as unphotogenic as me (seriously that’s not me being coy or modest, I seriously don’t photograph well) it’s been a hellish couple of days. I’m dreading any pictures of me making their way onto Facebook. All those photos are just another reason to never get married I suppose.
Just Finished
  • Finder Keepers by Stephen King
Finished this the night before the wedding, which, in hindsight, was probably the wrong decision to make. Still, I made it through the day. Not really sure what to make of this. As a follow-up to a book I wasn’t exactly enamoured with I can’t say I believed it was going to utterly blow me away. And, to be honest, it didn’t but, for the most part, I enjoyed it more than I did Mr Mercedes. I think the structure was better and the narrative flow made more sense to me. I’m still unconvinced about the present tense but that looks like it’s set in stone. However, I can’t help but worry about the direction the final one is going in. I realise it’s still Stephen King but I don’t understand the need to start including paranormal influences. Well I’ll find out how it pans out soon enough considering…

Currently Reading
  • End of Watch by Stephen King

In an attempt to be upfront and honest with you, I have to admit that I haven’t started this yet. I just haven’t had a lot of time for reading over the last few days but I intend to start immediately. Although, I’m not really looking forward to it. The idea that Holly based some sort of psychokinetic ability into Brady just doesn’t fit with the way the Bill Hodges trilogy has been going so I don’t see why King needed to upturn the apple cart. Still, he’s Stephen King and I’m sure he’s got plans beyond my comprehension. We’ll see.

Recently Purchased

  • A Vindication on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
I used Vindication in my postgraduate dissertation and I really didn’t need another copy. However, as is so often the case in this section of my rundown, I fell in love with the Vintage Feminism Short Edition. This is an important work in terms of women and politics but it’s difficult to find a pretty edition of it. Wollstonecraft is one of my favourite female writers and believe she is important enough to be remembered for being truly great. 
  • Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
You, like me, are probably familiar with the film adaptation of Battle Royale because it’s so fucking awesome. However, I’ve never read the book so decided it was time. Plus, the 2014 edition happens to be a bloody fantastic piece of cover art. Battle Royale is like Lord of the Flies meets The Hunger Games meets Quentin Tarantino. Kids being placed into a situation where only one can survive. Violence ensues and it’s fucking great. I can only hope the book is just as good. If not, I’ll just rewatch the film… it’s been a while.


Recently Watched
  • High Rise
Finally watched this. Finally reviewed it on Tuesday.
  • Starksy and Hutch
Watched this classic Ben Stiller film for the first time in ages and the nostalgia made it perfect for this week’s TBT post. 

TBT – Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

Australia, marriage, review, TBT, Toni Collette, wedding

Everywhere I look it seems as though people are getting engaged. Apparently, we live in an age where women of all ages and marital statuses have a fucking Pinterest wedding board. Am I missing something? I don’t see the fuss. I’m sure when I was younger I did the whole pretend wedding thing but now I just think it’s a little bit unnecessary. A lot of money for one day? My heart-rate has gone up just fucking thinking about it. I must be one of a minority that sees Don’t Tell the Bride as the preferable way to organise your big day. No shopping for flowers, venues or the dress: fucking ideal. Hell, I’ll wear PJs if need be. 

Of course stereotypically, as a girl, I should be dreaming about weddings. There is still the overriding idea that the female of the species are obssessed with parading their love in front of family and friends by taking a fucking walk. Obviously, the film industry hasn’t helped matters with its endless supply of bridezillas telling men that all women go insane during wedding planning. I mean just look at Kate fucking Hudson giving her gender a bad reputation in the shitty and desperate “comedy” Bride Wars.

Then you have the crazy singletons who are so fucking desperate to get hitched that they make up fiances in their head and try on wedding dresses for their fake big day. When it comes to gender politics, weddings in films really aren’t helping our cause. Of course, one of the more memorable of these women is Muriel Heslop from P.J Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding. It was the role that threw Toni Collette into the spotlight and added to the stream of quirky but dark comedies that Australia was producing in the 80s and 90s. 

Muriel is a 22 year old school-drop out who’s only claim to fame in a secretarial degree her father had to bribe someone for. She is looked down on by her ‘friends’ who eventually just admit enough is enough and drop her entirely. Feeling pathetic and alone, Muriel follows the girls on their Hibiscus Island holiday after stealing her family’s wealth. Thankfully, she meets another ex-schoolmate Rhonda Epinstalk (Rachel Griffiths) and the pair form an alliance against Muriel’s bitchy old friends.

The two bond over their love of ABBA and manage to win the island resort’s talent competition by dressing up as Agnetha and Anni Frid and miming the words to Waterloo. Unable to face her father’s disappointment and anger, Muriel follows Rhonda to Sydney and reinvents herself. A whole new world of work, friendship and dating is opened up to her and her dream wedding looks possible for the first time ever.

Although, the film is far from a feel-good story about a girl who leaves her sleepy town and finds herself and love along the way. Muriel comes from a family of losers and layabouts. She and her siblings are constantly berated by their father. He is a philanderer and psychologically abuses his family thanks to his regrets about not winning an election years before.

Muriel has come to hate herself and lies to everyone she meets so she can become the person she feels she should be. She is a deeply unhappy person who pins her future happiness on having the perfect wedding. However, deep down, Muriel is just a lost young woman who is trying to survive in a harsh society. The film may derive humour from her missteps but Hogan has a great deal of affection for his misfit protagonist.

Muriel’s Wedding is at times funny, heartfelt and hopeful; the rest of the time it is merciless, depressing and uncomfortable. There is a certain amount of jarring between the two extremes but Hogan manages to hold the reins and finds a pretty good balance. The film isn’t always successful and has enough missteps to keep up with its heroine. However, there is the ocassional glimmer of brilliance within the broad comedy and harsh social critique. Thanks to a winning turn from Toni Collette, Muriel’s Wedding does turn out to be a memory you’ll treasure forever.