What I Read This February

Summer has continued to suck the life out of me so more books were read. And more that aren't recorded because I have been reading a lot of picture books and short stories for school. I've also been reading the wonderful David Bowie IS from the VA exhibition of the same name as I continue to wrap myself up in everything Bowie I can get my grubby little hands on. I've been overworking the librarians at my local library and only purchased one (non school) book this month in the YA Chronicles subscription box (which was amazing!).  

 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline ★★★★

An audio book

I originally borrowed this from the library last year and uploaded it to my computer hoping to get around to it but I couldn’t convince myself to listen to an audio book which is why I included the challenge this year. I really loved the story so didn’t find it hard to pay attention. I did have a few issues with the files causing my computer to crash when I tried to upload them so it was really frustrating I nearly bought the book but it had the tiniest font so I persevered listening to terrible recordings on Youtube. I found it frustrating how slow the story was told, I’m a slow reader but faster than an audiobook narrator for sure. But I really loved the story and I will probably read it with my eyes before the movie gets released in a few years. I would have gotten five stars if my experience wasn’t so painful with the files.

 

Saga, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples ★★★★

This series continues to enthral me with its twists and turns, I may end up buying the last two volumes if I haven’t got the fifth from the library once the sixth is released, but I may be patient.

 

Mosquitoland by David Arnold ★★★

A book that was given to you as a gift

This is a book I should have really loved but something about the writing annoyed me (I can’t remember exactly what it was now…).  

 

Alex + Ada, Vol 1 by Jonathan Luna ★★★

This story is okay, I could take it or leave it. 

 

The Graveyard Book Volume 2 by Russell P. Craig ★★★★★

Just grand (see last months post).

 

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy ★★★★★

I loved this book so much. It was pure enjoyment. Happy to hear it is getting a companion novel.

The Glasgow Coma Scale by Neil D.A. Stewart ★★

I didn’t like this book much, I only read the whole thing as it was pretty short at just over 200 pages. The characters were pretty unlikeable and the storyline was uninteresting. I think Goodreads recommended it to me (I need to stop adding anything to my library queue at the drop of a hat). The only thing I liked about it was that it reminded me of my time in Glasgow. 

 

Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks ★★★★

A book about a road trip

This one was a John Green recommendation from many moons ago and another book that reminded me of my travels overseas. I looped Ireland in a week without a fridge and had an amazing time. I think Tony drank a few more pints than I did though. It was a real laugh reading his adventure, the bloody ejiit.

Flight of the Conchords: 14 July - The Plenary, Melbourne

More than a week post Conchords and I'm still in full crazy fan girl mode. This is so true. Went to see Men In Black 3 for some Jemaine action on Monday, gosh he is brilliant! 

Lets travel back in time to the 14th of July, in Melbourne. It was a wet afternoon in Melbourne so we took to our hotel and watched all our favourite episodes in preparation for the night ahead. It was finally time to reveal my secret project to the world and don my homage to my second favourite of Bret's jumpers.  

Then we got all dressed up then did what they call a photo shoot. Posing, posing With my arm. Posing, posing with my leg. Posing, posing like a swan. Posing, posing for a portrait. Posing a threat!

Pretty much!

We grabbed some dinner and headed to the venue. Then I started feeling a little "bulimic" as Jemaine would put it, so I spent the rest of the evening trying to ignore my stomach and enjoy the show. 

Our view of the stage

Arj was a fabulous opening act for the boys and I loved that he joined them on stage in Dave regalia for Too many Dicks and Sugalumps.

I love them so much, those big dags. It was super laid back, like hanging out with two friends not New Zealand's fourth most popular folk parody duo. Super weird not being disappointed a band hasn't played all my favourites, they fulfilled all my wishes. But I don't think there is a song of theirs I dislike.

From the top, their costumes and subsequent jokes about said costumes were great, spinning their heads around wasn't too good on the stomach though!

Loved the new tune, F*** on the Ceiling. Well it is totally parodying one of my favourite bands. It was adorable when they stuffed up the lyrics. 

Adored when Jemaine played the flute super awesome bad in Inner City Pressure. 

Loved how their jokes about Australia went over most of the crowds heads. They know more about our country's history than many do. Sadly most of us were taught a different story at school. 

Super sad that no one requested to see their tits. Apparently that was their measure of a good show in Australia.The crowd wasn't amazing, hardly anyone was dressed up or singing along, but we were pretty far back (did not get impregnated by the Hiphopopotamus! :'( ). So I just have this photo to make up for the lack of tits shown.

It was particularly hilarious when after they mentioned how sad they were no one wanted to see their tits and someone baaed and Jemaine replied "We're going to f*** you later!" the to and throw between him and Bret that followed which involved a crowd orgy and 4000 blow jobs.

I just about cried when they played Carol Brown as I really didn't expect all my favourites.

All the songs were performed with wonderful comic timing and skill. I loved it and hope they tour again someday. 100 stars.

Conchords week!

Less than a week to go before we see Flight of the Chonchords and I am super excited, especially now it's been announced that Arj Barker will also be in attendance.

So I have turned the the Draw Something application into "Draw Something Conchords". Not always to the appreciation of my competitors. Have some arts.

I'm not sure why I decided to give Murray blue eyes.

C'mon sucker lick my battery!

Sexy Jemaine!

So very happy my friends have sent me some back too!

I am not Jesus, though I have the same initials

NME made it out to be some big competition Pulp Vs. The Strokes.

There was no showdown, they weren’t going head to head and the effect on sales can’t have been phenomenal.

There were comparisons, side taking, and even some name calling. Who would put on the better show?  I love Pulp and rather fond of The Strokes as well so didn’t really care, living on the other side of the world I was just excited at the prospect of the shows being broadcast and eventually filtering to me through the wonder that is the internet.

And then I woke up to this:

Jarvis Cocker and Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) covering The Cars Just What I Needed. OMFG! Good cover too.

I love when people I love hang out together and do awesome things.

Anyway, here are some super interesting facts:

• Jarvis and Julian are probably my favourite people with the initials J.C.

• I have seen both of their bands at Festival Hall.

• Both bands didn’t play songs I desperately wanted to hear!  12:51 and Razzmatazz.

• Pretty sure Julian Casablancas spoke to the crowd during that one song more than he did in the entire show in Melbourne, Jarvis must be a positive influence!

 

Anyway, getting sad that the Pulp concerts are coming to an end.  Fingers crossed for something else (I need excuses to blog about them!).  Also Ginger Pulp is still looking fine. 

Do a Little Dance

Since seeing Pulp almost a month ago my Pulp/Jarvis Cocker obsession is at an alarmingly pleasant level. Pleasant for me, possibly annoying for others. I have purchased some lovely posters, a book, and an awesome Jarvis pin.

I'm looking forward to all my goodies arriving in the post.

I've been watching lots of videos on you tube and I came across a pretty great documentary about Common People called The Story of "Common People". Watching it has inspired me to want to learn the dance from the song's video clip. Sadly, the skilled googler that I was couldn't find a tutorial already made. So here is a super dodgy run through. 

Sing along with the common people


Clap up high right, left, right, left.

Sing along and it might just get you through

Clap lower right, left, right, step forward and arm motions as if going through saloon doors on "through".  

Laugh along with the common people


Belly laugh, hands to the left, hands to the right.

  
Laugh along even though they're laughing at you


Hands on hips, swaying slightly, right arm swings around to point on "you".

 
And the stupid things that you do, because you think that poor is c-o-

Pointer becomes telling off (windscreen wiper!) finger right, left, right back to point whilst left arm comes up to side of head for "cool" (note: cool eyes!).

-o-o-l 

Right arm spinning in a clockwise motion.

Ah!

Right pointer hand goes back towards shoulder as left hand comes forward in grabbing motion on "Ah!".










*Non gifsoup gifs sourced from nohlgallagher