Battle Royale - Koushun Takami

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Published by Haika Soru, 2012.

With the anticipation of the new Hunger Games film, I decided to go and read Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (written in Japanese in 1999, first translated to English in 2003). Around the time when the popularity of the books was at its height and the first Hunger Games film came out, I encountered a lot of comments on the internet saying that the book was surprisingly like this Japanese novel. (There are indeed some similarities between the books, but I don’t think it’s intentional and Hunger Games really isn’t a blatant rip-off from Battle Royale.) So with the Hunger Games trilogy long read, I sunk my teeth into this big book to hopefully satisfy some of my anticipation. The book does deal with some similar themes and it also has lots of teens killing each other off, but it doesn’t quite read as smooth as Suzanne Collins’ books.

Gravity

Gravity (2013). Directedy by Alfonso Cuarón.

Another film review?!? I know, I know. But I just couldn't not write about the brilliance that is Gravity (2013). There are still a few more films coming out this year, but so far I'd have to say that this is the film of the year for me. It actually gave me goosebumps. Goosebumps, I tell you! I was at the edge of my seat for the entire film, clutching my teacup, and spent most of the film trying to hold back my tears. It was such an emotional rollercoaster, but in a very good way. It's like Aritstotle said, drama purges the soul (or something along those lines...), and whilst I was close to breaking down during the film, I felt ecstatic afterwards. (Anyone know that feeling, or do I need to reign in my emotions) Seriously, you need to see this film.

Movie Mash-Up: Carrie, Thor: The Dark World, Elle S'En Va.

With the terrible weather and rain we've had lately, who wants to be outside? No one, obviously. So what do you do to fill your time? Go to the cinema, obviously. I've taken my own advice and have been a regular guest at the cinema these last two weeks, enjoying popcorn and the big screen. Although I saw quite a variety of kinds of films, I decided to put them all together in one article, with a couple of mini reviews mashed-up together.

Music: Bastille and CHVRCHES

Bastille - Pompeii

Some people need complete sillence to focus on their work. Not me. I love listening to music in the background whilst trying to meet all my deadlines. There are two bands I've been listening non-stop to lately. I'm probably way behind on discovering them, but I still wanted to introduce these two British bands to you: Bastille and CHVRCHES.

Heads up: the Book Depository Sale

Just a little heads up! On Thursday the 7th of November, the Book Depository will hold a big sale; 50 books, 50 offers, 25 hours. From noon GMT (British time) on Thursday, they will have a new offer up every half hour. Might be worth checking out, to see whether that book you've been dying to get your mittens on is finally up for sale!

Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure - Hoshino Yukinobu

Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure by Hoshino Yukinobu. Published by the British Museum Press, 2011.

Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure is a manga by Hoshino Yukinobu created in collaboration with the British Museum. The British Museum hosted an exhibition of Yukinobu's work in 2009 and invited the author to come and visit. This visit inspired several drawings of Professor Munakata (one of Yukinobu's reoccurring characters), which led to another visit to the British Museum and eventually this book. Although I've hardly ever read manga (I read the first two volumes of Full Metal Alchemist in high school a long time ago, and that's it), the idea of a manga set in the British Museum really appealed to me and I decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed.