Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
I am a food lover, and the beginning of this book is mouth watering.
Framboise Simon, maiden name, Dartigen, returns to her childhood village.
Joanne Harris writes this as if she was Boise (Framboise's nickname) telling the story of her childhood. The book goes in and out of present time and of when Boise was a child, a young girl of nine.
There are extracts in the book of Boise's mother's recipe album, or more like a diary.
This childhood part of the book takes place during World War Two, with German soldiers living near the village.
In the present time her nephew and his wife try to publish the recipe book. They try to make Boise give in by disturbing her and black mailing her with secrets that she doesn't want to remember.
While reading the book at first you understand that there is a deep or dark secret and as you get further in the book you think a few times, ah! yes that's the secret, it's not that big?, but then you realise that the secret is only much further. Dragging you deeper into the book. And finally when you reach the end and the secret is revealed, its very unexpected, its just a wow moment.
In Chocolat you don't see the disturbing more intimate part of Joanne Harris, but in Five Quarters of the Orange... it may just be one of the most excellent and disturbing books I have ever read.
For those romance lovers, do not worry. There is romance in this book and not childhood cliché romance, but expected unexpected romance. Its a new genre of romance.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a read. It may not be a light and easy book, but it is very worth its weight.
Franz Marc
The Yellow Cow (1911)1191
-Extracted from my art analysis worksheet-
Personal Response:
The yellow cow is very feminine because of the elegance of the face and the eyelashes and also because I can picture Marc's theory of yellow being female and blue being male and spiritual.
The blue spot on the cow also symbolizes Marc's colour theory, and maybe even gives the cow an illusion of calmness.
I love this composition because I love, that the feelings in it are very clear, the abstract colour palette and the brightness of it all together.
Adam Lambert
The runner-up in American Idols, but what happened to him after?
Adam Lambert has released three albums (as far as I know). I own two of them.
As Lambert was announced runner-up I broke down. I had never really been into American Idols until that year.
So, with great expectations I awaited his first album and when it was released I immediately bought the album, Take One.
Mistake.
I should have listened to it beforehand. It was pop, not his usual rock and not only that, but it seemed that his pop was nearly worse than the young adult music these days.
With shame he was taken off my desktop, screen saver and pin-board.
I logged on into his fan-based website just to express my feelings, while there I also learnt that he had another album out, For Your Entertainment. I thought to myself This cover reminds me of his idol days, maybe this CD will be better, off I went to go get it.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
I plugged the CD into my iPod and started listening.
Okay, its still pop, but much better, kind of catchy, next song Wow! I love this one even more start to sing along, next song Wait a bit, it might get better, you're kidding me, most boring song ever I'm changing it.
The last thought carried on through the album.
I don't know if the third album is any better, but if its not rock, I have learnt my lesson.
Adam, you are a wonderful artist with the vocal chords of Freddie Mercury, but pop is not your thing.
Where is that brilliance that you had in your voice when I listened to your Mad World, Feeling Good and even your Ring of Fire?
I loved your music and you because you were different, you got the 'wow' reaction from me every week in American Idols, but now I can't find you anymore, you've so easily blended in with the rest of the artists these days.
I can understand that pop is in a demand right now, but you could have risen it to another level or carried on your rock standards and maybe not be very famous at this moment, but surely remembered and as a legend.
Adam Lambert, once known as the God of Rock.
