Benji's Blog.

Timeless Values.

Renegade — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:56:55 +0000

Okay so I wasn’t too sure about this one, as it was more of an experiment than anything else; a bit different to anything I normally write.

Timeless Values.

Melancholy voices,
A moonlit serenade

Haunted shadows,
The phoenix flies

Whispers conflict,
Darkness replenished

Words glitter across the page,
Beautiful shimmers of gold

Contrasting colours,
Sweet serendipity

Lights dance brightly,
Wind whistling tunelessly

Thoughts distraught,
Destined forever more

A Clockwork Orange. – Anthony Burgess.

Renegade — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:48:39 +0000

Synopsis: In this nightmare vision of a not-too-distant future, fifteen-year-old Alex and his three friends rob, rape, torture and murder – for fun. Alex is jailed for his vicious crimes and the State undertakes to reform him – but how and at what cost?

Review

Well, here it is, the third finished novel of the year, and by far the strangest book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Although the book deals with some serious issues such as rape, violence and crime – enough to put some people off – I feel that this is a piece of literature that everyone should read. My reasons for this are simple: the novel is thought-provoking, intriguing, and throughout I felt connected with the main protagonist, Alex; a strange thing to say about a fifteen year delinquent who enjoys gang-crime and extreme violent acts, but who also enjoys classical music. Particularly Beethoven’s Ninth.

Some people who will read this novel, will have no sympathy for a mere child who shows no remorse and causes so much hurt and violence to perfectly innocent victims, but as the novel progressed I’m sure that I wasn’t the only one who began to sympathise with the troubles that the Government force upon him after he is finally arrested and put in jail for his actions.

Now, I feel it necessary to mention the language used within this novel, as it can be challenging at first to understand. I’ve even know people cast this book away on the principle that they can not get used to the language used; Burgess uses an experimental teenage-slang language at many points during the book. However, I feel that with a little bit of perseverance you can soon begin to deduce what means what, and it doesn’t distract from the plot at all.

Now, in conclusion I imagine that opinion about this novel is divided right down the middle; some will say he got what he deserved, others will disagree. I do know one thing for sure; this novel is one that everyone should read at some point in their lives.

5/5.

Moab Is My Washpot. – Stephen Fry.

Renegade — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:58:35 +0000

Synopsis: Moab is My Washpot is in turns funny, shocking, tender, delicious, sad, lyrical, bruisingly frank and addictively readable. Stephen Fry’s bestselling memoir tells how, sent to a boarding school 200 miles from home at the age of seven, he survived beatings, misery, love, ecstasy, carnal violation, expulsion, imprisonment, criminal conviction, probation and catastrophe to emerge, at eighteen, ready to try and face the world in which he had always felt a stranger. When he was fifteen, he wrote this in a letter to himself, not to be read until he was twenty-five: ‘Well I tell you now that everything I feel now, everything I am now is truer and better than anything I shall ever be. Ever. This is me now, the real me. Every day that I grow away from the me that is writing this now is a betrayal and a defeat’. Whether the real Stephen Fry is the man now living, or the extraordinary adolescent now dead, only you will be able to decide.

Review

When deciding whether to review this book I thought to myself that I should pull myself away and not bother; it was my firm belief that it doesn’t matter what I try and say about Stephen’s wonderful autobiography, I will do it a complete injustice. Nevertheless, I have loved and lived every word of this book over the past few days, so I thought it only fair to attempt to get down in words, why everyone should read this book.

This book is a journey; a journey in which we feel what he felt, live what he lived; a journey filled with despair, remorse, sadness, deceit and love. The book itself is both intriguing and humorous, often at the same time, as we are catapulted through Stephen’s accounts of the tales of his childhood in boarding school, his first homosexual experiences, his pranks and jokes, his adolescent angst and early experiences with depression.

It is extremely well written, as one would expect from Mr Fry, and is delightful, charming, brutally candid, and a pleasure to read. We’re presented with his feelings of regret, despair, and self-loathing, and although I can far from condone his actions as a delinquent youth, neither can he; he acknowledges this most genuinely, and from it you can see how and why he has become what he is today.

Throughout the book Fry quite honestly rambles away, often going off into side-anecdotes, and although this can be irritating for some readers, I found it nothing short of endearing, bringing a certain charm to his style of writing; the way in which he meanders through tales of his childhood, often coming back to his original point several pages on, gives us a sense of how his life has been an emotional roller-coaster from which he has clung on to the very end, to make himself the person which he wants to be.

I myself have no flaws with the book, and yet I feel obliged to point out perhaps why some may. In Stephen’s brutal honesty, he doesn’t hold back. At all. Because of this, at times his language can be.. colourful, shall we say. In this way I don’t think the book should be read by young readers, unless of course the parent deems it acceptable. If you can see past this then you will find his language to be witty and engaging; overall a refreshingly forthright and touching memoir.

5/5.

Killing Floor. – Lee Child.

Renegade — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:01:39 +0000

Synopsis: Margrave is a no-account little town in Georgia. Jack Reacher jumps off a bus and walks fourteen miles in the rain, just passing through. An arbitrary decision, a tribute to a guitar player who died there decades before. But Margrave has just had its first homicide in thirty years. And Reacher is the only stranger in town. So the murder is pinned on him. As nasty secrets leak out and the body count mounts, only one thing is for sure: They picked the wrong guy to take the fall. Killing Floor introduces Jack Reacher, the tough ex-military cop of no fixed abode. Trained to think fast and act faster, with an eye for the women, he is truly every thinking reader’s perfect action hero.

Review

Okay, so here it is, my first read of the year; Killing Floor by Lee Child. Now, I hadn’t heard of this author before, because normally this isn’t my type of genre to read. However, whilst browsing the Amazon Kindle Store I saw his name crop up. After being intrigued by the synopsis and some good spoiler-free reviews, I thought I’d give it a shot. I can safely say I’m glad to know that I’ve started off with a series which stretches on for another fourteen books; plenty to get stuck into with this one it seems.

The novel itself was fantastic; intriguing and mysterious throughout, it had me hooked all the way from the first page to the last. Now, I’m not normally used to his style of writing, but the short and snappy sentences gave the novel that fast-moving feel which sweeps a reader off their feet and doesn’t put them down until it reaches its conclusion; I hardly noticed that it’s 528 pages long.

I found the characters to be believable and interesting, especially that of the main protagonist Jack Reacher, who at first the reader learns nothing about. As the novel unravels you start to feel yourself warming to Reacher and certain other characters, giving me the feeling that I was with them all the way in their battle to discover the truth, before everything goes up in flames.

4/5.

2010 Reading Review.

Renegade — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:40:56 +0000

Okay, so it’s been a strange year of reading for me; in some ways it’s been good – I found a new favourite novel in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – but in other ways it’s been terrible – I only managed to read a pretty poor total of 25 books, in comparison to the 48 of last year.

In the early part of the year I found myself revising for AS exams, so that meant that I couldn’t get through many books; in the end I ended up with three that month. From then on I had a severe lack of reading mojo; even when my exams had finished I found myself struggling to get myself stuck into novels, only reading one book in February & March: Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris.

It was disappointing but in April things improved; I managed some good books when I went away to Tenerife in Spain for a week – including the first book in Stieg Larsson’s popular Millennium Trilogy – and that brought my total for the year to 9. However, I don’t think that holiday regained my mojo, or at least if it did, I lost it again for the next three months; only reading one book.

In August I went on holiday to Greece, and as usual I managed to read a fair few books; another 5, bringing my total to a mere 15. On holiday I read The Picture of Dorian Gray and it rapidly became my favourite book of all time. Wonderfully well written, Wilde manages to create fantastic characters, and every word speaks out to the author.

In September I went book to school after summer, and I was caught up in the rush of starting Year 13, only managing to read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown throughout September. In October & November my reading was steady; three books per month, including my first Ben Elton novel The First Casualty, which was a brilliant read.

As December came around I had only read a total of 22 books, which was extremely disappointing, and I obviously started thinking of how I’d improve on it in 2011. However, there was a month left and I settled in to read American Gods, my first Neil Gaiman book. It was wonderful, one of my best reads of the year. At first I didn’t think the subject of God’s an mythology would interest me, but it was done in such a fantastic way; I will be reading more of Gaiman’s novels. Through the rest of December I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as a re-read for my English exam in January, and I concluded my reading for the year with the final novel in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix; Lord Sunday, which was a good read.

Overall it was a pretty terrible year of reading, and I hope to improve on it in 2011, with the addition of my Amazon Kindle which I received for Christmas; a gift guaranteed to get my reading mojo back in form.

Books Read 2010.

Renegade — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:38:15 +0000

Well here it is, the books I’ve read in 2010. A disappointing year but hopefully I’ll improve next year.

Total Read 2010: 22.

January.
1. Snakehead. – Anthony Horowitz.
2. Crocodile Tears. – Anthony Horowitz.
3. Breakneck. – Erica Spindler.

February.
4. Dead Until Dark. – Charlaine Harris.

April.
5. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. – Steig Larsson.
6. The Kite Runner. – Khaled Hosseini.
7. The Reader. – Bernhard Schlink.
8. Living Dead In Dallas. – Charlaine Harris.
9. Club Dead. – Charlaine Harris.

July.
10. The Girl Who Played With Fire. – Steig Larsson.

August.

11. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. – Steig Larsson.
12. Frankenstein. – Mary Shelly.
13. The Picture of Dorian Gray. - Oscar Wilde.
14. Good Omens. – Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman.
15. Heroes Of the Valley. – Jonathan Stroud.

September.
16. The Lost Symbol. - Dan Brown.

October.
17. Macbeth. – William Shakespeare.
18. The First Casualty. – Ben Elton.
19. Eragon. – Christopher Paolini.

November.
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
21. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows. – J.K Rowling.
22. The Bloody Chamber. – Angela Carter.

December.
23. American Gods. – Neil Gaiman.
24. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. – Mark Haddon.
25. Lord Sunday. - Garth Nix.

Favourite Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray. – Oscar Wilde.

54 Things 2010.

Renegade — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:57:57 +0000

Well here’s the list of things I managed to complete from my ’54 things to do in 2010′. Not a bad effort, might do another one of these for next year.

Key: Italics = Completed.

54 Things to do in 2010.

Be drunk at 12:00:01am on January the first.
Pass all four of my A Level examinations.
Think about things more before I do them.
Make more sensible decisions.
Start my driving lessons/pass test.
Accept party invites instead of finding excuses.
Start being more sociable/go out more.
Read more than the 48 books I read in 2009.
Incidentally, keep a ‘books read 2010’ list.
Read at least six classics.
Find three new authors.
Try to avoid having rows with my parents.
Have a well-edited novel finished by the end of the year.
Keep a respectable ring tone.
Find three new artists/vary music taste.
Keep iTunes Library updated and in check.
Listen to some podcasts – preferably some worthwhile.
Watch more films/TV series’.
Watch Season 1 of Gilmore Girls.
Watch Season 1-3 of Gavin & Stacey.
Watch Season 6 of Lost.
Go out in the snow, at some point.
Make a snow angel while I’m there.
Be nice to/spend more time with Mum & Dad.
Likewise, visit/talk to Grandma more, also.
Learn all the lyrics of every song to more than one album.
Write more poems – a few happy ones, as well.
Remember/make more effort with birthdays.
Be more productive.
Keep my blog updated.
Go to at least three music concerts.
Don’t throw something at Jedward on X Factor tour.
Do something worth remembering on holiday.
Come back with a sun tan, for a change.
Help out around the house more.
Spend money wisely.
Eat healthily – not necessarily for weight loss.
Try harder in all my classes.
Write a letter to myself to open in ten years.
Do something for charity.
Read a respectable newspaper.
Cut down on time spent on Facebook on computer.
Be more mature.
Go to the cinema more often.
Win something, anything.
Go stay with my Auntie and cousins in London.
Finish assignments/coursework on time.
Keep my room looking respectable and tidy.
Be happy more.
Watch some of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
And actually want England to win.
Stop biting my nails.
Stop looking back, concentrate on the future.
Eat something I have never eaten before.

Festive Season.

Renegade — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:48:17 +0000

Okay, hey all, thought I would just basically do a bit of an update post about how my holiday and festive season is going so far..

So, Christmas Day. I know I spoke a lot in my last post about how it isn’t really as exciting when you grow up; the magic dwindles somewhat and many will prefer to have a nice lie-in rather than get up at the crack of dawn to open presents, like I used to when I was younger. Anyway, the day went much better than I thought it would. I got up at about 9:00am – a sensible time – went downstairs in my pyjamas, put the kettle on, made tea and coffee for me and the parents, then started to open my presents. I received my Amazon Kindle in a lovely red leather case, clothes – mostly jeans but also a new gorgeous jacket – money, vouchers for Amazon and for Waterstones, two books, a DVD, some new trainers, a Cheryl Cole 2011 calender, and various other bits and bobs. Yes yes, I’m spoiled I know..

Anyway, for Christmas we went over to my Grandma’s house for Christmas lunch, and it was lovely sitting around the table, laughing and joking. Afterwards, we sat and watched Shrek the third on television as we all unwound and had a few drinks. Before I knew it, it was time to go home. I passed the rest of the day watching some How I Met Your Mother – an American television series that I have been really enjoying recently; it’s hilarious. At any rate, before I knew it Christmas was over, and although I’d looked at my Kindle, I hadn’t been that convinced about it at first glance; probably just because it isn’t what I’m used too, I think.

That all changed on Boxing Day. In the morning I was browsing the Kindle store wondering what my first purchase on it would be – by first purchase I mean actually paying for a book, as I’d already downloaded numerous free classics before it had even arrived – when I realised that I still hadn’t read Lord Sunday by Garth Nix. I had read the previous six novels in the Keys to the Kingdom series, but had just never got around to reading the last one. So I set about downloading it, and about thirty seconds later, it was done and I was reading away in no time at all.

Now, I have to confess I’m a sucker for the actual feel of pages flicking through my fingers, but as I read for most of the afternoon, I barely noticed that it wasn’t an actual book I was reading. It is light, easy to use and read from, and I love it. I finished Lord Sunday in the early hours of this morning; something I haven’t done in a long time. I really think this Kindle is a perfect gift for me, and hopefully I’ll read many more good books in 2011 because of it.

Anyway, the holidays are in full-swing now, and I’m going to make the most of the time to settle down and study so that I’m prepared for my January exams that are just on the other side of the horizon. 2011 is just around the corner, and I think it’ll be a great year. But more on that in another post I should think..

Toodle pips,
Ben.

Christmas Is Coming..

Renegade — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:16:52 +0000

So here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun..

Hey all. Well, on Friday I broke up from college for the Christmas holidays, and the break could not have come at a better time. Even though my holidays will be entirely taken up with studying for my approaching exams, at least I can sit back and enjoy some relaxation whilst revising in my own time

Now, what are my views on Christmas. Well, it certainly isn’t what it used to be; the rush of excitement when as a young boy I would run down the stairs in the hope of finding some great gifts that Santa had brought me. Nowadays it is oh so very different; with age the excitement dies, and more often or not at our age we know exactly what we are getting for Christmas, and would rather lay in bed until a sensible time on Christmas morning.

So although I’m not completely enthralled by Christmas this year, I am looking forward to spending some quality time with the family; enjoying a few drinks as we sit around the table together, laughing and joking, enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner. I also have to confess something; I’m not too old as to be not looking forward to receiving presents. I can’t wait to get my Amazon Kindle, a present I think will suit me wonderfully.

There’s a certain happiness in general that the Christmas season brings; decorations brighten up the thousands of family homes across the country, smiles and frowns in equal measure begin to plaster themselves across people’s faces as the snow begins to cover the ground. It is a season of happiness, enjoyment, and even those who aren’t the festive type can’t help but be caught up in the atmosphere that it brings.

In any case, I just thought I’d make a short post about Christmas and whatnot. I hope you all have a wonderful time of it, and get everything you asked for off Santa, of course. (;

Ben.

Offer Accepted.

Renegade — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:49:54 +0000

Some days I just wanna’ up and call it quits..’

Hey guys, sorry I haven’t posted for the last nine days; I know I said I’d post every couple of days, but I’ve only found this of interest to talk about recently.

Okay, so as you know I recently sent off my application to universities, and since then – twelve days ago – I’ve been waiting eagerly for replies I thought would never come. Twelve painfully slow, agonizing days that have passed with my thoughts completely filled with the prospect of failure; I genuinely believed that I wouldn’t get any offers from any universities, and I even went as far to offer a £10 wager with anyone that I would get rejections from all four of my choices.

Now nobody took the bet, but they should of done, because I was wrong. Today I logged into the ‘Track’ section of UCAS, not expecting any responses, but in utter shock I read that I had received a conditional offer from one of my choices. Now, admittedly it is my last choice and lowest choice in terms of grades, but the offer gives me some hope that no matter what happens, I can go to university to study English Literature; something I’ve always wanted to do.

Now, with an offer in my hand, I realise more than ever that it is imperative that I settle down and do well in my exams. From now on I’ll tackle my subjects even harder, and revise hard for them over the Christmas holidays, which thankfully start on Friday. I’m not looking forward to the long days of revision, but they are necessary for the three years of freedom that I will receive in return. Not to mention that fresh start I’ve dreamed of for a long time now; a chance to make something of myself and get away from the monotonous routine that plagues my everyday life.

Goodbye for now, I’ll post soon,
Ben.