Emily Cat 176

 Welcome to books on Wednesday.   This is the book l was going to read,  The book is by Mary  Haverstick. Instead l spent the week reading Robert Galbraith books on my Kindle. Have you ever done that, been ready to read a book  and then something else,  something shiny comes along and the original book is put aside. Do you read a favourite book over and over or a see a film, or TV show again and again? Are you willing to step outside your comfort zone and do, or see, something different.  Taylor Swift is in Australia next month for concerts.  I wonder how many will go to more than one. I have to admit l have seen different performances of the same ballet and musical theatre but not constantly.  There is a production of Chicago coming to Melbourne which I'm thinking of seeing.  The last time l saw a production of this show would be 7 or 8 years ago. Not that I'm having a go at anyone who does like seeing, reading etc the same thing o...

 You're out going about your day when suddenly you hear music, you hear a song that you know, a song you love; a song that makes you smile. You stop and listen. You may want to dance even. Memories cone flooding back, good memories.  Then you keep walking smiling with your mood lifted.  That's what music can do.

  Arts Centre Frankston Arts Centre Daniel Champagne 01/02 7.30pm Tom Burlinson: Now We're Swingin' 02/02 10.30 & 1.30pm artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au Kingston Arts Centre www.kingstonarts.com.au Blues Clubs Hume Blues Club Thursday nights at the Thornbury Bowls Club, free entry humebluesclub.com Birds Basement Richard Clapton 26 & 27/01 The Harmonix Experience 31/01 7.30pm Wendy Matthews 01/02 6pm Cool Change 02/02 6pm birdsbasement.com Way Out West Music Club wowrootsmusic.com Meat Market One of Them Ones by Charlie Josephine 31/01 6.30pm Stuck by Kikki Temple 31/01 8pm Vespertilio by Barry McStay 31/01 9.15pm meatmarket.org.au Jazz Clubs Paris Cat Remember the time 26/01 6pm Cannonball feat. Chantal Mitvalsky 26/01 9pm Craig Smith Quintet plays Billy Joel In a Jazz state of mind 26/01 9.30pm A new take on Disney 27/01 6pm The music of Mobley 27/01 6.30pm George Byrne presents 'Come Away with me, Ladies who Jazz 28/01 6.30pm A musical Tribute : Wes Montgomery 01...

A good history book will make you feel that you have been transported back in time and are walking the same dusty streets. A good writer will make you want to keep reading and Diana Preston is a good writer. This was the first of her books l read but l have read others. The Boxer Rebellion happened in 1900, over a century ago but reading this book made me feel like it was happening in the moment. So much has changed and yet nothing has. It is not a pleasant story and there is fault on both sides, but, so much of it is a human story with emotions that do not change. In the same way that Shakespeare's works are still relevant today so are the emotions that are in this book. It is a true story and, let's not forget, that it was 15 years later that the First World War started. That famous phrase by George Santayana kept running through my mind as l was reading: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I think Diana Preston gives a fair retelling of...

  I saw this film on the weekend.  I don't see many films as l'm not keen on most blockbuster type of films, but, l saw this one and thought it would be good. It was. This film is based on a real life story of the USA rowing team winning gold at the 1936 Olympics in Germany. The only thing l knew about these Olympics was about Jesse Owens winning gold. So l was seeing a film about something new to me. George Clooney directed and l think they have faithfully recreated the 1930's look with this film. The acting was good as was the writing. It showed the lives of some of the rowers at a time of great hardship and l think that a large part of the film was character driven, working as a team. The other  real star of this film is the cinematography. As this a film about rowing there are scenes on the water. There is something about rowing. In my favourite novel of last year, Lessons in Chemistry, the main character was also a rower. There is something about rowing and being one...