The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

A futuristic retelling of the Cinderella story where she’s a cyborg living in New Beijing? Yes please! Oh, and she’s one of the best mechanics in the Eastern commonwealth? Even better! She has a mysterious past and unexplained powers? I’m down for that.

I didn’t have too high hopes for this series, only deciding to read it because it’s been so popular lately, but man was I an idiot to put it off for so long!

It’s fun, fast paced, and while it’s a tad predictable at times (but hey, what fairy-tale retelling isn’t?), I loved every moment! The evil Queen wanting to take over the whole planet, check. The charming Prince who falls in love with Cinder before finding out her true identity, check. The fun sidekick (Iko the android who is probably my favourite character in the book), check. This book had all the Cinderella elements required, while also offering a fresh, new perspective to the old tale.

Then in the next three books, while also continuing with Cinder's story, we meet Scarlett (with the red hoodie and a love interest named Wolf), Cress (with the long, blonde hair, locked away by the evil Queen in a satellite in the middle of nowhere), and Winter (beautiful step-daughter to the evil Queen, with dark hair and lips as red as rubies), all of whom work with Cinder to help defeat the Queen.

Is it aimed towards teenage girls? Definitely. And there is A LOT of romance. But it is an exciting story about smart, strong teenage girls trying to save the world. Do they make mistakes? Of course. But they are all interesting characters and it was definitely a fast paced, feel good read!

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: The Lunar Chronicles, 1: Cinder

The Trip to Italy a film by Michael Winterbottom

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon do a diverting routine of witty but glum straight-man (Coogan) and philosophical comic (Brydon), bouncing off each other on assorted themes, from Batman’s vocal register to the merits of Alanis Morissette. Throughout they compete to see who can do the best Michael Caine impersonation. All this while on a tour of Italy, enjoying the best cuisine on offer and staying in delightful boutique hotels.

It’s a winning formula, especially as Brydon can also do a reasonable Hugh Grant and his Tom Jones is spectacular, while both have a go at the better known James Bond actors. There’s some guff about Shelley and Byron, who were similarly once on a trip to Italy and a visit to Pompei which was a grim reminder of one’s mortality, until Brydon has a conversation with an exhibit using his man in a box routine. There is a bit of a subtext, mainly family matters: a fifteen-year-old son Coogan doesn’t see enough of and a tired wife and young daughter in the case of Brydon.

But mostly it’s just two blokes enjoying a gastronomic road trip and getting up to mischief. The eighteen and twenty-year-old lads I watched this with were well entertained, and while the scenery was nice and the food looked amazing, it’s mostly the impersonations you really hang out for. I enjoyed this movie more than the first these two did together, The Trip, but that might be the wonders of Italy adding an appealing backdrop.

Posted by JAM

Catalogue link: The Trip to Italy 

The Trip to Italy: Official trailer

What Charlotte Brontë Heroine are you?