Monday, November 2, 2009

999 Challenge - October 2009

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (Books made into movies)
This book depicts life in America in the ninteen fifies. It is a story of hope, aspirations,unrealistic dreams, deceptions and tragedy. Frank and April Wheeler with their two children move to Revolutionary Road Connecticut. Although living in the suburbs Frank and April think they are different from their friends and neighbours. Trying to break out of their suburban lifestyle April convinces Frank they should move to Paris and start a new life, where she would support Frank while he decides what ambition he would like to follow other than the boring office job he now holds. April finds herself pregnant with their third child much to her dismay. Their plans begin to crumble. Unexpectantly Frank's superiors suddenly start to praise his work and Frank starts to think the job is not that bad after all. April starts to question her life and her love for Frank. She doesn't want another child and tries to abort it herself and things go terribly wrong.
This is a beautifully written book that has never dated, a true classic. The story was very complelling as is the film of the same name.
Call Waiting by Dianne Blacklock ( Chic Lit)
This a romantic chic lit novel set in Bowral. If you are looking for suprises or unhappy ending you won't find it in this book, it is sentimental and terribly predictable but lots of fun. The story line is about two old college friends Ally and Meg who are at a crossroad in their lives. Ally moves to Bowral to help an old friend in running a guest house to get away from a romance that is going nowhere. Meg on the other hand who has the perfect husband, child and lifstyle falls for the freckless Jamie who she mets at a photo shoot for the advertising company she works for. All comes good in the end when Meg and her husband sort themselves out and move from the corporate world to runing an art gallery in Bowral. Ally mets the local builder when he is doing some work at the guest house. She of course ends up as his wife and business partner working with him as an interior designer. The story is full of charm and wit. I liked it so much I have read two of her other books, Wife for Hire and Almost Perfect.
Breakout: How I escaped the Exclusive Brethern by David Tchappat (General Reading)
Could you imagine living life without television, music, computers, mobil phones, books (only those approved by the Brethern), no swimming or sport, no going out to the movies, told what you can wear or who you can marry. Children are not allowed to intergrate with the worldly children at school. Your only outing is going to church everday. Welcome to the Exclusive Brethern. It is all about controlling the followers. This is the story of a young man who was brave enough to make the break from the Brethern at nineteen. David has to be admired, coming from such a controlled environment and into the real world full of technology and things he had never experienced. He had no support from family or the friends he had known, as once you leave all contact ceases. The book tells of all the emotions David has to deal with along the way. This a very destructive sect that can take children away from parents for extended periods of time if they commit a simple misdemeanour in the eyes of the Brethern. While the leaders are running big busniesses and making big money they are telling their followers the worldly people are evil.
I found this book fasinating but felt incredibly sad for the children that are brainwashed and living in an insular world.
Born or Bred: the making of a mass murderer by Robert Wainwright (Crime)
This book looks at the psychological reasons why Martin Bryant killed thirty five people and injured twenty one. Bryant was always different growing up. It is thought he suffers from Aspergers Syndrome. Trouble really started when his father committed suicide. His father was his main carer always making sure his time was occupied. After his father's death he became obessed with death. Shunned by society and fuelled by the Dunblane massarce in Scotland, Bryant began collecting guns. His father had found him gardening work in a crumbling mansion owned by Helen Harvey and her mother. Helen was a virtual recluse but Helen and Bryant seemed to hit it off. She was much older than him but she seemed to understand him and they made an odd couple around the town. Unfortunately she is killed in a car accident and leaves him her fortune which enables him to buy the freedom to buy and stockpile guns. In his warped mind he feels he is the victim and whats to die. So he single handly creates one of Australia's greatest massarces. It is a no win situation for all involved including Bryant a pathetic man who did an unforgivable thing. He is a man with an IQ of a ten year old and the emotional state of a two year old. Why he did it we will never really know. What would have happened if Bryant was diagnosed with his problems when he was younger. If his father hadn't committed suicide and Helen Harvey hadn't left him all that money. If that gun seller hadn't sold him the guns. But it happened and can't be changed.