Category: Lifestyle

Biographies Can Be Eye-Opening

As an avid reader, I love nothing more than getting sucked into a good book. Although I often write about a range of fiction genres, I hardly mention another favourite of mine – biographies.

Non-fiction books are just as popular these days and I especially love books written by famous people about their own lives.

It can be a real eye-opener to get inside a celebrity’s head and learn about the way that they became who they ended up being.

Biographies I Have Loved

Going back to when I was young, I remember enjoying the quirky but honest recollections of Roald Dahl. He wrote ‘BOY – Tales of Childhood’ and then ‘Going Solo’ all about being a young adult.

Similarly, I loved finding out about Julie Andrews and how she became an actress. She had quite a challenging upbringing with a horrible step dad. Her book ‘Home’ was followed by ‘Homework’ which took the reader through the Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music period, when she had moved to America.

Having read about various people, I am still enjoying the funny recollections of Miriam Margoyles. Called, ‘This Much Is True,’ this autobiography is full of anecdotes about childhood in Oxford and fascinating facts about historical figures she came across.

Final Thoughts

I love getting to know what celebrities have experienced. It somehow makes them feel more real and gives interesting insights into their journeys to fame.

On my shelf is a biography about Demi Moore which I am really looking forward to. Look out for ‘Inside Out’ and I will post a review when I get into it.

How many biographies have you read?

Which is your favourite famous person’s biography?

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. For more book suggestions, have a look at my recent Reading Right Now article. Please also consider following my blog for more book, TV and film reviews as well as climate change thoughts.

Wonka Movie Review

Since I was a boy I have loved Roald Dahl books. My teacher read the BFG to me when I was six and I was immediately sold by her brilliant character accents and the excellent narrative. Successive teachers read George’s Marvellous Medicine, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and, my favourite – The Witches. Roald Dahl was an author I admired, found hysterical and wanted to be.

Hearing that Netflix had bought the rights to every single Roald Dahl book led me to realise that it would only be a matter of time before they did something with Wonka.

As soon as they cast Timothy Chalamet in that pivotal role, I knew they were onto something.

Recently I went to my local cinema to see if Wonka was any good.

My Thoughts On Wonka

Realising they were taking key characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and telling the story of how Mr Wonka became successful, I was instantly drawn in. I had so many questions and there was so much room for something to go wrong.

Suffice to say, the production team created something which was absolutely wonderful. Timothee Chalamet began with a new song and I realised we were in for a musical treat.

I just hadn’t expected a new musical score.

When he started using Roald Dahl quotes such as, ‘Scratch that. Reverse it,’ I knew we were in good hands.

Olivia Colman played the owner of an Inn where Wonka stayed the night. Her character, Mrs Scrubbit, was very amusing and had it in for Wonka. While he tried to show off his chocolate creations at the Gallerie Gourmet, Wonka was pursued by corrupt forces and given a hard time by a cheeky little Oompa Loompa, played be a devilish Hugh Grant.

A highlight for me was Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) playing a bishop who allowed access to a chocolate vault via his confession booth. The faces he pulls are always enough to make me laugh. I remember meeting him once (he lived near me for a long time) and seeing what a quiet and gentle person he was.

But let’s be honest, this film was all about Timothee and rightly so. He was brilliant, dancing, singing and charming his way through a narrative that was magical and thoroughly captivating.

In A Nutshell

This production was made by the producer of Harry Potter, David Heyman, and the director of Paddington, Paul King. It was a love letter to Roald Dahl and his brilliant writing. Although it was a prelude to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it included plenty of Dahl quotes, characters and storylines. Remember that the Oompa Loompa history was first mentioned in Roald’s book and it is that which was embellished by the movie.

Thank you for taking the time to read my Wonka movie review. Here is a recent post I wrote about Two TV Shows Worth Watching. Follow my blog for future similar articles.

Why AI Makes Me Uneasy

My Thoughts On Artificial Intelligence

Hearing Elon Musk discussing AI in his Rishi Sunak interview, I was taken aback by some of his subtle warnings. The accelerated growth of artificial intelligence in recent months has startled me and now I worry that Elon knows more than he is letting on.

The idea of unknown entities being able to access personal data doesn’t sit well with me.

In this brief piece, I want to consider a few uncertain points that alarm me now.

What’s Making Me Nervous?

Elon mentioned that in future there may be no need for jobs. People will have no need to go to work as AI will be able to do everything for us.

Let me get that straight. Nobody will need to go to work? Sounds great but also scary.

If that is the case, how do we know these robots won’t just take over the planet? Surely we will all end up obese and with little purpose. Depressed humans with nothing to do.

As well as this, who is to say that these robots won’t spread lies and turn us against each other? Much like what fake news does these days.

I cannot perceive the range of possible ways that this AI revolution could implode. So yes, Rishi and Elon, we do need to be one step in front of it. Safeguards should be put into place to make sure the whole thing cannot just steamroll us.

In A Nutshell

This subject is so massive and very current. I could go on about it all day. But these ideas of employment becoming extinct and information getting into the wrong hands are unsettling as far as I am concerned.

What are your thoughts on this controversial topic?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my AI article. For some book, TV and podcast recommendations, take a look at my Read, Watch and Listen November post.