Julie & Julia: what a lovely film

Who doesn't love a good movie? Or a great piece of television?

The other night I watched a movie that I'd never really taken much notice of when it first came out. It was about that famous cook, Julia Child. I mean, if I'm completely honest, I'd never even heard of the woman. But then, I'm not one who enjoys spending too much time in the kitchen, if you know what I mean. Basically, I'm not really the best cook in the world. I can cook, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather be doing something else given half the chance. Another reason why I love my dear other half... he's a fabulous cook and he thoroughly enjoys it too.

So, back to the movie. It was called Julie & Julia, based on two true stories, starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as blogger Julie Powell who challenges herself to cook all of the recipes from Child's first cook book in a year. I was absolutely captivated by the performances of these two actresses and couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It was one of those incredible feel good movies, the sort that you could watch over and over, you know?
It's got some lovely, heartwarming scenes and some that left me in fits of giggles (the one with the lobster, for example).

Julia Child comes across as having been a real oddball character. She was gutsy, you know. And Julie Powell just comes across as absolutely adorable.
Oh and I mustn't forget the wonderful Stanley Tucci... he's one hell of an actor that guy and I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves.
Since watching the film, the Oscars have taken place and Meryl won the coveted Academy award for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. She really is amazing, that woman.

Q&A with blogger Sharon Goodwin

Today I've got a very lovely lady and book blogger Sharon Goodwin... Hi Sharon! Welcome to Q&A with moi!

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
A book I’ve read recently has had that effect on me ……………. Caligula by Douglas Jackson. I do enjoy historical fiction and for me, this book ticked all my boxes. I was so absorbed in the story I was loathe to put it down. I was taken on a trip to the past and became involved in lives that were real to me. I even confronted my ‘shadow’ side with all the depravity, blood, gore, pride etc. The court intrigue kept me interested as did the assassination attempts on Caligula’s life. I didn’t want the book to end and hesitantly turned those final few pages. A good sign of what the story means to you!

Who is your favourite author and why?
I don’t have a favourite author – each author creates something that allows me escapism. In my childhood days I would have answered Enid Blyton (along with how many thousands of others!) Those adventures I took as a child gave me freedom!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales! You can make up your own stories just by looking at the different cameo’s on the front cover.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I would invite;
Bryan Sykes (author of The Seven Daughters and Adam’s Curse) to talk about DNA
Paramahansa Yogananda to tie the DNA in with ancient wisdom – and maybe learn a little spiritual wisdom myself!
Next on my list would be biology author Toby J Gibson – he could put his research of molecular biology (including DNA finds) to the group.
Finally, Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). He could give us ideas on how to use all the things we learn round the dinner table – in the future!

Who, or what, inspires you?
Nature! Taking time out each day to walk and see and breathe and feel what is around me. That is true inspiration.

Where is your favourite place to write your blog?
Downstairs on my laptop while looking out the French Doors at the garden (all seasons).

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
My favourite is His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (more than one book!) ……………… It’s a fantasy trilogy. We journey with two children who visit parallel worlds and have the most amazing adventures. They meet characters such as witches and armoured polar bears. They have their own daemons which are their souls. We also delve into physics, philosophy and theology! It’s such a fascinating world that the author has created.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I am going to be predictable and say the movies based on The Twilight Series by Stephenie Myer!

If your favourite book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?

The first book in His Dark Materials has already been made into a movie ‘The Golden Compass’. To be honest, I thought the cast was brilliant. Nicole Kidman was a fantastic Mrs Coulter and Daniel Craig was brilliant as Lord Asriel. Hopefully The Subtle Knife will also be made into a movie …Georgie Henley would make a fab Lyra (the young girl) she played Lucy the youngest daughter in Narnia; Kathleen Robertson for the witch Serafina Pekkala, she played Azkadellia in Syfy’s ‘The Tin Man’; Arthur Bowen to play Will Parry (he was Albus Severus Potter).

Tell us a random fact about yourself
For the past two years I’ve helped run an after school cookery club

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
An Air pageant was held at Hengistbury Head in July 1910 with almost all of aviators in the country attending. Many sightseers attended. For most of these sightseers this was the first time they had ever set eyes on one of the new fangled flying machines.
Charles Rolls (co-founder of Rolls Royce) took off in his Wright Flyer and gave a demonstration of the capabilities of the Wright brothers machine, but as he came into land something went terribly wrong. Some commentaries speak of Rolls stalling the machine, others indicate there was a mechanical failure with part of the tail falling off. Either way, the machine fell to the ground from about 100 feet. Charles Rolls was mortally wounded with "Severe Concussion" and died in the wreckage, before medical assistance arrived.

Winter or summer? Winter
Ebook or paperback? Paperback
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato
Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for

Link to your blog: http://shazjera.blogspot.com