Alien Spouse

Barns full of Books, and Megan Mullally's Perfect Role.

Katie had taken a couple of days off work, and had thought of one or two excursions, and the first place she whisked me off to the Astley Book Farm, as the name succinctly suggests this is a farm converted into a massive second-hand book shop.

How well does Katie know me? It was fabulous.

Katie also brought along her friend Justine,who is lovely and has read everything, and we all wondered around all the out buildings crammed full of reading material.

As we were browsing in the Ten Bob Barn, which is the all books for 50p section, a swallow swooped in through the open door, neatly looped to avoid all the shelves and arrived at it's nest which suddenly erupted with chirping chicks demanding whatever tasty morsel had been brought.

This happened several times whilst we were in there, but I never managed to get an action shot unfortunately.

I came away with a modest haul, having been very strict with myself and only spent £10.  I bought three kid's books that I'd already read but needed to complete my library, and two adult novels I haven't read but want to.  The sixth book I bought I hadn't even known existed until I saw it on the shelf.

I'm reading that one right now, it's the sequel to "Mame" by Patrick Dennis.  This one is called "Around the World with Auntie Mame".  It's as hilarious as the original, and the heroine Mame spends most of her time dripping in diamonds and gorgeous clothes.  The jewellery and costumes are described in such loving detail, and it's a veritable Who's Who of pre-war fashion houses, which is fascinating and lovely to wallow in. 

Once again I am plagued with the positive knowledge that Megan Mullally would be amazing in this role, and there is easily enough material for an incredibly lavish mini-series.  It's my own fault of course, if I had only pursued my original career plan to take over Hollywood, then I could just commission the damn thing to be made and stop picturing it in my head.  Gah!!!

Star Wars (ep I to III) Retroactive Fantasy Casting

Can you believe it was 1999 when "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" was released and made grown men weep?

My main problem with the Episodes I to III is the casting of Anakin Skywalker.  In Episode I he is ten years old, which is way too young and that makes the subsequent relationship with Queen Padmé Amidala just icky.  That's a technical term. 

Quite apart from the romantic entanglements still to come, he's suppossed to have salvaged & re-built a pod racer which he then flies to win a highly prestigious race. He's TEN years old.

In Episodes II to III he is played by Hayden Christensen, who seems like a thoroughly nice young man.  That is exactly the problem, I don't believe he's in touch with his dark side at any point.  It's more like he's in touch with his stroppy side, very different.

Peter Sarsgaard would have been so much better.  He has more of a range, he's played a red neck psycho in "Boys don't Cry", an overly sensitive sniper in "Jarhead" and been really sweet in "Garden State".  He would have been amazing as Anakin.

Oh well.  George Lucas simply never listens to me.

Patricia Hodge, currently appearing at The Comedy Theatre.

I was waiting for my tuna melt on ciabatta in Eat, when I saw Patricia Hodge buying her lunch.  She was wearing a casual linen trouser suit, with rose prints on the jacket and she was looking lovely.  I don't know what she was having for her lunch, but it definitely wasn't a tuna melt because I'd got the last one.

Miss Hodge is currently appearing in "Boeing Boeing" as the housekeeper Berthe.  I've seen this twice, so I saw Frances De La Tour in that role first. I thought that they were both excellent but it was so interesting seeing how differently a role that appears so apparently simple can be played.

Frances De La Tour was very worldly wise, and quite intimidating, which worked really well in the scenes with Robert, whereas Patricia Hodge is always going to have an air of glamour about her, so there was a different frisson to her relationship with Bernard.

I am going to have to see the show again when Rhea Perlmann takes over as Berthe.  I don't think you could possibly have thought of three more different actresses, but however did think of them for this role is a genius.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (1938)

When I was talking to my Mum today, I mentioned that I was re-reading "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" by Winifred Watson.  The book was first published in 1938, and re-published in 2000 by Persephone Books, http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/..

It's a Cinderella story about a penniless middle-aged governess, desperately looking for a job and being whisked off her feet by a beautiful young nightclub singer she meets. 

It's just lovely, like a particularly good Carole Lombard film, which is the highest possible praise for a light thirties comedy.  I was really delighted when Mum told me it was being made into a film this year, and even more excited when I looked up the cast on IMDB.  It's going to star Frances McDormand, who is completely perfect for Miss Pettigrew.

Before the film comes out I would strongly suggest buying the book, because it's bound to be a huge hit and then you'll sound so cultured having read the book months before.  Actually I recommend Persephone Books as a general rule, they have such an interesting range and lovely bindings.  Persephone have a pretty little shop on Lamb's Conduit Street and you can also buy from their website.