The Fourth Bear, Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde's The Fourth Bear is yet another book from the Waterstone's "books that will change your life" list.

I actually struggled with this book - tried reading it several weeks before and ended up ditching it, but took it with us on vacation anyway.

It's one of those books that has a clever premise that I find a bit too clever (like Wicked, which I read last year).

When I finally read it through I found it kind of amusing but it seemed like the humor was over-thought and trying too hard.

I'd have to read really really positive reviews before reading another book of this type.

The Eye of the Needle

We watched this early-80's movie based on the Ken Follett novel, Eye of the Needle.

Donald Sutherland was terrific and the movie was captivating and well-done. A very enjoyable movie, even if watching it on the computer did attract tons of bugs towards us in the summer house.

The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks

This has to be one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I was immediately drawn in and captivated by the horrible and fascinating world of Frank. To be up close to someone so very disturbed and yet logical-sounding was creepy, and yet the tone of the book was positive and hopeful.

I really enjoyed it.

Wall-E

We went to see Wall-E in the middle of a hot day. In the US this is a sure-fire way to beat the heat by ducking into an air-conditioned movie theatre. In France, not so much. No air conditioning. It was cooler than being in the sun I guess.

Luckily the movie was fun and we all liked it - I think I laughed more than A even, and he's 8. It wasn't so bad to see it in French, since it's animated it's much better than watching a dubbed live action movie.

Matilda, Roald Dahl

I remember years ago reading James and the Giant Peach and loving it. And I've also got good memories of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Of course, that's kid lit and I'm wayyyyyy past that, right?

Well, thanks to the Waterstone's promotion of "books that will change your life" I had an excuse to go back to childhood and read a Roald Dahl book that I'd missed when younger.

Matilda was fun and amusing and a quick read (and a nice change from the depressing and slow book that preceded it).

Worth all the teasing I got from E and A while reading it too...

Under the Volcano - Malcolm Lowry

I picked this up last summer at an independent bookstore in San Francisco under the heading of "books you should have read". At times it felt more like a 'should' read than something I really enjoyed, but in the end I was glad I'd read it and stuck it out.

The up-close view of alcoholism and crazy relationships was sad and yet touching too.

La Consultation

I bought the DVD of La Consultation because I thought it might show the reality of a physician's life, and therefore be pretty interesting for my team at work (who seem to not understand the reality of nuts and bolts patient contact).

I finally had some time to watch it, and it was pretty much what I was hoping for, although maybe a skew towards younger patients than would be ideal for my work.

As a movie it was pretty slow, even for a documentary (although I found the bonus short Desirs d'amour, better in that regard). My guess is if you don't have a strong interest in health care this film would be hard to sit through...