Book Review: Matilda; Mary Shelley.

Many will recognise the name Mary Shelley as the author of world-famous book 'Frankenstein'. But I decided to start with another of her works: 'Matilda'. I like strange stories, and knowing what it was going to be about it intrigued me that her own Father would not let her publish this. I definitely got what I came for in some ways, but I had issues with the short story too.

SOURCE: Bought
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Matilda
AUTHOR: Mary Shelley
SERIES: Little Black Classics (#116)
PUBLISHER: Penguin
PAGES: 110
GENRE: Classic, Novella

RATING: 3/5 Stars

Blurb:
With its shocking theme of father-daughter incest, Mary Shelley’s publisher—her father, known for his own subversive books—not only refused to publish Matilda, he refused to return her only copy of the manuscript, and the work was never published in her lifetime.

His suppression of this passionate novella is perhaps understandable—unlike her first book, Frankenstein, written a year earlier, Matilda uses fantasy to study a far more personal reality. It tells the story of a young woman whose mother died in her childbirth—just as Shelly’s own mother died after hers—and whose relationship with her bereaved father becomes sexually charged as he conflates her with his lost wife, while she becomes involved with a handsome poet. Yet despite characters clearly based on herself, her father, and her husband, the narrator’s emotional and relentlessly self-examining voice lifts the story beyond autobiographical resonance into something more transcendent: a driven tale of a brave woman’s search for love, atonement, and redemption.

What I Liked:

• I have to say that the story-line and idea behind this work really intrigued me. It was a weird plot, and anyone who has read the blurb can see why. But it certainly packed a punch! I liked watching Matilda live her life, and how her journey from joy to depression actually came about. Considering the time period, this contained some very modern ideas and I felt hints of self-awareness and mockery of the literary tropes of the time while reading.

What I Disliked:

• This book was so much hard work! Honestly, I felt like I was reading an epic, not a 100 page novella! Most of this was due to the over-embellished, flowery writing. I sat with baited with breath waiting for the next plot phase but had to sit and read through 10+ paragraphs of Matilda's lengthy, soliloquy-esque reflections on everything that went on. It got pretty old after a while.

Overall Conclusion:

It's such a shame that this book required so much effort and I ended up skimming so much of it just to get to the end. There was a shocking idea behind this story that appealed to me and I really wanted Shelley to pull it off. The language used here was a little Shakespearean and at times very quotable but sadly, there's a reason why Shakespeare could never write a one-person show. It would drag. Still - I am intrigued by what I read. I want to learn more about her life, I sense that she had a great personality and an even greater sense of humour, and I'm definitely still well up for reading 'Frankenstein'!

Summer is here...Or at least it should be!

I'm back!

A lot has happened over the last couple of weeks, since my last post! First, my trip to Harry Potter Studio tours! I had been looking forward to it since we'd booked it, particularly as it was booked for right after my rather stressful stint backstage for 'Witches Of Eastwick', and would mark the start of my frankly well deserved Summer Holidays.



I was not disappointed. I was taken aback by just how much work had gone into the films (and trust me I had imagined it big), and the staff that worked there were ridiculously knowledgeable. We were told at the beginning to test them so at one point Mat asked a girl why there was an 82% scale model of Dumbledore, and she told us it was created for Dumbledore's Funeral, in which Hagrid was going to carry him, which was later cut from the film. I was so impressed with everything I saw there (except when I unknowingly walked underneath a very real looking Aragog) and found it all so interesting! If you're ever in Watford or have been umming and ahhing about it, then go! You won't regret walking through those huge great double doors, I promise!
Also: Matilda the Musical. This book/film has been a favourite of mine since childhood. Everything about the story, the characters, the message just put me in a good mood. So I came to watch this one with mixed feelings. Would I be bowled over? Or leave feeling severely disappointed. As a musical it had a lot of potential to succeed, but also a lot of potential to completely flop. My first impressions came from the rather impressive set as I sat in my seat. We were surrounded by letter tiles and spent the long wait before the show started trying to spell words which would give us a clue of what was to come.

The show began and I was instantly a little disappointed with my seat. Not because of the view, but because it was difficult to hear the onstage action, particularly when they were singing. However, overall I did enjoy myself. Memorable highlights included 'The School Song' (our minds were blown by the clever incorporation of the alphabet), 'My House', 'Quiet' and 'Miracle' which is the catchiest song in the show. I worried that having Trunchbull played by a man and singing and dancing would make her funny rather than scary, but I was satisfied, particularly in the second act when her dark past is revealed (and the kids in my row were terrified!) Despite being unable to catch the clever lyrics during the actual performance, I made a fantastic purchase in the soundtrack and developed a new appreciation for some of the other songs such as 'Loud', 'I'm Here' and 'The Hammer'. The inclusion of the Acrobat and the Escapologist's story did baffle me a little at first, I'll be honest. However, I did really like it, and found that it very much tugged at my heartstrings in the same way that the film and book had done before. If you are fans of those, then I think you will definitely enjoy this show as long as you are willing to be a little open-minded about some of the changes in the story.

Other than that, I've had a small trip away to a nearby Seaside town, Dymchurch. We stayed in a caravan for a few days, played Xbox, watched films and generally acted like slobs which is exactly what I'd been looking for after my stressful year at Uni. I'm very much looking forward to a proper holiday in Corfu next Friday though! Hopefully there I'll find some actual sunlight, as the weather here can't seem to make up its mind at all.

Back again?

Well folks...

I can only apologise for my profound lack of blogging, and suffice to say, I'm feeling rather sheepish. Many many things have cropped up over a rather busy year which have prevented me from keeping this up...until now!

So let me start with a brief catch up of my second year at Uni, which I have finished. I originally planned to restart this many a time but never quite got round to it, partly due to the large number of assignments that were being thrown at me left, right and centre. Having finished those and receiving all of my marks (I've passed the year with a barely scraped 1st, very pleased) I decided to get involved with the annual UCF (University Centre Folkestone) Musical, applying to be in the Stage Management team. Having studied both Production Techniques and Stage Management as part of my course this year, I've found that I've really enjoyed these subjects and am very much considering a career in this kind of work. Having Stage Managed a devised piece for one of the Third years (Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqczYHSpOd8 I highly recommend giving it a watch, the entire thing was written and directed by a very talented student who has just graduated) and helped back stage with a number of different shows which the University have put on, the Musical would definitely be the biggest I have done. 

This years chosen Musical was 'The Witches of Eastwick', one that I had previously heard of and became very excited about! Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Despite the huge stress levels and bruises it entailed, it has been by far one of the most fulfilling and fun things I've done for a while, and has made me many new friends. For those interested, more pictures were taken by Jason Dodd and can be found here. 

All in all, the whole thing was a wonderful way to say goodbye to not only the students leaving this year, but to the UCF campus as we are all moving to Canterbury. It's been an emotional rollercoaster, but well worth it (though it is nice to sleep again).

Perhaps this post was a little short but I'm tired. I am off to London from tomorrow for a few days to visit the Harry Potter Studio tours and to watch Matilda the Musical, which I hope to blog about when I get the chance! I would like to thank my little sister for getting me back into this finally (though it's now beginning to sound like an Oscar speech), and just a bit of shameless promoting, her blog is here. Give it a read, she'd be ever so grateful!

Made Up about Make-Up

Readers I can only apologise for the severe lack of blogging. It is inexcusable I know, and now I've broken up for Easter I'm going to attempt to catch up on the last month or so. The sun has finally come out and I feel really happy!


Firstly, I've really been getting into the whole Makeup thing recently. I've entered a couple of contests on Facebook and have gone a bit crazy and brought a ton of eyeshadows from indie companies in America. My orders from Shiro Cosmetics and Fyrinnae arrived a while back and have worked wonders, so I have ordered from them again. Meanwhile I've also ordered and received a huge order from Darling Girl Cosmetics and a sample pack of colours inspired by Wonderland from Aromaleigh which are all very beautiful. I'm seriously thinking of starting up this Beauty Blog as I'm really getting into the whole Makeup thing. More samples on the way for me to try out too!


Second thing, films a plenty! I've been to see many at the Cinema which I will briefly describe and review. Firstly, 'This Means War'. This film was very funny, as was it's purpose. A tad predictable as you had the entire plot pretty much sussed before the opening credits had finished. However I did really enjoy it and they did keep you guessing a bit with which man she would choose in the end. Still, a good film and one to watch on a rainy day. Next, I went to watch 'The Raven', based on the later part of Edgar Allen Poe's life (who is an amazing poet). The film itself was very very good, you constantly weren't sure who the killer was as there were many suspects. One thing I DIDN'T enjoy was the sheer amount of gore. Readers, I'm not just talking about the odd blood squirt, I am talking man getting his stomach cut open RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR VERY EYES. There was an awful lot of it as well! Still that might just be me as I can be very squeamish about things like that. The final film that I watched last week was...*drum roll*...'John Carter'! Now many of you may have heard that it has been a total flop! When we went to watch the 3D showing, there was quite literally 8 of us in the Cinema. After watching the movie I find this appalling! It's a fantastic film and I would happily go and watch it again and again! If you haven't watched it, I am begging you to support the hard work that has been put into it and go and watch it! I can guarantee you will not only enjoy it, but absolutely fall in love with what can only be described as the Alien Dog, Woola (Google him)!


As well as buying tons of Makeup, I've been watching a lot of dance! I've bought on DVD a dance tribute to Pina Bausch, 'Pina',  and I'm impressed with what I've seen so far. The DVD I'm waiting for to arrive (and so hyped about) an Alice in Wonderland ballet. Readers, just watching the TRAILER has given me shivers. I can't wait!Also, since I've broken up from Uni I've been forced to tidy the bomb site that is my room (good progress so far) and give it a spring clean. While doing this I've taken the opportunity to rewatch a couple of my favourite films, 'Matilda' and 'Spirited Away'. These are just the cutest, best films and I absolutely love them! The soundtracks are just wonderful too.


Well readers I'd hoped to include a few pictures with this blog but for some reason I can't, I'll get it checked out. In the mean time, a Cirque Du Soleil DVD for their show 'Dralion' has just arrived for me so I'm going to pop that into my DVD player and do a bit more tidying. I hope you can forgive me for the lack of blogging.

"With Pleasure."

So as promised I went to go and watch 'The Artist' and thoroughly enjoyed it! As you may know, it's a silent film, in black and white about the film industry in the late 20s/early 30s when sound was introduced. It's a relatively simple story line, but is well worth a watch! I found that I didn't miss the sound at all and was shocked when noise (apart from the silent film style music which plays throughout) did occur. Admittedly this film probably isn't for everyone, but it was a clever film and I found myself laughing throughout. If anyone isn't sure whether it would be worth seeing it (I too was umming and ahhing), I recommend just go for it!


I'm currently relaxing to the soundtrack from Matilda (yet another beautiful, funny, simple film I enjoy) which I recently acquired, and wondering whether my driving lesson tomorrow will be cancelled, seeing as it's still a bit icy and more snow is said to be on its way tonight. Hope you all have a good evening!