Sunday Soundtrack - 1Q84.

Leoš Janáček - Sinfonietta

Ella Fitzgerald - It's Only A Paper Moon

I have spent this very frosty morning immersed in Book III of Haruki Murakami's 1Q84. In the UK, they have tried to imitate the experience of his original Japanese readers by publishing Books I & II together, and Book III in a separate volume (as it was originally released as a surprise, a year after the first two). I was reading Books I & II while I was in South Africa, and during a trip to a rather amazing bookshop, I noticed they hadn't done that there... I think they've published it all as one volume in the US, too. Something a little strange I've noticed is that Books I & II were translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin, and Book III by Philip Gabriel. It seems like an odd decision, but while it's noticeable it isn't necessarily jarring. Either way, my essays contributed to my further breaking up the reading experience - what with working on those, and reading another book, I was excited to start Murakami's Book III.

Regardless, I look forward to reviewing it in its entirety soon; and as anyone who has read it will know, the two pieces of music above feature prominently in the narrative. I am utterly engrossed, and can highly recommend this surreal, slightly sinister and carefully crafted story.

Resolutions.

I think these coasters from Lucky Bee Press would be an awesome addition to a New Year's Eve dinner table.

Controversial comment: I am not a very big fan of big New Year's Eve parties. I prefer to celebrate in the relative calm of my home, among family and loved ones.

This year, I am making quite a concrete resolution: I am only going to eat meat when I can buy it from a local farmer, in person. I don't eat much meat anyway, but I reckon this amazing cookbook will make it easier.

Whatever you are choosing to do this New Year's Eve, and whatever resolutions you make, I wish you a wonderful 2012.

Midnight in Paris - Elegant Escapism.

Last night I went to see Woody Allen's latest release, Midnight in Paris - and I absolutely loved it.

The photography was just perfect - a love affair with the city - and the performances were charming. But what I loved the most was the way in which the film was unashamedly littered with literary and artistic references. Aspiring novelist Gil Penderton (Owen Wilson) is frustrated by his shopaholic and superficial fiancée (Rachel McAdams) by day; but surrounded by his cultural heros by night (F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein to name but a few).

Marion Cotillard (Adriana) and Owen Wilson (Gil) strolling through the streets.

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Partying with Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll)...

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... and the Fitzgeralds (Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston).

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Taxidermy & teasing glances.

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A clever comment on nostalgia and ideas of a "golden age", Midnight in Paris left me feeling enchanted and elated. Allen seamlessly slips from modern-day Paris, to the roaring 20s, to the belle époque and back again. Gil's nocturnal wanderings fulfilled so many of my own fantasies; while it's hard to pick (the cast of characters is so extensive) I would spend an evening with the Fitzgeralds (a little bit obsessed with Scott & Zelda - as everyone knows, they sure knew how to have a party). And can I just say, the casting was impeccable for each and every cultural icon cameo.

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Midnight in Paris was pure elegant escapism - lovely and life-affirming.

I'll leave you with another Fitzgerald that I love.