Movie review: Populaire (2012)

In 1958, becoming a secretary is small-town-girl Rose Pamphyle's greatest dream. She is overjoyed when she is hired by the moody insurance agent Louis Échard. Louis soon learns that Rose is an uncommonly fast typist and decides to train her for the national speedtyping competition, making a bet with his friend Bob that Rose can win. As Louis and Rose spend much time together, sparks begin to fly, but Louis only wants Rose to concentrate on winning the competition.

Book review: Sense and Sensibility (The Austen project)

The Austen project is a series of six contemporary novels, modern interpretations of Jane Austen’s major works and written by well-known authors. The project was started to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Austen’s works and the first book written for the project was Sense and Sensibility by Joanne Trollope.  The story is well-known I think, the Dashwood family, consisting of Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters, sensible architecture student Elinor, romantic guitar adept Marianne and teenager Margaret have to move to a small cottage in the middle of nowhere after their husband and father dies. Elinor and Marianne both fall in love, but are their men really what they seem to be?

The Happy Tag

It's been a little while since this tag was making the rounds on many of the blogs I read, but I really liked the idea, so here is my take on The Happy Tag, which has only one rule: to list things that make you happy in a number of categories.

If any of you want to play as well, please do!

Books:

Television review: Poldark series 1

In the late 18th century, Ross Poldark returns to his family and home in Cornwall after having served in the army. Upon his return, he finds his father dead, the mine he owned closed and his beloved Elizabeth engaged to his cousin Francis. Ross starts on rebuilding his families estate, but has to fight against the greedy Warleggan bankers. He rescues the young woman Demelza and offers her a place as his kitched maid.

Anyone even a little interested in period drama can hardly have missed the buzz that this tv-series created when it aired on the BBC last year. It was hailed as everything from 'the next Downton Abbey' to 'the next Pride and Prejudice' and scored high ratings. So ofcourse I was curious!

Book review: Coming up Roses

After a difficult break-up, Daisy is happy she can house-sit for her parents and just withdraw from the world for a while. But as she works on the neglected garden at her parent’s house, she can’t help but be drawn into the life of the village. She makes unexpected friends in fellow-gardener Thomas, Ned the vet and Elaine and Jo. She becomes a part of committees and helps at the allotment. Just when Daisy really starts to feel at home she discovers her beloved garden is under threat by property developers. Together with her new friends Daisy has to fight to maintain the place she’s come to love.

Television review: Wolf Hall

Thomas Cromwell, born as the son of a blacksmith, has worked himself up to secretary of Cardinal Wolsey. After the downfall of the cardinal because of his critisism of King Henry VIII, Cromwell becomes an advisor of the King himself. He quickly grows in importance and has to walk a tight rope to escape being sucked into the treachery and intrigue at Henry's court.

Thesis talk

I submitted my PhD thesis yesterday! Four years of work on paper and now out of my hands :-S

  

The thesis will now be read by the so-called 'reading committee' of 5 professors. And then I will have to have the thesis designed and printed as a booklet. And then there's the thesis defence date at the 21st of June. So, I'm not completely done, but this is one big step nonetheless!
(No more writing and editing, no more evening and weekend work in the coming time, more time to read and relax!)