EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING? Book Review
Hey Guys.
Well its taken my a mini age to have the time to blog but FINALLY have had a chance.
Well what I have been up to I hear you ask? Rock climbing is one..... I really really hate heights but I have to say its one of the most amazing and feel good thing I've done in a long time! I've throughly enjoyed each bit of it, yes even the tears and I'm so happy to have signed up for it. Guys and girls who read my blog, you have to try it.
So yeah I feel compelled to blog about my latest book read here and on my sister website that is slowly but surely getting there ( sisterhoodofthetravellingreaders.com)
The book as the title suggests is "even better than the real thing" by Martina Reilly and have to say, as always it was a brilliant read.
The synopsis is as follows: Eve is an artist specialising in painting copies of masterpieces in particular Van Gogh... until she realises that her late father and his friend had sold one of her copies many years ago as an original Van Gogh. Horrified of this news she teams up with an ex-con Larry to embark on an adventure to get the painting back.
This book is funny, witty, surprising and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Throughout the whole book you could see this somewhat shy heroine Eve who was initally content with her life as a copier who enjoyed a few drinks with her mates into this adventorous, little daredevil off to LA with an ex-con who finds herself as more than just a copier.
As the story develops we see Eve's best laid plans unfold leading do disastrous and sometime hilarious consequences.
I particularly enjoyed learning about the Larry's past. It really brought the character to life, the way Martina was able to capture how someone would react about his family life and how he would sometimes shy away when Eve got close.
A definite must read for all the chick lit fans out there !
Measurement.ie
Hi Guys
Well as promised I said I'd blog about measurement.ie event that was held in NCI today and I have to say it was a definite eye opener as far as analytics and targeting your prospective customers.
The most wonderful thing about this particular event was how incredibly interactive it was. There was a live twitter feed on a screen behind the presenters and people tweeting and blogging everywhere (note to self: Get an iPad for next years event as it looked wicked cool in comparison to my pen and paper ) . This level of interaction was enhanced further by the live streaming of the event that users watched and could ask questions through twitter.
It was also great to see how many conversations were taking place on a real life level purely from their interaction through twitter. This really brought to light how important twitter and other social networks are now in customer service and developing professional and personal relationships.
So the event itself. There were some incredible speakers. The one who really stuck with me was Mat Morrison who is in his own words a " Social Media strategy chap at Starcom MediaVest Group London. Views my own, except when they clearly aren't." . He showed some really interesting statistics about facebook and how companies should really look into reaching people through facebook. Some of these stats and charts can be found here on his blog http://blog.magicbeanlab.com
Another fantastic talk was from Laurence Veale who talked about Google Analytics and tracking leads and sales. He really knew his stuff on how to really use Google Analytics, and its not about loads of techie stuff and getting as many reports that you can, its about focusing on specific goals and segmenting your target market to ensure that you are hitting the right marks. It is definitely something that I will be taking on board both on my personal and professional projects. His details can be found here http://iqcontent.com/
and the last but certainly not least speaker that really has stuck with me was Dean Walker who talked about measuring return on social investment. She was incredibly down to earth and just told it like it is. Her details can be found here http://curlydena.com/ and her blog is pretty awesome.
Well thats about it I think. I could go on and on but I'm exhausted and preparing for the day ahead but just want to say a HUGE thanks to everyone involved in organising it.
Well?
Well hows things? not much happening the last few things to be honest. God what a boring life I lead haha!
Heading off to a social media conference in two weeks 
Can't wait. For anyone that is interested its called Measurement and its taking place in the National College of Ireland http://measurement.ie/ the conference is discussions and tups and advice on increasing sales in your business through social media.....so expect a blog about it 
Social media in business is something that I have a really big passion for to be honest. I'm surprised that not many people use it as a means of free specifically targeted advertising. Technology can be some companies biggest nightmares but I think it just takes a little bit of patience, an open and willing mind and it truely can be your best friend. You always hear about the bad things of facebook espcially from people who advertise themselves for jobs, you know the ones with the terribly tagged photos !
Anyway I think thats enough of my ranting of social media for a short while and I'll just save the rest for later
Actually might leave the bloggy blog for the time being I'll talk to you later x
Singin in the rain
Well like I said before this blog is going to be a bit more personal and all that.
Lately I've become obsessed with Singin in the rain and other musicals like west side story. I recently got the two movies on my iphone and I can't get enough of them. I think classic movies are just timeless and lately the with "modern" movies there are few and far between of classic greats like said movies.
So what do you think makes a classic movie. Personally I think it is just the feeling; of the movie, of the characters, of you when your watching it and how you feel at the end of it. It really is hard to imagine not cuddling by a nice cozy fire with a big mug of hot chocolate and a big blanket when the idea of Gene Kelly getting soaked and not having a care in the world.
Its the feeling of true love and the "courting " (Euch how old do I sound haha) as the two meet and know that they will be together. I don't think there is many of that in the movies nowadays.
I know what your thinking....and no I'm not ninety.
what are your favourite classic movies??
Sorry for the short blog but as my lunch break comes to an end I must log out.
Goodbye my dearies
Steve Jobs Book and other news
Happy Christmas and New Year
Hope it was a good one xx
Well it has been quite a year but I hope that 2012 will bring more twists and turns and more good things
There has been a lot of changes going on, one of which is the new website that I'm launching called www.sistersofthetravellingreaders.com which is a blog website that covers books, music and movie reviews. This is a new project for the new year that will consist of myself, my sister Therese and my best friend Aoife. This is something that the three of us are passionate about and would love if you could all check this out when it gets more meatier
As such I will no longer be posting reviews of music, books, and movies on this site and will be using the other site instead. I think I will start to use this site more often as a daily pondering/news/opinion/techie type blog.....so that basically means a mix of random things that come to my head! So I hope to use this site more frequently and the new project as I see movies, download new music and read books
I'll post my review of Steve Jobs Biography on this site as the last book review on this site and then thats it
Well to start with this book was one of the most interesting I have ever read. It took me approximately 48 days to read it ( I looooovvee this app and you need to check it out Readmore !!! so that means it did take me a while to read...
It is an incredibly detailed book that covers EVERYTHING ( Which I guess is the purpose of a biography...)
What I'll say about Steve Jobs is that he is inspiring in the sense that he didn't compromise in anything that he did, personally or professionally. He never let anything get in his way and although I think that he could have done it with a bit more empathy I think it is safe to say that his method worked. He was an artist and a bit of an eccentric one of that. Being as eccentric as he was made for a very interesting read into his insight of his personal life. I found the bits about his personal life the most interesting as I felt that it really gave me an insight into what a mind he had.
Saying that the book was incredibly technical at times which made me struggle and hit a wall at times of which I had to force myself to read. I'm a technical person and I can understand and appreciate the need to put this into the book but there is no denying that it can really set a slow pace of reading until that section is over.
Walter Issacson ( The Author) was given free reign over the book and how it was written, full access to Steve Jobs contacts, friends and family and Steve had no say in what was put into the book which I think added to the honest and bare layout of the book. There was many a person who did not like Steve and having this in the book really gives the reader a full idea of the person and the flaws of a genius.
There is a hint of psychology in the book as Issacson raises a question that makes you think about the thinking of Steve Jobs, and his "distorted reality"
NY Times quoted
Although Mr. Isaacson is not analytical about his subject’s volatile personality (the word “obnoxious” figures in the book frequently), he raises the question of whether feelings of abandonment in childhood made him fanatically controlling and manipulative as an adult. Fortunately, that glib question stays unanswered.
Well thats it, I seriously need to think about writing notes while I read books...it might make it easier to remember what I was thinking when I was reading some bits of books :S
Take Care x
people who inspire me
well I'm sitting in my bed trying to sleep and just can't. It's possible that I have a few things on my mind or I'm just not tired.
Over the past week my life has been kind of focused around my inspirations, like meeting them, reading about them or just thinking about them and it got me thinking a lot. Who are my inspirations you ask?
Well firstly my family...I know...thats obvious but without each and every single one of my family, good and bad bits, I wouldn't be the person I am today. The way my parents have brought me up inspires me to keep doing my best. I love my family to bits. Each member of my family have had their little or big obstacles to overcome and when they do, truth be told, I often step back and admire how they overcame it and wonder if I could have the same courage, strength and attitude.
OK Cheesy bit over...
So who else inspires me. Well I have three that come to mind
1. Philip deFranco - he is one of the reasons that I want to blog more and be more intune with the news and such. If you are not aware of who he is...where have you been ! http://www.youtube.com/sxephil <- thats his channel. He talks about news and schtuff. I've been watching him for a few years now and I have to say that his dedication to his blogging is inspirational. He's had some life and has literally brought his channel from something that was filmed on a black and white camera to something that has a nation ! This might be a pathetic wish but I would love to have the patience and dedication to blog almost every day like himself ( and shaytard - another vlogger )
2. Steve Jobs - recently started reading his book and I will get a chance to blog about his book once I finish it but I have to say the first 30 pages have made me think that although he wasn't perfect ( who is really) he was dedicated, committed and had an ambition to change technology and the way people saw technology. He had a constant want for knowledge which I find inspiring.
3. His name is Declan and he is the founder ( or co-founder - sorry for inaccuaracies in advance of the @rcade. This year I watched as he made a weekly youtube show about games, music, anime and all things geek to an convention, one which I was proud to volunteer in and one of the best experiences of my live. The dedication that it took to make something like and as successful as the @rcadecon was just truly awesome. I genuinely wouldn't know where to begin if I was ever in the position where I had a mammoth task like organising a convention! Declan if you read this: you seriously kick ass.
So those are just three people that inspire me to be more driven and dedicated in taking on bigger and better things
I hope that this wasn't too cheesy and ranty...
Who are your inspirations
Norris bows down from Presidency campaign
Ok
I'm going to seriously have to try to write more blogs because each time I think about I give out to myself about how many things I could have blogged about in the past but it is too late to blog about them now.
Right....Once a week...I can DOOO this!!!
So I guess I'll start writing now......
.........
Dammit....nothing! not a single thing is coming to my mind!!!!
(logs on to news website).......
Yeah so for those of you who are not in Ireland. Senator David Norris who was looking to be nominated for the President elections, and unfortunately due to scandal with his request for clemency of his former partner who was convicted of statutory rape in Israel, he has had to step down. More details are here.
My take on it? I'm saddened that he wasn't able to even have a chance and let the public speak but I can't imagine the pressure he has been under over the last while and the fact that his error was discussed almost all the time! In my opinion he is a very intelligent man who has had an integral part in the decriminalisation of homosexuality. As such I feel that he would have been a perfect candidate for the President. Although to be honest I have my own preference of who I would like to see as President I wouldn't have minded him.
I guess it just goes to say that things can certainly come back to haunt you no matter what length of time has passed.
I do hope that Sr. Norris comes back fighting strong and back to his positive self soon enough
Martina Reilly – Is this love?
woo two books in a month I'm either improving my reading speed ability or really really bored
So the book of choice is "Is This Love" by Martina Reilly.. I loved this book so much I read it in one day...not something I do often. But I had to read it and finish it. and I guess another reason of finishing this book so fast was I got new glasses and had to wear them in...its like everything is in HD now
my shiny new glasses
yeah so...anyway back to the book. The story is about two sisters Pamela is a married mother of three who lives for her husband Dick, and Maggie the ex-manager of a London restaurant, who has come home to her mother in Ireland after the breakdown of her relationship. It focuses on the lifes of Maggie and Pamela and their mother and how their relationship with the men in their lives affect them.
The book initally starts off light hearted, my favourite was the conversations that Maggie and her ex John would have soon after she arrived home. But as the characters and storyline develop it gets more deep and serious. It approaches the subject of domestic violence and family very well and is handled with care and very convincingly, in particular the fact that Pamela feels that she is to blame and her husband is doing it because he loves her. I felt emotional when reading the more serious scenes, both about Maggie and Pamela.
Martina has a great ability to make you relate to the characters and empathise and champion their cause no matter if it was Maggie taking on a managerial position that she hated or Pamela having to deal with her young children and husband. It was incredibly thought provoking.
I would definitely recommend this read to anyone.
Hugh Laurie – The Gun Seller
I had the sudden urge to change my book taste up a bit and came across this book and thought this is what I needed for a change. And it was quite a pleasent change
I was a bit cautious about reading this book because I assumed it would be very similar to books written by Stephen Fry which to be honest I'm not particularly fond of. So I started reading anyway awaiting any similarities that he could possibly have to his friend. I was wrong.
So before I continue with my opinion of the book here is the general plot (I don't generally believe in giving the complete synopsis as it wouldn't be fair to people who want to read the book - if you want the synopsis wikipedia priovides all that you need here )
It's basically a spot-on spy spoof about hapless ex-soldier Thomas Lang, who is drawn unwittingly and unwillingly into the center of a dangerous James Bond-like plot of international terrorists, arms dealing, high-tech weapons, and CIA spooks.
This book was excellently written, very witty and well humoured poking fun at the mannerisms of English and Americans alike. If you don't read the synopsis before you read the book like myself, the storyline of the book is brilliantly interesting with one or two twists. It is well carried out and I could picture each scene, each character and each image in my head. Its very easy to bond with the main character and no matter what his flaws are I feel compelled to empathise with him.
Laurie has a great gift for dialogue and a flowing, almost stream of consciousness narrative style. It's like reading something that House would write himself
Now to the cons..... I can only think of one unfortunately and it is this: At times I found it difficult to follow through on a chapter. Some of the sentences were long winded and I felt a bit bored with one or two chapters. The hardest part for me is that ( like all people now I guess) I would not get time to read from one day to the next but I would normally have a generally good idea of where I left off in a book and what was happening. Unfortunately with this book this was not the case. I would mark a page on the book that I had stopped reading but would have to read the two previous pages again so I could understand where I left off again. This is not an admirable trait for a book in my opinion.
But overall....if you love House, and Hugh Laurie in general, you will very much enjoy this book
Movies, Music and More
Well guys and girls it's been a while and although I don't really know what to put on this I feel compelled to write because its been ages.
So whats going on??
Hmm well I guess I could talk about the new Red Riding Hood Movie
For those of you who don't know its loosely ( in my opinion ) based on the story of little red riding hood. But I like to think of it as red riding hood vs. twilight in terms of little red falls for the "bad guy" but the " good guy " has fallen for her. Throw in werewolves and you've got a who dunnit twilight style. I personally didn't think it was that bad but I tend to be the type or person that walks into a movie with little expectations and see where it goes from there...thats not to say I've not hated some movies...I DESPISED tropic thunder is a good example. It was a good guessing game but if you are really watching the movie you kind of guess who it is half way through
Here is the trailer if your interested
The acting is not that bad but I think the main actors were very predictably chosen. Amanda Seyfried has that look of being very innocent and the beauty that everyone wants, and similar things could be said for the other characters as well particularly the good guy and the bad guy.
Well I guess my conclusion of the movie is go see it but don't be expecting a massive shock.
And what do ya think of the Grey's Anatomy Musical event...yes I know I'm way behind the times on reviewing this...I think I loved it but as most of the reviews that I have read are saying its very mixed reviews. Some of the characters/actors sang amazingly, obviously Sara Ramirez ( Callie Torres) but the ones that shocked me the most was Eric Dane ( Mark Sloane ) and Chyler Leigh ( Lexie Grey)
I didn't particularly like Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt) singing but was slightly gobsmacked by his rendition of "How We Operate"
Most of the reviews claim that it is very Gleeeseque but I wouldn't agree considering that the Scrubs musical event was more Gleeesque whereas GA was more of a musical drama the likes of Evita ( queue massive amounts of musical fans ready to attack :S ). I'm not saying that GA is on the same level as Evita or other West End musicals like that but to me it is like a small scale version of that type of drama then singing style.
Here are a few clips from the songs that I liked
Well guys I'm sorry for bombarding with you celebrity stuff but there ya go. I'll give you something with more substance later 
What I'm Doing...
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