About Her

Elle E. is 26 and teaches in a state overrun by the spawn of yuppies. Therefore she is a full-time heretic much afflicted by spleen.

hearts the colour green, reading, scribes and orators, ruffs, cuffs, Machiavellian villains and vindictive heroes.

Previously...

What I'm Reading Now

book The Graduate
Charles Webb

'For twenty-one years I have been shuffling back and forth between classrooms and libraries. Now you tell me what the hell it's got me.' A brilliantly sordid tale of a young man's search for identity and a portrayal of the worst-behaved yet most sympathetic anti-hero of the day.

Reviewed

book Touché
Agnes Catherine Poirier
Rating star

We know all about the rift between England and France and why they hate each other's guts so much yada yada, but do we really? This book is quite an interesting read, light, bright and sparkly. Thankfully, the author usually gets authoritative when it's France and not Britain. We don't want a French trying to prove she knows more about the 'dour' British than themselves.
book The Other Queen
Philippa Gregory
Rating star

Surely, Philippa Gregory loathes Elizabeth as much as I do. Heh. Bess of Hardwick is not as likeable as the imprisoned queen but it is an easy matter to sympathise with her predicament. Overall characterizations are weak and the plot is repetitive. However, it is still a readable book what with the brave Scot, the bitchy Tudor, the indefatigable spymaster William Cecil and the Talbots trying to put up a brave front.
book The Virago Book of Ghost Stories
Richard Dalby (Ed.)
Rating star

Out of 31 ghost stories, I liked a mere 7. None of the stories are frightening and all are penned by female authors. I don't know if that's the reason behind the rather sedate 'thrills' on offer here. Margaret Oliphant's The Open Door is the best in the collection.
book The Independence of Miss Mary Bennett
Colleen McCollough
Rating star

Wondered about the 'ever after' in Lizzie and Darcy's marriage? McCollough constructs quite a believable state of affairs between almost everyone's favourite Austen couple - and you might not find it to your liking. Still, that's about the only thing I enjoyed in what proves to be a far-fetched plot centered around the no longer plain (but of course!) Mary Bennett. If you like your Dickens, you might just be able to appreciate the barrage of coincidences found in this book.
book A Classical Education - The stuff you wish you'd been taught at school
Caroline Taggart
Rating star

I can't stop myself from picking up titles such as this. It's one of the books for people who like to bluff their way through the classics.
book Personal Days
Ed Park
Rating star

If you've worked in an office environment before, you'll be able to identify the situations in this novel. The characters might seem typical but they certainly strike a chord. Especially astute is the examination of the prospect of getting the sack. They want to get fired (to pursue something more 'worthwhile') but hate their boss's guts anyway when it actually happens. That's real life... Heh.
book Harry Potter & the Half-blood Prince
David Yates
Rating star

Utterly forgettable. The worst in the franchise. I've decided I shall not be watching the last movie when it hits the theatre - I see no good coming out of a Yates film. Give me HP movie #3 anytime.

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Someone's Harassing Me, But -

Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 10:30 PM

He sends me emails and demands that I give him his Children's Day present. What can one do in such a situation? Raise an eyebrow and get the criminal cheap candy...

Things are looking up. I feel rather more positive after almost 7 months of disgusted work related issues. I think I can safely state that I will only be doing my own goddamned work and not everyone else's. A person left and it's worked out to make life easier for me. I'm thinking I shan't be boring any soul with any restlessness and wailing. I was getting bored with myself playing the banshee - and I'm such a self-satisfied twit to start with. So that means a big deal.

I should go out and watch a movie. Like Stardust or The Golden Compass (the latter when it opens of course). I should let my hair down and consume lots of cheap wine seeing that's what I can afford anyhow.