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Book Review and Shakespeare Meme
Mar. 7th, 2012 04:06 pmBook Review - Beyond The Limit - Professor Sid Watkins
Basically, this is part two of Prof. Watkins's autobiography, covering the time from 1996 to the end of the season in 2000, and some memories of older drivers. The writing sounds like him, wry and unflappable, which makes sense if you're having to minister medicine to the speed freaks and weirdos involved in F1. It does lead to a certain distance, and it's less frantic than you'd imagine. But he's the Prof and we love him. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure how much someone who isn't an F1 geek would get out of it. Then again, I'm not sure why someone who isn't interested in F1 would be reading this. Either way, I'm definitely going to try to get the first of his books, 'Life At The Limit'.
( My favourite anecdote )
I'm giving the book an extra half a mark because the appendices actually covers the physics and anatomy of F1 injuries, and gives actual equations and numbers. I will always give extra marks for numbers.
~~~~
The librarything suggestions are mostly other F1 books, but I'm amused to spot Adrian Mole as suggestion number 11. Sadly, so very true. There aren't enough reviews for an unsuggestion.
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Shakespeare meme - Day 3 - Favourite hero
Is it just me or was Shakespeare not that good at writing heroes? I mean, he's fantastic at writing protagonists, but heroic heroes, not so much (possibly that's why he's so popular).
We'll take the name plays as an example, John, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry VI spend most of their plays being ineffective, Titus Andronicus cooks human pies, which is not generally heroic behaviour, Richard III is a glorious villain, Macbeth becomes a villain, Lear is a ******, and Hamlet is a jerk, I still can't remember whether it's the Gentlemen of Verona or the Two Noble Kinsmen that are similarly annoying, Henry V spends his play worrying about the concept of heroism and the day I call Romeo a hero hasn't happened yet.
I adore Coriolanus, but he is not heroic. Or rather he is, so long as heroism only involves killing people and leading from the front. I think he's as brave as a lion, but he has the brains of a mouse.
I can't really use Ganymede for this, and an awful lot of the lead male characters in the comedies are jerks. I think it only really leaves me with Benedict, because he at least grows into being a hero. Or at least a stand up guy, which really does make him stand out in this company.
( Other Days )
Basically, this is part two of Prof. Watkins's autobiography, covering the time from 1996 to the end of the season in 2000, and some memories of older drivers. The writing sounds like him, wry and unflappable, which makes sense if you're having to minister medicine to the speed freaks and weirdos involved in F1. It does lead to a certain distance, and it's less frantic than you'd imagine. But he's the Prof and we love him. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure how much someone who isn't an F1 geek would get out of it. Then again, I'm not sure why someone who isn't interested in F1 would be reading this. Either way, I'm definitely going to try to get the first of his books, 'Life At The Limit'.
( My favourite anecdote )
I'm giving the book an extra half a mark because the appendices actually covers the physics and anatomy of F1 injuries, and gives actual equations and numbers. I will always give extra marks for numbers.
~~~~
The librarything suggestions are mostly other F1 books, but I'm amused to spot Adrian Mole as suggestion number 11. Sadly, so very true. There aren't enough reviews for an unsuggestion.
~~~~
Shakespeare meme - Day 3 - Favourite hero
Is it just me or was Shakespeare not that good at writing heroes? I mean, he's fantastic at writing protagonists, but heroic heroes, not so much (possibly that's why he's so popular).
We'll take the name plays as an example, John, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry VI spend most of their plays being ineffective, Titus Andronicus cooks human pies, which is not generally heroic behaviour, Richard III is a glorious villain, Macbeth becomes a villain, Lear is a ******, and Hamlet is a jerk, I still can't remember whether it's the Gentlemen of Verona or the Two Noble Kinsmen that are similarly annoying, Henry V spends his play worrying about the concept of heroism and the day I call Romeo a hero hasn't happened yet.
I adore Coriolanus, but he is not heroic. Or rather he is, so long as heroism only involves killing people and leading from the front. I think he's as brave as a lion, but he has the brains of a mouse.
I can't really use Ganymede for this, and an awful lot of the lead male characters in the comedies are jerks. I think it only really leaves me with Benedict, because he at least grows into being a hero. Or at least a stand up guy, which really does make him stand out in this company.
( Other Days )
