google-site-verification: google935433b691795853.html KRISTY BERRIDGE: 2012-07-01

Saturday 7 July 2012

TV vs Movies

TV vs Movies. Simple right? Naturally it has to be the movies - large screen, confectionery, and stupid-ass teenagers you can peg in the back of the head with Jaffers. There's also the long lines, toilet stalls with pee on the floor, and the dickhead behind you that won't switch off his mobile phone. Hmmm, perhaps the movies aren't all they're cracked up to be?
You see, this blog came about today because my friends and I often pay twenty dollars a pop to have these above mentioned experiences. Then naturally, we have a chat about what we've seen, what's to come, what we liked, and who we can sue for making us watch the drivel just played out on screen. But then it occurred to me that recently I've been hibernating, digging my backside into the plush cushions of my sofa and settling in for a good night of TV viewing vs going to the movies.


I mean really, what have we had to look forward to recently? Another Pixar film starring a chick with crazy hair. Ooh, wait, there's like, what, the tenth bloody Batman movie to scoff at, and for some reason, Spiderman keeps coming back to bite everyone in the ass. Did I mention that we've obviously run out of ideas so we're remaking fairy tales?
Sarcasm aside, I've decided that a night at the movies is a waste of your over-priced popcorn and partially melted milk-duds, especially in light of the fact that there are so many fantastic shows on at the moment. Sure, they might not be everyone's cup of tea, but at least there's a story line, a complexity of characters, and at least one heart throb you wish you could throw up against a wall and ... yeah ...
So, what's rocking my TV viewing lately?
1. True Blood - You just can't go past a show overflowing with vampires, werewolves, witches and a crazy amount of unnecessary sex and exploding bodies.
2. The Walking Dead - The zombie apocalypse. Need I say more? Yokels with shotguns and lots and lots of cannabalism!
3. Falling Skies - Science fiction at it's best and we know it's going to rock because it's full of spider aliens and Lego robots. Did I mention directed by Steven Spielberg?
4. Game of Thrones - Medieval magic! Oh, and it's littered with a hefty amount of sex, violence, incest and a whole lot of sword play?
Needless to say, TV is rocking my world at the moment. Let me know if you feel the same way, or better yet, that you've found another great show to sink your teeth into, or a movie worth peeling myself off the couch for.
Have a good one,

Kristy :)

Friday 6 July 2012

Follow Friday #36



Happy Friday everyone!
Yes, it’s that time of week again where bloggers unite to participate in the Follow Friday venture. The idea behind #FF is to promote traffic to your own blog, make new friends with other like-minded bloggers and discuss new and interesting topics each week.
Participating is simple. First you need to follow my blog because I’m totally awesome, then you can follow me on Twitter @kristyberridge (actually you don’t have to do this, it’s wishful thinking), but do follow my blog or assassins will get you …
Then you must follow our illustrious hosts Rachel of http://www.parajunkee.com/ and Alison of http://www.alisoncanread.com/ If you want more details on how to enter your own blog in the follow and hop, all directions are on their webpages
Now, once you’ve followed, check out my answer to this week’s questions and don’t forget to leave a comment so I can do the right thing and follow you back!

This week's question: Jumping genres: Ever pick up a book from a genre you usually don't like and loved it? Tell us about it and why you picked it up in the first place.

My answer: Ooh, this is a fantastic question because litterally just finished reading two books that I would never ordinarily pick up. One of them is a Chick-Lit story called 'The Seven Steps to Closure' by Donna Joy Usher which I have recently reviewed here. And the other was Fifty Shades of Grey which I also strangely enjoyed. I will have a review of that one posted early next week.
So why did I pick them up? Well, I don't actually have great reasons. I was reccommended The Seven Steps to Closure and I thought, give it a go, and with Fifty Shades of Grey I wanted to see what all the bloody fuss was about. 
It clearly just goes to show that sometimes it's a good idea to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. You never can tell when something fabulous is going to jump out at you from the page!


Happy Friday!


Kristy :)

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Book Review: The Seven Steps to Closure by Donna Joy Usher

Let me just start off by saying that I don't usually do Chick-Lit. I've never been really interested in girly dramas, boy bantering, and the inevitable over-discussed shopping sprees. I'm a supernatural fiction fan all the way - horror, suspense, a smattering of romance, and of course, vampires! So, when the Seven Steps to Closure was recommended to me by a friend, I thought to myself. Come on, woman, be brave, try something new, particularly in light of the good press it's so far receiving.
Alas, I downloaded this little bargain from kindle for $2.99 and sat back with a dubious expression undoubtedly planted across my face. But, as I was slowly woven into the world of Tara Babcock and her endearing friends, I found myself, shall we say ... hooked.
Yes, imagine my surprise as I laughed continuously at this seemingly disastrous protagonist, her psychologically deranged pets, and her saddened yet eternally optimistic view of her less than perfect dating experiences.
Let me lay it out for you quickly. Tara Babcock has had a rough year. Her philandering husband is out of the picture but her heart persists on dragging its ventricles, unable to obtain closure. Cue three very different, yet well-meaning friends and you have Tara with a new mission - obtaining the seven steps to closure thanks to an elaborate article in a gossip magazine. Get a new haircut, get a new wardrobe, start a new hobby, have meaningless sex (yes, you heard me), travel to an exotic destination, have meaningful sex (yes, you heard me twice), and obtain closure.
It all sounds pretty straight forward, doesn't it? Not with Tara at the helm.
Needless to say the author cleverly explores Tara's progress through each chapter, shaping the character into the disastrous but endearing creature that makes you smile at every witty one-liner and inevitable upset. Flanked by a smartly interwoven sub-plot pertaining to each individual friend and you have more than just a story surrounding one desperate woman's journey to leave the past behind. Throw in a trip to India and all the idiosyncrasies that come with stolen shoes, crazy bandits, Dehli Belly, and ... meaningful sex - you have yourself a very entertaining little novel.
My only criticism is that sometimes the protagonist does highlight a little too much background information on elements that do not necessarily add to the story, simply slow it down. There was also a small lack of interchanging expressions and emotions from character interaction, but this in no way dimmed my enjoyment of this novel. From a self-published author I am extremely impressed by the attention to detail and the clear passion shown in research and character development. Overall, I can honestly say that I loved this book and will probably read more from this author in the future.
I will happily give it five fangs for surprising the hell out of me and proving me wrong about chick-lit!


Synopsis:
Tara Babcock awakes the morning after her thirtieth birthday with a hangover that could kill an elephant, and the knowledge she is still no closer to achieving closure on her marriage break up. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers that, not only is her ex-husband engaged to her cousin - Tash, the woman her left her for - but that Jake is also running for the Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Desperate to leave the destructive relationship behind and with nothing else to lose, she decides, with the encouragement of her three best friends, to follow the dubious advice from a magazine article - closure in seven easy steps.


Kristy :)