The Very Late Review 8
It’s time for the eighth instalment of The Very Late Review, the popular occasional feature in which you, the public, get to review and rate books, people, foods, things, really all aspects of life. It began as a chance for me to catch up with stuff I hadn’t seen/read/eaten yet. Now it’s a way of collating public opinion on ‘the things that matter’ and presenting it in an entertaining manner.
As ever, I pass you over to Megan, who has kindly edited this feature. She is the same Megan who had her bike nicked and was cheered up by the blog’s readership.
To take part in the next Very Late Review, leave a Comment reviewing one or more of the things I’ve put for your consideration at the end of this feature. You should give a brief (or not so brief) opinion and a mark out of 10. Try not to review things you haven’t really seen but have prejudices about, or give things extravagant scores like -1000 million out of 10. But as always, if you do, we will accommodate it. Over to Megan.
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Wellity, wellity. This was an unusual Very Late Review as two of Mr Watson’s selections (Israel and Surfing the Void) received no reviews/ratings at all and one (‘Seven Days’) only received one (a 6 out of 10 from Lora). I would brilliantly come in and make some kind of assessment of my own, but yeah, I know nothing of any of them. (I did go to high school with lots of people who went to Israel to travel and/or do their military service, but I don’t think that qualifies…)
Of the other items, nothing got a very low or high overall assessment (though, coffee rallied rather beautifully after Mark’s plea for calm and caffeine). So, overall, ‘meh’ seems to dominate this time around. Ah well. ‘Meh’ is a pretty good way this time of year anyway. (It’s raining in Ottawa today instead of snowing. Pretty sure we’ve swapped weather with the U.K.)
In the good news file, though, there were quite a few new contributors this go ’round. I expect that Mr Watson has attracted a fair few people blogwards as a result of his tour. So hallo new people!
I’m in a ranty mood, which means I (with apologies) editorialised a smidge more than usual. Apologies as well to Mark because I said I’d have this done far earlier.
The Millennium Trilogy
The most popular book series of the year by far. Myself, I picked up the last one in Waterstones in London (after getting fiercely lost in Maida Vale) in July because I couldn’t buy the paperback in Canada yet. I mostly read it on Polish trains. But I digress.
Many of the readers were bothered by the violence in the book, which is understandable. However, the original Swedish title of the first one was “The Men Who Hate Women” (in Swedish, obviously), so I really don’t think it was gratuitous and that it was essential to understanding characters’ motivations. Some of the less computerly inclined found the detailed explanations of the (probably) impossible hacking techniques boring too. So, yes, some bits were extremely hard to get through, but many agreed that they are otherwise engaging and/or Lisbeth Salander is fucking fantastic.
Notable quotes: ‘Only read the 1st one so far, but would say it’s one of the most unsettling books I’ve read. Although I read it on a sunny beach in Tenerife, it provided it’s own little black cloud over my holiday.’ (BeastiePsy); ‘Exciting, fast paced but meticulously detailed, with one of the most kick arse female heros I’ve ever read.’ (Madeleine); ‘For me there’s too much detail and it all seems a bit superfluous – but I think the plot’s going somewhere so I may well finish it before I die.’ (Someone) (High praise indeed! Ha!); ‘I do like a good crime novel, and this was a very good example. Though I did get a bit confused at times over which member of the Vanger family was who. But that could just be because I’m easily confused.’ (Anna)
Overall score: 6/10
Diving score: 6.5/10
Full marks: 0 out of 11 reviews
Nul points: 0 out of 11
Yoga
Quite mixed reviews, which is slightly surprising. Perhaps that’s because most of my staff have only good things to say about it. I like it myself, though I am frustrated at its commercialisation and my own lack of bendiness. Oh, and the fact that classes all see to be at times when I’m either at work or sleeping.
Some of you felt similarly. Quite a lot got frustrated after only a couple of tries (understandable). Dangers listed include: public nudity, farting, falling over, falling asleep, and general hurtiness. A few of you loved and praised it, many others definitely felt like it could be beneficial…to other people.
Notable quotes: ‘Yes, it is incredibly tiring and it does make you jolly bendy but it is just so boring.’ (Laura); ‘My favourite bit was the meditation at the end, although the downside of doing this at home is that you have to listen to your boyfriend’s mum humming Angels by Robbie Williams and it’s quite offputting.’ (amycool); ‘Can I review Yoda? I mean, Yoga gets an 8/10 because it has names like ‘downward facing dog’ and stuff. But 10/10 Yoda gets, because greatest puppet ever appearing in sci-fi films is he.’ (Ivan); ‘I only ever done it for the last two months in secondary school as PE. It was an amazing way to relax, especially coming up to exams when we were all stressed out.’ (lisan66); ‘While doing it I can’t help feel a little self-concious and incredibly stupid and it always leaves my muscles aching for days afterwards.’ (KateB); ‘For something that’s supposed to be calming, it made me homicidally furious.’ (Kate W)
Overall score: 5/10
Diving score: 5.5/10
Full marks: 0 out of 25 reviews
Nul points: 1 out of 25
Richard Branson
Described by Mr Watson thusly: ‘Multi-millionaire; can’t work out if he seems nice or not’.
Totally agree with that. I simultaneously want to shake his hand and (maybe) punch him in the face. I’m also fascinated by his leathery skin after seeing him on ‘Question Time’ a few years ago. (When he scratched his forehead, his whole face moved like the skin wasn’t attached to bone. Distracted me from anything he said, though.)
Y’all seem to have come to more or less the same conclusion. Approachable? Arrogant? Both? He’s a man of mystery, that Mr Branson.
Notable quotes: ‘Weirdy, beardy, smug… he should be a knob, but you have to appreciate the guy’s acumen.’ (Tom Beasley); ‘He always strikes me as a bit of a jerk, but I think that has something to do with his insistance on turning up in obscure cameo roles in movies and television shows, playing Richard Branson…More annoyingly, he’s managed to stay looking the same as he did a decade a go, which for a man with such a bad hair cut, is pretty good.’ (Aphra); ‘Rumoured to be very, very unfaithful to his wife, so possibly not that nice a person. Unless of course she doesn’t mind, in which case good luck to them both.’ (Clembear); ‘He has his own island, which seems to be quite cool, but then so do a lot of Bond villains – is that just a coincidence?’ (cymruangel); ‘Businessmen don’t have to be likeable. He’s very clearly not. But he’s the future of space travel so I’ve got to let him off. I think he’s paid off the debt to the world that Virgin Cola left us with and knows how to provide services.’ (Josh); ‘The only subject above on which I’m at all qualified to formulate an opinion is Richard Branson, and the very thought of doing such a thing makes my heart sink.’ (Andrew); ‘Finally god bless Richard Branson, inventor of the delicious pickle which is perfect in a ploughman’s’ (Johnny Reggae) (This made me laugh and laugh.)
Overall score: 6.5/10
Diving score: 6.5/10
Full marks: 0 out of 10 reviews
Nul points: 0 out of 10
Coffee
Good heavens, this was a touchy topic, as has already been addressed. Vitriol was pretty high. Lots of mentions of gaggy, horrible smells, and other horrors. Anna suggested making it illegal. It was very difficult for me to read these things about my favourite beverage. I only think coffee is truly evil when it’s really weak and flavourless.
Anyway, as mentioned above, this did rally a bit, with its lovers coming out to praise aroma, taste, and perking-up abilities. Maddie even gave it an unofficial rating of 100/10. Phew. (Just as general travel advice to coffee lovers, I never had a non-excellent cup when I was in Iceland. They know their shit.)
Notable quotes: ‘It gets 9/10 from me, losing a point only because I can never make it to taste as good as it smells.’ (Katie); ‘I love it. So much. I am one of the people that live because of it.’ (Lydia) (Me too!); ‘Horrible bitter drink, that holds my family in a tight grip. In an aim not to become like them, I refuse to drink it.’ (elin); ‘The whole going-out-to-a-coffee-shop-with-friends-and-having-a-chat thing is quite lovely.’ (Hannahq); ‘It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s gotten me through my A-Levels.’ (Linsey); ‘It makes me gag. I’ve tried it with sugar, milk, cream and even dissolved a humbug in a cup of it but nothing seemed to make it taste any better.’ (Ingrid); ‘I don’t think many other people like it either, even though they drink it. Why else would there be seemingly thousands of variations of it on sale in Starbucks etc? people are just trying to cover up the terrible taste.’ (Adam K.)
Overall score: 5.5/10
Diving score: 5.5/10
Full marks: 7 out of 37 reviews
Nul points: 6 out of 37 (though, there were plenty of 1 and 2 point scores too)
Thank you to everyone who contributed and apologies I couldn’t include everything. And again, big, big love to everyone who checked in on the entry about my stolen bike. It cheered me up hugely.
Keep warm, keep dry, and have a great holiday-type season!
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And now the categories for the next edition. I’m conscious that, as Megan said, hardly anyone reviewed Seven Days, Israel, or the Klaxons’ album last time out. With this in mind, I will make the next set of reviews as accessible as possible.
Here they are:
BRIE (food; type of cheese)
ONE DAY by David Nicholls (book)
ANOTHER YEAR (film)
NIGELLA LAWSON (person)
PILATES (activity)
DALMATIANS (breed of dog)
HIP-HOP (musical genre)
Off you go!
Posted by Cathy on December 8, 2010
Bit late, but I wanted to join in for the first time, now I’m more or less caught up!
BRIE I like the thought of it more than the actual experience. I can imagine that the stuff I’ve tried tends to be supermarket versions, so I may not have experienced the full potential of this creamy cheese, but it I’ve always found it a little bland. Melts nicely though, I think, and nice coupled with cranberry sauce (seasonal!). Also pretty good deep fried – because what else would you do with a calorie rich food such as cheese? 7/10
NIGELLA LAWSON I’m having a bit of a love affair with Nigella at the moment. Not literally, but I’m a bit of a late comer to her fabulousness. I was aware of her in the past, but only really got into her during her last but one series – Nigella Express. I have this recipe book, and there’s a lot of winners in there. She gets criticised for not being ‘chefy’ enough – but I like the fact she is pretty relaxed and cheats every now and again, and she clearly LOVES her food. I can very much relate to that. Though admittedly, she has become a bit of a caricature of herself of late, with the sultry looks to camera etc – but that doesn’t bother me. I think her sense of humour is very tongue-in-cheek, and that’s all part of it. Her boobs do seem to defy gravity though, and I respect her for that! I wish I knew her secret! And I wouldn’t complain if I could eat like that and look like that. Especially at 50. 9/10
DALMATIONS I don’t have personal experience of this dog, but thanks to Disney, they are a sure-fire win for me! They are a beautiful dog, and the puppies (like all puppies) are unbelievably cute. I think part of their charm is that you can’t quite believe your seeing a cartoon dog in real life! My old lecturer had 2, and used them in a performance art piece once. That was pretty interesting. But I remember him telling me that Dalmatians as a breed are pretty dappy. So a bimbo dog – look good, but smart they aint. 8/10
HIP-HOP Don’t get it, don’t like it. And this fact makes me feel very old. 1/10
Posted by AlexY on December 6, 2010
BRIE – I will now be unable to think of this as anything other than ‘posh Dairylea’, which is brilliant. It’s the kind of thing that I’ll end up eating if it’s there, but it never seems to have much flavour. I’m more of a Smoked Applewood gal myself (smoked cheddar; for anyone who hasn’t tried it and loves cheese, give it a go, it’s great). 6/10
NIGELLA LAWSON Despite the fact that she’s now become an utter parody of herself, I still kind of love her. The food would kill you if you ate as much of it as she seems to (there was a peanut butter cheesecake that she made this series which was more of a recipe for a heart attack than a pudding), but I’ve cooked quite a lot from her Forever Summer book and those recipes are great. I think she’s kind of mesmerising to look at, although her boobs could now take your eye out. I’ve felt better about her ‘kitchen’ and larder ever since I read an article that said the whole series is filmed on an industrial estate in Borehamwood or somewhere.
One of my friends, who is an amazing cook, always says that How to Eat is still one of the best recipe books she owns; I’ve found that some of the quantities in Nigella’s recipes can be very hit and miss – they do have a reputation for not being tested thoroughly enough. If you want foolproof food without the saucy looks at an imaginary camera, then go for Nigel Slater. If you want some fun and an occasional blowout, Nigella’s very much your gal. 7/10
PILATES I’ve tried this a few times; I find it a bit pointless. I’ve been doing yoga for a few years, and I prefer that – it’s more interesting and I feel that you get more of an overall approach, rather than just targeting your ‘core’. 5/10
DALMATIANS Apparently suffer a lot from deafness because of in-breeding. Possibly because of this, they always seem bouncy and daft. Although 101 Dalmatians (the original cartoon) was awesome, so they get some extra kudos for that. I’ve always thought Cruella De Vil would be fun to dress up as for a fancy dress party (fake fur only, of course). So, scoring based on the real dogs: 5/10
ONE DAY This is the book that I’ve recommended more than any other, whenever anyone asks me what they should read (I work in publishing, so people always assume you’re an expert; I’m not, but I do read a lot of mainstream fiction). I just love it – the characters are brilliantly well done; there are some fantastic details from 90s culture that will make you hoot with recognition and I actually screeched, ‘NO, you can’t do that!’ and burst into tears at a certain point. Everyone who’s read it knows which that is – I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t. It’s life affirming and really romantic (especially if you’ve ever had a major case of unrequited love).
The plot device shouldn’t work but does – it’s a clever idea, very well executed. Writing romantic fiction (which is, essentially, what it is), which is believable and not twee is incredibly hard, and David Nicholls pulls it off. The cover is also fantastic – again, you wouldn’t believe how difficult cover design for this kind of book can be. I’m just worried about the film version – Ann Hathaway? She’s a beautiful girl, (if a bit… toothy for me) but the reason women love Emma as a character is that she seems just averagely attractive. It’s a shame Hollywood doesn’t think we’d root for a more down-to-earth looking heroine. 9/10 (I would give 10, but I have a few issues with the last part of the book, which I won’t divulge, as it would involve a lot of spoilers).
Posted by Emily on December 5, 2010
Brie- I’m not a massive fan of cheese. The only cheese I like is Mozzarella. I agree with Musical Lottie about it not smelling as bad as others so 3/10.
Pilates – Something I’ve always wanted to try 7/10
Dalmatians- I loved the film 101 dalmatians but I’m also slightly scared of dogs so 8/10
Hip-Hop – I don’t really listen to it but I don’t think it’s my kind of music 4/10
Posted by Megan on December 4, 2010
I house/dog-sat for a neighbourhood family for a few weeks several years ago. Their dalmatian was one of the stupidest and most disobedient animals I had ever met. The owners warned me that she would eat ANYTHING she found on the ground (true, I caught her chewing on bits of tire and rock) and relayed a story about how she started making horking noises after a walk and coughed up a near-complete squirrel skeleton on the living room rug. Blarrrrrgh.
Posted by Cat on December 4, 2010
I have to comment here for the Dalmations it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t as I recomend people animals as a pet store customer service representative.
Although very cute and nice looking dogs, they can be rather dangerous dogs and aren’t the kind of dog to choose if you have young kids (of course you may find some nice ones and other more nasty ones, they’re just more prone to being nasty). I knew this also before I was mauled by one when I was younger. Though kudos for the animal reference.
6/10
Posted by max on December 3, 2010
BRIE: I love cheese, so this is pretty biased. I think we can agree that soft cheese has got to be reason France was invented in the first place (maybe for wine too?). But anyway, I will give brie a 10/10 rating. It is a brilliant kind of cheese. It’s not my favorite cheese (I prefer camembert myself, specially if it comes from goat’s milk) but it deserves a 10.
DALMATIANS: Now, I love dogs but dalmatians are not one of my favorite breeds. They look too smug I guess. It’s like they know they are considered beautiful. 8/10 because they are dogs, and dogs are awesome.
Hip Hop: I’m one of the biggest music snobs that I know of, and this usually presupposes a hatred for all these music styles filled with talentless hacks of which Hip Hop (together with rap, country, cumbia and reggaeton) is full of. So does this mean I’ll give hip hop a bad score? No sir. I recently discovered that some gems exist among the garbage. One recent example is Kanye West’s latest album “My beautiful dark twisted fantasy”. Brilliant record, even for a metal fan like myself. So, I think that what I’m trying to say is that it is so popular and huge that it got misrepresented in music lovers eyes. It’s not all bad.
0/10 for the popular crap.
8/10 for the hidden gems you might find.
Posted by Joelle on December 3, 2010
Dalmations: They’re very spotty and I like spots. But they are rather large dogs and dogs tend to frighten me so they lose marks there. 5/10
Hip-Hop: While the beats can be good sometimes and fun to dance to, the lyrics that these songs have can really be quite amazingly concerning. Bottlepop by The Pussycat dolls include the line “I’ve heard you get wet, is it true that you get wet wet wet?” and not in a weather sense either. I don’t understand the need for the meanings of the songs. They’re all the same and repetitive. 6/10
Posted by Rick Procter on December 2, 2010
The one here I can comment on is Another Year (it’s the film, after all) – which, as I recall, Mrs Emily tweeted about saying it was rubbish. So this is a chance for me to defend it, as I really liked it.
The Mike Leigh “devising” method works a treat here (building the characters and the script through an extensive rehearsal period), with the end result exuding down-to-earth believeability. There’s not an awful lot to the plot, and there is no tightly-spun thread moving it on from one section to the next – but that’s just what life is like, eh? You still really want to know what happens to the characters and feel for them all. It helps that all the performances in it are so good too – expectedly so, given the way it was made and Mike Leigh’s track record with his actors. Some might call it plain or even bleak, but I’d say it’s genuine and ripe with human feeling. 8/10.
Posted by af632 on December 2, 2010
BRIE – Smells unpleasant, tastes worse. I like most cheese, but brie… not so much. 1/10
NIGELLA LAWSON – So many conflicting feelings. Dislike the pretence of a perfect life portrayed in her programme and the folksy presentation of her cookery books, as well as the overtly-sexual presentation of viscous liquids and root vegetables. But the actual food she presents is closest to my personal tastes of the many celebrity chefs, and she is quantifiably attractive. Overall… 7.5/10
PILATES – As I have no balance, this has proven hazardous, not beneficial, to my health. However, it is the smugness of those who have recently done pilates which wins it a score of 0/10
DALMATIANS – Or, in the current snowy conditions, stealth-dogs. Usually like them, as I like big dogs and have found they generally have lovely temperaments. However, following a fight with a local spotty-dog in the ice yesterday, they get a lowly 5/10.
HIP-HOP – Pre-’94 gets a respectable 7/10: not really my thing, but live-and-let-live. The modern incarnation is either watered-down to the nth degree or prosthelytises for the accumulation of wealth at the expense of happiness: 1/10.
Posted by Lydia on December 2, 2010
BRIE: The only experience I have with it was during a week I was forced to go to Butlins. We couldn’t afford self catering so we had to have Butlins food. Needless to say I didn’t eat much that week. 0/10
NIGELLA LAWSON: In all honesty I’ve only ever seen a picture of her on a book. She looks smug. 2/10
DALMATIONS: They make me think of when I was a kid. 101 Dalmations is always going to be an amazing film. I will hear nothing against them. 10/10
HIP HOP: Just no. 0/10
Posted by Ingrid on December 2, 2010
After asking people today i discovered pilates are nothing like karate… oh well!
Posted by Mike on December 2, 2010
Mark, I’m so glad you are on Radio 2 for the announcement of the World Cup host nation… I am so nervous!
Posted by Aislinn on December 2, 2010
Also my last comment has now got me thinking about Simon Pegg and could you pretty please put him on a Very Late Review at some point in the next ten years merely so I can confess my love for him and rate him 10/10?
Posted by Aislinn on December 2, 2010
Brie – 7/10. I bloody love cheese, but I feel brie is a bit overrated. Camembert (similar) is far nicer. Also nicer: Edam, Red Leicester, garlic roule. Most cheeses, I think.
Hip-hop – 9/10, despite the fact I think this is far too broad to rate. Generic, modern rap I can’t stand. Nerdcore, though, is brilliant, as is ‘old-school’ hip-hop. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost sing White Lines in Shaun of the Dead and that’s my favourite film ever so I can’t not like that song.
Posted by Laurs on December 2, 2010
BRIE (food; type of cheese)
Brie is a wonderful cheese, especially when it combined with red grape on wholemeal bread, just wonderful! But it has to lose marks because it’s so bad for you, it’s a shame really, because it’d get full marks otherwise.
8/10
ANOTHER YEAR (film)
I highly recommend that everyone sees this film, it’s a very well made film but I couldn’t say I enjoyed it, it’s not that kind of film. It certainly made my boyfriend and me think about what it was portraying for several days after we’d seen it. Some excellent performances from all the cast and I’m really pleased I saw it. I hope my life doesn’t end up like that…
9/10
HIP-HOP (musical genre)
There are certain elements of the hip hop genre that I really like, and bits that I really hate. However, as a massive fan of Dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip who fall in to that category, I can’t score it anything other than full marks. They are awesome, Pip is a lyrical genuis, and I mean that completely! Check them out if you’ve not heard of them!
10/10
Posted by Sarah on December 2, 2010
Dalmations – 8/10 Require alot of wlaking and training. large dogs, who don’t care how much mud they bring in. pretty noisey, with a tail which hurts if it hits your bare legs
Brie – 10/10 – amazing on freash french bread, or in a brie and bacon sarnie (cranberrie sauce optional) omnonmnomnom.
Posted by Andrew on December 2, 2010
Once again, a Very Late Review selection which leaves me Very Little Room to offer an opinion. Tsk. Next time, can you ask about some things about which I have really strong opinions? Jools Holland, Out Of Sight, Christmas, Frasier, for example. I won’t say which I love and which I hate.
Anyway, of this selection, I can only really offer an opinion on Dalmatians. I loathe dogs, all dogs, and would happily see every last one of them removed from the planet. Sorry. 1 out of 10 because without them the song Cruella De Vil would not exist.
Posted by Josh on December 2, 2010
BRIE 9/10
Cheese as a whole is brilliant, brie is a brilliant cheese. Therefore brie is fantabulous. It’s fantastic as is, but a super combo-bonus is added when slightly melted. It’s brilliant in everything. 1 point deducted for confusing rind.
NIGELLA LAWSON 2/10
Let’s face it, she’s not a chef. She’s a TV personality who doesn’t have a personality. OOH, I’M SO SENSUOUS, LET ME LICK THIS THING AND OH I’M SO NAUGHTY AND INVENTIVE AND MENTAL AND LOOK HOW MANY FRIENDS COME ROUND MY HOUSE BECAUSE I’M SO ATTRACTIVE.
No.
PILATES 10/10
Purely because it is easy to take leaflets promoting Pilates and transform them into leaflets promoting Pirates.
DALMATIANS 3/10
I don’t like dogs, I don’t like big dogs even more. Dalmatians are pretty damn big. 3 points awarded for pretty spots.
HIP-HOP 8/10
Now, there seems to have been some confusion here, most people seem to be reviewing Gangsta Rap, a subgenre of the hip-hop franchise. Gangsta Rap has become seriously corrupted by commercialism recently, resulting in the sorts of things people don’t like, particularly the misogyny many people are referring to.
I suggest a healthy dose of East Coast hip-hop, were it all started anyway. It’s music engineered to be as danceable as possible and is overall, a pretty happy thing. Listen to De La Soul, Grandmaster Flash, Cassanova Fly, DJ Cool Herc, all of that lot. DO NOT listen to The Sugar Hill Gang.
That’s not to say that there’s no good gangsta rap, I like NWA far more than I should and The Wu Tang Clan aren’t half bad either.
So, to sum that rant up, Hip-Hop has got a bad name but there is some awful Hip-Hop.
Posted by Beth on December 2, 2010
Hello all! I have been lurking in the shadows for quite some time and couldn’t pluck up the courage to write something, even when Mark prompted us lurkers to come forward. However, it has taken me 4 hours to get to work in the snow (DEDICATION) and I feel the need to rant and this is a perfect opportunity!
BRIE:
I’m a cheese FIEND. Brie is delicious and creamy and moreish and yet somehow isn’t my favourite cheese. A solid 7/10.
ONE DAY:
8.5/10
I read this on holiday earlier in the year and couldn’t have loved it more. Despite a few predictable plot twists and character development, it’s a huge fluffy duvet of a book that you just want to wrap yourself in. I also love that David Nicholls made a spotify playlist of Emma’s mixtape to Dexter
NIGELLA LAWSON
I simultaneously want to punch her and also ravage her. Her recipes are usually pretty good, as is her plentiful bosom. She doesn’t half go on a bit though and if her programmes are anything to go by, I think she resents feeding her children when she could be eating all her delicious creations herself. I’m not entirely sure we should support this. 6/10
DALMATIANS
Totally not my favourite dog, despite their amusing coats. They are quite skittish – the thought of 101 of them is quite frankly terrifying. Much cuter as puppies, but then small version of everything are usually cuter. 3/10
HIP-HOP
Being a massive indie-kid, with a penchant for scot-pop and Morrissey style quiffs, you’d think I’d hate hip-hop. Well, I do, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been culturally significant for thousands of people, just because it doesn’t speak to me doesn’t mean I should write it off. Then again, I echo the sentiment that the bad stuff is just horrid and the culture surrounding it in the 90s/2000s is pretty derogatory. And that I certainly don’t approve of. 4/10
xx
Posted by amycool on December 2, 2010
Hip-Hop – This is a genre that I always assumed I didn’t like, but it turns out I really really do. Not that I would freely admit it in public, because it just sounds wrong coming out of my mouth, but my current favourite album is The Preview by Chiddy Bang. Some of the lyrics are a bit preposterous and intravenous isn’t pronounced intra-vein-ious, but I love the line, “Periodically, I’m in my element, phosphorus” as it reminds me of Flight of the Conchords.
I think I mostly like it when hip hop artists use samples of music from other genres that I like. For example, Chiddy Bang use Darwin Deez’s song Bad Day.
Having said all of this, I can only cope with the blatant misogyny when it’s funny. 7/10
Nigella – I was watching some old Nigella recently and she was much more watchable. The more recent programmes make you feel like you’ve inadvertently phoned a sex line. And I can’t understand how she eats so much fat and isn’t clinically obese. 5/10
I don’t really feel qualified to talk about the others being a cheese-hating, classics-reading canine-avoider.
Posted by Sam on December 2, 2010
BRIE: I pretty much love all cheese – so brie is getting a high score for me. I can’t understand the people I come across who say ‘i don’t like cheese’ when there are so many different types, tastes and textures. It’s like eating an apple and then deciding because you didn’t like it, you don’t like any fruit. But, sorry, I digress…brie is yummy and I think quite a good introductory cheese for those just beginning to broaden out from a life of no cheese or just cheddar. Soft, and yummy and especially delicious with cranberry. 8/10.
NIGELLA LAWSON: I know she’s got her critics and the whole midnight snacking from the fridge and unnecessary lingering looks at the camera while sucking food of her fingers is a bit naff and contrived. Having said that, I really like her. I think she’s pleasant to watch adn listen and her books are very well written. I like her style of giving the narrative of the how’s and why’s of the recipe before going through the ingredients and instructions. I also like the fact that she looks like she eats and enjoys her food – nothing more suspicious than a skinny chef!! 7/10
HIP HOP – Not really my genre of music, however, I make an exception for the one and only Dee Oh Double Gee – snoop dogg! There’s something so mesmerising about his voice both when he’s talking and in his music. So 9/10 for that. Although he does have dodgy misogynistic tendancies and takes drugs/owns guns and Hip Hop in general can be a bit rubbish to my indie-loving music ears. So overall score is 5/10.
Not tried/watched/owned/read any of the other review topics.
Posted by cymruangel on December 2, 2010
BRIE (food; type of cheese): Very yummy, and the cheese that finally allowed me to get into this whole “cheese and crackers” nonsense that other people do after meals (although I still refuse to go near blue cheese). 9/10
NIGELLA LAWSON (person): Has some very lovely recipes, but the whole ‘food porn’ thing is quite unnecessary, as is the “sneaking down in my nightie” schtick that she does at the end of her TV programmes. 6/10
PILATES (activity): My friends used to do Pilates on a Wednesday, and call it ‘cocking about on the floor’. That is all I know about Pilates, so will not venture to score it.
DALMATIANS (breed of dog): Should only ever come in groups of 101. Not a dog fan, I have to be honest, and dalmations are one of those sorts of dog that are probably taller than me when they stand on back legs, which can be quite scary. 3/10
HIP-HOP (musical genre): Was popular when I DJ-ed student parties, but only after sufficient alcohol had been consumed (before that R&B was very much the genre of choice, a little while after, it HAD to be cheesy pop). Dress sense of its proponents leaves quite a lot to be desired. 3/10
Posted by Hannahq on December 2, 2010
ONE DAY: I loved it. Although I thought it kind of petered out at the end. I can’t really think of much to say about it. There are better books, but if you want something quite light, a bit different,a bit twisty and quite well written, you should read this. Or maybe Eleven
Anyway – 8/10
NIGELLA LAWSON: I like cooking shows (even though I don’t really cook) and it’s fun to watch Nigella and gently poke fun at her, not least because she uses about half a bottle of port in everything, and the other day made black risotto or something (?!). I prefer Nigel Slater for his soothing voice. 6/10
DALMATIONS: I love both the film and the book, but I’m not a massive fan of real dogs and they aren’t soft and furry…but on the other hand they are quite interesting to look at. 6/10
Posted by Dave B on December 2, 2010
BRIE: Yummy. But let’s not go overboard, it’s just posh Dairylea. 6/10
NIGELLA LAWSON: Also yummy and a fantasy dinner guest of mine. Loses marks by being an outrageous camera flirt and purveyor of life-threatening recipies. 7/10
PILATES: A scam. It just does your back in. 1/10
DALMATIANS: Pup-tastic and magnificent in their prime, but concerns about congenital defects mean 6/10
HIP-HOP: Great music, but having to close your ears to rabid homophobia, sexism and racism is awkward 4/10
Posted by Rachael on December 2, 2010
Dalmations: I love dogs. Dalmations look very cute but they seem to have alot of health problems. I think alot of them are deaf too. So I would probably go for a different breed when buying a giant dog. 7/10
Brie: Not bad. Nice, quite weird texture and not too strong taste. Best eaten outside on some really fresh french bread (preferably in France), otherwise it is just not the same. 6/10
Posted by Misha on December 2, 2010
These are a few I can do. Although typing on my phone is hard.
Brie 6/10
One of those weird adult foods I always assumed i’d like when I got older and strangely, do. (wine and olives are others) Never quite as nice as I imagine it’s going to be though which is a shame.
Still good though. Even for a cheese.
(Feel free to imagine my comments on Nigella Lawson here, because I just realised that i’m not sure she is who I think she is, and don’t have tabbed browsing on my phone to check.)
Dalmatians 8/10
Entertainingly coloured, but massive gluttons. My old stables had a few dalmatians, and frequently they would steal peoples lunches. Otherwise pleasant dogs, and good in 101 Dalmatians.
Hip-Hop 4/10
Doesn’t really do it for me. But doesn’t make me want to rip my own ear canals out either. Quite enjoy the odd bit of comedy hip hop. All in all i’m working on liking it as a techie so I don’t suffer too much professionally in my later life.
Posted by AlNapp on December 2, 2010
BRIE (food; type of cheese)
9/10 the best of the mild creamy cheeses – even better when served at correct temperature
ONE DAY by David Nicholls (book) – 1/10 awful: glib, stereotypical characters and unengaging style (however, I know I’m against the flow on this, apparently it’s a masterpiece)
NIGELLA LAWSON (person) 6/10 a good cook, her books are fab but has descended into a Culshaw like parody of herself in her latest series – the food is still great
HIP-HOP (musical genre) 1/10 – 10/10 the bad stuff is really bad, the good stuff is really good
Posted by Tracey on December 2, 2010
Hi Mark and hi Megan. Dalmatians ; Brilliant. However, any breed of dog is wonderful.
Nigella Lawson: Absolutely fantastic. My husband admits she’s nice looking and being a similar size to her in a certain department I have no problem with the lady at all. Apologies if that’s “too much information.” Her food is wonderful and my daughter has bought me her latest book for Christmas. Most men seem to like Nigella, so she gets 10 out of 10 as do dogs. Take care, Tracey x
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on December 2, 2010
BRIE: I love the stuff. The only annoying part is deciding whether to eat the skin or not. 8.5/10
ANOTHER YEAR: I’ve only seen the trailer for this so far, but I’ve never seen a bad Mike Leigh film as of yet. 9/10
NIGELLA LAWSON:
Nigella comes across quite smarmy amongst some of the humbler TV chefs, and she always seems a bit cold. She also has quite scary eyes, but her brownie recipe is very good so she gets a 3/10 from me.
DALMATIANS: I love pretty much all breeds of dog, and having a heavily Disney influenced childhood has given me a soft spot for dalmatians even though generally I prefer smaller dogs. They seem so lovable and …lollopy (If that isn’t a word, it should be). 6.5/10
HIP-HOP: I agree with Josie’s No. 0/10
Posted by Sam on December 2, 2010
I only feel able to stick up for brie – it seems to be getting mixed reviews at best. On its own, it isn’t great, but when are you ever supposed to eat cheese on its own? Never, that’s when. Pop it in a warm baguette with bacon, pop it in a pastry puff with some cranberries, combine it with almost anything and it raises the tastiness and class of your foodstuff by a factor of at least 7.
For its ability to revolutionise what would otherwise be very ordinary snacks: 8/10
Posted by Corry on December 2, 2010
BRIE 4/10 A rubbishy version of the very lovely camambert
NIGELLA LAWSON 9/10 for recipes 7/10 for TV shows 10/10 for comforting bosom
DALMATIANS 10/10 All dogs are perfect.
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 2, 2010
I seem to have completely missed or forgotten the last VLR; I suspect the latter
Anyway:
Brie – ugh, cheese. The only cheese I like is the stuff that doesn’t taste of cheese, e.g. roulé. But it could be worse; it could be a smellier cheese. For not being too offensive, 3/10
Nigella Lawson – Not sure. She seems reasonably down-to-earth but slightly boring. 6/10
Pilates – yes! Great for mental health as well as physical health, isn’t too strenuous, and unlike yoga has no roots in beliefs that are completely at odds with my own. But it still requires time and effort, so 9/10
Hip-hop – no thank you. However there are worse genres. 4/10
Posted by Linsey on December 1, 2010
Nigella Lawson – Personally my favourite tv cookery show personality, I get the impression that she is prejudiced against because of her ‘sexuality’ (she has big boobs and speaks slowly), which many people find distracting on a cookery show. She’s beautiful and cool and cooks damn good food, and you totally get the impression that once she’s made it, she just fucks off and eats it for a while. I love her. 9/10
Pilates – Pilates is evil. I took one class with my best friend to help her with her bad back, which ended with me fainting and stopping the whole class. Painful and not fun (I’m guessing, I spent most of it on the floor). 3/10
Posted by Sephy on December 1, 2010
Brie – 6/10 – I like it, and when I first tried it I thought it was the height of sophistication because it isn’t cheddar basically. But now I find it a bit bland to be honest. I like cheese to smell of grody old feet.
One Day – 9/10 – I bought this when it first came out but didn’t get round to reading it until a few months ago. I would just stop and stare at the cover sometimes (which I LOVE) though. I’m terrible for judging books on them. I’ll often buy a book a already have if a new edition coes out with a better cover :* . Any way back to the story; I thought it was brilliant. A great idea, realistic characters, and very well written. I was thinking about it for days after I finished it. It also introduced me to a Billy Brag song I hadn’t heard before: St. Swithin’s Day, one of his best.
Dalmatians – 4/10 – cartoon ones: yes, real ones; no.
Nigella Lawson – 8/10 – I know she over the top and according to her tv show lives this ridiculous lifestyle where she’s always just rushing home to throw together a dinner party for ten out of a cut loaf and a couple of tins of tomatoes, but I love her. She really campy and the food she makes is stuff you would actually cook yourself afterwards. Plus, lets face it, she’s frickin’ gorgeous.
Posted by Helen on December 1, 2010
HIP-HOP – I remember from a previous blog that Mark said he wasn’t a fan Eminem and that the shouty angry rants weren’t fun to listen to. Then there’s the misogyny, anger and arrogance – not something I celebrate at all. These are all very good reasons to not like Hip-Hop/Mr Mathers. Which is why it’s such a shame really that I keep buying his songs. I didn’t used to like him at all but then I found out a bit about his life which unlocked the meanings to loads of lyrics that I didn’t understand and unravelled the angry blur into a heartbreakingly honest form of poetical expression. Which ties in nicely with the recent blog about how being interested in something can improve the enjoyment of it ten fold. Yes, some of his songs are horrible, but some are brilliant. I don’t like the genre in general, but Eminem is an exception. Hip-Hop gets a 8/10.
Posted by Benjamin on December 1, 2010
Nigella Lawson
My Mum likes her and I like her (boobs).
8/10
Posted by Dan on December 1, 2010
Hip-Hop: Most of its awful, but some is fantastic, particularly Jurassic 5, De La Soul, Fort Minor and of course Baba Brinkman who is comedy but also hip-hop. I’d give the genre 8/10 overall, mostly because of Jurassic 5. God I love Jurassic 5.
Posted by Tom Beasley on December 1, 2010
Nigella Lawson – She tries to make cooking sexy. She is the wank girlfriend of every middle-aged man in the country. As I am neither an enthusiastic cook or a horny old man, I don’t really get her appeal. 5/10
Dalmatians – There were 101 of them… in one film. Said film was awesome. Nuff said. 10/10
Hip-Hop – I appreciate that when hip-hop is good, hip-hop can be really good. However, there is so much /awful/ hip-hop that gets worshipped by the masses that I have grown to loathe the genre. It seems like you can’t avoid the millions of chart-topping hip-hop “songs” (necessary inverted commas). The worst thing is that they all sound basically the same. Can’t bloody stand it. 2/10
Posted by Ivan (@ivanbrett) on December 1, 2010
BRIE (food; type of cheese) – 7/10. Seems to me to be the common man’s Camembert. Having said that, I love it. I would it a wheel of brie before it had the chance to roll away from me. The only problem is that I’m lactose intolerant so it’s a forbidden fruit.
ONE DAY by David Nicholls (book) – 9/10. Clever concept, pretty execution, nice cover. I like this book.
NIGELLA LAWSON (person) – 2/10. Nigella is a grimy sexpot who squishes chocolate cherries with her gargantuan bosoms for the sake of her brand. That said, her marzipan fruitcake is just divine.
PILATES (activity) – 5/10. I don’t know the difference between Pilates and Yoga, but Pilates doesn’t sound like a Star Wars character.
DALMATIANS (breed of dog) – 6/10. I love dogs, but the Dalmatian is a breed that’s been controlled too much, so selection hasn’t acted as needed. Because of that, they’re really badly behaved generally and don’t have the chance to develop properly. I’m not a fan of that. But they are pretty.
HIP-HOP (musical genre) – 10/10. I don’t listen to much Hippity-Hop, but I absolutely love bits of it. There are some incredibly clever rappers out there as well, not just people who ‘spit’ about ‘hoes’ and ‘rims’. I can’t give a musical genre any less than 10, especially when it’s so wide ranging.
Posted by Lindsay on December 1, 2010
BRIE: it is a sneaky cheese: not a particularly strong smell or taste, spreads rather smoothly, and before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole one, plus a salami, and have nightmares for a week, so -4 for sneakiness (6/10)
NIGELLA LAWSON: Unlike Ingrid, I do often take a random dislike to people, and Nigella is one of them. But more specifically, for setting feminism back 40 years, I give her 1/10
PILATES: I am sure it would be very good, but I can never remember to tense the whole way through, and it always seems like a very stressful form of sitting. 5/10
DALMATIONS: I love dogs, deeply, but dalmations always seem a bit contrived (ridiculous, I know, because they’re not); as I mentioned, random dislikes. So they get + 5 for being a dog, and -5 for possibly appealing to the likes of Paris Hilton: 5/10
HIP-HOP: I am a secret fan, but I keep it to myself, because there would be a serious danger of me seeming a bit Ali G (white, home counties girl). There is a lot of misogynistic rubbish, but every genre has good and bad. So, for the good stuff, I give it 8/10
Posted by Tim Buckle on December 1, 2010
One Day by David Nicholls – 9/10
I love this book. It such a lovely story and so real. It had me in tears and I am not ashamed to admit. it. Also David Nicholls is such a great guy. whats not to like
Nigella Lawson -7/10
I always get the impression she is Mary Poppins. I love how she tries to convey she has a normal everyday life when in fact she is mega rich and isn’t like that I bet. Also she certainly loves her midnight snacks or should that be meal. At least she does cook normal everyday comfort food
Posted by Ingrid on December 1, 2010
Ach hem… here goes
Brie- Im pretty fussy about cheese (basically i only eat cheddar) but brie is actually one of the only cheeses closer to the end of the scale that i will eat to be polite. Still i would never eat it out of choice so it gets
5/10
Nigella Lawson- She really annoys me! i dont normally take a random dislike to people but gawd! I was watching her cooking on tv once and she was cooking a fried egg… really? and then to make it worse she said ‘to bring out the flavour, just a a little white truffle oil’. Seriously! i mean yeah… thats something i just have lying around the house. O man! so i guess it may be a little harsh but she gets
1/10
Pilates- Ill be honest, i had to google this one. It kind of looks like a mix between yoga and karate, so yeah sounds all right. I’ve never done it or even heard of it, but since it looks cool i think it gets a
7/10
Dalmatians- I love dogs! i cant help it! Big dogs are just my favourite so i really cant fault dalmatians…
10/10
Hip Hop- again i wont lie, I had to type ‘hip hop music’ into youtube to figure out what it actually was. But when i did, i realized thats not really my favourite type of music. Although some if it is oddly catchy and i have to say pretty good for dancing to, but to listen to, not so much so hip hop can get a 6/10
So thats all from me…
Posted by Josie on December 1, 2010
I’m gonna rush these reviews because I want to appear more interesting than I am.
BRIE – Stinks, my dad eats it, what’s the point?
ONE DAY by David Nicholls – It’s very good… it takes a while for you to sort of understand but it really pulls you in and the ending is very sad and bittersweet. Probably not the ideal book to take as a trashy holiday novel, more of a bedside book.
NIGELLA LAWSON – from what I gather from watching Harry Hill’s TV Burp, she has a long nose and likes innuendos.
DALMATIANS – Very cute, like humping things, bark very loudly.
HIP-HOP – No.
Posted by Phill on December 1, 2010
BRIE: I generally like it – particularly in brie and bacon baguettes. Mmmm…. brie and bacon baguettes. *ahem* Anyway, I wouldn’t generally have a whole bit of brie by itself, but as a delicious accompaniment to lunch it works very well.
You have to get nice brie though – the cheap stuff is a bit tasteless.
My score (as long as it’s decent brie): 8/10
HIP-HOP: I don’t listen to much hip-hop but I used to know some people who were quite into it. It’s another genre I think which is very misrepresented by some of the crap you hear in the charts. In general I would much prefer hip-hop to RnB (which similarly suffers from the chart problem).
I particularly like old-skool hip-hop – I remember going to a few nights where someone was DJing and playing older stuff, it was really good. Surprisingly varied genre.
In general I’d probably give it a 7/10: Not the kind of thing I’d usually listen to but quite happy to listen to it from time to time
Posted by h2osarah on December 1, 2010
NIGELLA LAWSON – Don’t know much about her other than that she’s incredibly sexy and a chef. I think I’d like to be her. 8/10
PILATES – Tried it once, found it incredibly tedious. Only plus is that it’s relaxing. 1/10
DALMATIANS – They’re very cute, but I prefer many other breeds. 7/10
Posted by lisan66 on December 1, 2010
BRIE: I don’t like brie…well cheese in general or dairy products. I think there’s a horrible taste off it, and when I was little my sister made me eat easi-singles, which probably traumatised me and turned me off it.
0/10
NIGELLA LAWSON: No major opinion, but I like to cook, does that count??
PILATES: is incredible for stomach muscles! This was also a PE module in my last year of school. We all looked fabulous at our debs because of it
7/10
DALMATIANS: I’m afraid of dogs, the bigger the worse. So I don’t really like dalamatians
1/10 because the film 101 dalmatians was great
HIP-HOP: good to dance to in dance classes and the like, but horrible to listen to
4/10