Busy two days - London and Cambridge and then lie in this morning and sorting out Oz flat etc so just a titbitty day today, if you will pardon the expression, of things I have seen in the papers and heard about that I thought might be of interest.
First up, spotted in the paper that a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film is being made. Why? The third was over long and incredibly boring and cannot help but feel this franchise has run its course. OK Johnny Depp is always watchable as is Orlando Bloom, but I find Keira Knightly increasingly irritating (though I know the film makers don't care about that) and was not overwhelmed when I heard about it. But then I spotted the fact that Dame Judi Dench is making an appearance and my ears twitched. I came across a paragraph headed 'Pirate Depp shivers Dame Judi's timbers' - yes really and this is what it said:
"Judi Dench just couldn't resist the opportunity of a risque romp with Johnny Depp.......Cap'n Jack is on the run and escapes into a carriage belonging to a noblewoman (Judi). As he ravishes her he manages to rob her. Judi will just have a minute or two on screen, if that, but I'm told that she and Depp were in fits of giggles most of the time"
Sounds a hoot and of course they were both in Chocolat ten years ago so know each other quite well.
Further news about the film of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy from the le Carre novel. I had my doubts about this as I feel that nobody can do it better than Alec Guiness, but Gary Oldman is playing Smiley and he is an actor I admire very much and word is that it's going to be good. Also in the cast Colin Firth, Ciaran Hinds, John Hurt with Kathy Burke (who I assume is playing Connie) and Benedict Cumberbatch (fresh from his Holmes triumphs). Cannot wait for this one.
Downton Abbey - second series commissioned as this has been a runaway hit. Delighted to hear it. ITV were a bit wobbly about it at first as it cost £9m to make but of course are now dancing with delight as the overseas rights, DVD etc is going to make them a fortune. I am loving it and Dame Maggie is just simply delicious.
Books - fed up with the coverage of the Keith Richard autobiography. Pages of the stuff and I think he is a ghastly old lag; never liked him or any of the Stones in my youth and like them even less now.
Faber reissuing early PD James which is always good news and The Black Tower has just been published. May collect these as they come out as I read and re-read this author just for the sheer pleasure of her prose. Should add that this book was reviewed in the Mail today under the heading Retro Reads. A few weeks ago they mentioned the new OUP edition of the Tenant of Wildfell Hall under this heading, unbelievably.
Reading the Waterstone Books Quarterly and spotted what looks to be a really interesting read. A new biography by Giles Tremlett on Catherine of Aragorn. Find Tudor history fascinating so I might get in touch with the publishers and see if they will send me a review copy, fingers crossed.
A new John le Carre - Our kind of Traitor. Though I am aware of his Smiley books which I have seen on television I realised I had never read any of them so started checking this author out in 2010 and was overwhelmed by what a simply marvellous writer he is. Have several on my TBR pile awaiting my pleasure but they have to be read when in the mood as they are not a light read and concentration is needed. I have this on my wish list.
Then I spotted a new Andrew Taylor (wish he would do some more of his Lydmouth series) The Anatomy of Ghosts which looks really interesting. Seems to be an '18th century supernatural whodunnit' and is set in Cambridge. So on the list it goes.
Have a nice quiet week or so coming up, I hope, and last night watched the last three episodes of House Series 5 to refresh my memory of the ending and will be embarking on Series six which has been waiting my attention for a little while. Then the final 24 is now out so that will be on its way and I shall have lots of fun evenings to look forward to.
Au reservoir.
