A Short Book-Related Interview With My Brother

I always say that my brother is like me, but better (see above). Younger, taller, fitter, better looking, better travelled and a lot more intelligent, he's currently studying Medical Science at Birmingham University. I asked him to pose with the latest issue of Poetry Review, and although I haven't been able to convert him to poetry just yet, he does like to read.

Me and my brother with Fisher, who now works as a guide dog in Jersey.

James is currently doing a summer project on epilepsy, but I managed to sneak in a little interview when he got a spare moment.

What are you currently reading?

Bad Signs by R.J. Ellory.

What was the last book you read?

Animal Farm was the last book I read in its entirety. I also started 1984 but didn't get to the end of it.

What did you like most about it?

How Orwell uses a very simple story in equally simple language to convey a very complex problem. However, in terms of level of entertainment it was pretty boring.

Who's your favourite writer and why?

R.J. Ellory - I enjoy the amount of effort he puts into description and his attention to detail.

Which book have you read more than once?

A Quiet Belief in Angels, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Traveller (John Twelve Hawkes).

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An Expert Analysis of Michael Fassbender's Running Style From the Film 'Shame'

Tom Wiggins: What are your first impressions of Michael Fassbender/Brandon's running style? Paul Whittaker: He's running nice, smooth and relaxed. He seems like he has a good amount of fitness and he is running well within himself in terms of pace. TW: What improvements could he make to his running style? PW: The main improvement I'd make is his foot plant. He lands heel first and this causes a 'breaking' effect when travelling forwards. If he landed on his mid-foot/forefoot, this would be a much better for impact stress and propulsion going forward into the next running stride. TW: Regarding his speed, how many minutes per mile is he running? PW: I would say he is running approx 7-7.30 minutes per mile. TW: What do you make of his stride lengths? Is he overstriding/understriding? PW: The actor is definitely overstriding in this clip. It would help if his feet landed underneath and below his centre of gravity. TW: What's his posture like? PW: A slight forward le…

The Babalú Coffee House & Graffiti in Central Reykjavik

A month or two after getting back from last year's trip to Iceland, I noticed on my analytics page that my blog had attracted a massive seven visitors who were based in Iceland. 'That's strange.' I thought. 'I haven't even mentioned, let alone blogged about Iceland yet. Why am I attracting visitors?' It was at this point that I recalled scrawling my blog address on the wall of a Reykjavik coffee shop. Don't worry, readers: it was perfectly legal.

Any UK-based coffee house would have shown me the door as I graffitied this here url across their wall, but this was the Babalú Coffee House. And you soon realise upon arriving in Iceland that it has the highest concentration of cool, calm and creative types than just about anywhere else in the world. Iceland is like the coolest place you've ever visited...just better. It's so hip that it could bring that very word back into fashion.
Situated on the Skólavördustigur road and roughly between Ha…

Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics! Ten Examples of Songwriting Genius!

I like music.

I like music and lyrics.

I like music and lyrics that make me go wow-wee!

I like music and lyrics that make me go wow-wee and cor blimey!

I like music and lyrics that make me go wow-wee and cor blimey and here are ten examples that do just that.

1. Best Kept Secret - Laura Veirs

I never fail to be touched by these lyrics. You can tell in Veirs' voice that it's real and beautifully, beautifully true.

December, I was lost in a darkness I couldn't shake, Called you in California and you answered right away, You answered right away, You picked up right away.

2. Boyfriend - Marika Hackman
A line that's perfectly delivered. Sound and meaning in perfect synchronicity.
You came to me for entropy and I gave you all I had.

3. K. - Cigarettes After Sex
A modern-day love song. I'm always drawn to narratives in music and I love listening to a song with a strong sense of place. This one ticks both of those boxes. It also sounds beautiful.
I remember whe…

Poetry, Music, Other

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