an almost perfect rainy-day weekend

I woke up this morning to the smell of fresh coffee grounds from Mazagram combined with fresh laundry drying in my room... mhmmmm... cozy... a perfect companion for the rain.

Yesterday I spent most of the day starting and finishing (yes, Kirsty, I FINISHED a book) The Reader which I had borrowed from the university library a couple days ago. It was good, but not as good as I had expected. I just didn't seem to connect that well with the protagonist and therefore struggled to buy into the romance part of the story. On the other hand I thought the unveiling of Hanna's past and the whole idea of how a nation comes to grip with their past was fascinating. I've always wondered how the post-war generations of German people felt and dealt with all that happened in WWII, and this book was able to tease out some of those important questions and ideas. Although, again, the 'twist' I also found a bit disappointing.

Last night, after a day of reading in my pyjamas, I went out for movie and dinner with a friend of mine. We watched Changeling which was DISTURBINGLY GOOD. Clint Eastwood sure doesn't disappointment; he really is one of those all too rare creative... geniuses. And no, I don't think that's an overstatement. As I was leaving the theatre I found myself mourning the day the world is going to lose such an incredible storyteller. What was utterly surprising however was how brilliant Angelina Jolie was; I hate to admit it because of the ubiquitous "Brangelina," but that woman can act! For two and a half hours I completely forgot she was 'Angelina Jolie' and was just immersed in her character's plight. She was quite seriously mesmerizing. Actually, every single actor in that movie, from the biggest to the most minor of roles, was incredible. One of them was so disturbing I'm pretty sure I had nightmares last night (even though I can't remember) because apparently I was screaming around three in the morning. Not surprising. (The movie seemed to reaffirmed all those things I mentioned in my previous entry about the idea of having kids. Double Yikes.)

Movie and dinner was great fun. When I got home though I was wide awake and after finishing the last few pages of The Reader I found myself starting another book. While I was at the library I stumbled across a book called The Reluctant Fundamentalist; the title alone sounded so interesting (and the writer's style is the kind I love).

I don't know how I ended up reading so much this weekend but it's been the most lovely surprise. I think it's partly the rainy weather which always seems to make me want to cuddle up in bed and read, and partly a subconscious attempt to restore sanity after such an intense week at school. Regardless I'm going to enjoy it while I can because I know it most definitely can't last.

Plan today: Pack. Eat. Then three hour drive down to the whop-whops.

(Postscript: If you wondered, like me, how Changeling got it's title apparently it's based on this creepy West European folklore.)