Let's talk La La Land

I'm kinda happy I didn't stay up to see the organizers' major screw up with the Best Picture award at the Oscars. I was up until 4:30 a.m. but then I got bored, because the show wasn't that great (I realized I'm not a fan of Jimmy Kimmel) and I had to get some sleep before my afternoon class. As it turned out I was right to do that. I think I couldn't have slept a wink if I saw the Best Picture part live...

I wanted La La Land to win. I enjoyed that movie immensely and I want poeple at Hollywood to make more good musical films. We haven't got enough of them. And Emma Stone is amazing, you go girl!

I haven't seen Moonlight yet but I'm sure it deserved the award and of course now it's on my watchlist.

But back to La La Land. There is still cause to celebrate, since the picture won 6 Oscars, including the one for Original Song. Now, to keep the matters bookish while I pay tribute to the creators and the film this is what I'll do:

I'll tell you which three songs I'm the most fond of from La La Land and then I'll let you know which book's imaginary tracklist could include them in my opinion.

You can access La La Land's full soundtrack on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmKlaGpmYig&t=1528s&spfreload=10

Let's start with this year's Best Original Song:

City of Stars

 The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan

Everyone needs someone because we cannot truly be happy alone – that's the message of City of Stars.

In Terence Rattigan's drama, The Deep Blue Sea, Hester Collyer has a home and a husband, yet she feels lonely. One day a Royal Air Force Pilot sweeps her off her feet and they start a turbulent affair. However, both Freddie and Hester come close to breaking point as the consequences of their relationship catch up with them.

I chose this book to go with this song for two reasons. One, I think Hester's dilemma coincides with the message of the song, and two, because the love story and the ending are very similar to what we see in La La Land.

A Lovely Night  

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Since I'm not someone who appreciates instalove, the slowly developing romance between Mia and Sebastian just seemed right to me. The relationship starts off on a wrong foot? Even better. 

Do you remember the story of the boy who promised his love a shooting star and then found himself falling in love with said star? Yvaine and Tristran's relationship didn't start out very well either, but of course they ended up together later.

The playful teasing in A Lovely Night reminds me a lot of Tristran and Yvaine's conversations and of course the mention of night and stars in the song makes it an even better fit.

Audition (The Fools Who Dream)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gatsby's character influences how Nick Carraway thinks about life, just like Mia's aunt had an impact on Mia's way of thinking. Not to mention the American Dream connection...

These were the songs that captured me from La La Land.
Which songs did you like in the movie? Are you satisfied with Moonlight's victory?

Valentine's Day recommendations

 Since this is the day of love I thought I'd share 3 favourite relationships of mine: two literary and one popular culture related pair that I absolutely adore.  

Along with them let me recommend things to watch and listen to; in case you don't have much time to read today.

So here we go:

Couple No1:

Let's start with a classic from the 19th century...

Margaret and Mr. Thornton 

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Goodreads

Guys, seriously, forget Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy for a second and consider this adorable couple. Mr. Thornton is a mill-owner, seemingly cold and hard just like the industrial north but he is all heart inside. And Margaret, fierce Margaret, sweet as the flowery south; a truly determined and smart female protagonist. When they meet they are like fire and water. But do they tame each other eventually? Hell, yes. I guarantee your will cheer for them throughout the book.

In case you'd rather watch a series today:

Check out the 2004 mini-series featuring Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret and Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton.

Couple No2:

An LGBTQ romance

Maurice and Alec

Maurice by E. M. Forster

Goodreads

If you are more up to a M/M romance today pick up Maurice by E. M. Forster. I could go on and on about how much this book means to me, this was the first LGBTQ classic I ever read. 

Maurice is a young man who discovers he is attracted to men but of course it is not easy to digest this fact if you live in a world where you can be arrested if you get caught kissing a lad. There is so much struggle in this book but it promotes the importance of self-discovery along with the importance of finding someone to love and this really gripped me. Maurice has to go through a lot till he finds real attachment and when he does it surprises him what a green fellow can teach him about love.

If you'd rather watch the movie:

Have you ever seen a bad Merchant & Ivory production? Because I haven't. This 1987 film is not an exception it's pure joy to watch. Also, do you remember Inspector Lestrade from BBC Sherlock? Of course you do! Surprise, surprise: Rupert Graves plays young Alec in the movie:

Couple No3:

Okay, I will be a bit of a cheat here because my last pair is not in love with each other... or at least their love is not canon. This is also not a book pairing even if one in the pair is the protagonist of many books as well as a film/series and many audio adventures. So here comes a pairing that I ship but you can interpret their relationship however you want:

The Eighth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard

Doctor Who

Yes, Doctor Who is a TV series but it is much more than that. I'm brave enough to include this pairing here because Eight and Charley had many adventures together, all of them in audio form and believe me, audio adventures are so much like audio books!

India Fisher and Paul McGann aka Charley and the Doctor

I ship Charley and the Doctor in a romantic way because it is so obvious how much they care for each other. At one point the Doctor has to choose between Charley or the Universe's survival and he chooses Charley. Yes, wow. I love their banters and that Charley often tries and succeeds in saving the Doctor from himself. They are a real dynamic duo.

If you love Doctor Who but haven't discovered the audio adventures yet I recommend to start with the Eighth Doctor main range (The first adventure is called Storm Warning).

Goodreads

So these are my Valentine's Day recommendations for you.

Stay safe, read, relax, love and be loved.