The Generals Daughter- Alexander Pushkin

Not much point writing about classic authors, they are 'classic authors' because they are good. Therefore any review of mine, a man who is completely unable to write reviews, is just going to be 'good, read it'- and this is the case with The General's Daughter.
If only to make this post worthwhile, I should probably elaborate, and at least make clear this is nothing to do with a stupid John Travolta movie of the same name. This is the second book I've read about some Russian falling in love, and his town getting invaded by Kosaks- in fact, I assume the other (The Turkish Gambit by Boris Akunin) at least referred to this book.
My favourite element of the story at first seems innocuous- the protagonist gives away his sheepskin coat to a beggar- the beggar turned out to be the invading Tsar in hiding, who later pardons the protagonists life (there you go, you dont need to read it now).

I run a bookshop, so am interested in publishers, and Heron Books deserve credit, just one guy decided to publish loads of classics in dead good covers. They look old, but their not. They look expensive, but their not. They are just well made books.

Rasputin

As a fan of horror films, this was strangely my first Hammer purchase, and I am pretty sure I could have made a better choice elsewhere. Christopher Lees performance as Rasputin is the sole saving grace of an otherwise ordinary film, dominated by half characters, who I couldnt give a toss about. Even the Tsarina, who was Rasputins sole reason for being remembered played a realatively small role, and the rest of the Romanovs were bearly mentioned. Lees manaical laugh, one of its saving graces at the start, even started to piss me off towards the end.On the up side, he did look a bit like Rasputin. Thats the entirity of 'the up side'

Stalins Nemesis- The exile and murder of Leon Trotsky

Finished this recently, I didnt know much about Trotsky, I knew Stalin was a bad man, but not that they were enemies or anything, or the lengths Stalin went to kill Trotsky. Basically they fall out, he gets sent to Mexico, hangs around with Diego Riviera, Andre Breton and bones Frida Kahlo (behind Rivieras back, whilst the muralist was paying for his exile, the bugger).
You kind of get the feeling Trotsky caused more mayhem than the books says (he was Minister for War after all), but Stalin comes accross as a right dick, he spends ages tracking down and killing Trotsky and his family, whom you cant help taking the side of. The big winner is Lenin, whom is constantly prasied and whom both Trotsky and Stalin looked up to as a messiah.
I like books about Russia, and the was one of the good ones.

The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams play is currently showing at The Playhouse, and seemed pretty much sold out when I went yesterday.

In the tenement apartments of St. Louis, the Wingfield family struggle to make ends meet. As America is ravaged by the Depression, Amanda clings to memories of her idyllic youth in the South, where she was wooed by scores of rich and handsome suitors. With her husband long gone and her own days of courtship over she is determined to find her daughter a husband. But Laura is painfully shy. She plays with her collection of glass animals and lives in a world of her own. And Amanda's son, Tom, an aspiring poet in a dead-end job, secretly dreams of escape.

The performances are thoughlly compelling- especially Imogen Stubbs, who plays the mother. You quickly get over the southern American accents, which initially sounded a bit wierd. The past few plays I went to have been big story lines, with either loads happening or faster paced, this isn't, its more a concentration on a family life, all set in their front room. I didnt realise but it was a  kind of self portrait of Williams early life, and feels like the preamble to On The Road, just before Jack Kerouac sets off on his cross-country adventure, he has to deal with his family buisness- that being his sisters spazzy leg and mothers moidering. The Glass Menagerie (collection of glass animals) seems to be an alagory (oooohhh) for his sister, who never does anything, except play with her bits of glass, one of which breaks.

The Orchard Restaurant

Yesterday was Amys birthday, so as is traditional, we went for a meal. Last time wasn't great- Bistro Franc on Valentines, a nice enough place, but average at best food- the only reason to go perhaps the offers they have on. This time however we tried The Orchard, a place nearish home, and has changed hands 3 times in 3 years. It was full of a couple of Dot-Artists work which was nice, but was very quiet (we went early to catch the theatre tho, so this was expected). 

For starters I had King prawns and saffron rice, Amy had Mushroom tarte with poached egg and holandaise sauce. I'd never really had saffron before, but its bloody nice, and I see why its megabucks. Amy probably won this round, despite my prawns being awesome (funny looking ones, sourced from somewhere where strange prawns come from), Amys tarte was perfect- crisp and creamy. For main I went for Lamb, Amys chicken, both perfectly cooked, mine in mint/red jelly sauce, amys in a creamier one, compred to the Lamb I had at Bistro Franc, this was a mile away, little fat, a clean sauce a dauphinoise (? spelling) potatoes. 

I had pears and armagnac prunes to finish (yes, it was due to the inclusion of Armagnac), Amy Creme Brule.

2 beers, 2 wines, 2 coffees, all for £40. Bistro Franc was £60. The half price food offer is on at the moment, and I cant recommend enough.