Showing posts with label The White Queen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The White Queen. Show all posts

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Sunday Chat: My Random Favourites Summer 2013


Welcome, welcome on this boiling Sunday. Come in and sit down. Let's have a good old catch up.
Music: Bastille have been around for a few years but came across their Bad Blood album after YouTuber Zoella mentioned it in a video. I've been obsessed with it ever since it arrived from Amazon; I guess indie rock'n'roll for me :)


YouTube: I've always been a bit into organisation and planning and when I started regularly watching YouTube I checked out videos from organisation gurus like Alejandra Costello. This led me to watch one of organizedlikejen, Jennifer Ross' videos and I've been obsessed ever since. Her almost obsessive attention to detail and interior and housekeeping ideas are inspirational. I've now started a few much needed projects of my own, including new shelving and handbag organisation.


TV: The White Queen started two weeks ago and I'm hooked (might have something to do with Max Irons, I'm saying nothing ;)). Check out my previous review on the first episode in an earlier blog post. Amongst credit crunch TV this series stands out as one of the best historical dramas I've ever seen.



Food: Oh yes, it is actually summer time and summer means.......ice lollies and choc ices. I love chocolate bars so Munchies choc ices are definately my food favourite at the moment! 

Carpe Diem xx

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Watch Wednesday: The White Queen review

BBC1's new drama The White Queen kicked off on Sunday, the first part of a ten-part blockbuster based on Philippa Gregory's book of the same name. Is it a historical drama? Is it a TV adaptation of a novel? Is it a romance? The truth is as ever is that it includes elements of all of these genres. 


As a historical drama I'm afraid it disappoints avid historians. The story is that of peasant and relative commoner Elizabeth Woodville and her rise to be 'The White Queen' of England alongside her husband King Edward IV. England is in a tumultous time as the Wars of the Roses (the Yorks and the Lancastrians) kicks off, and yet The White Queen is seemingly oblivious to the poverty and grit of 15th Century life.


As a romance the story is much more fitting. Some have described it as a romp buster and a bonk buster, but there is something beautiful about the cinematography of the piece, and the cast isn't half handsome! Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson (Wallander, Vi) is Elizabeth Woodville to Max Irons (Red Riding Hood, The Host, Jeremy Irons son, and Edward Cullen lookalike) Edward IV, and the two have chemistry from the off.


Much has also been said about the filming taking place entirely in Belgium, but I don't think this detracts much from the landscape. Finally, I cannot comment much on its value as a novel adaptation as I started but didn't finish the paperback. I do however want to finish it now, which I think makes it somewhat of a success. As I said, there's also nine more hours to go.

What do you think?

Carpe Diem xx