Time in Tywyn
Back from another top Burketeering Burkeathon weekend, and now I'm packing my chest infection off to Tywyn for a week. I'm a bit grumpy because it is the third and final part of The Magus. My other half hasn't been listening to it, he is fed up of the name Tom Burke, and there is no wi-fi where we are going. Oh sod it, "please can we listen to Radio 4 at 3pm?" "Yes of course, what's on?" "Oh just the final part of a play I've been listening to."
Yes! We set off at just the right time so that I get to hear the entire episode during the car journey, and I cough majestically over the bit where the announcer says "and the part of Nicholas Urfe was played by Tom Burke."
I really enjoyed the production, and wish that Radio 4 were bringing it out on CD. I think if I am honest, and discount the fact that Tom was in it, I did prefer the book, however, don't discount the play, it was still very good. I don't know what it was about the play, but the book was very in the moment. Whilst the book was recounting an event that had happened in someone's past, it still seemed very real, as though the events that were being recounted were actually happening. The book relived the moments, you could visualise them, you felt that you were on the island watching the events unfold as Nicholas told you his story. I felt the play however was more detached, more remote, a bit cold and aloof. I don't know if it was the way it had been rewritten for the radio or what, but I felt it was a little safe, a little bit flat, I didn't find it as disturbing to listen to as I did when reading the book. And the book is disturbing. I've already blogged my thoughts on the book, so I won't rehash them here, but suffice to say as a psychological experiment it was extreme. I didn't know who to trust when reading the book, everything became so distorted that you would find it hard to ever trust anyone ever again...but I found that element slightly lost in the radio version. I think some of the parts of the book that were cut from the radio edition were so dark, so disturbing, that their omission really left the play a bit empty, and the ending was a bit disappointing. In the book the ending is deliberately ambiguous, and it works, but I didn't feel that the play left me feeling the same mix of emotions that I did when I read it. Nicholas Urfe is a cold character, the way he recounts the story is almost dismissive of it, but the actual explanations of the events is vivid, and this just didn't translate as well into the radio edition. It certainly was very interesting though, and hopefully I can catch up with it all once more, before it disappears into the black hole of Radio 4 and off the I-player. I really think they're missing a trick not putting it on CD, (especially as I would listen to it time and time again for Mr B's lovely honeyed voice!!!!)
So, no walking in the lovely Snowdonian range this holibobs because of my constant coughing, but I have relaxed on a couple of beaches, one of which was a lovely National Trust beach...with a pub on the beach! Awesome! Beer is a well known medicinal cure for chest infections don't you know!!!!
Porthdinllaen is an old fashioned fishing village, you need to park your car in the National Trust Carpark, risk your life walking through the golf range, and then climb down a path to a beautiful sheltered sandy beach. It is a gorgeous beach, and made even better in that you can have a relaxing drink at the the Ty Coch Inn which sits directly by the beach (or you can take your drink away with you in a plastic "glass".
There is no point going to the seaside if you're not going to have fish and chips, and just because I'm suffering, and it's only April and we're facing the Irish Sea at 6pm, there is no excuse not to sit on the beach at Criccieth and watch the world go by, whilst shooing gulls away from your dinner! Nom nom nom!!!!!
As I've been able to do very little this week, I have managed to read most of my Box Clever Challenge book for April, Murikami's 1Q84. If you liked Wind Up Bird Chronicle, you will love this epic volume, although I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy trying to work out what to say about the book. "It's very good" doesn't quite seem to cut it! Still, I must say, sitting in the cottage, watching the very peaceful world go by and reading a book with a cuppa is my idea of a good holiday. I think this sums my week up rather nicely!
Yes! We set off at just the right time so that I get to hear the entire episode during the car journey, and I cough majestically over the bit where the announcer says "and the part of Nicholas Urfe was played by Tom Burke."
I really enjoyed the production, and wish that Radio 4 were bringing it out on CD. I think if I am honest, and discount the fact that Tom was in it, I did prefer the book, however, don't discount the play, it was still very good. I don't know what it was about the play, but the book was very in the moment. Whilst the book was recounting an event that had happened in someone's past, it still seemed very real, as though the events that were being recounted were actually happening. The book relived the moments, you could visualise them, you felt that you were on the island watching the events unfold as Nicholas told you his story. I felt the play however was more detached, more remote, a bit cold and aloof. I don't know if it was the way it had been rewritten for the radio or what, but I felt it was a little safe, a little bit flat, I didn't find it as disturbing to listen to as I did when reading the book. And the book is disturbing. I've already blogged my thoughts on the book, so I won't rehash them here, but suffice to say as a psychological experiment it was extreme. I didn't know who to trust when reading the book, everything became so distorted that you would find it hard to ever trust anyone ever again...but I found that element slightly lost in the radio version. I think some of the parts of the book that were cut from the radio edition were so dark, so disturbing, that their omission really left the play a bit empty, and the ending was a bit disappointing. In the book the ending is deliberately ambiguous, and it works, but I didn't feel that the play left me feeling the same mix of emotions that I did when I read it. Nicholas Urfe is a cold character, the way he recounts the story is almost dismissive of it, but the actual explanations of the events is vivid, and this just didn't translate as well into the radio edition. It certainly was very interesting though, and hopefully I can catch up with it all once more, before it disappears into the black hole of Radio 4 and off the I-player. I really think they're missing a trick not putting it on CD, (especially as I would listen to it time and time again for Mr B's lovely honeyed voice!!!!)
The cottage I am staying in is gorgeous, in a place in Wales called Tywyn, and whilst it is a long drive from the main road it is worth it. The views are fabulous and you are surrounded by sheep. Sadly by the gate some poor chap had obviously not fared too well over the harsh winter months. Oh well, an unusual welcome to be sure! I shall call him Yorick and he shall be my friend for the week!
So, no walking in the lovely Snowdonian range this holibobs because of my constant coughing, but I have relaxed on a couple of beaches, one of which was a lovely National Trust beach...with a pub on the beach! Awesome! Beer is a well known medicinal cure for chest infections don't you know!!!!
Porthdinllaen is an old fashioned fishing village, you need to park your car in the National Trust Carpark, risk your life walking through the golf range, and then climb down a path to a beautiful sheltered sandy beach. It is a gorgeous beach, and made even better in that you can have a relaxing drink at the the Ty Coch Inn which sits directly by the beach (or you can take your drink away with you in a plastic "glass".
There is no point going to the seaside if you're not going to have fish and chips, and just because I'm suffering, and it's only April and we're facing the Irish Sea at 6pm, there is no excuse not to sit on the beach at Criccieth and watch the world go by, whilst shooing gulls away from your dinner! Nom nom nom!!!!!
As I've been able to do very little this week, I have managed to read most of my Box Clever Challenge book for April, Murikami's 1Q84. If you liked Wind Up Bird Chronicle, you will love this epic volume, although I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy trying to work out what to say about the book. "It's very good" doesn't quite seem to cut it! Still, I must say, sitting in the cottage, watching the very peaceful world go by and reading a book with a cuppa is my idea of a good holiday. I think this sums my week up rather nicely!
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