Books
My dad, an English teacher, always proves a useful source of knowledge about books. He diligently keeps up to speed with what literature has won prizes and consequently the family home is always littered with the latest publications. He recently recommended Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai. It is one of the most peculiar books that I have ever read and impressed me unexpectedly (I am not a fan of Salman Rushdie, who praised it). One review described it as a “vivid dream”.
Film
I enjoy a good comedy when I get to chill in front of the TV once a week - or fortnight. My all-time favourite is Cool Runnings. It is set in Jamaica and stars John Candy as a toboggan coach aiming to get the Jamaican national team into the Winter Olympics. My favourite classic is technically a TV programme - the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth.
Music
Too much of any one genre bores me. However, as a classically-trained pianist and violinist, I believe a bit of classical music is always a winner. My favourite piece has to be Debussy’s Clair de Lune. It is the most beautiful piano piece I have ever played because of the different shades of character that each bar exudes. The innovative group Bond has produced an exciting contemporary variation.
TV
I do not watch much TV but always enjoy Friends - despite its increasing outdatedness; personally it remains among the greats for the chuckle factor. My flatmates got me rather hooked on Glee. The humour won me over at first, though the cheese factor made my interest wane.
