Tuesday 10 January 2012

I don't normally watch a lot of television, unless it's Downton Abbey. Or it's in Danish. (Anybody else vicariously enjoying all the biscuits in Borgen? I was quite put out when the PM got too fat for her frock and ordered fruit platters instead, but - tak for det - she's back on cinnamon rolls and speculoos cookies before long.)
But this has been the Dickens of a Christmas and as I sit here totting it up ...
Two David Lean epics
Dirk Bogarde in A Tale of Two Cities
Couple of episodes of the Two Cities radio serial
Great Expectations (and I think Dickens would have loved Gillian Anderson's mad, anorexic Miss Havisham)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (which I thoroughly enjoyed as, never having read it, I hardly needed to shout at the telly at all)
And even the thoroughly irritating Sue Perkins' exposé of the Dickenses' marriage ...

I think that, in all those hours slumped on the sofa, I could probably have read one of the novels instead.

9 comments:

Mystica said...

But see how much you've enjoyed the telly!

scrumptious days said...

Don't forget the fabulous lampshades in Borgan!

mary said...

I know, Mystica, trouble is I seem to consume more calories watching telly than when I'm reading!

Jude, I hadn't even noticed the lampshades. I was so distracted by the biscuits and the awfulness of what Katrine wears in bed. And wondering whether it's too late to find a Danish husband ... they do seem so much more useful than English ones.

mary said...

Ah, I see what you mean, Jude ... have just flicked through on iPlayer. (How sad is that!)
And there was also some very desirable Royal Copenhagen china in one episode. I did notice that!

mary said...

I'd love to have another attempt at Great Expectations, Sue ... it was ruined for me by plodding through it for A-level. And I have promised myself that this year I'll read at least one or two of the novels that I haven't attempted before. I'm drawn to Our Mutual Friend or possibly Martin Chuzzlewit. Or has anyone read Barnaby Rudge ... nobody ever seems to mention Barnaby Rudge!

Darlene said...

Ooh, those biscuits would be excellent with a cup of tea! Funny name though.

Two Saturday editions of The Daily Telegraph were presented to me at Christmas, I really enjoyed the review sections. You're right about the excellent viewing on offer lately, I say go for it!

mary said...

Horrible name for someting edible. I agree, Darlene; sounds faintly gynaecological. They were selling them in M&S before Christmas at a ridiculous price that I certainly wouldn't pay for a packet of fairly plain biscuits.

rachel said...

Mmmm, Dirk Bogarde.... I fell in love with him when I was about 11, still blissfully unaware of how fruitless that would be on so many levels....

I'm re-reading Sketches by Boz (on my new Kindle, as my printed version has teeny tiny print) and enjoying it so much.

mary said...

Oh dear, so many of them batted for the other side, Rachel, and we never guessed ...
And Sketches by Boz is another one that I've never read.