Discovered 2015 #1

Last year I started a monthly series called "Discoveries". It was going well, and it was fun to do, until I felt the pressure (I was putting on myself) of having to find something every month for each topic to include and so I gave it up.
Although for the last 3 months I think I've discovered some quite lovely things and thought it would be quite nice to share those things, some not necessarily new but new to me at least.

Films

The film that made me message a friend saying I was sobbing because I had never seen Tom Hanks die before. Saving Private Ryan, to me, was always a boys film. I never intended on watching it, especially as I am not particularly into those shooty-shooty gun type films but with this one starring Tom Hanks I gave into temptation and decided to watch it. At first I was a bit "woah!" at the gore although thankfully I had been warned about this, and as the film went on I LOVED it. Of course I bawled my eyes out, which I had to try and do silently as everyone else was in bed asleep and wouldn't have wanted to wake up to hear me crying!

It took me 2 days to watch as I felt asleep whilst watching this in the evening and then had to continue watching it the following day once Harry was at preschool but The Wolf of Wall Street was another amazing film! I was a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio when I was little (Hello Titanic, Hello Romeo and Juliet) and then I saw what his lifestyle and attitude was like in real life and it really put me off him. Watching him in Wolf of Wall Street did feel uncomfortable at times, and I couldn't help but wonder how much of his life experience he took with him when playing Jordan Belfort. It was a really enjoyable film, and as much as I gasped in some parts I also found myself laughing a lot in others. Highly recommended.

Another Leonardo DiCaprio film was The Great Gatsby. Oh what a beautiful, amazing film. I've always loved Baz Luhrmann's film style since watching Romeo and Juliet all those years ago. And Leonardo felt like he was back to that innocent Jack/Romeo style character rather than a bad boy.

Music

I am so late to the Ed Sheeran party but oh-my-gosh, how did I not appreciate his amazing-ness and talent until now?! I quite liked his songs up until recently anyway but didn't want to be part of the hype surrounding him so managed to avoid him really. Then, came the Brit Awards this year and, well...did you see it?! I pretty much decided then that I was a massive fool to not get his album X after watching his performance.
Now, that was one of the best decisions I ever made! I got the Deluxe version from Amazon which has 17 songs instead of the original one they had in Asda which has something like 10 or 12, for the same price!

I also bought Sia's album too. I was first made aware of Sia because of the video for Elastic Heart. It was quite controversial with people not really understanding art and alternative dance and instead wanting to believe that she was in fact promoting pedophilia. NOT THE CASE AT ALL. After Youtubing to watch the video I then spotted some of her other songs....and had to buy her album. It is so amazing. One of my favourite songs is number two on the album 'Big Girls Cry'. I really like the lyrics:

I may cry, ruining my makeup
Wash away all the things you've taken
I don't care if I don't look pretty
Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking

Her voice is stunning....although at times is a little Rihanna-esque which I look passed.

Books

I did have this big plan to read more books this year and have so far...well...not completely failed as I have read a book and a half, but I could do better.
The book I finished I wouldn't say is good enough to be listed as a 'discovered' because it was boring in places and also a tiny bit predictable.
One that is good enough to mention though is Caitlin Moran 'How to be a Woman'. Oh my goodness this is hilarious! Maybe not the best book to read when on a plane sat next to a stranger who will definitely be having a sneaky nose to see what you are reading, however if you are confident enough to then go ahead!
I am not a feminist in the stereotypical way but this book shows that I can believe in the things I believe in (ie, I do prefer men in particular job roles than women) and be a feminist in the more modern way which basically just involves being a woman. It's as simple as that.
The chapter titles are hilarious:

Chapter One: I start bleeding

Chapter Three: I don't know what to call my breasts

The reviews on Amazon are mixed and I think it's because people are being a little over-sensitive. Caitlins writing style is very honest and out-spoken but I wouldn't say that she is preaching to me or telling me "You are stupid for not believing this". It's just as if she is talking to you over a bottle of wine....or a cocktail.