ENTERTAINMENT

We can watch movies on TV and our i-pads. Nothing though, replaces the magic of the movie theatre.

I love binge watching the shows I stream. I still miss though, going out for dinner or perhaps coffee and desert, before heading to a movie at the cinema. The anticipation and excitement, of getting away from the mundane, is wonderful. Discussions afterwards can be exhilarating.  I like to do a revision of all the main parts in the movie, and then give my expert opinion on how well or how badly they were handled. I am ready to do a review for all who ask, and even those who do not. Discussions with my husband can become quite heated. We sometimes end up agreeing that even though the movie was not well written it was well acted, so worth the expense. Sometimes the reverse is true. We always agree, that no matter what, having a night out is fabulous.

Covid takes these experiences away. I do think reading a good book is probably closer to "the night out" experience than streaming. The book brings one into a different world which is not the same for any two people. We are shown this world in movies, and need both acting and scenery to be perfect. In books we have to imagine the scenes ourselves. I don't know about you, but I am always the main character in a book. I have all the strength and charisma of the protagonist, while i am immersed in it. There is some sadness when the book is finished, maybe because I turn back into my real self.

I love fiction. No matter how horrific the story is, I know deep down that it is not reality. It is a way to live in another world for a while where life needs every bit of my knowledge and ingenuity to solve complex situations.

One of my favourite books is by the English writer Ruth Rendell, written under her pseudonym Barbara Vine. Grasshopper is a psychological suspense novel. Clodagh, the protagonist is someone who has survived a tragic event in her youth. This colours most of the rest of her life. Something so unusual, but so creative happens, which knocks her out of her ordinary sad life. She becomes "a roof walker" with a close friend she has met. These roofs are the ones on old tall Victorian homes in London. She comes across many colourful characters and some intrigue during her walks. It is a surprising, intelligent story well written.

I cannot wait for Covid to be over, so I can supplement my entertainment by going to movies. The occasional live theatre play would also be great. Doing something with a group will be much more appreciated. Even seeing people around and happy will bring pleasure.