Now that you know all that biography info I thought I should let you in on some of the things that interest me. I call this Euan's Stuff, mainly because my limited vocabulary doesn't allow me to be more clever! Click on the links below to find out more about my influences and also see the things I recommend you get to know!
Every time I get hooked on a new 'thing' be it a book, movie or even a stupid internet game, I'll try to remember to post it in here and we can all share the rubbish that gets locked in my brain.
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I have passed many a cold, Scottish winter night filling my mind with sometimes wonderful and sometimes useless literature info... I used to be so anal about books... so much so that I would try not to break a book's spine whilst I was reading it! That was until one night when I dropped Kenneth Williams' Diaries down some stairs and I've been much more normal about them since!
Below are just a few books that have stayed with me after reading and if you get a chance maybe you'll pick one of these up to enjoy on your next vacation (although maybe Margaret George's books aren't great for a holiday unless you are going away for several months...).
- Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Set in the dark, oppressive Communist Russian Federation, this is a new twist on the serial killer novel-- and it's brilliant. - The World Without Us by Alan Weismann
Very technical and sometimes a heavy read, but absolutely fascinating. The one drawback to this book is that it makes me think twice about every single thing that I consume for fear of doing further damage to our planet! Or maybe that’s a good thing… - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This book has been featured by many book clubs recently. This isn’t why I read it, but the book clubs are right. Riveting! - The Alienist by Caleb Carr
This historical novel about NY is excellent. I love reading it, but it's also the kind of book that makes you eager to see the film version. I hope they make it soon. - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Suzanna Clarke
Apart from the fact that the writing is so small I'm getting a headache, this is a great book. - Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
I always knew half my teachers were making up the stuff they told me! - The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
"As absorbing a piece of popular history as one will ever hope to find. Readers will soon forget that Larson's work is nonfiction and, instead, imagine that they are holding a fictional page-turner." - San Francisco Chronicle - Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
The story of adventurer and thinker Chris McCandless. - Couldn't Keep it to Myself by Wally Lamb
An amazing book of true life stories from women in prison. Brilliant and moving. - Christine, Carrie, Misery and most all of Stephen King's books
It scared the crap out of me! I was thinking of driving to Maine and telling him I loved his work but that seemed a little stalky. - The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
I decide everything in my life by the throw of the dice because of this book! - The Rivals: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova
Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship by Johnette Howard - All But My Life: A Memoir by Gerta Weissman Klein
- Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles, Cleopatra, etc
by Margaret George
I am very eclectic musically,
and I hate music snobbery.
I think it is important to at least understand all types of music and one should never tell their fellow human beings that their taste in music sucks.
Think back to how all the songs you love have influenced your life... the soundtrack to a person's life is as valid as their fingerprint... on that note, I'm not going to force you to listen to any of these... but just know that they make me who I am... (especially The Carpenters).
- Heart
What a pair of sisters! This girl’s voice is amazing. - Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
What can I say? PEACE PEACE PEACE! - Harry Nilsson
People have said I sound like him, which I take as a very big compliment. - Ray Lamontagne
Was introduced to his album Trouble by a friend and I have worn it out. I love his sound and what he has to say. - Mae Robertson
Not only a great Label Maeble but a wonderful vocalist too. You can check out her catalogue at Lyricpartners.com. - The Carpenters
- Joni Mitchell: Hits, Misses and everything in between.
- Blink 182
- The Offspring
- Ladytron, particularly the album Light and Magic
- Frizzle and West's 'You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma'
- Dusty Springfield
- Alanis Morrisette
- Ani DiFranco
- Rufus Wainwright
- Dan Bern
- The Proclaimers (Ahhhh, Scotland...)
I'll never forget the first day I arrived in NYC.
It was like stepping onto a movie set.
I had seen The Big Apple so many times in numerous films it was like I had been here a hundred times before.
Where would we be without our films, film stars and crazy, visionary directors?
Well, probably reading more books...
But every time Fox announces another reality TV show I just have to rush out to the cinema to avoid being brain-numbed in front of the box. Below are just a few of the movies that have saved my mind. Keep checking back though as my memory sometimes takes a while to divulge its secrets.
- New York: A Documentary Film, by Ric Burns
This is wonderful. So detailed. So deep. So New York. - The Plague, a film by Greg Hall
This was directed by my friend Greg Hall, and features cameos by many of my friends from London. It's an undergroud cult film in Britain and across Europe. - No End in Sight (2007)
I saw this film and was stunned by the eye-opening stories it told from the front lines in Iraq. From the disastrous mistakes made in planning the war right through to the awful mess made of attempting to rebuild the country, and the arrogance of disbanding the Iraqi army and leaving thousands of proud men unemployed and their families desperate. Ignoring the war experience and advice offered by The State Department.
I was shocked that there were only 10 people in the audience whilst next door The Simpsons Movie was full. Everyone should see this film. It isn't the slick comic style of Michael Moore. It is just an honest portrayal of Bush's foreign policy ignorance, starring those who would really know what is going on. - The Bridge
This documentary haunted me for days afterwards. Its statistics are frightening and it is really bloody depressing. In fact, maybe you shouldn't see this—but I have to mention it. - Sicko (2007)
This film, and actually all of Michael Moore's documentaries. This movie made me homesick for the national health care system of Great Britain. - Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
I saw this movie on DVD while on a day off from work. I didn’t think it was going to be my sort of film, but it absolutely was. It turned out to be very funny, subversive and revealing. Plus, I love my road trips across America, so I identified with that part too! I laughed so hard I threw up… - Paper Clips (2004)
This is a remarkable DVD about a group of middleschool children in Whitwell, Tennessee and how they chose to honour those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. I have been wearing a paperclip on my lapel recently, in honour of these children and their cause. - Brothers of the Head (2005)
In the 1970s a music promoter plucks Siamese twins from obscurity and grooms them into a freakish rock'n'roll act. A dark tale of sex, strangeness and rock music. - The Legend of 1900
Set at the turn of the century, this is a musical fantasy about a piano playing child prodigy. - An Inconvenient Truth
Ahh, Al Gore. That's who I would've voted for. See this movie while you still have a chance... literally. - Joe's Appartment (1996)
The all singing, all dancing cockroach movie. This reminds me of the apartment I lived in during Caligula, except the cockroaches there, were talentless. - Harvey (1950)
James Stewart and a giant invisible rabbit. It claims to be a comedy but I find it really moving this film. Stewart is brilliant as Elwood P. Dowd. - The Dark Crystal (1982)
Puppets from another planet… animatronics and aliens… I loved this movie as a kid. - Bruce Almighty (2003)
This movie had me rolling on the floor at the cinema. It was Steve Carroll that did it! - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
stupid, gory and hilarious - Brokeback Mountain (2006)
I saw this on Christmas Day out in CA... see it if you can... - Todo Sobre mi Madre (1999)
Basically anything by Pedro Almodóvar... I even took Spanish lessons in the hopes that one day Almodóvar would call me up to utilize that skill! - The Color Purple (1985)
Basically anything with Whoopi Goldberg... she and Dustin Hoffman were the reasons I wanted to act... well, that and the fact that I had no other skills. - Nightmare on Elm Street, Parts One and Three
OK... not much thinking power required for these movies but I am a big fan of the horror genre... stay tuned for thousands more like this. - Psycho (1960)
Possibly one of Hitchcock's greatest ever masterpieces.
My advice. Rent it and enjoy!
I try to spend as much time giving back to our world as I spend being self-obsessed.
It isn't always easy to make room for important causes in our hectic schedules. Our society doesn't offer us much time for the chance to give back, but just being aware and spreading the message can be a fantastic start. If there are any causes you think I should know about that are close to your hearts, Please Email Me...
- Freerice.com
I’ve checked this out and this looks legit. It's addictive—and for a good cause! - Climate Crisis
Save our Planet to Save our Souls... Do all you can to leave this beautiful planet for the next generation. - Rift Valley Children’s Village
My dear friend Laura is moving to Africa to work in the Rift Valley Children's Village which is an orphanage in Tanzania. Please check out the remarkable pictures she took of the beautiful children she will be working with and then look at the Tanzanian Children's Fund website. - Americans For The Arts
As you can tell from my recent TV interview, arts funding is an issue that I am passionate about! This group is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. I’d like to see programmes like this all over the world! - OnlyMakeBelieve.org
I performed for a charity concert for these guys and it really is a worthwhile cause... whatever we can do to improve the lives of the next generation, I'm all for it. - Rosie's Broadway Kids
I recently had the honour of working with Rosie's Broadway Kids in Brundibár. They were fine and professional young actors. Rosie O'Donnell and her wife Kelli are two of the most generous people I have ever met and like me, their biggest passion is kids. They have four of their own! I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for these two and I hope that their foundation for Kids in the Arts gives Broadway a slew of stars for years to come. - The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation
The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation creates the opportunity for young people to understand the world and translate that understanding into positive action.
(I mentioned the book All But My Life, in the book section. This is one Holocaust survivors' story and this is the charity she and her husband set up with the goal of eradicating bigotry and hunger. It's an amazing story of human endurance and love and this is an equally amazing foundation.)
Below are loads of sites and people and places of interest that have influenced me in my travels through life. Again (like with all these sections) if there is anything I am missing that you feel I really must see/do then feel free to let me know. So little time and so much to do... I want to see it all.
- Bad Girls
This excellent British show recently started airing in the US, and I'm enjoying it all over again. It's a cross between Oz and Prisoner Cell Block H-- and also just great in its own right! Nice writing, compelling characters. Enjoy! - Signature Theatre
This is one of the best regional theatres I have ever been to. I love the artistic director, Eric Schaeffer. - The Biggest Loser
Ok, so I don't care if this is sad, but I find this show inspiring. I even cried during the last series. It doesn't quite redeem reality shows, but it makes me less hateful towards them. - Eastern State Penitentiary
It's well worth a visit here if you are in or near Philly. - Battlestar Gallactica
Cylons... Humans… Cylons that look like Humans… this is bloody brilliant. So say we all! - OZ
I have recently re-watched all 6 seasons of this groundbreaking HBO show. Incredible series! Brave and sometimes scary… go to Blockbuster and rent it for a month of viewing pleasure. - Judge Judy
A great tv show and one of my favourite Americans. She's one person I would never interrupt mid-sentence... - Dave and Busters
I love this place, especially their new location in Times Square.
My recommendation to them: get air hockey tables! - Prisoner Cell Block H
This innovative Austrailian drama series was way ahead of its time! - The Rose Centre for Space and Science, NYC
I go stare at the stars regularly. And the Dome is a great sight too... it's actually more of a golf ball. - Robert Burns
Our Scottish Poet Laureate. - Skiing Okemo Mountain, Vermont
One of the first places I visited after Taboo closed. Spent a weekend skiing this mountain and failing miserably at snow boarding. - Irn-Bru
Apart from whiskey and my family, this is one of the things I miss most from Scotland! - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Majorca Tourist Information Guide
Out of everywhere I've visited or been to, this is one of my favourite places on earth. I want to die here and live a little too!! - Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
The official site for the Women's Tennis Association. I have always enjoyed the game of tennis... especially the women's tour. Thanks to the struggles that Billy Jean King, Rosie Casals and the others went through in the 70's, people like Sharapova, Hingis, Clijsters and the thousands of others now have a valued and important place in the sporting world... and if you love competition - like me - then you can enjoy the annual fantasy tour for a chance to win great tennis related prizes!! - Lonnie Holley and The Sandman's Garden, a film by Arthur Crenshaw, Furnace Films.
The Sandman's Garden examines the life and art of Lonnie Holley, a self-taught African-American artist based in Birmingham, Alabama. The film follows Holley as he builds a sculptural environment out of discarded materials and found objects in the Birmingham Museum of Art's sculpture garden.
Both Lonnie and the filmmaker Arthur Crenshaw have become friends of mine since we first met last year in Birmingham, Alabama. The fact that the history of racial tension there is so recent makes it one of the most fascinating places in America. I have never been so moved by an artist's work as well as his story... it doesn't matter if you are a connoisseur, collector or art novice. Lonnie touches everyone and Arthur has found a way to capture it all on film. - Welcome to The Hobart Shakespeareans' Website
You have to see this site... this is the story of an amazing teacher, Rafe Esquith, and the kids who love him... there is a documentary about The Hobart Shakespeareans that aired on PBS, well worth the watch. - BBC NEWS | News Front Page
This is my favourite site for unbiased, well-researched and reported news... in fact BBC World News is another thing I really miss from back home. - Addicting Games
This is the real reason I shouldn't be allowed near a computer when I'm idle...