Seven Days | Leisure | Homepage - Dorset Echo

WATCH: Les Miserables, (cert 12), available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe star as convict Jean Valjean and his tormentor, Inspector Javert. Les Miserables is a towering achievement in front of and behind the camera, realising director Tom Hooper’s dream of immortalising Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil’s powerhouse musical without the conventional safety net of lip-synching.

READ: The Book Of Fate by Parinoush Saniee, Little, Brown, £14.99 (ebook £7.99). Iranian author Parinoush Saniee has created an inspiring and resilient heroine in this critically acclaimed title. Her astounding first novel, banned twice by authorities in her home country, spans 50 years in the life of Massoumeh, from before, during and after Iran’s 1979 revolution.

VISIT:Free guided garden tours are being held at Kingston Lacy House in Wimborne this month. Discover the historic building’s shaded fernery, Japanese garden, kitchen garden and nursery wood. Booking is not essential, but the tours will only take place in fine weather. The venue also runs Activate 1000 Health Bike Rides. To find out more, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy or call 01202 883402.

LISTEN: Various – The Great Gatsby Soundtrack. The Roaring Twenties sound gets revamped to accompany Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. Beyonce & Andre 3000 head up the soundtrack with a haunting take on Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black, as Emeli Sande and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra put a twist on Beyonce’s Crazy In Love, and U2’s Love Is Blindness gets updated by Jack White. There’s a fluidity and consistency here, making this a swinging, jazzy, joy.

PLAY: Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, PS3, £19.99. Introducing Bitterblack Isle, a cursed territory teeming with treasure and terrifying new foes. Players can take their characters to new heights with new high-level skills and augments, as well as more than 100 additional weapons and armour sets.

EAT & DRINK: The Upper Deck bar and restaurant at the Christchurch Harbour Hotel has been refurbished to offer a laid back coastal scene, with menus designed by award-winning chef patron Alex Aitken. Guests can relax any time of the day, from early morning coffees and breakfast to brunch and long lunches from the al fresco grill, sun-downers on the terrace or dinner and nightcaps until the early hours.

DOWNLOAD : Quotable from Blue Panda – free on iTunes and Google Play. Get yourself some words of wisdom every day with this inspirational new app. It delivers notable quotes from world famous historical thinkers for you to share over Facebook or Twitter. Plus you can personalise your favourite quotes with wallpapers and pictures.