This book was one of false starts for me. I bought it many years ago, fully intending to read it promptly but, like so many things in life, got distracted and prevaricated it out of my memory. I then lent it to somebody or other and that was that. I then discovered that it hadContinue reading “Book Review: Stuart: A Life Backwards”
Category Archives: Review
Film Review: The Guest, and I don’t care what anyone else says…
…it’s total shit. Honestly, it really is shit. It’s a shit film for lots of reasons, which I will painstakingly rake over presently, but first an explanation for this post’s sub-heading. The only reason I even saw The Guest was because of the reviews. I’d seen the posters for it (well, I’d seen ads onlineContinue reading “Film Review: The Guest, and I don’t care what anyone else says…”
Film Review:Under the Skin
Much has been written of Jonathan Glazer’s return to directing, after a 9-year absence, and even more has been written about not only Scarlett Johannsen’s seemingly against-type casting, but more still about her full frontal scenes. I confess that I had read none of this hype and hysteria, in an attempt to avoid giving anyContinue reading “Film Review:Under the Skin”
Inspiration through innovation and creative hocus-pocus
Getting older is a great thing. It makes you take notice of things and, as I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed something particularly intriguing about the people I am surrounded by, in both a literal and figurative sense. They are increasingly creative and productive people. I mean this in two senses: On the one hand IContinue reading “Inspiration through innovation and creative hocus-pocus”
Why I really enjoyed Parks and Recreation, and will never watch it again.
You will almost definitely (especially if you’re bothering to read this) be aware of Parks and Recreation, the surprise hit from NBC which has just completed it’s 5th season in the US. It’s creepingly growing a vociferous and passionate audience in the UK and elsewhere now, and the well realised and acted characters are takingContinue reading “Why I really enjoyed Parks and Recreation, and will never watch it again.”
Film Review: The Day of the Jackal
I’ll put my hands up here and admit that I am in awe, not only of this film, but of its lead actor, Edward Fox, the Jackal himself. I make this admission so that you can accept from word go that this is not an impartial and purely technical review. It is, in essence, aContinue reading “Film Review: The Day of the Jackal”
Book Review: Small Island, Andrea Levy
A little while back I thought it’d be a neat idea to start an online book club, to encourage myself, and other engaged but slightly isolated reading folk, to have a common reading goal, and maybe discover some new books and authors along the way. A fine idea I hear you say. Why, thank you.Continue reading “Book Review: Small Island, Andrea Levy”
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
I first heard of Cormac McCarthy via the film version of one of his books, All the Pretty Horses. A western, starring Matt Damon, it was tight, nicely acted, but it stood out with particularly good dialogue. I reckon I must’ve known the name McCarthy because, when I discovered that it was his book IContinue reading “The Road – Cormac McCarthy”
Good Omens – Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Good books are such a powerful thing for people because they are completely subjective. What you think is fabulous, could leave someone else completely unmoved. One man’s Hamlet is another’s Da Vinci Code. Terry Pratchett is many people’s guilty pleasure when it comes to their book collections. It’s said that his multi-million selling Discworld booksContinue reading “Good Omens – Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman”
Valdez Is Coming – Elmore Leonard
We all know a bit of Elmore Leonard, even if we don’t realise that we do. Long before I read his books, I’d seen the films that’ve poured out from his multitude of novels, short stories and screenplays, and it’s hard to appreciate just how much he’s produced. Born in 1925 Leonard grew up inContinue reading “Valdez Is Coming – Elmore Leonard”
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