"A Wizard of Earthsea", by Ursula LeGuin

Novel, 1968

Fantasy story about identity, self-determination and a whole stack of monsters, spirits and mythological bits and pieces. In places, there's some tension - particularly in the accounts of the pivotal conflicts between Ged and the shadow - although those who find it difficult to stomach magic staffs and dragons may not be able to see past them to any serious political point the author may have intended. As the first part of a trilogy, the ending wasn't too scrappy, but this probably remains for fantasy fans only.

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"Still Alice", directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland

Movie, 2014

Gripping account of a woman's struggle with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. While this is story of heart-rending intensity, and while there's no ambiguity or bright hope of a change in an inevitable outcome, the narrative is compelling and the incidents portrayed remain interesting. Some wonderful acting, not least by Julianne Moore, around whom the emotions and focus intensify, even as her own mental state deteriorates. A moving film with huge, direct power.

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"Clock Without Hands", by Carson McCullers

Novel, 1961

Gloomy novel set in the American South, where dramas and the coming of age, death, social class and family relationships are set against a backdrop of racial tension and the emergence of integration. This is a story of high drama and incident, although the handling and writing are well measured. It's quite a page turner too, and all the characters are compelling, even the judge, who's clearly out-of-time and out of shape and an outrageous bigot, but still well drawn and who, to some extent, retains some sympathy.

"Inferno," directed by Dario Argento

Movie, 1980

Dreamy horror, full of deserted buildings, surreal sets, a progressive rock soundtrack and blood. All these elements are wonderfully realised, giving the film an excellent tension, although the story seems a little confused and the acting, every now and again, stultifying. The violence is nasty, although this goes with the territory. An effective piece, all in all; at least it would have been if only the story and direction could just have been given a little more of a leg up over the grisly set pieces.

"Lady Oracle," by Margaret Atwood

Novel, 1976

Enthralling novel about identity and self-determination, in which narratives are used to explore relationships drawn in sweeping fashion and sometimes bizarre characters interact with occasionally fantastical plot elements. While the ending might feel a little woolly, this is essentially a compelling, empathetic account of the heroine, whose guises and disguises see her running away from herself and constantly, compulsively reinventing herself. A book for literature buffs who can handle seances and characters called The Royal Porcupine.

"A Serious Man", directed by Coen Brothers

Movie, 2009

A film which looks good, has some funny moments, but which doesn't quite snap and engage the viewer perhaps as much as it might have done. The plot revolves around a seriously unravelling, but very typical and "comfortable" middle-class family and touches on a number of domestic crises, many of which involve mental health issues. In doing so, there aren't, however, any real points made or markers set, and the narrative drifts rather than drives.

"Holy Disorders", by Edmund Crispin

Novel, 1945

Engaging, subversive and occasionally very witty detective romp, focusing on the goings on in a small cathedral city in Devon, which can't seem to retain a share of extant organists. A book whose laconic approach, whimsical-cum-sinister settings and continuing warnings against witchcraft and Nazism place it very much 'of its time' and snug within its genre, although the writing sparkles and the plot's dastardly invention foreshadows 1960s tongue-in-cheek fantasy. An immensely enjoyable read.

"The Woman in Black", by Susan Hill

Novel, 1992

Effective ghost story, packing suspense and creating an evocative, oppressive atmosphere. Much of this is probably attributable to the first person narrative, taking the reader into a world which is written in what appears to be very deliberately 'olde worlde', with a groaning bucket load of mist, marshes, haunted houses and phantoms. While the style occasionally threatens the power of the narrative, in the final analysis, it doesn't, leaving a feeling of a good read by the end of the story.

"Epitath for a Spy", by Eric Ambler

Novel, 1938

Effective, nicely paced and well-told story of a man's dilemma and problems after he's arrested under suspicion of spying against the French just before the Second World War. The careless and bungling nature of the protagonist and the fact he's played by many of the other characters in the book give a refreshing feel to the book, although there's also some ill ease at the slightly metaphysical dilemma the hero finds himself in. A smooth, entertaining book, at once familiar in its form, though refreshingly differing it at the same time.

"Don't Point That Thing at Me", by Kyril Bonfiglioli

Novel, 1972

Adventures of an art enthusiast and amateur gentleman sleuth, with more than a touch of Wodehouse, some very non-reconstructed 1970s views towards women and "foreigners" and briefly dark passages punctuating the sprightly overall tone of the book. The mixture of keen plotting and a brisk pace make for a compelling read, and while the book isn't really an absolute classic, there's more than enough entertainment and points to make an interesting read.

"The Sundial", by Shirley Jackson

Novel, 1958

A book which roars out of the traps, mixing Gothic sensibilities with dark humour, and which builds an intensity through looking at a family house whose inhabitants believe they're going to be saved from purgatory. This is an offbeat and excellent idea for the narrative, which in the main, trips along nicely, although occasionally perhaps gets a little tongue tied and clumsy in places. The comic elements are cruel although very amusing, with a whole host of odd, although often pretty likeable characters.

"Arab Jazz", by Karim Miské

Novel, 2015

While the settings and particularly the characters in the book are a little off-genre, this book is, essentially, a piece of detective fiction. Nothing wrong with that, and at the beginning of the book, the combination of a fairly familiar form and some more contemporary aspects combine to hook the reader. The power diminishes, to some extent, after a high number of popular cultural or religious references and one edgy druggy encounter too many. The whole piece still flows well and is very entertaining. 

"Rain Darling", Merle Collins

Short stories, 1990

Short story collection and a bit of a mixed bag. Of the seven pieces, the three more extended works pack a huge emotional punch, while the remainder feel more like exercises in reportage. The family tragedies in Rain and My Sister Cherish are particularly poignant and hugely moving, with the narrative mixing matter of fact, unsentimental language with some truly heart wrenching scenes and situations. This collection feels as if it's a great introduction to a little known author who can really pull emotions without playing them too obviously.

"One", by David Karp

Novel, 1953

A solid, powerful novel with a hugely Cold War feel, centring around a minor official and state informer who's called to talk over a report he's written. In looking at the fragility of the individual and the individual's place in society, this book tells an effective story. Yes, the settings and action feel claustrophobic, but this adds to the overall atmosphere of estrangement and helplessness. Very much of its time, and if not the most hard hitting dystopian novel, then one which seems to reflect a number of  social truths.

"In Custody" by Anita Desai

Novel, 1984

Entertaining and often very funny story about a small town academic, who after being given the chance to interview a literary hero, finds himself exploited and gradually stripped of the means by which he's keeping his life and sanity together. This is a light, relentless tale using occasionally fairly desperate circumstances to make social points but move the story of Deven's downfall with a deft touch. Wonderfully atmospheric in places, but told with good humour and sparkling with a guide to morals and behaviours.

"The Life and Loves of a She-Devil", by Fay Weldon

Novel, 1983

Uncompromising, unsubtle parable looking at female stereotypes, suppression and power. All very enjoyable too, with the grotesque and phantasmagoric elements just keeping the narrative on a light, readable trajectory; the book doesn't so much preach as elegantly scream and gets its point over so forcibly and with charm and simplicity, it's hard not to see the world through an increasingly twisted anti-heroine's eyes and knives being twisted once backs have been stabbed. A cracking read.

"Identicals" (aka "Brand New-U"), directed Simon Pummell

Movie, 2015

Science-fiction, which starts with a striking idea and concept, then struggles to develop them. Sadly, when it does, the development is a little muddy and the narrative hampered by unclear pacing and action. Possibly a film to be absorbed and 'felt' rather watched purely for enjoyment, but the whole conceit of body swapping and assuming identities may not carry the serious, gloomy tone of the movie as a whole

"High Rise", directed Ben Wheatley

Movie, 2015

If setting this dystopian drama in the 1970s is slightly puzzling, then it's a detail in a film which builds effectively before snapping and ratcheting the tension and the incidents. By no means a comfortable watch, this is a blatant and not-so-subtle piece, but one which really gets its hooks in and lays on an effective moral story. Some comic moments and some which are stark, though overall, this is a hugely effective, watchable movie.

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"The Apartment", directed Billy Wilder

Movie, 1960

Unquestionably funny comedy - the best sort - which pulls laughs from a great script and leading players, and yet does so by lightly hopping over heavy duty 20th century loneliness, alienation, infidelity, prostitution, ethics, depression, chauvinism and bullying, to name just a few. Because the film's so watchable, the corrupt world becomes acceptable and romanticised, really nailing home a few points which may or may not have been intended. Unrelenting and well-paced - a light comedy packing a huge sledgehammer under its surface.

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"Symposium", by Muriel Spark

Novel, 1990

Wonderful satire offering flashbacks of a group of largely unlikable acquaintances trying to work through burglaries, prejudices, wills and weddings. This slim book starts at a cracking pace, landing the reader right into the story, but manages to build with a horror and focus sharpening towards a clever conclusion. This is a book containing a wonderfully eccentric collection of nuns, mad uncles and thieves and really grips the reader and builds a thick, stimulating atmosphere. Not a particularly cuddly read, but an enthralling one all the same.

"The Lobster", directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Movie, 2015

Relentless, surreal film in which single people have forty-five days, under a strict regime in a strange hotel, to find a loving relationship or be turned into an animal. Events unfold and are, at turns, striking and brutal, with a few jaw dropping moments, but more often , an uneasy sense of a fil trying to be too odd and profound. The mood, throughout, is despairing and yes, there are laughs, but they're often dragged out of set-ups that are a little too brutal.

"I'm So Excited!" directed by Pedro Almodovar

Movie, 2013

Edgy grown-up comedy harking back to the director's earlier works, but lacking the bite and empathy. Much of this stems from wafer-thin characters, whose various and slightly tired sexual and religious mores seem tacked onto canvasses still, nonetheless, feeling empty. While the idea of a circling plane unable to land is a good one and there are some occasional glimmers of hope, overall, this film feels hugely formulaic and almost a self-parody. Not the director's best work by a long way; barely a cut above a Carry-On.

"Stranger in a Strange Land", by Robert Heinlein

Novel, 1961

Epic story of the return to Earth of the Man from Mars and how he fares with and influences power and religious structures. This is a fairly tough read, with plenty of outdated, corny dialogue and a very male orientated outlook, but beyond all this and the occasionally uncomfortable hyper-enthusiasm for free love, there are some interesting ideas, blistering satire against the excesses of capitalism and more besides. If there's some cod philosophy, at least there's some thinking and provocation, and the wavering undercurrent of order versus anarchy is compelling.

"Too Many Targets," by John Peel and Dave Rogers

Novel, 1990

Brisk fiction for Avengers fans, bringing the whole set of main protagonists - Steed and all his partners - from each of the 1960s series. There's a familiar, reborn protagonist as well. Fans will probably either despair of the canon being mucked about or delight in the retro implausibility of what is, after all, an old and always fantastically tongue-in-cheek series. For all these reasons, it's hard to critique; this is a book pretty much solely driving a plot which fairly adeptly juggles characters and situations which work better on screen.

"Suffragette," directed by Sarah Gavron

Movie, 2015

Really solid, likeable, worthy though somehow flat film about the women's suffrage movement leading up to Emily Davison throwing herself in front of the King's horse on derby Day. There was, however, a lack of a spark in the telling of the story, as if any disrespecting of the narrative or misrepresentation of any of the characters would have caused the movie to collapse into itself. So, a little plodding in places. A good film overall and a good way of finding out about the movement, just perhaps a little 'safe' and 'staid'.

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"Locke," directed by Steven Knight

Movie, 2013

A concept film where, really, there's barely any concept and virtually no action, just a man in a car, driving in the night and talking to people, desperately trying to keep his world from unravelling. And that's it. The chances of this being a good film may appear slim, but it really works tremendously well. Inevitable plaudits have to go to an excellent performance by Tom Hardy, although the script and pace are also magnificent. Not a comfortable watch and not for everyone, but this is really compelling stuff.

"Macbeth", directed by Justin Kurzel

Movie, 2015

A film which turns the play on its head, from a pacy plot which builds tension, to something pushing style at the expense of substance and in shortening the running time, makes the whole thing drag. An achievement of sorts. While there are some interesting ideas, including the battle scenes, the whole piece feels like a series of disjointed moments and there are times when the director's vision and cinematography go into overdrive and swamp everything else. Not the greatest introduction to the Bard.

"The Drop", directed Michaël R Roskam

Movie, 2014

While this is a film with huge potential for failure - a slurring method acting loner, rescued dog etc. - this slow burner builds a tense and twisting plot and genuine foreboding atmosphere. There's also a refreshing straightforward setting and story telling with no artsy tricks, crushing soundtrack or CGI, just the goings on in a bar, its assistant manager and people orbiting him. Slow and glorious for it, even if the pooch occasionally gets tiring.

"I Live Under a Black Sun," by Edith Sitwell

Novel, 1937

Based on the lives and loves of Jonathan Swift, who is here painted as an arrogant consumer of the lives of the two women who love and who almost literally, bodily nourish him. While the novel occasionally judders along, and while it sometimes feels as if the reader is expected to know more about Swift than the layman might, this is a compelling tragedy, with some poetic description which is staggering in its beauty and evocation. A bit a mixed bag, overall, but largely effective in holding the reader's attentions and sympathies.

"The Martian," directed by Ridley Scott

Movie, 2015

Man in space film, which is entertaining enough, but falls between too many different areas as it tries to tackle and ends up feeling, at times, like an all singy-dancey feel good film. Fine if you like that sort of thing. On the way, there are special effects aplenty and some interesting debates - how to grow food in space, how to PR a disaster and how team dynamics work. All great; all easy on the eye. The main character's constant cheeriness is, however, a little difficult to watch and fully believe, although there are a few odd performances (Jeff Daniels particularly) and the plot and pacing might have been a little more interesting.

"13 Ghosts," directed William Castle

Movie, 1960

Take out the outrageous Illusion-O gimmick, which neatly and effectively removes most of the tension in the film and leads in to some fairly tedious special effects, and 13 Ghosts is a pretty effective haunted house movie. While younger characters and cast members grate, Margaret Hamilton (the witch in The Wizard of Oz) is a sinister, enjoyable presence playing a twisted housekeeper along similar lines to Mrs Danvers in Rebecca. Daft hokum, of course, but  watchable and, where there is no call for the Illusion-O viewing goggles, some moments of genuine tension. A strange picture, overall.

Here's a trailer which hints at daftness.

"Spectre", directed Sam Mendes

Movie, 2015

James Bond as you've seen him before, plenty of times. Yes, this is a film which is easy on the eye and there are thrills aplenty, but this doesn't compensate for the trite references to old films in the series, which come thick and fast. Even the plot's premise  - the danger of big data and surveillance - feels like something half-baked and turned up from a few decades back. Blofeld, Aston Martins, fights with Jaws-like assassins on trains, super-villain lairs and, indeed, Spectre abound, but do little to move the franchise on.

London to Paris

Sorry. This isn't one of my pithy book or film reviews, but a call for help. I'm on a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris in September, in memory of my Mum and on behalf of the National Osteoporosis Society. I have a Just Giving page for those who'd like more information....

"The Field of the Cloth of Gold", by Magnus Mills

Novel, 2015

Another super-real world beautifully crafted from the everyday, in which seemingly innocuous comings and goings suggest seismic undercurrents. This time, Mills sets his action in a field at an unspecified time and looks at the inter-relations of different tribes and individuals as they settle down and get on with each other, or fail to do so. The end of the book, after the hints, suggestions and actions preceding it, is wonderfully underplayed but convincingly uneasy. A real submersive, subversive delight. 

"30 Days of Night", directed David Slade

Movie, 2007

Edgy vampire horror set in Arctic Alaska, in which a Neil Tennant lookalike leads a gang of vampires against a small town's dogs, its police station and then anything else living. There are some decent concepts within this set up, but the film never fully makes the leap from a series of set pieces in which evil usually triumphs over good and various characters crack under pressure. While the vampire characters are pretty menacing, they're not fully convincing and speak in a funny, made-up language. Entertaining if you can stand the gore.

"Watchmen", directed Zack Snyder

Movie, 2009

Clever but disjointed alternative history film, which probably needs some previous knowledge of the characters to appreciate exactly what's going on. This is a super hero film where the superheroes are anything but, and are being picked off by forces unknown. This pathos and the lack of over-CGI'd sequences and crashing soundtrack work in the film's favour, although the muttered dialogue (especially from Rorschach) and the cod-spiritual transportation scenes in Mars don't do as much for the movie as they do, presumably, for the comic series.

"Whirlpool", directed Otto Preminger

Movie, 1949

Tightly plotted film which seems to have been given a slightly Hollywood plot (the leading characters suffer, although would probably have come off a lot worse in 'real life'). This is a tense, atmospheric journey with a wonderful study of a main protagonist hell-bent on doing no good. Granted, there are times when the plot stretches any true suspension of disbelief and the climax is, possibly, a little snappy, but nonetheless, this is an effective and affecting film which nibbles uneasily at the psyche. You'd struggle to call it a classic, although it is pretty classy.

Trailer

"Head", directed Bob Rafelson

Movie, 1968

A patchy film; the acting is patchy (though far from disastrous), the set pieces patch -running from goofy-smart satire to psychedelic nonsense - and most notably the music, which is never outright bad, ranges from the slightly dull to the ridiculously good. To say this is a product of its time is an understatement. Head presents viewers with a disjointed watch which can feel like an ordeal at times. Good fun though, with some wonderful ideas mixed in with all the arch and daft concepts which miss as much as they hit.

Trailer

"Stoner," by John Williams

Novel, 1965

A dreary, drearily-principled life story told in a conventional start to finish kind of way, about a solid but unremarkable University of Missouri academic. From such unpromising source material, Williams turns in an absolute page-turning gem, with which any disaffected 'average man' will surely empathise. A real achievement in which a tragic set of characters slide into old age and obscurity gain, if not heroic, then an almost mythical quality.

"A Suspension of Mercy", by Patricia Highsmith

Novel, 1965

Nail-biting suspense of little subtlety but huge impact, in which a net and circumstances draw ever tighter round a pretty unhinged, psychotic central protagonist. This is real page-turning stuff and a study in a few disintegrating personalities, where the readers' view is continually shifted around by some deceptively read-a-long writing skirting over some pretty seismic motivations and actions. This is a novel which is relentless and which at any point, could have jumped off in a number of different directions.

"Hangman's Holiday", by Dorothy L Sayers

Short stories, 1933

Stories concerning themselves more with the thoughts than the deeds on the part of Lord Peter Wimsey and the even more excellently named Montagu Egg. These stories are entertaining for the most part, although details which demand close attention - times of events and Monty Egg's Salesman's Handbook prominently feature, often derail the pace and the reader's attention. While the plots are slight, they're smart enough and show a bygone, more innocent
world.

"Killer in Drag", by Edward D Wood Jr

Fiction (also known as Black Lace Drag), 1963


A fiction very reminiscent of Ed Wood's films, in which things - stylistically - are going pretty well, but then the dialogue creaks just a little too protestingly or the plot takes one of those turns you'd never expect, not in a thrilling, but more in a perplexing way. Still, this is entertaining stuff which, for the most part is effective. There just are a few too many times when you pull up and realise this is almost pure wish fulfilment on the author's part. A book which, if not taken seriously, is good enough. Those who do take it seriously are as daft as the author, and his films.

"The Accidental" by Ali Smith

Novel, 2005

The dramas surrounding a dysfunctional liberal family, whose participants' lives are sparked while they're on a holiday break in Norfolk and visited by Amber, a strange, wandering life force who has a shocking affect on all the characters. Ultimately, this is quite a sad, reflective read, which sets off at a canter but ends
- for the characters - in disarray, even if the children in the drama have a slightly rosier looking future. The switch between characters' stories is brilliantly done and provides an entertaining read, right through from the beginning to the end.

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Another story

I'm putting some of my stories up on this blog. Any faint encouragement and/or constructive criticism most welcome. I'll read some of your stuff in return if you'd like. A kind of mutual self-help?

There are two stories at the mo. I'll be adding to them, on the Story page.

"Traitor's Purse," by Margery Allingham

Novel, 1941

A tangle of a whodunnit in which there's no corpse and the super sleuth starts the piece far from either super or sleuth-like. While the plot trips over itself a little at times, the pacing and evocation are excellent. There are, in places, excellently evocative passages, and when bits and pieces slowly come together, there's a pleasure in discovering through the eyes of Campion. And a rather strange set-up too, revealed right at the end of the book, which works more effectively than if it had been put in at the beginning.

"Tenth of December", by George Saunders

Short stories, 2013

Short story collection of surprising and stylishly varied content. Some of the pieces are absolutely captivating and hugely thought provoking - others a little less so. Overall, there's a high standard,
with society scrutinised and human frailties writ large. "The Semplica Girls" and "Escape from Spiderland" are particularly effective in showing how much of a veneer human relations can present and how easily they can fall apart and expose societal norms. When this packs a punch, it really packs a punch.

"What We Do in the Shadows", directed Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi

Film, 2014

Mockumentary about four flat-sharing vampires and their interactions with two newcomers, one of whom is turned into a vampire and one - the hilariously popular Stu - who isn't. This preposterous set up sits on top of some occasionally almost understated humour and some amusing scenes, most notably in the face-off between the vampires and a werewolf gang. There's plenty of gore giving a contemporary feel, and although this is very neat, controlled and full of genre jokes, this is a blood and guts gentle comedy which is full of laughs.

"The Dark Holds No Terrors", by Shashi Deshpande

Novel, 1980

A story of a career woman whose encounters at home, both when growing up and then in marriage, present her with huge emotional issues. This is a story of how aspirations and rising above preassigned social roles aren't purely about breaking barriers, but also about huge toil and pressures on relationships. An easy book to get into with a strong narrative voice, and the suspicion, often peering out of the psychological undergrowth, that perhaps things aren't exactly as they seem.

"Midnight's Children", by Salman Rushdie

Novel, 1981



Towering novel, charting the story of the main narrator, Saleem Sinai and the formation and early history of India and Pakistan following partition in 1948. This is a book which needs a level of immersion, although despite the narrative tricks and freewheeling scenes and relationships between characters, it's not overly smart or tricksy. So, a great balance in a tome which punches a huge emotional and political weight, while taking the reader on a life journey, both of the main character, the other 'children' of the title and the sub-continent. Richly rewarding.

"Absolutely Anything", directed by Terry Jones

Movie, 2015

Slight, puffy comedy which never hits its stride, never really delivers the killer laugh, but at the same time, isn't that bad a film. Absolutely Anything feels like an outdated situation comedy with a touch of ludicrous science-fiction with a wheezing plot and daft devices. Still, it's neither a film which demands to be taken too seriously, nor is it savage satire. Overall, the commendable points are slightly lost and just outshot by the less successful points. But really, not that bad.

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", directed by Guy Ritchie

Movie, 2015

Sleek, shiny, inevitable cash-in on the 1960s spy thriller, whose production, politically, comes at a very interesting time. This is a film whose tongue is quite rightfully and respectfully in its cheek, but which isn't  as warm or charming as its source material. For all its slick delivery, the twenty-first century version feels hurried and stuck together. The conversion of Illya Kuyakin to a muscle bound intellectual doesn't entirely work, while Napolean precariously wavers between smug and charming. Perhaps it's meant to be; and the film, despite shortcomings, is very entertaining.