"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