"Taste of Fear", directed by Seth Holt

US title - Scream of Fear

Movie, 1961

Crackling, atmospheric suspense horror thriller, in which a load of tropes are aired - the spooky house, the creepy matriarch, the imperiled heroine - and a storming film delivered. This is unsophisticated, well-plotted fare, without a trace of gore, but some suitably jolting moments. At times, the lighting, the angles, the photography and claustrophobia build a really terrific atmosphere, which more than compensates for creaking plot points and the odd piece of cardboard acting. Well worth seeking out for a night time comfort watch. 

"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.

"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 This is a fairly tough read, with plenty of outdated, corny dialogue and a very male orientated outlook, but beyond all this and the occasionally uncomfortable hyper-enthusiasm for free love, there are some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.