"Inherent Vice", directed Paul Thomas Anderson

Movie, 2014

Murky, muttering and suitably confused, confusing slow burn frenetic adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's LA private eye caper. The film's pace and its fairly hefty length draw those in who get hooked in the first place from opening scenes depicting a stoned PI, his returning lover, a massage parlour frequented by an Aryan Brotherhood gang, a nasty slick-cut nemesis policeman and some pretty sweaty interactions between and involving each of them. Possibly not destined for classic mainstream status, but a good adaptation all the same.

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"Voyage in the Dark", by Jean Rhys

Novel, 1934

Hugely evocative novel set in a modernising London and focusing on the challenges, loves and  friendships of Anna, a young Caribbean chorus girl. This is an account of despair, drunkenness, abortionists and questionable morality, but nonetheless, life's vitality shines through. Some really keen writing which descriptively tells its story and sets seedy, desperate scenes, with occasionally flights into more modernist streams of consciousness.

"Mr Holmes," directed Bill Condon

Movie, 2015

A retired, infirm and fake-nosed Sherlock Holmes finds his truculent housekeeper, her plucky son and his apiary giving him plenty to think about while he's trying to get on with the business of retiring. A film in which plenty of flashbacks, narratives and themes swirl without fully knitting together. An enjoyable watch but one ultimately stifled by its central character and certain well-meaning but slightly suffocating Englishness. Not at all bad - could have done with a few edits here and there.

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"Girl in the Band", Kim Gordon

Memoir, 2015

Autobiographical work by Kim Gordon in which she plots her artistic and musical life in California and New York. This is a good, flowing read which will disappoint anyone looking for the "warts and all" - her relationship with long-term partner Thurston Moore isn't a salacious hatchet job, while the other Sonic Youth members don't really get much of a look in. Gordon writes in small chunks, conveying the non-stop exhaustion of touring, especially as a mother, and the cliches and attitudes of being a woman in her profession. Good to hear a rock story rather than having one shoved at you.

"American Sniper," directed Clint Eastwood

Film, 2014

Two narratives for the price of one. Unfortunately, the cautionary tale of the disastrous psychological effects of a war on the family is tucked away, only appearing like an unwanted guest when the gritty gung-ho battle scenes and tired cat-and-mouse our sniper versus their sniper trope take an occasional back seat. We're left, really, with crude flag waving nonsense with half decent acting and lots of homo erotically charged blood, sweat and tears and a biopic element realised through an especially unconvincing set of family and funeral scenes at the end.

"Half Blood Blues", by Esi Edugyan

Novel, 2011

A story of betrayal and part reconciliation, looking at the relationships between members of a jazz band who'd split after the Nazi crackdowns in Berlin and then the invasion in Paris. This is an entertaining, vividly drawn work which occasionally veers perhaps a little too far into a retelling of history, but which nonetheless effectively tells a good story evolving round Sid, who's slowly revealed as an interesting main character. Maybe some of the historical detail caused very infrequent lags in the pacing, but then again, an interesting as well as informative and enjoyable read.

"Star Trek Into Darkness", directed Abrams

Blockbuster, 2013

Effective, entertaining blockbuster, which despite a slightly irritating "go in all guns blazing" opening, settles down but keeps up a cracking pace. There would be plenty to moan about in terms of stereotypes, Spock's rampant human side and some predictably lame comic relief provided by Scottie's pet thingy, but that would be pretty churlish. As popcorn romps go, this is superior stuff - much better than the first Abrams outing.