"Dance of the Happy Shades", by Alice Munro

Fiction, 1968

Excellent collection of early stories from Alice Munro in which senses and incidents - usually domestic and unremarkable - are described and shot through with details which, often as not, give a real emotive kick up the backside. In describing situations and behaviours, Munro evokes huge feelings of sadness or disquiet, but at all times, humanity shines through. These stories are at once delicate and robust and reward close reading and reflection.

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"The Purge", directed James DeMonaco

Movie, 2013
A film with a few good ideas which all look as if they could either be freshly reflected upon, or collapse into a cliche of haunted house cum last man on Earth cum zombie type horror. Sadly, it doesn't take too long before the latter sets in. Granted, there a few effective, tense moments in among those which are less interesting and plot twist which many will have seen coming from a country mile off. By no means terrible, but one which is a rather lame imitation of some much better pictures.

"The Bag Man", directed David Grovic

Movie, 2014

Relatively tightly plotted thriller about a hit man entrusted with the job of getting a bag safely delivered to a gangland boss. A film whose A-list cast is a little wasted, but which nonetheless delivers some claustrophobic thrills and tension. In a film reminiscent of hard boiled films from the late 1990s there is, however, some rather flabby plotting and violence which, at times, feels gratuitous. Some of the humour also feels similarly passe. But still, overall a decent watch.

"The Voices", directed Marjane Satrapi

Movie, 2014

An odd, grisly comedy which through its main sequence of events - principally the fates of the three main female characters in the drama and the use and portrayal of mental health - leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Yes, this is entertaining and well paced and, from a technical point of view, very well done, but it's not really good enough to rise above the gravity of the fates and illnesses which seem little more than plot devices. The talking pets are also a little naff - occasionally amusing, but mainly superfluous. As, indeed, is the whole movie.

"We Have Always Lived in the Castle", by Shirley Jackson

Novel, 1962

Terrific Gothic tale of two sisters and a deranged uncle living in an unfriendly village which marginalises them due to the belief the elder sister poisoned and killed the rest of the family. This is a story focusing on Merricat, the younger sister, a fiercely independent, disturbing narrator who brings a very focused view on unfolding events. There's a real tension in this short novel which propels the reader along into some quite disturbing, psychologically wrenching scenes.

"Chronicles: Volume One", by Bob Dylan

Non-fiction, 2004

Dylan picks a few key points in his career in producing this hybrid of memoir and autobiography in what, ultimately, is an engaging, entertaining and occasionally laugh-out-loud account. In telling his tale, the lyricism and atmosphere of his song writing is retained, although the detail is nonetheless present in hugely convincing observations and memories. And contained within are some interesting tidbits - the protest singer famously battling his spokesman for the generation status, with a hankering for his family and life on the high seas in his yacht.

"Chalcot Crescent", by Fay Weldon

Novel, 2009

A novel set in a crumbling London not so far in the future, in which political and counter political oppressions are played out against the backdrop of entangled family relationships. While the evocations of a ghoulish capital are strong, the complex inter-relationships and the hugely unreliable narrator make it difficult to follow what's going on and how characters related to each other. This may be intentional, but does lead to a frustrating read in what would otherwise be a belter.