Reading - December 2024

Space: The Human Story by Tim Peake (2023)

A chatty, informal jaunt through the history of space travel. I don't think much of this is particularly new - I've read quite a bit about the Apollo missions and so the sections on that were somewhat familiar - but it's presented in a very readable style. An ideal introduction to the subject or, indeed, a perfect summary if what you want is a general reader on the subject rather than excruciating detail (I'm looking at you, James R Hansen).

The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth (1983)

Very convincingly detailed but also rather transparently reflective of the author's own views and prejudices. A great yarn nevertheless.

The Maid by Nita Prose (2022)

A nice little murder mystery, featuring a central narrator - the maid - who is presumably autistic (although this is never specifically mentioned). It feels like a cross between Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the series that presumably all publishers want to duplicate, Richard Osman's record breaking Thursday Murder Club books. Very readable - I finished it in a day, although I was off work with a heavy cold so I wasn't doing much else - and enjoyable.  However, I did feel that the final "twist" wasn't very believable.

How Not to Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh (2023)

I enjoyed this, a female-centred whodunnit/thriller, but found the characters a bit stereotyped.

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (1964)

A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie (1953)

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie (1962)

They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie (1952)

Well, there's nothing quite like Agatha Christie for nice comforting murder mysteries, is there? Very often one of my go-tos when I'm not feeling well. All four novels (here from the Miss Marple Omnibus Volume 2) are classic Christie, setting the template for all future writers by making sure it's the least predictable person who dunnit, thereby making it a little bit predictable - but only from the perspective of seventy years later! 

The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (1932)

Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie (1979)

All the Miss Marple short stories (collected in a single volume here), but did you notice the incredible time between them? Yet they don't really read any different: Christie and Miss Marple in particular were always caught in a time warp. The stories themselves are nicely condensed, and don't feel too brief.

Marr's Guitars by Johnny Marr (2023)

For some reason it took me ages to get round to reading this, but once I did it only took me an afternoon. It's a sumptuous document of an astonishing collection of guitars but as a book it's a waste of money for me, and I'm not really sure why I bought it. I mean, you've seen one picture of a '58 'burst, you've seen 'em all, right? I'm not going to get to actually play any of these; I might play something similar and then I'll be interested in that. And I'm not sure what motivated Marr to make the book, as he doesn't come across as the type to just do it for the money. Still, nice to get a glimpse into another world!

The Secret Public by Jon Savage (2024)

Blimey, this was hard work. And I really wanted to like it - a history of how gay sub-cultures have informed and bled into mainstream entertainment over the decades is a story worth telling. But this isn't that story, sadly. It feels like Savage wants to be writing an academic tome for future historians to pore over, whereas I think what the subject needs - and certainly what I was hoping for - is a good summary. What we get is a mess of a structure that prevents any kind of clear narrative emerging, and a wealth of unnecessary detail. But none of it is new information and by including too much, the main point of the book - "How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture (1955-1979)", to quote the over-reaching subtitle (it's mostly about gay men and pop music) - is fudged and obscured. I finished it eventually - over two months after I started - out of sheer bloody-mindedness but I'm not sure I should have bothered.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (1998)

I wrote last time I read this about the possible charge of cultural appropriation and I haven't changed my opinion (but then I am a white middle-aged, middle-class male so what do I know). What I'd forgotten is how filled with pathos it is - it's not just a jolly African Miss Marple. Very readable and with a clear, unique voice, which is rare I think. I didn't realise until today though that there are twenty five novels in the series!

Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith (2000)

The mix of small mysteries, homespun wisdom and little life choices is what makes these, for me anyway. Nothing really bad happens, nothing really major changes - just life moving along at it's usual pace. I don't know if McCall Smith planned these books as a series but in resisting the temptation to stuff each book with a lot of drama, he has given himself all the space to allow a much more appealingly gradual character and plot development. In hindsight, it's a brilliant idea, if the writing and characters are up to it - which they are of course.

Watching - December 2024

Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)

The Herbie films were a staple of my childhood, and I remember my Grandma taking me to see all of them. They were great children's films - silly and fun, and the formula wasn't significantly changed for this reboot, except that it's set in a recognisable world (NASCAR). Mostly brainless fun for an evening when I was feeling ill and needed something completely unchallenging.

Taskmaster (season 1, 2015)

I started (thanks to K) with season 2, so just going back and catching up. It's interesting to see that most of the elements are already in place, with a couple of differences.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Like Men in Black crossed with James Bond, complete with lisping evil villain who has a lair in a hollowed out mountain, but with perhaps even less pretence at realism. Great fun though.

20 Feet From Stardom (2013)

I love the idea of this documentary - finding out about what it's like to be a backing singer for some of the biggest artists - but in practice it was a bit too focussed on about half a dozen well known singers. I say "well known", but it is relative: if you have an interest in 60s music you might have heard of the legendary Darlene Love but otherwise probably not; if you're a Rolling Stones fan you might know that it's Merry Clayton performing the spine-tingling female vocals on "Gimme Shelter" but I'm guessing that 99% of listeners haven't a clue; and if you're into reading album credits you might recognise the name of Lisa Fischer (who sings the most incredible section in the whole film) but I have to admit I didn't, despite her incredible discography. Their stories are fascinating but I would have liked to hear from a wider selection. The sound of black female gospel-rooted backing singers is fundamental to rock music but there's more to it than that, not least from the UK (off the top of my head I can think of Sam Brown, Tessa Niles and Clare Torry, all industry legends). In fairness though, I think the intent of this film was to reclaim the black, female history elements of the music and history, and in this it succeeds.

The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) (2024)

Even if find Taylor Swift's appeal elusive or you're immune to her music (although I'd say you can't call yourself a lover of good pop and not enjoy something like "Cruel Summer" or "Style" - it's like saying you don't like ABBA, you're basically saying you don't actually like music much ... but I digress), I'd recommend you watch this. The sheer spectacle and scale - it's 3½ hours long - precision and commitment is staggering. But the bits I enjoyed most were the glimpses of the crowd. I'm the wrong demographic to get it properly but seeing the effect on the youngsters in the crowd is very moving. A fitting document to an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

Strictly Come Dancing (series 22, 2024)

Obviously I didn't watch this in December only: C and I were there from the beginning of the series (blimey, back in mid-September!) and we didn't just watch the Saturday shows but pretty much all the It Takes Two episodes during the weeks as well. Despite all the routine proclamations from cast, judges etc of this series being the best ever, I'd say it was ... well, about the same as the others. I mean, that's it's appeal, right? The formula is so well bedded-in now and the whole juggernaut runs on rails. I realise it's an immense amount of work by a whole bunch of incredibly talented people behind the scenes but out front it's incredibly consistent and slick and that's what people want, I reckon. Claudia Winkleman is a fantastic presenter (the way she handles moments like this is brilliant) and an ideal antidote to the slightly robotic Tess Daly, Craig is reliably a baddie with a heart of gold, and the dances are pretty spectacular. That said, after all these years I still don't know much about dancing and I have to admit at least 50% of the appeal for me is the eye candy, but it's easy to get swept up in the stories and, god help us, "journeys". For the record, I would have voted for JB if C hadn't used all our votes on Chris (C says, "all lies, he would have voted for Tasha").

The Matrix (1999)

Still a great film, despite the wooden acting in places and, let's be honest, stilted dialog and plot holes.

Phil Collins: Drummer First (2024)

An admirable attempt at a documentary by the YouTube channel Drumeo, featuring the legend that is Phil Collins. Unfortunately it suffers from being too long and, almost fatally, from not being able to feature any of the music being discussed, presumably due to clearance issues and costs. As a result, it drags quite a bit. Collins' health isn't the best these days, sadly, which does show, and actually he doesn't have that much to say. But there's clearly a lot of affection for him behind this, and not just because his son Nic is doing the interviewing. (Drumeo is a really good channel, incidentally.)

Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible (2024)

I never really got into Simple Minds in the their heyday, possibly because U2 were "my band" in the 80s and there was only room for one celtic-inspired "big music" group in my life. But this is an interesting and nicely paced summary of their career, and I can't deny the power of their big hits. Worth watching, and has inspired me to go back and listen to the albums again, which is surely a good result of any music documentary (and as a side note, if you've never listened to "Theme for Great Cities" before, do - it's great).

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)

Family Christmas viewing and lots of fun it was. You can't fault the amount of imagination that goes into the Aardman animations (at one point I noticed that Gromit was reading "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woof), and it was never less than entertaining, but it was perhaps a little bit forgettable.

Definitely Maybe (2008)

With K - I meant to just show the first scenes to tempt her into watching the rest some other time, but we ended up staying up late (for me, not for her) and sitting through the whole thing. I was pleased she enjoyed it though!

The Holiday (2006)

'Tis the season ... for a vaguely Christmas-themed sentimental TV movie. Because despite the presence of heavyweight actors like Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Rufus Sewell, and big US stars like Cameron Diaz and (miscast) Jack Black, that is what this feels like. But sweet, entertaining and occasionally moving anyway. A nice way to pass the time.

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

An amusing but slight farce, very much of its time,  lit up by a luminescent performance from Barbra Streisand.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2023)

A surprising choice by the "kids" for a family film night, but an acceptable plot and plenty of jokes kept everyone interested.

Watching - November 2024

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

It's been a long time since I last saw this, sufficiently so for me to have forgotten much of what happens. I'm quite happy rewatching things I do remember, so it was nice to rediscover this - lots of imagination, great animation and a fun plot.

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

And of course we can't not watch the sequel. Almost as good as the original, with plenty of good jokes about, well, the internet - and most of all, and the reason I rewatched both of these films,  it contains one of my favourite scenes in a Disney film: she is a princess! ♫ (this is a running family joke)

Casino Royale (2006)

Saturday night viewing with Z, who it turned out hadn't seen a James Bond film before. I had wondered about starting him at or near the very beginning with something like From Russia With Love but decided that for someone raised on modern movie-making, it would just look dull, dated and incredibly slow. Bond films have of course been instrumental in creating the action/thriller genre but I don't think Z is interested in the history! He enjoyed this and - for a change - didn't spot the twist at the end (which is straight from the book as well).

Nobody Wants This (2024)

The central relationship of this sweet romcom - a rabbi and a non-Jewish woman falling in love - is a great way to show Judaism but I also like and appreciate the way that it's never presented as odd or unusual, despite being "other" for, I guess, most of the audience - at least, I hope this isn't only being watched by Jews! The central couple, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, are excellent, affecting and realistic (although Brody's character is perhaps a little too nice - but hey, he's a rabbi!), you really want things to work out - and, no, it's not immediately obvious it will. My enjoyment is slightly offset by the secondary Jewish characters: the controlling mother, the bitchy sister-in-law and the idiotic brother. Even though they are all types I recognise, unfortunately, I'm just not sure I want to see them on screen (this great review from Jessica Radloff articulates a Jewish ambivalence about this really well). Ultimately it didn't spoil the series for me though - the secondary characters got better and, of course, we want to see this end well!

Boybands Forever (2024)

Despite being partial to a bit of Take That (mk. 1) at the time - I sat behind them on a plane once, so me and the lads go way back - boy bands of the 90s and early 2000s weren't really my thing, and in fairness I wasn't exactly the target market either. Nevertheless, as a lover of good pop (hint: not Westlife) I was always aware of the better singles, but I couldn't have told you much about their stories. Going behind the scenes reveals nothing that isn't a surprise, sadly. In summary: the band members were all young and exploited and the managers were all pretty ruthless; and now the boys are all men in their fifties and seem sadder but wiser, whereas the managers are mostly richer and unrepentant. All of the band members come across nicely: reflective of their time in the limelight and the enormous toll it took upon them, and somewhat critical of the men and the process that exploited them. The managers fare less well: not only do they largely still not recognise or acknowledge the duty of care that they held over what were at the time mere teenagers, they're prone to saying things like "they got what they wanted, that's just part of the deal" (thank you Simon Cowell, a lost-in-showbiz tool in shades) - easy to say when you haven't got to deal with constant gross invasion of privacy. But award for arsehole of the month - decade probably - goes to one Paul McMullan, "former tabloid journalist", who in articulating his perceived entitlement to any information he wants about anyone in the public eye, clearly has no morals ("I don't see anything wrong with a honey trap") and demonstrates why tabloid journalists can be such bottom feeding parasites.

Taskmaster (season 3, 2016)

We started watching season 3 with the family but only K and me seem to like it, so now it's the thing we do once a week (ish) together, remotely now of course. This is the second season I've watched, so the initial joy at the silliness of the tasks is slightly past, but that doesn't stop it being very enjoyable all the same. A bit hit and miss, but that's part of the format. Only another fifteen seasons to go!

Reading - November 2024

The Martian by Andy Weir (2013)

I found this at work and thought a gap of two years was enough to re-read it. Enjoyable all over again.

What to do With a Bad Boy by Marie Harte (2014)

I remain somewhat sceptical that men or women talk or behave like this is real life, but ultimately this is a fantasy ... I'm just not sure whose fantasy. I could have done with fewer "oh no it's all gone wrong" moments, as we all know there's a happy ending in sight - it says something when I start checking how many pages are left in order to know how quickly it's going to resolve itself. That said, it was still mostly enjoyable and seems to be written with affection for the characters and the genre.

A Sure Thing by Marie Harte (2016)

I really am reading other books, but they're all a lot longer - and physically heavier - than this lightweight thing. This is the kind of thing I save for before I fall asleep: easy-reading, straight-forward and, you know, nice. Except I probably won't bother with Marie Harte again. I'm sure the "New York Times bestselling author" (it says here) knows her market, and I'm sure domineering alpha males are a common fantasy but this one is basically a bit of arse and to my mind it's no use having a self-confident, heroine if she basically becomes a doormat when the hero smoulders at her. Add in a couple of uncomfortably borderline non-consensual sex scenes and an ending that feels like it occurred when the author hit her word count, and it added up to a book I wasn't sorry to reach the end of.

Watching - October 2024

Arnold (2023)

One remarkable career would be enough, but three is probably unique. But then Schwarzenegger - only four years younger than my father, I was surprised to learn - is a unique person. This short series was obviously going to portray him in a favourable light, but the facts are largely incontestable and astonishing: from multiple world body-building championships to multi-billion dollar movie franchises to two terms as the governor of California. It's hardly a typical career progression. This documentary was interesting and didn't drag at all. Worth a watch!

The Terminator (1985)

Watched with Z, as I thought he'd enjoy a classic. The special effects probably seemed a little cheap at the time - after all, it was quite low budget - but now some look almost comical, certainly to someone raised on Marvel-grade CGI. But the story holds up and even though Z guessed who John Connor's father was within about 30 seconds of him being mentioned (plot twists of old don't work on media-savvy 2020s teens!) he enjoyed the film. As did I, in the first time I've seen it for a long time.

Shooting Fish (1997)

I won't try and claim that Shooting Fish is a lost classic, but it is a bit of a hidden gem in my opinion. I first watched it on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Boston to London, so probably around 1998 or 1999 (but then again, I also remember a scene in it that doesn't appear in the DVD version I now own, so my memory may not be completely reliable - although Wikipedia mentions that the DVD is the shorter US version of the film, so perhaps I'm right). It's a sweet, funny film with a bit of romance and a great soundtrack. Oh, and it has a young Kate Beckinsale in it, looking cute and being smart, which just adds to the charm for me.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

"Arnie month" concludes with Sunday evening cinema with Z, and this sequel was the obvious choice. I was careful not to mention the first twist - that Arnie is the good guy - and, amazingly, Z didn't guess it in nanoseconds like he usually does. He thought the acting was a bit wooden (while acknowledging that, for a Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, this would be appropriate) but enjoyed the film. And so did I - a classic.

Inside Out 2 (2024)

One of the most appealing aspects of Inside Out was it's surprising depth - how it simplified but didn't trivialise real feelings and emotions. Although the sequel is just as enjoyable, with plenty of genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, it is perhaps a smidge shallower. Puberty doesn't just get suddenly turned on, transforming a cute kid into a moody teenager overnight (an amusing five minute sketch for Harry Enfield perhaps, but that was forty years ago ...) and the emotions don't resolve over a weekend either.

Reading - October 2024

Phew, Eh Readers? by Tom Hibbert, ed. Barney Hoskyns & Jasper Murison-Bowie (2024)

I remember Tom Hibbert's "Who The Hell ..." columns from Q magazine very well - always the first article in the magazine, always an amusing read. But I was surprised to find that the Q house style, which I would have credited to Mark Ellen, is attributed by Ellen himself to Hibbert. Perhaps that accounts for the superlatives thrown around by many of the contributors here, who all seem to have regarded the man with much fondness. Sad to say, though, the pieces collected here don't live up to the picture painted by his friends; they're somewhat superficial and not particularly funny. Ideal for a ten minute diversion in Smash Hits maybe, but there's no evidence of the "master satirist" here. The book's all right but by the end - the painful "Pendennis" columns - I was just counting the pages until I was finished.

How to Handle a Heartbreaker by Marie Harte (2014)

Ruining Mr. Perfect by Marie Harte (2014)

The next two instalments in Marie Harte's McCauley Brothers series are basically the same as the first - but that doesn't matter really. They are very readable, contain relatable and enjoyable characters, and plenty of hot sex scenes. Not that I care about those of course.

All Gone to Look for America by Peter Millar (2009)

The title's slight - deliberate? - misquote of Simon & Garfunkel's gorgeous "America" is one of a few odd factual errors that I noticed (who is "Karin" Carpenter?), each of which have me wondering just slightly about the accuracy of the rest of the book. Which is a shame, because it's an entertaining journey across the rail network of the US. Millar is not writing with the same level of effortless wit or wisdom as Bill Bryson, but kept me interested throughout.

All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye by Christopher Brookmyre (2006)

Undemanding fantasy fun. I've said before it would make a great film, but I think the biggest issue with it - for studios - is that the main protagonist is a middle-aged woman, which, sadly, even in this day and age, is not considered to be a marketable proposition. Certainly the plot is no more far-fetched than many thrillers.

In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker (2012)

The second book in the Black Knights Inc series leans even more heavily into the thriller aspect, which has two unfortunate side-effects: firstly, it reduces the romance element to a very simple story arc; but secondly, because it does have the necessary romance, the story is stripped of any suspense, since obviously it's going to end happily. A decent read, but I was starting to lose patience by about two-thirds of the way through.

Awkward Situations for Men by Danny Wallace (2010)

I like Danny Wallace's long-form adventures, but this collection of short columns reads like it's probably culled from a newspaper or magazine and is a bit disjointed. Some decent laugh-out-loud moments but overall a bit disappointing.

Watching - September 2024

True Lies (1994)

Something - I don't recall what - reminded me of this and I fancied re-watching it. Still very entertaining.

Deadpool 2 (2018)

I hadn't seen this, which meant that when Z and I watched Deadpool & Wolverine a couple of months ago, he had to explain half of it to me. So we caught up with it one Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed it, there's lots of funny jokes although it gets a bit too meta sometimes - for example, using Domino's luck superpower as an easy get-of-jail-free card (literally) and then saying, "that's such lazy writing" is amusing but still actually lazy.

Reading - September 2024

Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes (2010)

An interesting and amusing look at a country I'd not really considered much before but which proves - unsurprisingly, really - to have a distinct culture and character of its own. I found the descriptions of the way that democracy is implemented the most interesting as it is probably unique, but there's lots to enjoy here. There's also a newer edition than the one I found at work that contains extra chapters and which I might need to borrow from the library.

Tempting Fate by Stacy Finz (2019)

I needed something enjoyable to read on a train journey and had actually forgotten to take a book - so this was an easy choice via the BorrowBox app while I was on the train. Still a bit contrived in plot terms but a good read.

Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker (2012)

The late, great humourist Miles Kington created the imprint Mills & Bang: "a new publishing house, which will issue novels for men and women – romantic military fiction!" It was, of course, a joke (just read the plot summaries online - they're great). However, Julie Ann Walker - I presume independently - seems to have decided there's potential in this idea. This is an über-patriotic vision of the US, where all men are alpha+ males, all women are feisty and independent while loving high heels and skimpy underwear, and everyone loves their guns and their country. There's plenty of action, both in the romantic sense and the thriller sense, and the book reads well, but I can't help but wonder who this is intended to appeal to. Maybe it is both women and men, since this is the first in a series of, incredibly, twelve books. And yes, before you ask, I probably will read another!

A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand (2020)

I'm looking for something along the lines of Stacy Finz' Nugget novels, which I've enjoyed very much but have read twice each, hence this and my previous choice. In this case, it's much more gentle affair, set in a mythical small-town America that might exist somewhere. Overall, it reads like a pretty typical Silhouette/Harlequin/M&B category romance, but at about twice the length, it does drag a bit at times. Maybe some people like the "suspense" (there's no actual doubt about how it's going to end, of course); still despite this, I enjoyed being in this little world for a while. Again, I'll probably read the next book!

The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte (2014)

Yet another series starter! This time it's enjoyable albeit pretty standard stuff - she's sworn off men and is afraid to commit, he's not looking for a relationship - but padded out with some pretty spicy sex scenes. There's a bust-up that comes out of nowhere and seems designed to bring on the necessary third act, and I wasn't entirely happy about how submissive the heroine was sometimes, which seemed more like a male fantasy than a woman's. But what do I know? I'll probably find some more in this series too. But now it's time to read something a little bit more substantial.

Watching - August 2024

Big (1988)

Finding this in the book exchange at work (it also has DVDs) prompted me to watch it again. Tom Hanks is so good at portraying childlike innocence (he was 32 at the time!) that he carries the whole film and you really can't imagine it with someone else. Sweet and nicely downplayed throughout - the ending could have been a huge set piece but instead is small and more affecting for it. Obviously a sequel would completely spoil things but I do kind of want to know what happened after though!

Taskmaster (season 2, 2016)

K suggested we watch this together and although I'd never been that bothered before, I enjoyed it and it was a nice opportunity to watch something together. Very funny in place, silly in others - which is obviously the point. I find Greg Davies a bit pointless though - it's like someone thought they needed a "famous face", despite Alex Horne having completely developed the idea himself and taken it very successfully to the Edinburgh Fringe. Anyway, we're now watching season 3 (of 17!) with the whole family.

The Velvet Underground (2021)

I spent a lot of time listening to The Velvet Underground in my teens, so about twenty years after the albums were released. It seems like a fairly small length of time now in music terms but then it made them seem like they belonged to a different time. And they did - a completely different sensibility that produced occasional flashes of brilliance and large amounts of self-indulgent nonsense. Obviously no-one disputes the influence of The Velvet Underground, but they only lasted five years and despite the fact that their music holds many memories for me, I think you could comfortably reduce their worthwhile output to about half a dozen tracks. This probably accounts for the fact that this documentary is pretty light on actual material and dashes through all but the first album in about fifteen minutes. It was nice to hear it all again, and to hear the band members talk (everyone was very polite but clearly Lou Reed was a prick), but this wasn't that interesting and it was a bit of a grind.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Inspired by the Olympics recently, I rewatched one of my favourite films and then spent a very enjoyable few hours reading up the history behind it. Harold Abrahams never actually did the Great Court Run at Trinity College, but I found a video of Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram attempting it, as well as actual footage of Abrahams and Eric Liddell at the 1924 Olympics. I learned that Aubrey Montague was actually known as Evelyn and went to Oxford (not Cambridge), and that as a result he and Abrahams were rivals until later in life when they became friends (and also his letters in the film are almost verbatim from real ones he sent); and that Abrahams and Arthur Porritt, the New Zealander who came third in that 100m final ("Tom Watson" in the film) had dinner together every year on its anniversary for the next fifty years. I found a really interesting early draft of the script, which makes fascinating reading as an insight into how the film developed. And I concluded that the chances are that Eric Liddell would probably have beaten Abrahams in the 100m, although we can't know for sure as they only raced against each other twice, the second time being the 200m at the same Olympics, where Liddell won bronze, while Abrahams was sixth.

Hit Man (2023)

The setup seems far-fetched - university professor moonlights as fake hit man for the cops - but, incredibly, it's based on a true story, with surprisingly little of the inevitable dressing that Hollywood seems unable to resist adding. Glen Powell - who co-wrote, which I was quite impressed by - gets to showcase his versatility and act out a bit of a male fantasy, and it's an entertaining couple of hours without being particularly demanding. Although that said, it's not that many films that quote Nietzsche, Kant and Jung all in the same film.

A Family Affair (2024)

The dated and uncomfortable sight of a famous middle-aged actor playing the romantic lead to a woman twenty or more years his junior, without it ever being remarked upon in the film (i.e. so not technically an age-gap romance), is thankfully much less prevalent these days. I was inclined to regard this film as a step forward in that respect, as it has Nicole Kidman (57) embarking on an affair with Zac Efron (36), but as C said, why is that any better? Well, the age difference isn't ignored in the plot, and Efron isn't some unknown ingénue. In fact, you could argue that these two elements are crucial to the whole story. Efron is very amusing as a spoilt, none-too-bright but perhaps not entirely un-self-aware action movie star who embarks on an affair with his PA's mother. It's all surprisingly wholesome, actually, because I think (usual caveats about my ability to read subtext apply) it's mostly about finding your true love, regardless of what other people think. Funny in places, sweet in others, without being a huge amount of either, this was a pleasant watch.

That Pedal Show: Gibson ES-345 rewire (23 August 2024)

That Pedal Show is my favourite YouTube channel. They release a new video almost every Friday and I watch most of them, although I don't normally note it in this blog. I'm making an exception for this because it's effectively a two hour documentary. Yes, the subject matter is somewhat niche but this is one of the things that YouTube is good at - something that wouldn't be worth making for broadcast TV but that can find a worldwide audience on the internet. Anyway, this is excellently filmed, presented, edited and produced and - assuming you're interested in guitars in the first place - a surprisingly absorbing watch, despite not much happening.

Reading - August 2024

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013)

When I first picked this novel (in the book exchange at work) I thought the title meant that this was about people who are both crazy and rich. For some characters this is true - the ridiculous excesses of the over-privileged are never far from the storyline - but mostly it means that they are just incredibly wealthy. Regardless of the satirical elements though, the appeal for many surely will be in simply marvelling at the amazing wonders of the super-rich. Unfortunately, this tired quickly for me and Kwan's insistence on naming every possible designer and detailing every element of interior decor became heavily distracting, and the whole thing started to drag a bit. The story kept me going, as I wanted to see how it ended, but although the resolution was as expected - happy! - it was a bit sudden and unsatisfying at the end. I suspect there's more in the sequel, although I'm not going to bother too much about finding out.

The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith (2004)

Ostensibly this is a murder mystery, but I think that McCall Smith is just using that as a basic structure on which to hang a quiet study of a certain type of character and society. The cast is clearly being introduced for a series of novels and so there's a lot of scene-setting and not really much detection. The final conclusion is muted, even by McCall Smith's standards, and although there was kind of a twist, it didn't really meet the basic requirements of the genre. I might try and find the next book though.

Chariots of Fire (second draft) by Colin Welland (1980)

It's hard to be objective about the differences between this early draft and the final result, as it's one of my favourite films and I wouldn't change much about it. However, one thing that has occasionally struck me is that there isn't much anti-semitism in the film itself, and if you're not looking for it (or, arguably, if you're not Jewish) you might completely miss it. Most mentions come from Harold Abrahams himself, talking about how he experiences it. But in real life I'm pretty certain it was a lot more prevalent; anti-semitism was an accepted, establishment position (still is, in some areas of British life, and I'm not talking about the far right). This draft includes a lot more explicit prejudice, and that shows more clearly what Abrahams was reacting to. So maybe keeping that in might have made sense. On the other hand, there's a whole set of scenes in which the US coach tells his team that they need to avoid the temptations of the Paris night-life and "nocturnal emissions" because it will sap their strength, which feels like it comes from a completely different film, like a 1920s-set Porky's or something, and was rightly cut!

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (2023)

There are probably useful ideas and insights aplenty in this book but the writing is not interesting enough to warrant wading through to find them, and the perpetuation of various flavours of bullshit is something I find borderline offensive. I almost gave up early on when Rubin delivered his own spin on the hoary old "there are some things science will never understand" ridiculousness, but when he started advising people to trust their gut instincts rather than experts when it comes to career and life decisions, because apparently it always works out for the best - well, I'd had enough. It's nice that Rubin's life has been successful, but as is too often in these cases, it's mostly down to luck, not superior instincts. And don't get me started on the tired old "artists are tortured souls, which is why they take drugs" garbage. (Note that these are not actual quotes, I'm just summarising the impression I got)

Watching - July 2024

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)

The credits say "based on books written by Michael J. Fox" and there's nothing here that I wasn't familiar with from my previous reading, particularly the excellent Lucky Man. But reading about it is one thing; seeing it is another. Fox has spent over thirty years with his diagnosis but it's still a bit of a shock, for me at least, as someone unfamiliar with Parkinson's, to see the extent of how he's changed - and yet how he is the same. What's also really interesting is looking back at some of his roles from the early 90s onwards and being able to see the signs once you know what to look for. I could have done without the dramatic reconstructions (although whoever they used for Fox really caught the way he moves) and the way it edited in lots of shots from his films, but nevertheless it was interesting, engaging and affecting.

Our Welsh Chapel Dream (2024)

By turns amusing and slightly bewildering: the scale of the work that everyone's favourite lachrymose potter Keith Brymer Jones and his partner Marj have given themselves - to restore the enormous Welsh chapel they bought in 2022 - is incredible, let alone that they're basically doing it themselves on a fairly shoe-string budget. But they are amazingly good natured about it (at least on camera) and it's good to see them attempting it. Despite being only four episodes long, there's a little bit of a feeling of the material being stretched a bit thin. But I would watch another season as they are good company and I'd love to know how it turns out!

Pillow Talk (1959)

I watched Down With Love a while ago and while I'm no film buff, it was clear even to me that its inspiration was this Doris Day and Rock Hudson classic. And since it popped up on iPlayer, I thought I'd remind myself how the original was. As one of the landmark "battle of the sexes" romcoms, it has earned its place in history, but by modern standards it's a bit tame - entertaining enough to pass the time but now superseded. And surely only a few years away from having a warning at the start telling us that scenes in the film "reflect attitudes of the time" - for example, the ending, in which (spoiler alert) Hudson breaks into Day's apartment, yanks her out of bed and basically kidnaps her, only for her to melt as soon as he mentions the word "marriage", is a bit unappetising.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)

Fourth time of watching, this time with K, as I insisted she would like it (she did).

Staged (series 1-3, 2020-2022)

I finally got round to watching this after having been told, separately, by two of my kids how good it was. And it is. The willingness of David Tennant, Michael Sheen and, in particular, director Simon Evans to make themselves look stupid in the name of comedy is great. It might be a somewhat tired cliché to have the men behaving like overgrown children while their womenfolk are responsible adults, but nevertheless it works here and provides plenty of comedy. And it's short - a much needed attribute of TV series I think. The first series was the best, while the second and third became decreasingly focussed and increasingly meta, but still enjoyable to watch.

Meeting People Is Easy (1998)

I must have bought this over twenty years ago but I've never watched it until now, and much as I love Radiohead's music, I don't think I've been missing anything. I can see what they were trying to do, and the point is made - the dehumanising, absurd nature of promoting and touring rock music - but it's not particularly enjoyable or enlightening. Maybe I would have enjoyed it or engaged with it more at the time; maybe now I just don't want to be challenged (I mean, look at the crap I normally watch). Incidentally you can now watch it for free at the Radiohead Public Library (which I have just discovered and is superb).

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

A boys' evening out with Z started with excellent fish & chips in a local park and then a nice helping of ludicrously over-the-top, very gory violence. Ryan Reynolds is of course very funny and I was laughing throughout (including at the line "What the MacGuffin is that?", which literally no-one else in the cinema reacted to), but as a whole, the film was a bit silly. I enjoyed our evening out very much though.

Reading - July 2024

Portable Magic by Emma Smith (2022)

An amusing and diverting history, discussion and discursion of books as physical objects, as opposed to their contents.  Although this is available via the library's (excellent) e-book service, I made it a point to reserve and then read a physical copy, as to do otherwise would seem wrong somehow!

50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee (2015)

I chose this mainly because of the amusing title. It's a regency romance, and in fairness, there's slightly more period flavour than you get with The Duke and I (the first Bridgerton novel). More of it is played for laughs than I expected, there's less romance and the ending is a bit sudden. Still, not a bad way to pass the time.

The Love Algorithm by Claudia Carroll (2022)

Not exactly a romance, more a gentle comedy about friendships. Ignore the vagueness about the central plot device (a dating app that seems to just magically work), and it's a sweet story.

White Picket Fences by Tara Taylor Quinn (2000)

Undemanding and familiar reading for when I'm feeling ill (which is now, just for clarity).

A Snowball in Hell by Christopher Brookmyre (2008)

Another book I know very well. I can see why the lengthy exposition might annoy some people but I like it.

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie (1934)

One of the benefits of being ill is having lots of time to read and I finished this in a day - although in fairness, this is a very short book. (And in fairness to me, it was the second book I read that day!) A bit whodunnit, a bit thriller, not the most impenetrable Christie plot ever, but easy to read.

Good Pop Bad Pop by Jarvis Cocker (2022)

We join the patron saint of every indie misfit who dreams of stardom as he goes through a stash of his own memorabilia. There's nothing here of intrinsic value and much that it outright tat, but of course it's all rescued by the stories it prompts. It's all so very ... Jarvis. I don't have anything against him (I love Pulp's mid-90s albums and it's impossible not to admire his sheer persistence and individualism) but sometimes he feels like a cliché of himself. That doesn't stop this book being a fantastic, entertaining read. (side note: I got this from my Secret Santa last December and I feel slightly sheepish now at having waited so long to get round to it, so, if you're reading this, thank you very much and sorry!)

The Times Style Guide edited by Ian Brunskill (2017)

I don't write professionally as much as I used to, but even so I like a good style guide. This has much that is very sensible and even if I disagree with the occasional stylistic choice (e.g. I don't like "eg"), it would make a good ready-made basis for a team to use.

Crumb by Richard Bertinet (2019)

A new bread book! Well, new to me, anyway - and the first time I've read one for ages. I chose this because it was the only one available in the library, but Bertinet has done a few, and he also has videos on YouTube that are refreshingly straightforward (too many bread videos on YT are all clickbait titles and zero content). I like his approach and I might even try a sourdough again. However, as usual, most of the book is made up of recipes that are variations on the same thing. Bonus points for including a challah recipe, but minus points for adding butter to it (you can't add dairy to a bread intended to be eaten at a kosher table).

Watching - June 2024

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Better than the original? I prefer it, I think. Great modern blockbuster film-making.

Bullet Train (2022)

Preposterous but broadly amusing action comedy. Z suggested it and so we watched it together, and it was a nice evening to spend together, you know, with people being violently killed and stuff. The characters are good and overall it was very watchable, despite the inherent ridiculousness of the plot. Z later showed me this explainer video about it, which draws comparisons with Guy Ritchie films and may be why it reminded me of ...

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

The great britpop/lad/geezah film, in my uninformed opinion. Tightly plotted, well acted (mostly - Vinnie Jones and Sting are passable for non-actors but still a bit wooden) and very cool, in a slightly disturbing way. Watched with Z, since given he liked the previous film, I thought he might like this (which he did).

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Easy watching with plenty of funny moments and a couple of touching ones too.

Wimbledon (2004)

Look, I just like it, OK?

Tenet (2020)

Predictably mind-bending stuff from Christopher Nolan, very entertaining and mostly followable if you concentrate, which is good because I came close to losing the thread and hence my enjoyment - usually when Kenneth Branagh appeared, because he made the casting unbalanced; he's so recognisable it pulled me out my immersion in the film. Of course, like all time travel plots, it doesn't really bear too much analysis but that's OK.

Elemental (2023)

Time was when any Pixar film was a must-watch with the family, but it's taken almost exactly a year since its release for us to watch this together - and I didn't even know about it until a couple of months ago. Despite being visually as enticing as always, I found this a little lacklustre. Much as I enjoy a romcom, I couldn't get into this attraction of opposites story because of the heavy-handedness of the symbolism.

Reading - June 2024

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926)

An old friend, read many times since my teens, but still a good plot, well told, and a great (and innovative at the time) twist ending that, going by the reviews on Good Reads, can still surprise almost 100 years later.

The Break-Up Clause by Niamh Hargan (2023)

A straightforward and enjoyable enemies-to-friends romance with a slightly implausible initial premise, albeit one that didn't spoil anything.

Reading - May 2024

Teacher, Teacher! by Jack Sheffield (2007)

I found this on the shelves of the book exchange at work and have been reading a chapter at a time, a couple of lunchtimes a week. It's quite an episodic style, described on the cover as "Heartbeat for teachers" - although personally I'd say it was basically All Creatures Great and Small set in a school, but perhaps that's not a current enough reference. Anyway, it bears all the signs of a first-time writer (too many adjectives and unnecessarily detailed background information) but is nevertheless amusing, sweet and nostalgic. Apparently there are another nine books in this series!

Not The End Of The World by Christopher Brookmyre (1998)

A brilliant, tightly-plotted, righteous takedown of organised religion and in particular US fundamentalist Christians. Spot on in every respect of course. Hugely entertaining and deserves to be much better known - I keep recommending Brookmyre's earlier output since no-one I speak to appears to have heard of him!

Bright Lights, Dark Shadows by Carl Magnus Palm (2008)

Originally published in 2002, so a couple of years after the initial success of Mamma Mia! on stage, and well before the film, this was apparently the first serious book about Abba. It's comprehensive without being trainspotter-y or boring, and really brings out the unique nature of not just their music but their history, and why they sounded like they did and achieved what they did. Really interesting - although I'd love to read a more recent edition to see if it's been updated in the light of Voyage, since Palm confidently predicts in the book that they will never reunite!

The Wichita Lineman by Dylan Jones (2019)

One of the wonderful things about Jimmy Webb's classic song "Wichita Lineman", and in particular Glen Campbell's original and definitive recording, is that it manages to say so much about love and heartache in so few words. You might now be able to guess where I'm going with this review! At its core, this book strikes me as a decent, in-depth magazine article for something like Mojo, but with a lot of padding inserted to make it into a short book. As a result, it kind of misses the point, because there's far too much here that's not about the song itself - probably because, once you've quoted Webb and Campbell themselves, there's not that much to say (unless you want to get into the technical aspects of the song and recording itself, which Jones doesn't and in fairness would be a different book). Ultimately, this failed the main criterion I set any book about music: it didn't make me want to go and listen again, even though I love the song.

Bloodhounds by Peter Lovesey (1996)

I picked this up at the book exchange at work while looking for something to read during lunch, primarily because I vaguely recognised the author's name. I hadn't read any of his books before, but I will look for more, as this is a very good murder mystery. I think the twist at the end is somewhat implausible, but the story is well told and the central character - detective Peter Diamond - an appealing character who I am pleased to find features in at least a dozen more of Lovesey's books. Off to the library I go!

Watching - May 2024

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (season 2, 2014-2015)

It's a bit too easy to just carry on watching these conveniently bite-sized episodes (20 minutes each) rather than get on with something worthwhile, but it's still good quality. I thought the first few episodes were a little flat but the season soon picked up. Of course I love the Jake/Amy story arc, but I'm less keen on the sudden twist at the very end, which seemed a little unnecessary.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Felt like watching this again for some reason. Of course it's a classic, but the final redemption scenes are ludicrously improbable when you actually think about the timeline involved, even in the context of a universe that has a time loop in it.

From Russia With Love (1963)

Dated - or is "of its time" a better phrase? Disjointed and slow by modern standards, it nevertheless entertained me enough to keep me watching. I can't remember why I chose it though!

Eurovision Song Contest 2024 - Grand Final (2024)

I've watched this every year for as long as I can remember, and not in an ironic, "so bad it's good way", or in a kitsch, "let's all have a Eurovision party" way either, just because I'm interested and it's entertaining. Every year there's something to laugh with, marvel at, possibly even learn from. All the kids watch with us when they're around too (and which they were this year), which is nice . Unfortunately, it's a rare year when there's a song I'd listen to again, but hey, we can't have everything! 2024 gave us some great staging (Portugal and Switzerland stick in the memory), inexplicable voting results (Switzerland again, I can't understand why it was so universally rated by the juries), passable music (I quite enjoyed the UK entry) and, yes, utterly bonkers moments (thank you, Finland) - basically, business as usual. And, as usual, it ended with something of an anti-climax: the winner clear from quite early on, but it was not clear why. Oh well. Back next year!

The King's Speech (2010)

A classy, well-made, simple but moving drama about a friendship. Of course some aspects are simplified or, well, just made up for the sake of a story arc but it doesn't spoil the story for me at all. Lovely stuff and rightly rewarded in the Oscars.

Big Hero 6 (2015)

Z was watching this the other day so I thought I would like to see it again. Nothing complicated but a decent story and fun to watch. Nice cameo from Stan Lee in the end credits scene, which I'm not sure I'd seen before!

Baymax! (2022)

The end credits of Big Hero 6 seem to be leading to a sequel, but so far this series of six shorts is the only one. Entertaining but, well, short!

Crusty white rolls

Fresh, crusty white rolls are one of my favourite things but homemade ones can taste a little bland - but I'm not sure what shop-bought ones add in and I probably don't want to know. I've found that with a little extra work, I can get something that tastes good but doesn't have anything unwanted in it.

The day before baking

The day before you make the rolls, ideally in the morning but in the evening if you forget, make a simple starter. The idea of this is to give the rolls a bit more taste and texture that you won't get otherwise, but without the effort of maintaining a sourdough starter.

Ingredients

• 125g strong white flour
• ¼ tsp (approx 1g) dried yeast
• 150g lukewarm water

Method

1. Mix the flour and yeast together.
2. Add the water and mix well to a smooth batter.
3. Cover and leave until Friday morning. If you want to have a peek a few hours later, you'll see it bubbling nicely.
4. Optional: give it another good mix on Thursday evening.

Baking day

On Friday morning, make the rolls:

Ingredients

• 375g strong white flour (plus a little more for the work surface)
• 7g dried yeast
• 5g caster sugar (about 1 tsp)
• 10g salt
• 180g lukewarm water (plus a little more if needed)
• olive oil for kneading and lining the bowl

Method

1. Mix the flour, yeast and sugar together in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the middle of ingredients and pour in the starter from yesterday.
3. Gently combine the starter with the flour, keeping it in the well in middle, to make a sponge. Leave the sponge for about half an hour.
• You're trying to get the batter a little thicker but still leave dry ingredients round the edge. 
4. Mix the salt and water together in a jug and add to the sponge, and mix it all together into a dough. It should be firm but not too dry, so add a little more water if needed.
5. Kneading: either take the traditional route:
1. Knead the dough for 10 minutes on an oiled surface.
2. Shape the dough into a ball.
3. Clean the bowl, add a little oil to it and put the dough into the bowl.
6. Or the lazy person's way:
1. Mix the dough into a rough ball in the bowl, cover and leave for 10 minutes.
2. Knead the dough for about 30 seconds on an oiled surface, then make it into a ball; clean the bowl and oil it and put the dough back in and leave for 10 minutes.
3. Knead again for 30 seconds, make into a ball and leave in the bowl for 10 minutes.
4. Knead again for 30 seconds, make into a ball and leave in the bowl for 30 minutes.
5. Knead for 30 seconds one last time, make into a ball and place back in the bowl.
7. Leave the dough to rise for 1-2 hours, depending on conditions.
• The usual suggestion is "until doubled in size" but this step is not particularly time-sensitive, so it can be left longer if necessary.
8. Optional: knock the dough back and place back in the bowl for another hour or so.
• In theory this enhances the flavour and texture, although it will probably make the final rise slower. It also depends on how long you left it in the previous step!
9. Line a baking tray or two with greaseproof paper.
10. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, make each into a little ball and dust with flour, then place on the baking trays. Leave enough space between them so they won't touch when they rise. Leave to rise for about 1-2 hours.
• When they're ready, they should bounce back a little if you poke them gently with a finger.
• The rolls will rise quite a bit in the oven, so don't worry too much if they look a bit small right now.
11. Bake for about 25-30 minutes in the oven at 210 C (fan).
12. Take out when they're a light golden brown and well-baked on the outside. Leave to cool on a rack.

Watching - April 2024

Flat Pack Pop: Sweden's Music Miracle (2019)

A brief look at the history of Denniz Pop and Cheiron Studios, and their influence in the last couple of decades. Like the more detailed look in The Song Machine, it has a tendency to overstate how dominant their productions were (yes, I know Max Martin is ridiculously successful but there's still 95% of the chart that isn't made by him) but in a one hour documentary I suppose some corners have to be cut. Interesting but could really do with being a series - and by reducing Max Martin's subsequent success to the last ten minutes, it missed a significant part of the real story, to my mind.

Twins (1989)

Apparently, because Schwarzenegger and Devito took a slice of the profits, this ended up being one of their biggest paychecks - it was a big hit. Looking back now, it's a little hard to understand why: it's a pleasant enough film, with some mildly amusing moments. I hadn't seen it in literally decades and it was kind of fun to see it again.

Free Guy (2021)

I've watched this several times and I'd watch it again, mainly for Ryan Reynolds. This time, let's focus on Hollywood's ludicrous portrayal of "l33t hax0r skillz" - myriad windows popping up all over the place, fancy code visualisation graphics, a few taps on the keyboard to completely reprogram a game and then, just to really cap it all, a DOS prompt. FFS. (fwiw, a real programmer has open: one IDE, one Linux terminal, and multiple Stack Overflow tabs)

What If? (2023-)

I've been watching this channel for a few months now, and it's an on-going thing (videos are released at varying intervals), but I had to give it a mention. Each video is a few minutes long, and takes a question from xkcd's What If? archives and animates it, with a voice-over from Randall himself. Yes, they're just replays of what you could read online but they're sweet little videos. Worth a watch.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 1, 2013)

Despite having watched this about two years ago, I only remembered about half of it, which is odd, because it's very funny. Maybe that says more about me ... anyway, I wanted something to watch that's enjoyable and not too demanding, and I've never got past this first season. So here goes!

Reading - April 2024

The Déjà Glitch by Holly James (2023)

I love a time loop film, but one of the common features that has always bothered me is that at the end, everyone seems to be best friends with the person who's finally learned their lesson - even though they've only just met him that day! (as far as they're concerned anyway) This story is mainly from the other side of that relationship, which I don't think I've seen before, and it is surprisingly plausible (within the boundaries of a universe that has a time loop in it, of course). It's also a very readable and enjoyable contemporary romance.

Martin Simpson - Live

St. Mary's Church, Twyford

13 April, 2024

I have to admit, folk doesn't usually do much for me. As music, it's rarely interesting or exciting enough to keep me listening for long, and as for the words - well, lyrics aren't really my thing and in any case, the subject matter of folk songs is rarely something that I find engaging. But when a friend mentioned this concert, it seemed like a good opportunity to re-examine my prejudices and, at the very least, see one of Britain's most accomplished and legendary acoustic guitarists, in a beautiful, atmospheric venue only ten minutes from my house.

A fine specimen

Well, I'm afraid I'm no more enthusiastic about folk music afterwards, but it says something that when the gig ended, I was impressed to find that almost two-and-a-half hours had passed. Martin Simpson is an amazing guitarist and a seasoned pro who can easily keep an audience entertained with stories between songs, and the time only started dragging right at the end. Simpson's playing on his gorgeous Taran Tirga Mhor fan-fret acoustic was stellar, and the sound in the church was wonderful: clear and balanced and just the right volume.

I was surprised that there weren't any instrumentals, as I think it would have varied the pacing and dynamics of the set (and my companions at the gig confirmed that he usually features two or three). I wasn't surprised at the political opinions: Simpson is predictably left wing and got a few predictable cheers from predictable comments. I'm broadly sympathetic to such positions but I feel that these sound-bites cheapen the discussion and are out of place - yes, even at a gig like this, which might contain protest songs. Thankfully there wasn't much of it.

Overall, I'm pleased I got to see such a distinguished guitarist in the flesh, as I'm unlikely to do so again and certainly not so conveniently!

Reading - March 2024

An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain by John O'Farrell (2009)

A concise and surprisingly effective primer to the last 60 (ish) years. As befits the author of Things Can Only Get Better, this is broadly more sympathetic to the centre-left, politically, but doesn't spare the Labour governments either. In between the jokes, there's a lot of actual history being conveyed. Very entertaining, if - as per the title - a little exasperating when you look back at the opportunities missed. But, as I mentioned in my review of Stewart Maconie's superb The Nanny State Made Me, the people get what the people vote for.

Totally Wired: The Rise and Fall of the Music Press by Paul Gorman (2023)

In which an interesting subject is made tedious and dull. I think Gorman's attempts to be comprehensive have completely hamstrung any sense of a real story - indeed, the "fall" is covered in a mere handful of pages - and instead we get an unfocussed ramble through myriad minor titles and names. I managed to finish it with a last final push over a few hours but blimey it was hard work. One for the charity shop.

Stompbox created by Eilon Paz; edited by Dan Epstein and James Rotundi (2021)

I love playing with effect pedals and find the subject really interesting. But the ostensible raison d'être of Stompbox - 100 of the "greatest guitarists" discuss their favourite pedal, accompanied by a photo of said item - occupies less than half of this book. The rest is a collection of articles that are mildly interesting but don't add anything new to the subject. I feel that anyone sufficiently interested in pedals to want to read the first half of the book will already know all the information in the latter half. A much slimmer volume that just had the players and their pedals would have been much better, although presumably couldn't warrant the same price. It also has to be said that although there are some genuine greats amongst the players included, there are some choices clearly only here to make up the numbers. So was it worth it? Well ... not really. It's an interesting diversion but ultimately this book is not worth the expensive, luxurious and ostentatiously heavy coffee table treatment.

Love Again (originally Text for You) by Sofie Cramer (2009)

I read this after watching the film and while it's the same basic plot - man gets texts on his new phone number from a woman writing to her dead boyfriend - the overall feel is very different. While the film is a slightly tongue-in-cheek romcom about finding new love, the book is a more serious examination of the grieving process - a romance still, but one with a bit more depth. Despite that, I found it a little unengaging. Perhaps it's because it's been translated from the original German (SMS für Dich), perhaps because it feels like there are missing scenes; one recurring feature of the narrative is to describe how a main character feels about something that happened earlier, "off camera", as it were, rather than actually including the scene itself. The big emotional break up then reconciliation is curiously muted too. And there's no Céline Dion!

Fingers Crossed by Miki Berenyi (2022)

I always look for good reviews on a book cover as I've learned that if no-one has anything nice to say about it, there's probably a reason. However, Fingers Crossed comes with so many laudatory quotes from both heavyweight publications and reliable insiders, both on the cover (front and back) as well as inside, that it's a bit intimidating. What if I don't like it? Thankfully, this is not a problem here. Miki Berenyi writes fluently, with admirable clarity, and dispassionately lays out the facts of her life leading up to and during her time with her band, Lush. It's not an ordinary story by any means. The stories from her childhood are saddening but provide a necessary context for her life later, while her insights into the sexism and exploitation at the heart of the music industry at the time (and almost certainly still) are not revelations but no less disheartening for all that. And yet throughout she comes across as well-balanced - helped, dare I say, by a quarter of a century's perspective and the grounding of a subsequent normal life and family. It's a really good read and I don't think you'd have to be a fan of Lush to enjoy it. I'm happy to know she's OK. And finally, a very, very slight personal connection: me and my friend Pat once had a beer in the World's End in Camden with Chris Acland, Lush's drummer. He was lovely and bought us chips, which, given that he was probably more broke than we were, was a nice thing to do.

Notting Hill by Richard Curtis (1999)

I've kept this for 25 years primarily because Hugh Grant's afterword is so funny, and because some of the deleted scenes are interesting. I read it this time to complement the film.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest (2023)

Enjoyable contemporary romance, readable and believable.

Watching - March 2024

Finding Dory (2016)

A slightly lowest common denominator choice of family movie time on a Saturday evening (I think we got Google to choose a random letter and then this was the only film we could all agree on), but everyone enjoyed it, there's lots going on and the animation is, as always, incredible. Probably wouldn't feature on anyone's list of favourite Pixar films (it is, after all, a sequel) but still fine.

Love Again (2023)

This romcom is either cheesy or tongue-in-cheek - or perhaps both. It was primarily made in London and features mostly British actors (albeit nearly all doing US accents), which makes me hope that it's the latter, because if it's serious then it misses the mark. That said, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is very good and the fact that one scene features her husband Nick Jonas in a cameo as a vain, hookup-obsessed bro is also a little sign that maybe it's not taking itself too seriously. Factor in the entertaining supporting cast, and, despite a somewhat predictable plot, I found myself laughing a lot more than perhaps it deserved - enough that I can even forgive it featuring Céline Dion (who in fairness seems entirely in on the joke and well up for gently mocking herself ... probably).

Fast & Furious (2009)

Obviously, ludicrously excessive, but surely that's the point. Vin Diesel broods nicely; presumably he's contractually forbidden from smiling, or maybe it just doesn't suit him. The cars charge around excitingly; there are noticeably more US models this time, mostly 70s muscle cars, improbably capable of keeping up with modern Japanese hot-rods. And there are scantily clad women randomly dotted around; the producers know their market! The plot's not terrible, the acting's OK and there is real suspense even though obviously everything is going to work out. Brainless fun for the fifteen year old in me.

Dash & Lily (2020)

Having enjoyed the book, I started the series a bit before Christmas but haven't finished until now - which, given that it is very much seasonally-themed, makes it a bit odd now it's spring. The plot device is the same, of course, but the series doesn't follow the book much at all - but that doesn't detract from the overall sweet feel. What does, though, is the fact that the two main actors are clearly in their mid-to-late twenties, playing seventeen year-olds. Still cute and watchable though. (side note: the second thing I've watched this month to feature Nick Jonas in a cameo. What are the odds?)

Notting Hill (1999)

I love this film - I've seen it many, many times, first in the cinema of course (although I have no recollection of this), then on VHS, then on DVD and now streaming - but that's despite its many flaws. Mostly, it's the loose ends that annoy me. Why does Tony crop up occasionally for no reason? How come Honey and Spike suddenly end up together? What's Martin's story? Why does Bella suddenly mention that she and Max can't have children? I have the book of the script (which includes a hilarious afterword from Hugh Grant) and these are all explained (apart from the really weird thing with Honey and Spike) by the deleted scenes that are included; it's all background that was cut, for time, pacing or other reasons. So the question is: what the fuck is it still doing in the finished film? Even the author admits that Bella's admission "does rather leap out of nowhere". Oh well. It's still a modern fairy tale, as Curtis describes it - or, more accurately, a modern, male fantasy.

Apollo 13 (1995)

Hard to believe this film's almost thirty years old! Because of its setting, it doesn't date in the same way that, say, Notting Hill does, and of course it's brilliantly made. There's a few minor changes in the name of fitting everything in just over two hours, but I've read Jim Lovell's book Lost Moon and this is pretty close. A classic.

Baby Driver (2017)

I don't follow film news or pay much attention to what's out, so I only learned about Baby Driver about a year after it came out, while reading an old Empire magazine at the doctors. I think the fact that it is directed by Edgar Wright is what really grabbed my interest, otherwise I'm not sure I would have been bothered about a fairly standard heist movie. It's gripping though, particularly the first two-thirds or so, and the music is wound into the action very nicely. The overall ending is a bit anti-climactic, although it's nice to see Baby (Ansel Elgort, very good) and Debora (the divine Lily James) meet up again at the very end.

Barbie (2023)

The concept of mixing a fluffy Hollywood comedy with a feminist polemic must have been a hard sell but it's a winning combination. The points about the unrealistic expectations imposed on women and the role of patriarchal institutions in upholding that are a bit sledgehammer but obviously needed. What's surprising is the way that Mattel have allowed Barbie, and themselves, to be identified as culpable for this. Anyway, there's reams and reams of commentary available online if you want better informed opinions. I thought it was lots of fun and very, very clever, albeit slightly uncomfortable watching while sitting in the same room as my teenage daughter shouting "that's right, that's what all men do!" (I've tried telling her that she doesn't understand what "mansplaining" actually means but she won't listen for some reason.)

Watching - February 2024

WALL·E (2008)

Such a sweet film. I'm sure there are many references for film buffs that I won't pick up, but even so the ability to produce a story about two robots falling in love is just so impressive, and WALL-E him(?)self is such lovely character.

Rocketman (2019)

Obviously not intended as a biography, exactly, nor not one either - a very broad brush interpretation of Elton John's life that aims at the truth in a wider sense. As a result, while very entertaining and setting the songs very well, it feels a bit scattered. possibly because it's a real life rather than a story with a beginning, middle and end. Full marks for including all the more controversial elements of his life though, and credit to Taron Egerton for a superb performance.

Love at First Sight (2023)

I thought K would like this, and so I finally got her to sit down and watch it - and she (perhaps slightly reluctantly) admitted she did enjoy it.

Doc Hollywood (1991)

Yeah, I've watched it too many times, but it's still worth it for the scene where Lou and Ben dance to  Patsy Cline's "Crazy", never quite kissing. One of my favourite movie moments.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

I've been curious to know what it is about this film that has managed to generate nine sequels (so far), but my interest was finally really piqued when an episode of Inside Cinema (a great series of short films by the BBC about, well, cinema) mentioned that it was essentially Point Break, but with cars. Well, I like Point Break so that settled it. It was inspired by an article about street racing in New York, but moved to the west coast, and I can see the appeal: fast cars, a soundtrack that I'm pretty certain we'd call "bangin'" and plenty of babes in bikinis. What's not to like if you're a teenage boy? Ultimately though, there's not that much to it, but Vin Diesel is surprisingly good (even if he's no Patrick Swayze) and some of the car chases are fun.

Speed (1994)

A classic thriller that somehow I have managed never to have seen before. Deeply implausible, of course, but that's kind of the point - it's solidly in the vein of Die Hard and that sort of thing. Keanu does his Keanu thing and Sandra Bullock does well in a role that basically requires her to look scared most of the time. 

Forces of Nature (1999)

Largely forgettable travel/buddy movie. Some funny moments, but didn't seem to be quite sure what sort of film it was. (Roger Ebert's review is spot on, btw)

Cool Runnings (1993)

This is such a feel-good story and so it's a bit of a disappointment to learn that it is really only loosely based on the real events. I was more surprised to find that all the actors were American. Still, none of this really spoils what's a classic family film and one that everyone should watch (although my kids, in what is apparently now a family "joke", refuse to watch it on the grounds that I keep telling them they would enjoy it. Ha. Ha. Ha.)

Ready Player One (2018)

I was blown away by this in the cinema, in 3D and it saddens me a bit that I'm unlikely to see it like that again. Nevertheless, it's a good film. I miss the detail and background that you get with the book though, and some of the more Hollywood moments are, well, a bit lame.

Long Story Short (2021)

An obvious, slap-you-round-the-face moral and Rafe Spall apparently attempting to impersonate David Brent at times, still didn't stop me enjoying this simple time-travel(ish) story about making the most of your life. Perhaps there's something for us all to learn from that (he says, having just spent the evening watching a low budget Australian romcom).

Animal House (1978)

I watched this because I hadn't seen it in a long time and my subscription to Sky Cinema runs out in few days. Amusing in places, silly in more, and an interesting example of how a film that breaks boundaries (as I believe it did) can end up looking a bit pedestrian with the passage of time.

One Day (2024)

Sometimes more is not more.

Plus One (2019)

A little bit romcom by numbers but watchable and nice at the end.

Moana (2016)

Family singalong fun.

Reading - February 2024

The Truth by Terry Pratchett (2000)

My first Discworld book in nearly a year! I think I might be more than half way now. Anyway, this is a satire of the press and, if I remember Terry's back story correctly, more personally informed than most. There's some of the usual trenchant observations and pointed comments, along with a plot that is pretty standard Pratchett fare.

One Day (2024)

Sometimes more is not more

Comparing this new adaptation with the 2011 film is a fascinating example of why, so often, less is more. The temptation to make it a series is obvious: all those great scenes from the novel could be included, there's more time for deep background on the characters, and the very deliberate episodic nature of the novel would seem tailor-made for adaptation to a series. Unfortunately, more time to fill doesn't mean that the story is improved. While the book can explain the characters' inner motives and feelings (even those they don't themselves understand), and the film has to imply them to save time (the first two years occupy less than ten minutes on screen), the series can't have the characters explain why they are acting the way they are, but can't get away with leaving those scenes out.

In the original book (and film, come to that), it was clear that, despite their differences, Emma and Dexter actually liked each other from the beginning. In this version, it's barely implied, let alone demonstrated. Dexter is a charmless, arrogant arse and there's no sense of why anyone, let alone an intelligent woman like Emma, would put up with him for more than about ten minutes. We don't see any times when they enjoyed each other's company because it seems only bad things happened on 15 July in their lives - but we see too much of those, and so without the good times shown, it becomes somewhat unbalanced.

I persevered because I really enjoyed the book (and the film too) and was willing this to improve, but here, the material has been stretched too thinly across too many episodes and I gave up just over half way through. I know that eventually (spoiler alert) they do get together, and that the appeal for many will be the building anticipation, but it needs more than the knowledge that this will happen in episode 12 or whatever to keep me interested. It also reminded me why I don't like series - they take too much time and, in this case, it was too dramatic for my tastes, for not enough emotional return.