Watching - March 2025

Titanic (1997)

I've always found this film fascinating, but I'm not sure I can explain why. It's spectacular still, even on a small screen, and the story at its centre is affecting despite being hokey teen angst. I don't really subscribe to the idea of "guilty pleasures" (at least not with respect to mainstream films or music, if you get off on puppy snuff flicks then you definitely have a guilty pleasure) but this comes close as I feel vaguely embarrassed about liking it.

The Good Place (seasons 1-4, 2016-2020)

I fancied watching this again and once I'd started, I binged right through it (my kids are very proud of me). It's ideal for this, for me - nice short episodes, funny but not too silly, and has a definite ending that isn't delayed too long (four seasons is entirely reasonable). The original concept is brilliant, of course, and if it gets a little lost around the middle of season two and beginning of season three, then it's still funny and once the end is in sight, it has a clear message that I like and found touching all over again.

The Incredibles (2004)

Something reminded me that I hadn't watched this for absolutely ages, so I got to enjoy it all over again. Great stuff. I also love the way the short that goes with it (Jack Jack Attack) links in with the events of the main film.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Well, I had to watch the second one. Not quite as memorable as the first but entertainingly over-the-top. And the short (Auntie Edna) is great too.

Virgin River (season 1, 2019)

Just so we're clear, objectively, this is melodramatic rubbish - and I knew it would be before I started watching it. But I thought I'd try it, since I've been enjoying the books so much. Of course there are differences, but that's OK - mostly. The novels have many recurring characters and story arcs that cross from one book to another, but the main relationship in each book has a definite beginning, a middle and, crucially, a happy ending. I can't stress how important this is. The TV series doesn't do this, and so, for me, breaks a fundamental contract with the viewer. I'm sure eventually the main characters do get together but I'm not prepared to be teased and tantalised forever with a "will they, won't they" story line, so I'm out.

Le Mans '66 (2019)

A great story, well told. Can't say fairer than that!

Reading - March 2025

Stephen Fry in America by Stephen Fry (2008)

The book of the series, although I didn't know either existed until I found this in a charity shop. The series is six, hour-long episodes, which given that there are 50 states to cover presumably means that each state is given similarly cursory coverage as it is in the book - sometimes barely only a few pages. This means that this never really gets off the ground as an immersive experience. It's an amusing read in places though. Maybe the TV series was better.

Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr (2007)

Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr (2007)

A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr (2008)

Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr (2008)

These books are easy to read and while I could pick holes in setting. the characters and the storylines, they are well told and compelling enough to keep me reading to find out how it all plays out. By the second book (Shelter Mountain) the author is obviously setting up a world, so we get a lot more people introduced and it becomes a bit of a soap opera, but actually that makes it more interesting, and the small-town-America ("hokey Americana" in the words of one reviewer), while including more grittiness than you might expect, is nevertheless clearly idealised - but still appeals to me in a weird way. The way that new characters keep turning up - someone's cousin's second brother's ex - only to immediately fall in love with each other is a bit predictable but obviously that's part of the genre. But they are a nice diversion from the very long non-fiction book I have on the go at the moment!

Be My Enemy by Christopher Brookmyre (2004)

Brilliant plotting, some great scenes (the one where a guy accidentally chops his own head off is - I promise - hilarious) and superbly painted characters. In fact - just like all Christopher Brookmyre books. I do hope he returns to it some time.

Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr (2009)

Sweet and romantic, as usual. I also like that, as well as the core romance, there's other relationships forming in the background, which go across books. The main setting is of course the same and possibly over-familiar now. But I have to admit I have the next one reserved already ... don't worry, only another thirteen to go!

Sound on Sound: Classic Tracks by various authors (2003-2024)

Having discovered (very annoyingly) a couple of months ago that a book I was reading was actually available for free online, I went back and read all the Sound on Sound classic tracks columns. Always interesting, and always a bit of a different insight into the making of music than your average music magazine interview - and more realistic, I'd say. being refreshingly free of myth making. Well worth a read - even if perhaps not every track is really a classic!