Reading - March 2026

Unexpected by Lori Foster (2003)

Some good bits, some "wtf??" moments, a sense of slightly different plots and fiction styles being stitched together, all made this an OK read but nothing more.

The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett (2021)

A simple and straightforward romance. The main male character is too perfect but that's often the case in these things. I'm not sure why I chose this other than that I needed something to read, but it was fine. I probably won't bother with the other (checks ...) seven books in the series though.

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021)

Given the recent Netflix film, I was expecting the library's copies of the book to be all taken - which they were. But there were plenty of copies under the book's original title - so score one for doing a little bit of research! Anyway, my personal little victories and smugness aside, this is a very enjoyable, modern, friends-to-lovers romance that uses jumps between different periods in the relationship to good effect. The last minute misunderstanding that I complained about in the film is present here, but there's less of the slapstick, which is an improvement over the film, I think. All in all, a very satisfying read.

What Have I Done? by Ben Elton (2025)

I'm happy to say that this very readable book has changed my mind about about Ben Elton. Not that I disliked either him or his work, but since I was primarily aware of him through his standup comedy on TV, I thought of him as shouty, not particularly subtle comedian. However, he's always thought of himself as a writer and on the evidence presented here, which includes way more TV, books and plays than I realised, it's impossible not to agree. He's passionate about his work and the same way about his achievements and about defending himself against the unnecessary and unfair criticism he's faced over the years - all with justification, I'd say. The books never palls - he's met, worked with and has stories about a huge number of people - and I finished it in a few days. And crucially, it's inspired me to seek out more of his work. I mean, I probably will at some point, once I've cleared my backlog (this is a joke, I never clear my backlog ... but I will add some of his books to it!)

Celeb by Charles Peattie and Mark Warren (2002)

Amusing collection of the cartoons from Private Eye.

Bluff Your Way In Jazz by Peter Gammond & Peter Clayton (1987)

Part genuinely informative summary of jazz and part a series of jokes that assume you're already familiar with it (I always remembered the quote: "[...] the rumour that [John Coltrane] had a crush on Julie Andrews is unfounded", which assumes you know his version of "My Favourite Things"). I've owned this book since I was a student and, like all of the Bluffer's Guides, it never fails to make me smile.

One Moment by Becky Hunter (2023)

"Perfect for fans of David Nicholls" it says here on Borrow Box, and I can see the comparison: a bittersweet romance that has a dead person in it. The story is very readable and the people feel real - I mean apart from the supernatural element - and I enjoyed it. It's not quite as much of a time loop as the blurb promises (not at all, in fact) but the ending is sweet and gives a bit of closure.

Bluff Your Way in Motoring by John McManus (1989)

Amusing but dated.

Watching - March 2026

The Adam Project (2022)

Saw this on Netflix and was tempted to watch it again. Perfectly reasonable entertainment, if a slightly uneasy mix of action and sentimentality. But Ryan Reynolds is always fun to watch.

Definitely Maybe (2008)

One of my recent favourites and a nice example of how Reynolds - yes, him again - can do sarcastic for sure, but also tender and sincere, in a way that Glen Powell probably really wishes he could. Watching again, I do think the ending is somewhat tacked on but it's still moving. Up until then the film seems surprisingly realistic (for a romcom, anyway) but the final act is pure fantasy. Also another shout-out for Caroline Siede's spot-on review ...

You've Got Mail (1999)

... which then led me to this, via her review in the same series. It's a sweet film, with lots to enjoy, but despite Tom Hanks being superb at many things, including in this film, I just can't quite see him as a love interest in a romcom. This hasn't stopped me watching it many times!

Cars 2 (2011)

I'm not quite sure how I alighted on this as a Sunday afternoon watch, but it fitted perfectly. There are lots of clever little touches throughout the film and the entertainment never stops. So if it's a bit silly in places then who cares?

Taskmaster (season 14, 2022)

A very entertaining season - it's just as much of a joy to see Dara Ó Briain ace a task because he's approached it very intelligently as it is to see John Kearns bumble around.

Agatha Christie's Marple (season 1, 2004)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has a lot to answer for: Sherlock Holmes set the template for fictional detectives so completely that as a result, all others seem doomed to mimic him - particularly on TV and film. Agatha Christie deliberately set out to subvert this with Poirot and Marple and while that might work on the page, directors are still so eager to fit the Holmes mould that they have poor Miss Marple charging around all over the place and even identifying a discarded fag end as French at one point - quintessentially Holmes-ian but all wrong here. The plot changes are mostly a bit pointless and Geraldine McEwan is entirely too knowing and active for Miss Marple (and the overdone "twinkle in her eye" looks like she needs medical attention). But the four episodes here are all good clean fun and it's enjoyable spotting the array of Britain's finest actors.

The Fall Guy (2024)

Managing to be both tongue-in-cheek and over the top is a neat trick if you can pull it off and this pleasingly meta film-in-a-film-about-film mostly manages it while being suitably entertaining.

Agatha Christie's Poirot (season 1, 1989)

This classic David Suchet series is, I suppose, an institution. It ran for an incredible thirteen series and seventy episodes over almost 25 years. This first series starts in a fairly unassuming way, with short episodes of varying quality. However, the characterisation is much better than with Marple and from what I remember, closer to the source material. Diverting for lunchtime viewing, but I might skip forward to some of the more well-known books.

The Wedding Singer (1998)

To describe Adam Sandler as wooden at points during this film is an understatement, but for some reason it's only during more emotional scenes, as he's fine in lighter hearted moments. The story itself is easy-going with plenty of gentle and affectionate humour, and thankfully lacking in real silliness (unlike, say, 50 First Dates) and features some excellent supporting performances. But most of all it's saved by the luminous Drew Barrymore, who is endlessly watchable.

Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)

I was listening to "Summer in the City" (by The Lovin' Spoonful) and it reminded me of the opening of this classic. Silly but fun.