A peculiar blend of historical fiction and supernatural horror, The Terror is a chilling speculation on the fate of the doomed 19th-century polar expedition led by Sir John Franklin. I read almost half of it in a long marathon session while sick in bed, and by the evening I could almost hear the groaning of the ice and the howling arctic wind. Though it’s not an easy breezy read at over 900 pages long, it’s a meticulously researched, deeply absorbing and deeply nightmarish tour de force.
Judy – Film Review
This biopic about Judy Garland’s final 1968 concert run in London has very little to it outside of masterful performance from Renée Zellweger, but what a performance.
Hustlers – Film Review
A somewhat overlong but still fabulously entertaining caper movie about the lesser-known effects of the Global Financial Crisis, with a career-best performance from Jennifer Lopez.
Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie – Book Review
This stand-alone mystery was one of the first Christie novels I’ve ever read, and for that reason I’ve always had a soft spot for it even though the best compliment I can give the book is “solid”. Many other Christie novels have more memorable settings and ingenious twists, this one simply has classic crime ingredients – a small group of suspects, poison and red herrings galore – that come together for a cracking good read.
Run Lola Run – Film Review
I enjoyed this fun and inventive German thriller from the late 90s, but I do wish I had seen it at the time of its release.
Scamp (A Cat Poem)
by B. Hayes
You’ve torn the daily paper
Into a million shreds
And tested the comfort
Of all the beds.
Chased my wool
All over the floor
Hissed and spat
At the dog next door,
And proved yourself
So brave and bold
For a tiny kitten
Only six weeks old.
You’re now a black
Little fluffy ball
Curled up tight
Asleep in the hall.
New Music 10/2019 – Sleater-Kinney, Billie Eilish, Gillian Welch
The best kind of surprise from my long-time faves; I finally jump on the Billie Eilish hype train (and enjoy the ride); more of the warm and lovely folk-country.
