New Music 01/2022 – Billie Eilish, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Peaches
Excellent sophomore album about the dangers and costs of fame; beautiful meditation on grief and loss; the Queen of Electro Smut.
At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie – Book Review
One of Christie’s more unusual novels, this later-day Miss Marple mystery has a memorable setting and some interesting ideas, but it’s held back by a lack of focus and its various elements don’t quite gel together.
The Way Home: Tales from a life without technology by Mark Boyle – Book Review
After reading this book I can safely say that I’m not cut out for a life without technology, but regardless, this memoir of a year lived without the basic modern conveniences and ubiquitous technological connections was a fascinating and thought-provoking read.
Rashomon – Film Review
I finally got around to watching Akira Kurosawa’s groundbreaking and influential 1950 masterpiece about the nature of truth. Though many movies since have borrowed its unconventional narrative structure and the idea of multiple perspectives of the same event, the film still remains an effective and striking watch today.
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie – Book Review
The biggest surprise of re-reading this book was discovering that, contrary to my memory, it wasn’t actually a Poirot novel. In many respects it feels like it should have been a Poirot mystery, since the setting and the psychology behind the murder feel like such a natural fit for the little Belgian.
Sliver by Ira Levin – Book Review
Sliver is one of Ira Levin’s lesser-known and perhaps lesser novels, but there are plenty of reasons why I keep coming back to it when I want a quick and easy re-read. It’s amazing to think that this tense thriller was written before the explosion of reality TV and modern day anxieties about video surveillance and privacy.
Bad Education – Film Review
Hugh Jackman’s layered performance – probably his finest in a long and varied career – is the main reason to watch this uneven movie, based on a real-life high school embezzlement scheme.
New Music 11/2021 – Waxahatchee, Courtney Barnett
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