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.

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie – Book Review

This collection of short stories, first published in 1924 and featuring Christie’s own Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, may not be as satisfying as Christie’s Poirot novels, but it showcases the future Queen of Crime honing her craft.

Read more

New Music 10/2021 – Laura Mvula, St. Vincent

I found that while I still had enthusiasm for reading new books and watching new films and TV series in lockdown, when it came to music my overwhelming mood was to shut down, listen to the music I already loved, and not make much effort to get into something new. I did however make an exception for a couple of my favourite ladies, both making interesting pivots from their previous work.

Read more