Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead – should you watch it?
Joe Cross’ documentary, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu I heard the name of this documentary bandied about quite a bit by various health-conscious friends before I watched it. My response was that it sounds horrid. The title can be off-putting – it’s going for shock value and hardly leads you to expect any subtlety or profundity. But don’t let that put you off. The minute you start watching you understand that it’s the literal truth of where the man at the centre of the story is at the
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine –should you read it?
Gail Honeyman’s debut novel, HarperCollins 2017 There’s so much I want to say about this book and can’t without ruining it for you with spoilers. It always speaks volumes about a book when you just want to shout about it and detail how and why it’s so wonderful to everyone you know. I read it because my boss leant it to me. She gave it to me on Thursday and I didn’t start reading it until Sunday. Foolish. For the next three nights I was awake reading it until 3am, and blamed
Murder on the Orient Express – should you watch it?
Director: Kenneth Branagh, Producers, Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, Scott Free Productions. Cast: Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kenneth Branagh It is unusual to see so many major stars in one place. The puzzle here is, why should that place be the Orient Express? I know, I know, it’s arguably the most famous Agatha Christie novel and all that, but … why film it, yet again? Wasn’t once enough? There must be so many marv
Crimson Peak, Netflix, - should you watch it?
Guillermo Del Toro director, starring Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain This film is more Gothic than Gothic itself. In fact, last week, Gothic went to the same party as this film and left embarrassed, knowing there was just no point trying to compete. Gothic felt so bad about itself it had to start seeing a therapist... You get the point. Crimson Peak revels in gorgeous billowing gowns, violent deaths, guttering candlesticks, constantly creaking floorboards an
Howards End, BBC iplayer, – should you watch it?
Episode 1 of 4 Based on E.M. Forster’s 1910 novel, starring Hayley Atwell, Matthew MacFadyen and Philippa Coulthard Even though I would have thought it impossible not to like something with both Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter in it, I had dim memories of not liking the Merchant Ivory version very much. I watched it when too young to understand its subtleties and had the impression of a lot of very over-intense and intellectual people (and, I mean, this is from someone
Latest news
My most recent news is, I've launched this site! Welcome! I hope you enjoy some of my fiction, and my reviews of popular culture and writing resources. In other news, the wonderful Stories for Homes anthology is out in paperback now. Get it here. STORGY is due to publish my short story 'The Luck Axis'. On this site you can also read my short story 'Wedding Day' about a man considering the future of his relationship.
