When I was about eight and my brother was about six, we asked our mother what her favourite films were. “Silence of the Lambs”, she said, “And Four Weddings and a Funeral.” Cut to three weeks later, when my parents were at the neighbours’ and we were bored, so they allowed us to go home to watch TV. We browsed the TV guide and discovered my mother’s favourite film was on TV. We figured we’d watch it. My brother made it until the part where […]
Same thing we do every night, Pinkie. Try to take over the world
Brighton: famous for several things. Its pier, its beaches, seaside arcade, and the red-and-white striped candy known as Brighton rock. A genial place overall, touristy but friendly. It’s a far cry from the world we encounter in Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock. The book is set in 1930s Brighton. A journalist named Fred Hale has, in the past, written an article on mob activities in Brighton and is now terrified of this gang finding him. He seeks out the company of bon vivant Ida, but after […]
Good Evening, and welcome to a new episode of Pointless
I know next to nothing about Philip Hensher, but after reading The Northern Clemency I think I can draw two conclusions. One, he has read The Corrections and The Line of Beauty. Two, he quite liked both of them and fancied trying something quite similar. I’ve only just finished The Northern Clemency so I haven’t Googled any reviews, but I suspect they may bring up these two novels as well, because a) zany family antics with a tragic edge and b) Thatcher-era Northern England. It’s […]
Just so you know, Cross: I still haven’t forgiven you for Justin Ripley
[Mild spoilers for Luther seasons 1, 2 and 3] Here’s a question for all you Cannonballers: which is easier to write, a good review or a bad review? I tend not to mind either way. Scathing, bitchy reviews are fun, but so is expressing your profound love and enjoyment of a book you have just read. The hardest reviews, I think, are about the books I am unsure about. Unfortunately for me, The Calling falls into this category. The Calling is a prequel to the […]
Surprise Idris Elba is the Best Idris Elba
I know Laura Lippman is quite a successful writer, but I’m the only person I know who reads her work, so let’s start here: if you haven’t already, you need to read Laura Lippman. She’s one of the best crime writers currenly out there and her series of books focusing on accidental PI Tess Monaghan is very well-suited for binge reading. I once managed two and a half in one day. Also, Lippman’s married to David ‘The Wire’ Simon, which I normally wouldn’t bring up, […]
London, you’re a Lady
Let’s get this out of the way: I really, really love London. I duly loathe the London Eye, I have my favourite Camden Lock stands and I feel a shiver of excitement whenever I smell the tube’s musk. Other tourists ask me for directions. As soon as I win the lottery – which is only a matter of time, really – I’m moving there. Until then I’m content to take my students there every year (twice, sometimes) and when I show them around, I love […]