Archive Entries for 2018
Monday December 31, 2018
Books in December
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The Cuckoo's Calling: The Silkworm, and Career of Evil
by Robert Galbraith
[read by Robert Glenister]I think Alison must have pointed me at these books - J K Rowling writing detective stories under a pseudonym. The critics at the time (who did not know) rated The Cuckoo's Calling as a good debut novel - but the cat was soon out of the bag. I like Rowling's novels for adults, (even if The Casual Vacancy was so very sad). And I rate these as good detective novels, although perhaps the mystery plots are pretty complex - not to mention improbable - but I have covered that before... who needs strict realism in this kind of story? The strong attraction in these books is: Strike himself (if you are a woman) and the relationship between him and Robin (actually, again, probably if you are a woman). Anyway, I am keen to read more.
- Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch join forces to solve the murder of a 15 year old girl. The partnership is reluctant at first (of course) but both parties are stalwart incorruptible upholders of the law so...
I've been keen to read Dark Sacred Night ever since we went to see Michael Connelly interviewed by Mark Billingham at Waterstones in October. I like to listen to the audio versions but am usually too impatient to want to wait so I'm reading the "real" book, and I don't need to tell you how great I think Connelly is - again.
We all like Harry, so it's a comfort when he appears (however peripherally) in the books even when he's not the hero. However, Connelly has created other really strong characters - as in the most obvious "Lincoln Lawyer", but also in the maybe less obvious Jack McEvoy. The Scarecrow is one of the most thrilling books I have read, so I'm glad to hear there is another novel featuring Jack in the pipeline. -
In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin [Read by James Macpherson]
The gang's all together again, even though Rebus is well into his 60s and has emphysema. It's nice for those of us in our sixties to feel there's a useful role for us in the workplace - even when we have retired...
A decade old handcuffed skeleton of a man is discovered locked in the boot of a car, and it's not long before Ger Cafferty is in on the act too. There's a strong implication of police corruption - all apparently inspired by a real case in the Met in the 1980s.
Since it's about an internal investigation of police corruption. Malcom Fox is both formally working on the case, as well as informally, joining the team to discuss the case in their favourite watering hole. [It seems Malcolm has not been able to achieve the same iconic status as Rebus, despite the books in which he features being excellent. So, similar to Connelly, I think, Rankin's having to weave his characters together. Maybe presenting Malcolm alongside the more renegade Rebus gives greater scope for the writing. I know an author can only survive on books that actually sell well, but I hope Rankin continues to persevere with Malcolm Fox.] -
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen [Read by Josephine Bailey]
I felt I needed some comfort listening, so I went back to an old favourite. Having watched many dramatic adaptations of this novel over the years (including a school play in my youth), I wondered how much the novel might differ - and yet I found, rather like Brideshead Revisited, that most really had stuck remarkably close to the dialogue and plot in the text (as much as the length of the production would allow).
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Falco: The Complete BBC Radio Collection by Lindsey Davis
I revisited these novels in the form of the BBC radio plays. These were dramatisations of the first five Falco novels by Lindsey Davis, starring Anton Lesser - and a host of others.- The Silver Pigs
- Shadows in Bronze
- Venus in Copper
- The Iron Hand of Mars
- Poseidon's Gold
-
The Sittaford Mystery
Set in 1931, in a snowed-in remote house in Devon. Six people decide to pass the time by having a seance for a bit of fun. But it's anything but fun when the Ouija board prediction of a death becomes reality.... Stars Geoffrey Whitehead as Inspector Narracott.
The basic plot twist in this novel is reused, or expended upon, or developed in slightly different ways, in several of Agatha Christie's works, including the famous Mousetrap. I'm not giving anything away here, as the whodunnit element remains a surprise - but isolation (locked room) and snow (it was a dark and stormy night) are persistent features. -
DI Gwen Danbury
The discovery of a skeleton buried in a wood in Suffolk back in 1965 sparks a murder investigation.
These series are police procedurals written by Sue Rodwell - maybe not a thrill a minute but anything with Annette Badland is going to be good. As well as the crimes, we get a lot of Gwen's home life including her fairly annoying if not impossible Mother (played by Gudrun Ure). -
Fatherland
I've always known that Fatherland was a best seller, and that there is a much-praised TV film starring Rutger Hauer - and I knew the basis of the plot: "suppose the Germans had won WW2 in Europe". So I saw it as a political thriller and it didn't much appeal to me. However, listening to this play makes me realise what a gripping thriller it is - and it all starts with a murder, so all Good.... Stars Anton Lesser and Angeline Ball.
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 3:40 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Friday November 30, 2018
Books in November
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Shetland: A Dark Redemption, Eleven Days, and, The Intrusions
by Stav Sherez
I first saw Stav at an event at Woking Library "in conversation" with Mark Billingham. He was promoting his first Carrigan and Miller book. Now that he is up to his third, The Intrusions, which has won the 2018 Theakston Old Peculiar Award for crime fiction, not to mention being a Guardian and Sunday Times "Book of the Year" for 2017, so I thought it was about time I actually read all three books. They did not disappoint.
-
Secret Lives
An E F Benson novel from 1932 dramatised in 3 parts starring Pauline Collins.
I love the Mapp and Lucia novels, which were published around the same time as this. It has the same gentle humour and satire - but centred around "Durham Square" - a desirable residential area. Two strong women (a stuffy inhabitant of long-standing and an uncouth newcomer) are at odds with each other... -
Having a Wonderful Time
An extended Las Palmas holiday, at someone else's expense, seems ideal. But is there a hidden agenda?
Written in the form of postcards, the story chronicles a young couple who vacation on the Canary Islands, but their flight home is repeatedly cancelled until it becomes apparent that they - along with thousands of other families on holiday - will never return home, and have been forever exiled.
A short story by J G Ballard, read by Patricia Brake. -
Trespass
Set in the Cevennes, an untamed area of southern France where traditions and secrets run deep, it is the story of two very different sets of siblings. Veronica and Anthony are privileged, cultured and English. Aramon and Audrun are French, rooted in the old stone mas and the land around it that their family have cultivated for generations, and in their shared and violent past. When these two very different worlds collide, a chain of events is set in unstoppable motion. Radio 4's Book at Bedtime by Rose Tremain, abridged by Sally Marmion, and read by Sara Kestelman. -
A Small Town Murder
Jackie Hartwell (played by Meera Syal) is a Family Liaison Officer in Stratford-upon-Avon who solves cases by winning the trust of those caught up in the nightmare of serious crime and murder. Working in liaison enables Hartwell to get closer to the people involved in the crime - allowing her to investigate in a way they can't, as she combines empathy and intuition with the keen observation of a clever detective. In this 12th series she is assigned as family liaison officer to a woman viciously assaulted in her own home. It soon becomes clear the suspect is likely to strike again. -
Whip Hand
This is the second Dick Francis novel about Sid Halley first published in 1979, and dramatised here in 5 episodes starring Mick Ford.
I am very keen on Dick Francis novels - ever since my first exposure to one read on Radio 4 in 1978 (I believe it was Forfeit or Flying Finish - abridged I assume), and I never looked back. Sid Halley was a very popular hero, and ultimately there were four novels which feature him - fairly spaced out in date - and a fifth follow-up book by Felix Francis, (Refusal).
Posted on November 30, 2018 at 11:44 AM. Category: Books of the Month.
Sunday November 11, 2018
ISIHAC in Woking
We met up with Deborah and Chris for an evening with "the team" [Jack Dee, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor and Kerry Godliman] at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking. This will be series 70, Episode 3 broadcast in December - when we can "hear ourselves laughing in places where we don't remember doing so".
Posted on November 11, 2018 at 1:24 PM. Category: Days Out.
Monday November 5, 2018
Hadestown
We were absolutely thrilled to find this was being staged at the Olivier and immediately booked the best seats we could. Rob's a dedicated fan of Anaïs Mitchell so the songs were all well familiar - a wonderful experience.
In the warmth of summertime, songwriter Orpheus and his muse Eurydice are living it up and falling in love. But as winter approaches, reality sets in: they can't survive on songs alone. Tempted by the promise of plenty, Eurydice is lured to the depths of industrial Hadestown...
Because we have and they have not
Because they want what we have got...
...The enemy is poverty
And the wall keeps out the enemy
And we build the wall to keep us free
That's why we build the wall
Music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, and developed with Rachel Chavkin.
Set: Rachel Hauck, Costume: Michael Krass; Lighting: Bradley King.
Posted on November 5, 2018 at 1:24 PM. Category: Days Out.
Thursday November 1, 2018
SIX
I thought this was such a fun and intelligent show when I saw it at the Fringe that I coerced both Rob and George to come with me to see it. It has gone from strength to strength, and is now on tour, and has come to the Rose.
I did give them a fair description of the show and music to try and ensure they were fully prepared, but I doubt either of them were as impressed as I (still am...).
Posted on November 1, 2018 at 7:48 PM. Category: Days Out.
Wednesday October 31, 2018
Books in October
-
Shetland: Thin Air, Cold Earth, and, Wild Fire
by Ann Cleeves
Having consumed the first 5 books all in one month, I felt it was time to complete the set with the final 3. I really enjoyed them and was highly satisfied with the way Ann chose to end the series. I think the plot of Wild Fire was slightly disappointing, but the thing we were most anxious about was what would happen with Perez and his personal life rather than the detection (I mean I was).
It seems they have decided to carry on with another TV series of Shetland (commissioning 2 more series), a decision which had the Cleeves clan (and me) cheering. *
* For obvious reasons the filming has been long delayed and is due to start March 2021.
- Dandy Gilver and a Spot of Toil and Trouble by Catriona McPherson
It's midsummer 1934 and Dandy is invited to some friends' family seat (castle) where they are planning a performance of Macbeth, suited to the somewhat gothic Scottish environment. They plan to fill the place with rich American tourists in order to revive their failing fortunes. Of course there is a mystery (a pretty good one) involving long lost jewels and a family curse.
I love these books.
The book blurbs say: for fans of PG Wodehouse, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie. So I guess that pretty well covers me.
Posted on October 31, 2018 at 12:43 AM. Category: Books of the Month.
Tuesday October 30, 2018
A Waterstones Conversation
An evening out with Michael Connelly and Mark Billingham - the perfect combination - courtesy of Waterstones. Michael proved a most entertaining raconteur - whether talking about inspiration for his writing or his involvement with producing the Bosch TV series. I did notice, though, that most of the audience were people "of a certain age". Whether that's the generation interested in crime novels, or just those who have grown alongside the author.
Posted on October 30, 2018 at 8:40 AM. Category: Days Out.
Friday October 26, 2018
A Very Very Dark Matter
This play is a distinctly bizarre satire, designed to offend - and it did offend - though not me. I found it very very funny, not to mention dark. But I thought that there was no doubt of it's wholly undisguised points about "great writers", swiftly extended to include any people put on pedestals as historically great figures ("national treasures" "fathers of the nation" etc). Since the literal depiction of Dickens and Hans Christian Anderson (and the source of his stories suggested in this play) were so preposterous as to be laughable, I could not see it as offensive. Thus the critics surprised me by receiving it fairly poorly - perhaps they could not forgive the nature of the exposure.
Johnetta Eula'Mae Ackles as Marjory was astonishingly good even without considering this was her stage debut - and Jim Broadbent as Hans Christian Andersen, and Phil Daniels* as Charles Dickens, are, of course as always, brilliant. [*maybe with the exception of his part in Dr Jekyll and My Hyde!].
This review in the Guardian expresses my thoughts much more clearly (since it's written by a journalist...).
[In the light of later events, this play seems a weird foretelling of the "black lives matter" campaigning of the following years even to the referencing of historically inappropriate statues: ...throughout history, certain voices have gone unheard and the past forgotten so that statues were erected to the author of Belgian brutality, Leopold II...]
Posted on October 26, 2018 at 11:46 PM. Category: Days Out.
Sunday September 30, 2018
Books in September
-
Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid [Read by Jane Collingwood]
The first thing to say about this book is that it is a modern re-imagining of the Jane Austen classic novel. I feel I have to mention this as Amazon have royally messed up their page links on this book which has led to people downloading it expecting the original - their comments remind me of an extract from Waugh's novel Scoop (see below*).
Anyway if you had the right expectation you will enjoy this book well enough. It is the second book in The Austen Project where six contemporary authors would reinterpret her books in a modern context; (it seems to have got no further than 4 - there were no takers to write Persuasion and Mansfield Park - and the existing 4 have been fairly roundly criticized). For me, strangely, they adapt moderately well to this treatment, with email and texts keeping up the stream of communication evident in Austen's novels. The social whirl that is Bath is replaced by the environment of the Edinburgh Book Festival and the rich hosts for seventeen-year-old Cat Morland are obsessed by shopping, and the Fringe. The 17th century balls are replaced by a highland dance and the duplicity of Cat's BFF and her brother are all as they ever have been in history (as far back as the Stone Age I suspect). It all works very well - but then keeping in line with the misunderstandings and social expectations in manners and romance make it a bit more difficult to provide a modern parallel. Anyway the result is good and I would recommend it whether you like Austen or not.
If you are interested in this Project idea then you might look at A Cure for All Diseases, where Reginald Hill adapted Austen's unfinished novel Sanditon in this way.
* Gratuitous extract from Scoop:
[As as author of Lush Places for the Beast newspaper], William had composed a lyrical but wholly accurate account of the habits of the badger; one of his more finished essays. Priscilla in a playful mood had found the manuscript, and altered it, substituting for 'badger' throughout 'the great crested grebe'. ...
...His mail had been prodigious; some correspondents were sceptical, others derisive; one lady wrote to ask whether she read him aright in thinking he condoned the practice of baiting these rare and beautiful birds with terriers and deliberately destroying their earthly homes; how could this be tolerated in the so-called twentieth century? A Major in Wales challenged him categorically to produce a single authenticated case of a great crested grebe attacking young rabbits... -
Girl on Fire by Tony Parsons [Read by Colin Mace]
The criminal part of the plot here begins with a graphically described terrorist attack on shopping centre. This is harrowing enough, but DC Max Wolfe is also suffering as his wife has decided to take their daughter back into a "more suitable family environment". In true form, Max puts the poor kid's welfare first, hiding his personal turmoil, and luckily she seems to survive what the adults put her through.
Finally - get out your hankies, that's all I can say. As I observed after the last book: DC Wolfe was always destined to to be a tragic hero. -
The Floating Admiral by the Detection Club [Read by David Timson]
This is an intriguing novel. And if it did not have such an interesting history would be a bit less interesting, seeming a bit muddled, going on and off the boil, and - of course - being very dated.
It's a collaborative detective novel written by fourteen members of the 'Detection Club' in 1931. Each author would write one chapter, leaving G.K. Chesterton to write the prologue and Anthony Berkeley to tie up all the loose ends. In addition, each of the authors provided their own solution in a sealed envelope, all of which appeared at the end of the book. [Agatha Christie's ingenious conclusion acknowledged at the time to be 'enough to make the book worth buying on its own']. I have to say, that I do like the idea of these collaborations - like the Medieval Murderers - but I also have to say that I think a collection of short stories works better, for obvious reasons.
- Prologue: The Three Pipe Dreams - GK Chesterton
- Chapter 1 Corpse Ahoy! - Victor Whitchurch
- Chapter 2: Breaking the News - GDH and M Cole
- Chapter 3: Bright Thoughts on Tides - Henry Wade
- Chapter 4: Mainly Conversation - Agatha Christie
- Chapter 5: Inspector Rudge Begins to Form a Theory - John Rhode
- Chapter 6: Inspector Rudge Thinks Better Of It - Milward Kennedy
- Chapter 7: Shocks for the Inspector - Dorothy L. Sayers
- Chapter 8: Thirty Nine Articles of Doubt - Ronald Knox
- Chapter 9: A Visitor in the Night - Freeman Wills Croft
- Chapter 10: The Bathroom Basin - Edgar Jepson
- Chapter 11: At the Vicarage - Clemence Dane
- Chapter 12: Clearing Up The Mess - Anthony Berkeley
- Appendix - Solutions
Here's a very good podcast about the book, with a transcript if you prefer. -
House of Beauty by Melba Escobar
... or La Casa de la Belleza as we folk with pretensions of reading stuff in the original language might say.
The action revolves around a beauty salon catering to the well-heeled in a rich area of Bogotá. There's corruption, poverty, murder, and injustice. This is a suitable synopsis: ..it's the same the whole world over, it's the poor wot gets the blame; it's the rich wot gets the pleasure, isn't it a blooming shame?
I enjoyed reading this book as it's not one I would of normally gone for - even though it is a psychological novel about crime. I see some readers were not so happy but as far as I can see they mostly complained that the plot was lengthy and too complicated with too many characters to follow, and the translation from Spanish was poor. I didn't have a problem with that, and felt I was being given real insight into a place I know nothing about - and wondered if it bore as much relation to crime in Bogotá as Morse does to Oxford (see below). However I was glad to read a comment from someone who seems to know: ...if you have ever spent time in Bogotá, this book will make you nostalgic: the sense of place is beautifully drawn, even if you have little fondness for the actual city... -
The Chalk Man by C J Tudor
This is a rather creepy psychological thriller based around a childhood secret or memory - so some 1980s flashbacks thrown in, (which are not quite so nostalgic for me as that was not my childhood).
It's criticised for improbable plot twists - but then that's what stories are all about after all. In fact, how realistic are any detective novels? [For example: the much loved Morse who had more murders in one episode than the Oxford constabulary ever saw in a year]. -
The Hound Of Death by Agatha Christie
An ambitious doctor meets a nun apparently traumatised by what she witnessed in the Great War. An attempt to restore the woman's sanity results in the uncovering of something very sinister indeed.
This is a BBC 2002 radio play dramatised by Bill Morrison and directed by Dirk Maggs. It's an adaptation a short story by Agatha Christie set in 1920. Cast includes Julia McKenzie as Alice Anstruther and Michael Kitchen as Dr Rose plus Simon Treves, Marianne Borgo and Alexis Zegerman.
Posted on September 30, 2018 at 7:35 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Thursday September 20, 2018
Globe
Alison took me to the Globe! I was so excited as I have never been before.
It was magical - open to a darkening sky. You can see we had the posh seats under cover...
The play is about Eyam - the "plague village" **. When a case of plague was found in 1665, the villagers took the amazingly altruistic decision to seal themselves off from the surrounding areas to prevent the disease spreading. This protected others but also sealed their fates. At the end of the play, Sam Crane solemnly recites the names of the 273 villagers who lost their lives to the plague; it was a bit of a party trick, but actually very moving, dozens of shared surnames are listed one by one.
Below you can see the set with a model of the village, and some of the audience, full of anticipation, in the pit.
It's a predictably glum play, and my only other point of note was that (rather oddly I thought) Annette Badland appeared in a male role as the Reverend Stanley. I think may be next time - a Shakespeare comedy. I always wanted to see a Midsummer Night's Dream on Midsummer's Night. Perhaps now the Tube runs at night, I might one day get to do that.
[** with the subsequent turn of events in 2020, I have since seen a great deal of dramas and documentaries about these determined and self-sacrificing villagers.]
Posted on September 20, 2018 at 11:18 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Friday September 14, 2018
Frelons Asiatique
This isn't so much a pretentious title for the entry as an indication that I had to go to the dictionary and the web to find our how to report to the local Mairie that Asian hornets have moved into the roof space in our new conservatory. Even then he had to check to see if it were true (ie really Asian and not just European).
So we had a visit from the man himself at our humble property, closely followed by exterminators. The Mayor told us that they have already had 6 reports of them in the locality this year.
I was surprised at how easy it was to see they were not "normal" hornets - the difference in general appearance was obvious even at a distance - having had plenty of opportunity to observe the normal ones nesting in our chimney and ceiling in the bakehouse. Any closer views and the predominantly blacker markings are all too obvious.
If you want to frighten yourself, go look on the internet for the differences. However, don't mistake the loose terminology - this is not the "giant" Asian hornet - in fact, these hornets are smaller than European ones, they are not active at night (so I'm not in danger of finding them swarming around the light at the front door at night), and their sting is apparently not as fierce (not something I plan to test). They are reportable in France and in the UK as they actively destroy bees and hives - as if they did not have enough to contend with.
Posted on September 14, 2018 at 8:47 PM. Category: France.
Friday August 31, 2018
Books in August
- A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear
[read by Julie Teal]
Well, the author has resolved her, along with Maisie's personal, issues from the previous book, and Maisie has been traveling - through America and India. Thus in 1937, after the happiest period of her life, she finds herself in Gibraltar, basically, experiencing a nervous breakdown. The Rock is indeed "a dangerous place" at this time. It's a key British stronghold and a centre of clandestine activity, full of intelligence operatives, double agents, and refugees fleeing the Spanish Civil War. Maisie is drawn into the intrigues, looking into a murder, and also crossing the border with other nurses to help in a hospital in Spain. Through all this, ("good works"), she gradually begins a sort of recovery.
Again, fans have mixed reviews, but a lot of them seem to think Maisie should be a rags-to-riches story where love conquers, with nothing but happy endings - more like Barbara Taylor Bradford (no disrespect to this best-selling author). Any review of the actual mystery stories should make it plain that these are sad and poignant tales, told alongside, and balanced against, Maisie's rise through the ranks. Having said that - others complain that life works out "too perfect" for her. Either way an author needs some substance about which to write any story* - and here I found it very refreshing with a move of the action to Europe describing a wholly different backdrop, and just the seedlings of WW2.
[* I have always had this issue with soap operas - not one set of problems solved and another begins - if it were left to me everyone would settle down nicely in couples and live happy satisfying lives.
No-one has yet approached me for a script...]
- The Headhunters by Peter Lovesey
[read by Maggie Ollerenshaw ]
I really liked this novel - just a fantasy conversation between a few friends, but a blueprint for an action plan for the psychopath among them. Discovering which one leads to a tense and thrilling ending.
This book is the second to feature Hen Mallin as the detective - the first being The Circle, although she played minor parts in the The House Sitter and The Secret Hangman, all of which I have read.
Not so easy to find an audio version for this book in the UK - I found it in the eBook offerings from the local library.
Posted on August 31, 2018 at 7:53 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Sunday August 12, 2018
Carmen Cubana
Another trip to Sadlers Wells with my sister - an interesting interpretation of one of my favourites.
"Inspired by Hammerstein's Carmen Jones, Christopher Renshaw directs this sizzling new musical, with new orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire; mixing opera with salsa, mambo, rumba and cha-cha-cha and including musical favourites such as Habanera, set against the simmering turmoil of Revolution in Cuba, 1958."
Fantastic.
Posted on August 12, 2018 at 7:55 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Sunday August 5, 2018
Proms: new and old
Proms 29 and 30 were two concerts in one day, presenting Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos performed by Thomas Dausgaard and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Alongside Bach's work were six newly commissioned companion works, to create a brand-new musical cycle, (heard here in the UK for the first time). This was a spectacularly good choice for me; I have loved these very famous (though not to ignorant me at the time) works after having heard No 6 chosen by Mary Wesley as one of her Desert Island Discs in 1990. I am rather dull and resistant to change - especially in music - so presenting new works in this way was an excellent way to get me to try new things.
The absolute star of the show was Pekka Kuusisto, a fantastic performer (see him on YouTube) who is known for his improvisations, and showed off at his best playing off against the other musicians in the orchestra. The recordings were available at the time from Radio 3 on BBC Sounds, but at the moment not available to stream.
The only other comment I would make is that it was a very tiring day - not intuitive as we were sitting down the whole time. However, we were distinctly flagging when we had dinner (burgers) in between the two concerts in the 1871 Bar. (Located in the basement - this wasn't our first choice to eat but they were the only ones who could fit us in - and it was great...).
Prom 29: Brandenburg Concertos Project - 1
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F major [Antje Weithaas]
- Mark-Anthony Turnage: Maya [Maya Beiser]
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major [Pekka Kuusisto]
- Anders Hillborg: Bach Materia [Pekka Kuusisto]
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D major [Mahan Esfahani]
- Uri Caine: Hamsa [Uri Caine]
Prom 30: Brandenburg Concertos Project - 2
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major
- Olga Neuwirth: Aello - Ballet Mecanomorphe [Claire Chase]
- Brett Dean: Approach - Prelude to a Canon [Tabea Zimmermann, Brett Dean]
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 6 in B flat major
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 2 in F major
- Steven Mackey: Triceros [ Fiona Kelly, Marten Larsson, Håkan Hardenberger]
Posted on August 5, 2018 at 11:55 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Friday August 3, 2018
Proms Folk Evening
I think this must have been one of Rob's highlights of the year - encompassing everything - or maybe 'everything in this genre' - that interests him musically. (Plus the Unthanks!).
We had an emotional time - and then were able to watch it all again on TV as it was one of the televised performances... as well as listening to it all again.
I was narcissistically glued to the audience shots on the TV, and sure enough we were quite obvious for a few seconds - unfortunately it was just after Mount the Air so I was trying not to sob, and Rob was elegantly mopping tears from his face with a hanky...
Prom 27: Folk Music around Britain and Ireland
The BBC Concert Orchestra with some of the folk world's leading musicians in a concert that celebrates history and evolution of the folk music scene. Performers included: Julie Fowlis, Jarlath Henderson, Sam Lee, Welsh folk group Alaw, English folk group The Unthanks, and the BBC Concert Orchestra with conductor Stephen Bell.
Posted on August 3, 2018 at 11:40 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Tuesday July 31, 2018
Books in July
- Leaving Those Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
[read by Julie Teal]
It's 1933. Usha Pramal has been murdered and her brother, newly arrived in England from India, asks Maisie to find out the truth about her death. It's an intriguing mystery. Usha seems to have been an altogether good woman about whom no-one says anything other than good. And yet her British employers - who brought her with them to England - appear to have dismissed her for no reason.
There are good period descriptions of the times - exploring an ayah's hostel for women in Usha'a position (ie brought to England and then dismissed with no income) which exploits its residents under a mask of Christian good works. And there is a lot about Maisie's personal dilemmas, which many faithful fans are beginning to find annoying; I think I find it less so in listening to the books as it's a bit like listening to an old friend unburdening herself. In fact I think the author has a problem here - she has an independent protagonist with a perfect "boyfriend", however, the relationship cannot stand still. If Maisie marries into the aristocracy, she will be totally prevented from continuing with any independent career especially one as bizarre as a detective bureau. So as things are, the two of them are living in a kind of limbo which is rather like an allegory of the larger picture, life between-the-wars.
- Night of the Lightbringer by Peter Tremayne
[read by Caroline Lennon]
I never approached Sister Fidelma mysteries with enough respect I think, even though I enjoyed the first one I read (a very long time ago). This is the 28th novel and in order to give her more clout as an independent woman of her time (rather like Maisie in the previous book I guess) has long since ceased to be Sister and is now more reliant on her high rank and education. She is now married (to Edulf, a Saxon) and has a son. We are now in Ireland, AD 671, and the plot begins like many after it (from Midsummer Murders to the County Guides Sussex murder) with a body inside the unlit bonfire at a pagan festival....
I was always conscious of Fidelma being from Cashel but - shame on me and my lack of Geographical knowledge - I never knew or even questioned where Cashel was - especially as, in the couple of books I read, Fidelma travels very far from home. And even worse, it was only when I knitted some socks in a colourway named "Cashel" that I took the trouble to find out! - Clouds of Witness
by Dorothy L Sayers [Dramatisation]
Another bedtime story for me.
Written in 1926, this is the second Wimsey story - and very dated even by the rather twee standards of the series. Lord Peter Wimsey's brother, the Duke of Denver, stands accused of murder and - rather arrogantly I think - seems to believe it won't come to anything despite being found with the body, plus having the usual means, motive, and opportunity. Wimsey leaves it all to the 11th hour including a transatlantic crossing by air to present the evidence to save his brother.
Of passing interest to me was the fact that a copy of Clouds of Witness was one of the books modified* by Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell in their adulterations of library books from the Islington and Hampstead libraries in the early 1960s. [* for which - in this case altering the blurb on the dust jacket describing the plot - they were sentenced to a draconian 6 months in prison, and yet today regarded as guerilla-art-pranks and proudly displayed in a gallery of the library...!]
Posted on July 31, 2018 at 2:57 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Thursday July 12, 2018
Culture overload
Today I spent the day in London with a rather punishing schedule of art and culture.
First to the V&A - I have a membership there that I am not planning to renew so had to pack everything in before the end of July - specifically "Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up" (followed by lunch in the members room).
It is a stunning exhibition - full of her personal belongings - rather grisly medical supports - as well as her photography and art. Even having read about it in the past, I was staggered by how ill she was throughout her life and the disabilities and pain she must have had to endure; I'm sure if it were me I would have simply given up. I was particularly enamoured of the huge display case full of the ethnic costumes she always chose to wear - made me want to rethink my wardrobe immediately. I felt I should have stayed much longer but it was a hot day and a bit too crowded which never makes it much fun.
Then it was on to the Tate to see "Aftermath: Art in the Wake of World War One" (followed by tea in the members room). I have to say I enjoyed the overall experience at the Tate better as it was far less crowded (rather a glum subject for mass appeal) with its cool spacious and airy rooms. Most of the items on display were poignant if not utterly grim but I did think the floating angel [Ernst Barlach, 1927] was really lovely - the original was deemed to be degenerate by the Nazis , and melted down, but Barlach kept the mould, from which this version was made.
One personal point of interest for me was that coincidentally while on the 52 bus (sitting in traffic bound for Hyde Park Corner) I was somehow drawn to observe a war memorial which turned out to be dedicated to the First World War casualties of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The side closest to me included a rather compelling sculpture of a soldier leaning with his arms outstretched, and to my surprise that specific bronze "the driver" (a smaller version) by Charles Sargeant Jagger was on display as part of Aftermath. [Also on display was Jagger's bronze relief "No Man's Land"].
There are four life-size bronze figures around the outside of the memorial (an officer, a driver, a shell-carrier, and - controversially at the time - a fallen soldier); I was able to observe 3 of them fairly closely from the bus. The memorial is famous for its realist contrast with other First World War memorials, and attracted much public debate. Here a picture of the area in 1925 with a view of the memorial:
And finally we found that they still had the Big Screen up in Trafalgar Square with a live feed from the Royal Opera House - Don Giovanni - so we stayed to watch that in the evening; it was an interesting experience, with everyone able to randomly walk around and talk, plus the police sirens and general noise of London.
I was expecting to run into protesters (Trump's visit) but I guess they are saving themselves as he'd only just landed.
Posted on July 12, 2018 at 7:31 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Saturday July 7, 2018
Colourful Kit Bag
I've been neglecting weaving spinning and dying lately - I admit I went to a "Brioche" class last week which was interesting, and did make me think of redrafting my fisherman's rib hat in two colours in the future.... But apart from that, it's been far too hot to think about sweaters (and hats!).
What I have been involved in is making up a rather posher version of my Pattern of the Month for July. This bag (or the illustration of it) really "spoke" to me through the ages as it were, when I first found it in a 1940s magazine. As is often the case, the actual bag and the instructions were fairly rudimentary and I changed it quite a lot in the making. I am so delighted with the result - better than I ever expected since it involved working with leather - and just as well given the amount I spent on materials. [So much for the make do and mend ethos of the original bag!].
I did stick with the idea of using oddments I already had, but I used mostly chunky yarns so I did not have to work with the yarn doubled - which can be a bit of a nuisance when doing crochet, even though many old and new patterns seem to suggest it. As I selected my yarns based on colour, some of them were used double to achieve the thickness I wanted.
I used a 4mm hook with my chunky yarn, and worked in double crochet (American single crochet) in order to achieve a firmer fabric.
For the base, I used 2mm thick leather, which was tough to work but made up surprisingly well. I made the base to be an oval shape to suit the offcut of leather I had and I made rudimentary leather handles, plus a clip-on shoulder strap.
The only element I've so far failed to completely solve is the closure at the top - the bag will gape open when the shoulder strap is used - so still working on that, and nothing wholly satisfactory has presented itself yet.
Posted on July 7, 2018 at 10:28 AM. Category: Knitting and Crochet.
Saturday June 30, 2018
Books in June
- H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald [read by the author]
I heard about this acclaimed book and thought I should read it, but was very nervous as it was said to be about "loss", which did not appeal so much. However, it is a wonderful book - so everyone was right.
And, if I had to say what it was about, I would probably say "loss" - and also "a goshawk" - which is fairly evident. I did not realise until after listening to it, that it is narrated by the author - which makes it even more special as she is (presumably) reading it exactly as she meant to write it - perfect.
- The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
[read by Julie Teal]
I moved back to a Maisie Dobbs novel somewhat earlier in the series.
Although the books do revolve around Maisie's personal life as well
as the mystery plotline, I did not feel victim of any major spoilers.
It does seem to be a thing, though, that the murder victims are always
presented as highly sympathetic characters and you are regretful all
the way through that they are so definitively.... gone. I remember a
friend having trouble coping with Requiem for a Wren for the
same reason; (Nevil Shute - now there's an author I have not thought
about for a long time... and the friend... I haven't thought about him
for a long time either...) .
- Want You Gone by Christopher Brookmyre
[read by Avita Jay, and Angus King]
This is the latest (8th) book "starring" Jack Parlabane - and make no mistake - he is a star. Far from being stale, this book is very lively - very thrilling and very humorous.
It involved a lot of computer hacking and scamming techniques which I really enjoyed - proving the point (in spades) that it's people that are the weak link in any security system. - Unnatural Death, Strong Poison, and Have His Carcase
by Dorothy L Sayers [Dramatisation]
I downloaded this little collection of Lord Peter Wimsey plays to listen to at bedtime.
I found Unnatural Death a bit complicated to follow just before sleeping, but the other two I am well familiar with. As I had just seen a reprise of the TV adaptations, I know them almost backwards - and in fact to my surprise the scenes, plotting, and scripts seemed almost identical. With my eyes shut I could even will myself to imagine that it was Edward Petherbridge providing the dialogue rather than Ian Carmichael, so similar was the performance, even though previously I always thought Carmichael was a bit more over the top (don't ye know).
Posted on June 30, 2018 at 12:58 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Sunday June 24, 2018
Historical Breaks
As well as time for an excursion on the Lakes we visited some National Trust properties on the way to and from Wooldfest.
Outbound it was a new one on me (and Alison as well, of course): Packwood House. Usually I travel a bit further than Warwick before finding a place to stop but ... I set off a little late and the driver was ready to mutiny due to hunger. As it was Packwood has a lovely garden where we ate our perfect picnic, featuring my underused picnic blanket, a shared Pimms (driving), and wonderful sunshine. The staff were particularly helpful and pleasant, but although we took a walk in the gardens, we didn't find time to go round the house as we were many miles from our destination.
On the way back, we stopped off at my old favourite: Little Moreton Hall. Here we did go around the delightful old building, and then sat in the blazingly hot sun in the garden, eating cheese scones and a cream tea. Highlights included a medieval parade and entertainment (involving small children and musical instruments), and astonishingly tame birds - a sparrow snatching my scone while I was actually eating it, and a duck snuggling up on my foot under our table throughout the dining experience.
Posted on June 24, 2018 at 8:39 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Thursday June 21, 2018
Woolfest
Guess where I am.
OK I'll give you a clue:
My weekend in Cumbria took a different turn with Alison (at last) able to come with me. I don't think we bought that much - actually Alison may have done - quite a few kits as gifts for friends and relatives - plus I encouraged her to buy a Hooked by Design picture of seagulls for herself - I loved it but as I have done nothing with the sheep kit I bought last year I had to restrain myself! [I did finally manage to put the frame kit together in preparation - and now I'm guessing I will be loaning it to Alison before doing anything with it myself... ]. Alison was very smitten by the Teeswater sheep and even went as far as to buy a tiny amount of highly prepared fleece to spin - plus a more extravagant sheepskin rug for her new house. As for myself - I also made a fairly big purchase in that I ordered a new woollen duvet - to be shipped to me later.
We stayed at the Trout this year - more expensive than I am used to but more fun for the two of us. The weather was pretty fair and we spent the evenings drinking a pre-prandial gin (or two) by the river. We even went out on a boat trip on Saturday round Ullswater, (recommendation from a fellow guest at the hotel), before heading back into Woolfest for a couple more hours mooching.
Posted on June 21, 2018 at 11:15 PM. Category: Spinning, Dying, Weaving.
Wednesday June 13, 2018
De Morgan, Fashion, and Quiz
Today my sister and I had a Big Day Out in London.
We kicked off with what my sister was really interested in - seeing the De Morgan tiles exhibition, Sublime Symmetry at the Guildhall's art gallery in London. They were wonderful - just wanted to take some home of course - and exhibited alongside interesting information and artefacts from his life and work. While at the Guildhall we were also able to get access the Hall itself, and have a tour of the crypt.
We wandered out to lunch via Postman's Park - which has a Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice founded by Watts (he of the Watts Gallery where my sister volunteers) and with dedication plaques designed by De Morgan.
We then drifted on to the V&A to (drink lot of tea and) see Fashioned from Nature - making good use of my membership while I can.... The exhibition was about the use of organic objects (from dead birds to beetle wings) in fashion from early times, through to a more "green" way of thinking that influences (some) designers today.
Finally we went on to the theatre.
Quiz is a fun and popular show based on the "coughing Major" trial (where the Quiz in question is Who Wants to be a Millionaire), and we enjoyed it along with everyone else. The audience vote twice during the show to give a "verdict" - and we were duly manipulated to alter our votes in the way intended by the author. I was interested to read Chris Tarrant's newspaper articles about it in the Guardian - his point of view is quite clearly put.
Posted on June 13, 2018 at 7:39 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Sunday June 10, 2018
Alabama Chanin
Quite some time ago, Alison gave me a "kit" to make myself one of these skirts from instructions in the well-known designer's book. We finally got together and I made my own stencil and started painting. Here I am continuing at home. The weather is really warm and I have carried on the theme to make a "tent dress". It's looking good, but slow going, so expect another entry in some months time showing the finished objects.
Posted on June 10, 2018 at 5:28 PM. Category: Friends.
Saturday June 9, 2018
Slimbridge and Bath
Today Rob and I went down to Bath to see Felicity's end of degree show at the University- it was lovely (she is very talented).
But before that... o my.... we went Slimbridge.
And thus began my attachment to flamingoes. I can't think how I never noticed them before... they are just wonderful! So very peculiar and ... pink...
Here follows a bunch of photos of "other birds" at Slimbridge...
But (did I say?) O... the flamingoes...
[I had to stop myself buying a fluffy toy from the shop.]
Posted on June 9, 2018 at 9:26 PM. Category: Days Out.
Thursday June 7, 2018
Trioperas
All I can say is... this was not at all what I was expecting.
And if I were to say the Wushi Lion Bull creature that featured in Carmen along with a keystone cops chase scene on trampolines were quite amusing - then I would have to tell you about the rest of it.
And the rest of it was pretty damned poor - not even bad enough to be funny. In truth I wanted my money back. The face value of my stalls seat was £59 which is staggering considering a comparison with the top price £64 stalls ticket for a seat to see Network at the National.
The hype for this "show" (where the intervals are - in this case fortunately - longer than the actual acts) beggars belief:
"A spectacular, high adrenaline, unforgettable journey of love, vengeance, tears and laughter."
Or possibly just tears of suppressed fury and hysteria at wasting my time and money.
Posted on June 7, 2018 at 5:27 PM. Category: Days Out.
Thursday May 31, 2018
Books in May
- Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly
I'd been looking forward to reading the next "installment", but as I started the book I began to think my increasingly poor memory had let me down about which books I have actually read. However all was well - memory still poor but I'd just read the first few chapters as a taster in the previous book (it seems so long ago...).
Anyway - still on top form Michael, and all the characters, old and new, as fresh as ever. The usual excellent plot with a new and an old case where the "two unrelated cases wind around each other like strands of barbed wire". - Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham
Pleased to have a Tom Thorne storyline with Nicola Tanner in a central role. It is interesting that Connelly and Billingham are moving on to key female detective protagonists. Both have had books centred on female characters previously so not really new I guess but they seem to be .. grooming them... if that's not too creepy.
I read a review saying that Tanner was "unappealing" - and I would not disagree entirely; however, MB has clearly tried to make her a very different character from ones we have seen before - maybe one he does not completely understand himself yet. Helen, for example, was a very appealing character with whom no doubt we could all empathise - but there is only so far you can go with such a character, and now she is (firmly I hope) embedded in Thorne's personal life. So I am looking forward to Tanner being fleshed out even more in further books; maybe, meanwhile, it's right for her to be mingled with characters we already know and love. She held her own well enough in Die of Shame but it was her interactions with other people that I felt made her more 3 dimensional (ie other characters found her less than appealing too!). - Dandy Gilver and A Most Misleading Habit by Catriona McPherson
So here the third book this month from one of my favourite authors, although to be fair it's Dandy that's my favourite in truth, rather than the author. I say "to be fair" because what I mean is I have not read any other of CM's novels - and feel I should, as I find her writing wonderful - the way she evokes the era and language in these books is quite brilliant.
In this one we see Dandy condemned to spend some time in a convent with its obviously limited facilities in the way of luxury; Alec appears somewhat luckier in all but home cooking, in which skill the convent excels.
The fundamental causes of the unravelled mystery turn out to be, as usual, wonderfully of their time. - Calling Out for You and Black Seconds by Karin Fossum
[read by David Rintoul]
I finally felt brave enough to go back to Karin Fossum, and was very pleased to find audio versions read by David Rintoul who is just perfect for these books. Interestingly, although these are police procedurals in essence, with Inspector Sejer in the driving seat, they are very much more than that. To me they have a slight Ruth Rendell feel to them as more psychological thrillers. These two alone serve as good examples as to how she manages to create plots and writing structures totally different from one another. The only thing they all have in common is how poignantly sad they are - reminding myself yet again that all murder stories are in fact going to be tragic.
I would also say that I am bound to agree with other reviewers that Calling Out For You is really very chilling as you are left at the end thinking that the horrible crime may be unsolved.
- Fallout by Sara Paretsky [read by Liza Ross] and Hard
Time [read by Jean Smart]
Fallout is the latest VI novel (18th), and is excellent. I loved the plot and the descriptions of the detection methods. I also loved that it was wrapped up with chemistry/physics/biology (which we may call "science" - but it was specifically those - o and government conspiracies to boot). I do agree with one reviewers comments that VI's niece is a total pain and I find it hard to believe that the VI character would put up with her for one second without being driven to commit murder herself. However, I can see that the author needs all that as a plot device - VI herself is pretty sensible and effective as a PI so everything would run far too smoothly without such irritations.
Hard Time is a fairly old novel (9th) and I was less keen on it. One reason was that the audio book I had downloaded was somehow scrambled and not only played some chapters out of sequence but also had some chapters entirely missing. [I was driven to read several chapters of the actual book to catch up with what was going on]. Very frustrating - but still not my favourite story - whereas Fallout does rank among my favourites.
- The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters [read by
Grace Conlin]
And
so last - and probably actually least.
I always spell it cypher but although it seems this is a "chiefly British" spelling, it seems in "modern usage" it should be cipher - and having got that out of the way - on to the book:
This has shades of Dan Brown, and James Bond, but mostly Mills and Boon (not intended as an insult). The heroine has an improbable occupation (opera singer) and is embroiled in a mystery while on a tour of the Middle East; she is pursued by two men - one is an irritation and the other handsome and charming. Guess which one is the baddie. The End.
Amusing enough to listen to as an accompaniment to crafting.
Posted on May 31, 2018 at 8:48 AM. Category: Books of the Month.
Thursday May 24, 2018
Red
This is a marvellous play and not what I was expecting.
To be clear, I was expecting a marvellous play - I just thought it might be a bit beyond my intellectual grasp to understand in what way it was marvellous - and actually that probably still is the case. What I did understand, was that it was splendidly entertaining and I was gripped throughout.
The set was gloriously like an artist's studio, and the actors (Alfred Molina, and Alfred Enoch) were terrific. In an amazing physical feat, they managed to paint a huge canvas on stage with a base coat (in red of course), most realistically at break neck speed - which is in reality how it has to be done to achieve the required evenness of coat. From the little I know of such things, this kind of canvas preparation is quite a challenge without the additional stress of doing it in front of an audience! But party tricks aside, the structure of the story, and Rothko's verbal sparring with his assistant were all fascinating. I loved it.
As usual, Michael Billington gives a wonderful and properly intellectual review which better explains why and how the production and actors made for such entertainment.
Posted on May 24, 2018 at 2:58 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Sunday May 20, 2018
Roman London
Today we went to the Museum of London for a short guided tour of the Roman walls. We got ourselves in the mood by wandering around the excellent free exhibits while waiting to join our party. As was explained to us - the view above is not really very Roman but much later. The actual Roman parts are only the first few feet of the visible walls.
However this gloomy interior below was what we had really come to see: a locked area of the car park with the remains of a gate and probable guard post area.
The angles for my photos were limited owing to the low lighting conditions. [However, the cool interior was a welcome relief from the remarkably hot weather we are experiencing here at the moment].
Posted on May 20, 2018 at 11:25 PM. Category: Days Out.
Saturday May 19, 2018
Monet and Architecture
I got "club" tickets for this on spec with the idea of taking my sister, since both "Monet" and "Architecture" are definitely her thing. But of course in the end she could not make the date and Rob took the place.
The exhibition was structured around Monet's (long) life with paintings collected together chronologically according to where he lived or visited at the time - and some showing several of identical subjects painted (in rotation apparently) at different times of day as the sun moved round - none of your Van Gogh: 3 paintings in an afternoon stuff. I found all that as interesting as the paintings themselves since I realise I did not previously know much about him. However - always wonderful to see Monet's work - a privilege.
Posted on May 19, 2018 at 11:18 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Friday May 11, 2018
The Future Starts ... at the V&A
We went to the preview evening for The Future Starts Here exhibition - and unfortunately some of the exhibits had not actually "started here" - the house robot had absolutely HAD IT UP TO HERE with sorting the laundry (haven't we all) - but that probably did not affect the overall experience so much. It surprised me that it was really quite "political" if that's the right word - with items questioning if democracy was really working for this century, pointing out the truly appalling consequences of rising worldwide temperatures (for whatever reason), and catering for the increasing number of single people living and dining out alone ("We are now all connected, but are we still lonely?"). I tried out (sat in) a prototype driverless car/taxi, and was particularly taken with a tree project designed to help keep public spaces and trees healthy by having the public report in by email if they see issues with the trees; what happened was a wholly unintended performance art project, with people writing to specific trees (and getting replies), or penning odes to their favourite trees.
Really not sure what I took away from it all though - it seemed quite glum. It was intended to show "now", to avoid having to look back in future years on inevitably foolish predictions, but also to show that any particular future is not inevitable - we can make choices. Some found it "refreshingly hopeful" but it seemed to make it clearer to me that we aren't getting to grips with making any helpful choices. Now I feel much as I did after watching the documentary series All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace which showed (among many other things) that our attempts to influence our environment* have all too often ended in making things worse.
* when I was at school we were told about an idea put into place to stop the high rate of water evaporation from reservoirs in hot climates by putting a layer of another less volatile liquid on top. This meant that the water underneath the top layer heated up - not a problem in itself - until in the end it reached a temperature such that the rate of evaporation was equal to what they had started with. I can't find any reference to this pre-1970s project on the web (I've probably misremembered it) - but there are many references to more recent scientific research still trying to solve the same problem in Australia and California today.
Posted on May 11, 2018 at 11:16 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Thursday May 3, 2018
Union Chapel
Another outing with Rob to the Union Chapel to see a bright young thing. In fact I was not taken with the music although she is clearly very talented and has a beautiful voice (and was very struck by having packed out the chapel).
I was very taken with the free roses though, and struggled home on the train with a bunch - they seem to have stood up to the trauma very well indeed.
Posted on May 3, 2018 at 11:13 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Monday April 30, 2018
Books in April
- Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
I decided it was time to read the Shetland books - especially as the last one is due out this year. I really loved the TV adaptation (having not read the books) and the only minor quibble I have now is that Doug Henshall* does not really fit the description of the Spanish heritage of Perez - but that is all. (O - and I thought Sandy was a chubby sort of guy - but I made that up I think).
As I thought that Fran had died prematurely of natural causes, Blue Lightning came as a bit of a shock. Other than that - brilliant.
* Also brilliant in his role in Network - although maybe a bit young (looking at least) for the role of Max Schumacher? - The Last Secret Of The Temple by Paul Sussman
I could not get hold of an audio book for this first book by Sussman so it took me a little longer to get round to reading it myself. Here we see how the two policemen on each side of the fence get together to solve their first crime. As I said - his thriller writing improved over the 3 books - not being a writer I can't really say how or why. However, you can see that the opportunity for these two to be long term partners in combating crime were going to be limited - and the author ensured that was indeed the case in the third book, before his own untimely demise. Well worth the read.
Posted on April 30, 2018 at 5:53 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Tuesday April 24, 2018
Say you don't mind...
Little did I imagine in 1972 that I would be doing this in Grayshott Village some half a century later..... as I'm guessing Colin didn't either....
Great evening!
Posted on April 24, 2018 at 11:14 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Saturday April 21, 2018
Absolute Hell
I am quite interested in revivals from this period, so I took the opportunity of getting some tickets for a preview evening. Controversial in 1951 - but that was a lifetime ago (mine in fact) and I loved it. Beautifully staged and acted, showing both interior (on two levels) and exterior action all within the one brilliant set.
I did find it quite difficult to hear from my seat in the slips; since it's set in a club in Soho and there's a lot spirited party atmosphere, I found that following the sparky dialogue proved tricky, especially at the beginning. I'm afraid I think this is my hearing rather than the play though.
Posted on April 21, 2018 at 9:21 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Friday April 20, 2018
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing
Another pensioners afternoon out at our local village hall.
This is an excellent film worth all the notices. Considering the grim subject matter, the film surprised me with its moderately positive ending - and a lot of (albeit black) humour.
Posted on April 20, 2018 at 11:27 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Thursday April 12, 2018
The Grinning Man
By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, Link
I had pretty low expectations for this - and how wrong I was. It was absolutely wonderful - great music and cast - and turns out it's a cult hit. It's a tragicomic musical based on Victor Hugo's novel L'Homme Qui Ri; premiered at the Bristol Old Vic before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios, (a venue I'm becoming quite fond of), where it's into an extended run.
Posted on April 12, 2018 at 9:22 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Saturday March 31, 2018
Books in March
- Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin [Read by James ]
Another great read from Ian Rankin. Personally I am less keen on plots involving Big Ger - and probably gangsters in general. Maybe I don't like the idea of the one great adversary or nemesis (Moriarty) - more of the "murder in a country house" girl me. But I do like the new character Malcolm Fox - in fact, I think I understand or empathise with him a bit more than with Rebus himself. This book has Rebus (retired...) working with both Siobhan and Fox; I guess Rankin can't do that too often ("the gang's all here") but it works well. - The Seagull by Ann Cleeves [read by Janine Birkett]
Apparently only the 8th book about Vera - she seems so alive I imagined there were more. Here we have some of her back story catching up with her. Excellent plotting and writing leaves me quite inclined to read it again.
The Seagull itself is a night club on the shore - and quite inappropriately, it reminds me of a ... cafe I suppose... on the sea shore where I was brought up called the Mermaid - although comparatively innocent ie not full of drug dealers and murderers, it seemed a very daring place and one which I longed to go to ("going down the Mer"). Once I was old enough to do so, of course, it's flame had dimmed somewhat.
Note: these faded memories led me on a search on the web looking at old photos of my village in the 1950s and 60s. The Mermaid "Bathing Cafe" was finally demolished about 10 years ago or so - someone provided a picture:
- Wild Chamber by Christopher Fowler [read by Tim Goodman]
Another wonderful story featuring my favourite detectives. It's a sad
tale from beginning to end - and perhaps that's only right when dealing
with a murder story; I tend to forget this when steeped in the Golden
Age Locked Room mystery genre. The title
of the book refers to the 17th century name for city parks and gardens,
which Arthur explains - to my delight and his colleagues usual degree
of exasperation. I actually love CF's use of Arthur as a device to inform
on all sorts of fascinating titbits about London - relevant or irrelevant
- which clearly interest the author himself (and me), and which he has
a need to tell us all about. - Dream of Darkness by Reginald Hill writing as Patrick Ruell
[read by Seán Barrett]
Although written in 1989, I found it had a rather brittle tone - more
1950s or even earlier. This may have been intentional as the story is
about Idi Amin's Uganda - mostly in flashbacks of a kind - so the characters
are rather in the vein of old colonials - and "posh" it has
to be said. I thought the story was firmly centred on the politics but
it turned out to be quite a (albeit melodramatic) thriller. In fact
I found the political angle quite interesting as Uganda and Idi were
very high focus in my teenage years in the 1970s.
Posted on March 31, 2018 at 9:07 AM. Category: Books of the Month.
Saturday March 24, 2018
Polesden Lacey
Alison and I met up at Polesden Lacey for a "nice day out" - it was a bit wet in fact but that in no way dampened our enjoyment of baked potatoes with tuna mayonnaise and coleslaw, (trip down memory lane from when we first met) followed by cream teas (always a highlight of a National Trust tea room). Not quite as pictured but just as refined....
Posted on March 24, 2018 at 5:54 PM. Category: Days Out.
Friday March 23, 2018
Darkest Hour
I wanted to see this film and George wasn't keen - but he spotted that it was showing in a local village hall thanks to Curzon Country Cinema. We must have lowered the average age by some degree - but we are practising for retirement - and how nice to walk to a local cinema (with a real projectionist!) just like in "the old days".
Posted on March 23, 2018 at 11:28 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Monday March 19, 2018
Impressionists in London
We all went to Impressionists in London, French Artists in Exile (1870-1904), and I think my sister was slightly put out that it wasn't more "impressionistic" in the way we know and love. [Scenes of regattas fringed with bunting as painted by Alfred Sisley and James Tissot in "The Ball on Shipboard" c.1874 are also displayed, demonstrating how British social codes and traditions captured the imagination of the Impressionists at the time] But I really enjoyed the works and the explanations of the apparently slightly risque implications in some of them.
Posted on March 19, 2018 at 11:23 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Sunday March 18, 2018
EYF
I'm in Edinburgh for the Yarn Festival. Dorothy, Helen, and I spent a lovely day wallowing in wool. I didn't buy much other than some wool (obviously) from Jamiesons and Jamison and Smith to make the Shetland Baable Hat; the double purchase was my error in - after all this time - not realising they were 2 distinct companies! So I am now committed to making one hat in each colourway. I also bought a couple of skeins to give to Alison (a shawl).
The weather has been pretty bad - blizzard and freezing winds - but we managed to stay snug, eating a step away from the hotel every night in Fishers.
Posted on March 18, 2018 at 11:19 PM. Category: Knitting and Crochet.
Wednesday February 28, 2018
Books in February
- Bearded Tit: a love story with feathers by Rory McGrath
[read by Rory McGrath
Rob gave me this book for Christmas and I thought "I wonder what Rory has been up to lately" and made the mistake of looking, and finding that there was all kinds of scurrilous detail on the subject available on the internet. This put me off reading it - not by any means because I was disgusted with him but because it made me so deeply sad - especially since (at least part of) the book is about finding his "true love" and of course loves young (old) dream does not always last.
However, Rob is quite definite that "it's about birds" which is also true - and it's clever and funny and great hearing it read by the author. He needs to write more. - Sleeping In The Ground by Peter Robinson [read by Mark
Meadows]
This is the 24th (and most current) book in the Inspector Banks series. It was available from the library so I took advantage of the opportunity, although I am trying to read them in order (I'm up to number 10). I've read that you should read them in order, as there are plot spoilers about previous books but I've not noticed this, but as usual, it was a good story well written and I enjoyed it.
What I did not enjoy was the library software (Ulverscroft) provided on iPad which I used to listen to it. The tracks are simply not played automatically in order, so I had to keep guessing from the wild change in plot line that we had leapt to the wrong place after each chapter. I can find no information or complaints about this online so still wondering if it is "user error". I have to say though that another book I borrowed had a whole chunk missing - so I had to go back to the hard copy book to catch up with the missing plot! - A Lesson in Secrets and Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline
Winspear
[read by Julie Teal]
So I have found another mystery series and a new heroine - a whole catalogue of books to mine. I'm not reading these in order but the time line is not hard to follow. I can see that Maisie Dobbs is a bit elitist - or perhaps more exactly improbably privileged - but it serves the basic premise of the books and enables her freedom to be a female detective between the wars. I like (well written) books about this period - which I suppose must be called "historical novels" now, even though I feel they were almost my life and times. As I observed before - the wars seemed within touching distance during my childhood.
Posted on February 28, 2018 at 7:22 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Tuesday February 6, 2018
Network
I somehow failed to notice this production - I guess I knew the film from my youth and never watched it (despite its being "acclaimed" - someone experiencing a nervous breakdown on camera never held much appeal). However, Brian Cranstone is another matter - known to and loved by me for his priceless performances in Malcolm in the Middle rather than the more recent and much hyped role in Breaking Bad.
So without much optimism I joined the Friday Rush queues for tickets, and was amazed (really lucky) to actually procure some - for a matinee and which I think must have been top price returns. And what a truly great production it was. Even George was impressed.
Posted on February 6, 2018 at 10:50 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Wednesday January 31, 2018
Books in January
- Learning to Talk by Hilary Mantel [Read by Patrick Moy,
Anna Bentinck, and Jane Collingwood]
A collection of autobiographically inspired short stories. Poignant and evocative tales of life in the 1950s and 60s.- King Billy is aGentleman
- Curved is the Line of Beauty
- Learning to Talk
- Third Floor Rising
- The Clean Slate
- Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson [read
by Diana Quick]
Another wonderful chronicle of an extended family. It covers not only the main character's childhood era (1950s) but also the previous generations across two world wars.
I was originally given her book of short stories, and due to the cover (!) thought she was a chick lit writer. Then I was introduced to her Jackson Brodie novels (and TV series) - and thought she was a crime writer.
Now - I have thankfully stopped trying to pigeon-hole her and just see her as the excellent writer she undoubtedly is. - The Labyrinth of Osiris and The Lost Army of Cambyses
by Paul Sussman
[read by Gordon Griffin]
Quite by chance I listened to The Labyrinth of Osiris and was
completely hooked. I thought I had found a great new author - only
to discover the poor chap was the victim of an untimely death - so 3
books is it (actually there are a couple more but not in this "series").
I have read them in exactly reverse order - and I think his style (as in: a writer of thrillers - Sussman was a journalist of some standing) improved over the 3 books.
The books are variously described with comparisons to Dan Brown - which is frankly an insult but I guess gives you a flavour of the content. They are police procedurals set in present day Egypt and Israel but with (in truth unrealistic but made real) new archaeological finds based on references in ancient writings. Sussman has combined his love for archaeology with his day job and produced some great stories.
Curses that there are no more.
Posted on January 31, 2018 at 4:11 PM. Category: Books of the Month.
Sunday January 28, 2018
Dulwich
Alison and I had a day out at the Dulwich Picture Gallery to catch the final day of the Tove Jansson exhibition.
I saw a great documentary about TJ on BBC4 some time ago and it was wonderful the see the actual detailed artwork and working drawings for the sketches. And also of course I read all the books as a small child - which must have been only a short time after they were available in English translations. I read all that were in our local library which was probably only 4 or 5, but apparently there are 9.
Overall it was excellent - and the only minor disappointment was that all the beautiful tiny drawings which we imagined would transfer well to postcards were not available - all posters and prints sold out, unsurprisingly.
They have a really good cafe at the gallery (Dulwich is a very right-on place) where we had both elevenses and (later) a light lunch (despite being initially rather startled by the strength of the black tea).
The excitement of the day was rounded off by going to see The Last Jedi at Kingston Odeon. Nostalgia all round.
Posted on January 28, 2018 at 8:16 PM. Category: Art and Culture.
Saturday January 13, 2018
Pinocchio
This was a spontaneous booking at a very low price which tempted me - I wanted to see it for the inventive direction and puppetry - I had not checked but it is in fact a musical and did (to my delight) include the familiar songs I had hoped for - specifically "An Actors Life for Me" - and Mr Fox was also terrific. The seats were right at the front of the stalls - temporary seating I'm guessing - presumably thought to be not ideal with the way the production is staged (giant puppets) and hence they are offered at such bargain prices. However I absolutely love being close to the stage and enjoyed the whole thing very much.
Posted on January 13, 2018 at 9:13 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
Saturday January 6, 2018
Cinderella
Always worth seeing the imaginative Matthew Bourne shows - this one had many plus points for originality, being set in WW2 and with not only a wicked step-mother and 2 ugly sisters but also 2 ugly brothers (one with a shoe fetish).
The only thing I was not so keen on was the fairy godfather. I liked the concept but his silver outfit/hair etc reminded me (being that old) too much of the ancient TV series UFO, and although he was a terrific dancer, I was not keen on the choreographic style he was given. In fact I found him rather sinister, but I am not sure how much that in itself was a detractor - maybe the opposite. I did like the implication at the end that he helped other down trodden maidens and not just Cinderella.
The truth is I was spoiled with Swan Lake all those years ago, and more recently with Edward Scissorhands and then the fantastic Carman. He set the bar very high.
Posted on January 6, 2018 at 9:15 AM. Category: Art and Culture.
