September diversions
Films: Yay, finally saw a few more films this month. Brief reviews here.
Books: Vicious Circle and Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey. The second and third Felix Castor novels respectively, these books are set in a Buffyesque London, right about now, but the dead are walking and doing a hell of a lot more besides. These books are as much about exploring the possibilities of this alternate reality as anything else; but also featuring high on the list are the many and various ways that Castor's choices rebound and damage those around him. Highly recommended for those who like Raymond Chandler, Buffy, and noir. And a vote of thanks to iainjclark who pointed me in the direction of this series :-)
The Listerdale Mystery is a collection of short stories by Agatha Christie at her most iconic. Written in the early thirties, this collection is utterly upper middle class (although one story notably features a maid as the lead character), full of girl bandits, robber gangs, hapless young lovers, jewellery thieves, and unassuming serial killers, this is perfect for wallowing in classic Christie.
The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman. Kellerman has been doing this for twenty years, you'd think she'd be past the point of regressing. And yet, this book seems to have forgotten almost all that's gone before, the dialogue is clunkier than ever, the characterisation is even more inane that ever... seriously, why bother if this is all you're going to do?
Travel: A week in Northumbria, in the shape of Alnmouth and Alnwick in the rain, a day trip to Edinburgh, and long weekend of music in Dublin. Lovely, if tiring :-)
Music: Got the new album by Jane Taylor, which is lovely (and signed by the artist). Went to Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin, and saw: The Lost Brothers, Panama Kings, Fred, Lines Drawing Circles, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Super Extra Bonus Party, The Rags, Dolbro Dan, Nick Carswell, Tom McShane, Cian, Ollie Cole, Valerie Francis, Mackerel The Cat, One Day International, Carly Sings, and Autamata.
TV: Dexter S2 finished on FX, brilliantly. S5 of NCIS has also finished, also on FX, and was as much silly fun (although rather more sombre) than usual. We're still half-way through The Wire S4, but we have the whole of S5 recorded and ready to go.
Books: Vicious Circle and Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey. The second and third Felix Castor novels respectively, these books are set in a Buffyesque London, right about now, but the dead are walking and doing a hell of a lot more besides. These books are as much about exploring the possibilities of this alternate reality as anything else; but also featuring high on the list are the many and various ways that Castor's choices rebound and damage those around him. Highly recommended for those who like Raymond Chandler, Buffy, and noir. And a vote of thanks to iainjclark who pointed me in the direction of this series :-)
The Listerdale Mystery is a collection of short stories by Agatha Christie at her most iconic. Written in the early thirties, this collection is utterly upper middle class (although one story notably features a maid as the lead character), full of girl bandits, robber gangs, hapless young lovers, jewellery thieves, and unassuming serial killers, this is perfect for wallowing in classic Christie.
The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman. Kellerman has been doing this for twenty years, you'd think she'd be past the point of regressing. And yet, this book seems to have forgotten almost all that's gone before, the dialogue is clunkier than ever, the characterisation is even more inane that ever... seriously, why bother if this is all you're going to do?
Travel: A week in Northumbria, in the shape of Alnmouth and Alnwick in the rain, a day trip to Edinburgh, and long weekend of music in Dublin. Lovely, if tiring :-)
Music: Got the new album by Jane Taylor, which is lovely (and signed by the artist). Went to Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin, and saw: The Lost Brothers, Panama Kings, Fred, Lines Drawing Circles, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Super Extra Bonus Party, The Rags, Dolbro Dan, Nick Carswell, Tom McShane, Cian, Ollie Cole, Valerie Francis, Mackerel The Cat, One Day International, Carly Sings, and Autamata.
TV: Dexter S2 finished on FX, brilliantly. S5 of NCIS has also finished, also on FX, and was as much silly fun (although rather more sombre) than usual. We're still half-way through The Wire S4, but we have the whole of S5 recorded and ready to go.