Book Reviews
The Season by Helen Garner
Having spent many a cold/night day on the sideline watching junior Soccer as my nephew (and niece) grew up, this book really resonated with me. The Season is more about watching young boys grow into men, and spending time with her youngest grandson against the backdrop of a footy season.
It is a mix of memoir, mostly about her and her family, the footy training and games, her love of the game, and about life itself. It has drama, humour, and everything in between. I just loved reading this book.
I love Helen's power of observation and her sharp construct. She can describe a situation with so many layers so succinctly and yet without being too flowery. Utter brilliance. She can write about anything and have me hooked in. I also noticed her awareness of her age, and its fragility throughout, which was beautiful but sad. She truly is our greatest writer and always a favourite.
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
If Helen is our greatest writer, Dalton is our most beloved. Lola in the Mirror came out last year and I started it then. I found it tough going which usually does not bother me, but I was not in a great head space so I had to put it down for a bit. I finally picked it back up via a spoken word version that came through work. I got back into the story and having it read for me helped.
This is a magnificent book, like all his work there is so much good and heart within. The good takes it time to rear its head, but when it does you feel it and the layers of this book are truly beautiful. Set in Brisbane it follows a young girl and her friends which are like family who are living rough. She is caught up in crime but gets an opportunity to get out of the cycle and find out who she really is.
The story runs fast, goes in multiple directions, to say much more would be spoilers. Suffice to say, things don't turn as expected, it's a hell of a ride. I found some scenes made me sob, yes I had to pull over my car. And there is this one teeny but spectacular scene where the main character is running down the Brisbane Mall and runs past the author writing down everyone's love stories. Yep, that is Dalton inserting himself, Hitchcock style, into the story. That made me sob like a baby, I love his sentimentality and that was so very clever.
Go read Lola in the Mirror, you will thank me!
The Friday Afternoon Club: a family memoir by Griffin Dunne
This was an excellent memoir, as you would imagine it to be. Griffin is Dominick Dunne's son and the nephew of Joan Didion. Brought up in privilege, surrounded by all sorts of celebrities and famous people, Griffin wanted to be an actor. This memoir is of his family as much as it is about himself.
He moves through both sides of his family and goes back a few generations, this is something that normally bothers me, but this family, every single person has some kind of cool notoriety and he just tells enough about them and moves on to the next story. His childhood was not ideal, in terms of his parents splitting, illness and being left along a lot, and he dabbled in drugs and drink quite early. One of his best friends was Carrie Fisher, and he spent a lot of time with his aunt and uncle.
He also goes into a fair bit of detail about his sister's murder and how the tragedy impacted on them all. This was a great insight. He is also - like everyone in his family - a really good writer. He takes you in with each story, and it was a cracking read. It ends in the early 80s as he is starting to work in films and his family are recovering from Dominique's death. So hopefully there will be more in future years.
The Uptown Local: joy, death, and Joan Didion by Cory Leadbeater
I was quite interested in reading this one. Cory was Joan's PA for the later part of her life. I thought it would be a good insight into how she works etc. It was not. I suspect he had signed some kind of document to say he wouldn't talk. It is an interesting read about someone from the lower class working and trying to fit into the upper class world that Didion inhabited. So sociologically it is fascinating. Also his father was in jail for blue collar crimes and that was an interesting twist. Joan and her apartment are certainly mentioned throughout the novel and her kindness and support of him, but there was no depth to the relationship or any intel into her work. Disappointing.
Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik
This was another one that was incredibly disappointing. It is definitely NOT the book it says it is. It makes out there was a friendship between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz while it appears there were mere acquaintances. Lili has written a lot above Eve and has some kind of obsession with her. When she comes across some correspondence from Eve to Joan, I think she thought, 'here's another book'. It was a long stretch.
There was a lot of interesting information in the book about the circles both Joan and Eve ran in on both coasts of the US. And, yes, at times, there was an overlap, but it was minute. There was a lot about this book I really enjoyed, but there was far more that made me mad. She seemed to have some kind of vendetta against Joan and tried to make her out to be a really horrible person. No one is perfect, least of all Joan, but all of this was unfounded and cheap. Her writing was not that great either. I really don't know what to say about this book. It was a bestseller, I think, out of people's curiosity. The reviews seem to back my thoughts. It was just disappointing.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
This book keeps crossing my path and I finally got around to reading it. The Salt path is about a couple who have lost everything in a very odd court case. The following week the husband finds out he has a terminal illness. Ray, the wife, decides they should walk the South-West Coastal path in the UK. The book is about their journey and it is a ripper of a read. Geographical and sociological. I love pilgrimage stories and this is definitely worth reading. There is a movie being made about it starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Looks pretty good from the trailer.
Squat by John Safran
This is a terribly difficult book to review. It is Safran at his very best and his very worst. He hears about a possibly abandoned building in LA that Kanye owns and is curious. The book is essentially about his week squatting in the mansion and what he finds, and this week is peppered with stories and scenes from before and after that week. The stories tell why and how he ended up in the mansion and what happened after.
There is a lot of amazing within this book but you get to a point where you start to really worry about Safran, his health, his mental health and his general wellbeing and safety. This worry - for me - took over my enjoyment of the book, and just made me want to know he is ok. After seeing him at the NWF, I think he is!
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
When the gang open up a decade old cold case, they are not prepared for what will happen. This is the third book from Osman with his Thursday Murder Club, it is the most thrilling to date and gives the gang a large case to look into. With each book Osman develops the characters and landscape more and more, adding layers and layers. There is romance, and humour, animals, and death. If you haven't experience this series, go and start at the beginning, the movie is coming out soon!
What I Ate In One Year (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci
This is a diary/memoir from Tucci about food (as always) and other things. It opens in Rome while he is filming Conclave. And throughout the year you can track his acting gigs and people he meets; he is quite the name dropper. He is a great storyteller and very amusing, I can always hear his voice when I read his books. This is a super easy read, but just don't read hungry!
Cher: the memoir, part one by Cher
This was a cracker of a read and takes you up to the 80s when she is about to do her first film. She is a great storyteller, and the book is dense and chock full of wonderful and interesting stories. She delves into her childhood and her relationship with her mother and other relatives. Then there is meeting Sonny and their rise to fame and the relationship demise. She writes with honesty and humour and has you hanging on to every word. It is a big book but everything within is wonderful, and I couldn't put it down. It takes you up to the beginning of her film career, so we still have more to come I am hoping. I cannot recommend this enough, it is a great read.
Beng Henry: the Fonz...and beyond by Henry Winkler
This was fun, Winkler delves into his life, before and after Happy Days. The people who helped him re-construct a fine career. He is very interesting and funny. He writes about his dyslexia that stopped him from doing a lot of things, and how he writes books for children now to help them with that. He writes with great fondness about The Fonz, and how that opened so many doors for him. But also shut some. He has many fun tales from Hollywood but he also comes across very down to earth. I loved this book.
Theory and Practice by Michelle de Krester
Michelle de Krester is such an interesting writer. She always makes me think with her philosophical ideas embedded into stories. Her latest novel, mostly set in academia, has been written using various non-fiction styles. This is information I found out after I had read it, and I feel it would have been a much easier read had I realised this early on. There is a thread about Virginia Woolf and The Waves, the main character is writing about her and the book. I loved this addition too. There is a lot going on in this book, but as always utterly fascinating and thought provoking. You can see why it won The Stella.
More Days at the Morisaki Books by Satoshi Yagisawa
This is the follow up to Days at the Morisaki Books which I really loved. This was good but nowhere near as good as the original. All the characters are back and the internal visuals are lovely. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't great.
Storytellers: questions, answers and the craft of journalism by Leigh Sales
Leigh chats with a whole range of journalists about storytelling. She interviews old and new, print, radio, tv, and online journalists. It is the Q and A format, and you get a lot of behind the scenes details of pulling together stories. Interviews include Benjamin Law, Annabel Crabb, Indira Naidoo, Stan Grant and many more.
This was a really interesting read, but I suspect not for everyone.
Film Reviews
A Complete Unknown
I went in warily, I am a huge Dylan fan. But I trusted James Mangold, as Walk the Line set a very high standard. I needn't have been wary, A Complete Unknown was utterly brilliant. Taking the beginning of his career, starting out right up to the Dylan goes Electric period, was a smart move, rather than trying to encompass everything. Chalamet was outstanding as Dylan, he nailed him without doing a caricature. He sounded amazing. As did all the other characters. the supporting cast was tremendous, particularly Monica Barbaro (Joan Baez) and Edward Norton (Pete Seeger). There were times you were so in the movie you forgot it was a movie. The set design, music, feel, acting, everything was so evocative, it could have been footage from the time. This is a must see.
Nosferatu
We saw this on the big screen, a rarity these days. It was visually stunning with sections of black and white throughout. Very melodramatic, gothic, and bloody, just like a good vampire movie should be. Staying fairly true to the story, this was a delight to suck in (pun intended). The acting was great, perfect for the film. See this on the big screen if you can.
Blue Velvet
With the death of the great Davd Lynch, we went on a bit of a rewatch and we started with Blue Velvet. Andrew hasn't watched it since his first viewing many decades ago, I have watched it regularly but not for a while. It still holds up beautifully and scarily. The acting is superb, fresh, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The stand out for me is Isabella Rossellini, her Dorothy is crazed and wise and fearstruck, but also mesmerising, you cannot keep your eyes off of her. Hopper kills in the crazed lunatic role. MacLachlan and Dern are sweet and the heart of the film. The story, the cinematography, the music. To me, it is probably his best film. It is certainly a fave.
Mulholland Drive
Andrew had never seen this one, and I had seen it at the cinema and loved it. I didn't love it anywhere near as much on this rewatch, Andrew felt similarly. Visually it looks great, the acting is amazing, and it is the perfect Lynch mind-fuck. It messes around with time and characters, and what is real and what is imagined, and for the most part it is great and exciting. But by the end, you are so exhausted, and the ending it abrupt and weird, you kinds go what the fuck was all that. I think this is a film that depends on how you are feeling when you are watching.
The Straight Story
Another Andrew had not seen, but one I loved so much I saw it twice back in the day but it had been a while. It is a very different Lynch film so I was worried it might not hold up but it really did. The Straight Story is about an elderly man who drives a ride on mower (he is ill and no longer holds a licence) 100s of miles to visit his estranged brother who is dying. Richard Farnsworth (who was very unwell and died not longer after filming) is exceptional as the main character, Alvin Straight
The story is a road story, and about Alvin's tenacity and the people he meets along the way. It is one of those stories I call, nothing happens but everything happens. Which means it is not fast paced, and it is just about life; nothing happens. No big plot twists, what you see is what you get, it features all the little things that make up life; everything happens. I love stories like this. It shows the tenacity of people, the kindness of people, the realness of the world. This is probably the most accessible of Lynch's films, it has a lot of heart, and still is strange if you think about it.
Marcel: the shell with shoes on
This is the cutest animation film based on shorts that landed on youtube as created by Jenny Slate. Marcel - a shell with shoes on - is separated from their family and it is about their life and their journey back to their family. It is a sweet and melancholy movie, but utterly beautiful. This is a film for everyone, I cannot imagine anyone not loving this.
Book Club: the next chapter
This is a light older woman's movie, but I love the actresses, and had fun resting the old brain while watching it. Not a lot of reading gets done, lol, but we all know bookclubs are more about the friends you discuss the books with. In this case the friends are Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen, and they are taking their bookclub to Italy. What can go wrong? lol!
Finding Your Feet
Another light older woman's movie, but this time from the UK, so infinitely better.
Imelda Staunton is upper class Sandra, and finds out her husband is having an affair. She lands on her sister's doorstep, Bif, Celia Imrie, is very different to her sister and many clashes arise. But Sandra slowly opens up to Bif's way of life. This was not bad, not great, but always lovely to see these great actors do their thing. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Timothy Spall.
Television Reviews
Gavin and Stacey Finale
The finale we all were waiting for and it didn't disappoint. The show may be called Gavin and Stacey, but we all know it is really about Smithy and Nessa. In fact, I would say Gavin and Stacey are probably the least interesting characters on the show. Not to say they are not interesting, just the remaining cast are so superb.
The last Christmas special in 2019 left on a huge cliffhanger, with Nessa proposing to Smithy. This is a wonderful finale with huge twists and turns, no spoilers. It is funny how a little show gets in deep, I think the writing and the depth of the characters is phenomenal on this show. You also feel the love, you can tell these people genuinely love each other. It has drama, but even more humour. You are really invested. It is a comfort show for sure but also just pure joy.
Ruth Jones' Nessa has got to be one of the most fantastic characters ever written. Her stories, the deadpan delivery, the singing, the costume, utter genius. But then you could say that about almost every character in Gavin and Stacey. I feel sad there is no more, but the ending was perfect and there is no going back. Well there is, all those seasons are there to rewatch. And if you haven't watched this, go now, you are missing out!
Outnumbered Christmas Special
In its original run, this was so funny. Especially when you realise it is improvised, and the kids do most of the improvisation. The three children are/were hilarious. But in this special, there are quite grown-up and whilst funny, it doesn't hit those high notes they did in the series.
Ludwig
We really enjoyed this hybrid detective show. When James, a detective, goes missing, his reclusive puzzle loving and making brother, John is called in to help find out what has happened. John and James are twins, both played by the brilliant David Mitchell. No one knows he is stepping in for his brother, how long can he keep it up before someone finds out, especially given he is amongst detectives. Ludwig (John's puzzle alias) gets into all sorts of binds, but manages to be a pretty good detective too. It is a thriller/mystery with a lot of humour. Can't wait for S2.
The Crown - final season
I found these final episodes a bit dull, I guess we had already lived through the original version, lol. That said, the acting is great and the set design to die for.
The Office UK Complete
It was lovely to rewatch this gem. I found it more cringey than original viewings, but that didn't take away from genius of the show. It still holds up too. Always worth a re-watch.
Parks and Recreation Complete
Andrew had never seen this, so I rewatched with him over some months. I remember it taking me a few seasons to really get into the show. Andrew loved it immediately, and it was fun watching the show through his eyes. It really is a work of genius how they built the show and how the characters evolved (or not) over time. Lil Sebastian is still my favourite ep, and Ron and Chris are still my favourite characters.
Absolutely Fabulous
What can I say, one of the all-time great comedies! It still (for the most part) holds up and is utterly hilarious. Joanna Lumley's portrayal of Patsy is outstanding, her physical comedy one of the best. These gals will always feel like friends to me. I will never tire of this show, an absolute classic!
Documentary Reviews
Will and Harper
This is one of the best and most touching documentaries I have seen in a long time. Will is Will Ferrell and Harper is one of his oldest friends who has recently transitioned to a woman. Harper used to write on SNL and loved long road trips. Will and Harper decide to go on a road trip to see if Harper can safely visit these areas now she is a woman and for Wil to get to know her and ask all the questions. It is a beautiful film of love and friendship.
The Space Shuttle that fell to earth
This was a doco series that had me transfixed. I remember when Columbia crashed in 2003, and how sad it was and how unreal it felt. To crash on take off, ok, but landing, I didn't think that could happen. Of course, I understand the severity of what they are doing, but it was quite the shock. The series interviews all the remaining players, along with footage of the crew, before and during their time in space. Many people knew something was wrong, but the powers that be kept shutting them down. It was fastidious in detail and utterly fascinating. But also devastatingly heart breaking, there are interviews with children of the astronauts, grown up and some still deeply upset by the loss. Not for the faint hearted, but this is simply perfection in terms of story telling.
Podcast Reviews
The Wonder of Stevie podcast
This is a great podcast produced by the Obamas, about the utterly brilliant run of albums Stevie had from 1972-1976. 5 masterpieces, each one is broken down against the history of that time and what was going on in Stevie's life. The music is my favourite period, loads of interesting people are interviewed too. It's worth it for the music alone, but the information is also fascinating!
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