MARCH REVIEWS

 What I've Been Reading

The Golden House by Salman Rushdie - I have not read any of Rushdie's fiction before and I saw this in talking book and thought I would give it a go. It is a complex story written simply. The narrator of the story is Rene, a filmmaker who lives in a complex in New York observing life around him. He mostly watches (cue a lot of Hitchcockian references) the Golden family, a mega rich family with three sons, headed by Nero. So the narrative is a mix of what is actually happening and what Rene imagines is happening. This is initially confusing to read but once you get into the rhythm of the book it becomes simpler to follow. 

Golden House follows the Golden family over 8 years, the same 8 years Barack Obama was president. It also tracks the character called The Joker, who is obviously Donald Trump. And Nero Golden, married to a Russian, also displays traits of Trump. The Golden family are Indian and have chosen new names when they immigrated to America, and in New York try to reinvent themselves. Golden House is ultimately a novel of identity, can you change who you are, escape your past, get away with ridiculous behaviour. It is also about destiny and how you may be able to change your identity but possibly not your destiny. 

Rushdie writes what he knows, an Indian living in New York, and it is a rollicking read once you get into it's groove. Rushdie also seems to want to offload his pop culture knowledge, incorporating a lot of his knowledge by lists throughout. This sometimes feels a little lazy, padding if you will. But ultimately I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't a great read, but it was a really good one.

A Year at the Chateau by Angel and Dick Strawbridge - I love this show with all my heart. An eccentric English couple buy an old chateau in France, move their very young family there and do it up. Angel and Dick are amazing, there is nothing they cannot do. He is an engineer with Navy and media background, and a chef, she is an interior designer, dreamer, and ideas chick. They run a tight show, business, and the chateau is stunning. Some years in, this book covers their first year. Having watched the show I thought I knew it all, I had no idea. This fills in soooo much more than you see plus delves into their lives pre chateau and pre meeting each other. It is told by both of them which at times is hilarious as their memories differ at times, as you can imagine if you watch the show. Loads of pics, great stories, and old friends, I loved this book.

Happiness Becomes You: a guide to changing your life for good by Tina Turner - a lot of celebs have written similar books during COVID, but Tina has been 'changing' her life for many decades, overcoming bad relationships, ill health, and money problems. She goes into the ways she overcomes stress and anxiety with various new age therapies and what works for her. This is a fascinating insight into the grand lady with life stories potted throughout.

In Pieces by Sally Field - I listened to Sally read this on talking book. Oh my! What a read! This is no usual Hollywood memoir, although I guess it is. It mostly goes into her private life and that is sadly one of abuse, continual and awful abuse by multiple people on and off for most of her life. She does tell stories about on the set of Gidget, The Flying Nun, and her movies, but they are most definitely secondary to her personal life. I cannot say I enjoyed the book, but it was phenomenal. Honest and soul stripped bare, I could not admire this woman more. When you read the book, you get the sentiment. I do recommend the read, but warning for triggers.

What I've Been Watching

His Dark Materials S1 & S2: Been slowly watching this wonderful fantasy series based on the popular books by Philip Pulman. It had been attempted as a movie with Nicole Kidman and was very good, but this is absolutely stunning. The casting is perfection with the two young leads holding their own amongst the older actors, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, James Mc Avoy, and Andrew Scott. The longer length for television gives us a chance to really flesh out the story of multiple worlds and the people who cross between them. The sprawling vistas and steampunk machinery, the cinematography is outstanding. It takes some brutal turns, and has humourous moments, this is really superb television.

Michael Palin: travels of a lifetime - I loved this meander down memory lane from Michael Palin as he looks back at all his big travel shows starting with Around the World in 80 days. Palin has always been my favourite Python, and I always adored those travel shows. I didn't realise how ground breaking they were until this series of shows. It had Palin reminiscing of course, and a lot of other travel presenters that came after him talking about how he set a new standard in realistic travel presenting. He also was younger than I am now when he first started, which was a weird reality. But affable and lovely, human, and hilarious he traversed these wide and often less trod upon spaces and showed us the world. What a wonderful gift. And this - perfect for covid - series is really worth watching.

Rear Window - another rewatch of this classic Hitchcock film. It has been a while, but always a delight. The attention to detail in the set design is outstanding, and groundbreaking. The story is simple, action photographer, Jeff Jeffries has broken his leg on assignment and is stuck in his NY apartment and is bored. He takes to watching his neighbours in the apartment complex as he can see through their rear windows, often using binoculars and he becomes obsessed with one couple and when the wife disappears he believes the husband has knocked her off. 

Jeff has visits from his sassy nurse, played by the always wonderful Thelma Ritter, and his girlfriend, Lisa, a society queen that is played perfectly by Grace Kelly. Her costumes are divine. Lisa wants to settle down, but he still wants adventures. Both ladies dismiss his ideas of murder and tell him he is bored and should keep out of trouble, but he cannot and in true Hitchcock style things escalate. This has real tension in it and is quite thrilling as Lisa comes in board to help him investigate (given he is stuck in a wheelchair in his apartment).

It doesn't get better than Hitchcock in his Hollywood period, with James Stewart and Grace Kelly. This is a clever script, well acted, tense and humourous, beautifully scored. One of his best, and the film I always show Hitchcock first-timers.

Time Warp: the greatest cult films of all time - was a fabulous 3 part documentary series. Hosted by a panel of cult filmmakers including John Waters, Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, and Kevin Pollack, they dissect a range of cult films, including but certainly not limited to Rocky Horror, Big Lebowski, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Eating Raoul, Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Eraserhead, Holy Grail, Bladerunner, A Clockwork Orange, and Showgirls. The series had someone from each film talking about it and the panel discussing it. Fabulous and entertaining, it was a sheer delight to watch, a  great walk down memory lane, and a few new films to add to my to watch list.

Gattaca - I haven't seen this film since it first came out and it has appeared in some reading a few times lately so I thought it would be nice to revisit. Plus it features two of my favourite (and I think underrated) actors, Jude Law and Ethan Hawke. As remembered it is a highly stylised film set in an unknown future where astronauts where lovely three piece suits into space. It is the story of a young boy (Hawke) with heart issues who wants to be an astronaut and therefore has no chance. He gets hooked up to someone (Law) who could have been an astronaut but is now in a wheelchair and through advanced scientific means, takes on his persona and more importantly exceptional physical state. But how long can he keep up the act? Will he make it to space before being found out. This is a simple story told beautifully with heart, and with the aspect of a thriller. it is sci-fi, but you almost forget that, it feels so realistic. Great cast including Uma Thurman as Hawke's love interest (they famously fell in love IRL and married after this), also Gore Vidal, Xander Berkeley, Blair Underwood, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Shalhoub, and Alan Arkin. I really enjoyed this rewatch.

The Personal History of David Copperfield - this was a really great version of the classic by Dickens. Huge cast of British actors, unusual telling, with Dev Patel as our main character/hero. It was funny, and dramatic, and worth a looksee.

Three Identical Strangers- fascinating documentary about triplets who were adopted (and separated) at birth. They all knew they were adopted but had no idea they were triplets. They all met in their late teens. One moved colleagues and met friends of his brother on campus, and the arranged a meeting.The story hit the papers and relatives of the third let him know. From there the story has many ups and downs. How did the brothers get on, were they similar,how did their families cope, who were their parents and why did they adopt them out separately? There are a lot of spoilers I would love to discuss in this film.

9/11: Control the Skies- this documentary shows what happened in the skies on 9/11. Most planes were re-routed and grounded in Canada, to a smallish airport in Gander. This talks to pilots who were in the air, how they felt, and what happened. An absolutely remarkable docmuentary.  

How can you mend a broken heart - this was a great documentary on the Bee Gees, dealing with their rise, their heights, their falls, the deaths of 3 of the 4 brothers, and the now. Incredibly comprehensive, this was a great insight into a very remarkable band. I didn't realise they had actually split at one time and it was quite horrendous for them and How can you mend a broken heart was written about that period in time! And of course there is the music!

Echo in the Canyon - is a great look back to the artists that came out of the "Canyon" in California in the 60s. Jakob Dylan (Bob's son) explores the music, and talks to some of the greats that are still around to find out what made that time, that area, and that music special. He talks to David Crosby, Michelle Phillips, Tom Petty, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and many more about the scene, with loads of clips from then. He also works with Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, Beck, and Cat Power on the music for a concert they are putting on. Wonderful all round.

Caitlin Moran: more than a woman - this was a live stream from the Sydney Opera House and had Moran streaming from the UK in a conversation with Yumi Stynes. It was a great hour as Moran talks to Yumi about her latest book, More Than a Woman, feminism, and the world today. It was a fun, enlightened talk. Moran is sharp and witty,  and I love her observations on life. This was pure joy.

What I've Been Listening To

Tones and I – the kids are coming!

Ricki Lee Jones -  this is the stunning debut album From Ricki Lee and is a sublime jazzy, poppy, bluesy listen. There's her signature tuen, Chuck E's in love, and and my fave, Danny's All-Star Joint. Always a great listen, and as fresh as when it was released in 1979.

The Cure - just been in a Cure mood, listening to lots, loving it. 

Doobies picked up a best of at my fave vinyl store and been loving it.

Nick Cave - got a fresh copy of Abattoir Blues and The Lyre of Orpheus, which is one of my favourite Nick Cave albums, a wonderful double, so been flogging that on the turn table. Also, the covid release, Idiot Prayer has been getting quite the play. Just Nick and a baby grand, alone at Alexandria Palace in London. Haunting, clear, stunning, it is perfection.

Joshua Tree -U2 - haven't heard this album in a long time, it still holds up well.

Podcasts

Smartless - is Jason Bateman, Wil Arnett, and Sean Hayes and a guest and hilarious banter ensues, especially when that guest is George Clooney. He is such a raconteur, and this is no exception. His stories about the pranks he played on his friend, Richard Kind, when they lived together before he hit it big are hilarious.

WTF- Marc Maron has been knocking it out the park. The ones with Sam Neil and Jodie Foster were particularly good. WTF is THE original podcast, and never fails to be outstanding, but some guests lift things better than others, and this pair certainly did. 

Clear and Vivid with Alan Alda had Sanjeev Bhasker on talking about the joy of late blooming, a really interesting conversation to listen to.

Unspooled - a fabulous chat about The Princess Bride, totally worth listening to.