The book takes a little while to get going - and as it is short, there’s not that much time to pick up speed - but once it gathers some momentum, it’s really good. It crosses a few different genres, a bit of horror here and there, some mystery and of course the inevitible science fiction. The characters aren’t necessarily ones to root for, but at the same time, there are some moral dilemmas thrown up that are worth thinking about. I can see why it’s stood the test of time.

You can tell that this book wasn’t fully formed before Fleming died. It was published posthumously and was going through the editing process at the time, and by all accounts Fleming wasn’t very happy with it. So it’s not a surprise that it doesn’t have quite the same impact as other stories. It feels shorter, less complete, and there’s a lot less depth in certain areas. But it has all the elements a good Bond novel should have - a bad guy to chase, a thrilling action sequence, plenty of intense personal danger, and a leading lady or two.

I think I might have started reading this before, because it felt very familiar. But I think I got distracted and wanted to write my own Big Brother style book, which never got past 100 words but obviously meant I never went back to the book. I had no idea whodunit and how it was going to end, so it was fascinating to travel through the mystery with the contestants and detectives. The tale dips back and forth between past and present, so you can follow how the contestants entered the house and got to know each other through the prism of how things ended.

I remember reading this before, and I actually blogged about it at the time. This book was released as an app, and it was one of the first reading experiences I had on a phone. As a book, I said it was fine, a bit predictable, a super quick and easy read (obviously, being part of the excellent Quick Reads initiative), not challenging but doing the job well. I pretty much agree with that although I think I enjoyed it more this time round as I was just reading the book rather than thinking about the whole app concept as well.

So it was a hot day, and it felt like the right thing to do, watch a movie set in the frozen north to try and feel a little bit cooler by proxy. It might have worked too, but I didn’t notice because I was so busy goggling at this movie. What is it? I was sort of expecting your regular disaster movie - big trucks crossing ice that they have no business being on. But it turned into something quite different, a rescue mission against the odds with the addition of an industrial sabotage plot.

I knew a lot more of this album than I thought, I guess at the time I was really interested in what Mel would do post-Spice Girls. It’s a really good album, with lots of catchy pop songs, but I do think it feels like a hotch-potch collection rather than a coherent album. Like Mel was properly experimenting with all genres - dance, latin, modern pop, classic pop, a little bit of everything. I enjoyed listening to it though, and there are some classic songs on there that will stand the test of time.

I really liked this album. I think I heard a track a while ago and was keen to hear more, and that was before learning the lead vocalist is Bono’s son. That just adds to the intrigue. Listening to the full album, it struck me first that it sounds like the kind of music you’d imagine U2 making if they were just starting out now, and secondly the vocals do sound quite similar to Bono. But not in a way that is copy-cat, more in a way that is continuing the family line… a positive thing. I loved it!

This is such a lovely book. I listened to the audiobook so I could have Lenny’s dulcet tones tell me his story in own voice and it was a wonderful experience. It’s not a ‘first-I-was-born-then’ memoir, but it does focus on Lenny’s experiences growing up and his very early career. The whole way through it sounds as though that’s a deliberate act and we may or may not get a part two with some of his later exploits as well.

Reading this book was a very similar experience to watching the movie - it was a somehow riveting and tense read but at the same time just highlights how dangerous and ultimately fruitless these endeavours are. Why are so many fishermen doing this? Regardless, though, the book is great. Piecing together the events of the storm from interviews with survivors and family members, from a variety of boats and rescue crews. Unlike the film, there’s no definitive ending to the story of the Andrea Gail, no one knows what happened, so Junger pieces together his best guess given the information we do have.

After ditching the last movie, we ended up with the original intention of watching Scary Movie. It’s better for trying to spoof only one or two films, funny where it needs to be, a bit dated in places but actually comes up with its own great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

We felt like watching another spoof, something mindless to soothe a restless brain, and were heading towards Scary Movie. However, before we got there, we went down a rabbithole and saw Chris Evans in this - thought it might be worth a go. Unfortunately, couldn’t get much past the twenty minute rule - it was just too busy. Spoofs are always hit and miss, that’s fine, some bits are funny and some aren’t, but this was trying to do so much that it ended up just being too much.

Not a bad entry in the Bond canon, this book delves very deep into Japanese culture with a lot of detail about how James has to try and adapt to fit in with a whole new world to him. It feels like Fleming was leaning in to having a more over-arching series in the last few books - Blofeld has become a running theme, and in this book we find Bond dealing with the death of his wife which we witnessed in the previous book. Earlier novels felt more standalone but now we’ve got a character who is learning and growing. Super interesting ending too, with Bond left adrift in a foreign country having lost his memory. What will happen next?

Right, so, I knew this was going to be a bit of action junk food going in - Chris Pratt leading a bit of a twisty time travel action movie fighting a war against aliens so far in the future. At first, it actually went better than I thought it would. Some areas were eye-rolling, but then they would answer every plot twist question we raised and it seemed to make sense.

I’m aware of, but have not seen, the movie adaptation of this, so dived straight into the source material instead. It’s such a harrowing story, highlighting once again the horrific nature of slavery, how awful human beings can be to each other for no good reason, and how no one is safe. At some points, I had to pause reading because it was just too awful, but it was worth pushing on to have a little bit of redemption at the end. Northup tells the story very stoically, factually, from moment to moment, and although you can tell he’s holding the true emotion of it back, you still get a feel for how these events affected him. Certainly an important read.

Of course the overarching plan is to watch all the films in the world, but there are quite a lot in existence already and then all these creative types just keep making more, so, you have to pick and choose. I’m sure you’re well aware by now that I love a structured challenge and I saw Stephen King tweeting recently about his ongoing project - to watch a movie from every year between 1961 and 2021. What a great idea!

It makes me laugh a little that this is an album listed as Rock, a genre that covers such a wide variety of music it’s incredible. This is old school rock: soft, gentle, playful, swinging. It’s dated but also legendary. Although aware of the day the music died, I don’t know that I’d really thought about it too much before but having listened to this album, I’m starting to get a sense of how much talent really was lost that day. It seems such a shame that Holly only had time for two solo albums.

I remember really liking Bugzy’s first album which was a bit of a surprise at the time, and with that in mind I was keen to see how this second album played out. It’s good, maybe not quite reaching the heights of the first, but really a very strong follow up. Considering everything Bugzy has been through, there’s a heavier feeling about it, but that deep retrospective and processing of events is what grabs you and keeps you engaged. Very good.

Wahey, this was a great movie and totally worth waiting for! Finally Scarlett Johansson gets to take centre stage and this is such a great movie for her but also as an ensemble piece with her extended family. It took a little while to get going, filling in that backstory and showing Natasha in hiding from the authorities, but once the action started and the espionage got under way, it was a rollercoaster ride to the end.

This is a short story commissioned by Amazon, and it follows your usual Jeffery Deaver style - some horrifying murders that need solving. It was good though, short, entertaining, and with a twist that I didn’t see coming. Considering how much I read of Deaver’s works, that’s a really good sign. I believe there’s another Amazon Original short story so I’ll be digging that one out too.

As I was reading this, it felt oddly familiar. I don’t think I’ve read it before, but you never know. Regardless, it took a little while to grab me, and there was a little too much detail about future archaeology for my tastes, but underneath all that it was a really interesting and fun story to get on board with. I did think it was interesting that events kept piling on to the point that Jarra herself believed her deception, but then when she did reveal all it was slightly underwhelming - having built up to what could happen all book, she was just accepted. Having said that, it does tend to be the case that when you get to know the person underneath, any sense of racism you might have can fall away.

Such a fun film, I can’t believe we haven’t watched this one before - it’s a cult classic and everything! It contained a few surprises, like when a random All Saints member popped up, but ultimately was that coming-of-age, choosing your passion over your parents, story that you can’t help but root for. Great soundtrack, great drama, and plenty of football too.

I honestly don’t know why I wanted to switch this off after the twenty minute rule. There wasn’t really anything particularly wrong with it, and it was easy to see Jack Nicholson’s character had quite the journey to go on. I guess I just didn’t like anyone in the movie, and I couldn’t bear the thought of spending two hours following them. Life’s too short and there are too many movies to get through!

How joyous for Wimbledon to be back on our screens! One week down and one to go, and what great tennis we’ve seen so far. I hadn’t particularly intended to write a post about this year’s championships, but then I remembered that it’s so-called Manic Monday, and it’s potentially the last one we will see. Going forward, Wimbledon will no longer have that sacred Middle Sunday off, instead they will play on through.

I have had a bit of a thing against Jess Glynne in the past for no other reason than I think there was one period of time where she was everywhere and I got a bit fed up of hearing her voice every time some music was playing. Not her fault, of course, but it made me think that I didn’t like her. However, I can’t deny that since then every time she comes out with a new song, I like it!

Ooh, I really liked this. I read a review of the album that suggested Jack was creating his own brand new music genre, and it did feel a bit like that. Dance music in places, chorus music in others, dipping back into the 70s and coming right up to date. It’s a bit of an escape, a distraction, a nice little trip to take in the summer - give it a go!

Ultimately, this movie is okay, but it feels like it dips below the standards we expect of a Pixar movie. It was better than following a walking pair of pants for an hour, and it was better than I thought the trailer made it out to be, but it wasn’t fantastic. It was mostly enjoyable, a good story with a cute coming-of-age friendship situation at its heart, but it also opened up quite a few questions that were not gamechangers but niggly-annoying.

The second series of Apple TV+ series Trying came to an end yesterday, bringing to a close an emotional but fantastic series that has already been renewed for a third. I don’t know why I didn’t write about this series after the first series, but now eight further episodes on, I think the second series has outclassed the first outing anyway, so now seems like a better time to give it a review.

A short novella that ties together Will Robie and the Camel Club - two of Baldacci’s series - the characters join forces to defeat a nefarious plot against the Vice President of the United States. I only know of Robie as I haven’t started the Camel Club series yet but it was quite a nice introduction to the gang and actually whetted my appetite to see what they get up to in their own series. Short, sweet, but as always, very readable.

This ties in with the TV show, and is a really good and natural accompaniment. The diary takes a little while to get going as Erin’s enormous ego means she thinks she’s a legendary writer with a lot to say, but as the diary gets underway it’s a joy to read. It follows the timeline of both series of the show, and it links in to what happens in each episode, although doesn’t repeat everything or go in to too much detail so that you’re bored. And it’s just fun to spend some more time in the company of these weird but good-hearted characters.

The thing about Baldacci thrillers is they are just so readable. You are thrown straight into the action and it doesn’t let up until the mission is complete. I loved this one, putting Robie and Reel under pressure in a variety of different ways and circumstances, revisiting the wonderful Julie from the previous books and of course a bigger plot that has to be resolved. It’s interesting to see these two solo action heroes having to work together and start to rely on each other, and start to think about their future in the business. Good times and on to the next!

I loved this so much. Poor Emma! I listened to the author reading the audiobook, and she does so with such warm and humour, with great accents and a natural ability to be funny even in the worst of circumstances. I genuinely do not understand how this family could have kept attempting to go on holiday. Once is a bad trip, twice a coincidence perhaps but once you get to the fifth or sixth time, you’re really just asking for trouble.

If you’ve read any of my Film Watch posts for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ll have noticed a trend towards the end of the first three phases that goes something like: ‘I think this is a good film but I’ve totally lost the plot and don’t know what’s going on. I’ll have to go back and rewatch the movies and do some homework.’ Well, with the bonus of ever-extending lockdowns, I’ve actually managed to do it! I set about rewatching the Marvel movies all the way from Iron Man through the latest Spider-Man, and not just watching with my eyes but making notes at the same time. At first the notes were supposed to just be people and places, to try and keep track of who exists, the crossovers and the locations. It ended up a bit more extensive than that, but oof, it’s helpful.

I sort of thought this was going to be more rocky than it was, more powerful, a little bit more terrifying. Actually, it’s gorgeous gentle rock, unlike anything else. Bolan of course has that unique voice, and layered over the rest of the tracks, it makes for a really nice listen, and one I could listen to over and over.

A good album, really sits within Garbage’s trademark sound, although also there’s a clear lead with Shirley not so happy with the male form of the species. The first two lines of the entire album are ’the men who rule the world have made a fucking mess’. She’s not wrong but she’s also not pulling any punches. Good album though, helpful to get a bit of rage out without going full on punk rock.

This is a nice, sensible approach to getting some sense of organisation and control in your home, taking the good advice from other areas and making it functional. The no-nonsense attitude is also gentle, calm and confident, making you feel like it’s okay, you’re on a journey and everything is achievable if you just keep going - a little bit at a time. I’ll be honest, by the time I’d finished reading, I didn’t think my home was actually too bad, although there are some areas that could use this attention. Definitely worth a read and a subsequent application.

It turns out there is a film for pretty much any occasion. I don’t know this would have been high up on any of our lists, and it’s not exactly the best film in the world, but it was perfect for what we needed after a day of quite challenging manual labour. When you’re exhausted, what you may need is some mindless comedy. Step up, the spoof movie! Taking on Top Gun, this is a relatively good spoof - it’s got its funny moments and also less good moments but overall it works. It’s short, it’s stupid, it did the job!

In terms of the story, this is one that really aligns so closely with the film you can almost picture every scene, and it’s such a good adventure. I also thought Bond’s decision to marry was so interesting, this is probably one of the least fleshed out women of the series and this is who he chooses to attach himself too, I think it says a lot more about Bond at this time in his life. But that brutal ending was just as harrowing to get through as it was in the film. Great book.

This probably wasn’t my favourite Jacqueline Wilson’s books, but I’m conflicted by that. Wilson says she wrote the book after seeing a review from a politician who disliked a previous book where the kids in the family had different fathers. As if that matters? So I totally agree with Wilson’s reaction to write a book in which five kids have different fathers - none of that detracts from their family and actually adds quite a lot of interest and friendly rivalry.

It was brilliant from that point of view. Two incredible actors doing a stand up job, bouncing off each other, never being dissuaded from their main cause despite lots of difficulties. A great surrounding cast of characters too, and of course, always in the back of the mind, that this is true, that it is so high stakes, and just so interesting.

We wouldn’t normally watch two films with the same actor in as it can be confusing, but of course, dear Molly plays the same character in pretty much all these movies. And we were hoping to be able to complete the Sixteen Candles/Fight Club double bill that is all the rage these days.

I can’t remember why this album popped up on my radar, probably heard them on a soundtrack somewhere, but it’s some good pop-rock guitar music to bop along to. Only a couple of the songs stand out, and I later learned Hey There Delilah was just plunked on the end, even though it’s clearly the best song on the album. Not going to change the world, but a good album to listen to if you want a quick pick-me-up.

This is a really good album, Rag’n’Bone Man delivers yet again. His voice never fails to surprise and move me and there are some really good songs on here. And yet… I have to admit to being disappointed that there wasn’t a standout anthem - we know he’s good at that with Humans and Giant, but here it’s a more gentle collection of songs.

If I’m honest, I don’t totally get what all the fuss is about. It wasn’t that good a film, none of the characters were that likeable? I mean, Duckie is fun but then also kinda creepy. The only good one in it was Iona, the friend.

This one’s been on our list for a while - you can’t really go wrong with Brad Pitt and space travel, can you? It was different to what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it. It’s not an all-out action sci-fi movie, it’s a more introspective drama, focusing on the relationships of a family, the effect of space travel and adventure on mental health and ultimately, sacrifice.

So brutal, and even more so than usual because as a book written for children, it uses simple language that just hits home the hardship and horrors of war. But underneath that there’s a wonderful heart-warming story about family and honour, about doing your best at all times, and about doing what’s right even if it’s not what everyone else agrees with. Sad, sorrowful but so important.

This book features such a detailed journey of a woman’s journey to find herself after a significant period of grief, as well as some unknown family history that travels across the continent. I quite liked going on the journey with Sandy, although it felt like there were lots of moments that were detailed as though they were going to turn into something, and then they didn’t. Maybe like real life?

This is the last album I really listened to as a proper, hardcore Backstreet Boys fan. After this, they drifted, I drifted, it all changed. So I don’t know it as intimately as I do the first four but it was still nicely familiar to me. I like the quirky songs too, My Beautiful Woman is great and quite different to the rest of the songs on there. Great voices, great chemistry, a good album that I should listen to more!

A good, solid, rock album, but not really one that I’m going to remember. It’s always interesting when there’s such a huge gap between albums - not that I’ve done much of the House’s back catalogue. But 11 years between albums, what will they come up with next? Like I say, it was good, I enjoyed listening to it, but it won’t make any of my top ten lists.

I really enjoyed this book, more than the previous Palin outings, although they all stand up in their own right. There’s something about this one though, perhaps because there was no specific time pressure or stress in the normal way. I love the concept, it’s a great idea and not only visits a lot of countries that are usually missed off the travel agenda, but also shows some great variety in wealth and development. Also, at this point in Palin’s travel career, he’s returning to places he’s already been and seeing how they’ve changed which is also fascinating to learn about.

It’s worth saying that this movie was just what we needed after a long day, so it was well received, but that doesn’t mean it was actually a good film. There’s a great cast, and some great chemistry, but ultimately it was quite predictable and very slushy in places. I did like some of the quirks, the period mix and the carrots, and the burgeoning relationship of Patrice and Eli was adorable. But overall it was just medium good.