ISLAND ARRIVAL

I'm pleased to say my copy of Dennis Lehane's novel SHUTTER ISLAND arrived in the post from Amazon UK today. I still have high hopes of catching Scorsese's big-screen adaptation at the flicks and will have to decide whether to put off reading the book until I do?

DESTINATION SOUTH AFRICA

My fiancée returned from her marathon shopping trip today bearing gifts in the shape of 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA on PS3 and Keir Radnedge's accompanying book 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA OFFICIAL BOOK.

Get in!

TREATING MYSELF

Having attended the show at the 02, I bought myself the DVD of Channel 4's Comedy Gala In Aid Of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Great memento, great cause!

I'm meant to be saving my pennies at the moment but couldn't resist picking up the BBC TV Drama STATE OF PLAY and the novel SHUTTER ISLAND.

THE PIXAR TOUCH

It's February, second month of the year and I've read my second film-related book of the year: The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company by David A. Price. Thus, keeping with my preferred rotation system of fiction book/film book/fiction book/film book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the key figures and business politics which led to the forming of this ground breaking animation studio. Although I would have appreciated the balance favouring the creative origins of each film rather than the coverage given to the financial machinations of influential executives. In fact, I'm giving it an extra point simply because not enough literature has been produced and made available in book form in the UK on what is the most successful film studio operating today.

Score: 9/10

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

I recently finished the much lauded crime novel THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. To get straight to the point - no novel is going to live up to the hype which has surrounded this 'literary sensation' but it is a damn fine book. To be fair the main flaw is in its two main narrative stands. I found them frequently disparate and never completely unified in a truly meaningful way. Moreover, I found the libel case which bookends the novel a bore. Actually, editing maybe my biggest fault with the novel, it is simply too baggy in places and reads like a draft in need of some trimming. However, after the first 100-200 pages I was hooked and whilst I may not have identified with any of the characters (Salander is more interesting in terms of her mysterious history) I was gripped by the plot's finale revolving around Harriet's disappearance. Another highlight resides in the effective conceit of using photography as a means to piece together events in order to tell a story - this reminded me of Stephen Poliakoff's sublime miniseries SHOOTING THE PAST. I am eager to read the next novel in the trilogy and watch the film upon its UK theatrical release in March. For the time being though I am going to go away and read something else as I want to savour this trilogy despite my urge to simply burn through all three books!

Score 9/10

DARK WHISPERS IN MY EAR

I used the rest of my i-Tunes voucher today by picking up the audio book of Susan Hill's chiller THE WOMAN IN BLACK.

TALKING BOOKS

Having been given a voucher for i-Tunes over Christmas I thought I'd use it to pick-up an audio book. I went for Harlan Coben's TELL NO ONE.

BURTON ON BURTON

Finished my first book of 2010 and it was the revised edition of BURTON ON BURTON from the Faber and Faber Directors series.

Whilst I can't claim to be the biggest fan of Tim Burton, I did plough through this career length interview and have now got an interest in seeking out more of his work.

Score: 7/10

BOOK BOOTY!

Just received "The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company by David A. Price" (PB) in the post from Amazon UK. Should be a fascinating read :)

DVD COLLECTION ??

Incoming THE MIST 2-disc Special Edition (Blu-ray Disc, Momentum Pictures, Region B, UK). Also as pleasant surprise this set came packaged with a paperback of Stephen King's original novella. Been a long time since I remember getting an unexpected extra such as this with a purchase, great stuff.

ALL HAIL THE NEW FLESH

I found 'Cronenberg on Cronenberg' waiting for me on my entrance hall floor this evening. This is Faber and Faber's famed directors series entry on the Canadian master of 'body horror' cinema. I had been waiting for a revised and updated edition (this 2nd edition version only goes up to CRASH) but with no new post-HISTORY OF VIOLENCE/EASTERN PROMISES on the horizon I bit the bullet and ordered this one from PLAY.com

Think I'll have myself a mini-festival of Cronenberg movies soon. M BUTTERFLY, DEAD RINGERS and SHIVERS are certainly in the frame. As in NAKED LUNCH and THE BROOD. Any more suggestions?

ALMODOVAR ON ALMODOVAR

Finished reading the updated edition of Almodovar on Almodovar today. Bit insubstantial and sycophantic in places to be perfectly honest. However, Almodovar is very candid in interviews and happy to talk about several aspects of his life and work. Still to see Bad Education and Volver.

Score: 7/10

SCORSESE ON SCORSESE

Late last night I finished reading the revised edition of Scorsese On Scorsese. One the very best releases in the Faber and Faber Directors series. Scorsese was one of the first directors I took note of back in the day when I was starting to understand the role of a film director. His films have given me countless hours of entertainment and contemplation. Thankfully, as he is such a prolific director I still have several of his films to see in the years to come.

Score: 9/10

A STUDY IN SCARLET

I've reached the end of my third book of 2008. The literary work in question was A Study In Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This title is notable for being the first ever outing of that most famous of fictional detectives Sherlock Holmes.

Score: 9/10

LA DOLCE MORTE

So we've just entered into February and I've finished my second book of the year. It is La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film by Mikel J. Koven. I am grateful to Michael over at the Land of Whimsy for alerting me to this pioneering English-language study of gialli cinema. Well researched and written in an accessible way I would heartily recommend it.

Score: 9/10

THE WIT OF WOODY

The New Year is less than a week old and I've finished my first book of 2008. The work in question is Woody Allen's recent new collection of humorous essays Mere Anarchy. Considering how my time is usually split between the customary job commitments and my distraction in a range of follies, I've indulged myself over the Christmas break to get back to basics and start reading for pleasure again.

More to follow...

A WHOLE LOAD OF BOULLE

Today whilst out running some errands I thought I'd drop in on my local charity shop. As I'm sure you are aware often little charity shops are a goldmine for cheap books. My excursion was rewarded on this occasion in the shape of science-fiction classic Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle (picked up for £1).

However, I'll have to shelve this masterpiece of Sci-Fi for the time being as I've already identified I Am Legend as a book I want to re-read in the coming months. But before all this literary fun, I intend to start with the first ever Sherlock Holmes novel: A Study In Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Listened to the audio book and read along with a paperback copy of the novel. A timeless masterpiece.

Score: 10/10