Katheryn Thompson's Blog, page 14

The Secret Policeman's Podcast
This podcast has been making me get strange looks from people all week, as I laugh out loud listening to it. (Not an exaggeration.)


Doctor Who
I wasn't convinced by the first Doctor Who episode starring Jodie Whittaker, but the second episode (which aired last week) made me a convert. And as for the third (and most recent) episode? Wow. Just wow.


Mowgli
I tried this restaurant with a friend this week, and have been planning a trip back ever since.


Henry IV
The Donmar Warehouse's all-female Shakespeare trilogy is now on BBC iPlayer, and I loved their production of Henry IV. (I still have yet to see their Tempest.)


Practical Magic
It's the twentieth anniversary of Practical Magic this year, so I kept seeing articles (like this one: Why Practical Magic is the ultimate feminist film) that made me want to watch it. And now I'm a convert.


The Corrections
I completely get that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm currently reading (and loving) The Corrections.

What are you loving this week?

This blog post is inspired by 10 Signs I’m Not Going To Like That Book (Oooh Someone’s Judgey) by C.G. Drews (a.k.a. @PaperFury).

1. It has a strong, female protagonist









2. It has an original premise





3. Its storyline features memory loss





4. It is about a dysfunctional family





5. It is thought-provoking (especially when it challenges my opinions)





6. I don't want to put it down





7. It features a twist I don't see coming





8. Its characters defy the stereotype





9. It features witty dialogue







10. It is a locked room mystery

Podcasts



Podcasts are hot right now, but until recently I didn't consider myself a podcast person. I find podcasts too distracting to listen to while I work or read, and I'm a swimmer so I can't really listen to them while I work out. But this (academic) year I'm living in a building slightly further away from my college and the city centre, so I've decided to give podcasts a go on my morning and evening walk, since they're more entertaining than music and I can tune out a little unlike with audiobooks. It also stops me talking to myself - mostly. I'm trying a little bit of everything, so recommendations welcome.


Wes Anderson



I seem to be late to the party with just about everything, so it's only fitting that I watched my first Wes Anderson film this month. I immediately fell in love with its aesthetic and its humour - which reminded me of the slapstick-esque humour of films like Airplane and Naked Gun, which I adore - as well as Ralph Fienne's protagonist (naturally), and the stellar cast. While I initially had mixed feelings about the way the story was told, the more I think about it, the more obsessed with the film I am. And so I'll definitely be watching more of his films - at the moment I have my eye on Moonrise Kingdom.


Autism



I know several people on the autistic spectrum, and have long believed in the brilliance and individuality of autistic minds. It really excites me, therefore, to see a rise in the positive portrayal of autism in popular culture, something I've only really noticed this month. I've just finished reading The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder, which I wanted to read because of the originality of its plot about a boy with synesthesia who witnesses a murder. When I started reading, however, I realised that this boy is also on the autistic spectrum - as is the protagonist of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which I read recently, and of The Accountant, which I recently rewatched having loved it so much the first time around. I was also struck by behaviour, which I associate with autism, displayed by Drax in The Guardians of the Galaxy, which I watched not so long ago and absolutely loved. I'm also excited for the portrayal of autism in The Boy Who Steals Houses, which is due to be published next year, by C.G. Drews, whose blog posts and Twitter feed I have a lot of time for.


Clare Mackintosh



I recently read my first newsletter from Clare Mackintosh (who I will forever associate with that twist in I Let You Go), and would strongly encourage you to sign up for it if you haven't already. I don't often sign up for authors' newsletters, however much I love the author, because, to be honest, they're not often that great, but Clare's is definitely the best one I've ever read, and I will certainly be staying subscribed. She includes information about what she's working on, where she's been and where she's going, book recommendations, writers' events she's involved with, and, if that's not enough, in every newsletter she gives away a signed book to one member of her book club. Her Twitter feed is also worth a follow.

This blog post is inspired by How To Have Even LESS Time To Read! (Ft. 10 Movies/TV Shows I’ve Watched Or Want To) by C.G. Drews (a.k.a. @PaperFury).

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)



Not just another superhero film. Witty, entertaining, and with a killer soundtrack. Also a gamechanger re my Chris-rankings.

2. Spotlight (2015)



A powerful film based on a true story, and featuring a stellar cast. Also features lots of paper-based investigative work, which I'm always on board for.

3. The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)



Funny, action-packed, and female-driven. What more could you want? Also features a very attractive MI6 agent.

4. Drive (2011)



Ryan Gosling as a mechanic and stunt-driver who moonlights as a getaway driver? Sign me up. I also can't resist a stylish film, and this is stylish with a capital 'S'.

5. The Two Faces of January (2014)



Another incredibly stylish film, based on a Patricia Highsmith novel so what else would you expect?

6. Crazy Stupid Love (2011)



If you're looking for the perfect switch-off film, stop, your search is over. Stellar cast, witty dialogue, and Ryan Gosling making this expression (see above gif).

7. Still Alice (2014)



Julianne Moore won an oscar for her role as Alice, a fifty-year-old professor who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Even more heart-wrenching than the book.

8. The Children Act (2018)



Emma Thompson is a judge deciding a case about a seventeen year-old Jehovah's Witness refusing a blood transfusion, and facing the breakdown of her marriage - to Stanley Tucci. Written by Ian McEwan, and featuring so many brilliant English actors. What are you waiting for?

9. Black Panther (2018)



The hype did not lie. And there are so many strong women.

10. Twelve Monkeys (1995)



This gif sums up not only this film, but also all of Bruce Willis' and Brad Pitt's respective films. And if that's not enough to make you want to watch it, I don't know what is.

Sisters (2015)

Kicked off the week with this comedy, starring the fantastic Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as middle-aged sisters who respond to the news that their parents are selling their family home by throwing one last house party.




Spotlight (2015)

Finally watched the best picture winner of 2015 this week, based on the true story of the Boston Globe's uncovering of child abuse within the Catholic Church. Powerful stuff. (It also features lots of the paper-based investigative work I always love in films.)




The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012)

Continued watching The Hollow Crown, which I recently discovered and am very impressed by. Tom Hiddleston is captivating as Henry V, the costumes are sumptuous, and John Hurt makes for a haunting Chorus.

Henry V in The Norton Shakespeare

Read Henry V after I'd watched The Hollow Crown adaptation, as I've done for the other history plays in the series. I find it useful for getting the most out of my reading, since I already understand the general story, and interesting to see how the adaptation differs from the text.




The Women's History of the World

What I enjoyed the most was Rosamund Miles' tone; witty, subversive, and unapologetic, I loved Miles' sarcastic asides and blunt truths. The Women's History of the World is self-consciously biased, and that is what I loved most about it.




Drive (2011)

A stylish, slow-burn thriller about a stuntman and mechanic who moonlights as a getaway driver, and who finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbour. I can't resist a stylish film, and this one, with its pulsating soundtrack, lingering cinematography, and lean dialogue didn't disappoint.




The Monuments Men (2014)

Loved the premise of this one, about the true story of a WWII platoon tasked with rescuing art masterpieces and returning them to their owners, but the delivery was a little disappointing. Still worth a watch though.




The Monogram Murders

Finally got round to reading the first in Sophie Hannah's continuation of the Poirot mysteries, and was both relieved to find a solid murder mystery, which almost felt like it both parodied and paid homage to the infamous Belgian detective, and pleasantly surprised at how witty it was. Will definitely be adding Closed Casket to my to-read list...which is why it never gets any shorter.




The Martian (2015)

I'm always late to appointments, so I guess it's apt that I'm late to the party with most of the films I watch and books I read. At least I get there eventually. This one stars Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars after his team assume he's dead. Funny, engaging, and featuring a stellar cast (yes, that pun was intentional).


Still reading: Eighteenth Century Women Poets: An Oxford Anthology and A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

Shakespeare: The Biography

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I call this one the definitive book on Shakespeare. Just a word of warning: this biography is probably best enjoyed by readers (at least) reasonably familiar with Shakespeare's works.




Shutter Island

I watched this one rather than reading it, but the film is a book adaptation so it (sort of) counts. I was just expecting a creepy thriller with a decent cast, and then the plot twist hit me out of nowhere. I'd recommend this one for fans of The Sixth Sense.




Julius Caesar (read in The Norton Shakespeare, third edition)

I also watched this Donmar Warehouse production, which is a powerful reimagining of the play set in a women's prison.




The Cleaner

Expect crime fiction with a twist (with a protagonist who is a crime scene cleaner), a main character to add to your list of favourites, and a plot to keep you reading late into the night.




Three Things About Elsie

The story is every bit as good as the cover.




The Child in Time

Another one I watched rather than reading, although I've read and enjoyed other books by Ian McEwan and was pleased that this production felt true to his style.






King Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 (read in The Norton Shakespeare, third edition)

I also watched these Hollow Crown productions of the plays, starring Jeremy Irons as Henry IV and Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal/Henry V. I've been really impressed with the Hollow Crown series so far (having only recently discovered it), and the contrast between high and low scenes for which both parts of Henry IV are famous is done well. Hiddleston is captivating as the rather ambiguous figure of Prince Hal.




The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I read this one for Lisbeth Salander (check out my Top 10 Kick-Ass Heroines for more fiesty females), but was pleasantly surprised by how much else this book has going for it. Have added the next in the series to my to-read list, which is why it never goes down!




The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time

Written from the wonderful and realistic perspective of a fifteen-year-old boy with autism, this is a mystery like no other. I'd recommend it for fans of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.




Nutshell

I think with such an original concept (its narrator is a nine-month-old fetus), you have to take this one as you find it. The prose is a heady combination of intellect absorbed from podcasts and news broadcasts and the naivety expected of an unborn child, and I found myself reading more slowly so as to take in every word - although I can see why it wouldn't be to everyone's taste.




Different Class

A welcome return to Roy Straitley, an old-fashioned Classics master with a heart of gold, and the dark humour and intricate plotting of Joanne Harris - albeit not one that entirely lived up to Gentlemen and Players (one of my all-time favourites).




Pictures from Hopper

A collection of short stories inspired by Hopper, and offering brief insights into different lives - often dark, frequently moving, and always engaging. Reading this one felt a lot like standing in an art gallery, staring at a painting by Hopper, and trying to imagine the story behind the painting.




Hamlet (read in The Norton Shakespeare)

I also watched this Hollywood-produced adaptation (2000), set in 2002 New York, out of curiosity, to see how they adapted the play. The answer? Badly. This production's obsessive modernising means that, ironically, it feels more dated than the actual text, and its stripping back of the subtleties of the play makes for a Hamlet who feels more haunted by teen angst than by his father's ghost.




Dark in Death

I'm notoriously bad at finishing series I've started reading (hence my recent blog post, 10 Series I Keep Meaning to Finish), with the exception of J.D. Robb's 'In Death' series, of which Dark in Death is the forty-sixth. And they're still going strong.




The Children Act

This is the first Ian McEwan book I ever read, and I loved it, so when I heard that they were making a film adaptation (starring the wonderful Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci) I couldn't resist watching it. This beautiful film (with a screenplay written by McEwan himself) didn't disappoint.




Still Alice

As informative as it is engaging, this heartwarming and heartbreaking story makes Alice's voice heard as much as it makes the reader's own experiences with Alzheimer's feel understood. As in Inside the O'Briens, this book ostensibly tells the story of one family, one individual, while really telling the story of what it means to be human. I also watched the film adaptation (for which Julianne Moore won an Oscar), which does justice to this story.




A Very English Scandal

Another cheat, since I watched it rather than reading it. I didn't know anything about the fascinating series of real-life events this book is based on until I watched the TV adaptation, which made the watching of it even more surreal and shocking. The story and superb acting are such that I felt like a helpless spectator, and even now am unsure as to where my sympathies ought to lie.




The Silent Woman: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes

This fascinating book is as necessary today as it was when it was first written, exploring as it does the problem of biography through the example of the infamous biographical situation of Plath and Hughes. If you enjoyed this, I'd recommend According to Mark.




Henry VI, Part 1

I'm continuing to watch The Hollow Crown TV series and read the corresponding plays (although I've accidentally missed Henry V, which I'll have to come back to), which I'm finding very enjoyable and beneficial. I've just watched this one, so will be reading it soon.




Eighteenth Century Women Poets: An Oxford Anthology

I'm still reading this one (I find poetry a slower read, as I dip in and out of it to avoid becoming desensitised), but have discovered some real gems. One of my favourites thus far is from Mary Chandler, a woman whose deformity ruled out marriage and whose family circumstances obliged her to set up a milliner's shop in Bath, probably by the time she was 20:

And when I will, I ramble, or retire,
To my own room, own bed, my garden, fire;
Take up my book, or trifle with my pen;
And, when I'm weary, lay them down again:
No questions asked; no master in the spleen -
I would not change my state to be a queen.
Your great estate would nothing add to me,
But care, and toil, and loss of liberty.
Your offer does me honour, I confess;
And, in your next, I wish you more success.'

And thus this whole affair begins and ends:
We met as lovers, and we parted friends. (1744)




The Women's History of the World

I've just started this one, so watch this space!

Since it's that time again, here are 10 books for the new (school) year:

4 Books about making a new start

1. 31 Treats and a Marriage



As Lynn nears her 60th birthday, celebrating her husband's recovery from cancer, she creates a "bucket list", but what begin as treats become much more as her marriage, and with it her life as she knew it, breaks down. A truly inspirational story based on real life.

2. Today Will Be Different



Ever wake up and promise yourself that today will be different? This is a witty, refreshing, and relatable book with a protagonist I fell in love with and a wonderfully bizarre plot.

3. The Cactus



The story of an intelligent, independent, and capable woman who suddenly starts to lose control of her life as she has to face her family, the loss of her mother, and her unplanned pregnancy. (The edition I read also has a rose-gold spine, which looks beautiful on my bookcase.)

4. The Shortest Way Home



I couldn't resist adding this book, about a young woman who abandons her dream life to rescue a failing winery, to my to-read list. I also love the title, which reminds me of the Ulysses quote, "Longest way round is the shortest way home."

6 Books to teach you something you didn't know

5. Shakespeare: The Biography



This is the definitive book on Shakespeare.

6. A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie



Kathryn devotes a chapter to each of the fourteen poisons used by the Queen of Crime, explaining the role the poison plays in the murder mystery, background information on the poison itself, and real-life cases Agatha might have been inspired by or might even have inadvertently inspired.

7. Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights



Windridge uses the story of her own travels to see the Northern Lights as the framework for a book about the complicated science (which she has a real knack for explaining using everyday imagery) behind the beautiful phenomenon.

8. The Gene: An Intimate History



Perhaps best described as the biography of the gene, I've never read such an in-depth non-fiction book which reads so much like the telling of a story.

9. The Surgeon of Crowthorne: a tale of murder, madness & the love of words



The true story of one of the greatest contributors to the Oxford English Dictionary, who also happened to be an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane.

10. Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures



Another one from my to-read list, with a fairly self-explanatory title.

1. The Sixth Sense



2. Shutter Island



3. I Let You Go



4. The Ice Beneath Her



5. Gone Girl



6. Fight Club



7. Three Things About Elsie



8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban



9. And Then There Were None



10. Black Swan

I recently watched Incredibles 2 at the cinema (which is SO MUCH FUN), in which the roles are reversed when Elasti-Girl is recruited to return as a superhero, in a bid to repeal the law banning superheroes, and so Mr Incredible is left in charge of Vi, Dash, and Jack-Jack - a piece of cake compared to fighting crime, right? So after watching Elasti-Girl kick ass, I decided to make this blog post a celebration of my top 10 kick-ass heroines:

1. Elasti-Girl (Incredibles)



2. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)



3. Judith Kepler (The Cleaner)

4. Lt. Eve Dallas (Naked in Death)

5. Lorraine Broughton (Atomic Blonde)



6. D.I. Kim Stone (Silent Scream)

7. Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

8. Roxy Monke (The Power)

9. Jane Smith (Mr and Mrs Smith)



10. Wai Lin (Tomorrow Never Dies)

Honourable mention (because 10 really isn't enough): Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

1. Ocean's Eight (2018)



It's a female-led film about the heist of a $150 million Cartier necklace at the Met Gala - need I say more? Think Cate Blanchett in Burberry three-piece suits inspired by Keith Richards in the early 70s; Helena Bonham-Carter as an eccentric fashion designer with a feel of Vivienne Westwood about her; and Rihanna as a weed-smoking, Caribbean computer hacker with Bob Marley vibes.

2. Atomic Blonde (2017)



I am obsessed with this film. With its late-80s Berlin setting, complete with a killer 80s soundtrack, and starring Charlize Theron executing brutal stunts in Stuart Weitzman Lowland over-the-knee boots, a John Galliano white vinyl trench, and red patent Dior pumps, Atomic Blonde exudes style. It also features James McAvoy in some excellent sweater vests sans shirts.

3. Single White Female (1992)



This thriller might not be the conventional choice for a list like this, but style is key to the plot as the main character's new roommate starts taking over her life with the seemingly innocent act of borrowing her clothes. And with Bridget Fonda's wardrobe of blazers and belts, metallic trench coats, slip dresses, and oversized shirts, who can blame her?

4. Scarface (1983)



Gangster films are nothing if not stylish, but in terms of style Scarface has to be my favourite. Where else could you find so many clashing Caribbean floral shirts and silk shirts, or double-breasted suits with splayed collar shirts, not to mention the sheer glamour of the aloof Michelle Pfeiffer in disco couture?

5. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)



I might not have been convinced by Kenneth Branagh's moustache, but I was definitely won over by the style of The Murder on the Orient Express with its all-star cast and 1930s glamour. Think Michelle Pfeiffer as a husband-hunting American widow in printed knits, brooches, silk scarves, furs, and a scene-stealing plum bias-cut evening gown; Judi Dench as a Russian princess in a sumptuously gold-embroidered and sequined Deco gown, a voluminous velvet skirt, and as much extravagant jewellery as possible; and Johnny Depp as a shady American businessman in wide printed ties, silk shirts, and a vintage leather coat that I would love to get my hands on.

6. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)



No list of stylish films would be complete without The Devil Wears Prada. Would I wear any of the outfits in this film? Probably not, but that doesn't mean that I don't love its black and white layering, statement Chanel necklaces, newsboy caps, and scene-stealing coats.

7. Skyfall (2012)



All of the Bond films exude style, but perhaps none more so than Skyfall, with its Macau casino setting, Aston Martin DB5, and flamboyantly dressed villain played by a blonde Javier Bardem. Daniel Craig's third outing as 007 sees him return to tailored Tom Ford suits (including my personal favourite dark blue tux), and introduces Ben Whishaw as a cardigan-wearing Q, and Naomie Harris as a gun-wielding Moneypenny, not to forget Bérénice Marlohe's turn as Severine complete with a backless dress studded with 60,000 Swarovski crystals.

8. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)



After I watched The Thomas Crown Affair for the first time, I searched online for more about Rene Russo's fabulous outfits and was pleasantly surprised to find I wasn't the only one who'd noticed them. Think multiple-piece pin-striped suits, strands of pearls, oversized dark sunglasses, leather biker jackets, cashmere jumpers, and a sheer Halston sequined dress.

9. The Man From U.N.C.L.E (2015)



This witty action film is really made by its killer 60s style. Picture Henry Cavill as a suave thief-turned-CIA-agent in Savile Row suits, Thierry Lasry sunglasses, a vintage Omega watch, and a custom-made gold signet ring; Armie Hammer as a KGB agent with Steve McQueen vibes in a Ralph Lauren suede bomber, turtleneck jumpers, and Baracuta G9 Harrington jackets; and Alicia Vikander as an undercover East German mechanic in colourful prints, statement earrings, and a particularly memorable pair of Henry Holland sunglasses.

10. The Dressmaker (2015)



A film called The Dressmaker was always going to be stylish. Kate Winslet is the eponymous dressmaker in early 50s Australia who steals every scene in strong silhouettes, bold dual colours, and haute couture inspired by such designers as Balenciaga and Dior.