Category Archives: Book and film reviews

On the flight back from Burkina Faso I got to read three short stories from old issues of The New Yorker that I found in the FAVL office, leftovers from 2014! “Story with Bird” by Kevin Canty is an amazing … Continue reading →

Last year I start to read Wasp Factory by Iain Banks but I could not finish it: too bleak, too violent, too disturbing.  But I saw a mention of Feersum Endjinn somewhere, and so requested it through interlibrary loan.  What … Continue reading →

Arcadia, by Iain Pears.  Superb sci-fi/fantasy novel.  If you liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman, or Jo Walton’s Among Others, then good news: this is much better!  it really is almost perfect.  And it deliberately mashes in As You Like … Continue reading →

On Netflix.  Interesting.  I think OK to fast-forward through the beginning, which indeed is very slow. On his way home, the unexpected happens. At the train station, on the other side of the tracks, a distinguished looking man in glasses … Continue reading →

“Save a Horse Ride a Cowgirl” by Ann Beattie appeared in the November 23, 2015 issue of The New Yorker.  Another story about growing older. This one with a deliberate nod to Chekhov and the seagull… Does Bree destroy Ryall, … Continue reading →

While on vacation last week I read a bunch of short stories from the past couple years from The New Yorker.  Sorry to say that many were not very good.  I don’t expect perfection, and it is nice to read … Continue reading →