Demob Happy

The fantastic Mr Fox
As probably Paul Theroux’s best-known fiction work I’ve long wanted to read ‘Mosquito Coast’, and not just because I am a fan of his grumpy brand of travel writing. A 1980s feature film adaptation - starring Harrison Ford and River Phoenix - left a indelible mark on me, perhaps because, as a [...]

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“Can you hear me? Stay calm. Everything will be all right.”
9/10
Bar a few exceptions (Bladerunner being the obvious one) I find the notion of the director’s cut a highly suspicious enterprise, especially from a director whose post-70s output has been so poor. I also hate the extraneous use of CGI effects, which I think [...]

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The best summation of Murakami’s talents?
8/10
‘Dance Dance Dance‘ is probably the ideal place for any Murakami novice to start as it is a compelling summation of the author’s singular moods and preoccupations. It combines some of the themes of grief, loss and memory of novels like ‘Norweigan Wood‘, but less oppressively so, and the [...]

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