Books & Films / May 2004

This month's must read book is "Marabou Stork Nightmares".
This month's must see movie is "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".

Books Read

Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks
Marabou Stork Nightmares - Irvine Welsh
Cat's Eye - Margaret Atwood
Wise Children - Angela Carter
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winifred Watson
Treasury of Tree Lore - Josephine Addison & Cherry Hillhouse
The House of Doctor Dee - Peter Ackroyd

Here is my May reviews post to 50bookchallenge.


Cinema Trips

Secret Window
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kill Bill 2
Van Helsing
Bad Education/La Mala Educacion

Film reviews

"Secret Window"
Unfortunately I had read some spoilers so I knew what would happen. I must say that the local sheriff can't have made much of an effort to find the bodies if they're buried where the ending implied!

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
An original story, with very good performances from Kate Winslett & Jim Carrey. I especially liked how the feelings linked to the destroyed memories kept trying to reassert themselves. It was enjoyable but there was something subtly disappointing about it - I'm not entirely sure what.

"Kill Bill 2"
I haven't seen the first part of Kill Bill, but one of my colleagues told me that the whole plot is explained in the second part, so I decided to go anyway. It's true that you don't feel you've missed out on any of the back-story, but now of course I want to see Kill Bill 1, so I'll have to try to borrow the DVD.

"Van Helsing"
Reviewed earlier in May.

"Bad Education"
What a bunch of unpleasant characters! Not one of Almodovar's feel-good films.