I first met Simon on a film shoot about 5 or 6 years ago. He was brought in as a writer, and I liked the way he was so intelligent and down to earth. He was funny. Catching a train back into central London together, he surprised me by making little quips about Australian politics …
Continue reading Simon Jay’s Bastardography: a memoir of coming out, bullying, and bipolar disorder.
As you probably know, this year I've been reading all Alice Hoffman's books, which has been a lovely experience, and I'm quite sad that I've nearly read them all. Thankfully she's still writing more, with another coming out soon. Hoffman often writes about small town, suburban America, with magic realism often a theme. Her books …
In this book, Barbara Leaming has looked deep into the archives to discover the life of a woman who captured the hearts and imaginations of millions before her tragic death. Oddly, the book is untraditional in that it starts with her meeting Arthur Miller for the first time. Perhaps with so many books about the …
A fictionalised account of the real life murder of Elizabeth Short in LA in the late 1940's, James Ellroy explores the unsolved case and LA's seedy underbelly in the Golden Age of Cinema. You might recognise James Ellroy's name from his best seller LA Confidential, (which was made into a really good film which I …
I first came across Daniel Sandler's products when I picked up a blue eyeliner from his range, for something fun and Summer-y. The colour is pretty stunning and it went on like a dream, but what really blew me away was the quality. When it says on the side "Long Lasting Waterproof" it really means …
For those of us from the new world, the age of cities like London can be a little mind blowing. London, especially in the square mile, is full of little alleyways, court yards and tiny churches with cobblestones and beautiful old buildings. If you leave the broader streets, you'll come across little restaurants, odd bars …
Continue reading Ghosts Of London: a walking tour through the alleys and by ways.
I grew up on the books of Charles Dickens. I cried when Dora Spenlow died, and was shocked by Miss Havisham in her crumbling wedding dress and her ward Estella. Dickens created such memorable characters and his plots have always kept me on the edge of my seat or glued to the fireside. I guess …
Continue reading 48 Doughty Street, the house where Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist.
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