• The Ink Black Heart and The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith [Read by Robert Glenister]
  
  I'd been "saving these up" but was quickly absorbed back into the world of Robin and Strike. The Ink Black Heart is a rather weird and dark set of graphic novels or cartoons which then evolve into an online "game", unapproved by the original authors. This novel explores the toxic aspects of the world of gaming, which provides enough thrilling tension and intrigue in of itself - but then we get greed, murders, and ultimately a lunatic to top it all off!
  All very compelling - so much so that I was compelled enough to move straight on to the next one... I had reservations that it could not be quite so appealing - but I was wrong. Robin goes "under cover" in a cult religious organisation, which is all described so perfectly that I cannot see how she managed to withstand the pressure to go totally native (I almost felt I should join up myself). It's not only the mental pressure but the physical exhaustion - which is part of the cult play - since Robin was not only called upon to engage in a heavy work schedule with little food, but then needed to run around secretly at night leaving messages for Strike in a dead letter box.
  Both these books have very involved plots and denouements - as is usual for Galbraith - I would almost say unnecessarily so as there is plenty of thrill and tension throughout the stories which do not rely on the mere ending. However, we are never short changed, with those final moments of jeopardy for (inevitably) Robin and the unexpected twist and final revelation.
  Undoubtedly - for the female audience I'm afraid - a lot of the interest is in the background relationship between Robin and Strike, where we cannot bear the fact that they never seem able to admit to their romantic attraction for one another for fear of ruining their business relationship and friendship. ...But things seem to be coming to a head... Roll on book 8.
  
  If you listen to the books as I do, take a moment to appreciate the excellence of Robert Glenister as a narrator. You will not notice this as you listen, because that is the genius of a good narrator - you are never confused as to which character is "speaking" and the slight mannerisms in speech are acted out without drawing any attention. Glenister is really at the top of his game - eat your heart out Richard Coles...!


• Many Deadly Returns edited by Martin Edwards [Read by Janine Birkett and David Thorpe]
  I think it's surprisingly difficult to write a good short story, which is presumably why some authors are reknowned for their collections while others stick more to novels. From what I know of these authors, they don't underestimate this as a specialist craft, and have provided some good examples here. My favourite was Wild Swimming, which I think was pretty perfect in length, plot, and overall quality - I hope it's not just because of Vera but in my defence she didn't appear centre stage. The other two I would mention in despatches are Bad Friday and Ultra Violent. I'd also recommend Chris Simms as an author in general, but he does have a leaning towards the horror genre - more often seen in his short stories - so I'm less of a fan there.
  Apparently this is the 4th Murder Squad anthology, with 21 stories to mark their 21st aniversary:
  1. Wild Swimming - Ann Cleeves
  2. Lucky Liam - Martin Edwards
  3. Scorpion - Cath Staincliffe
  4. Skeleton Crew - Chris Simms
  5. The Fox and the Hens - Kate Ellis
  6. An Old Fashioned Poisoning - John Baker
  7. Read the Label - Margaret Murphy
  8. My Oleander - Kate Ellis
  9. The Queen of Mystery - Ann Cleeves
  10. For Kicks - Chaz Brenchley
  11. Two Birds - Cath Staincliffe
  12. Big End Blues - Margaret Murphy
  13. Bad Friday - Martin Edwards
  14. The Passenger - Chris Simms
  15. The Confessions of Edward Prime - Kate Ellis
  16. Ultra Violent - Stuart Pawson
  17. Perfect Storm - Cath Staincliffe
  18. Gaffed - Chris Simms
  19. The Other Life - Martin Edwards
  20. A Winter's Tale - Ann Cleeves
  21. Still Life - Margaret Murphy


• Persuasion
  Persuasion has always been a favourite for me, ever since I saw a 1971 TV production of it in starring Ann Firbank and Bryan Marshall in the title roles - she, seeming to personify the concept of the reserved and dependable woman - past any hope of finding a husband at 26 - and he, the dashing captain returned to England wealthy and ready to catch any suitable lady's eye. What I remember from my teenage years is the suppressed passion and the happy ending - the more interesting sub plots of devious cousins and profligate relatives passed me by! However, with more TV productions and this 2001 radio play, I am able to appreciate the more complete story.
  Abridged by Doreen Estall, produced by Di Speirs, and starring Juliet Stevenson, Tim Brierley, Sorcha Cusack and Roger Hume.


• Last Seen Wearing
  A 1994 BBC Radio 4 play adapted from the novel by Guy Meredith and directed by Ned Chaillet, starring John Shrapnel as Morse and Robert Glenister as Lewis - both great choices - with Miles Anderson, Donald Sumpter, Terence Edmond, and Tamsin Greig (as Valerie) and Emily Woof.
  I was interested to note this was not quite the plot I was expecting. I've not read many of the Morse books, but am slavishly addicted to the John Thaw TV series - which I would have said was so faithful to the books that reading was superfluous. However, the TV story of this, (if not others for all I know), is one that does deviate quite a lot from the original book, and the radio play is a more faithful adaptation. [Thank you Wikipedia].
  

Posted by Christina at 12:08 pm | Category: Art and Culture, Books of the Month | Permalink

An excellent show and the good news is it is on tour so you can almost undoubtedly still catch it.

I am very fond of The 39 Steps, whether it be in book form or the films with Robert Donat, Kenneth More, or Robert Powell - and the latest BBC adaptation that I can remember starring Rupert Penry-Jones. Hence I was dead keen not to miss this tongue-in-cheek stage version, even though I spent the afternoon suppressing a persistent cough I've had for over a month (...mask, bottle of water, and boiled sweets...).

...And it did not disappoint (despite the distracting cough and worry over our enforced convenient-but-time-restricted parking right outside the theatre!). The staging was delightful and creative - and extraordinarily challenging, due to the wide ranging scenes covered in the plot: from apartment interiors, music hall theatre, train compartments, acrobatics on the train roof, crofters cottage, political meeting hall, hotel bedroom, and police station, through to the wild chases across the moors (o yes - defying expectations, it was all included) - and all taken on by four actors, playing 139 roles!

Most of the versions of the story mimic the earliest film, as it introduces a female love interest not present in Buchan's 1915 novel, (no women to be found there!), and this production is no exception. Modern tellings of the tale - when not totally rewritten - almost have to be tongue-in-cheek comedy due to the "outdated attitudes, language and cultural depictions which may cause offence today" nature of the overall chauvinistic story - even when the most gross examples of misogyny and xenophobia have been expurgated.

Posted by Christina at 7:43 pm | Category: Art and Culture, Days Out | Permalink