Category Archives: Art, books, theatre, cinema

Matisse and Malevich at the Tate Modern

Posted on August 29, 2014 by John S

Over the last week I’ve been to see a couple of really interesting and enjoyable exhibitions at the Tate Modern: the art of Kazimir Malevich and Henri Matisse’s “Cut Outs”. Malevich is a 20th century Russian artist, although he was … Continue reading →

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“Frank” – the film

Posted on May 30, 2014 by John S

Last night we went to see “Frank” –  a recent release, but already on hardly any of the mainstream cinemas. It’s too weird, presumably. My wife and I went to see it at the Watermans Arts centre in Brentford. A … Continue reading →

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Morrissey – the Autobiography

Posted on May 15, 2014 by John S

I’ve just finished reading Morrissey’s “Autobigraphy”.  And an excellent read it is too. It’s written in a discursive, sometimes quite poetic style. There are no chapters – just a long narrative, which is mostly chronological. There is a lot of … Continue reading →

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A great read: “The Sleepwalkers” by Christopher Clark

Posted on April 6, 2014 by John S

In this year, 2014, the one hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War, we are not short of commemorative books and films, with much more to come, I’m sure. The BBC had a brilliant three part drama, … Continue reading →

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“Inside Llewyn Davis” – a review

Posted on January 27, 2014 by John S

My son Kieran and I went to see “Inside Llewyn Davis”, the latest Coen brothers film, this evening. It has just been released in the UK. We both really liked it. I was drawn to it after reading a brief … Continue reading →

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“Liola” at the National Theatre

Posted on November 3, 2013 by John S

We went to see “Liola” at the Lyttleton this Sunday afternoon. It’s a play by Luigi Pirandello, Italian author and playright. Set in rural Sicily, it’s comedy, farce, musical, moral tale, and maybe, political statement, all in one. It’s slight, … Continue reading →

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“Othello” at the National Theatre

Posted on October 6, 2013 by John S

Last night, Kath and I went to see “Othello” at the National Theatre. Turned out it was the last night. We also had front row seats, so we got to experience the performance in full effect. And what a performance … Continue reading →

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On reading “Bleak House” and “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens

Posted on October 3, 2013 by John S

This summer just past, inspired by reading Clare Tomalins’s biography of Charles Dickens, “A Life”, I’ve read two of his magnum opuses, both around a thousand pages long. “Bleak House” and “David Copperfield”. Both were truly magnificent. The kind of … Continue reading →

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Lowry at the Tate Britain

Posted on June 26, 2013 by John S

L.S.Lowry is an English painter, born in 1887, died 1976, who devoted his life to painting the England – especially Manchester – of the industrial revolution. Most people know him for his townscapes populated by matchstick figures, almost child-like in … Continue reading →

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Charles Dickens – an amazing life

Posted on June 2, 2013 by John S

I’ve just finished a superb biography of the 19th century British novelist, Charles Dickens, by Claire Tomalin. “Charles Dickens. A Life”.   It came out in 2011 and I got it for Christmas that year, but have only just got … Continue reading →

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