Christopher Fowler's Blog, page 346

Story Tricks No.4: Strong Beginnings

A common problem I find with review novels (ie books I wouldn’t necessarily choose to read for mere pleasure) is that I’m reading something I can imagine for myself without having to plod through an entire opening page of prose about it. I don’t need to know how someone gets out of bed and makes [...]

When The Competition Turns Nasty

Any branch of the arts attracts bottom-feeders, and publishing is no exception; there are people who carve out plates from art books and sell them, or who steal to order from reference libraries, or who churn out vanity volumes for deluded McGonagalls.

To this list could be added Todd Rutherford, who ran a company that [...]

Re:View – ‘God Bless America’

Bobcat Goldthwait (he of the annoying voice in ‘Police Academy’ films) went on to become a fine director, with ‘Shakes The Clown’ (‘The Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies’) and ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ (a dark, smart late-period Robin Williams film), and for the first half hour at least, this tops them all as a homely [...]

Another London Walk

It was a beautiful summer’s day, in the way that early September often seems like the August we never had, and I set off to buy a tap. As it is, I didn’t get to buy the tap but I did see London burning down instead; it was that kind of day, one where you [...]

Where Next For Bryant & May?

The tenth volume of Bryant & May was a milestone for me, but also reached the end of my second story arc so I have a clean slate, as it were. They may never appear in the bestseller lists but the books sell consistently and are very well received, for which I’m continually grateful. But [...]

Neglected Films No.11: ‘Impromptu’

Frederic Chopin explains the meaning of the title near the end of this delighted and virtually unseen film. He describes how hard it is to write something that seems spontaneous and effortless, to hide the hard work that has led to it and which underpins it. Of course, it’s also a metaphor for love within [...]

London On Film

I rely on reference books for a lot of my research when writing, but you can’t beat moving footage for atmosphere. There are several intriguing films on DVD about London’s past around at the moment. ‘Roll Out The Barrel’ is a collection (five hours’ worth!) of short films about pubs, from swinging London to expressionistic [...]

Bye Bye Bygraves

Max Bygraves was the last of the music hall-style stars, a working class East Ender-made-good who performed at the ends of piers and filled the summer seasons. Cheesy, corny and yet strangely charming, his success was based on hard work and the ability to communicate easily. He became Britain’s top performer, and a legend.

Many years [...]

Overlooked London No.1

The first in an occasional series of places I like that are there in plain sight, or sometimes hidden away, but generally overlooked by the passing public. This is in an unprepossessing spot, the one-way system around Gray’s Inn Road at 66, Acton St, and is virtually invisible from the exterior – except that [...]

Looking For The Funniest Book Ever Written Part 2

Here we go with another batch of books vying for best comic novel. Stephen Fry’s debut novel was everything everyone hoped it would be; erudite, intelligent and really filthy.Of course, Fry really only ever writes about himself, but this is the best, up there with Waugh, about the schooldays of a boy born with ‘a [...]