Tony Talbot's Blog, page 4

Review: Dry

    During a poorly-managed and endless drought in Southern California, Alyssa Morrow turns on the tap and something unexpected happens: No water comes out. Through the next week of escalating dehydration, brutality and survival, she has to keep herself and her brother alive… Wow. I’m exhausted after reading this! Alyssa takes the advice of … Continue reading "Review: Dry"

Review: Gerald’s Game

      Jessie and her husband have a game. He locks her up in real handcuffs, she pretends she doesn’t like it and wants to be set free. Except this time, she really does… Every time I picked this book up, I was surprised by how far into it I was. I got to … Continue reading "Review: Gerald’s Game"

Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge

A few minutes into this film, my wife and I were debating what number Pirates film this was. Four? Five? Six? It took a minute to figure out, and that was only by recapping the plots of the others. That’s the big problem here, you see…the plots. They’re all jumbled into a mass we can’t … Continue reading "Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge"

Why are you so QUIET?

Last week, a teacher at the school where I work wanted something fixing on her computer. I followed her from my office to her classroom, and while we were walking she was talking about the things she’d tried to fix it herself. I listened and analysed her body language and didn’t respond, my default behaviour … Continue reading "Why are you so QUIET?"

Pancake Challenge!

On Tuesday, it was Pancake Day in the UK. Traditionally, people were supposed to use up food and not eat it again until Lent, six weeks later. And “it’s raining” is enough of an excuse to eat pancakes for me, to be honest. Any road up, my good friend and book buddy Becky from Blogs … Continue reading "Pancake Challenge!"

Review: The Talisman

5/5 Chased east by the ambitious and power-hungry partner of his dead father, Jack Sawyer and his dying mother find themselves in New Hampshire, exiled from California. Jack is sent on a road trip back to the west coast to retrieve something called “The Talisman”. Its description is vague to the point of non-existence by … Continue reading "Review: The Talisman"

Movies: Groundhog Day (1993)

When I first stumbled across this movie by accident, I was unimpressed. It mostly seemed to be Bill Murray doing his usual cynical-guy routine, something he excels at and has honed to a fine art since the early 80s. Seen it, done it, bought the movies. Yawn. I was expecting a mild comedy I’d watch … Continue reading "Movies: Groundhog Day (1993)"

Movies: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978)

When this film came through the post, my wife said, “I can’t believe you rented that. It’s a turkey of a movie!” Once again, she underestimates my tolerance for bad films…and I’ve sat through a lot worse than Killer Tomatoes. At least AotKT isn’t going for high art and falling laughably short. No one making this … Continue reading "Movies: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978)"

Movies: Stand by Me (1986)

I can narrow down when I first saw Stand By Me to a period of two or three years in the late 1980s. I’m guessing ‘87 or early ’88. I remember which room of the house I was in and where I was sitting. I remember it so well for a lot of reasons: My … Continue reading "Movies: Stand by Me (1986)"

Review: Eleanor and Park

5/5 Park doesn’t think much of Eleanor when he first sees her on the school bus. And Eleanor doesn’t think much of Park when she’s forced to sit next to him either… Wow. That was something else. Where to start with E&P? I’d start with the ending, but to do so would feel like a … Continue reading "Review: Eleanor and Park"