Katheryn Thompson's Blog, page 13

The Best Books I've Been Given

Christmas always makes me think of the best books to give to others, but Penguin's recent blog post, Dolly Alderton: The literary gifts that made an impact on me, also made me think about the best books I've been given. So here are my top five:


1. The Story of English: How an Obscure Dialect Became the World's Most-Spoken Language

I was given this book by my mum as a joke, but it sparked an interest in Latin that lead to me reading Classics and English at university. I even referenced this book in my personal statement.


2. The Women's History of the World

I love that this delightfully subversive book was given to me by my grandparents. Their traditional views can sometimes be a little frustrating, so I love that they respect and encourage my views with books like this.


3. Great Poems

I had a couple of poetry anthologies when I was younger, which introduced me to poetry and developed my love for it. I still treasure this beautifully illustrated book of poetry, which contains some real gems.


4. Wolf Hall

This book had been on my radar for some time, but I wasn't convinced that I'd enjoy it. I'm always a bit unsure about historical fiction, especially when its set in a period I know a lot about. But I was compelled to read Wolf Hall after being given it by an auntie, and am so glad that I did.


5. Go Set a Watchman

Another one I wouldn't have read if it wasn't that I was given it. To Kill a Mockingbird was one of many so-called classics, which I planned on getting around to some day. But when I read Go Set a Watchman, its better-known prequel leapt to the top of my to-read list, and became one of my all-time favourites.


What are the best books you've been given? And what books are you planning on giving to others (and/or yourself) this Christmas?

The Best Articles I Read This Year

Tired of reading about Brexit? Try one of these: the best articles I read this year...Or at least some of them, because a year is a long time and my memory is terrible.


White Lies: Ijeoma Oluo On Privilege, Power, And Race: genuinely challenging and thought-provoking


The Time Raymond Chandler and Ian Fleming Got Together To Talk About Thrillers: it's all in the title


A Master Class in Women’s Rage: in the year of #MeToo, a reading list to understand why women are so angry


Why Practical Magic is the ultimate feminist film: Practical Magic turned 20 this year, but it's still as relevant as ever


10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: because no-one ever knows what to ask in a job interview


What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?: a very pertinent question


Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell on why we need libraries – an essay in pictures: another topical one, but this one's much more cheerful


A Complete History of the Millennium Falcon: again, does what it says on the tin


A Reading List for People Who Need Their Alone Time: this one made the cut because I am a person who very much needs their alone time, and too often it feels as though other people just don't get it


How to convince sceptics of the value of feminism: a real gem for convincing people (including yourself) why feminism is a good thing


Everything You Need To Know About The Fabulous Costumes In "Ocean's 8": I shouldn't have to justify this one


A drink of one’s own: 10 cocktail recipes inspired by iconic women authors: again, why wouldn't you want to read this?


Queens of Infamy: Anne Boleyn: all the Queens of Infamy articles are fascinating (@anne_theriault is also a delight on Twitter), but I particularly liked this one


The Politics of Pockets: ever wondered why women regularly complain that their clothes don't have pockets?

What were the best articles you read this year?

Books to Read this Christmas

Apparently Icelanders have a tradition of giving books to each other on Christmas Eve and then spending the night reading. Even if you're not planning on participating in this particular tradition this Christmas (as magical as it sounds), here are some books you might want to read in the lead-up to Christmas to get into the festive spirit.


The Dysfunctional Family Shelf
I've recently discovered a subgenre of books written about dysfunctional families spending Christmas together, and I love it. (It probably helps that I will be spending Christmas with my own dysfunctional family.)



The Adults
I think this wonderful cover just about sums it up. Divorced couple Claire and Matt devise a terrific idea for Christmas: spend it at Happy Forest Holiday Park with their new partners and their seven-year-old daughter Scarlett (and her imaginary friend). Hilarious and heartrending, this debut novel asks the age-old question: ‘What could possibly go wrong?'

The Brit Lit Podcast also has a lovely interview with the author, Caroline Hulse.



The Corrections
Enid, who loves to have fun, can still look forward to a final family Christmas and to the ten-day Nordic Pleasurelines Luxury Fall Color Cruise that she and Alfred are about to embark on. But even these few remaining joys are threatened by her husband's growing confusion and unsteadiness. As Alfred enters his final decline, the Lamberts must face the failures, secrets, and long-buried hurts that haunt them as a family if they are to make the corrections that each desperately needs.



Seven Days of Us
It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home to Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate, because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she’s been told she must stay in quarantine for a week…and so too should her family. For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity—and even decent Wi-Fi—and forced into each other’s orbits. In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who’s about to arrive.


The Feel Good Shelf
If you don't have a dysfunctional family (want to trade?), or if you prefer to spend your Christmas forgetting about them, you might prefer a feel-good festive read. (I have included a thriller on this shelf, but it's a witty thriller about a wonderful set of characters, in which the hero is destined to save the day - and it's set at Christmas.)



Moonlight Over Manhattan
Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list--dealing with Madi's temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.



Festive in Death
Personal trainer Trey Ziegler was in peak physical condition. If you didn’t count the kitchen knife in his well-toned chest. While Lieutenant Eve Dallas sorts through the lineup of women who were loved and left by the narcissistic gym rat, she’s also dealing with her Christmas shopping list—plus the guest list for her and her billionaire husband’s upcoming holiday bash. There are just a few investigating days left before Christmas, and as New Year’s 2061 approaches, this homicide cop is resolved to stop a cold-blooded killer.



Harry Potter
This magical series makes for perfect feel-good holiday (re)reading. Even better, each book contains a Christmas scene: from Harry's first proper Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; to the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; to Slughorn's Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; to Hermione and Harry finding themselves in Godric's Hollow at Christmas in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.


What are you reading this Christmas?

5 Things I'm Loving This Week

1. The Winter's Tale

I read this Shakespeare play (of "Exit, pursued by a bear" fame) recently, and went to see a fantastic production, narrated by Sir Jonathan Bate, this week. You can check out my review here.

2. The Quietus Radio's Neil Tennant interview

I listened to a really interesting interview with Neil Tennant this week, from the Quietus Radio podcast, in which he talks about Pet Shop Boys' lyrics. I then went away and listened to all of their music again, obviously. You can find the interview here, if you're interested.

3. Adobe Spark

I recently discovered how to make quote posters using Adobe Spark, and while I'm sure this is old news to everyone else, I am thrilled. So expect to see more in future blog posts.

4. Dogma

I recently rewatched Dogma, because I just suddenly felt in the mood for it, and I'd forgotten how amazing that film is. So funny.

5. Christmas

I'm not completely unbearable about it, but I do love Christmas, and it helps that at Oxford we celebrate Christmas early because our term ends early. So I've found myself doing lots of Christmassy things this week, including having a festive latte, attending two carol services, and having a Christmas dinner. And I've also spent a lot of this week fantasising about things like watching Christmas films, decorating a Christmas tree, and baking stollen.

What are you loving this week?

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Booklovers in Your Life (including yourself)

Christmas is fast approaching, so here are some gift ideas for the booklovers in your life (including yourself, obviously):

(£5.00 from Joanne Harris' website)

The CD of Joanne Harris' Storytime Band, which she describes as "Jackanory, with drums." Each one comes with a signed postcard and special message from Joanne Harris herself.

(£10.99 from Waterstones)

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women 2019 calendar. I already have one for myself.

(£11.99 from Liberty London)

The Liberty Faber Poetry diary 2019. Another practical gift.

(£14.99 from HMV)

Pick their (or your) favourite literary Pop Vinyl. They do a particularly good Harry Potter collection.

($20.00 from Electric Literature)

This one is actually from America, but I loved it so much I couldn't resist including it. Papercuts claims to be a party game for the rude and well-read, and would be the perfect entertainment for Christmas.

(£9.89 from Book Depository)

A collectible edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with edges sprayed in their/your house colours.

(£7.50 from LiteraryEmporium)

A bookish enamel pin. LiteraryEmporium does some of my favourites, including this one from The Taming of the Shrew. And since it's free shipping to the UK if you spend over £10.00, you might as well buy one for a friend and one for yourself.

(£12.95 from Doris & Co.)

This beautiful Philip Larkin espresso mug. (They also have a William Blake and a Raymond Carver one.)


What are some gifts you're treating fellow booklovers (and/or yourself) to this Christmas?

Is it ok to enjoy books/films like American Psycho?

Is it ok to read books, and watch films, like American Psycho? Is it ok to enjoy books and films like American Psycho?



American Pyscho is the story of Patrick Bateman, narrated by him, of his life working at Wall Street, socialising with New York's elite, and indulging in - and hiding - his psychopathic tendencies. Both the book and the film received criticism en masse for the sexist, racist, and homophobic content of the story, as well as the graphic violence and sexual violence. Whitney Houston refused to allow any of her music to be used in the film; Cerutti agreed to allow Christian Bale to wear their clothes, but not when his character was killing anyone; and Rolex forced one of the book's memorable lines, "Don't touch the Rolex", to be changed to "Don't touch the watch."

I didn't know any of that when I picked the book out of the library. I discovered the extent of the backlash when I looked up reviews of the book and film, having finished reading and watching them, and being left with questions about the problematic content.

Books and films like American Psycho are often accused of making entertainment out of violence against women, and this obviously worries me. But here's why I don't agree:

1. Where do we draw the line? Books often contain language and actions I don't agree with, but I don't see why this should stop me reading them.

2. American Psycho is actually a black comedy. Whether or not you believe there is a lesson to learnt from the book/film, it's important to remember that the offensive language and violence occurs in the context of satire.

3. Most importantly, I enjoyed it. And I'm not about to go on a killing rampage as a result of that.

I think what I've decided is that it's fine to have a problem with books and films like American Psycho. But it's also fine not to. Read what you want to read, watch what you want to watch, and if you ever find yourself exhibiting psychopathic tendencies seek help immediately.


If you want to think more about whether it's ok to like books/films like American Psycho, I'd recommend Bad Feminist

For American Psycho specifically, I enjoyed this article from The New York Times

And you can check out my review for the book here

Ideal song pairing: Psycho Killer (Talking Heads, 1994)

If you enjoyed American Psycho, I'd recommend: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

In which I accidentally watch a Sabrina the Teenage Witch film starring Ryan Reynolds

There's been a lot of talk recently about Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (including this wonderful list of books to read once you've finished watching it), which has now finished its first season. I really need to make time to watch it, because it sounds dark, magical, empowering, and just fantastic.



But to be honest all this talk also makes me long for the TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which originally ran from 1996 to 2003. If you've not watched it, I can assure you that you're missing a treat.







So I decided to find and watch the pilot...which turns out to be a TV film...starring Ryan Reynolds looking like this:



The film is every bit as terrible/brilliant as you would imagine. Sabrina is staying with her two aunties, while her parents are on sabbatical, and trying to find her feet in a new school - complete with a best friend she temporarily rejects for the popular girls, a friend she can't see is crazy about her until the end, the popular boy she likes despite the fact that he's a jerk, and the popular girl who dated the popular boy, has friends who are mini versions of herself, and who becomes Sabrina's enemy. As if this wasn't enough, Sabrina also discovers that she's a witch.

The film's climax sees Sabrina in need of being rescued from the popular boy, Seth (Ryan Reynolds). Harvey, whom the audience realises Sabrina is meant to be with long before she does, sets off on a borrowed bicycle to rescue her. He arrives to find Seth chasing his car around in circles, Sabrina having stood up to him and then bewitched his car for good measure. I told you it was every bit as terrible/brilliant as you would imagine.

So, while not what I was expecting, it was certainly an experience. And I still love Sabrina the Teenage Witch (which is what she will always be known as in my head.)

If you enjoyed Sabrina the Teenage Witch, I'd recommend: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996-2003), Mean Girls (2004), 13 Going on 30 (2004), and Sky High (2005)

For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've also recently discovered a new favourite podcast called Still Pretty, which goes through each episode one at a time.

How to Fill the Killing Eve Hole in Your Life

I know I'm fashionably late to the party (as ever), but I've just finished watching Killing Eve. So if, like me, you don't know what to do with yourself while you're waiting for season 2, here are some suggestions for how to fill the Killing Eve hole in your life:




Other cat-and-mouse thrillers



LoveMurder
San Francisco homicide detective Valerie Hart is called away from a weekend break with her long-term partner and fellow police officer, Nick, when a body is found with the hallmarks of a pair of sadistic serial killers, one of whom, Katherine Glass, Valerie caught six years ago, along with a note addressed to Valerie. To catch the so-called Man in the Mask, whose intelligence is matched only by his cruelty, and protect the people she cares most about, Valerie must turn to Katherine for help with his coded messages. The problem is that Katherine is playing games of her own.



Evil Games
Kim Stone is a Detective Inspector in the West Midlands Police. She listens to classical music, drives a Golf GTI, rides a 600cc Kawasaki Ninja, is building a 1954 BSA Gold Star, is haunted by her past, and has dark brown eyes which could bore through steel. In Evil Games, a man is murdered by a woman he violently raped several years previously. The woman confesses and that should be the end of it, but when Kim meets the woman's psychiatrist, Dr. Alexandra Thorne, she is immediately suspicious of her. The body count continues to rise as Alex lures Kim into a game of cat and mouse, which has potentially fatal consequences for Kim as Alex forces her to face up to her past.



The Silence of the Lambs
A young FBI cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims. To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman.



Imitation in Death
A man wearing a cape and a top hat approaches a prostitute on a dark, New York City street. Minutes later, the woman is dead. Left at the scene is a letter addressed to Lieutenant Eve Dallas, inviting her to play his game and unveil his identity. He signs it, "Jack." Now Dallas is in pursuit of a murderer who knows as much about the history of serial killers as she does. He has studied the most notorious and the most vicious slayings in modern times. But he also wants to make his own mark. He has chosen his victim: Eve Dallas. And all Eve knows is that he plans to mimic the most infamous murderers of all starting with Jack the Ripper.


Other villains to die for



Glorificus (a.k.a Glory) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Glory is a literal goddess...from a Hell dimension. She has superhuman strength, speed, and hearing, and she maintains her own mental strength by literally sucking other people's brains from them. Glory is every bit as violent, dangerous, and narcissistic as Villanelle, and she shares the same taste for luxury.

What I Read and Watched this Halloween (and what I didn't get around to)

While I rarely dress up for Halloween, I love the excuse to read and watch especially creepy books and films and TV programmes. I also love the excuse to use this gif:



So here's what I read and watched this Halloween (and what I didn't get around to):




American Psycho
Patrick Bateman is twenty-six and works on Wall Street; he is handsome, sophisticated, charming and intelligent. He is also a psychopath.
I started reading this one on 28th October, and am planning on watching the film once I've finished reading it. So far I've been getting more Wolf of Wall Street vibes than anything else, but Bateman has just stuck a knife through someone's eye, so I think it's fair to say things are starting to pick up.



Doctor Who: Arachnids in the UK
The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan find their way back to Yorkshire - and Yaz's family - only to find something is stirring amidst the eight-legged arachnid population of Sheffield.
I am loving this new season of Doctor Who, and this latest episode (from 28th October) was delightfully creepy.



Practical Magic
Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.
I watched this film (which is 20 this year) for the first time on 18th October and loved its sense of humour, its 90s fashion, and its portrayal of female power and solidarity.


and What I didn't get around to



Buffy the Vampire Slayer
A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
I didn't get around to watching any episodes of my all-time favourite TV programme this Halloween. While the whole thing has a Halloween-esque vibe, several episodes stand out as being particularly Halloween-y (and as being particularly excellent): Halloween (2.6), Fear Itself (4.4), and Buffy vs Dracula (5.1). But, to be fair, I've seen them all so many times before I can just about replay them in my head, and I don't need the excuse of Halloween to rewatch any of them.


Hocus Pocus
A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
I've never seen this film, but people always talk about it, especially at Halloween, so I keep thinking I should give it a go.


Meddling Kids
1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting.
This one has been on my to-read list for a while, and sounds amazing. So hopefully I'll get around to it before next Halloween!


What did you read and watch this Halloween? And is there anything you didn't get around to?

I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss

While I love that I'm seeing more female bosses in films and television programmes (I especially love the older-woman-as-spy-boss-trope), there is definitely a trend for boss bitches that I'm not sure about.



In The Spy Who Dumped Me, Gillian Anderson may play "the Beyoncé of the government" as Kate McKinnon's character dubs her, but her icy manner is even matched by her blonde hair and white dress, and her siding with one agent over the other (and the film's protagonists) mark her out as a sort of anti-hero for most of the film. Also dubbed "a real-life Judi Dench" (again by Kate McKinnon's character), Gillian Anderson's character definitely seems to be recognising and mocking this trend for female boss bitches, just as the film as a whole is very self-aware - even its title mocks the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me.



This ice-queen boss figure is perhaps most famous from Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada, a character who treats others as disposable, and who never really redeems herself. But at least she looks sensational the whole way through. Again, The Devil Wears Prada is a sort of satire on the fashion industry, with Meryl Streep's character often drawing comparison with real-life Vogue editor-in-chief and fashion icon, Anna Wintour.



Sandra Bullock plays a similar character in rom-com The Proposal, where she forces her assistant (played by Ryan Reynolds) to marry her so that she isn't deported to Canada. But the romance plotline melts this ice queen by the end of the film.



Fiona Shaw also plays a variant on the boss-bitch trope in Killing Eve.



As does Glenn Close in Guardians of the Galaxy.



Judi Dench's M, who appears in seven films, is humanised by her evident concern for 007, the difficulties she faces in doing her job (such as in the court-scene in Skyfall), the risks to her life, the glimpses of her private life, the way she stands up to 007's misogynism and doubts about her leadership skills in her first Bond film, Goldeneye, and even her love of Tennyson (passed on from her late husband). I also like that this same bitchy boss trope can be seen in Ralph Fiennes' M, as her successor (I realise that bitchy isn't usually used for men, which is exactly why I'm continuing to use it), who at first seems to be one of the bad guys.



Emma Thompson's character in The Children Act is similarly complex. The audience get to see the emotion she refuses to show in the courtroom and even at home, just as they see the difficulties she faces in both.

When I see these powerful women on screen, most of me rejoices. But there is always a small voice worrying about this boss-bitch trope, worrying that the only way we recognise a female leader is when she is an ice queen.



This small voice grows into an alarm when I see black women in similar roles. There is something about Viola Davis' character in Suicide Squad, or Angela Bassett's in Mission Impossible Fallout that seems to be relying on a stereotype even more than in the films I've mentioned above.



It felt like Mission Impossible Fallout was setting up Angela Bassett's character, who much like Gillian Anderson's in The Spy Who Dumped Me was aligned with the bad guy for most of the film, to take over IMF. If this is the case, I can only hope that her character is given room for growth in the next films, as such an excellent actress deserves.

So, what do you think? Do you also worry about this tendency to portray female bosses as bitches? Or do you think that people who see them as such are the ones with the problem?