Culture - March

Books read:

Will Self - 'Sore Sites' (non-fiction)
Leo Tolstoy - 'Anna Karenina'
John Stuart Mill - 'On Liberty' (non-fiction)
Brian Masters - 'Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen' (non-fiction)
Michael Leber & Judith Sandling - 'L.S. Lowry' (non-fiction)

The first half of this month was dominated by the mammoth Russian classic 'Anna Karenina' which had sat with an air of weighty intimidation on my shelf for far too long; its time had come to be tackled. Incredible just how quickly you become immersed in the language and the intricate details of the time though, with every naunce of every character explored in such fine style by Tolstoy; indeed I found it easy to understand its peerless esteem and found myself thoroughly enjoying it.

The rest of the month I indulged with non-fiction; in particular, I found Brian Masters' study of the serial killer Dennis Nilsen to be a masterful piece of work. Masters expertly juggles the conundrum of Nilsen's ghastly crimes along with his eloquent, complex and troubled personality; and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the psychology of murder.

Films Watched:

'Christiane F. - We the children of Bahnhof Zoo' (Ulrich Edel)
'Arbitrage' (Nicholas Jarecki) (at Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton)
'Amelie' (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
'The Devils' (Ken Russell)
'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' (John MacNaughton)

This month I discovered 3 films that I could add to my list of personal favourites. Firstly, 'Christiane F' - a gritty German film about the blight of heroin addiction on a sub-culture of teenagers. The film is unflinching and raw, and easily the most convincing depiction of the ravages of drug abuse. Despite my fondness for the film version of 'Trainspotting', by comparison it seems overtly glossy and almost flippant.

'Amelie' was watched just prior to a short Paris trip; I fell for its quirky French charm and beguiling romantic melodrama. 'The Devils' was a riotous carnival of ostentatious debauchery that thoroughly met and exceeded all the subversive expectations I held for it. Really demands to be seen, no adequate explanation by me can do justice to the madness of Ken Russell's blasphemous vision!

Albums Played:

David Bowie - 'The Next Day'
Stereophonics - 'Graffiti on the Train'
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - 'Methadrone'
The Knife - 'Silent Sound'
Joni Mitchell - 'Blue'
The Fall - 'Live at the Witch Trials'
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'Spector at the Feast'
Ry Cooder - 'Paris, Texas' (OST)

March was dominated by the release of David Bowie's new album 'The Next Day' which captivated me from the very first listen. It is an eclectic and engaging collection of songs, which never seem to dip in quality, and taken as a whole make up what must be his strongest piece of work since the 80s.

A sharp contrast to two bands I formerly held in fond esteem who released new albums this month. Stereophonics are a band who were part of my formative years' soundtrack and to hear them churn out this by-the-numbers turgid nothing of an album is too predictable to be really worth lamenting. The BRMC album wasn't quite as vacuous but is still evidence of a band never straying from their formula of chunky, dirty rock & roll, as well-worn as their leather jackets.

Exhibitions:

'Murillo: Paintings of the Spanish Golden Age' - Wallace Collection, London

Louvre Gallery, Paris

Theatre:

'The Turn of the Screw' at Almeida Theatre, Islington

Events:

John Gray in conversation with Adam Phillips - Daunt Books, London