Approximation of a playlist §32: Periodicity

Referencing popular magazines and journals:

She – Peter Skellern
Big Time Sensuality – Björk
Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson
Look In after No 1 - The Boomtown Rats
Hello, This Is Joannie - Paul Evans

She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
Totally wired – The Fall
Strength of your nature - The Style Council
My little empire - Manic Street Preachers
Annie I’m Not Your Daddy – Kid Creole & The Coconuts
More Than A Woman – Bee Gees
Heat Wave – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Suzie Q - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Loaded - Deacon Blue
Tobermory Zoo - Mull Historical Society
The world’ll be OK – Teenage Fanclub
Vogue - Madonna
Wallpaper for the soul - Tahiti 80
Shot by both sides – Magazine

Lost in space

Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami

So, narrator loves the quite odd Sumire but she loves equally odd older woman, Miu, and goes off to work for her on a trip to Greek island. Something happens and he goes to Greece to investigate. All turns out a bit odd in the end

Whilst I have really enjoyed other Murakami novels, I have to say that this really felt pretty second rate. Customary meditations on love and loss and bags of existential meanderings just seem a bit lightweight and lazy here. It feels like a nice short story dragged out unnecessarily into a novel.

Approximation of a playlist §31: Chocolate bars, biscuits etc

Songs and artists for when peckish

Up On The Roof – The Drifters
Suspect Device – Stiff Little Fingers
Picnic by the motorway – Suede
Gonna Make You A Star - David Essex

Rocky Racoon – Beatles
This Flight Tonight – Joni Mitchell
Joe the Lion – David Bowie
Club country – Associates
Earth Angel – The Penguins
Judge fudge – Happy Mondays
Dancing Tight – Galaxy
Girl from Mars - Ash
Time Out From The World - Goldfrapp
5-4-3-2-1 – Manfred Mann
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson
Dr. Abernathy - Scritti Politti
Wagon wheel - Lou Reed
Taxi – Young Marble Giants
Join our club – Saint Etienne

Dr Yes

Dr No by Ian Fleming

Really very good indeed. Been a long time since I’ve read any Fleming but, despite some slightly stilted prose in places, this really is an exciting roller-coaster ride in the classic Bond tradition. Much more hard-edged than the movie representation of 007 too. Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, Honey (famously played by Ursula Andress in the film) is a much more interesting, rounded and complex character here.

A lost place and time

Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier

Outstanding novel this. Think it is regarded as a major classic in France and it is fairly easy to understand why. Difficult to summarise but a wonderful evocation of coming of age, love and loss in small French village at the start of the 20th century. Strongly recommended.