I was three quarters of the way through Hag-seed, when I realized that I was not particularly enjoying it. The realization surprised me a lot. This was only the second novel that I had read by Atwood (the first being The Handmaid’s Tale). But I was familiar with her poetry. I had also liked the…
When he read my recent review on Fitzgerald’s Tender is the night, John Mills (photo below) said he would like to write a review piece himself. As one thing led to another, the FRIDAY NIGHT (re)VIEWERS. We open today a new category on this website, where my book loving friends will publish reviews about their favourite, or…
You ride the wind with Zakalwe – across galaxies. And you almost die with him every time. It’s difficult to keep count how many times. Then you wonder if this is where The Culture finally fails to get him out of hell this time. As you grow fond of this soldier and his backwards…
Over dinner on offer at Cafe Rouge a few weeks ago, I was talking to my poet friend John Mills about the book I had just finished at the time. Re-reading Tender is the night, first time in English, I decided it still is my favourite of Fitzgerald‘s work. Also, more importantly, neither I, nor my…
If I were to choose one thing to define Star Trek – Next Generation by, I wouldn’t hesitate. What, or better said, who else could it be other than the one character who held the news in August 2018 with his return? Obviously, I’m talking about Captain Jean-Luc Picard. As I have already confessed in…
Do you remember your favourite book character as a toddler? And what genre the book was? Even children’s books go by genres, and mine was a particular mix of interstellar fantasy. From there, my sci-fi history just carried on, naturally. Titled The Little Fire Horse (I mention it in my childhood memoirs fragment here),…
Since the Star Trek convention at the NEC Birmingham, last month, I meant to write about the evolution of sci-fi series as I have experienced it. I became as a fan of Next Generation right after the fall of communism in Romania, in 1989. And in recent years I caught up with most of the other big…
When Ant-Man and The Wasp ended, I realised what I liked most about this series. This atypical superhero makes the sweetest, most innocent and heart warming movies. But the second part sets a special twist on the scene. If you have already watched it, you know what I am talking about. If you haven’t, I won’t spoil…
I have known doctors and hospitals since the age of 1 year and 10 months, due to asthma and severe bronchitis. My memory keeps no record of the first prolonged stay in the Children’s Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. But I clearly remember the mixture of disappointment with resignation when I felt life draining out of…
Already a fan of Emir Kusturica‘s movies since Arizona Dream, I kept Time of the Gypsies (1988) on my must-watch list for years. Circumstances made so that I only recently watched it. With a big liking for the soundtrack music by another Serbian artist, Goran Bregovic, by the music videos I anticipated a sad ending. I can tell you now how…
