I do enjoy Elizabeth Strout’s writing, it draws you in to visit with these complex characters, spend a bit of time with them and their lives and then ultimately just leave them to it. I’m not entirely convinced by this one though - the village characters just weren’t that enticing, quite mean, and our main guy was a bit of a wet blanket (okay, a widower so with good reason, but I sort of didn’t care one way or the other what happened). Good writing but the setting didn’t grab me this time.

Oof, I thought this was going to be so much better than it was. Fight For This Love is such a banger, but the rest of the album pales in comparison. There is far too much Will.I.Am on this, Cheryl doesn’t get much chance to stamp her own personality on it. I love cheesy pop but this is just bad pop, production is poor and it is so repetitive. Make Me Cry, well it nearly made me cry there was so much repetition. A couple of good tracks but this is well left in the past.

I love Erasure and I love a lot of what Vince Clarke does, but what would I think of Andy Bell doing his own stuff? Well, not to worry, it’s very similar to the Erasure vibe. First listen through, I wasn’t really sure - it was fine but not special. Second listen through I was really starting to get into it, so maybe will take a few more listens and it’ll become a favourite. Good work, except the final track. We all could have done without that one.

I loved this James Bond extended series book, picking up from where previous original novels have left off. It felt very authentic, with a sort of cool, calm progression of the plot, the unruffable Bond doing what he does best, even when injured, mind-controlled, or pondering his future. The plot was fascinating, a sort of ‘what if’ situation where Bond ends up going undercover in Russia. A great read, another excellent work by Horowitz.

I know it’s a little bit troubling to be on the side of a serial killer, but I do so love that we are reading fresh and realistic thoughts from an angry young woman. Usually these characters are male, so it’s great to read the developments in Sweetpea’s life, particularly how she deals with pregnancy and everything that comes afterwards. It took me a minute to get into this again, having loved the last one and needing to pick up the threads again, but it soon came roaring back and the story went down very well. Definitely keen to continue this series and see what happens next.

This felt like a fresh start for the Ryan series, after the horrors of the prequel story in the last book and all the dangling threads that have been wrapped up recently. This time we have a new case to investigate, and it involves murder, the circus, a vulnerable girl, a surprisingly vivid memory, and lots to work through emotionally at the same time. I really enjoyed it, and can’t believe what a cliffhanger we have been left on. Will have to read the next book in double quick time to see what happens to our missing colleague.

Another prequel story for Jack Reacher, going back to his military days and plunging him into a top secret mission. This one felt a bit different as we followed Reacher trying to unravel the mystery and gradually figuring out what was going on after a few dead ends. It was great to have some of the band back together - always enjoy it when Neagley is playing a major part in things. I love that it was basically a paperwork issue that has almost brought down the entire world, but luckily Reacher figures it out in time and saves the day - hooray!

I like the main Jamiroquai songs, the first couple of tracks on this album are great. But I suppose I should have been concerned when the band’s genre is listed as ‘acid jazz and funk’ - that doesn’t really sound like something I’d enjoy. Actually, the album isn’t too bad, the songs that are actual songs are good, but there’s a couple of instrumentals in there that are built around a didgeridoo and that’s where you start to lose me. Overall, it wasn’t as bad as I feared, but I’ll stick to the singles in future.

The first track on this album is really good which put me in a hopeful frame of mind for the rest of it. It’s good, but I don’t know that it’s particularly stand-out, just one of those good country albums that you could pop on at any point and enjoy but without being hugely memorable. The last track I think is one of those that could get stuck in your head if you let it, but thankfully that didn’t last too long for me!

I wanted to see this play with Jodie Comer when it toured but the tickets sold out very quickly. So I have settled for the book (written as an adaptation of the play by the same author) and gone for the audiobook read by Comer anyway. It’s surely the next best thing. It was such a good story, well written, well read, completely engaging, and of course, enraging. I like that the ending is realistic and disappointing but also somewhat hopeful, it’s really well done.

There are weird things about this film. The fact that Mark Wahlberg is the only face on the posters and yet is not really a main character and spends most of the movie unconscious and tied up. The very cheap shot-making and choices (which aren’t all bad, the contained space ramps up the pressure, but some of the outside visuals are questionable). The pacing of the film is also hit and miss, bursts of action and then quite long periods of just trying to contact ATC or look at the mountains. It’s an odd one, not all bad, but you’re not missing anything if you choose not to watch.

Wow, I knew the basics of this story and obviously the prom dress covered in red pig’s blood is an iconic image, but I didn’t know the details and was keen to give this one a read. It’s pretty brutal, the bullying is so harsh, but Carrie’s own mother makes her life a living hell too so it’s hardly surprising things go south so quickly. I can’t believe this is King’s first full length novel, it’s completely engaging and thoughtful and ultimately terrifying in many different ways.

The hints of this story were started towards the end of the previous one, and so I knew we were going to be focusing in on Eloise and her epistolary relationship with Sir Philip. Now that Lady Whistledown has finished, we have Eloise’s notes and letters as the chapter openings, she does so love to write. I enjoyed this story, the growing relationship between the two, the thawing of the children, the understanding of what has gone before and how it has repercussions now. A good Bridgerton read.

This one was a companionless Doctor story, so he was wandering around feeling a bit lonely before getting caught up in plot on a futuristic planet. There’s a fortress and a mystery, and some weird ‘repopulating the planet’ moments, and lots of talk about eyes. I don’t think this story lives up to some of the more recent ones, and the lack of companion makes it a bit less effecting, but it’s an okay read. On to the next!

Michael Crichton’s early thrillers are super quick and easy reads which go down very well, and although they may not have been his proudest moments, I still really enjoyed them. This one was focused on tomb robbing in Egypt, so had some interesting ideas about the legality and ethical behaviours within. There were some heart-stopping moments, too, when he got trapped in the tomb, oof. I couldn’t see how this story was going to come to a satisfying ending but of course, I should have trusted in the author as it was a fantastic read with a great finale.

I really enjoyed this book in the Doctor Who series. For this adventure, we are joined by Donna and her family, who are always good value, especially Wilf. The audiobook was read by Bernard Cribbens so it was lovely to hear his voice doing the beloved character again. For the plot, it’s not the first time that we’ve had aliens abusing the human obsession with technology, but I thought there was a great additional dimension with one of the characters having dementia and how that played out towards the end. A good read.

I must admit to some trepidation going into this movie as I’d heard mixed reviews, but it’s Paddington so it has to be a must watch. I should have listened! It was broadly entertaining but the real beating heart of Paddington was stripped away. What we love about this bear is him navigating situations in London that we know well but are new and confusing to him. The Brown family come to the rescue and all is well in the world. This time, there was barely any London, none of the familiar neighbours and characters we love (so little Mr Gruber, sob!) And the family get separated throughout Peru where all of them are outside their comfort zone. And what was going on with Antonio Banderas and his ancestors? Weird nonsense and best avoided.

Bat Out of Hell: The Musical was on my list as a must-watch so when the UK tour rocked up nearby earlier in the year, I couldn’t help but snap up tickets. Part of me wondered whether it was going to be too similar to We Will Rock You, an absolute staple in my musicals collection. It has that vibe about it, dystopian rock and roll, a jukebox musical of great rock from decades past, and some grungey characters leading the way. But it definitely was different and held its own.

I love a music quiz and The Hit List provides a lively boost of music and energy on a Saturday night. The scheduling of this show confuses me but every now and then a celebrity special pops up, and this past weekend was exactly that. Harry from McFly, some people from morning TV and yay, two Gladiators. Now, there were plenty of questions raised by this appearance - why those two Gladiators in particular? How much music are they going to know? And more than anything, why did they come in their Gladiator outfits??

After another dip in the series with Personal, the last book, this one is back to form. Reacher does what he does best - wind up in a very small town in the heart of the US and find a big mystery to unravel. This one goes in surprising directions, too, as it’s not about big political gains or war-mongering or anything like that. There’s science, journalism, and end of life discussions on the table, although of course the nefarious plot behind it all is horrifying and disgusting. And there’s a beautiful woman along the way for Reacher to help out and get involved in. Classic.

I picked up this game in a Playstation sale and then as it was Star Wars Day, figured it was exactly the right time to dive in and play. I’d forgotten that the LEGO version of Star Wars has its own style of humour (have previously tried watching some of the animations and not particularly enjoyed them) but it only took a minute to adapt to. In the game it’s not so irritating!

I am, obviously, a huge Queen fan, but when it comes to full albums, it can be a bit hit and miss whether I like them or not. This one was a big hit. There’s the tracks that you know but they’re surrounded by excellent pop rock songs and veering towards rock opera, in fact the genres are quite varied. Freddie’s vocals lead the way, with Roger popping up occasionally, and you can hear the four of them pulling their weight and working together to create this epic album. A winner for me.

This is a great album from Sterephonics, packing a punch right from the beginning. You know what you’re getting with Sterephonics, good tunes, strong guitar work and that iconic voice. I think the album trails off a little towards the end but it’s so short there’s not really time for it to drop off a cliff, so the whole thing is definitely worth a listen.

I’ve ended up with mixed feelings about this one. It’s very, very readable, you’re sort of eating up the words as you go along and I really enjoyed the process of devouring it. But I’m not totally sold on the story. The initial concept of sort of accidentally winding up as a housekeeper and then sticking with it isn’t that credible but if you suspend your disbelief you can go with it. But as things start unravelling, I don’t really understand why no one poses the idea of, maybe, as out there as it is, becoming a lawyer in the country? Not having big city pressures but still doing the job you love? Maybe that’s where they end up once they get off the railway platform, but the either/or stakes of it just didn’t ring true for me.

Just like the first film, this is so stupid but so much fun. It’s not a smart, clever, must watch movie, you have to disconnect your brain in order to get the best from it. But if you’re looking for some mindless bumbling action in which two bickering spouses somehow manage to solve a kidnapping and murder mystery, more by accident than judgement, then you’re in the right place. Aniston and Sandler continue to work well together and it’s nice we have a cast of returning and new characaters to get to know. Nonsense but a lot of fun.

After the whirlwind that was watching Adolescence, it seemed sensible to go back to one of Stephen Graham’s earlier works, also focusing in on one-shot takes and the huge pressure of confined circumstances. This is technically very good, the acting is fab, and the stress and tension is there for everyone to see. As a piece of art, I think it’s really well done and I can see why it got a spin off series and whetted Graham’s appetite for the one shot wonder. But as a movie, a film, an entertaining piece of work, I’m not so sure this works for me. There’s so much not said and left unresolved that it’s more frustrating than anything else.

This was so good. These Doctor Who books can be really hit or miss, or if we’re being honest, quite middle of the road, but this one was so good. This follows Martha on that year where she has to travel the world and spread the word of the Doctor in order to save humanity. Even though it’s a Doctor-lite story (there are four mini stories scattered throughout to get your fix of the time traveller, but this is really about Martha), it’s really captivating and well done - to understand how humanity deals with this situation when he’s not there, to see how one person really can make a difference, it’s just a great read.

Even more proof that Paddington is firmly in the modern age, as our favourite London-based bear gets tangled up in the Olympics coming to the city. The idea of Paddington going through a training programme is hilarious, and I love the conversations he has where he misconstrues every question, and ends up being mistaken for a famous pole vaulter. There’s also hints here of the idea that one day Paddington might outgrow his family, which is, of course, sad and impossible - who else would be able to keep him out of trouble? - but an interesting concept to ponder.

We’re back to a story that has been adapted into the television series, with Colin and Penelope having their turn in the spotlight. I enjoyed recognising scenes in my head - her overhearing him saying he wouldn’t marry her, and of course the infamous coach scene. But there’s lots in there that are more impacting in the book. His deep desire to have achieved something noteworthy, her real connection to writing in all its forms. The yellow dresses are there, and the love story we know, and it’s also fun to see little hints from the characters we’ve already married off. Daphne and Kate get significant mentions, and it’s obvious we’re gearing up to something for Eloise too. More, please!

I recently wrote about my clampdown on spending when it comes to streaming services, but I haven’t been lacking in the television department. Most of these were available on ’terrestrial’ streamers, and a great variety there has been too! Paradise I just managed to squeeze this in before my Disney+ plan lapsed, and it was really good. The twist at the end of the first episode is up there with that big LOST reveal, and it obviously speaks to the bunker fan in me. Some of the episodes in the middle felt like they lost their way a little bit but the penultimate episode featuring the build up to the big evacuation was incredible. Definitely worth a watch.

This is my first Miss Marple and actually, aside from knowing the name as a cultural reference point, I don’t really know much about her and her mystery-solving. I was surprised that she’s not really front and centre in this story, but more of a side character, and even though she does get heavily involved in solving the mystery, she’s really not in the book that much. It’s an interesting plot though, another of those Christie books with far too many suspects and layers of twisting intrigue to wade through. I enjoyed it, and am interested to read more Marple and see if she actually gets to take centre stage at any point!

I’m always in awe of people who can write comedy songs. It seems like some kind of magic trick to me to be able to write a song anyway, to then add a layer of comedy on top is a great skill. Victoria Wood is the legend at it, but there have been many more since that also come up with hilarious works. Flo & Joan, two dead-pan sisters, have carved quite a path in the comedy singing track, and this one is brilliant.

I’m a big fan of Anthony Horowitz’s own writing, particularly some of his more meta works, and I’ve been fond of James Bond in the past too, so combining these two things seemed like a great idea. It actually is a really good book but it surprised me and took some getting used to. Horowitz has really leaned in to the Bond fiction genre, that quiet, calculating, slowly making progress through the plot style and it’s very affecting. It’s an interesting story with consequences that gradually get higher and higher, the boat and everything that happens there was very visceral. A good book!

As I mentioned in my previous post about streaming services, it was the furore around Adolescence that made me sign back up to Netflix. I was managing to ignore the babble about most shows on the network, but this one just couldn’t be let go. As soon as I started watching it, I could see why there was such a fuss - it is absolute television gold.

I, like many, adore the Jurassic Park films - particularly the original, and with slightly less gusto the new series. I’ve never played a Jurassic Park game though, and it felt like it was about time I rectified that. I love a park building style simulation, so this seemed to tick all the boxes, and was in a Playstation sale. Win-win!

Something slightly odd has happened with the two Tomb Raider remastered bundles, in that I am deliberately playing through all the games in the second bundle (Last Revelation, Chronicles, Angel of Darkness), whilst the first one still remains mostly unplayed and unreviewed. I’ll get back to it, of course, but it’s quite unlike me not to have to start at the beginning of something. Anyway, having left Lara buried in a tomb in Egypt, I was interested to see what this game had in store, as it’s format is quite different to any other in the Tomb Raider canon.

I’ve been aware of the Skate City games as they’ve been around a while and are something of a classic. But skateboarding isn’t necessarily something I’m that bothered about. I did enjoy watching it in the Olympics but it’s never shouted at me as a good gaming experience, as much as Tony Hawk might want it to. However, an Apple Arcade game is always a good opportunity to try something you might not otherwise, as there are no downsides!

I don’t remember specifically why I downloaded this game but it’s one of those that often appears in the top lists of free games, and it’s also one of those tycoon style hotel games, which do appeal to me. It’s ad supported which would usually be a turn off but for some reason the forced ads never showed for me, only those ones that you can opt into to get helpful rewards, which made playing it more pleasant than it otherwise would have been.

I’ve been trying to keep an eye on what comes out on Apple Arcade each month and there’s a good variety of games, some of which grab me and some of which really don’t. This one looked cute, and seeing as it’s free if you’re an Arcade subscriber, there’s no harm in giving it a go. I don’t really know much about sticker collections and that kind of thing but dived right in.

As is becoming tradition with these classic album selections, this one was prompted by an appearance from the artist on 1997’s Top of the Pops. I can hear that these songs are slightly softer than traditional Bon Jovi rock, but it’s not that far removed in this solo album. It’s good, a couple of banging songs to start with, and then it gets a bit drawn out in the middle. It’s an hour long, and felt quite long towards the end, but there’s nothing specifically bad about it and the songs are easy to lsiten to and get into your soul just a little bit.

I loved this. I’m a big fan of synth pop anyway, and it’s nice to have it firmly in modern music and not just consigned to be an 80s thing. This is synth pop done really well, not going too grungey or chaotic. It’s reminiscent of Charli XCX in places, but where Charli tends to push it too far for my tastes, IDER have it spot on. There are great harmonies between the two voices and the topics cover quite a range of feminism and tricky subjects, but it’s all very listenable and one for the favourites pile.

I was fully expecting this to be a twenty minute rule movie, becuase, you know it’s Netflix, but the service was pushing it quite hard and figured it was a good idea to watch it while I still have an active subscription. Oh man, I loved it. It got off to a slow start and I was still convinced it was being switched off but once we got to the twenty minutes, the challenge was in place, I had to see what happened.

One of my goals for this year is to spend less on streaming services. I’ve mentioned it a few times in posts over the last 12 months or so but it has became a real focus for 2025. I totted up how much I’d spent on streaming services in 2024 and whilst it wasn’t a completely extortionate number, it was more than I was comfortable with considering there are only so many hours in the day for watching television… even at x2 speed.

This is such a good book, following Ed Stafford’s journey from one end of the famous river to the other through miles of challenging territory: jungles, locals, wildlife and just endless dangers. The story is well told, a good focus on the challenges whilst also remembering the good times, being open about the mental health side of it and honest about the author’s own mistakes and downfalls. It gets, perhaps, a little repetitive in the final third, which is probably quite representative of the walk itself, and of course it ends very abruptly as the river does, so also a very fair book. A good adventure read, and quite eye-opening about an area of the world I don’t know very much about.

This was probably one of the weaker Reacher stories in the series. The characters weren’t entirely memorable, and the story about an old sniper coming back and making it personal felt a bit far-fetched, even in Reacher’s world. I didn’t like the character of Casey Nice, but I did think it interesting seeing Reacher work with someone who wasn’t entirely kick-ass, who was still learning and growing and had anxiety and stuff. Interesting in places, but I think we’ll just move swiftly on from this one.

I wasn’t so keen on this story. There were definitely some interesting ideas at the heart of it - particularly how fickle or unsubstantiated cults can be, and of course a big focus on the differences and similarities between machines and people. Where does humanity start and end? But I don’t believe Donna would be the way she was portrayed in this, maybe a little to start with but with such coherent arguments and such a big heart, her attitude felt very out of character. Oh well, onto the next.

This was a good story in the Saxon series, which so far has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, this one veered towards the good, thankfully. There were lots of oathes being sworn this way and that, political allegiences being made and broken. It’s always good when Uhtred is reunited with old friends, and this time we were facing off a scary new enemy - I like that she was a powerful woman, although the witchy element wasn’t ideal. Still, a good read.

I previously sheepishly confessed to purchasing a Le Creuset casserole pan and I’m sure you can imagine it gets far less use than it should do. However, I was so impressed with it at the time that I also purchased a deep frying pan by the same maker and it was also excellent… that one definitely gets used on an almost daily basis.

This wasn’t a particularly good movie, but I quite like that it leaned into its flaws and just got on with it - there’s no pretending not to be ripping off the Agatha Christie style murder mystery, particularly when gathering everyone at the end of the piece to reveal whodunit. But it does have its own spin and fun moments, particularly as during that ‘big reveal’ they didn’t actually know who had done it!

I’ve let my work/life balance get very out of alignment recently, and have quite a lot of catching up to do here on mrschristine.com. However, while I get my act together, I thought it was worth sharing five things that have been keeping me going over the last couple of months where otherwise I may have run screaming for the hills.