Friday Favourites for April: Books, TV, Podcasts

 

Dear friends. Here we are again - ready for the round-up of TV, books and podcasts consumed in April. Let's start with TV.

Friday Favourites: Books, TV, Podcasts: October Edition

 

Dear friends -welcome to the October edition of Friday Favourites, my round-up of books, podcasts and TV.  It was a much better month for new TV shows.  Autumn always has a positive effect on the schedules.  Let's start first with television, and two of Apple TV's big bets. 

TV SHOWS

Invasion (Apple TV)

Oooh I thought:  an alien invasion, and Sam Neill! But we're four episodes in, and not one glimpse of an alien.  Instead, the drama focuses on individual people and families, and the real-time effects of the invasion on them.  All we know about the invasion so far is that strange things are happening.  Sam Neill, a sheriff about to retire in episode 1, was sucked into a strange hole in the middle of a corn field.  A bus load of British school children  careered across a field and haven't been seen by us since.  A Japanese astronaut went into space, and her communications director, and girlfriend, pictured, mourned when the space ship disappeared.

So all very mysterious, but a bit ponderous too.  I'm finding it hard to engage with the characters - the few that are constant. We've seen one family in each episode:  the husband has been cheating on his wife with an Instagram cookery "influencer." He wants to leave his family, and comes across as spineless and weak. The two children are very whiny. I have high hopes for the wife, played by Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani, as she seems resourceful and spirited. 

It looks as if many stars are taking part in the series, including Kim Cattrall and Elizabeth Moss.

Foundation (Apple TV)

At least Invasion has promise.  The same cannot be said for the gloom fest that is Foundation. It takes itself very seriously. 

We're still persevering, but I've long forgotten the original premise, spelled out in episode 1.  I don't blame Jared Harris for bailing after one episode. Nobody smiles in Foundation. There aren't even any aliens to speak of, just angry people on planets which seem to have no natural resources, yet the people have been there for decades. 

Maid (Netflix)

Maid is a mini series about the plight of a young woman who leaves her drunken boyfriend and tries to go it alone with their three year old daughter.  It's a disturbing tale of how little state support there is for a woman like Alex.  Things start to get a bit better for her but she's repeatedly let down by her bipolar mother, played by Andie MacDowell. Her father, who has a new family, offers help, but Alex is triggered by an incident when she's cleaning the house of a runaway who was badly treated by his mother. She remembers she and her mother fleeing from her father several years ago.  It's an engrossing true story.  We root for Alex all the way and despair when she makes naive decisions.

Cobra  (Sky)

Brits are well familiar with the term "Cobra" by now, which is the Government's emergency committee convened to deal with crises like Covid.  Boris Johnson famously missed several meetings of Cobra early on in the pandemic because he was writing a book about the Romans. 

In Sky's Cobra, now in its second series, the Prime Minister is Robert Sutherland, played by Robert Carlyle. His Downing Street Chief of Staff is played by Victoria Hamilton with a snappy pixie cut and good tailoring. If Boris thought he was under siege with a pandemic, Sutherland has it in spades with cyber attacks and 300 people killed after a solar flare. Not to mention problems in his personal life.

The government's harried intelligence chief, Eleanor James (Lisa Palfrey) doesn't seem to have a clue who's behind it all. It could be the Russians, Chinese or Americans. My money's on the Americans, who were the villains in the recent drama Vigil, and seem to be the current scapegoats in UK dramas. 

Cobra is an ambitious drama but sometimes it's very implausible. Big moments with special effects are done on the cheap. Some of the actors are far too hammy and cliched, like David Haig, who plays the villainous newly appointed Foreign Secretary. Mr Mutton and I were both engaging with our phones during the most recent episode, which speaks volumes. 

Family Business (Netflix)

If you're pining for Call My Agent, the wonderful French comedy drama series, you might want to try Family Business. There's a familiar face in the form of Arlette, who plays the family's matriarch.  Now in its second series, this is the story of a family who unwittingly get into cannabis production after their butchery business fails.  It's not quite as funny CMA, but is a nice little amuse bouche. 

Shetland  (BBC)

We only discovered Shetland recently: it's now back in series 6.  I wonder how such a small place can generate so much crime, but we always said that about Midsomer Murders. Shetland is a non-flashy crime series, based on the novels of Anne Cleeves. It's got characters we can invest in, good acting and spectacular scenery.

The Long Call (ITV)

ITV's new four-part crime drama this week also had spectacular scenery, and was also based on a book by Anne Cleeves. It was set in North Devon, and the cinematography was stunning with lots of back lighting and bokeh. 

The drama focuses on Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, who has returned to live in a small community in North Devon with his husband. It’s a place Matthew walked away from 20 years ago, after being rejected by his family who are part of the area’s Barum Brethren community.  His mother is Juliet Stevenson who delivers a tour de force performance in her Brethren headscarf. As you might expect, this a community rife with secrets and lies - and a couple of murders. 

 We have yet to watch episode four but I'm told Anita Dobson, (pictured), who's unrecognizable as the downtrodden wife of Brethen leader Dennis (Martin Shaw), steals the show.

Books

Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt

Ruth brings up Lily after her drug addict daughter Eleanor can't, or won't. It's a short novel, beautifully written, poignant and wistful.  Near the end Lily takes over as narrator - I won't explain why - which seemed abrupt and left me wishing I knew how Ruth felt about a significant development in her life, when she had shared so much in the book. The title "Loved and Missed" refers to a scene in the book where this is an inscription on a grave, and Ruth muses that maybe it meant the person tried to love, but didn't succeed. 

This Much is True, Miriam Margolyes

Actor Miriam Margolyes is always outrageous when she's interviewed for TV and radio. I've often thought it's an act that she puts on to attract attention. At the beginning of her autobiography, she more or less agrees with this, and says she hopes the book will show a more considered, deeper Miriam.  

Various reviews talk about hilarious anecdotes, hilarious stories and eye popping candor. To be honest, I didn't experience that and maybe expected more. 

Miriam was a much loved only child, and doted on by her parents. They were a tight unit.  She says not a day goes by when she doesn't think of Mummy. I felt that Miriam has never escaped that precious little girl.  A lot of the book is devoted to her memories of school, with teachers described in great detail. She often talks about meeting people, hitting it off immediately, and becoming friends with them for life. She's very lucky if this is true.  I couldn't help thinking she had inordinate pride in her ability to collect people. 

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

My goodness this was hard work.  This most recent novel by Sally Rooney was acclaimed by most critics, but in Amazon reviews just 38% said it was excellent.  It tells the story of four people, and there are lots of emails between the two main characters where they endlessly debate the meaning of life and the beauty of nature.  Unlike Normal People, which had realism, sweetness and honesty, this just seems pretentious and dull. 

The Unheard by Nicci French

The excellent crime writing duo have come up with something quite different. When three year old Poppy produces a macabre painting, her mother, who's split up with Poppy's father, hears alarm bells. The picture appears to show a woman falling. Is it based on truth?  Did Poppy witness a crime?  Police and her ex-husband think Tess is delusional.  It was a bit slow but eventually the story began to gather pace. 

Podcast Reviews

British Scandal (Wondery)

I thoroughly enjoy this series, which has dissected a few recent, and not so recent, scandals including The Litvinenko Affair, The Murdoch Phone Hacking, which brought about the end of the News of the World newspaper, and The Profumo Affair. Mostly recently, The Canoe Con has held me agog. I remember the story well:  beset by financial problems, John Darwin decided to stage his own death to collect the insurance money.  He and his wife fled to Panama and started a new life.  

What I'd forgotten was that when John Darwin "disappeared" on a kayak trip, his wife was waiting at the next bay to pick him up, and he spent the night in a bed and breakfast watching news of his disappearance on TV and the massive search that ensued.  He then had to live like a fugitive in their boarding house, hiding in the attic whenever police called. And his research had been flawed, because when his wife tried to claim on the insurance, she was told there would be no pay out without a body.

It's an amazing story and one that will soon be told in a film.  

What makes the series so entertaining is the way it's presented by Alice Levine and Matt Forde. Their badinage is a joy to behold, not in the least cringe-city as it is with most double-handed podcasts. Don't miss the last episode, where they interview the chief investigating officer about the Darwins' crimes.  He has a dry North East sense of humour, a wonderful laugh, and it's just a delight.  

British Scandal is going into the Is This Mutton Podcast Hall of Fame.  See my other podcast recommendations here. 

The Liz Earle Podcast

Liz Earle sold her eponymous beauty company many years ago and has since become a serious commentator on women's health and well being.  She has a website and a very good podcast. The podcast talks about latest evidence-based developments on topics including the menopause, women taking testosterone; how to have better sleep; cruelty-free beauty, depression, immunity and so on.  Her experts are all well known, and often the facts they discuss are astonishing. The only annoying things about it are the cheesy intro music  (teeth on edge!) and the unpredictable audio quality. The ads are always much louder than the podcast speakers. 

Sharing this post with #Linkupontheedge at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings,Rena at Fine Whatever, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette  

That's it for this month's bumper edition.  As always, love to hear your views and recommendations in the comments. 

FOR MORE MUTTON

Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter and Instagram.

Friday Favourites: August 2021: Vigil, Underbelly, Fearne Cotton and Many More

Dear friends - welcome to Friday Favourites, my roundup of podcasts, TV and books in August. Once again I found TV a bit underwhelming, although it perked up later in August with The Chair and Vigil. But let's start with books.  This time I'm scoring the books read on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being utterly amazing. 

Friday Favourites, July: Books, Podcasts

 

Greetings all and welcome to the July edition of book, TV and podcast reviews. Hardly any TV again, but not for want of trying. There's just nothing new that's floating my particular boat. But I know most of you like the book reviews best, so let's launch into them.

Friday Favourites, June: Podcasts, TV, Books

 

Greetings all. Here I am with my round-up of last month's entertainment.  I read quite a few books, probably because TV was a bit dire and there are no podcasts really commanding my attention at the moment.  As always, love to see your recommendations for what I missed, in the comments. 

BOOK ROUND-UP

The Golden Rule, Amanda Craig

My expectations weren't too high when I read the story outline.  HOWEVER.  The book is very powerful in terms of the anger it expresses:  anger at the rich poor divide in the UK;  anger at Brexit;  anger on behalf of "Generation Rent" who can't buy houses, and most of all, anger on behalf of women who get sucked into useless marriages and then cast aside, having to fight their ex's for money to survive. 

Hannah's career starts off promisingly - she's at an ad agency, and married to old-money mummy's boy Jake, whom she met at university. They have a daughter. But we learn she was sexually harassed by senior males at work. When her marriage to Jake ends, she finds it hard to make ends meet and works as a cleaner so she can support their daughter, with Jake often forgetting to pay for the rent. 

On a train to Penzance, to visit her mother who is dying, she is enticed into a First Class carriage where she talks to glamorous stranger Jinni.  They hatch a plot to kill each other's husbands. This sounded a bit ludicrous, and even more so when Hannah went straightaway to the house where Jinni's husband is supposed to be living.  

It felt a bit like a book in two halves which could have been written by two different people.  A lot of anger in the first half, where Hannah's situation appeared utterly hopeless. And then in the second half,  things pick up for Hannah in unexpected ways.  There's a slight reversal in the viewpoint that all men are bad, as we learn that some women marry for reasons not always connected to love  (surprise surprise), and can be equally as bad when marriages end. I'm not sure it paints the picture of the resilience of women, as the blurb claims, because Hannah's good fortune seems to stem from gifts rather than her own endeavours.  An intriguing and engrossing read.

The Other Black Girl, Zakiya Dalila Harris 

When you're the only black girl in the office, and routinely exposed to micro aggressions and micro inequities, seeing another black girl recruited can only be a good thing, surely?  Not necessarily in this best seller, which is part office satire, part thriller. Its pace was a bit slow because it wasn't always apparent that new girl Hazel's game was to constantly undermine Nella. Other characters were introduced early on and given their own sub plot, and it wasn't clear until near the end what their relevance was.  But it kept me turning the pages even if I did feel a little short changed at the ending.

Lives Like Mine, Eva Verde

Set in London, we meet a dual-heritage mother who's struggling with her racist in-laws and not getting any support from her husband. Monica is estranged from her parents and her children have never met their grandparents, despite them living not too far away. She starts an affair with Joe and through their relationship starts to tackle parts of her life which trouble her. Her husband's family are truly horrendous and their encounters with Monica are toe curling. I was screaming inwardly for Dan to stand up for his wife for once. A promising debut from Eva Verde.

Available, Laura Friedman-Williams

This is the true and unfiltered - definitely unfiltered  - account of a woman's adventures in online dating after her husband of 27 years dumped her.  After the initial shock, she starts trying dating apps and picking men up in bars.  She and her ex-husband undergo some counselling but it doesn't go anywhere because Friedman Williams is furious with him and blames him totally for going off with another woman. I did wonder if she would ever consider her own role in the marriage and ask herself if she had somehow contributed to the state of affairs? Her pursuit of men seems all-consuming. Maybe I'm being a Puritan but it seemed to be at the expense of her children.  It's an eye opener.

Both of You, Adele Parks

A new novel from Adele Parks is always an exciting event for me - I have been reading her books since she started, and they always offer an intriguing plot and thought-provoking dilemmas.  In Both of You, a woman goes missing. She sets off for work but never turns up.  Her husband and family are distraught.  Meanwhile, wealthy businessman Daan Janssen is also distraught that his wife Kai has disappeared into thin air.  As always, lots of twists and turns, and I galloped through it in breathless pursuit of the end.

Podcast Picks 

There are a few new releases but they're not floating my boat I'm afraid. Let's start with one of those because it's had a lot of hype:  

Edith! (QCode)

Edith! is a drama starring Rosamund Pike in the "true-ish" story of America's secret First Female President.  After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke, Edith Wilson did the unthinkable: she told no one, and for almost a year, acted as an unelected President.  It sounds like a gripping plot but a podcast either wins or loses you in the first few minutes, and I'm afraid this one lost me.

Jude the Obscure (BBC Sounds)

Much more enjoyable is the drama Jude the Obscure (BBC Sounds), one of my favourite novels, dramatized in three parts. I remember reading this novel, the last written by Thomas Hardy, many years ago and gasping at the horror and tragedy of what unfolded. 

Jude Fawley dreams of becoming an educated man, a scholar, and going to the famous city of Christminster (Oxford) to follow in the footsteps of his teacher Mr Phillotson. He marries publican's daughter Arabella which is a disaster.  Later he falls in love with his cousin Sue, who is briefly married to Phillotson.

Hardy was way ahead of his time as he ponders the nature of marriage, particularly for women.  He has Jude and Sue living together as man and wife without being married, very scandalous in the time of writing in 1896.  A fantastic adaptation.

British Scandal (Wondery) 

The subjects of the first two series's of this true life documentary series didn't interest me, the Litvinenko poisoning and The Sexed Up Dossier, about a controversy centred on the Iraq war. 

However, I'm finding the third series about The Murdoch Phone Hacking so entertaining that I may revisit the earlier programs. It's about the scandal of how British tabloid newspapers began tapping the phones of celebrities, the royal family, and even the phone of a schoolgirl who was murdered. The resulting furore led to the closure of one of Britain's top selling papers, The News of the World.

TV Picks

I only have one recommendation this month.  The Euro football championships were consuming a lot of our viewing hours but there was also a paucity of anything new and decent to watch.  We tried a good few programs including Sweet Tooth (Netflix), Trying (Apple TV), Home Before Dark (Apple TV)  and Ragnorok (Netflix) and others, but didn't get very far with them. 

Staying with the footballing frenzy we watched a film about football, The Bromley Boys. It was a pleasant watch about 70's non-league football, but not remarkable. I then had an urge to watch 2009's The Damned United (BBC iPlayer), about the greatest manager England never had, Brian Clough.  In a class of its own, as was Clough.  Lots of stars in it including Jim Broadbent, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, a young Stephen Graham as Billy Bremner, and a very young Martin Compston (Line of Duty) as Derby player John O'Hare. 

Clarkson's Farm (Prime)

This was the big hit of June for me, and a total surprise at that. I've always disliked Clarkson and his  misogynist petrol head persona.  But this series is laugh out loud funny. 

The premise of the series is that Clarkson, who has a vast farm in the Cotswolds, has to start farming himself when the tenant farmers move on. He buys the flashiest and biggest tractor possible, a Lamborghini, and has to be shown how to use it by a woman in the first of several put-downs. 

He is constantly the butt of jokes in the village and among the team of people helping him. Young  Kaleb, who's never been further than Banbury, has become an instant TV star.  I challenge anyone not to laugh their heads off at episode two, where Clarkson buys 72 "sheeps" including a couple of rams. 

Initially he uses a barking drone instead of a sheep dog, to save money, but the sheep aren't fooled for long.  Then they start to make bids for freedom.  They're so out of control he has to hire a shepherd (another woman), and is then chastised by one of his experts for making a huge loss on his sheep farming enterprise. 

Clarkson is made to look a prize buffoon but he comes out of it OK. It was very educational too - I learnt so much about some of the principles of farming, and the challenges posed by the weather and other hazards. Highly recommended.

That's it for June, do share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments.

Sharing this post with #TheWeekendLinkUp at Claire Justine, #LinkupOnTheEdge  at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings,  Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, Rena at Fine Whatever 

Friday Favourites: TV, Books, Podcasts - May Edition 2021

 

Welcome to the May round-up of this month's favourite podcasts, TV and books. It's a bumper edition because with Mr Mutton off on his two week bike ride, I have had full control over the remote control.  

Friday Favourites: Books, Podcasts, TV - April Edition

It's the last Friday of the month and time for my round-up of books, films, TV and podcasts. Which podcast will be added to the Is This Mutton Hall of Fame?

Friday Favourites: TV, Books, Podcasts - February Edition

 
It's the monthly round-up of TV, book and podcast reviews.  I didn't necessarily like all of them - but you can always count on me for being honest and objective!  Without further ado....

Friday Favourites: TV, Podcasts, Books - January edition

 

I'm back with Is This Mutton's monthly round-up of reading, listening and viewing.  In the last few weeks it's been a bit of a desert on TV. There are hundreds of TV programmes to choose from, but very few are worth spending time on. Fortunately January has picked up considerably.

Without  further ado, let's look at my latest TV recommendations.

Friday Favourites: Podcasts, Books, TV - November Edition

Welcome to the monthly edition of Friday Favourites.  There's a feast of podcasts as the top providers launch new seasons and new variations. I promise a very eclectic line-up today with some books and TV choices too. 

Podcast Heaven

Late autumn is when the established podcast providers bring out their new series.  Unlike the TV world, podcasting is largely unaffected by Covid, so standards and quality remain high.

The new seasons I'm feasting on: 

Dr Death from Wondery:  this is an excellent documentary series with season 2 focused on the medical malpractice of one Dr Farid Fata.  This seemingly highly respected haematologist masterminded one of the biggest health care frauds in American history.  Jaw dropping.

If you missed season 1, start with the story of former neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, whose gross malpractice resulted in the death and maiming of 33 patients while working at hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

Dr Joan and Jericha: the redoubtable duo have reached season 3, and I'm a little disappointed so far. Long adverts and not so much of their hilarious "advice". Outrageous and not for the faint hearted.

Postcards from Midlife:  Trish Halpin and Lorraine Candy are back with season 3 and a sparkling start with the wonderful Trinny Woodall and her guide to everyday glamour. They've still got the same cheesy music unfortunately.

New Podcasts

You take your baby to hospital after he suffers a shock fall in the garden and suddenly your life is turned upside down with both of your children taken from you. This is a true story and it's frightening because even a second expert opinion wouldn't change the minds of a social services team determined to protect two children from their parents, even having secret court hearings which the parents knew nothing about.  Do No Harm from Wondery.

Hunting Ghislaine: (LBC) -  the fall from grace of  pampered princess and Daddy's girl Ghislaine Maxwell, who's in the news this week for complaining about being treated badly at the detention centre where she awaits trial. She is woken every 15 minutes by a flashlight in her face to check she is still breathing.Suicide was allegedly the fate which befell her best friend, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

It's a documentary with episode 1 going into Ghislaine's background and her father's misdemeanours,  I did question some of the unattributed statements. We're told Ghislaine was largely ignored as a child and told her mother, age three, "I exist."  She apparently became anorectic at a very young age.  Who said? How do we know? But it's an interesting tale for our times and I'll keep tuning in. 

Tracks: Abyss:  Tracks is an award-winning conspiracy thriller from BBC Radio 4  by Matthew Broughton. It first started in 2016. I loved the first series which started with a plane crash and the death of an eminent surgeon who was the long lost father of the series's heroine, Helen Ash. 

I've become less enthusiastic with each new series because the story has got so hugely convoluted.  I wouldn't know where to start to try to describe the plot. I started the latest, and final, series with sore misgivings.  Helen has nine months to live, has split from her (very irritating) husband, and has suddenly had a vision of a shipwreck after being sent a mysterious email from her dead father. 

Before long she is reunited with the highly irritating husband and they're off exploring the origins of a YouTube video showing said shipwreck,  and talking to people who never seem to spit out their story before something happens to them. I will persevere because I want to understand if there's any ultimate outcome to the whole thing.

My Year in Mensa: Jamie Loftus (not sure who she is but US readers will know - probably an influencer or comedian) takes the Mensa IQ test and passes, which gives her access to a whole new strange world. She takes us to the Mensa convention where she's threatened and humiliated by angry Mensans, most of whom seem to be slightly unhinged (and Republican). And let's not get into the Facebook community, endorsed by Mensa, where comments are unmoderated and death threats are common. 

A podcast leads me to a book 

Medical Murders (Parcast) is a true crime podcast dedicated to doctors who broke the Hippocratic oath and did harm to their patients. I was fascinated by the two episodes dedicated to Walter Freeman, the "ice pick lobotomist." Freeman was a neurologist who, in the 1930s, became excited by the emerging technique of lobotomy. To get round the tricky problem of not being able to perform the operations himself, he invented a technique where he used a small pair of kitchen ice picks to gain access to patients' brains through their eye sockets.  The procedure took 10 minutes or less and he toured America, conducting hundreds of operations - including one on Rosemary Kennedy, aged 23. 

Rosemary was the eldest daughter of Francis and Rose Kennedy, parents of assassinated President John F Kennedy.  I am haunted by this photo of the young Rosemary on the cover of an excellent book, Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson.  

Rosemary,  the most attractive of the Kennedy sisters, was described as "mentally retarded" from a young age. We see examples of her letters and child-like handwriting, but while she had learning and behavioral difficulties, it's hard to justify the lobotomy and then banishment to an institution in Arizona, where Rosemary wasn't visited by any of her family for 20 years. The Kennedys were keen to keep her out of the public gaze, and after the failed lobotomy, it became even more important to hide her away. 

Rosemary was highly functioning enough to have been presented at court in England as a debutante.  Here she is on the right with her sisters Kathleen and Eunice.

But as she matured, she became erratic in mood and angry at being wrapped in cotton wool while her sisters were carving out successful lives. Her parents were concerned that she might be "taken advantage of" and her father spoke to Walter Freeman about his pioneering surgery. 

Rosemary's sister Kathleen (who tragically died in a plane crash aged 28) had already researched the procedure and told her mother it wasn't for Rosemary, but Joseph Kennedy went ahead anyway. His wife always denied all knowledge of it. Sadly the operation was a disaster and Rosemary was left physically handicapped. She died in the institution which had been her home for more than 40 years, aged 85.  It's a very sad story.  Her sister Eunice became an advocate for children's health and disability issues, creating the Special Olympics, although she always denied her inspiration was Rosemary.

Other books I've been reading

House of Correction by Nicci French

I used to enjoy the psychological thrillers written by this husband and wife team but found this one sorely lacking. A very unlikeable heroine returns to her childhood village and, in a story of prejudice and conspiracy, ends up being accused of murder.  She decides to conduct her own defence in court. We are kept in the dark until the very end about what her defence will actually be, because she can't remember what she was doing around the time the unpopular victim was murdered. I was annoyed I'd wasted a few hours reading this one.

Fifty-Fifty by  Steve Cavanagh 

A crime thriller about two sisters who accuse each other of murdering their father.  We follow their defence lawyers to trial and try to second guess which sister was responsible.  It kept me engrossed although I fully expected the ending.

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers 

A delight. Set in the genteel English 1950s, it exposes a couple of things which, as teenagers, we were always led to believe never happened in the 50s, lesbianism and adultery. But in a touching and gentle way. The ending will take your breath away.

The Harpy by Megan Hunter

A book with very high aspirations. It's a story as old as time, a wife betrayed by her husband.  But this woman is obsessed with the notion of harpies - women from distant history.  There are a lot of very important quotes on Amazon about how important this book is.  They're all a bit pretentious but let me share this one from Elle magazine:  "In elegiac lines, Hunter tells a love story through the eyes of a new mother, who witnesses the death of an old life and the start of a new one...a perfect portrait of rebirth the final testament that time, and life, do go on, despite our best efforts."  I admired the book's aspirations but I found the conclusion and the woman's transformation a step too far. Feathers are involved. 

What I've been watching

I don't have any new or surprising recommendations so I've kept this section light.  We greatly enjoyed The Queen's Gambit as I'm sure you did  (Netflix).  It was a solid narrative, beautifully performed, compelling and visually stunning.  I loved how the Russians came across at the end.  Too often the media show us the negative side of Russia under Putin and we think it's all about novochok and cold wars. In the programme we saw the sheer joy of ordinary Russians in chess.

We watched two dramas which aren't new, but hadn't crossed our radar:  COBRA  (Sky) is a British thriller starring Robert Carlyle and Victoria Hamilton. It's about the government and the committee that's convened when there's a national crisis  (as there is now with Covid).  It was a thriller that promised more but came across as a bit cheap and hollow. It seemed to finish very abruptly with lots of loose ends.  The Newsroom (Sky) is a US drama with Jeff Daniels from aaeons ago, but still a very good watch, although I couldn't shake off the feeling that the cable TV channel seemed to be a tiny shoestring operation, when I think they were supposed to be a behemoth. Jane Fonda rocks as a publishing titan. Still watching The Undoing (Sky) and my prediction is that Grace's father (Donald Sutherland, wonderful) is behind it.  J is going for Grace  as the murdering fiend. Nicole Kidman may have a problem registering shock if she is convicted as her face is entirely immobile.

I couldn't not mention The Crown (Netflix)  although I'm not enjoying the latest series as much as its predecessors. I'm old enough to remember all the shenanigans so I'm constantly tutting and sighing about the untruths, which millennials will take as Gospel. I was never a Princess Diana fan and this series is highly sympathetic of her while portraying the royal family as cruel. Things were not as they seem - and the show's creator, Peter Morgan, is an arch Republican #justsayin

That's it for this month. We're woefully light on boxed sets to binge on, so any recommendations gratefully received!

Sharing this post with Not Dressed as Lamb, My Random Musings, Shelbee on the Edge and Lucy Bertoldi. 

I'm back on Monday with the Style Not Age collective and our latest challenge. 

FOR MORE MUTTON

There's a fashion or beauty post every Wednesday with the #WowOnWednesday link-up. Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter and Instagram. 

Friday Favourites - August Edition

It's nearly September! We got through lockdown, summer is bowing out, but we're still not back to normal in terms of going out and having holidays abroad. Soon it will get darker earlier and we'll be spending even more time at home. Let's hope the broadcasters have some good programmes in store for us.

For this month's round-up I've got a wide selection of what I've enjoyed / am enjoying.

Friday Favourites: TV, Books, Podcasts - July Edition

Welcome to another edition of Friday Favourites, my reviews of TV shows, films, books and podcasts.

TV Viewing

The Secrets She Keeps (BBC iPlayer)

First up, how exciting was this! I had low expectations initially for this Australian drama but it soon hooked me in, and boy, was episode 4 (of six) a thriller! A social media influencer is befriended by a  shop assistant  (Laura Carmichael, who was Lady Edith in Downton Abbey). They're both pregnant and expecting a baby at the same time.  I won't reveal any spoilers, but both my mum and I enjoyed it and indulged in binge watching. It's based on a true story.

Cursed (Netflix)

The latest big budget fantasy series on Netflix launched last week.  Cursed tells (loosely) the King Arthur / Excalibur legend but from the perspective of a "young rebel" or witch Nimue, who joins forces with charming mercenary Arthur on a mission to save her people.  We watched two episodes, and it's a complete yawn fest.  The CGI scenes are woeful, so the big budget must have been spent elsewhere.  These are people supposed to have lived 1500 years ago but suspiciously clean, well dressed and non-matted of hair.  Their language is also very up to date - probably intentionally, to seduce the millennial audience.  There is zero chemistry between Nimue and Arthur. Filed under "lame" and surprised to hear a second season is lined up.

Norsemen (Netflix)

We've just discovered Norwegian comedy Norsemen and it's terrific.  It's an amusing spoof on the Vikings, beautifully done with elaborate costumes and filming, with a very dry, sometimes Pythonesque, humour running through it.  The women are all very strong and no nonsense, whereas the men go off into flights of fancy about creating memorable installations and theatre, and philosophizing about the emotional cost of raping and pillaging.  The latest season, 3, started this week.

Military Wives

The film starring Kristin Scott-Thomas is now available on Sky and Prime. The concept of the military wives' choirs was somewhat hijacked by the TV show The Choir with Gareth Malone, but actually it all started before he came on the scene.  The grief stricken wife of an army colonel  (Scott-Thomas) foists herself on the camp's wives' social committee, locking horns with the wife of the RSM (Sharon Horgan). They form a choir and, overheard by a camp commander, are invited to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in the Festival of Remembrance.  I was expecting a blub fest but didn't feel invested enough in the characters, who seemed brittle and charmless, to feel much emotion at the end. A pleasant enough watch but nothing special.

 Eurovision Song Contest:  The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)

This new film was a mildly amusing romp that hit a few bum notes, the biggest being Will Ferrell who (as usual) seemed miscast and out of his depth.

The Eurovision Song Contest is the most amazing annual festival of kitsch that somehow brings the whole of Europe together.  Last year it was watched by 180 million people. I used to rely on it as a conversation topic when we had large international social gatherings at my last company. It was guaranteed to get everyone talking. It has to be seen to be believed.

The film tells the story of two performers from Iceland (which has never won the contest) who may or may not be related  (this was a running gag). The country that wins Eurovision has to stage it the following year, and the cost of this has proved prohibitive for many a country. So a conspiracy derails the Iceland entry to ensure the country has no chance of success. Singers Lars (Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) find themselves catapulted into the semi-finals. Lots of mayhem ensues with murderous elves (apparently 60% of Icelanders believe in elves) and crazy drives around Dublin, the host city.

The film is worth watching just to see Dan Stevens  (Cousin Matthew from Downton Abbey) in the role of a lifetime, camping it up as a bare chested Russian singer.

Call My Agent! (Netflix)

We have have just started watching this French comedy series (subtitled) - a rich seam as there are three seasons. I just love it.  It's about life at a top Paris talent firm where agents scramble to keep their star clients happy -- and their business afloat -- after an unexpected crisis.  It is very funny and seems bit retro in terms of how the agency operates.

Podcasts

The Habitat (Gimlet)

The Habitat tells the true story of six volunteer would-be astronauts who experienced Mars for a year on Hawaii. They were confined to a dome that replicated life on board a spacecraft.  They were only able to leave the dome wearing a full space suit. The experiment was designed to show what life on the red planet would be like.  It's so far away that at least a year would go by, assuming we landed there, before we could leave, in order for the planets to be aligned correctly.

The podcast features recordings made on board with a narrator, and it makes for fascinating listening - particularly around the subjects of food (dehydrated) and toilets, with interesting insights from some of the Apollo missions.

Books

Two very different books this time. First, Excellent Women by Barbara Pym.  The phrase "excellent women" was used as a condescending reference to the kind of women who perform menial duties in the service of churches and voluntary organisations. The book, set in the 1950s, tells the everyday life of unmarried Mildred Lathbury, a part-time volunteer worker who also helps out at the church. In this very genteel world, where Mildred is looked down upon as a spinster, we meet her unlikely suitors, the anthropologist Everard Bone, her dashing neighbour Rockingham Napier, and the vicar, Julian Malory.

Pym was highly celebrated for her witty, droll accounts of life in middle England in this time period.The novelist John Updike, reviewing the American release in 1978, wrote that: "Excellent Women... is a startling reminder that solitude may be chosen, and that a lively, full novel can be constructed entirely within the precincts of that regressive virtue: feminine patience."

From life in the 1950s, in post-rationing Britain, to life in a lavish gated housing development where all the women have had "work" done in the latest novel by Jane Fallon, Queen Bee.

I pre-ordered this because Jane Fallon has never disappointed.  I digested it over three nights.  Laura, the owner of a small cleaning company, moves into a tiny rented flat in one of the luxury houses in The Close.  Recently divorced, she finds the glossy women residents are friendly until Al, the husband of the "Queen Bee",  sets her up, and then she's ostracized. But through some clever detective work, Laura discovers the secrets Al is hiding. A witty, wry and rewarding read from the thinking women's chicklit writer.

That's all for this time. I'd love to hear any of your recommendations in the comments below.

Sharing this post with #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge, Anna at Muttonstyle and #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings

FOR MORE MUTTON

There's a fashion or beauty post every Wednesday, with the #WowOnWednesday link up. Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter and Instagram. 

Friday Favourites: Books, Films, Podcasts

Here it is, my occasional post about what I've been watching, reading and listening to. This week I'm featuring a couple of Irish films, some treats from English National Ballet and the National Theatre, an international crime thriller from the BBC, the re-issue of an old favourite of mine, and some cheerful, positive vibe podcasts.

Friday Favourites: Books, TV, Pods - May 2020

Friday Favourites is my occasional round-up of recommendations for good viewing, reading and listening with the odd nugget on beauty, fashion and cleaning (we'll come to that!).