A Literary Life

  Arborescence by Rhett Davis is an interesting slice of speculative fiction set in the near future when people are willingly turning themselves into trees to help save the planet. From this unique tale Davis weaves a fascinating tale, told in short sharp sections, seen through the eyes of two principles, Bren and Caitlyn.  Their relationship forms the backbone of this novel, and it is well drawn and engaging.    I really enjoyed reading this novel, and it raises a number of interesting questions of the reader to ponder.    Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.   Arborescence is now available from Waterstones, Amazon and all local bookstores. 

The 98th Academy Awards are due to be announced tomorrow (Thursday 22nd January), and here are my predictions for Best Picture. A few months ago the most likely candidate for this award was Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, another masterpiece from one of the finest filmmakers working today.  However, as awards season began to heat up, other contenders entered the ring.   From Hamnet, Chloé Zhao's sublime version of Maggie O'Farrell's 'unfilmable' novel, to Clint Bentley's hauntingly beautiful Train Dreams.   Here are my contenders for Best Picture: Blue Moon Director: Richard Linklater Stars: Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley This biographical drama tells the story of Lorenz Hart and Elizabeth Weiland, as the former reflects on the opening night of Oklahoma!, a new musical by his former colleague Richard Rodgers.  The Academy has always loved stories about itself, and Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart is hotly tipped to win Best Actor at the ...

An Update It's been twelve years and much has changed.  I have become a father, twice over, married and travelled further than in the decades prior.  I have self-published a second novel, Grass and Ember.  I have written more, which remain unpublished.  Since fatherhood grabbed me in 2018 the writing has stalled, but I hope to resume this - hence this update, a self-motivating post.  A chance to try and push myself. Apart from parenting, what has taken up my life has been much reading, much film watching, and occasional wanderings in the Welsh mountains.  I almost died - was told my the medics they thought I wouldn't survive the night - and have brain fog sometimes these days as a result.   With 2026 dawning, and my children getting to the age where we can leave them unsupervised more often, I am hopeful that the light of writing may return.  I hope in the coming months to post here some thoughts, more book reviews, films reviews, and thought...