Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts

Sunday, 23 November 2025

The Wind Witch Murders by Casey Dunn. Book Review.

 For those in the market for a compelling slice of Folk Horror, with strong character development, The Wind Witch Murders is well worth your time.

Raven's backstory ties in with the enigmatic 'Hill People' who seem to hold sway over the town of Silverfield, Arkansas including some of Raven's 'friends'.
Unexplained murders and dark cult secrets and lies link to Raven's mother; Deanne Moore whose untimely demise may have done more than just leave her daughter mourning a life-changing loss.
There's plenty of dark and white magic to savour here, together with tense chase sequences; duplicitous relationships; a slow burning romance and the chill that comes from one of the books key themes: the dead do not always rest easy.
It's a medium-paced read, but one you'll likely want to take your time with. There's an awful lot packed in here, with plot twists and sometimes surprising actions from the colourful cast.
Hang on tight as the story reaches its conclusion with a memorable finale. As the professor states in Dario Argento's film Suspiria, 'There is magic all around us'.
The Wind Witch Murders will be published by Severn House.

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

The Passion of Pedro Almodovar: A Self-Portrait In Seven Films. Book Review

 Full disclosure: for me, the Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar can do no wrong. The sheer volume of top notch films in his catalogue are, in my opinion unmatched and only Rainer Werner Fassbinder immediately springs to mind when it comes to quantity and quality. James Miller's book takes a look at seven films from this rich body of work:

Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls On The Heap

Law of Desire

The Flower of My Secret

Bad Education

Volver

Broken Embraces

Pain And Glory

Here, the themes and textures of these films are explored,acknowledging the autobiographical nature of some of the director's key works, and helping to generate fresh ways of looking at them through better eyes. The director's experiences in Catholic schools are referenced with regard to stories he tells on a personal journey that will hopefully continue for a good while to come. Miller's interpretations of mood and motivation are, for me, always engaging but I will offer friendly advice to those who are at the formative stage of their Almodovar exploration. The analysis of these seven films do, by necessity, include spoilers, so I suggest watching each film before reading about it. My guess is that you'll immediately book a repeat viewing, fired by Miller's ideas. 

The Passion of Pedro Almodovar is published in the UK by Columbia University Press, and highly recommended for seasoned admirers and newcomers alike.