Books: They were sisters, A Novel by Dorothy Whipple (1943)
It is always a pleasure to discover an underrated female author from the twentieth century. This book felt like a welcome palate cleanser after the flood of mediocre works so aggressively promoted through social media, trade magazines, and even the book sections of reputable newspapers. It is impossible to keep up with every recommendation, yet…
Films: Hament, Dir.Chloé Zhao, 2025
The biggest issue is that the film is based on a very weak — not to say ridiculous — novel by Maggie O’Farrell. Chloé Zhao’s decision to adapt this particular book does not reflect especially well on her intelligence. How many stories about women-healers mistaken for witches can one endure? How many female characters cast…
Films: Sentimental Value, Dir. Joachim Trier, 2025
Isn’t it unbelievable that this film is considered the best European film of 2025?! Poor European film industry—how far it has sunk. This is not a bad film, but it is such a lightweight creation in every respect. First of all, the script is a pathetic attempt to manufacture a Chekhovian drama out of a…
Books: Before I Forget, A Novel by Tory Henwood Hoen, 2025
It is no accident that this book is a bestseller. Essentially, it is a self-help book presented in fictional form—and the fiction is of high quality without being great literature. The novel gently guides the reader through personal failure, coping with death and loss, and dealing with guilt, all in a mellow, compassionate way. A…
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No lipstick! Book & Film Reviews 