Category: 42 Word Retrospectives

The Ghost Grabbers

The Ghost Grabbers

by Terrance Dicks (Blackie, 1980)

Book cover: “The Ghost Grabbers” by Terrance Dicks (Blackie, 1980)

After much build-up as to how realistic the so-called hauntings are, the ease of their fabrication is then glossed over. The multifaceted misdirection is clever enough so far as MG goes, but the scheme is at once painfully transparent and laughably overcomplicated.

The Valley of Adventure

The Valley of Adventure

by Enid Blyton (Macmillan, 1947)

audiobook read by Thomas Judd (Hodder, 2018)

Book cover: “The Valley of Adventure” by Enid Blyton (Macmillan, 1947); audiobook read by Thomas Judd (Hodder, 2018)

The Valley of Adventure proves memorable for its setting, its intrigue, and of course for Kiki the parrot. Judd’s audiobook reading continues to make the girls sound like wet dishrags, though in fact they show a bit more gumption this time around.

Murder in the Basement

Murder in the Basement

by Anthony Berkeley (Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1932)

audiobook read by Seán Barrett (Soundings, 2021)

Book cover: “Murder in the Basement” by Anthony Berkeley (Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1932); audiobook read by Seán Barrett (Soundings, 2021)

An experiment in form, which sees what appears at first a straightforward murder investigation proceed by way of a fictional manuscript within-story. Unfortunately, this manuscript’s narrative is one that Sheringham himself admits to having grown bored with and abandoned—for good reason!

The Cartoonist

The Cartoonist

by Betsy Byars (The Bodley Head, 1978)

Book cover: “The Cartoonist” by Betsy Byars (The Bodley Head, 1978)

A downbeat exploration of emotional neglect and escapism. Byars is deft as a cartoonist herself in capturing Alfie’s circumstances: his drifting isolation from family and peers; his retreat into drawing and his nihilistic attic ascent. Not exactly a fun read, but affecting.

The Tit and the Moon

The Tit and the Moon

dir. Bigas Luna (1994) [subtitled, from ‘La Teta y la luna’]

Arthouse comedy romance, supposedly about envy and obsession but really more an exploration of fetishes (plus not-too-subtle sexploitation scripted around Mathilda May). Watchable enough—even entertaining in its quirkier moments—but also odd without real purpose, and at times decidedly uncomfortable viewing.

The Sussex Downs Murder

The Sussex Downs Murder

by John Bude (Skeffington & Sons, 1936)

audiobook read by Gordon Griffin (Soundings, 2015)

Book cover: “The Sussex Downs Murder” by John Bude (Skeffington & Sons, 1936); audiobook read by Gordon Griffin (Soundings, 2015)

Middling at best. While the murder turns out to be cleverly conceived (as Bude has his characters point out, no doubt feeling very pleased with himself), its unravelling is as cack-handed as the prose is uninspired. Superintendent Meredith is rather like dishwater.

The Last Unicorn (1982)

The Last Unicorn

dir. Arthur Rankin Jr. & Jules Bass (1982)

Film poster: “The Last Unicorn” dir. Arthur Rankin Jr. & Jules Bass (1982)

This really shouldn’t work, with its Disney-style animation, My Little Pony unicorn-worship and grandiose, prog-rock soundtrack. Then Alan Arkin (Schmendrick) and Jeff Bridges (Prince Lír) come along, and somehow it does. Still a trippy adaptation, but also epic-feeling and strangely compelling.

Derelict Space Sheep