Oscarbation: '127 Hours' Is One of the Years Best

another film that will make my best of 2010. james franco is amazing. danny boyle directs this brilliant film. the grand canyon has never looked better. it's still in theaters so catch it on the big screen where the cinematography really needs to be seen.

Currently reading: THE NEON RAIN by James Lee Burke

Greetings from Vietnam. Along with all my reviewing etc for various newspapers, magazines, and websites, and the odd Reading Challenge or two, I've decided that over the next few months I'm going to do a bit of an 'Origins' series, looking at the debut books of popular and longstanding detectives or crime fiction characters. To go back and read the first books in long series. To look at how these characters were first introduced, described, etc - often before the authors had any idea they would end up being a series character (or at least such a long-running or popular one).

So while I'm travelling here in Vietnam, and having finished PHNOM PENH EXPRESS by Johan Smits (good) and BANGKOK HAUNTS by John Burdett (great), I'm now reading THE NEON RAIN by James Lee Burke, which introduces Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux. Unsurprisingly, it's terrific.

I will post more about this on my return to New Zealand in the New Year. In the meantime, have you read any of the Dave Robicheaux novels? What do you think of him as a character, a detective? Who are some of your favourite longstanding detectives? What other 'origins' books should I have in my series. Comments appreciated.

Mash-Up 2010

two more 2010 year end mash-ups worth taking a look at

The Most Wonderful Day of the Year'

Greg McGee flattered, but denies he's Alix Bosco

Apologies for the lack of blog activity - I am travelling through Vietnam with little to no Internet access. Hope you have all been having a wonderful lead-up to Xmas and the holiday season.

Onto the crime fiction stuff - as many of you who regularly read this blog will know, there has been a fair bit of speculation over the past few months as to the identity of pseudonymed New Zealand thriller writer 'Alix Bosco', speculation that only increased when the author became a finalist, then won, the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. There have been many rumours about possible identities, and one recurring one centres on acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Greg McGee (pictured). In the current (Summer) edition of Book Notes, the magazine of the New Zealand Book Council, McGee addresses the rumours at the end of an article looking at some recent thrillers. You can read his article, including his comments about Alix Bosco, his/her thrillers (McGee has been part of the team adapting CUT & RUN for television), etc, here.

Hat tip to the always-excellent Graham Beattie for the heads-up on the Book Notes article (I'm a little out of the loop over here in SE Asia).

Merry Xmas to all, wherever you may be in this wonderful world of ours. Hope you enjoy some great holiday reading!

'Carol of the Bells'

Remembering Ava on Her Birthdate

i loved ava gardner. she was earthy. and she was a beauty. was she a great actress? probably not. but she had a screen presence that better actresses did not. she does have some memorable roles. and she has one absolutely brilliant performance. as maxine faulk in 'the night of the iguana' she stood her ground with two of the screen's finest deborah kerr and richard burton. in fact given the showier role her performance came off as the film's best. not getting an oscar nom in 1964 for this role when mary poppins and molly brown did is an ultimate oscar insult. well that being said we lost ava too soon. but she lived...damn did she live!!!

if you only see one ava film in your life make it tennessee williams 'the night of the iquana'. it is quite remarkable as directed by john houston. the cast is stellar all around. treat yourself to a classic.

ava and richard burton

the trailer