The Literate Kitty

Everybody knows the saying—and maybe, most people even believe —“there’s no such thing as bad publicity”.   I’ve never considered myself “everybody”, though… and have always found it to be a patently ridiculous truism. (Seriously, it doesn’t take that active an imagination to envision plenty of scenarios in which “bad” publicity would be the polar opposite of “desirable” or “beneficial” for anyone .) And, hilarious jokester that she is, Fate even decided to put me smack in the middle of some very bad publicity, a few years ago, just to make really sure I’d never think otherwise. [ Thanks, Fate. Really, got the memo. We’re good. ]  But back to “everybody” (else). What happens to someone who genuinely believes that any publicity is good publicity… until the moment they find out how very wrong that can be? Harlan Coben explores that—and a whole lot more—in his latest thriller, The Match . _______________ An effervescent cocktail whilst reading? Don't mind if I do! ;) Wilde i

Delightfully bringing to mind all of those effervescent, cinematic comedies of the ‘30s and ‘40s—the ones where witty, rapid-fire banter bounced between the leads like a game of profesh table tennis, and love eventually reigned supreme (but only after a whole lot of satisfying ups/downs and assorted feats of derring do)—BritBox’s new Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? ticks all of the boxes for a modern-day, old-school romp… and maaaaaaan, am I HERE for it! *************** Penned (and directed) by Hugh Laurie [Dr. House, anyone?], this screenplay—based on an Agatha Christie story of the same name—is a bonafide classic, interpreted brilliantly. Instead of completely modernizing it, though, and trying to make some grand statement about… well, whatever … he stays true to the heart of it, complete with intelligent main characters who want nothing so much as to solve a good mystery. _______________ While out caddying for his old doctor-cum-fellow-war-vet-cum-mentor, the recently-back-from