Book after Book

This is my favourite sequence from the sweet film My Afternoons with Margueritte because it's true... books can take you to places you've never been before!

I have recently watched Mr Holmes and I would sincerely recommend it if you enjoy smart and touching films. Plus, the famous detective is played by the brilliant Sir Ian McKellen and the gorgeous locations include stunning views of the Sussex coastline. I must admit that I haven't read many of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's books and I was therefore surprised to learn that East Dean, not far from where I live, is believed to be the retirement home of the great fictional character.

By Jane Lynch Published by Fourth Estate Being a bit of a Gleek, I couldn’t help but want to read Jane Lynch’s memoir. I started the book knowing her only as Sue Sylvester, the most evil cheerleading coach ever to walk the planet, and I ended it with a long list of films to watch and an even bigger respect for her. Happy Accidents takes us from Jane’s childhood and her dreams of stardom all the way through to her successful present life as an actor. We learn about the hard times – her insecurity, her alcoholism, her feelings of isolation and not belonging – as well as the good times – her flourishing career, her acceptance of her sexuality, her marriage. It seems that she holds nothing back and comes across as absolutely honest, page after page. Her memoir is moving and funny, sometimes both sad and amusing at the same time. And, as I said before, totally candid. I recommend Happy Accidents to any Glee or Jane Lynch fan, to anyone interested in acting and films, to anyone who enjoys ...

Film review, that's correct! Juliet Wilson , fellow blogger and poetry expert here at Book After Book , had the great idea of writing a review of this recently released film in occasion of the LGBT reading challenge. This is how it begins... Howl , the film, centres on Allen Ginsberg's famous poem of the same name. It juxtaposes an animated interpretation of the poem alongside clips from re-enacted interviews with Ginsberg (played brilliantly by James Franco), scenes from the first reading of Howl in San Francisco in 1955 and scenes form the 1957 obscenity trial against the publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti. more...

It is not a book, I know – although John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo did have to write a script – but I have recently watched Roman Holiday , loved it and decided that I am going to take advantage of the connection with my “ Italy in Books ” reading challenge and post some pictures of “Italy in Films”! Enjoy a tour of Rome, the eternal city, through some stills of the 1953 romantic comedy directed by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.