Sabbath’s Theater

(by Philip Roth) An extremely funny bucket of filth, King Lear and Fool combined as a depraved and exiled puppeteer, keeping us in suspension, bearing and grinning it and beating a dead whore, alive and cooking….

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Laughter in the Dark

(by Vladimir Nabokov) Also known as Kamera obskura, “meant as an elaborate parody” but “one of my worst novels” is in fact a pitilessly cruel, slamming-door joke on a cuckold who is morally, aesthetically and physically blind.

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A Likely Story

(by Donald E. Westlake) (1984) Very funny tale of hack writer (of “The Pink Garage Gang”, “Coral Sea”, “Golf Courses of America”, etc.) trying to get up a Christmas Book with contributions from various real celebrities that respond with a mixture of indifference, misunderstanding or hideous enthusiasm, while contending with a mother-obsessed editor (‘I’m fine…I’m peachy. Destroyed at f****** lunch with a writer.  Home a basket case.’)  

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Atlantic City

November 5, 2014 | Posted by Peter Jakobsen | Drama Film, FILM, THUMBNAIL REVIEWS |

Image by Bordercolliez

(directed by Louis Malle) (1981) Atlantic City, a style-free Las Vegas with saltwater, is the perfect place for Malle to probe America’s dark corners, with Burt Lancaster (a small time chiseller and errand-boy, seeking an emotional resurgence) and Susan Sarandon (a cocktail waitress down on her luck) playing a great pair of losers.  How something so seedy can bloom so sweetly is a tribute to the entire cast and crew.    

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Animal Crossing – 3DS

November 5, 2014 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | THUMBNAIL REVIEWS, VIDEO GAMES |

I have 5 million bells in the post office bank but that old meerkat or whatever he is, is not impressed with the state of my house. Everytime I start doing the place up, inspired by the show houses, I get distrac-  ooh look, a new snowdrop!  there’s a sheep with earrings!  I’d better go sell some fruit.  The game does raise some moral questions.  I have a second character whom I created solely for the extra storage space.  Poor, neglected little Freesia.  It’s like having a clone who’s kept only for body parts.  A pointless, repetitious, sickeningly cute must-have game for…

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