Blade - Wendy Walker

53%

19.02.26

This ice-skating drama had all the elements of a really good literary thriller but they don't add up to a place on the podium. Some parts were really interesting - the potential for abuse at the heart of competitive sport, in particular - but it needed a stronger edit to avoid a forgettable performance.

The Color Purple - Alice Walker

68%
16.10.04

It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years, but I've never felt ready to read it. Deceptively simple, deceptively complex, well pitched and gripping. But also philosophically and chronologically dubious, with a disturbingly negative attitude towards men that would be blatantly unacceptable were the roles reversed. But good characterisation just about saves the day.