Author: Dom

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

I’m going to add Emily St. John Mandel to the list of authors I read obsessively. Each one I read always seems to be better than the last. Some authors with this many books under their belt often forget how important it is to be merciless during editing.

Sea of Tranquility

This is one of those books that my wife (along with the Matt Smith) would probably describe as “a bit Sea timey-whimey”.

The book follows the circular rise and fall of Gaspery Jacques-Roberts, a fecklessly unremarkable individual with a high-achieving sister, Zoey. Through his sister’s connection with the Time Institute, and following a rigorous five-year training programme, Gaspery graduates as a field operative: entrusted to travel through time, correcting anomalies that could impact the Institute’s agenda.

The rules of time-travel are strict, and punishment for breaking those rules are harsh and permanent, and that, for Gaspery, is where the trouble starts. …

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Flow

I don’t do film reviews usually, but Flow is a bit special.

Made in Lithuania, I believe; it picked up the Oscar for best animated feature — and having watched it twice and being equally moved the second time round, I can see why.

Flow

Flow is a short film (well, short by today’s standards anyway) that follows the adventures of a small black cat trying to escape a flood. On his perilous journey, he encounters a handful of creatures whom he barely tolerates but allows to join him in his attempt to flee the rising waters.

There are no people and no dialogue. The animals (the cat, a labrador, an injured bird, a capybara, and a lemur) carry the entire movie on their own. There’s peril a plenty, along with some genuinely sad and spectacular moments.

And the ending won’t leave a dry eye in the house.

Through some stunning animation and artwork and an incredibly well-written story, Flow teaches us a simple, vital lesson: regardless of our differences, we’re better off together.

Film of the year.