Curious reader

Venice devotees, fill you thirst here!, 9 Dec 2010

This book consists of excerpts from various writers on venice, from native Venetians through to famous and not so well-known visitors. It might not be the best book for first time visitors, but after you return home, you may want to explore a bit further the calles and rios of this most phantasmagorical of cities. Then this book comes into its own.The choice of selections feeds this most seductive of addictions, Venice. The reason why it has 4 stars not 5 is that anthologies are so often , ultimately dissatisfying, because of their bitty nature.That is how I found this book, but it does make you yearn to re-visit Venice.

The work of a master, 10 Mar 2010

Tarkovsky is not an "easy" director, but that doesn't mean his work is only for fans of "the avant-garde. It is certainly not self-indulgent, unlike a good deal of thew ork, say, of Derek Jarman, but it is an oneiric film. It deals with dreams, with memories of childhood, reflections on Russia, on the role of art to mirror our experience but also re-frame it in the process. If you find it hard to relax into the film, then you can just let the powerful images speak to you. Elemental powers have never been as prevalent as in this film: fire, wind, water, earth all feature in mesmeric imagery that bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the soul. Some of the imagery of Mirror will live on… Read more

So bad it's (kind of) , well, not good but interesting, 27 Feb 2010

Well, I had hoped I would learn more about Cabalistic magic from this book, but, sadly, that wasn't the case. It is, however, a wonderful read for the wrong reasons. The author loves to ramble, on and on he goes, about the police, about Dion Fortune, you name it...It is entertaining, but I rather think this is not deliberate on the part of Ophiel. Be warned, dear reader...