Lunar Park By Bret Easton Ellis Reviewed by Steve Rudd

This has to have been one of the most extraordinary and surprising books published in 2005, simply because it has been written by the hugely controversial author of American Psycho - and because the form that Lunar Park takes is so jaw-droppingly unexpected. Bret Easton Ellis is one clever man, as revealed by the way in which this novel unfolds, slyly harking back to American Psycho in a thoroughly thrilling manner. First of all, the lead character in Lunar Park is actually Bret Easton Ellis himself. Strange, you might think, but until you read this masterpiece of modern fiction you have really got no idea how strange things can get.

Much of Lunar Park is in fact autobiographical, and goes some distance in revealing the impact that American Psycho had both on himself and on society at large. However, there are certain elements of this new story of his which are fictional, and it's up to the reader to decide what really did happen in Ellis' life, and what didn't. The crux of Lunar Park revolves around a young man who comes to a Halloween party at Ellis' house impersonating the character Patrick Bateman from his American Psycho novel, a character that was viciously brought to life by Christian Bale in the Hollywood movie adaptation.

Over time, Ellis convinces himself that this 'impersonator' is stalking him and his family, going so far as to prowl around their house. It could be that Ellis is losing his mind. He might have taken too many drugs to know the difference between fact and fiction. Still, as strange things begin happening around his house (which also involve a Terby toy that might just be alive), his Hollywood actress wife Jayne Dennis becomes more estranged than ever, and it seems that Ellis isn't merely being paranoid after all. Then his son Robby goes missing...

There are a few stomach-churning references to the gratuitous violence of American Psycho (so do be warned), yet for the most part Lunar Park reads less like a Bret Easton Ellis novel and more like a Stephen King one. It's no small coincidence that Ellis admits that he has been inspired by the writing of Stephen King. As his house and family life at large come under siege in his book, genuine human drama emanates and resonates with a stunning sense of tenderness, proving that while Ellis can shock the hell out of his readers when he wants to, he is also a master at conveying emotion in his characters when necessary, as the Bret Easton Ellis of the story slowly but surely comes to realise what it is to be both a father and a son. By God, the pressure's on... ISBN 0-330-43953-7 Picador ( first published in 1995)

Reviews, Books - Surfacing By Margaret Atwood Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Poetry and prose. Two separate entities, right? Wrong! Surfacing bears full-frontal, gob-gawping witness to that as one of the most important novels of the 20th century (according to the New York Times anyroad) in this bizarre beauty naturally glides with sheer poetry within rasping prose. Set in remote Quebec, this super slow-burning drama shadows a young Read more...

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	A deliciously dark film of fear mongering, Silent Hill takes you on a terrifyingly absurd quest. Where to? That is a question this film doesn't answer, but enjoys twisting round you to find it. Of course playing the game helps understand this film. I found the game itself to be relatively arbitrary and linear, rather like this film. However, the game is foreboding and visually Read more...

Reviews, Books - Magic Hoffman by Jakob Arjouni Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	'We were young then, as if getting older were some kind of illness for which there was no cure.' Magic Hoffman, the novel, is translated from the German original and follows the captivating story of Fred and his best friends Nickel and Annette. Following a botched bank heist, Fred serves 4 years' porridge and - as any friend would do - refrains from dobbing his mates in. Anyway, Read more...

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	Dying Light is the eagerly anticipated second novel from new crime-fiction hotshot, Stuart MacBride, and follows sharply on the heels of last year's critically acclaimed debut, Cold Granite. Once again following the story of Detective Sergeant Logan 'Lazarus' McRae, Dying Light opens with him set to cement his position as the rising star of Aberdeen's CID. Read more...

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	Clever psychological horror, perhaps too clever? This clever psychological horror film perhaps lets itself down by being too clever? If you enjoy the blurred boundaries of the supernatural/subconscious, however, this is a well-paced, atmospheric film about a couple losing their daughter, only to believe they can bring her back from the dead. There are criticisms, however, that Read more...

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	One should never underestimate the power of books. New York-obsessed Paul Auster is back, and he's clearly writing better than ever in light of this astounding novel of epic and forever-surprising proportions. Paul was born back in 1947, and since 1974 he's rightfully become a widely acclaimed writer of novels, screenplays and poetry ... amongst other things. Read more...

Reviews, Films - The Road to Guantanamo, Channel 4, Thursday 9th March 06 By Patrick Henry
	Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross's work is hardly like anything else ever shown on television, which makes it remarkable and welcome, though not to The New Statesman's reviewer who complains of its deficiencies, TV-wise, and that it fails to inform about the political attitudes of the protagonists or the real nature of Camp X-Ray and as a road movie lacks amusement. Read more...

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	Crime-thrillers come no better than this edge-of-the-seat masterwork from American writer William Landay, who here delivers a truly superb debut novel that attacks the senses and ultimately leaves you reeling from the brilliantly-staged shock ending. It's amazing how some Crime writers make their stories sound so authentic courtesy of the detailed lengths that they go to in order Read more...

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	The Hull Blokes are a talented bunch of 13 local, er, blokes! who I have had the pleasure of seeing twice before in their relatively short life. So I thought it was high time to do them justice and write a review. The Blokes have been lucky enough to secure themselves a home in the new Northern Theatre building, which in my opinion is more welcoming and Read more...

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