I’ve spent the last few weeks of a remarkably unproductive summer watching the first three seasons of HBO’s The Wire. It’s been said many, many times before by people more reputable than I, but The Wire is likely the greatest television show ever created. Following the complex worlds of drugs, law enforcement, money and politics in an unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the city of Baltimore, The Wire is a startlingly relevant appraisal of America’s modern urban nightmare, conveyed by some of the best writers and actors you’ll find on TV.THUMBS DOWN
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read it, but
last week I found myself talking to someone about Dan Brown’s hugely popular novel, The Da Vinci Code. Reading it was one of the most infuriating literary experiences I’ve ever had and I’ve never been able to understand its appeal. I must say, I only finished out of spite. The plot, centering on a historical conspiracy, is inane and driven by its own repetition and pointless forward motion. It feigns intelligence and depth and its characters are laughably undeveloped, collapsing entirely if removed from the weak structure of the narrative.
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