View to the South

Out after work to see Beasts of the Southern Wild which had sneaked into a few critics' top tens of 2012. It seemed pretty promising at first but then just went nowhere. And what was it really saying - something about the noble savage and a world in balance perhaps. But what? Quvenzhané Wallis however, who played hushpuppy, was just outstanding. Sez I.
And young Ann, at work, has loaned me a novel called The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. It's written by Alexander McCall Smith, a Scottish writer so I suspect it may be similar to Rebus. Ann tells me it's a bit darker and grittier, so I may enjoy it. Pip pip!