Brad Gooch - Zombie00

I discovered Brad Gooch via the Dennis Cooper blog - and was recommended to read one of his novels. I found Zombie00 on abebooks and am very pleased I did.
Zombie00 is a surprising book - and by that I mean its not what I expected from an ex-model who has also written gay self-help books (or at least one) - so that was all my initial prejudices shattered.
As opposed to Scott Heim's zombies out to seek revenge Gooch's zombie is an altogether different character. His young character is fascinated by a visit to the Sacred Voodoo Chamber at the Scranton Art Museum or perhaps this visit merely represents and names a state of desire for worship and obedience. Zombie00 takes this character on a journey from Pennsylvania to New York, to Haiti and back to New York as he adopts a series of zombie masters. It's a fable of a kind, but one that takes in bodybuilders, S/M, and abuse (although consensual abuse if there is such a thing). Gooch portrays in crisp and matter of fact writing the compeling desire for an all absorbing relationship, and in particular 'Zombie's desire for a master to serve, obey and take care of him.
Despite a weak ending this was a fascinating and vivid read - and I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr Gooch.

Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favoutrite movies of 2006. It is a grown up fairy tale, not afraid to look deeply into the darkside, that truly succeeds in using all the wonders of filmmaking to create a compelling drama.
Set in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, Ofelia and her heavily pregnant mother are escorted to a rural militray outpost where Ofelia's stepfather commands with a cruel and harsh fist. Ofelia's mother urges her to forget the world of fairytales - real life she suggests is more urgent and demanding. Yet a dragonfly, a faun (the Pan of the title), a labyrinth and monsters emerge and both parallel and reflect the monstrous reality that surrounds Ofelia as a community attempts to resist Franco's rule. Elements of fairy tales, horror stories and tales of war combine in an engaging and strikingly visual film.