Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

Design Real
Serpentine Gallery, London

The exhibition, Design Real, of thoughtfully designed objects beautifully shown within the pristine walls of an art gallery more often associated with fine art, poses the question: do we look at the objects as art or as design? There is no slick answer, but as nothing in the exhibition can be touched, pushed, sat on or handled. Visitors are left to speculate on the economy of design, the neat lines and the overall look, rather than being able to test out the actual function for comfort or practicability.

Sarah from Alaska by Scott Conroy & Shushannah Walshe
Public Affairs, £15.99

For a short time in his 2008 presidential campaign, John McCain looked like a cross between a genius, a poker player and a magician. With a burst of intelligent thinking and a deft sleight of hand, he reached into his metaphorical top hat and pulled out an amazing surprise. When it was announced that Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, was to be McCain’s running mate, the world, America and the “last frontier” state seemed to gasp in wonder at his audacious decision.

Thirsty River by Rodaan Al Galidi, translated by Luzette Strauss
Aflame Books, £8.99

Taxi by Khaled Al Khamissi, translated by Jonathan Wright
Aflame Books, £7.99

Fear of Animals by Enrique Serna, translated by Georgina Jimenez Reynoso
Aflame Books, £8.95

At last, a book about Iraq that manages to extract some humour from Saddam Hussein’s brutal reign. Thirsty River follows the fortunes of the Bird family from Boran in southern Iraq. Over four generations, monsters are spawned, alongside victims and heroes, who entertain, dismay and move in equal measure.

The Road
Director: John Hillcoat

Exam
Director: Stuart Hazeldine

Spread
Director: David Mackenzie

The Road is a $20 million-budgeted, post-apocalyptic journey through a world decimated by an unspecified disaster (nuclear war would appear to be the favourite). It’s based on Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of 2006. Praise for the novel also came from climate change activist George Monbiot, who said it “could be the most important environmental book ever”.

Twelfth Night
Duke of York’s, London

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has often been hyped as one of the best comedies ever written. So how come so few productions succeed in making me laugh? That said, I had high hopes for Greg Doran’s Royal Shakespeare Company version, transferring to the West End from Stratford-upon-Avon and starring Richard Wilson, Mr Grumpy himself. But although this was a perfectly enjoyable night at the theatre, it simply wasn’t very funny.

After You, Prime Minister
by James Douglas-Hamilton
Stacey International, £14.95

The most enjoyable book I ever wrote was Election Rides, an account across 2,000 miles, with my wife driving, of the 1992 election. It took us from Eastbourne to Edinburgh West, where a day with James Douglas-Hamilton was highly instructive. He had survived in a constituency with a huge council estate (to which he led me straight off) by taking enormous pains, being trusted – and getting difficult. Trying to visit a municipal old people’s home, we faced one of those council bureaucrats who, denying access without prior written approval from some other bureaucrat, make the heart sink. James, normally polite to the point of courtliness, and still polite, squared up and went in.