The week in entertainment

TV: Modern Family - I loved poor Phil and his panic at the mere possibility that Claire might leave him. "Tell me it was booze adultery physical abuse - it's okay I'm a monogamous social drinker and Claire only sleep-hits me." Sherlock - I had heard good things so I wasn't too nervous about an updating of the legend to modern times, but what I'd heard only underreported. It was brilliant - wonderfully cast and witty. I loved the "Just where were you shot?" and updating to "Afghanistan or Iraq?" and turning the Rachel-rache clue on its head. Really nicely done and lots of fun.

Read: Four light "classic" mysteries, Doan & Carstairs (the latter is a Great Dane). Scattered Families, a good read about dysfunctional people finding their way to function. Bitter in the Mouth, a truly excellent novel about a young woman with synesthesia growing up in the American South among among people hiding their secrets in plain view.