|
Belong to me / |
Picking up where she left off in her debut, Love Walked In, Marissa de los Santos, reintroduces readers to her quirky heroine Cornelia as she embarks on her new life with childhood friend, and now husband, Teo. The couple is settling into their new suburban life which takes some adjusting for big city girl Cornelia. Right off she feels like an outsider when she meets her new neighbor, Piper (think Bree from Desperate Housewives). It's not until she meets single mom Lake, whom she instantly bonds with over old movies and pasta, that she begins to feel at home. Also joining the cast of characters is Lake's teenage son, Dev, who charms both Cornelia and Teo. As the novel unfolds, the lives of this cast of characters become intertwined. Secrets are revealed and vulnerabilities exposed. Told from three points of views in alternating chapters, Belong to Me will have you wrapped up in the intricately woven story lines. This is a breezy read, but it's not without some depth and genuine moments of humanity. De los Santos delivers a thoroughly enjoyable read that you can get lost in for a few days. |
|
Whether you've been hearing a lot of hype about graphic novels and wondering where to start or you're a long-time fan simply looking for something new to read, check out any of the volumes in this outstanding anthology series, perfect for adults and teens alike. Dozens of superbly talented young artists from around the globe have banded together around the universal theme of flight, contributing stories that generally run 10 to 20 pages. It's a great way to discover new favorite artists. The sheer variety of graphic styles and narrative interpretations is a tribute to the inventiveness and youthful energy of the medium. From pilots to birds, from superheroes to ordinary people, the inspirations on display will amuse and move you. A highly enjoyable way to while away some time. | |
|
The lost painting / |
When a long lost painting by the Renaissance master Caravaggio turned up in 1992, it created quite a stir in the art world. Harr (author of the bestseller A Civil Action) tells the story of this amazing discovery from the point of view of both an Italian art student researching the painting and the art restorer who found the masterpiece in an obscure Jesuit house in Ireland. All the action is interspersed with a fascinating glimpse at the life of Caravaggio himself, creating a swift-paced and suspenseful true story. |
|
Origin : a novel / |
Lena Dawson is a fingerprint expert living in Syracuse, New York. When a series of infant deaths occurs in the same area, Lena is brought in to investigate. The deaths had been attributed to SIDS, but when a distraught mother seeks Lena out, she feels compelled to dig deeper. It is well known in the department that Lena has a knack for picking up clues others have missed. Sure enough, the deaths are not SIDS-related. That's where the mystery takes off. Who is killing these babies? Why does Lena feel she somehow has a personal connection to whomever is committing these atrocities? Lena's investigation leads her to delve into her own mysterious childhood. She is forced to face some deeply buried memories. She must work fast to search for answers about who she is and where she came from if she is going to catch this killer. Carefully plotted and fast paced, Origin will appeal to mystery/thriller lovers. Abu-Jaber's simple and eloquent prose and the atmospheric tone will further engage readers and win her new fans. |
|
Water for elephants : a novel / |
Jacob Janowski is a ninety-year-old man living in a nursing home who drifts in and out of his memories of working in a traveling circus. It was during the Great Depression when the sudden death of his parents caused 23-year-old Jacob, seemingly out of options, to drop out of veterinary school and hop a freight train. Unbeknownst to him, the train he is on is a circus train, and he manages to get hired on to assist the animal trainer. The trainer, August, is a borderline psychotic, prone to fits of rage, and married to Marlena, a beautiful performer Jacob immediately falls for. The inevitable conflict between Jacob and August revolves around both Marlena and the elephant that the circus buys to try and boost ticket sales. Period details and the incorporation of real stories from the great traveling circuses of the time make this an enjoyable historical novel, with appealing characters and a warmly nostalgic tone. |
|
Watchmen / |
The highly acclaimed writer Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, From Hell) took on the whole superhero phenomenon with exceptional style and intelligence in Watchmen, possibly his greatest achievement. Published as a series of comic books in 1986 and 1987 and set in a dark alternate version of the 1980s, it was the only graphic novel to be included on Time magazine's list of the 100 best novels since 1923, just one of many accolades it has racked up. The story presents a group of superheroes somewhat in the vein of DC Comics' Justice League (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.) but examines their behaviors in a pschologically starker, more "realistic" vein. It's been an obvious influence on the recent Batman movies and even, to some extent, lighter fare like The Incredibles. It's very much a superhero story for grownups, but be warned: it may spoil the rest of the superhero genre for you. |
|
Fox confessor brings the flood |
Neko Case, always a compelling and talented artist, honed her songwriting skills to produce the impressive album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Transcending genre, but incorporating alt-country, folk, gospel, and pop, Neko's songs are each little gems of potent and perplexing storytelling. Her lyrics and expressive arrangements are excellent, but Neko's robustly beautiful voice is the feature that makes her music so moving. Often compared to Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline, Neko's voice conveys a raw honesty that allows you to buy into her surreal and often dark world. Songs like "Star Witness" and "Hold On, Hold On" impart an achy sadness, and "John Saw That Number," a hymn-like song about John the Baptist, rings with a fervent joy. The album warrants multiple listens, and with each the listener will likely have a richer experience. |
|
Hercules and Love Affair |
One of the notable electronic music albums of 2008 was the very listenable self-titled debut Hercules and Love Affair. Drawing predominantly on disco and early house music, Brooklyn DJ Andrew Butler (with Tim Goldsworthy) has put together 10 tracks that might be a perfect backdrop at your next cocktail party. The album features several guest vocalists, including Antony Hegarty of Antony and Johnsons, whose expressive voice is heard on five tracks. Lush and sleek, this is a sophisticated nod to club music of the 70's and early '80s. |
|
Transmissions from the satellite heart |
While the single "She Don't Use Jelly" is a fan favorite, and one that helped bring attention to the band (including earning them a surreal guest spot on Beverly Hills 90210), it is not the only track on their 1993 album worth a listen. Full of songs with Coyne's trademark nonsensical lyrics, raspy vocals with a hint of twang, and musical cacophony, this is one of the Lips' best efforts. Standout tracks include: "Turn It On," "Pilot Can at the Queer of God," "Be My Head," and (personal favorite) "Superhumans." |
|
30 Days of Night is based on the graphic novel of the same name, and it is what it is, a vampire movie--but a good one at that. It succeeds in achieving the goal all good horror movies should aspire to - it moves you to the edge of your seat, makes you jump a couple of times and effectively creeps you out. The villains are not the glammed up vamps that come out of romanticized visions of the undead, they are more of the Nosferatu variety with a little 28 Days Later zombie thrown in. Josh Hartnett stars as the sheriff of a small Alaskan town that is just about to enter 30 straight days without the sun. As the locals bear down or move out, the vamps prepare for a monthlong feeding frenzy. Of course, the sheriff and his estranged wife, along with a few other townies, are not going down without a fight, and you'll be glued to the screen to see how it all turns out. | |
|
The Best Years of Our Lives tells the story of three servicemen returning from World War II and powerfully dramatizes their various challenges in reintegrating into civilian life. The film was inspired by a 1944 Time magazine article, and for maximum impact director William Wyler chose to cast real-life veteran Harold Russell, who had lost both hands during the war. Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright and Myrna Loy also lend their talents to a story that tackled such then-taboo topics as alcoholism and divorce, embracing a realism that keeps the film relevant today while still remaining interesting for what it reveals about its own time. The film won several Oscars, including Best Picture as well as a special honorary Oscar for Russell: "for bringing hope and courage to fellow veterans." | |
|
Notorious |
After her father's conviction for treason, notorious socialite Alicia (Ingrid Bergman) is approached by a government agent named Devlin (Cary Grant) who wants her to go to Rio to spy on her father's Nazi friends. From their earliest encounter, the chemistry between the two sparks, which does not prevent Devlin from asking Alicia to get close to suspected Nazi spy Alex Sebastian (Claude Raines) by any means necessary, and it doesn't prevent Alicia from agreeing. One of Alfred Hitchcock's most stylish and beautiful-looking movies, it also highlights his cynicism about romantic love. Devlin in particular holds his feelings in check until Alicia is in grave danger. Ingrid Bergman also turns in one of the best performances of her career, looking gorgeous but portraying an intensely vunerable woman who will simply do anything for the man she loves. Managing to build his customary fever pitch of suspense featuring a rather odd plot device of enriched uranium, the real suspense is whether Devlin and Alicia will give in to their emotions. |
|
The 2006 Oscar winner for best foreign language film, The Lives of Others is a deliberately paced drama that will leave a lasting impression. Set in East Berlin in the years leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the story centers around a dedicated Stasi (secret police) agent, Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), who is assigned surveillance duty of a playwright and his actress girlfriend. Wiesler sets up an elaborate system in the couple's attic that will allow him to be privy to every move they make. Being so deeply enmeshed in their day to day lives through constant observation, Wiesler gets caught up in the ups and downs of their relationship. As time goes on he begins to question not only his duties, but also the role of the Stasi in the lives of civilians and the motivations of his superiors. The story is compelling and builds up to a nice level of suspense, and Mühe's subtle understated performance is truly captivating and moving. | |
|
Gus Van Sant's disjointed and visually hypnotic Paranoid Park is based on a young adult novel by Blake Nelson. The film is, in part, the confessional letter of a teenage skateboarder, Alex (Gabe Nevins), who is struggling to make sense of the role he played in a tragic accident. Unsure of what direction to take or in whom to confide, Alex remains isolated from the people in his life. His girlfriend and his divorcing parents all appear as hazy figures; only his friend Macy seems to notice that something is amiss. The film is cinematically rich but restrained, as Alex moves lethargically through his days fundamentally changed but unable to let anyone know. |