Theater: Stardust
Very enjoyable fairytale - visually striking. A bit different from the book, but equally good in its own way.
(****)
DVD: The New World
This re-imagining of the Jamestown settlement centering on the story of Pocahontes has some breathtaking scenes, but moves a bit slowly overall. (***)
DVD: When the Levees Broke
The definitive documentary about the Katrina disaster. (*****)
DVD: Sullivan's Travels
A classic 1941 Preston Sturges movie that I just got around to seeing. A mix of comedy (both sophisticated and slapstick), Hollywood in-jokes, and depression-era social commentary. Not to mention the wavy-haired Veronica Lake in one of her early roles. (****)
Ellen Klages: The Green Glass Sea
Good juvenile about a bright, geeky girl whose father is a scientist at Los Alamos during wartime. (****)
Lionel Shriver: The Post-Birthday World
Clever, well-written book. Alternate futures, running in parallel, branching from a single decision. And a reminder of how women's lives can be constrained by the men they're with. (****)
Dick Francis: Under Orders
Sid Halley is back! Woo-hoo! Yeah, this plot is a bit familiar, but I love Dick Francis. And at least he's updated the setting by moving into the computer age a bit. (****)
Jon Krakauer: Into the Wild
Fascinating book about an enigmatic character searching for something in the wild lands of the west. He dies, almost by accident, in Alaska before we can understand who he is and whether he finds what he's looking for. The new Sean Penn movie sounds like a beautifully-done adaptation of the book. (****)
Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
An interesting idea, but maybe didn't need a whole book to tell it. The examples are entertaining reading, though. (***)
Vikram Seth: An Equal Music: A Novel
This novel is as much about the process of making music and the intricate relationships that exist within the confines of a string quartet as it is a love story with a bit of a twist. The author uses words beautifully has a deep love and understanding of classical music. (****)
Michael Pollan: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
An important book about where our food comes from and why we should think about what we choose to eat. (*****)
Kim Stanley Robinson: The Gold Coast (Three Californias)
One of a series of three novels imagining the future of California, this is the dystopian vision of overpopulation, drugs, highways, and corporate greed, interspersed with an elegaic paean to the Orange County that was. The utopia of Pacific Edge was more fun to read, but this is certainly the more probable outcome. (****)
« Fate kicks us in the teeth | Main | Volunteer work »
In the same week that Bank of American announced that they're dropping sponsorship for the Celebrity Series, I received a mailing from the Watertown Savings Bank allowing me to designate a local charity to received a share of their $50,000 Customer's Choice Awards. I know they were also a major funder of our local library expansion and are also a supporter of the Charles River Park improvements. Doesn't it make sense to patronize businesses that give back to the community?
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It shouldn't surprise anyone given that their corporate colors are devil red :-)
Posted by:Gregg Lebovitz | December 14, 2006 at 12:51 PM