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Case histories : a novel / |
Jackson Brodie, a tender-hearted, run-down Cambridge private detective, investigates three separate cold cases: a missing child, a slain teen, and an axe murder. The detective story framework allows the author to playfully scatter clues while giving us vivid psychological portraits of the families affected by the crimes, all the while turning our assumptions on their heads. Atkinson's humor and style make this a new take on an old genre. |
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Half of a yellow sun / |
With the civil war that took place in Nigeria in the late 1960's as the backdrop, this expansive novel tells the story of ordinary people from all walks of life coping with the chaotic dismantling of society and the cruelty of war. The story, told from multiple points of view, centers on Olanna and Kainene, twin sisters from a wealthy and well-connected Nigerian family. Olanna moves in with a professor, Odenigbo, while Kainene begins an affair with a shy, British expat, Richard. However, Odenigbo's houseboy, Ugwu, provides the most poignant narrative as he quietly observes the struggles of his master and contends with being captured and forced to become a soldier. Adichie focuses on the personal experiences of her characters more than the politics and creates a heartbreaking portrait of a tragic period in Nigerian history. |
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Rebecca / |
Du Maurier�s well-crafted, suspenseful novel begins with the description of a dream the nameless narrator has of Manderlay, the estate of her well-to-do husband Maxim, and prompts the recounting of her time there. However, the character that dominates the novel is Rebecca, Mr. de Winter's first wife, who died in a tragic drowning. We learn about Rebecca from the opinions and observations of those who knew her, especially the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, who exults the beauty and perfection of her former mistress and, quite obviously, resents the arrival of the new Mrs. de Winter. Insecure about her perceived inferiority to Rebecca and unsure of her husband's feelings, the narrator begins to realize that there are dark secrets that shroud Manderlay. As the mystery unfolds, it is revealed that things were not as they seemed. Du Maurier's novel contains surprising plot twists, compelling characters and a stunning conclusion. |
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The story of a marriage / |
If this novel could be summed up with one sentiment, it would be that you can never really know another person, even if that person is someone you love. In 1950s San Francisco, Pearlie and Holland have been married for years when Pearlie learns this painful lesson as someone from her husband's past enters their lives. The author puts us so firmly into Pearlie's heart and mind, that the shocks to her marriage affect us just as intimately. Using a narrative technique of small, startling reveals, Greer reinforces his theme by continuing to turn the readers' perceptions around, but what could have been mere trickery is elevated by his sheer command of language and pacing. |
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The suspicions of Mr. Whicher : a shocking murder and the undoing of a great Victorian detective / |
In 1860, three year-old Saville Kent was found brutally murdered in the outside privy on his family's estate. As local police came up empty, Jonathan Jack Whicher, one of the first Scotland Yard detectives, was sent in to solve the crime. Summerscale's engrossing study not only tells the story of the famous Road Hill case, but also how the murder and Mr. Whicher himself helped shape the detective story; Wilkie Collins reportedly stole details from the case for his novel The Moonstone. The public, fixated on the case, were reportedly suffering from 'detective fever,' sending their solutions to newspapers and to the authorities. Summerscale's book reads like the best crime fiction, and readers will try to construct their own solution as the story unfolds, as well as learn about the fascinating beginning of detective fiction. |
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World War Z : an oral history of the zombie war / |
In the near future, the human race will fight and survive a war with a new and unexpected foe: zombies. Author Max Brooks is the chronicler of this war, collecting oral histories from the men and women who live through the crisis. The stories he collects are remarkably human ones, dealing with the horrors of war, the nature of humanity, and the spirit of hope in the face of adversity, with a few gory bits thrown into the mix to remind us that these are zombies we're talking about. Speculative fiction at its best uses its uniquely altered lens to give us a new way to comment on our society, and by pitting humanity against the horror cliche of zombies, Brooks shows us the true nature of war. The bizarre parallels to the oral histories of writers like Studs Terkel are unmistakable, but the real achievement is that this darkly ironic faux-history pays homage to that style of reporting without ever turning into farce. |
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@#%&*! smilers |
Mann may have reached a new peak of perfection with her latest collection, which kicks off with "Freeway," a song so catchy it should have been a Sheryl Crow-level summer hit this year, if only there were justice (and a level playing field) in the world of radio airplay. Haters who can't tolerate Mann's penchant for sad songs can at least embrace album closer "Ballantines," as sunny a song as the L.A. crooner has ever penned, and old fans will be in hog heaven with the entire smorgasbord of this collection. "Phoenix," "Little Tornado" and the stunningly smart "Stranger Into Starman" are just some of the standouts, but really there isn't a dud on the album. |
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I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass |
I only recently, and very belatedly, picked up Yo La Tengo's 2006 album, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. I know! How did I resist that title for so long? I was skeptical that it would live up to past favorites but was won over once I heard the fifth track, "Black Flowers." Everything about this lovely song�-the vocals, the lyrics, the build-up and slow fade-out�-evokes youthful heartache. Other stand-outs include the melancholic "I Feel Like Going Home" and the '50s-esque "Mr. Tough," with its horns and playful sound. With this, their twelfth album, containing 15 tracks in almost as many different styles, Yo La Tengo is sure to please their devoted fans and even win over some new listeners. |
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La belle époque the songs of Reynaldo Hahn. |
The dapper and cosmopolitan composer Reynaldo Hahn was born in Venezuela but at a very young age immigrated to France, where he eventually became one of the stars of the Parisian salons and an intimate friend of luminaries such as Marcel Proust and Sarah Bernhardt. As in the related German lied, French m�lodie usually involved the setting of a serious lyric poem to music scored for solo voice and piano. Hahn's songs, set to texts by luminaries such as Daudet, Verlaine and Hugo, are particularly sensuous and beguiling. Mezzo-Soprano Susan Hahn captures the subtle interplay of text and music in these performances. The songs range from the light and festive ("F�tes Galantes") to the more passionate ("Dans la Nui"), but perhaps Hahn's greatest accomplishments are songs of exquisite melancholy such as "L' Enamouree" ("The Beloved") and "L'Heure Exquise." |
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Partie traumatic |
The buzz about Black Kids began with their appearance at Athens Popfest in the summer of 2007 and the subsequent release of their demo EP Wizard of Ahhhs. Since the release of their full-length album, Partie Traumatic, there has been a bit of a Black Kids backlash, perhaps because many of the songs were previously released on the EP and arguably sounded better the first time. However, Partie Traumatic, produced by Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, is rife with infectious power pop tunes and is definitely worth a listen. |
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Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is an inner-city junior high teacher. He's good at his job: he connects with the kids and engages, no easy feat when history is the subject matter. On a personal level he's got some issues--namely a crack habit. When one of his students, Drey (Shareeka Epps), unwittingly discovers his secret, they find their lives intersecting in ways they could not have imagined. They have an understanding of sorts, both watching out for each other as they navigate their own twisted paths. Things are further complicated when a neighborhood drug dealer (Anthony Mackie) shows an interest in Drey. Dan feels the need to protect her, but he's not really sure that he's the best person to be doling out advice. Sounds like a gimmicky twist on one of those clich� films where the white middle-class teacher helps the poor inner-city kid, but it offers up so much more than that. This film doesn't try to tie everything up in a neat package or provide answers. It just gives us these three well-crafted characters portrayed so flawlessly by Gosling, Epps and Mackie. Half Nelson was what you'd call a sleeper when it was released back in 2006. It was well received by critics but unfortunately only played at a few theaters. With very solid performances and careful handling of sensitive and weighty issues, this is one that deserves a wider audience. | |
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To the fans of animated film, Hayao Miyazaki deserves to be a household name. Called the Japanese Walt Disney, this name gives you an idea of his popularity, though it might mislead you about his style. To get a sample of the Miyazaki touch, one could hardly find a better introduction than the lovely and whimsical My Neighbor Totoro. When their mother is ill and hospitalized, two young girls move with their father to an old house in the country to be nearer to her. The younger sister, 4-year-old Mei, finds a small creature that looks like a strange cross between a cat and a rabbit in their yard and follows it deeper into the forest. There she encounters a giant version of these gentle forest dwellers, which she later finds out are called Totoro. Mei and her sister Satsuki explore the forest and have adventures with the King Totoro, but those expecting struggles with evil villains as is typical in American animation are going to be disappointed. Miyazaki is more interested in showing the general sense of wonder that is so easily conjured up in children, and the fantastical worlds that lurk on the edges of our own. If he has a message, it is a gentle one that can be found in most of Studio Ghibli's films, respect for the earth and the wonder of nature. Ironically, Disney is releasing many of Miyazaki's animated films, and while the use of dubbing is not always ideal, it does allow one's eyes to fully explore the lush animation. Those who want to can listen to the original Japanese with English subtitles. My Neighbor Totoro is a treasure of animation that will appeal to adults as much as to children. It's a truly magical family film. | |
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The gothic thriller The Orphanage causes just enough unease to keep you on the edge of your seat for its entirety. Laura (Belen Rueda), Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their young son have just moved into a large old house, formerly the orphanage where Laura spent part of her childhood, with the intention of running it as a home for special needs children. Since no other children have arrived, Simon has made a number or imaginary friends, or so his parents think, but his strange behavior begins to worry Laura. Simon's disappearance during a party prompts his parents to conduct a desperate search to find him, but Laura begins to believe that Simon's imaginary friends might be more real than she previously thought and closely tied to her own past, as well as his disappearance. Belen Rueda gives an emotional and convincing portrayal of a desperate mother, and there are enough creepy characters to keep the mood of the film ominous. The Orphanage is an excellent ghost story with abundant suspense and a touch of horror. | |
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Red eye |
From its opening moments wittily cataloging the annoyances of air travel to its outrageous terrorism plot, this taut, tongue-in-cheek thriller is an entertaining B-movie joyride from beginning to end. Leads Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy are two of the best younger actors working, and newcomer Jayma Mays is hilarious as a beleaguered assistant manager of a swanky hotel. Definitely a popcorn movie for a night when you just want to put your feet up. |
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Underworld |
If you're looking for serious drama and great acting, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a campy, action-filled vampire movie, this is it. Underworld is the story of Selene (Kate Beckinsale) a vampire who has been around for centuries fighting in the war between Vampires and Lycans (werewolves). Up until now she has been a loyal warrior for her vampire coven. Then Michael (Scott Speedman), a human, arrives on the scene. The Lycans are after him, and she wants to know why. Her hunt for answers leads her to some not-so-pleasant truths about her own kind that cause her to question her loyalty. The story of the war between the Vampires and the Lycans is appealing. The action is similar to that in The Matrix, and with a strong female lead the movie is lots of fun to watch. |