The Secret Life of Bees (book review)

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in South Carolina in the 1960s, this tale of a teenage girl searching for her place in the world is by turns poignant, spiritual, inspirational, funny and educational. Its only flaw for me was that it seemed at times to slip out of the adolescent voice and into the adult voice without explanation. I found the book very moving. Grade: A-

Skinny Dip (book review)

Skinny Dip, by Carl Hiaasen (2004). A funny thriller by the Florida-based writer. It starts with a woman being pushed over the side of a cruise ship at sea. "I married an asshole," she thinks as she plunges toward the water. But her husband has miscalculated, as she is a superb athlete and was on her college swimming team. Should she turn him in to the police, or would it be more entertaining to get her revenge another way? Grade: B+

You Remind Me of Me (book review)

You Remind Me of Me, by Dan Chaon (2004). A young boy is attacked by the family dog, leaving his face scarred for life. Later, he learns that he has a half-brother that his parents never told him about. His odyssey to find his brother and ultimately himself comprises this novel. Grade: A

The Return of the King (DVD review)

The Return of the King is the third and final installment in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Directed by Peter Jackson, it features stunning visuals -- and a three-hour running length. The plot will be familiar to Tolkien fans, and it is a stirring account of the final battle between Men and Evil in Middle Earth. The dialog is hard to understand at times, but the DVD has English subtitles available, so if you want you can catch all the nuances of the script by turning on the subtitles. I found this feature particularly helpful in understanding characters like Gollum and Gimli the dwarf. Grade: A-

Bel Canto (book review)

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001). A select group of opera lovers find themselves taken hostage in a botched kidnapping attempt. The novel traces the path they follow as they are confined with their captors and gradually captives and captors begin to form bonds. Tends to drag a bit in spots, but overall an acute observation of human nature. Grade: B+