The Devil in the White City (book review)

The Devil in the White City (2003), by Erik Larson. The author brings to life Chicago in 1893, the World's Fair held there that year, and a chilling serial killer who inhabited Chicago while the fair was going on. Best of all, it's a true story. One of the better books I've read this year. It's rather long, but nevertheless makes for a quick read. Grade: B+

Secret Things (DVD movie review)

Secret Things (2002), in French with English subtitles. Drenched in sex, this French comedy-thriller features a cast no American is likely to recognize. It walks a fine line between porn and art, and would certainly get an NC-17 rating if it were made or distributed in the U.S. That aside, it's pretty good fun as two young women explore their sexuality, then try to exploit it in the business world, with disastrous results. Grade: B

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (DVD movie review)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet. Interesting story about lovers who break up, then decide to have their memories of each other erased by a hole-in-the-wall company named Lacuna Inc. Some great mental gymnastics and interesting use of special effects make this an engaging tale about love and how two people may just be meant to be together. Good performances by the stars, too. Grade: B+

Behind the Scenes at the Museum (book review)

Behind the Scenes at the Museum (1995) by Kate Atkinson. The multi-generational story of a family and its foibles in York, England. Ruby Lennox, the protagonist, tells of growing up poor in a dysfunctional family, complete with poor parenting, infidelity, and living above a pet shop in a dwelling called Above the Shop. The house is inhabited by ghosts, and Ruby's life is scarred by Pearl, her lost twin. With all the tragedy of their lives, the book is filled with an underlying humor and warmth. It's a bit of a challenge for American readers because of the British vernacular and cultural references, but a worthwhile read. Grade: B.

Elf (DVD movie review)

Elf (2003) starring Will Ferrel. Boy, is this movie a disappointment. It may appeal to grade-school kids, but there's nothing here for the discerning adult. It's not a family movie, in the sense of a movie that appeals to kids but has another layer of meaning for adults. There is no other layer of meaning, just a really dumb plot and lousy special effects. Grade: D

A Million Little Pieces (book review)

A Million Little Pieces (2003) by James Frey.
Harrowing memoir of Frey's stay in a drug rehab center and the pain of his improbable recovery. Intensely emotional, intensely descriptive, at times this book is almost too painful to read. It kept me interested, however, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something a little off the beaten path. Grade: B

Hot Plastic (book review)

Hot Plastic (2004) by Peter Craig. Fascinating story about a "family" of con artists who travel throughout the country and even to Europe in an attempt to keep the grift alive. The main con they run is in fake credit cards, hence the title of the book. Their adventures are made interesting by vividly portrayed characters, and an inside look at the many ways in which people can be tricked out of or just plain robbed of their money. Grade: A-

Eye of the Needle (DVD movie review)

Eye of the Needle (1981) starring Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan. Sutherland is compelling as the icy Nazi spy who has information that can turn the war around. Nelligan is convincing as the lonely, sexually frustrated woman who inhabits the island where he is stranded. Grade: B+

Swimming Pool (DVD movie review)

Swimming Pool, starring Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier. The young actress Sagnier is the chief attraction in this Hitchcock-esque tale about a writer (Rampling) who is loaned a French country house by her publisher so that she can get away from England and get some writing done. Soon Sagnier, as the publisher's daughter, shows up and events take off on an ever-escalating binge of sex and, eventually violence. But what is real, and what is in the writer's imagination? We don't find out until the final scene. Pay close attention. Grade: A-

Sexy Beast (DVD movie review)

Sexy Beast, starring Ben Kingsley. Kingsley, who once played Ghandi, comes full circle in his menacing portrayal of a violent thug in "Sexy Beast." The movie is set in Spain and England, with Kingsley portraying a crook sent to recruit a reluctant, "retired" criminal to help in a heist. The heavy use of British dialects makes the subtitle feature of the DVD very handy. Grade: B

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+

Mean Girls (DVD movie review)

Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan. This movie, based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabees," leaves a bit to be desired, yet Lohan is winning as the girl who starts at a new school and must learn the savage ways of teenage girls. Grade: B

Star Wars (DVD movie review)

Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Everyone knows this was the first "Star Wars" film, but according to Lucas it's part 4 of the story. It may be a treat for fans or first-time viewers, but it didn't hold up that well for me. The biggest positive is the quality of the image, which has been cleaned up for the DVD and is superb. The DVD also offers English subtitles, so you can catch subtleties of dialog you may have missed before. Grade: B

Man on Fire (DVD movie review)

Man on Fire, starring Denzel Washington. Jazzy cinematography can't disguise retro script, which is a pretty much standard revenge drama. Set in Mexico, with Denzel playing a bodyguard hired to protect a young girl (Dakota Fanning) from kidnappers. Grade: C

Camouflage (book review)

Camouflage, by Joe Haldeman (2004). Haldeman, author of "The Forever War," produces readable, old-fashioned science fiction. "Camouflage" is not a great work of literature, but it is a great read for science fiction fans. Two ancient aliens, both able to change their appearance, have lived undetected on Earth since prehistory. One learns to be more human, while the other lives to kill. By the end of the book, they will meet each other in a climax with a couple of nice twists. Grade: B+

Shadow Divers (book review)

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (2004). One of the best books I've read in a long time, this is a nonfiction account of the discovery and exploration of a previously unknown German U-boat that sank off the New Jersey coast during World War II. Kurson goes beyond the narrative of the dive and search of the U-boat to delve into the lives and background of the characters who partake in the quest, and this is what makes the book so compelling. Grade: A