The Hangman's Daughter

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch

Whenever I go to New York City I make a pilgrimage to the Strand bookstore.18 miles of books, how could I not?! During my last visit I became overwhelmed, and after 45 minutes of wandering, snatched The Hangman’s Daughter from the “books everyone loves table.” To my surprise, the book was a lot of fun. 

Originally written in German, this mystery novel set in 17th century Bavaria has both an interesting plot and a plethora of historical detail. When the body of a local child turns up in a river with suspicious markings, the townspeople assume dark magic is afoot. Despite the lack of tangible evidence, the town midwife is accused of witchcraft. Jakob Kuisl is an unlikely detective (oh, and the town hangman) who stands out as the voice of reason in a world that is ready to accept witch hunts and gruesome medieval medical practices. Can the hangman prove that the midwife is innocent before it’s too late?! You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Those critical of language and authenticity may find the translation too modern but I found it approachable. An engaging whodunit!

Starstruck: Photographs From a Fan

Starstruck by Gary Lee Boas

I've spent a considerable amount of time with the square amateur photo book that is know as Starstruck. I first discovered it in the little library of my friend's basement/record studio. Often when someone is trying to get the tambourine part just right or the bass amplifier needs adjusting, I pick up a good book to browse... with pictures.

Starstruck is a collection of candid celebrity photos by Gary Lee Boas. The time frame ranges from 1966 (when the photographer was 15) until 1980. Boas was essentially an obsessed fan who would wait around Manhattan to catch stars going in and out of theaters, restaurants, clubs, etc. Although some shots are fairly washed out or rather out of focus, they're all completely fascinating. There's a charm to these shots and one can't help but admire Boas's obsession. Well, maybe "admire" isn't the right word!

Even with images of massive celebrities like Katherine Hepburn, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Stewart or Jack Nicholson, the real star of this book is New York City. Accidentally, Gary Lee Boas gives us an excellent overall snapshot of the world's greatest city at an electric time.

Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter

Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter by Alyn Shipton

John Lennon once stated "Nilsson's my favorite group." 

Harry Nilsson, the tenor with the golden, three and a half octave  vocal range/the brilliant songwriter/the ultimate interpreter of songs/the boozer/the raconteur/the sometimes screenwriter, lived the most of his 52 years. His life was a colorful one that began with much sadness. Despite his setbacks and despair, Nilsson managed to keep his spirits high and he chose the path of adventure. He sang the theme song to Midnight Cowboy, released a brilliant run of albums from 1966-1980 (with music ranging from ballads to Beatlesy pop to country send-ups to wild rockers to standards from the Great American Songbook to Calypso to rude comedy numbers), conceived the animated children's classic The Point!, collected a couple Grammy's, raised hell with Ringo Starr and other music royalty, started a film production company and eventually settled as a family man.

Using a myriad of resources, interviews and quotes from Nilsson's unfinished autobiography, Alyn Shipton writes a loving biography without sensationalizing the life of this sensational artist.

Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie [DVD]

Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie a film by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller

Saying Morton Downey Jr. was a complex man would be the understatement of the century. Son of a famous singer, Jr. began his career in show business as a vocalist himself. He had a small hit with in 1958 with the haunting tune "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams". He later worked in radio and eventually became involved with the world of sports by first buying an American Basketball Association team and later co-founding the World Baseball League.

What brought Morton Downey Jr. national attention was his short run on the syndicated Morton Downey Jr. Show based out of New Jersey. The host who grew up hanging around the Kennedy family, became a loudmouth, conservative screamer on his late 80's program. The documentary pulled many clips that made the air where Downey Jr. gets in audience members faces and says some of the most horrific and offensive things you will ever hear in your life. His show seems to be pure theater and unfortunately it paved the way for future trash television such as the Jerry Springer Show.

Like him or not, Evocateur is a massively entertaining film. It's an excellent documentary of the strange life and quick rise and fall of a man whose life was filled with controversy.

The We and The I [DVD]

Director Michel Gondry is mostly know for his heady, comedic films with cunning in-camera effects such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind & The Science of Sleep and innovative music videos from Björk, Beck and the White Stripes. In The We and the I, Gondry scales back and tells a story via a bus ride through the Bronx. The French director workshopped this script with a group of teens over the course of three years and the result is this wonderful film.

We see the complex dynamics of high school relationships as we join a group of students after their last day of classes. There's bullying, gossip, swagger, flirting, fighting, some genuinely funny conversations and many heartfelt moments, too. Throughout, the dialog is natural; we almost feel as though we're watching a a documentary at times.

Despite this austere approach to filmmaking, Gondry's presence is still felt with the occasional use of non-digital effects. A small boombox shaped bus rides around town at the intro. Later, we see an interesting scene where he superimposes a pizza shop directly through the window of the city bus. These moments perfectly interject surrealism and introduce lightness into this very realistic movie.

Made In California [Music CD]

Made In California by the Beach Boys

Wow.

New paragraph: this Beach Boys box is something to behold. Set up like a high school yearbook with large glossy photographs, interviews, articles and fake advertisements, Made In California is a thing of beauty. We flip to the last page and we see six cds filled to the max with hits, album cuts, rarities, outtakes and live versions. The set commemorates 50 years of Beach Boysdom from Brian's "Surfin'" demo right up to their 2012 single "That's Why God Made the Radio".

Made In California has enough newly unearthed material for completests, music scholars and other varying degrees of nerd. It is also consistent in high standards so it doesn't feel too overwhelming for someone who is just discovering that this group isn't a band that only sings about surfing and cars. You need not have to comb through sub-par tracks.

Obviously, the genius Brian Wilson is at the forefront of the productions here. We truly realize how special the body of work he had produced and see the heights of creative genius and musical innovation. Wilson can safely be put alongside Gershwin, Copland and Ellington in the Hall of Great American Composers (this building does not exist). His baby brothers shine as well; Dennis, the drummer/rebellious middle child, is represented with a multitude of brilliant heart-aching ballads (mostly unreleased until now) and Carl, the finest singer of the lot, is clearly the soul of the Beach Boys. The latter comment becomes evident as you make your way through the recordings... trust me on this.

If you're familiar with their catalog, look out these newly issued gems "Sail Plane Song", "Sound of Free", "California Feelin'", "You're Still A Mystery" and "Where Is She?". For those unfamiliar to the Beach Boys, how I envy you to be able to experience hearing this wonderful music for the first time.

Hombre

Hombre by Elmore Leonard

In this hardboiled Western, Elmore Leonard writes a short, gritty tale where a group travels via stagecoach through the Arizona desert. Our trusty narrator, who is conversational with the reader and serves as a moral compass, is under the employ of the stagecoach/horses owner. Bickering begins at the outset and when the stagecoach comes under attack by a group of outlaws, these early differences of opinion result in chaos. A mysterious Apache, John Russell, is their only hope in making it out of the desert alive.

Simon & Garkfunkel: The Columbia Studio Recordings 1964-1970 [Music CD]

The Columbia Studio Recordings 1964-1970 by Simon & Garfunkel
 
Simon & Garfunkel never felt like a singles band to me. Sure, there's the massive, mega-hits: "Mrs. Robinson", "The Sound of Silence", "The Boxer", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Cecelia", etc., but Paul Simon's songwriting abilities were never simply tunnel visioned to the radio dial. All five of Paul & Artie's studio albums are classics that are meant to be heard front to back and then back to front again. With the Columbia Studio Recordings boxed set, we can hear every song, every angelic harmony, every sweet acoustic guitar move and every perfect arrangement.  

Six or seven years is not a whole lot time in the grand scheme of things, but Simon & Garfunkel made it count with their prolific run as Columbia Records recording artists.

The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni  by Helene Wecker

Mythical creatures from Jewish and Arab folklore come alive in 19th century New York City when a Golem (a clay creature made only to serve another) and a Jinni (a fiercely independent being made of fire) trapped in human form find themselves living in adjacent neighborhoods.

The book begins with two separate plot lines... The Golem, though a fully formed woman, comes to life in the hull of a ship headed towards America and soon finds herself masterless in a world that she doesn't understand. The Jinni on the other hand, awakes on the floor of a tinsmith shop in little Syria after a thousand years trapped in a bottle. As the novel continues the stories of the characters become entwined and, in a beautiful example of storytelling, all of the pieces of Wecker’s mythical world fall into place, leaving the reader satisfied yet sad to reach the end.

This genre bending novel has elements of historical fiction and fantasy. Wecker has clearly done a lot of research and paints a vivid picture of New York’s little Syria and Bowery neighborhoods during the turn of the century. Lovers of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and The Night Circus will enjoy the rich detail and intricate plot line.

A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charles Swan III [Music CD]

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III Soundtrack by Liam Hayes

Recently I was discussing Roman Coppola's A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, a film that a mere 27% of Rotten Tomatoes voters enjoyed (thus proving my hypothesis that 73% of the population is completely nuts). In any event, I closed out my mini-review mentioning Liam Hayes's "brilliant score". Well, ask and ye shall receive! Forbes now owns the soundtrack. Thanks, Genie!

Coppola learned of Liam Hayes through his cast member/cousin, Jason Schwartzman. Hayes, a Chicago resident, has been releasing soulful/ 1970's-ish style/indie-rockish music since the early 1990's. The songs are hooky with a sometimes classic, "Philadelphia sound" arrangement. On top, his voice could be likened to the tenor of a Mr. John Lennon. 

The affinity for 70's sounds (pianos, tasteful synthesizers, horns) work perfectly with Charles Swan's groovy universe; a marriage made in heaven. Many of the songs were pulled from Hayes's back catalog as a solo artist and also from his tenure in the group Plush. "A Glimpse Inside", almost the film's theme, was written especially for the picture and here we can listen for Hayes's tremendous vocal range. Another highlight is "So Much Music", an anthem discussing the undying spirit of a musician. Hopefully Hayes is good on this sentiment because he's a truly talented artist.

The Third Eye Centre [Music CD]

The Third Eye Centre by Belle & Sebastian

The Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian are rather prolific. Along with releasing several albums over the course of their nearly two decade career, the band has also put out several ep's (i.e. short albums) and non-album track singles. The compilation The Third Eye Centre gathers up interesting ep tracks and b-sides spanning 2003 to 2010. 

In this collection, we see the wide range of influence and also the musical versatility Belle & Sebastian possesses. They bounce from perfect pop song to ballad to Bossa Nova to disco to country & western and then back to perfect pop song again.

Singer/songwriters Stuart Murdoch, Stevie Jackson and Sarah Martin provide backstory forall of the tracks in the beautiful attached booklet with this small boxed set. It's baffling that songs such as "Last Trip", "Long Black Scarf" or "Blues Eyes of a Millionaire" were cast aside and not included on the band's albums from the 2000's. The Third Eye Centre is a really fun, diverse collection that has also enough consistency to make it work as a proper album.

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III [DVD]

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III a film by Roman Coppola.

Charlie Sheen, Jason Schwartzman, Katherine Winnick, Patricia Arquette, Aubrey Plaza and Bill Murray star in this dark comedy about a graphic artist going through a painful breakup and life crisis. Charles Swan (played by Charlie Sheen) is a Brandy Alexander drinkin' guy who has eggs and bacon decals on his old roadster, but also dreams up wild visions of soft shoeing at his own funeral, singing a duet in Portuguese on television and being attacked by models wearing Native American garb. He simply can't distinguish reality from fantasy.

Roman Coppola, yes son of Francis Ford and brother of Sofia, is the writer/director. The film is a homemade affair with Coppola using his house and office as key locations. He also worked as the director of photography on the picture. A Glimpse Inside, though never stating such, seems to be set during a groovy time in 1970's: airbrush, velvet suits, cool hair, shades, snazzy record album jackets, etc. In addition, the character of Charles Swan is loosely based on a few airbrush wizards from the L.A. art scene and fittingly, Swan's studio features the work of several of these artists (including Charles White III). 

The film blends off beat comedy, staged fantasy and drama. Also, be sure to listen for Liam Hayes's brilliant score.

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie

This is a detailed biography of Catherine II, from her childhood as a minor princess in a small German principality to her long reign as empress and autocrat of all the Russias and one of the most powerful women in Europe. My favorite part: when Catherine donned a uniform and the led the army to arrest her husband and seize his throne! And what lover of books and libraries can resist the story of how Catherine made Denis Diderot her personal librarian? When Catherine heard that the great encyclopedist had run into financial difficulties and wished to sell his library, Catherine bought the entire collection for more than his asking price, insisted that the books stay with Diderot in Paris, and paid him a handsome salary so he could continue his work.

Catherine's life was full of court politics, international intrigues, subtle power struggles, and secret plots, but also scholarly pursuits, intimate correspondences, lavish parties, extravagant gifts, and love affairs, secret and private. Massie pays great attention to Catherine's personal life—the excerpts from her love letters are wonderful to read.

Massie approach is direct and readable, with chapters based upon subject matter more than chronology.In this book he provides an interesting slice of European and Russian history, a fascinating glimpse of 18th century politics and the influence of Enlightenment thought on a powerful monarch, and an appealing tale of personal struggle and transformation.

The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America

The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan
What does a fire in the Bitterroots have to do with Teddy Roosevelt and the Forest Service? The Forest Service was started by Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the USFS, in 1905. However, many politicians wanted to sell off the forests to large corporations, and thought conservation was a horrible idea. That might sound familiar, but this was at the beginning of the 20th century. A huge fire in 1910 was the catalyst to prevent this new agency from being blown away. Interesting look at the politics of the time, and an adrenaline-inducing account of the front lines of the fire. This book is a coming-of-age story for the United States Forest Service.

Paul F. Tompkins: Laboring Under Delusions [DVD]

Laboring Under Delusions by Paul F. Tompkins

Paul F. Tompkins, comedian-actor-podcaster-improvisational wizard, performs a thematic stand-up set recalling his life as an employed person in Laboring Under Delusions. The long form jokes are delivered in a story setting highlighting the perils of working as a video clerk, a hat salesman (on multiple occasions, he was asked to retrieve a "king hat") and as a minor character in the film There Will Be Blood. Tompkins is immensely charming and equally hilarious. This is very funny stuff!

Tell Them Anything You Want [DVD]

Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak is a beautiful film about illustrator Maurice Sendak, directed by Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze. At only 39 minutes in length, it is a short film, and it consists of little more than a beautifully edited series of interviews with Sendak.

Jonze and Bangs began filming interviews with Sendak in 2003, and the film intersperse bits of their interviews conducted over the course of several years. Jonze and Bangs are out of shot for most of the film—they even edit out many of their own questions and prompts—so the film consists largely of Sendak talking, often poignantly, but always with great wit and humor, about a number of topics, including childhood, death, and children's books. The interviews are spliced together so as to give the whole thing a snappy, informal, feel, and the cinematography is beautiful, adding far more to the film than you would expect in a simple interview.

Fans of Maurice Sendak will, of course, love this film, but I encourage anyone who enjoys a good interview to give it a try. Those who heard Terry Gross's interview with Maurice Sendak will understand why.

October Mourning: a song for Matthew Shepard

October Mourning: a song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman

Matthew Shepard was a gay college student who was lured out to the prairie by two young men who brutally beat him, tied him to a fence and left him to die. Using a variety of poetic forms and various perspectives including from the fence, the victim and the perpetrators, Newman has created a book of poetry that is powerful to read and works extremely well as a tool to discuss important issues surrounding Shepard's tragic death. Excellent forward, epilogue and explanation of the poetic forms used adds to the reader's understanding and makes this an especially valuable book to use with high school students.

Pootie Tang [DVD]

Pootie Tang a film by Louis C.K.

A case for Pootie Tang, a micro-essay.

Genius comic Louis C.K. had written a script based on a character from the Chris Rock Show and brought it to the big screen in 2001. It has been well documented that the author was extremely unhappy with the final product and the experience caused him a great deal of pain. You see, the film was snatched away in the editing stages and the cut we see now is not Louie's vision.

This much maligned film stars Lance Crouther, Chris Rock (in several roles), J.B. Smoove and Wanda Sykes and also features several cameos (I'm not going to spoil them here). We follow the life of Pootie Tang, a hero to the people with a magical belt and an unintelligible language. Things go awry when an evil corporate villain, through a series of underhanded schemes, attempts to attach Pootie's likeness to unhealthy fast food, malt liquor and cigarette smoking.

Despite the critical wrath and lampooning from late night talk shows, Pootie Tang still delivers plenty of laughs in its crazy, surreal music video-esque style. Though many cite the film as a "so bad it's good" romp, I enjoyed the picture in the most genuine way possible. I found myself laughing loudly throughout and having to catch my breath. 

I suppose this off the wall mockumentary was a little ahead of its time at the beginning of the 2000's. Needless to say, fans would love to one day see Louis C.K.'s director's cut to view the real Pootie Tang.

The Homemade Pantry

The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila 

The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making, written by Great Barrington’s Alana Chernila is a practical guide to becoming more self sufficient in the kitchen. The book is cleverly organized by aisle and features staples that many people buy at the grocery store including pasta sauce, jelly, granola bars, and even a homemade version of the beloved Pop-Tart. Every recipe is accompanied by a personal story so if you don’t have a lot of time for cooking you can still enjoy some light reading.

I recently tried the recipe for whole wheat sandwich bread. Bread is one of those things I always really want to make for myself but usually the product is blatantly inferior to the local bakery or even the grocery store version. The instructions had the bread slowly rise in the fridge for up to three days so after nervously waiting, I finally baked my bread yesterday and was delighted to find that it was a success! 

If you just can't get enough of Alana, she also has a blog, Eating From the Ground Up.

American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Okay, this book did come out in 2001 and it is a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards so you may have heard of it or even read it already. If you haven’t read American Gods yet, if it has been sitting on your “to read” list, or has slipped through the cracks in some other way, I would like to confirm that it is a great read.

Part modern day epic, part rambling road narrative, American Gods has something for a variety of audiences. Neil Gaiman, best known for the Sandman graphic novel series, has again proven his abilities in adult fiction writing with this masterfully crafted piece of storytelling. I found myself sucked into the intricately woven plot line and fascinated by the combination of modern and ancient mythological characters. While at times dark and a little graphic (the main character is an ex-con after all), the story has an element of gritty realness not often found in fantasy novels.

I honestly don’t want to give anything more away because I enjoyed learning every new piece of the plot as I read and I think you will too.Whenever anyone asks me for a book recommendation, this is almost always the first title that comes to mind.

Down the Nile: alone in a fisherman's skiff

Down the Nile: alone in a fisherman's skiff by Rosemary Mahoney

I liked this independent, determined woman. In the late 1990s, Mahoney, an American writer and experienced recreational rower, got the idea of rowing herself down the Nile.  This is not allowed and virtually never done -- tourists always travel on cruise boats or feluccas (small sailboats piloted by their owners). When she set out to buy a small rowboat in Egypt, she was met with disbelief.  Women, even western women, did not travel alone. To a fisherman, rowing was work, so why would she want to do it herself?  Felucca captains and boat owners assumed a woman couldn't know how to row. Eventually she succeeds in her adventure, and it's both more and less than expected but always fascinating.

Mahoney is empathetic and eloquent. She engages in conversations with Egyptian men and women she meets, learning a great deal about cultural differences, rampant poverty, and the restricted status of women. She quotes extensively from 19th-century European travelers, notably Florence Nightingale and Gustave Flaubert, and gives a selective history of tourism in the region (including colonialism and theft of artifacts) which puts the present-day in context.  So much has changed and so much is the same.  In particular, her descriptions of the river and its natural environment -- the wildlife, vegetation, water and sky -- are poetic and timeless.

All a Novelist Needs: Colm Tóibín on Henry James

All a Novelist Needs: Colm Tóibín on Henry James by Colm Tóibín

All a Novelist Needs is beautifully written with fascinating insights into Henry James and his creative process. Anyone who likes Tóibín or James will enjoy this book.

Longtime Companion [Music CD]

Longtime Companion by Sonny & the Sunsets

Step one after a break up is to write and record a country album. San Francisco native Sonny Smith has followed this guide, only he's unexpectedly added a little bounce, shuffle and humor. I saw Sonny & the Sunsets on the Longtime Companion tour at Flywheel in Easthampton, MA and he played a number of songs from this record alongside his usual catchy, sometimes surfy, melodic fair. He also took off his pants.

Smith's deadpan delivery over the groovy "I See the Void" had me sold on his version of country music. He and the Sunsets played a mini set of their hip take of twang with nods to Buck Owens, The Flying Burrito Brothers (the self-titled number takes me to that "Hot Burrito no. 2" place with steady soul bass over a simple chord change) and even a little Beachwood Sparks.

For a record dealing with heartbreak and separation, Sonny & the Sunsets offer the listener an enjoyable experience and while forging new ground within a classic genre.

The Great Railway Bazaar

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux 

Have you ever considered traveling from England to Russia via Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan by train? Me either. Paul Theroux does just that and survives to tell about it in his 1975 travel narrative The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia. This long journey is broken up into chapters by train, starting with the 15:30 London to Paris and ending with the Trans-Siberian Express. Though Theroux embarks from London on his own, he meets a number of colorful characters and manages to have interesting interactions (usually over a drink) despite linguistic and cultural barriers.

Theroux’s writing style is at times so rich with description that you can practically smell the pungent passenger sitting across from him. In other instances, he is blunt and to the point, relaying only that he is in a particular place to catch a train.The writing style mimics the ups and downs of traveling alone in foreign country and truly makes the reader feel as if they were riding the train alongside the narrator. Though Theroux  rarely spends more than a day or two off the train, he manages to convey a surprising amount about each of his destinations through descriptions of the train and characters.

Dodger

Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Dodger is the latest novel by Sir Terry Pratchett, best known for his satirical Discworld series of fantasy novels. Pratchett's usual wit and love of language shine through in this historical piece set in Victorian London and with a cast of characters that includes Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, Angela Burdett-Coutts, and Queen Victoria.

Dodger takes place above and below London, with the city's ancient Roman sewers playing a prominent part. Much of the drama comes from the meeting of the upper and lower classes, the rich and poor, and the politics of the street vs. the politics of the state.

Pratchett has, very consciously, taken liberties with the setting and refers to the work as a historical fantasy, not a historical novel. The most obvious example is the inclusion of the almost certainly fictional Sweeney Todd. Less noticeable to most readers will be the the adjustment to the lives of Sir Robert Peel and John Tenniel whose careers did not, in fact, overlap as suggested in the novel. These changes may bother some, but if you take them in stride you will find Dodger to be a very enjoyable adventure story brought to life by its rich setting and colorful language.

The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared

The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

I picked this up because of the intriguing title and because it was Swedish without being a grim, dark thriller.  It does have crime though, so you won't feel deprived.  Anyhow, this crazy old character escapes from a nursing home and goes off on a series of adventures that recall his long and fascinating life.  It's ironic, absurd, clever and surreal, populated by unique and sometimes famous figures from the past and present.  It shares the unlikely Forrest Gump just-happened-to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the right-time premise, so be prepared to suspend your disbelief once and for all.  Once you do, it's wickedly entertaining, fast paced and very funny.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Where'd you go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

A couple of creative, perceptive and witty misfits star in this novel.  Mother, wife and lapsed architect Bernadette lives in Seattle with her high-tech superstar husband and too-smart-for-social-success teenage daughter.  They live in a beyond weird old house and can't cope with their perfectly privileged and PC neighbors or private school.  The format is as original as the characters: the story unfolds through letters, emails, diary entries and school documents.  Maria Semple wrote for TV's Arrested Development, so you'd expect the dialogue and plot twists to be hilarious, and they are; there are scenes that would be fabulous onscreen.  There's also sincerity and real character development in these quickly-turning pages.

This is How You Lose Her [Book on CD]

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz

The audiobook is read by the author, Junot Diaz, to wonderful effect. We follow the life and romantic misadventures of Yunior, from the time his family immigrated from the Dominican Republic to his life as a professor in Cambridge -- although not in a straight chronology. Diaz's language is in turns brash and lyrical, peppered with slang. Yunior is not always an easy guy to like, and that he becomes a sympathetic character at all is due to Diaz's genius (as further evidenced by his being named a MacArthur Fellow in 2012). The version of the audiobook I listened to was further interspersed with latin music, helping to set the mood and carry me away.

Telegraph Avenue [Book on CD]

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon's mastery of language alone is enough to recommend anything he writes.  But the characters in Telegraph Avenue provide much more to enjoy. The story centers around two friends in Oakland, California who own a used record store that is "nearly the last of its kind." Archy is black, Nat is Jewish, and their wives are also partners in a midwifery practice.  All of them are beleaguered by cultural and economic realities that endanger their livelihoods, but they keep doing what they believe in.  Meanwhile their children have their own troubles which are drawn sympathetically yet realistically.  The neighborhood, customers, relatives, friends and enemies are portrayed with a warts-and-all detail that makes them very multi-dimensional, believable and relatable.  The story unfolds at a deliberate pace but the humanness of the characters and the joy of Chabon's writing will draw you in.  For music buffs, there's an extra nostalgic delight in vintage vinyl.  Clarke Peters reads for Recorded Books in a rich, deep voice, delivering Chabon's metaphors and dialogue with the power, humor and sly intelligence they deserve.

California Split [DVD]

California Split a film by Robert Altman

George Segal and Elliott Gould star in California Split, my all time favorite Robert Altman film and one of the best from the 1970's. This dark, buddy comedy is centered around Bill Denny & Charlie Waters, two men who get sucked into the world of gambling. After Bill falls deep in debt to his bookie, he sells off several possessions so he and Charlie can make an all-in trek to Reno.  They eventually find themselves in a tacky casino and in a dramatic, high stakes poker match.

Segal and Gould are the ultimate on screen duo with a perfect comedic volley and excellent chemistry. Additionally, this 1974 movie comes in when Altman was on top of his creative game. The director's signature usage of wide range audio recording gives the picture an incredible depth and a real sense of place. The conversations from the extras and bit characters are always audible and usually rather interesting.

Ultimately, the story of California Split asks, does money really equal happiness?

The Woman Who Died A Lot [Book on CD]

The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde

This latest entry in the Thursday Next series of genre-bending literary absurdist fantasy adventure novels is immensely satisfying.  Fforde doesn't miss a chance for a farcical or pun-driven punchline; the twists and knots and mobius strips in the overlapping plot lines make perfect sense in the impossible logic of his alternate world, despite (or because of) which, they still provide surprises.  Thursday has been pushed into semi-retirement but nevertheless manages to be at the center of the action, valiantly trying to save the world from Goliath Corporation (mission statement: to own everything and control everybody), the smitings of a wrathful deity, asteroid collisions, overdue library books, and genetically engineered fake versions of herself.  The reader on this Recorded Books version has done a brilliant job of voicing the many characters and pacing the reading with a deadpan nonchalance.  

Birth House

Birth House by Ami McKay

This book made me think about the births of my children as well as family tales I've heard from my mother and grandmother about their very different birth experiences. The clash between midwifery and “modern” medical care is at the center of this engaging story. The author does a great job of weaving in historical events and of setting the story during the nineteen-teens in a remote Nova Scotia village.

Kisses on the Bottom [CD]

Kisses on the Bottom by Paul McCartney

It's been an awfully long time since Macca has been discussed on the Forbes Library staff picks blog.  So, here I am to recommend a romantic offering from the melodious, ex-Beatle.  Kisses on the Bottom, Paul's tribute to the music he heard around the house as a boy, is a marvelous collection of standards with two originals tacked on for good measure.  Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Robert Hurst, John Pizzarelli and Karriem Riggins are among the many fine musicians who make up McCartney's backing band.

The title comes from a lyric from the opening tune, "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" by Fats Waller.  The introduction's syncopated piano line, upright bass and brushes on the drum kit, set the tone for this swinging affair.  Recorded at the famed Capitol Studios on Hollywood and Vine, Paul, singing with Nat King Cole's microphone, taps into the crooning spirit of yesteryear.

Highlights include "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive", "My Valentine" (a Paul original), "The Inchworm"... well, I recommend 'em all!

Midnight in Peking

Midnight In Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French

In 1937 foreigners and native Beijinger's alike were shocked when the mutilated body of a young woman was found just outside of of Beijing's Legation Quarter. Clearly, a terrible crime had been committed, but what had happened? The investigation was complicated by the bureaucratic system that made it difficult for law enforcement in the Legation Quarter and in Chinese Beijing to work together and the detectives in charge of the case struggled with a lack of information and communication—and what seemed all too often to be pure obstructionism from above. Paul French's Midnight in Peking offers a fascinating glimpse of China at beginning of the Second World War, a time when powerful Europeans were leaving China, and many refugees were arriving in Beijing and nearby cities, fleeing from the USSR and Nazi Germany, and from the increasingly hostile and militaristic presence of the Japanese within China.

French's narrative follows both the official investigations, and the unofficial investigation conducted by the victim's father. There are some surprising twists along the way, and French takes advantage of them to keep the reader on her toes. An engaging read, but not for the squeamish or those who prefer to read stories in which justice is fulfilled.

How To Sharpen Pencils

How To Sharpen Pencils by David Rees

Humorist/artisanal pencil sharpener David Rees carefully guides us through the various #2 sharpening techniques and the history of the famed utilitarian instrument.  The book, half manual/ half comedic piece, is both instructional and hilarious.  Rees provides information on setting up a pencil sharpening workshop, pre-sharpening stretches, fancy pencil sharpening routines and of course, sharpening styles and techniques. 

Note: this volume is not recommended for fans of mechanical pencils or electric sharpeners!