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Defending Jacob by William Landay - This is a good read narrated by a prosecuting attorney in a small town whose son gets in trouble. The narrator is full of himself, constantly explaining things to the reader, but still, one reads on. It's good reading as you're going through, but by the end, I felt like it was just too much. No other comment than that, just that it was too much. It's good enough to read if you enjoy legal and courtroom drama. Not one of my all time favs, though.
New Year's Eve - This is a sweet movie with an all star cast, lots of romance, a little drama and a little fun and little stories about people who often cross paths. There's a certain actress in the movie who somehow always gets to be a princess, but she's not my favorite for the princess any more. When you watch, you'll see what I mean. You'll think that there are many princesses here, but you'll find out which one I'm talking about if you watch to the end. It's sweet and can be saved for that time when you just want to watch, not think. If you miss it, you didn't miss much, unless you wanted to see your favorite actor or actress in a small role.
Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman - For me, this is a companion book to Motherland. Written as historical fiction, this work looks back at Tidi's life during the time she left her childhood home in Germany at 12 years old, her voyage, and the first years of her life in America. It's based on the true story of the author's mother's experiences, and it all seems so adventurous until you realize that it really happened, and that these were traumatic events. Humans are resilient, though. Edith (Tidi) survived. At what cost, we found out in Motherland. I've enjoyed reading these books, and hope that Fern Schumer Chapman will write a third book about the in-between years. I want to know about the rest of Tidi's life. I hope we aren't finished!
Motherland by Fern Schumer Chapman - I inhaled this true story written by a daughter who accompanied her mom back to the mom's village in Germany more than 50 years after the mom was sent to America by her parents when she was 12 years old. There are so many layers and parts and feelings in a story like this, and Fern Schumer Chapman hits on all of them. Everyone is affected, and there are many perspectives for events like this. It's a very similar story to my grandmother's refugee story, for what was Fern's mother but a refugee? She was sent out of her country. No one asked her whether she wanted to go. Tonight I start Fern's second book.
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe - I didn't know that I'd like this book so much. It's a small memoir detailing Will and his mom's lives after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's also a gift of love in memory of a remarkable woman. Will and his mom love to read and formed their own book club which ultimately enriched their lives and deepened the bonds of their already strong mother/son relationship. Mary Ann was a wise mom and a giving woman who traveled and volunteered all over the world. Will writes with respect and admiration for the way his mom lived her life. Some of the books they enjoyed that I haven't yet read are: The Lizard Cage by Connnelly, The Price of Salt by Highsmith, The Bite of the Mango by Kamara, Traveling Mercies by Lamott, The Etiquette of Illness by Halpern, The Railway Children by Nesbit, The Bolter by Osborne, Appointment in Samara by John O'Hara, Kokoro by Soseki, Brat Farrar by Tey and Girls Like Us by Weller. 
Cloud Atlas - Here's a movie for you. I don't know what it was about yet it was really good. Well, I do have some theories: maybe it was about Good v. Evil, and maybe it was about religion and existentialism. But I didn't really want to know, because once I was in it, I liked watching, listening, and letting it wash over me without trying to analyze it too much. It's visually engaging, and most of the actors play multiple roles in different periods of time in different tales which seem to be unconnected or loosely connected at best. But then it all holds together in the most amazing way. It's not for everybody, and if you're tired, don't bother. If you want a movie that will make you think, though, here's a good challenge. And the music is lovely. Be listening from the beginning.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - This is one of those books that I didn't want to put down, but that I had to put down, because I didn't want the story to end. The events take place in the late 1930s, in New York City and it's like revisiting all my favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald novels only better, since it's new. It's quintessential New York with the people, places and struggles that could only have taken place during the depression when people were either at the top or engaged in a day to day struggle and living hand to mouth. I'm always impressed when a male writer writes from a woman's point of view, and Amor Towles does it admirably.
To Rome With Love - The perfect Valentine's Day movie! Classic Woody Allen with almost all the men playing the Woody role. I was riveted to the story and laughed and enjoyed Woody and how he always delivers. Who doesn't like a clever story of modern day angst set in a beautiful city? I've never been to Rome, and have never had a particular desire to visit, but after watching this valentine to the Eternal City, I must say it does tempt. A delightful movie with love stories and silliness and Alec Baldwin as conscience.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - What a wonderful book. The story takes place in Seattle across generations in 1942 and 1986. Each character is endearing. Henry is a young boy in 1942 and a man with a past in 1986. As with so many well crafted tales, the past and the present must be reconciled, and the reader experiences how that comes to be. Sheldon and Keiko are also memorable. The streets of Seattle and the music of the times are as alive as the characters, as is the fact that things change, but life goes on, and memories are sometimes all that's left.
Rodriguez - There's a documentary about a singer songwriter named Sixto Rodriguez who performed in Detroit in the 1970s and who recorded two albums at the time. Although he faded into obscurity, his music had found its way to South Africa where he was hailed as the voice of Apartheid. He was living in Detroit, working manual labor jobs, and had no idea that he was popular in a country on the other side of the world. I've been listening to his wonderful music. At the same time that its timeless, it takes me back to the 1970s and Detroit, more because I know the place that inspired the words, than because of specific references. Here's a link to my favorite Rodriguez love song: Silver Words by Sixto Rodriguez
and I'll Slip Away by Rodguez
Pitch Perfect - A fun bit of fluff about college and finding your place and an a capella competition. It's pretty light and never quite gets off the ground. The girls are OK, and they must not have been able to find good looking guys who sing a capella, but otherwise, everyone is musically talented and the routines are enjoyable. The cover is sort of fake for what the movie actually looks like. It's really hard to beat Glee. The Glee people have this genre wrapped up.
The Expats by Chris Pavone - This is a spy mystery story, but it could have been a long short story. I was able to read it mostly by reading the first sentence in each paragraph. Because the rest of any given paragraph was filler! Chris Pavone has a good plot, but the way he executes it is burdened with unnecessary words and comments. The plot did twist and turn, and I did like our protagonist, Kate, but I feel like Chris Pavone just cranked it out. My friend Sue loved this and recommended it to me, so if you're a fan of mysteries, you might love it too. I admit to reading out of my current zone on this one.
No wonder I'm not getting anything accomplished. But when awards night rolls around, I'll be ready.
Marley - Take all your big Hollywood manufactured awards movies, and give me this. Marley is the story of reggae composer and singer Bob Marley's short full life as remembered and told by some of the people who were closest to him. Life is often better than fiction, and Robert Nesta Marley's life is no exception. He was a gentle soul about love and living his life on his own terms. It's a very moving story.
Beasts of the Southern Wild - I had to watch it twice since the first night Steve wasn't ready to watch until 10:30. You know what happened there. By 11:15, he had gone up to bed, and I was doze-watching. I decided to fast-forward watch it the next night. But a funny thing happened. I started watching the beginning in real time, and each minute of the movie was so good that I watched the entire movie in real time and it was excellent. It's the story of a little American girl named Hushpuppy and the place and the people who are shaping her life. It's a very moving and emotional story about people who only want to live life on their own terms. Which you can say about everyone, but not really, after watching Beasts. Hushpuppy is a unique and compelling little girl; you watch the movie for Hushpuppy, but ultimately it's the entire story that resonates.
Anna Karenina - I tried to read Anna many years ago and didn't get past the first few chapters. I just couldn't keep up. Friends were saying that the movie was so-so but that the costumes were great. One night we decided to do this. Steve gave a valiant effort but left the room after 30 minutes. I stuck with it and just couldn't keep up. It put me to sleep. Again. But I was determined to see this through! What was the Anna Karenina magic? The next day, I plotted a strategy. I Wiki'd Anna so that I would know the story, spoiler alert be damned to some old russian writer. Then I watched. And it was OK! Once you know the story, it's manageable. Love Wiki. Anna is a strange girl. Repressed and seeming strong at the beginning of her story; she really goofs things up. 
Dark Knight Rises - This is the third and final picture in the Batman trilogy. I saw the first Batman which was very dark, so I skipped the second one, but wanted to see this since Peter had loved it, and Steve was eager, especially after trying to sit through Anna, The Master and Amour. This is a good movie. It helps to know a little something about Batman, even if that is only that you watched Adam West when you were a kid. It's a good movie with a good plot and decent acting, and it wraps the Batman story up beautifully.
Girl Singer by Rosemary Clooney with Joan Barthel - If you've seen the movie White Christmas or heard the song Mambo Italiano, then you know Rosemary Clooney. In White Christmas, she plays the uptight older sister and Bing Crosby love match. Most people know her name because they know that George Clooney had a famous aunt. I enjoyed reading Rosemary's account of her life as a hard working big band singer who made it big. She talks about her family life growing up with absentee parents, and she's very honest about how that translated into her own experiences as a mother. As my Uncle Bob used to say "same situations, different people". My dad would have enjoyed this immensely.
Amour - Watched this movie the other night, and kept having to go back because it was so slow that I'd fall asleep during the same scenes, over and over again. It takes place in Paris and the most amazing apartment, and although the thematic story progresses quickly, the actual movie drags. This won the Palm d'Or prize at Cannes. What? They didn't enjoy any of the other movies more than this one?
The Master - The only movie worth watching less than Amour might be The Master. I'm going to do one of my only spoiler reviews ever, so read no further if you love Joaquim Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman and simply have to see their movie without knowing what's coming. A guy gets out of the army after WWII and a weird scene on the beach with other army guys. He goes to work as a department store photographer, seduces a store model, gets in a fight and gets fired. Lands on a farm and drinks with an old guy. Walks to a river boat and gets on it and meets PSH who is a weirdo but invites the guy to his daughter's wedding. After the wedding, a bunch of people are in a room talking about a philosophy. Very deep. Not. People ask people questions over and over. There is a strange naked scene. At the end the guy is seemingly at the beginning. So did it even happen? Who cares? I'm way to impatient lately to figure this one out or to care about the acting. Good thing there were a slew of great other movies to watch this year.
