Books, movies and music to share

Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by admin in Headlines and Opinions

 
 
 
The holidays are here and long glorious days lie ahead. Here are some great books, music and movies to while away the time.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BOOKS TO READ

Fans of True Blood have to read A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories) by bestselling author Charlaine Harris who has re-imagined the supernatural world with her Southern Vampire novels starring telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. This is a collection of every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written-together in one volume. Stories include “Fairy Dust,” “One Word Answer,” “Dracula Night,” “Lucky,” and “Giftwrap.”

Read Swedish writing genius Stieg Larsson’s “The Millenium-series” which were published posthumously and comprise “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo“, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest” You will love the two main characters of the series, the dysfunctional avenging angel Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Since his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004, his trilogy has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, and he was the second bestselling author in the world in 2008.

MOVIES TO WATCH

Animation buffs cannot afford to miss A Christmas Carol, a truly technically superb Disney production that will surprise with its hints of real darkness. Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman) and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). Scrooge makes it clear that he has no intention of enjoying the holiday and, as always, goes home-alone-where he encounters the ghost of his dead business partner Joseph Marley. Marley, who’s paying the price in the afterlife for his own callousness, hopes to help Scrooge avoid a similar fate and tells him that he will be visited by three spirits. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take Old Scrooge on an eye-opening journey revealing truths he’s reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.

Engage in the Boston Legal marathon. Fans of Boston Legal know that it is the best ever series on lawyers. The Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny Krane (William Shatner) pairing is a match made in TV heaven. Nearly all episodes end with Denny and Alan sitting in the balcony, having a drink and smoking a cigar and discussing the events in the episode. Another favorite much loved character is the brainy Jerry Espenson with Asperger’s syndrome played by Christian Clemenson. Some dialogue to whet your appetite:

From “Boston Legal: The Cancer Man Can (Series2.Episode 11)” (2006)

Alan Shore: Jerry… you know I have tremendous affection for my own intelligence, and even I think you are smarter than me.

Jerry Espenson: Oh, I am.

MUSIC TO SHARE

The Very Best of Diana Krall includes great interpretations of timeless vintage standards by such composers as George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Van Heusen and Cahn, and Bacharach and David. Destined to become Krall classics are “S’Wonderful,” “Peel Me A Grape” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” It is smooth listening, ideal for a romantic night under the stars with a bottle of bubbly.

Get the dance shoes out with Brenda Fassie’s Greatest Hits featuring “Weekend Special” and that song that gets all South Africans jiving “Vul’indlela”. Brenda Fassie was the best-known – and probably most controversial figure in township pop, scoring a gigantic hit in 1983 with her debut maxi single “Weekend Special” which was recorded with her band The Big Dudes. Making disco history, this funky get down groove number became South Africa’s fastest-selling single making the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and featuring in concerts in the US, UK, Europe, Brazil and Australia.