"The Fall"

Our oldest daughter recommended this film by Tarsem to us because of its cinematography and beautiful story. It's rated R even though one of the stars is a young girl. It is a puzzle within a puzzle at times so that makes it a bit complicated and harder to follow even for me as an adult.
We checked it out from the library and watched it last night along with all the special features. It was filmed over a period of 4 years in 18 different countries and the director appears meticulous in filming the details. The film is set in 1920s L.A. where Alexandria (played by Catinca Untaru), a 5 year old girl who is hospitalized after a fall, strikes up a friendship with a Hollywood stuntman, Roy (played by Lee Pace), who has suffered a near-fatal movie set accident. He starts to spin her a fantasy story and the authentic interaction between Roy and Alexandria is what really makes this movie in my opinion -- along with the beautiful scenery and rich detail.

pazt

"Ghost of A Chance"

This book by Yasmine Galenorn (who also writes under the pseudonym of India Ink) is the first in a paranormal mystery series called Chintz 'n China. The heroine of the series, Emerald O'Brien, is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room and lives in the small fictional town of Chiqetaw, WA. (All other cities mentioned in the book are real Washington cities.) Emerald is also a psychic and a tarot-reader who has been divorced a couple of years and has a teenage daughter and a young son (her son has inherited her psychic ability). She also has a couple of best friends who play an important part in helping her solve her mystery --Harlow, an ex-supermodel -- and Murray, a policewoman.

The book begins with a recently deceased local woman making an appearance to Emerald and her son asking for their help in solving her murder -- a murder that the police have deemed accidental. What follows is exciting and frightening with a little romance thrown in for good measure. I'll be reading more of Galenorn's books but hope the next one doesn't throw in a detailed sex scene. I thought the story could have added romance without that and I felt the one major scene itself in the midst of the book was out of place. That was my only criticism, though, so, if you like paranormal mysteries, check this out.

pazt

"Revenge of the Spellmans"

Lisa Lutz is fast becoming one of my favorite authors and I thoroughly enjoyed this third book in her series about the Spellman family but featuring Private Investigator Isabel (Izzy) Spellman. Izzy is taking a break from working for her parents' detective agency by tending bar for her friend, Milo. However, she does agree to take on a case for one of Milo's friends and finds herself working on that while embroiled in her usual family escapades while trying to negotiate a truce between her younger sister, Rae, and their mutual friend, Detective Henry Stone. It was good I wasn't reading this one in bed as I would have been shaking the bed with laughter while my spouse was trying to sleep! Not only is this a fun read but would make a great gift for someone on your list who likes Janot Evanovich novels.

pazt

P.S. For you Spellman family fans, the first book, "The Spellman Files," is in development with Paramount Pictures -- I can hardly wait. Check out lisalutz.com.

"Death of a Perfect Wife"

I'm reading M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries in order and in a quick overnight read I've just finished "Death of a Perfect Wife." When Paul and Trixie Thomas purchase a "fixer-upper" and move to Lochdubh to open a Bed and Breakfast, Trixie turns the town upside down. She organizes the local ladies to involve them in environmental issues as well as change the habits long ingrained in this town. She wants to clean it and them up from their homes to their husbands. This doesn't sit well with everyone and eventually Trixie is found dead and there is no lack of suspects. In the midst of the investigation Hamish seems to have turned off his romantic feelings towards Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and she notices! Perhaps their worlds are too different? As usual,I couldn't put this book down until I found out who the culprit was and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series -- not just to watch Hamish solve another mystery but to discover if perhaps he and Priscilla might have something in common after all.

pazt

"The Last King of Texas"

This is author Rick Riordan's third book in the series featuring Texas P.I., Tres Navarre and, although I've thoroughly enjoyed each one of them, this has to be my favorite so far. It starts off with a bang -- and I mean that literally -- and has Tres taking on a teaching position at the University of Texas at San Antonio for which his Ph.D. well qualifies him to be an English professor. However, that's not his only role at the University -- He's still on the payroll as a P.I. investigating the murder of his predecessor along with some related murders -- or attempted murders.

In addition to including some of his regular cast of characters (friends and family), this book introduces some new players that I'm thinking may appear in future books, too. As always, Navarre's life is complicated professionally and personally but he almost manages to get himself killed this time. I couldn't put it down while trying to figure out all the twists and turns. Hint: Don't start this book if you have holiday cards to send out or presents to wrap! It's totally distracting.

pazt

"A Country Called Home"

This novel by Kim Barnes was a Kansas City Star Best Book of the Year, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and an Oregonian Top Ten Northwest Book of the Year. It's set in the 60's -- about the time I was a young bride myself -- and it brought back a lot of memories about what it was like to be a wife, mother, and woman in those times. Dr. Thomas Deracotte, a young doctor, brings his bride, Helen, to Idaho where he plans to start a practice. He was attracted to Helen because she was a free spirit but he doesn't know how to be a husband to her. He purchases a rundown farm and hires Manny, a local boy living on his own, as his hired hand. Manny knows more than the doctor about what it takes to be a farmer. Thomas would be content to fish all day and believes Helen should be content in her roles as his wife and a mother. He doesn't understand her need for adult companionship outside the house. This is a novel about complicated relationships, friendships, growing up, and loss. It is so true to the time it is written in that it is easy to become engrossed in this Idaho town and Thomas and Helen's world -- as if you were there -- and as if it were real.

pazt

"Take Me With You"

I picked up this book on a whim while at the library with my grandson. It was in the children's section and looked interesting. Carolyn Marsden, the author, got the idea for this story from hearing an Italian friend (Daniella Cinque) describe her childhood growing up in a convent in Naples for unwanted girls after World War II. The story itself centers on two young girls who have grown up in just such an institute and have been best friends. Pina is a beautiful blonde while Susanna is a "mulatta" which probably means her father was a black American G.I. When families come looking for a child to adopt, they both hope to be adopted but it turns out there are complications in both their cases that might be barriers to adoption. Susanna believes Pina is more "adoptable" because of her blonde hair and the fact that she fits into a more traditional Italian regional look. So....what happens, are they adopted? You'll have to read it to find out and it's a quick read -- only took me a few hours to satisfy my curiosity!

pazt

"Five Red Herrings"

Date night this week was a viewing of Dorothy Sayers' "Five Red Herrings" on DVD with Ian Carmichael again playing Lord Peter Wimsey. It's a "whodunit" with too many suspects -- so many that at times it is difficult to keep the guilty and the innocent straight. The DVD set consists of 4 discs but we decided to make a night of it and watch it all the way through. I do think this might have helped us keep track of the players a little better. In the end, of course, Lord Peter Wimsey (who was supposedly on vacation), and his faithful employee, Bunter, manage to sort it all out to everyone's satisfaction. Case solved, vacation over!

pazt