See this film - Rabbit Hole

Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart

Nicole Kidman produced this film that is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play. The film adaptation is fantastic. Every character presents a valuable point of view and each has been perfectly cast. Terrific performances all around but I was especially impressed with Eckart's. Loved the soundtrack. Trailer is here.

See this film - Marwencol

Fascinating! Very hard to believe this is the filmmaker's debut film.

Top Five Fiction 2010

My favorite five fiction books read in 2010:

One Day by David Nicholls

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by  Muriel Barbery

The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter

Blame by Michelle Huneven

Other books of distinction:

Best book of short stories 

Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy

Best graphic work 

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Top Five Nonfiction 2010

My favorite five nonfiction books read in 2010:

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

The Suicide Index by Joan Wickersham

Stuff - Complusive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Prof. Gail Steketee Ph.D. and Prof. Randy Frost Ph.D.

Finding Iris Chang by Paula Kamen

Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Honorable Mention:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

See this film - True Grit

Lives up to the hype. Fantastic!

rainbows, hearts, dolphins and stars

I love, no LOVE Robert Plant's new album, Band of Joy. Plant covers some of the best songs (The Only Sound That Matters) and collaborates with one of my favorite singer-songwriters in the universe: Patty Griffin. I've been listening to a few tracks from this album for a few weeks now, but finally bought the CD. Last night, I listened to it all the way through in order as I drove back home through high mountain passes near Lake Tahoe. It's one of those rare albums where every track is exactly right. Incredible work of perfection.