Phat Phives

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is one of those stories that takes no effort to read, that calls to you in the middle of the night, washes over you and seeps into your soul. The Book Thief is an amazing book, offering up a beautiful story that unfolds within the lives of unforgettable characters at an unforgettable time--Nazi Germany on the brink of WWII. The tale is told in small bits, a rationing of pain and beauty--easier to digest? Perhaps. The narrator? Death, as a surprisingly comforting, warm voice that took me in and opened my eyes into a world of friendship, love and bravery amidst loss and despair--a welcome perspective on those who lived within Nazi Germany, but were deeply unsettled and aggrieved by the events of the time, and inspired to risk their lives to save a life. These are my promises: that this book will grip you from the start, with characters that tumble and grow and gain speed and depth and become something you'll want to follow to the ends of the earth. Such was my impatience that I awoke at 6 this morning to keep reading, and ended up finishing the darn thing, and now it is done, and my sadness has taken over. No doubt this story, with its richly sculpted, beautiful, enduring characters, will stay with me forever. A must read for teens, adults, and as a read aloud for ages 9+. (ESG)



2. Chuck, NBC, Mondays, 8-9 pm. My favorite new show, about a nerdy, but charming Buy More employee, named Chuck. Sounds like a bad Comedy, right? Chuck was sent a disc that when injected into his computer revealed all the government' secrets in images that he was able to put together. Whenever he revisits one of these images in real life, he suddenly has a flash, giving him the undercover information on that particular object. He is recruited, because of his special ability, to a team of two that work for the government as spies and investigators. Chuck struggles with holding onto his life at Buy More, which is very funny and, yes very much like a comedy, while still being effective with his alter ego work job as a federal agent. The show successfully combines Comedy with Action, weaving in suspenseful relationships. Looks like a good episode coming up, I suggest you tune in!... (LGP)



3. The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell. This is considered to be the "oldest story in the world," and was originally written on clay tablets in cuneiform about 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia, now Iraq, the first civilization. The epic tells the story of the king Gilgamesh, who rules over the great city of Uruk with tyrannical power and might. In his quest for immortality, Gilgamesh undergoes a transformation of heroic, mythic proporations. The story is full of his adventures (with and without his friend Enkidu), his run-ins with mythological creatures and the many gods of Mesopotamia, his raging sadness, and his ultimate understanding of what it means to be human. This particular version includes a lengthy, interesting introduction with information regarding the history of the story, the king, and the translations itself, as well as insight and analysis. I would recommend this for anyone over the age of 10, but primarily for teens and adults, (Gilgamesh and Enkidu have quite the sexual appetites), even though I'm only 8 and I thought it was very, very good. Here's an excerpt:

Shiduri said, "Gilgamesh, where are you roaming?
You will never find the eternal life
that you seek. When the gods created mankind,
they also created death, and they held back
eternal life for themselves alone.
Humans are born, they live, then they die,
this is the order that the gods have decreed.
But until the end comes, enjoy your life,
spend it in happiness, not despair.
Savor your food, make each of your days
a delight, bathe and anoint yourself,
wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean,
let music and dancing fill your house,
love the child who holds you by the hand,
and give your wife pleasure in your embrace.
That is the best way for a man to live."

(DRP)

4. Dan in Real Life, starring Steve Carell. We watched this movie just yesterday afternoon, and were pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Here's the plot in a nutshell: Dan, whose wife has died of an undiscolsed illness about four years ago, is busy raising his three daughters by himself while he writes his advice column and hopes for syndication. During their annual visit with his large, loving family in their awesome, rambling, cedar-shingled seaside New England vacation home, he meets an intriguing woman at a bookstore and instantly falls for her. She admits that she is in a rather new relationship, alas, and has to rush off, but gives him her number anyway, so that they can "finish their conversation." A short time later that morning, they meet again--at his parents' house--but not before he's told everyone that he's met someone amazing. Turns out, she is his brother's new girlfriend. You can imagine the awkwardness that ensues--hilarious, touching, and suspenseful. Dominick liked it because "it was very funny, but also frustrating and sad, in that not everything went as smoothly as you wanted it to." Luke liked it because "of the situation Dan was in and how he dealt with it, and how all the times when he could have gone one way and he went the other way and how that affected the outcome of the story." And Liz liked it because "it wasn't animated, and noone was killed. Actually, it was really good--the setting (house, seaside New England, and the dynamics within the family fold) was very familiar, and Steve Carell was amazing." Amidst all the schlock that's out there, it was a nice find. (DRP/LGP/ESG)

5. Freaks and Geeks on DVD. A criminally short-lived TV series from the 90's, Freaks and Geeks takes place in 1980, and focuses on Lindsay, a former mathlete and good girl who has decided to try on a more interesting wardrobe of friends--the Freaks--as she moves through the often daunting and bruising social landscape of high school. Her younger brother, Sam, and his friends, Bill and Neil, a trio of beloved Geeks, offer up a hilarious counterpoint to the Freaks, as the two worlds often collide. Watching Freaks and Geeks makes the whole family laugh. It also offers up interesting little tidbits for discussion: keg parties, non-alcoholic beer, spin the bottle, falling in love, smoking pot, and getting egged on Halloween by your big sister and her friends. It's a great tapestry of endearing characters and very funny story lines, all woven together with the threads of the usual idiotic social hierarchies and taxonomies that make high school so unbearable--and wickedly funny. There's nothing close to it on TV anymore, though many of the actors have gone on to other series and film work. (DRP/LGP/ESG)