The last movies I saw and loved were:

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE : a very funny story about a screwed-up family that you cannot stop loving at the end.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING : how a cigarette lobbyist can convince you that cigarettes are good for you. Very clever. Moreover, there is a beautiful relationship with father and son.

CRAZY was directed by a Canadian from Quebec. Please go and see it. Very touching and funny.

 

FILM MAKERS

Tom Tykwer has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I would strongly recommend that you see the following movies: RUN LOLA RUN, THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR and HEAVEN. I have not seen LE PARFUM (english title?), but I am dying to see it.

Well, I saw it and I was a bit disappointed.

 

THE LIVES OF OTHERS

The director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck signed a great movie that shows the good and bad sides of the human being. Where do you stand?

 

INTO THE WILD

Sean Penn's movie Into the Wild http://www.intothewild.com is an outstanding movie that I warmly recommend. Apart from the story, you will see some lovely landscape of Alaska.

 

ELDORADO

A very funny and intelligent movie that I strongly recommend. The director Bouli Lanners has made a few movies. More on this web site www.eldorado-lefilm.com. He also acted in another movie (J'ai toujours rêvé d'être un gangster) that was quite funny, at least the part he was in.

 

 

 

Once more John IRVING has written a masterpiece: Until I find you is a beautiful story of a relationship between a father and son (yes, I know, I am becoming obsessed by that theme). Back to the old (or young) John Irving that I loved in A prayer for Owen Meany and Hotel New Hampshire.

 

Nick HORNBY is a writer that I discovered when I saw the movie High Fidelity. I loved the movie and I read the book that I enjoyed very much.

I would also recommend from him: A long way down (his last book) and About a boy. The latter was made into a movie with Hugh Grant.

I do not know his other books, which I suspect, must be quite funny.

 

If you want to laugh, you must absolutely read Jorn RIEL, a Danish author. It is magnificent. However, I am not sure that his books are translated in English. Let me know if you find some. Here are the titles in french:

Un safari arctique

La vierge et autres racontars

Un gros bobard et autres racontars

..... and many many more

 

Arnaldur INDRIDASON

The nordic connection. This author writes detective stories that show the dark side of the Icelandic society. Each novel is very well written with a carefully thought out plot. Why don't you try The silence of the grave, or Voices.

 

Pete McCARTHY

For me, The Road to McCarthy is an outstanding book: funny, very intelligent, very well written. Every single page contains a few magnificent sentences that make you laugh.

You must read that book before dying. It is better than Venice as a ultimate goal in life (I know what I am talking about, since I have never been to that city!). Personally, I would give Mr McCarthy a Nobel prize in literature.

Unfortunately, the author died in september 2004.

 

It was time to talk about a Spanish writer (who, mind you, lives in LA): Carlos Ruiz ZAFON. His book Shadow of the wind was a revelation and nearly a black hole (thank you Muse) for me. It is a page turner. Since I have read it, I keep dreaming about Penelope, Beatriz, Nuria and Carla.

 

Simon SINGH

If you like the history of science, Big Bang, the most important scientific discovery of all time and why you need to know about it is a fascinating and well written book about theories on the creation of the Universe. I read it twice.

The code book, the secret history of codes and code-breaking is a page turner. Clever, well written (again), pleasant and mind challenging, it will take you along the historical path of cryptography and cryptanalysis.

 

On January 18, 2008 when I finished The girl with the dragon tattoo, I realized that I had read the revelation of the year. I may regret these words (which I hope secretly), as the year goes by and I read more books. Stieg LARSSON wrote a trilogy called Millenium. He unfortunately died in 2004. Not a good year for the writers I like.

Finally, this nordic connection seems real. I must have some Viking blood in my vein???

 

JIM HARRISON

I have discovered that author through his book Legends of the Fall. Composed of three novels, Revenge, The man who gave up his name and Legends of the Fall, that book is beautifully written. However, I am not sure that the movie by Edward Zwick, Legends of the Fall (that I have not seen) is faithful to the book. It seems to dwell more on a love story that has a minor role in the last novel.

 

BILL BRYSON

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a book about a number of scientific topics (big bang, the evolution of man, quantum physics, etc...). The author provides a clear explanation of what has been discovered and understood so far. The humor makes it very pleasant to read. I liked the book so much that even before finishing it, I ordered A Walk in the Woods by the same author (on the advice of my friend Sylvia). The following address is the official site. http://www.randomhouse.com/features/billbryson/flat/home.php

I read A Walk in the Woods. It is excellent, no doubt a best seller.

 

The Kite runner by KHALED HOSSEINI is a very emotional book about betrayal, human weaknesses, redemption and the savagery of man. Get your credit card out.

 

My latest discovery, The white tiger by ARAVIND ADIGA an Indian author. The book is a masterpiece of insolence which describes without pity today's India. The razor sharp style, the plot and the humor contribute to making an exceptional novel. It received the Booker prize in 2008.

 

The elegance of the hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I wonder if that author is good looking because if her beauty is proportional to the quality of the style, she must be stunning. Well, the elegance of her writing, the elegance of the plot, the elegance of the characters, the elegance of the ending. It is outstanding, really outstanding. But why aren't you already purchasing this book instead of reading this nonsensical review.

 

Rather than writing a lousy review of Steve Toltz's A fraction of the whole, I prefer to give you the first sentences that the author wrote.

You never hear about a sportsman losing his sense of smell in a tragic accident, and for good reason; in order for the universe to teach excruciating lessons that we are unable to apply in later life, the sportsman must lose his legs, the philosopher his mind, the painter his eyes, the musician his ears, the chef his tongue. My lesson? I have lost my freedom, and found myself in this strange prison, where the trickiest adjustment, other than getting used to not having anything in my pockets and being treated like a dog that pissed in a sacred temple, is the boredom. I can handle the enthusiastic brutality of the guards, the wasted erections, even the suffocating heat. (Apparently airconditioning offends society’s notion of punishment – as if just by being a little cool we are getting away with murder.)

 

The story of my assassins is a trip to the dark side of India. Corruption, violence, death are the ingredients that make that book fascinating to read. TARUN J. TEJPAL through his style, story, wealth of information sets a very high standard in literature.

 

Alleluia, I have discovered a splendid book. What the Deaf-Mute Heard by DAN GEARINO is a charming book with not only an original plot, introduced little by little but also with an explosive literary style that is cynical, funny, touching. The hero, despite a rather unexpected life, never complains about his condition. So much talent in an author.

 

Berlin Poplars is a masterpiece where the suspense is created by depicting the characters without any concession. ANNE B. RAGDE’s style keeps the reader enthralled.

 

Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris is an inventive book that takes the reader in the drama of a private school in England. The action is seen through the eyes of two characters and while it is disturbing at first, it provides a better look in the various plots that runs in the book.

 

Unfortunately, I only read The amalgamation polka in French, but I was impressed by the style. I would love to be able to write like STEPHEN WRIGHT. I know that he wrote other books and most likely, I will purchase them in English to appreciate his writing.

 

Tales from the town of widows is a very suprising book by James Caňón. The author describes how a small village peopled only by women, after the men were abducted by guerilleros, turns out to be a fairly agreable place to live in. The author who is from Colombia inserts some dramatic short stories on the fight between the regular army, the paramilitary and the guerilleros in his own country.

 

It is quite rare that I read books written by Israeli authors. My first Sony by Benny Barbash is a monument in the fictional landscape. The author pictures a young kid who records the everyday life of his family with his tape recorder. The story is weaved around the Shoah, but insists on the various tensions, joy, religious rites in the modern Israeli society. Not only will the reader have a great laugh when going through the book, but will also learn about the culture of this society. When will Bernie Barbash's other books be translated in English?

 

The Outlander is a beautiful novel which describes the coming of age of Mary Boulton who leaves home after killing her husband. Her two brother-in-law search for her and in order to escape them she gets into the most fascinating and harsh adventures. She crosses mountains, nearly dies of hunger and on the way meets extraordinary characters. The author, Gil Adamson, through her beautiful style, convinces the reader to step back in time, to live with her heroine, and discover with her the pristine, but yet savage, nature of the West.

 

John Irving : Last night in Twisted River

In his book, John Irving develops a relationship between father and son. As far as I am concerned, it is the second book in which the author talks about this subject. Then, there is Ketchum, quite a fascinating character that carries the story throughout. However, I must admit that I had a hard time getting into the book. Towards the end, the story becomes way more interesting and fascinating.

 

 

 

 

Fundamental by the Pet Shop Boys is my latest discovery.

Of course, X & Y by Coldplay is an all time favorite.

 

MUSE : BLACK HOLES and REVELATIONS

Lovely, I would recommend it, particularly my favorite song : Starlight (I am listening to it as I write this note). I love it.

 

OTTMAR LIEBERT is an outstanding guitarist who plays new flamenco music. If you want one, buy The best of Ottmar Liebert

 

As my friend Michel told me that this music page was becoming old fashioned, I feel the need to include two new groups. The first one, Airbourne, comes from Australia and plays a bit like AC/DC. The second one arrives directly from Chicago, Illinois and must be buddies with Barack Obama! They are called The Redwalls.

 

A band from Brooklyn New York, MGMT, produced an album that I really like Oracular Spectacular. Apparently, I am not the only person in the world. So have a look at their official website www.whoismgmt.com.