Movie: "Summer Hours" (in French with English subtitles)

Seventy-five year old Helene has beencaring for the house, furniture, and artwork of her uncle who may also have been her lover. After Helene's death her three children have to decide what to do with the house and possessions. The son who lives in France feels the most attachment to the estate, but can't afford to buy out his brother and sister's share. His brother and sister live in China and the United States respectively, and aren't interested in owning a house in France that they would use only occasionally. The grandchildren feel little attachment to the possessions, but they do have fond memories of happy times with their grandmother at her home.

My rating: ****(out of5)

Book: The Women

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel about Frank Lloyd Wright's wives and mistresses. It reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitude in that the relationships seemed to mirror each other. And Talesin burned down twice! Although, to be fair, the first time it burned was due to arson by a mentally deranged servant.

My rating: ***** (out of 5)

Book: The Tipping Point

I've read and enjoyed Gladwell's articles in the New Yorker. This book explains how small things can have large impacts. For example, he claims that zero tolerance for graffiti and enforcement of quality of life laws led to a dramatic decrease in crime in New York City. He also illustrates how large fashion trends can begin with a very small group of people.

I don't entirely buy into his theories, but the book is interesting and well written.

My rating: **** (out of 5)

Book: "The Sky Below"

Gabriel, an unlikeable minor criminal, works writing obituaries for a minor New York newspaper. He also ghost writes for an aging romance writer who he bribes to increase his income. When he develops a slow acting cancer, he takes off to Mexico looking for his father, who disappeared decades ago. He takes up with a rag-tag group of mystics and the book veers into magic realism.

My rating: *** (out of 5)

Book: The Yiddish Policemen's Union

This is a hard-boiled detective novel set in Sitka, Alaska. The town has been settled by Yiddish speaking Jewish refugees from Europe and the crime is the murder of a chess-playing, heroin addicted messiah figure. It was enjoyable, if a little difficult to follow.

My rating: *** (out of 5)

Book: "The Believers"

Audrey, the wife of a notable leftist New York attorney, considers herself a compassionate champion of underdogs. However, she acts like a shrew toward her daughters and as an enabler to her drug addicted adopted son. When her husband goes into a coma following a stroke, she meets Berniece, a former lover of her husband and mother to his young son. Meanwhile, daughter Rosa is exploring conservative Judaism and Karla finds herself attracted to the man who runs the newstand near her job. All threee must come to terms with the new information about their husband and father.

My rating: **** (out of 5)

Finished Object: Niepa's - Oops - Kimberly's Cardi

Pattern: Classic Cardigan from Essential Knits for Kids
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Needle Size: 4

Added 4/18/09: I sent this sweater to my grandson in Oakland, but it was too small. So I'm knitting another one in a larger size, and will give this one to my niece's daughter Kimberly.