The Myth of You and Me

by Leah Stewart

Ever since a cataclysmic falling out with her best friend, Sonia, after college, Cameron's closest companion has been Oliver, the 92-year-old historian she lives with and cares for in Oxford, Miss. Oliver's death leaves Cameron alone and adrift, until she discovers that he has given her one last task: she must track down her estranged best friend (whose letter announcing her engagement Cameron had so recently ignored) and deliver a mysterious present to her. Cameron's journey leads her back to the people, places and memories of their shared past, when they called themselves "Cameronia" and swore to be friends forever. It was a relationship more powerful than romantic love—yet romantic love (or sex, anyway) could still wreck it. Stewart lures the reader forward with two unanswered questions: What was the disaster that ended their friendship, and what will be revealed when Cameron and Sonia are together again and Oliver's package is finally opened? The book is heartfelt and its characters believable jigsaw puzzles of insecurities, talents and secrets, and if Cameron's carefully guarded anger makes her occasionally disagreeable, readers will nevertheless welcome her happy ending. (review from Amazon)

Not bad, kinda slow. I felt like i never really cared for the fates of the characters. Too much leaping from past to present - when done well, it is a great plot enhancer, but here it left me confused. This novel is highly recommended by major sites, give it a try yourself?

The Last Chinese Chef

by Nicole Mones

Great also. Good look at a culture through its food, which is a perspective I always enjoy. A nice plot of remembrance, new found love, and twists to keep it interesting. Also, great historical snippets of former chefs, written in their old style but fascinating to read. Food carries with it the stamp of the culture for sure.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini

A great book. Disturbing, the abuse these women endured. Also hard for me to read of a mother who would control her child with so much guilt and fear. A necessary glimpse into the hard life of Afghanistan. It is rather long, but I read it in a few days, iwas eager to learn the fate of the characters. I have not read the kite runner, but plan to soon.

Stuff

School starting has been very busy. All the kiddos finally have instruments uin hand, and most have begun, or at least I know who they are and they will start next week. They look like a great bunch, and I am excited about this year. I have lots of beginning flutes, and I need to focus on my flute skills this year again. I'm amazed at how many different things I do as a music teacher. Every moment it seems i am picking up a new instrument. It all can be tiring, but also very fun!

Newburyport Screening Room

My first time to this theater, I loved it! Reminded me of the NoHo theater of college days. Isn't life a little brighter when you have a good local art house theater nearby? With school starting, I have little time to watch my usual DVDs, but getting out once a week seems doable, and a nice retreat. They change films weekly, and have a whole month's posted for future planning. Check them out!

http://www.newburyportmovies.com/

My Best Friend

My Best Friend

"My Best Friend" is Leconte's spriest, least frustrating movie in years. He casts Daniel Auteuil as Francois, an antiques dealer who learns at one of those alluring Parisian dinner parties that the people at the table don't consider him a friend -- a colleague perhaps, an acquaintance sure, even an occasional lover, but certainly not a friend. We're told Francois is self-centered and treats people as things, and because it appears to be an occupational trait, we believe it.
Francois, on the other hand, is appalled. He turns petulant and defensive; he does too have a best friend, he insists. When his dinner mates want to know who, and why they've never met him before, he has no response. So his business partner, Catherine (Julie Gayet), gives him 10 days to produce the friend or she'll help herself to the ancient Greek vase he just bought for a quarter of a million dollars. (from Boston Globe)

And so the hillarity begins... actually, this was very cute. A cab driver appears, and teaches Francois to be a friend. In French, with easily readable subtitles. Playing at the Screening Room. Good flick!