Innovator and experimental, revolutionary poet, William Carlos William once wrote:
"In summer, the song sings itself."
Among his many treasured thoughts, this clearly stands out as a perfect description of summer - birds have settled, flowers bloomed, we see beauty, as it is all around us. . .try some of these wonderful CD selections, while you enjoy the beauty of summer. . .
CDs
Sometimes compared to the voices of Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, Madeleine Peyroux's warm bluesy jazz blends match her perfectly dreamy, sort of smoldering voice - this is evidenced on a wonderful CD called Half the Perfect World. Her lovely duet with k.d. lang on Joni Mitchell's River, is a standout; her rendition on Tom Waits' (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night has a breezy, yet melancholic touch; her attempt to sing Fred Neil's classic (made famous by Harry Nilsson and used as the theme song in Midnight Cowboy) Everyone's Talkin' is distinctive and intimate, but her real winner is the simple Smile, Charlie Chaplin's lovely, simple classic with a sad resoluteness that sounds balanced between a smile and a tear. (CD JAZZ PEYROUX HALF)
Although singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt wrote none of the selections on the experimental CD Souls Alive, her stamp is on every song: each one fits her like a glove. The anthem-like I Will Not Be Broken shows off her crystal-clear voice, suffused with a rich, emotional toughness; So Close is a pretty ballad-like song, sweet and gentle, almost a love song; Crooked Crowns, an odd little angular number and I Don't Want Anything to Change has an elegiac elegance letting the listener know that this "institution" of nearly forty years is stronger than ever. (CD ROCK RAITT SOULS)
Nickel Creek's CD titled simply Nickel Creek is a terrific showcase of these three young talented singer's vocal blends. Out of the Woods is pure loveliness, a dreamily enchanted song; Lighthouse Tale is simply a gorgeous ballad, done splendidly; Reasons Why - refreshing, quaint. This folk/rock bluegrass inspired trio no longer records under "Nickel Creek" (they may try their hands at striking out independently) which is a shame, as evidenced in gems such as The Fox, a 9-minuted spirited chase and the wonderful, haunting When in Rome making this CD a real winner; solid vocals and great musicianship. (CD COUNTRY NICKEL CREEK 2082)
AUDIOBOOKS
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, light as a feather, is the small tale of a bet that could go awry. Read by Deanna Hurst, this look at perfect shoes, the odds, true love and relationship game-playing is sure to please those romance fans out there. Wicked sarcasm is wrapped in a sort of playful cutesy and corny collection of one-liners, a surefire cure for a case of the "blahs." Full of jealous ex-boyfriends, Krispy Kremes, Chicken Marsala, and a bevy of bent relationships, this story of fate and the chaos theory will entertain those listeners really wanting to relax and enjoy "warm fuzzy" type entertainment, somewhat contrived misadventures of a guy and gal, who are fighting their attractions to one another. (SC CRUSIE)
Going to Bend by Diane Hammond, read by Mary Huber, may not offer anything new about friendship, but it certainly boasts two wonderful buddies who help make this tale of getting by a real treat. Petie and Rosie are two soup-makers working for Souperior, a small restaurant in a small Oregon town. Friends since their teens, these two women in their thirties are living a hardscrabble life that shows them few ways out. Deeply moving, this tale about the bonds that friendship offers, is a subtle lesson about finding the good in people while breaking free of pain. There is some sentimentality here, but there are also ample servings of tension combined with a generous amount of salt-of-the-earth characters. (SC HAMMOND)
Chuck Klosterman's Downtown Owl is a fictional presentation of three residents of a fictional small, nondescript North Dakota town called Owl. Called "quirkiana" by the Boston Globe, this darkly comedic view is somewhat reminiscent of the movie, Fargo. Full of nostalgia, football and quite a bit of angst, this outing is a composite of many charming, hilarious parts. Though there isn't much of a "story," Klosterman has a great ear for dialogue and this makes his characters come to life. Follow along as Julia, the unhappy history teacher, Mitch, the alienated former high school football player and Horace, retired widower farmer collide in Klosterman's eccentric view of '80's rock music and "this is the way it was". (SC KLOSTERMAN)
As William Styron said of BOOKS -
"A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it."
Now on to living those lives. . .
Helen of Pasadena, Lian Dolan's debut novel is an acerbic, wise send-up social satire of a widow trying to navigate her previously solid Pasasena life. Poor Helen has learned that her deceased husband had not only been carrying on an affair, but he has also left her near broke! The deceased husband, a victim of a fatal Rose Parade accident involving a panda (don't ask!) was actually texting his paramour while participating in the parade. . .on to Helen, who must land a job because we all know how pricey those private school tuitions are! Find out how Helen travels that road to self-discovery using wit, wisdom and insight as you laugh out loud all the way through. This romantic-comedy of a novel is humorous and wise. . .think contemporary Jane Austen. (NEW FIC DOLAN)
Julie Orringer's Invisible Bridge is a novel that opens with a wonderfully hopeful scene set in 1937 Vienna in which two young Hungarian men, brothers, vist a Vienna opera house to experience Puccini's music and then share coffees, discussing the plot. The novel concludes, years later in America, where coffee is also the beverage of choice, but it is now drunk by the brothers' descendents who are reflective about their relatives' lives in wartorn Europe. The novel takes the reader to a decadent Paris, war camps, to profound love and familial bonds - the effort could be called a sweeping love story, but it is much much more. Orringer makes the reader care for these characters with her deft, lovely, straighforward, storytelling. A must-read. (NEW BOOKS FIC ORRINGER)
Words cannot describe Strength in What Remains, a biography written by the terrifc Tracy Kidder. Although exhausting and painful, this wonderful book should be required reading for us all. . .we travel from war-torn Burundi to New York City through the eyes of a medical student named Deo. His remarkable journey is nearly unbelievable; he left Burundi amid the battles between Hutus and Tutsis, historically some of the twentieth century's most horrifying conflicts. Deo's travels and trials that help to make him the terrific helper to humanity that he is are devastating and dangerous, but we're all better people for knowing him. (B DEO)
And, finally, for your summertime viewing pleasure. . .DVDs
Sideways is a delicious road trip of a film. Two good pals, quite dissimilar, Jack (Thomas Haden Church) and Miles (Paul Giamatti), decide to hit the road just days before the Jack's wedding. On the trek they cover all the Central Coast of California seeking out wineries, as one is a professed wine aficianado/snob. Both travelers are disappointed in life, but in different ways, and they are looking for a few changes. Now whether they locate a meaning or definition to their lives is clearly up to the viewer. However, there is no question that this 2004 comedy-drama is rich with entertainment and good acting. (DVD SID)
Transsiberian is a terrifying ride with Roy and Jessie, a couple trying to give their relationship one last chance. After a stay in Bejing they decide to take the Transsiberian train through all of China to Moscow. This turns into a thrilling ride, as passengers are not who they seem and this train's glamour has seen better days. Starring Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer, this is an intense thriller, expertly performed and directed. (DVD TRA)
Wendy and Lucy is a small, independent film focusing on Wendy (played by Michelle Williams), who is down on her luck. Expecting to land a job in Aaska, Wendy travels through the Pacific Northwest with her dog, Lucy. Stuck in a small town in Oregon when her car breaks down, Lucy is taken to the pound while Wendy's life continues spiraling down farther. Spend 75 minutes with these two characters and you'll come to love and appreciate this Kelly Reichardt minimalistic story, resonant and remarkable. (DVD WEN)