Top reasons why I would never buy an e-reader

In this age of facebooking, tweeting, texting, you-tubing, and yes, blogging - I like to think that there are some things that can be done the old fashioned way... like reading. If there's one thing that takes you away from tiny little screens, big screens, keyboards and keypads - it's a book. That final sanctuary where the turn of a page can take you a million miles away from the ordinary. You might say that an e-reader does pretty much the same (except that you don't really turn a page - that difficult task has been automated by the touch of a button), plus it offers the added benefits of having all of your favorite titles in the same place. But before I start sounding like a commercial for an e-reader, let me just state for the record: I refuse to buy an e-reader. I refuse to buy an e-reader just for the sake of having one more electronic toy with a touch-screen. And here are some other reasons why:

- I like the feel of a book in my hands.

- I like turning the pages, and making dog-ear marks to indicate my favorite passages.
- I like seeing the books I've read on my bookshelf. I like opening up an old book and seeing my name or a message scrawled on the inside of the book cover.
- I like walking into a bookstore and seeing shelves of shiny new book covers.
- I know I can count on a book even when a coffee shop doesn't have Wi-Fi or a power outlet.
- I don't have to turn it off during take off and landing.

Here's hoping that more people decide to turn a page, instead of pressing another button......

The Informant - Kurt Eichenwald

A PhD from Cornell, a lucrative career at a Fortune 500 company, a 3 year stint as an FBI informant, and almost 10 years in federal prison.. Mark Whitacre's story as described by Kurt Eichenwald is as bizarre as it is true.

Eichenwald takes the reader through Whitacre's role in the biggest antitrust case ever tried in the United States. Whitacre's employer, ADM, is a global supplier of agricultural products. In their own words, "the competitors are our friends, the customer are our enemies" - and in the spirit of this prinicple, ADM engaged in a price fixing scheme with some of their largest international competitors. That may sound humdrum, but Eichenwald's description of the FBI investigation, that involved secret tapings of top executives at these price fixing meetings, across 5 different countries for 3 years, is only the beginning of a complex case that has more twists and turns than a John Grisham novel. But it's even better than a John Grisham novel, because it's all true! The first half of the book focuses on the FBI investigation and Whitacre's role as an informant. There is chapter after chapter of incriminating evidence which the author diseminates in an engaging narrative.

And it doesn't end there. Whitacre's credibility as a key witness for the prosecution is called into question when allegations of fraud and money laundering are brought against him. Eichenwald sifts through mountains of research material - audio tapes, video tapes, interviews, court documents - to examine Whitacre's motivation as a whistle blower in light of all these accusations. Eichenwald does a good job of being unbiased and laying out the evidence as it is. It's for the reader to judge whether Whitacre is an unsung hero, a crook, someone with serious mental health issues, or simply human.

An Education - Screenplay by Nick Hornby

Three of Nick Hornby's novels have been adapted into films ("High Fidelity", "Fever Pitch", "About a Boy"), so I guess it took a while for Hornby to realize that he could just write a screenplay of his own!

"An Education" is the coming of age story of a 16-year old girl, Jenny, living in 1960's England, and the way her world is irrevocably changed when she is swept of her feet by David, a mysterious, world-wise, older man. Jenny is an intelligent, attractive young woman who dreams of living in Paris, listening to French music, smoking cigarettes and having conversations in French about art and culture with interesting people.. an average teenager who wants to put as much distance as possible between herself and her humble surroundings.

I haven't read a screenplay before so I can't really judge Hornby's merits as a screenplay writer, but I have to say that the dialogues are full of his signature wit. I especially liked the development of Jack's character (Jenny's father), he is hilariously sketched as the type of father who lacks an appreciation for sarcasm, and who can't seem to provide a strong enough argument for his stolid support for a "good education" to the rebellious Jenny.

And that really is the question that nags Jenny during her misadventures.. what exactly is the point of her education? It's a question that has nagged every teenager at some point or the other.. can the lessons of life be learnt within the confining walls of an institution, why can't we be free to experiment and get a taste of the finer things in life through first hand experience?

Hornby's screenplay attempts to showcase Jenny's personal journey to come to her own conclusions.. the story is simple, one that will no doubt resonate with young and older adults alike. Can't wait to see the film!

Amelia: A film by Mira Nair

Most professional reviewers share the same conclusion .. the following sentence boils their reviews down to one sentence: the movie stinks.

But I'm not a professional film critic. I'm the average film buff who watches movies for one main reason: to be transported to a different place or time by a story that could be inspiring, gritty, funny, emotional, romantic, thrilling or horrifying.

This movie was not perfect.. yes, there were some cheesy dialogues and not enough background on Amelia Earhart's passion for flying. But these shortcomings were made up by spectacular cinematography (breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls), authentic airplanes (they used a version of the 1937 Lockheed Electra that Amelia used on her last fateful voyage), brilliant acting (Hillary looks and acts the part to a T) and resonating music (by Gabriel Yared of "City of Angels" fame).

I'm going to take the 5th as far as Mira Nair's hand in this film is concerned. I've seen this director use more originality to bring fiery screenplays to life on the big screen ("Monsoon Wedding", "The Namesake"), so there does seem to be a disconnect between "Amelia" and her previous films.. I'll say no more :)

Don't write off the movie based on the negative reviews. Watch the film for its real appeal - the story of a courageous woman, ahead of her time, who seized every opportunity to live her dreams, whatever the consequence.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - by Alison Weir

I'm a fan of Showtime's "The Tudors", but you don't need to subscribe to cable to enter the Tudor world of political intrigue and drama - just pick up a copy of Alison Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII". The book will take you through the foundation of the Tudor monarchy to the death of its most enigmatic ruler (Henry VIII), weaving academic research, opinion, engaging story-telling and vivid descriptions into a deeply rich tapestry. The focal points of the story are the wives of Henry VIII, and the author has drawn back the curtain to reveal the fascinating personalities of these incredible women.

The turbulent times of Henry VIII's rule were defined by his choice of bride, and his choices would signal shifting loyalties, power struggles and religious turmoil not only in his own kingdom but those of his neighbors. In an age when marriage was viewed as a political strategy, the wives of Henry VIII created their own destinies, and their own identities. From Katherine of Aragon to Katherine Parr, the wives of Henry exhibited their share of personal courage, shrewd maneuvers, passion, intellect, charm - it is these qualities that make for such an interesting breadth of stories with unexpected twists and turns. Follow up this magnificent read with another one of Weir's books - "The Life of Elizabeth I".

The Shadow of the Wind - a novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I have to begin by saying that no review will ever do justice to the magnificence of this novel. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is not just a writer, he is a craftsman and his is the age old craft of story telling.. where the author uses a magician's tricks of smoke and mirrors so that the more you read, the more you are mystefied... where the advancement of the story only leads to more complications of the plot till you are in the middle of a labyrinthine web of stories, rich with character and atmosphere.

David Sempere is the son of a bookseller in Barcelona. In 1945, when he is 10, he discovers a novel "The Shadow of the Wind" by an unknown writer, Julian Carax.. and over the next decade Daniel carries his obsession with the doomed author. Daniel is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Julian and protect Julian's legacy of literature from complete destruction at the evil hands of Lain Coubert, a mysterious figure who has threatened to burn every copy of Julian's books. The sinuous path of the story leads the reader to a host of characters who offer clues of Julian's existence: his star-crossed love affair with Penelope; the loyalty of his lifelong friend, Miquel; the unrequited love of Nuria; and the treacherous intentions of his lifelong enemy, Inspector Fumero.

One of the most unforgettable characters in the book is Fermin .. Daniel's friend and ally .. the self confessed admirer of all things female, whose wandering eyes belie a steadfast and loyal heart. Fermin's contempt for the anti-democratic Nationalist forces that came to victory after the bloody Spanish civil war of the 1930's, serve to showcase the tumultuous times of the novel's setting. But those events are not at the center of the story - at its core, the book is a gothic mystery, and the imagery conjured by the author of dark, sinister houses, shadowy figures, and ominous symbols will both shock and delight your senses. The story is an experience, an exercise of the reader's imagination.. the author will take you on a journey that comes full circle, and on the way you will be spellbound by the sheer magic of his story telling.

Grey Gardens

They created a world that was bizarre, isolated, eccentric, yet, it was their very own.. no one else could lay claim to it. Theirs was a tale of chances not taken, escapism and the cruelty of time. "Grey Gardens", the HBO film, was inspired by a documentary produced in the 1970's based on the true lives of Edith Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter Edith ("Little Edie"). Big Edie was the aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy and enjoyed a life of privilege and wealth till her separation from her husband in the 1930's. Edith's daughter, Little Edie, had visions of becoming an actress on Broadway, but somehow lacked the drive or the star power to achieve her glamorous dreams - she came to live with her mother in the 1950's in Grey Gardens (their once-magnificent home in East Hampton, New York). And thus commenced the beginning of the end - a reversal of fortune, and a mental state of denial that would cause the decay of a beautiful home over the next twenty years or so.

The movie goes back and forth between the happier times of former glory to the years of decline, constantly comparing the beauty and richness of the past to the emptiness and squalor of the present. Even though her wealth, beauty, good favor and fortune diminished, Big Edie would rather live in the dilapidated shell of her previously opulent home than see it torn down. Little Edie could have left for a life of her own on several occasions but chose to stay... whether this is from fear of failure, loneliness, or perhaps the realization that her mother needs her - we cannot say.. but we do know, that at her core, little Edie was a poet, artist and someone who craved a life filled with travel and adventure - who just lacked the motivation to step outside her own world of eccentricity.

Jessica Lange (Big Edie) and Drew Barrymore (Little Edie) were phenomenal in their roles.. especially, Lange, who imbibed the haughty and dogged nature of Big Edie so well. Even though Barrymore's accent is somewhat distracting, she still manages to depict the sadness and frustration felt by Little Edie as she witnessed changes in her appearance, her transformation from a young, free-spirited beauty, to an aging, trapped woman.

Rachel Portman's musical score for the movie is one of the best I've heard - it captures the mood of seclusion, exile and anguish that characterizes the story, and yet at the same time hints at the fleeting moments of delight and playfulness that are also apparent in the lives of these two women.

Those Who Save Us - a novel by Jenna Blum

This must be one of the most overlooked non-fictional accounts of the Holocaust. It's truly a gem and worth every minute spent reading it. Anna has never spoken to anyone about her experiences during World War II in Germany. Trudy was only a small child when Jack (an American soldier who was in Germany at the close of the war in 1945) brought Anna and Trudy to the United States to live with him. Trudy's only knowledge of her mother's past comes from a photograph that shows Anna, Trudy and a Nazi SS officer. Trudy grows up in the shadow of her mother's self imposed silence and guilt. Trudy also bears this stigma and carries vague memories of her bitter past. As a professor of German history, she creates a project to interview German women about their memories of the war, and specifically the roles they played in shaping the events of the Holocaust.

As the story progresses, switching between Anna's life during the war and Trudy's own efforts to comprehend her heritage - the reader gets a glimpse of the war from the perspective of ordinary German women... some traded their Jewish friends/neighbors for a morsel of bread, some watched in muted horror at their public humiliation, and some sacrificed their own lives to help those who were being unjustly persecuted. Anna's story is a compelling one .. one that will leave you raw with emotion.. at the ignobility of war, the perverse psychological ties people have to the those who protect them even if their saviors are the most despicable of human beings... and the ability of some people to rise above the baseness they witness all around them to become heroes.

It is very difficult to write a book about the Holocaust from the German perspective, without sounding self indulgent or outright offensive to the survivors of the most horrific event in the history of humanity - yet, the author maintains a dignified sense of respect towards those that perished and survived, while pointing out the small, but significant instances of goodness that existed in a barbaric time.

The Space Between Us - a novel by Thrity Umrigar

Anyone who grew up in India in a middle class (or higher) family would be familiar with the narrative of this book. The story intertwines the past and present of two women - Bhima and Sera. Bhima works as a servant in an upwardly mobile Parsi household in Bombay.. her mistress, Sera appears to have it all --a loving husband and a doting child -- but is hiding a world of humiliation and disgrace.

Over the years Bhima and Sera develop a bond, which is born as a result of sharing household tasks, daily chores and the closeness that comes from experiencing life events together. However, their relationship is a precarious one - Bhima and Sera are not friends, nor are they simple acquaintances. Their connection is a complex sum of many parts.. convenience, guilt, benefaction, and the fact that they are both mothers, two women struggling to keep their men from breaking their spirit. However, they are two women on opposite ends of the class spectrum, and this is a gap that just can't seem to be bridged. It is this ambigious, shifting balance that is the focus of this bittersweet story. It puts a face on the millions of Bhima's in India - who serve their masters with unswerving faith, washing someone else's dishes, floors, clothes, only to come home to their own world of squalor.

Bhima is stranded in a perverse cycle of illiteracy, hard work, poverty, shattered trust and loss of loved ones in every chapter of her life. Does she manage to find any hope of redemption in her life? You have to read this beautifully written book to find out. Not only is the author's language authentic to her protagonists, but her writing is evocative of the rich prose that has characterized the works of some of my favorite Indian writers - Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy and Rohinton Mistry.

Child 44 - a novel by Tom Rob Smith

This novel manages to blend a horrific crime story with a nerve-wracking look at Stalinist Russia - where fear, paranoia and a ruthless instinct for survival rule every day decisions. I wasn't suprised to learn that the author is a screenplay writer as well, because you can almost see the movie playing in your head as you read every chapter!



You will be transfixed by the backdrop of the story - which offers a chilling potrayal of 1950's Russia, just before and after Stalin's death. The novel is very well researched, offering accounts of the methods used by the MGB (Soviet State Security.. precursor to the KGB) to rid Soviet society of any semblance of dissidence. Even though the book is essentially a crime novel, the characters are very well developed, and serve to echo the helplessness and fear felt by people who lived in that era - a society with no freedom of choice or expression, where friendship and love are truly tested every day, where philosophers, thinkers and teachers are policed like common criminals. All for the sake of a cause, a "greater good" that started off as a cause worth dying for, and somewhere along the line, became a cause worth killing for.

The novel does read like a blockbuster movie mixed with philosophical musings (which are quite well written and not patronizing), and even though the premise does start to lose touch with reality towards the end, I was still hooked on to the very last page.. no easy feat with a 470 page novel!

Little Children - a novel by Tom Perrotta

This was one of those rare occasions when I happened to watch the movie BEFORE reading the book. I watched the movie - nominated for 3 oscars, starring Kate Winslet (lead actress), Jennifer Connolly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley (supporting actor) - a couple of years ago and was surpised at how the sensitive subject matter was handled with subtle humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Less than perfect marriages, the joys, pains and daily sacrifices of bringing up a child, the notion that fresh starts can reverse the drudgeries of past years.. are all explored in this very engaging novel. Sarah used to be a firebrand feminist in her college days, she's now in a dull marriage, taking care of a demanding 3 year old with whom she doesn't quite share the traditional mother-daughter bond. Todd used to be a successful, popular football player in college, who just can't manage to find the same success in his career. He is now a stay-at-home dad, feeling the pressure to pass the bar exam so he and his wife can move on to the next stage in their lives. When Todd and Sarah meet at a local playground, they embark on an unlikely and unpredictable affair.. Add to this, the fact that Ronnie, a sexual deviant moves to the neighborhood - adding more drama, and surprisingly, more comedy to the story.

The author, along with the director (Todd Field) adapted the novel for the screenplay - and as I read the book I was not suprised at how similar the book was to the movie (or perhaps the other way around).. except for the way the movie handled Ronnie (played by Haley), which was VERY different from the book.. and it was this ending that gave the movie its edge. On the other hand, Perotta handled Ronnie's character with more irony than disquietude in the book..
It also has to be said that the author's style constantly switches between the casual and the profound.. making the book highy readable, charming and full of wisdom.

Sunshine Cleaning

Not a lot of people can put a positive spin on "removal of bio-hazard materials".. but Amy Adams sure can! Even though there are elements in the movie that make it very "Little Miss Sunshine-esque" - it still manages to be original. The story unfolds delectably to reveal a family that appears to be normal on the outside, but is struggling under the weight of personal tragedy, shattered dreams, unfulfilled expectations and a general sense of malaise. Yes, that does sound depressing, but the characters manage to find humor in their daily tribulations. And that's what makes this movie into an uplifting, bitter-sweet tale of family, failures, triumphs and redemption.

In a nutshell (and without giving away too much!) Amy Adams plays Rose, who goes from being a popular cheerleader in highschool to a single mom working in a cleaning company to owning her own "crime scene clean up" business. Her sister, Norah (played by Emily Blunt.. of "The Devil wears Prada" fame) never moved past their mother's tragic death, and is constantly in a state of lethargy and cigarette-induced stupor. Their father (loved Alan Arkin in this role!) is the eternal optimist, always on the brink of THE business opportunity that will make him rich. Dysfunctional family relationships are usually the focus of indy flicks.. and this movie is no exception. "Rachel getting married" and "Margot at the wedding" are examples of other small films that have attempted to depict this complex bond. In its characterization of Rose and Norah, "Sunshine Cleaning" brings authenticity to the portayal of the nuances and subtleties that exist between sisters.

Overall, the movie is missing the "feel good" factor of "Little Miss Sunshine" by a hair.. but I don't think the writer's objective was to make the viewer attain that state of mind. The tag line of the movie is "Life's a messy business".. and the writer tries to convey just that, by offering surprising comedic elements as a relief from the darker themes of death and grief.

Frost/Nixon - a play by Peter Morgan - Off Broadway Performance

Anyone who has been paying attention to the movie scene this past year (and doesn't live under a rock ;-)), is aware of the movie "Frost/Nixon" - a dramatic look at the biggest television coup of the 1970's: a talk show host (David Frost) gets the first ever interview with the 37th President of the United States (Richard Nixon - who fell from grace after the Watergate scandal). These interviews were the only evidence that Nixon had ever felt anything close to remorse or guilt or responsibility for the trauma that the American people were put through as a result of the Watergate scandal. Now just imagine the stage version: where you can see and feel the tension between Frost and Nixon on stage, as they duel in the fight of their lives - one to gain the popularity and celebrity of a television czar in the United States, and the other to regain at least a portion of the dignity he has lost.

I was surprised both by the comic elements of the play, and Nixon's personality (potrayed by Stacy Keach). It is an irony that the intense spotlight of a political scandal often does not illuminate the subject's nuanced character, instead it over-simplifies the subject into a flat, nondescript caricature. The play tries to reverse this phenomenon by giving the audience a peek into the personality of Richard Nixon - yes, he broke the law; yes, he abused his powers; yes, he allowed politics to cloud his better judgement... but he was also a very complicated sum of many parts - a fact that is often left off the table.

The change in Frost's character - from someone whose only goal is to win the top spot in America's television-driven society; to someone who truly wants to win a battle of wits with the most cagey, artful, and shrewd of opponents - is well potrayed by Alan Cox, who tries masterfully to compete with the larger-than-life stage presence of Stacy Keach.

I have to say that the auditorium (Aranoff Center) was too large for a play like this. We were quite thankful that an issue with the stage design was the reason our balcony tickets were exchanged for much better seats in the orchestra section (free upgrade :)). It was also a great idea to depict some of the on-stage action on a large screen, which showed Nixon's every frown, twitch, furrowing of the brows and his famous dabbing of the upperlip/forehead with a handkerchief!

I don't think the playwright's intention was to garner any sympathy for the ex-president (even if that is a byproduct of the performance). I think the audience will walk away with a better understanding of this complex man.. who was greedy, delusional, abusive of his powers, cunning, innovative as a statesman, yet short sighted, who ultimately craved the spotlight that he once took for granted.

The Reader - a novel by Bernhard Schlink

The book is an intense examination of how we deal with the transgressions of past generations.. do we really spend time and
effort to truly understand circumtances and motivations behind those wrongdoings, or do we simply condemn in order to show
our indignation, and somehow try to salvage our collective guilt, try to make it into something less passive, less futile?

Michael is a young schoolboy of fifteen in post-war Germany, when he meets, and becomes enthralled by an older woman (Hanna). Their short, but intimate time together ends when Hanna mysteriously leaves town - next to be seen by Michael, years later, when she stands on trial for crimes committed during World War II. Michael is now torn between his love for her and his own guilt for loving someone accused of those atrocities.

The author theorizes how the holocaust was perpetrated by people who were essentially numb, they were acting not just because of orders given to them by others, but because these very acts had become a matter of routine, something that wasn't to be analyzed or to be given the slightest form of the most basic human consideration. He also links this same "numbness" to the victims, who witness these daily horrors as if anesthetized. The author absolutely does NOT consider the perpetrator and the victim in this case to be any way similar just because they share this detached perspective, but he does pose the question: "What would you have done?" No other question could be so simple in phrasing, yet draw such complex, raw introspection.

"The Reader" is also a painful love story, beautifully written (the translator - Carol Brown Janeway - should get a special mention) but without the cliches that sometimes characterize the narration of such romances. The story is written so economically, yet, with every word, every sentence, you, the reader, will be made to feel the characters' anguish, the torment of their memories, their struggle to come to terms with their moral breaches, and their attempt at pennance..

Revolutionary Road - a novel by Richard Yates

the story begins as a tale about an outwardly happy couple in suburban america in the 1950's .. both struggling with the realization that their ordinary life together is probably all they can aspire to. april wheeler gives a less than stellar performance at community theater, and consequently questions her talent as an actress. she is also frustrated with her mundane role as a housewife and mother of 2 young children. frank wheeler has a job that he finds dull and unmotivating. in order to combat this fear of "life passing them by", they decide to move to europe, where they hope a change in environment, better intellectual and cultural stimulation might help them lead more fulfilling lives.

as the story progresses, this seemingly perfect yet simple plan begins to crumble as does the facade of the couple's marriage. the story is ultimately about the simple truths that we hide from ourselves because they are too painful to face: we pretend to love when we detest; we pretend that society is boorish and inane, when in reality we masquerade unconfidence as finesse and brilliance; we pretend that unbridled enthusiasm can compensate for the lack of talent. these charades place an undue burden on the protagonists, and we begin to see them crack rather than shine under the harsh (yet realistic) light of the author's narration. they are delicately balancing unfulfilled dreams with the promise of better ones ahead.. though the lies they tell themselves and others daily, are beginning to make the truth more elusive than the counterfeit future they planned.

the book is an absolute must-read.. the story is as intense, as it is sensitive - as extraordinary, as it is humble.

Travels of Angelica

We watched this play on a cold, dreary, snowing night.. and were just glad to be off the icy streets once we were inside the theater (Playhouse at the Park) - but the amazing story that began to unfold on stage along with the haunting background score were something we just weren't expecting!

The play is about a writer (Edward Blythebury, played by Erik Lochtefeld) in the 1650's who escapes oppressive England with his young daughter to the unknown territories of the New World in search of artistic freedom. While in America, he tries to write a story that would encompass his ultimate passions: freedom of thought, freedom to express one's religious disbeliefs, use of words and art to highlight the unlimited scope of human imagination, that cannot be reigned in by threat of banishment or might of sword. Edward faces suspicion from a greedy neighbor (Josiah Podge, played by Greg Thornton), who threatens to expose him. Lochtefeld's and Thornton's potrayals of these two dissimilar men, are the highlights of the play.

The play constantly switches between the 1650's and present day.. when two Yale literature grad students (Emma and Matthew) arrive in Virginia to research the writer's life, and perhaps uncover his last writings. Are they able to find the indelible voice of a rebel, an artist, or do they go home emply-handed? The powerful artwork that's projected on to the back wall, the emotive music, not to mention the eloquent dialogue and strong performances from the actors kept us (the audience) in an emotional hold throughout the play.

More than its potrayal of a persecuted writer in search of intellectual freedom, I think the play says a lot about how fleeting life is. It is a tragedy that many people's lives and legacies, are of no real consequence beyond a short time. To end on a less morose note... the play also celebrates the longevity of ideas, words, art, music.. and speaks to anyone who looks at the past for inspiration and re-invention.

It's playing at "Playhouse at the Park" till February 20th.

the curious case of benjamin button

this short story was written in the 1920's by f. scott fitzgerald, and consequently is full of quaint phrases and words.. my personal favorites are "phaeton" and "picaresque" :) the story is a quick read, beautifully written, and simple but with a plot that's meant to inspire more complicated reflections on the progression of life. according to the foreword, the story was inspired by a mark twain quote, that it was a shame that the best part of life comes at the beginning and the worst part at the end.. fitzgerald tries to show what might happen if this was reversed, and the tale he conjures up is a mix of sad humor, irony and (to me) a sense of futility.. futility, because, towards the end of his life, benjamin button has no recollection of the rich experiences in his past..by the end of his life, benjamin is an innocent young child, with no laurels from his past accomplishments, no stories to pass on to his children.. yet, he passes away in the same fashion as any other person, with no baggage..

duchess rules..

"georgiana: duchess of devonshire" is meticulously pieced together from letters, diaries and scraps of paper that survived more than 200 years. the parallels between her lifestyle, marital woes, influence on fashion/society and that of princess diana (her descendant) is fascinating! it was so refreshing to read about a strong (yet very human) woman who had such a great influence on politics during a time that has been mistakenly known for emphasizing traditional roles for women at home and in society. the book does NOT read like a history lesson; the author combines historic fact with riveting story telling. i KNOW i will be disappointed by the movie, but i'm curious to see georgiana brought to life on the big screen!