This Week in Books and Media...and camping.

This was a busy, busy week so I didn't get much reading done.  Over the weekend I traveled to Minnesota for the wedding reception of a good friend.  While there we socialized, drank wine, rowed boats, communed with nature and ate.  Unfortunately, all of this fun did not leave much time for reading although I am halfway through about three at the moment.  Next week there should be plenty of book talk.

If you are at all outdoorsy, I do highly recommend visiting the lakes in Minnesota for camping. The setting is lovely and there is plenty of water to play in. Just make sure you carry some super powerful bug spray because the rumor is, later in the season the mosquitoes are as big as your head. Just sayin...

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah - This is often considered the book that started off the Urban (or Street) fiction genre so we picked it for our genre study book club at work.  Winter, the main character, is the spoiled daughter of a drug dealer in the Brooklyn projects. When her father is arrested, her pampered life falls apart and in trying to play "the game" she quickly descends into the ugly world of drugs, violence and revenge.  Written by Hip Hop star and activist, Sister Souljah, the author presents a heartbreaking look at what drugs can do to a community and to the young men and women whose lives revolve around it. The book has flaws but is worth reading for its grittiness and realism.

Murder on the Cliffs by Joanna Challis - Daphne du Maurier is the detective in this historical novel.  When Daphne goes to Cornwall to visit her old nurse and do research for her first novel, she becomes enmeshed in the murder of Victoria.  Victoria is the young, lower class girl who has become engaged to the eligible son of the local aristocracy. There are some clunky sections but this is an excellent novel for those who love Gothic romance, Daphne du Maurier and reading about the British aristocracy.

DVD's
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Gifted with the ability to guide the imagination of others, Dr. Parnassus gambled with the devil and lost the soul of his daughter. In order to win her back, he must compete with the devil for the souls of five other people.  The acting is fresh and inventive and the costumes and cinematography are outstanding. I enjoyed this even though sometimes I had to rewind to catch some detail I missed. Multi-tasking is not recommended for this film. This was a freaky little movie.