One of my favourite months of the year has arrived, and with it, my latest batch of recommendations!
MOVIES
Our Brand Is Crisis: The story: there’s a presidential election coming in Bolivia, and two of the contenders have brought in American consultants (and former competitors) to help with their campaigns. As an actress, Sandra Bullock can really do no wrong in my mind, and I found it interesting that this role was originally written for a man, and changed to bring in Sandra. A caveat: you have to have at least a passing interest in politics to enjoy this.
Spectre: I watched this film in our local cinema’s brand-new AVX theatre (which was awesome), and you can find more details here.
BOOKS
Wonder by R.J. Palacio: This is about a ten year old boy with a facial deformity, told from different perspectives. I considered reading this to my class (I’d be fine with my seven year old hearing it) except for a couple of references to suicide, which I would have to reword for Grade 2/3s. If your kids (or students) are a bit older than that, this is definitely a powerful book to share.
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll: This is one of those twisty-turny-suspense books that you often find me recommending. If you’re a Gone Girl or Girl on the Train-lover, check it out.
Blue Bloods Cookbook by Bridget Moynahan and Wendy Howard Goldberg with Chris Peterson: If you’ve ever watched this show (which I have – every single week!) you know that each episode would not be complete without the weekly family di)nner scene. Bridget Moynahan, one of the stars of the show (and one of my favourite actresses collaborated with Wendy Howard Goldberg, the wife of the executive producer, to create a Blue Bloods-themed cookbook. Filled with classic Irish and Italian recipes, beautiful photography, complete menu ideas (e.g. St. Paddy’s Day, Easter) and behind-the-scenes notes, this is a great choice for the cook on your Christmas list. I even plan to try some of the recipes! (Apparently star Tom Selleck and I have a lot in common – he’s not a veggie fan either! (Note: I received a copy of this book free for review.)
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: This book is a visit with a very honest, vulnerable, girlfriend who happens to be the writing queen of Thursday nights. All it took was a comment from her sister (“You never say yes to anything!”) to inspire her to do exactly that for a whole year. And you know, if you’re going to drop names in your book, one might as well be Kerry Washington.
The Night Before Christmas: A Brick Story by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Amanda Brack: The traditional story brings back wonderful memories for me, as my Dad used to read it to my brother and me every Christmas Eve before we went to bed. Instead of the classic illustrations though, Brack has done these with Lego, making it very appealing for kids. I even found myself drawn in to the detailed scenes. If you’re looking to add to your Christmas book collection, this is a great choice. (Note: I received a copy of this book free for review.)
GOOD DEEDS
The Shoebox Project:
What about helping a local woman who could use a boost?
Sick Kids Get Better Gifts:
For the person on your list who has it all!
