Just so everyone is clear that I'm not all work and no play on my sabbatical. Just saw an interesting movie and read an interesting book.
Pizza(2005): Saw the promo for this and was intrigued. It's the story of "the weirdest girl in school" (I've known LOTS weirder girls than her. But that's for another post) who spends a day riding around with a pizza delivery guy (Ethan Embry). They get to discover somethings about themselves and each other. It's a lot of fun and funny and poignant. Sadly it falls just short of being a really great movie. Every half an hour or so the director feels compelled to add in some sophomoric, teen movie cliche moment. In the end it leaves the movie feeling a little shallow and under developed. I really wanted to fall in love with this movie and ended up just really good friends. Well worth the time to watch however.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks(2008) - A fascinating fictionalized look at the history of the factual Sarajevo Haggedah. This is one of the earliest Jewish books with illuminations (beautiful color pictures). The actual Haggadah has survived amazing travels and large portions of its history is unknown. Brooks tries to offer some insight into what might have happened to this marvelous book. Well written with characters you'll enjoy (well except one) it offers a wonderful insight into the ways that Christianity, Islam and Judaism have at times found ways and places to live together. Gives me hope that maybe we'll find a time of conviviencia again. I was desperate for something to read and saw this sitting on a shelf. I'm glad I grabbed it. Brooks is a past Pulitzer Prize winner and a pretty fair story teller.
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