This was an interesting look at China before Communism. More than that, it was a fascinating snapshot of the passage of a man’s life, the choices & rationalizations he makes.

I missed a lot of classic books growing up. I’m looking forward to discussing this in our book group in December.

This movie had a lot of potential that it never really seemed to live up to. And there were some scenes that just seemed awkward and out of place …

Did not enjoy this, particularly.

I took it home with some curiosity, but also some trepidation. Our 8-year-old was of course curious, and we sat side-by-side eating ice cream as we watched.

Frankly, I could have given up during the first 20 minutes. I am no big fan of stop-action animation. And though this is marketed as a kids’ movie, there were several sections I felt we inappropriate for children. We gladly fast-forwarded through the scary, climactic scenes, and were glad when the film was over.

This story’s one virtue was that the stereotypical scrawny black cat was in this instance a hero. The two black kitties who live with us were more than happy to curl up with our daughter and me when we went to bed.

Two things about this book.

First, some nonfiction audiobooks are much better when they’re abridged. This is one of them.

Second, I think I was much happier “remembering” Buzz Aldrin from the moon landing days than knowing about him since then. Though he has had his share of difficulties, Aldrin comes off as rather self-absorbed in this autobiography.

I find that image of of people’s first footprints on an untouched moon much more appealing somehow …

This is an awesome cookbook. There were about a dozen recipes I’d like to try, and have used the pie dough recipe repeatedly for my quiches.

It’s great!

I saw a recommendation for this album and thought I’d try it. Sorry to say, I just couldn’t get past this guy’s voice. I tried almost every song on the CD, but it was really hard for me to listen to …

We took my almost-90-year-old mom to see this movie last night, and I have to say that there wasn’t a moment when someone in our family – from age 8 on up – wasn’t enjoying this film. Of course the visuals were great. With Pixar, the visuals are always great. What makes this movie though is the story. There are some some sad parts, but overall the story is leavened with hope, and with humor. I would recommend this movie to just about anybody, and wouldn’t mind owning it myself.

Julie & Julia is the story of Julie Powell, a young New Yorker in a dead-end job and seeking some sort of meaning in her life. When her husband suggested she attempt re-creating the recipes in Julia Child’s massive classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Julie dedicated the next year making 524 dishes from the book. In addition she wrote a blog detailing the joys and trials of the process, which earned Powell a number of online readers.

While I found the details of preparing classic French cuisine interesting, I think my real fascination with the book was the way Powell doggedly dedicated herself to the project, a quest if you will, and the way it changed her. I think we all hit points in our lives when we feel “stuck” and frustrated with our lives. Julie & Julia is a marvelous example of how to channel those frustrations in creative and life-changing ways.

And so, why I will never master the art of French cooking. As a working mom, I find it difficult many days to even get dinner on the table, let alone take several hours (and a lot of butter) to do it. I find myself drawn not only to meals which can be prepared with some expediency, but also to more homegrown fare. The cookbooks I use most frequently? Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (a dog-eared 1984 paperback) and Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker. Another new favorite is The Garden-fresh Vegetable Cookbook, which is great for all the fresh produce available right now.

Seeing the previews to this film made me realize how long it’d been since I’d seen an, umm, adolescent-type movie …

“I Love You, Man” wasn’t that type of film, really. Sure you had your requisite amount of hurling and language. But there were some truly funny moments that cracked my husband and me up.

And then there was, wait for it, Rush, the true reason I brought the film home. The concert footage in the movie itself, which seems to have been staged for the film, was okay, but the special features contain an extended concert sequence which was totally great.

This was an abridged version, my first reading of the story. Especially breathtaking was when, during the epilogue, the reader/actress Julie Harris broke down and wept. Deeply moving.