My Top 5 Books and Films for 2007
Note: These books and films are not necessarily ones that came out in 2007 (although a few of them are). The only requirement is that I had an experience with them in 2007 that was powerful, incredible, exciting or purely enjoyable.
My Top 5 Books:
My Top 5 Books:
- Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi -- A must read if you like insightful connections between literature and life or if you're interested at an insiders perspective (from a female professor) of what it's like to live in Iran.
- Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse by Brigid Keenan -- If you know any diplomats, this takes on personal meaning. What makes it particularly compelling is it explores the lives of most of us--those that aren't in the action, but are near it.
- Voyage of the Basset by James C. Christensen -- Every year I choose one book to read over Thanksgiving. This is what I choose for this year--it's a beautifully illustrated story about a professor of mythology who enters into the world of his myths with his two daughters. It's a great tale for sparking the imagination and opening up new realms of possibility.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Dorothy travels to Oz to discover that what she already had what she thought she was lacking. If you get really into the idea of Oz I recommend reading the book and then watching the 1910 film, the 1926 film, and the classic 1939 "The Wizard of Oz" and making comparisons. (You can find all of the films on the three-disc collector's edition of the 1939 version.)
- Hans Christian Andersen: The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories -- I would particularly recommend "The Snow Queen", "The Shadow", "The Nightingale", and "The Little Mermaid". What's great about reading Andersen is you can get so much out of them by applying different lenses: deconstructionism, feminism, post-colonialism, etc. They're quite delightful.
- Stardust (2007) -- A riveting fantasy film that creates endearing character development for over a dozen characters, pays homage to typical generic, tells an engaging adventure-romance story and knows how to laugh at itself.
- The Elephant Man (1980) -- Directed by David Lynch and starring Anthony Hopkins, this film makes you reconsider the way you look at others and more importantly, how you treat them. You feel like you've gone through the same journey as the characters.
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) -- What can I say--I'm a Harry Potter fan. I especially loved the cinematography and visuals in the final battle scenes. A very psychological film that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
- New York Doll (2005) -- A documentary about a former member of the band The Dolls, seeing where he is now, exploring his fall from success, his conversion to faith/religion, and a reunion performance of band. It's very compelling and made me want to watch more documentaries that explore who people really are.
- His Girl Friday (1940) -- Cary Grant at his best! A fast-paced comedy filled with puns, hilarious situations, and unexpected surprises. There's several main plots that all come together in the end.