What's the best book and the best movie you've seen in the last year and why?

Question

Best book you've read, that is.

Answer 1

I've read a lot, but nothing really that is absolutely new. The two that made the biggest impact are a rereading of Covey''s Seven Secrets of Truly Effective People (a flawed good bad book — I don't care for the style but some of the ideas have had a big impact on me, more than when I first read it, and also it led me to another re-reading and deepening of my understanding of Victor Frankl's MAN'S SEACH FOR MEANING, a very important book that makes a lot of sense to me).

Movies are easier. Despite some of the problems of its dramatic impact, I thought that Rober de Niro's THE GOOD SHEPHERD was a more important movie than it has been made out to be. Three reasons. First, it is personally meaningful to me: I went to Yale in the middle of the Cold War, knew people like its main characters, and came out of the movie with the sense of therre but for the grace of God might I have gone. Secondly, I think it begins to put things in perspective as to the under the surface meaning of the changes in the United States, originally for idealistic and necessary reasons (fignting first Nazi, then Soviet ottalitarianism which were real dangers) and the way this idealism in itself turned bad and left a sour taste in people's mouths. Finally, I thought the acting and direction were extremely good, conveying a restrained, even cold, view of things, precisely the restrained, cold, sense of the intelligence world, but that hte audience and the critics are not yet ready for this. Perhaps in five or ten years things will be different and people will see the movie as an imortant sign of shifts in culture and pollitical insight.

Shortly after I saw that while traveling in California, I saw Dreamgirls, which was an absolutelly stunning experience — he4 music, the acting and the theme served to have an impact equivalent to a modern American opera that does put the shft in American life and popular culture over the last 40-50 years into perspective.

Someday, I'll rent DVDs of these two movies and see them one after the other. I think they epitomize the reality of the watershed years that changed American life.

Answer 2

Does it have to have the publication date 2006 or not? Well, the best book I read last year was The Vanishing by Tim Krabbe. It's this short book about obsession that I really love. Tim's exploration about the nature of evil is very stark and rings true.

The best movie I've seen last year was... Mean Girls. I think it was shown before 2006, but I only saw it on DVD a year ago. I loved it. Very funny!

Answer 3

This is a VERY interesting question. There is no indication that the answer requires the book to have been published "in the last year" or, indeed, that the film was released at that time. PLUS, one's preference is very subjective, and the 'adrenaline rush' of a first read or viewing tends to negate any rational criticism of same.

However, I revisited "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut" (1991) and believe it remains one of the most striking SF films ever made: even without CGI (perhaps because of that lack) it looks good even today!

Book-wise, it's another hard choice... there are so MANY! Perhaps Diana Gabaldon's "Lord John and the Private Matter" (2003). Set in England in the 18th century, it is a rollicking, picaresque tale complete with a gay protagonist. Lots of fun and atmospheric in the extreme...

Paul

Answer 4

My saddest music is a toss up between Hallelujah via Jeff Buckley, cover and seek for via Imogen Heap and The Blower's Daughter via Damien Rice. i'm a sort of pathetic women that cry in the process maximum video clips quicker or later, however those that left me in tears long after it had comprehensive are city of Angels, forged Away, Armageddon and existence as a house. they're basically devastating. OH, additionally the pursuit of happiness. That action picture basically thoroughly wrecked me in areas. that's probably rather stupid however the e book that gets me each and each time is the seventh Harry Potter e book, the previous few chapters.

Answer 5

Best Book - Eldest
Best Movie - mission Impossible 3

Answer 6

Best book: "Herzog" by Saul Bellow

- A truly fascinating character study

Best movie: "All That Jazz" directed by Ben Fosse

- Ben Fosse's mastery of visual symbolism and visual experimentation make this movie a classic.

Answer 7

Best book: SEVEN DEADLY WONDERS by Matthew Reilly(in my opinion the greatest thriller writer on the planet today). Best movie: I don't go to the movies or watch TV. I read instead. More enjoyable.

Answer 8

Last year? "The Child Called It" by Dave Peltzer.
It was shocking especially when I found out it was a true story.