One Sentence Review: 5 Random Books

Robertson Davies: Fifth Business (1970) - Davies' most acclaimed novel is a cathartic and tragic story of a man who lives his life but realizes that those around him, his friends, his lovers, and even strangers, are the people that shape it and his circumstances. 9.6/10

Junot Diaz: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007) - The most complete, hilarious but at the same time heart wrenching look at the society, culture, and people of the Dominican Republic is a fast read full of myth, freakishly relatable characters a lot of Dominican slang. 9.2/10

Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex (2002) - Eugenides' Pulitzer Prize winning novel is the story of Calliope Stephanides, an intersexed individual, and of her family, their decisions and her life as an individual who, like many of us, is trying to find meaning in the life she has been dealt. 10/10

Yann Martel: Life of Pi (2001) - This modern classic story of a boy shipwrecked at sea is both frightening and charming, impeccably researched and entirely metaphorical. 8.9/10

Brian Francis Slattery: Spaceman Blues (2007) - A frenetic, pulpy sci-fi story that seems to do without a break button deserves cult classic status and with a story as imaginative and fucked up as this, I'm sure it will. 8.1/10

One Sentence Review: 5 Random Movies

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - A three hour epic about a man who is born old and ages backwards is a story that slowly progresses to its conclusion, yet with its many philosophies and takes on mortality it never feels like it should be any shorter. 8.9/10

The Dark Knight (2008) - This epic about a man and his struggle to endure despite tragic circumstances and backlash is often implausible, but any individual with a love for tightly bound plots that unfold in rapid fire will find in The Dark Knight a strong personal contender for best movie of all time. 9.2/10

Soylent Green (1973) - By now we all know the twist that the movie tries to make us care about, but no matter how relevant the plot about overpopulation may be, the movie did not age well. 3.2/10

Adaptation. (2002) - Just when you think you've got the film figured out, an unpredictable and seemingly random event makes the film aware of itself, creating a mindfuck that lasts the rest of the brilliant ride until its hypnotizing conclusion. 9.3/10

Being John Malkovich (1999) - Charlie Kauffman is a genius, coming up with concepts and exploring ideas that slowly unwound until the film that he has written for becomes irrecognizable and all that much better. 9.4/10

One Sentence Review: 5 Random Albums

Portishead: Third (2008) - Darker and harsher than earlier efforts, creating an unavoidable atmosphere and many surprises that warrant a more rewarding experience than earlier albums, though Dummy is still catchier and thus the ideal place to start. 9.0/10

Talking Heads: Remain in Light (1980) - Funky quasi-African polyrythms conjured up by four white folks in their conceptual prime guarantee an immediately accessible, danceable, immersive experience that never lets up momentum until it has to, when we are all sweating and panting. 10/10

The Zombies: Odessey & Oracle (1968) - The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds with Beatle-esque attitude equal one the most unfairly overlooked, absolutely essential album of the 1960s. 10/10

Pavement: Wowee Zowee (1995) - The quintessential indie band of the 90s seem to have lost inspiration for their third full length effort, successfully creating one of the most frustrating albums by one of the decade's best bands. 5/10

My Bloody Valentine: Isn't Anything (1988) - More immediate and edgier than the more influential and beautiful Loveless, but by no means any less essential. 9.6/10