The Time Traveler's Wife

    By Audrey Niffenegger.

Format.
    An Audiobook read by William Hope and Laurel Lefkow.

The Book in One Sentence.
    Henry DeTamble involuntarily travels through time and tries to live a 'normal' life.

The Good.
    Beautifully crafted characters.

The Bad.
     The bizarre dream sequences.

Who would I recommend it to?
    Anyone who likes loves stories with a scifi twist and/or bitter-sweet endings.

A Quote from the Book.
    "I sleep.  I inhabit sleep firmly, willing it, wielding it, pushing away dreams, refusing, refusing. Sleep is my lover now, my forgetting, my opiate, my oblivion."

Verdict.
   A worthwhile read.  Lots to like here.

Twelve Angry Men

Format.
    Netflix dvd

The Movie in one sentence.
    Twelve jurors must decide the verdict in a murder case.

The Good.
    A diverse group of twelve people coming together to create a bit of ordinary extraordinary.  It is a delight to watch and puzzle out who will be the next to switch their vote.

The Bad.
     They are in the jury room for nearly all of the movie.  It was hot in there and I can sympathize its hot where I am too.  The room is cramped in the film and, well, don't watch this if your prone to claustrophobia.   Also, nothing supernatural happens.  It is all pretty serious and real.

Who would I recommend it to?
    Anyone who likes black and white films and Henry Fonda.

A quote from the movie.
"Let's take a vote."

Verdict.
I've seen this movie several times and come away with something different each time.  If you haven't seen it,  rent it.  Clear away the distractions and enjoy.

The World Without Us

    By Alan Weisman.

Format.
    Audiobook read by Adam Grupper.

The Book in One Sentence.
    What would happen to the planet and the structures we have built upon it, if we the Earth's human inhabitants were to disappear?

The Good.
    It was very interesting to learn about the kind of maintenance that goes into 'civilisation'.  Weisman, doesn't just stick to the states, but takes in the wider world as well.  
    The book takes in a wide range of phenomenon.  Not only discussing what would happen if we should disappear, but also taking in the range of plant wide changes, our past and continued presence has and will cause.

The Bad.
    This is not a particularly cheerful book.  It is not meant to be.  You've been warned.

Who would I recommend it to?
    Those interested in doomsday books, in learning more about our impact on the world around us and/or curious about how our city infrastructure is maintained.

A Quote from the Book.
    "In 2000, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service reported that 77,000 towers were higher than 199 feet, which meant that they were required to have warning lights for aircraft.  If calculations were correct, that meant that nearly 200 million birds collided fatally with towers each year in the United States alone.   In fact, those figures had already been usurped, because cell phone towers were being erected so fast.  By 2005, there were 175,000 of those.  Their addition. would raise the annual toll to half a billion dead birds --except that this number was still based on scant data and on guesses, because scavengers get to most feathered victims before they're found."

Verdict.
    A good read.  Weisman took many environmental studies and interviews, and crafted them into a very readable and entertaining story.

Hominids:

Book #1 of The Neanderthal Parallax
    By Robert J. Sawyer.

Format.
    Audiobook read by Jonathan Davis.

The Book in One Sentence.
    A Neanderthal named Ponter Boddit accidentally travels from his own universe into ours, and in so doing exposes both unique cultures to one another.

The Good.
    I enjoyed a lot of the science and philosophy discussions.  Boddit's people have a view on how the universe works that is far different from our own.

The Bad.
     Some of the relationship dynamics seemed a bit forced.

Who would I recommend it to?
    People interested in parallel worlds, alternate history and/or Neanderthals.

A Quote from the Book.
    "Pennies from heaven."

Verdict.
    I love how this book ended.  Definitely going to read the rest of the series.

The Grim Grotto

By Lemony Snicket.

Format.
    Audiobook read by Tim Curry.

The Book in One Sentence.
    The Baudelaire orphans encounter yet another in a series of unfortunate events.

The Good.
    Did you know that wasabi can be consider a culinary substitute for horseradish?  

The Bad.
     I wish this series could last forever. Ah, well.

Who would I recommend it to?
    Everyone.  Especially people who tend to enjoy childeren's books,  like to learn new words and/or enjoy a good story.

A Quote from the Book.
    "'Aye!' the voice said again. "Keep your eyes open!  Look out below!  Look out above!  Look out for spies!  Look out for one another!  Look out!  Aye!  Be very careful! Be very aware! Be very much! Take a break!  No--keep going!  Stay awake!  Calm down!  Cheer up!  Keep climbing!  Keep your shirt on!  Aye!'"

Verdict.
    I'm having trouble writing something level headedly enthusiastic.  This book and the whole series rock!

Vantage Point

Format.
    Redbox dvd

The Movie in one sentence.
    The President is shot (or is he?) and that event along with what happens after is replayed through the eyes of several eye witnesses.

The Good.
    Forest Whitaker.  
    The puzzle piece nature of the film makes it interesting to fit together in your mind.

The Bad.
     The way the movie is pieced together is more interesting than the story that is being told.  The name of the movie pretty much gives that away, but somehow I still wasn't expecting it.

Who would I recommend it to?
    Anyone who enjoys interestingly edited movies.

A quote from the movie.
    "I go where the moment takes me."

Verdict.
    Entertaining and unremarkable.

The Reaping

Format.
    Redbox dvd

The Movie in one sentence.
    A disillusioned minister investigates a river of blood and regains her faith in the process.

The Good.
    Beautiful aerial shots of swamp lands.  Fun larger than life characters.

The Bad.
    Way to many waking up from vivid dream sequences.  

Who would I recommend it to?
   People who enjoy a good rain of frogs.

A quote from the movie.
 "Seeing as how I was standing waist high in blood, dodging frogs and all."

Verdict.
If I hadn't been bored I would never have picked this movie out to watch.  I'll probably forget it in a few weeks.