Cannesta, Mike

Purple prose, Nov 12 2007

I don't seem to be able to pick a bad book lately. "Bitter is the New Black" was the last one I read and that was funny AND disturbing on so many levels. And talk about something completely different. "PURPLE HIBISCUS" is not like anything i've ever read before. It is a great story, though it is upsetting and very horrific at points, much like McCrae's "Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens" or the book "Blood Meridian." Still, give it a try. The story centers around a teenage girl who grows up under the most horrible father. She's physically abused and all this happens in Nigeria--not the most stable place in the world. So not only is life inside the home a living hell, but life on the… Read more

See it live, Nov 11 2007

If you ever get the chance, see this play on stage. The movie is not half bad, but a live performance is remarkable. It's gut-wrenching and moving. This play, along with "The Shadow Box" are two of my favorites. I can't recommend this enough. I saw it in New York when it first came out, then saw a revival in Boston years ago. The world of the deaf is wonderfully portrayed in this epic play and Medoff is a genius at how he paces the story. Would also recommend "Night of the Iguana" for another great play.

Very funny, Nov 11 2007

If you like the "shopaholic" seris by Kinsella, then "Bitter" will keep you up trying to finish the book. Wry, dry, and accurate, it is both funny and disturbing on so many levels. Would also recommend "The Devil Wears Prada" for another great book.