BMM (Books, Movies and Music)

Books:

David Goldblatt's The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer, written well, with passion and humor, a must for soccer fans and those just getting to know the "beautiful game". An epic at 900-some pages, as he is tackling a comprehensive history no one has complied before, it reads easily and fast. - A.G. Akturk

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
From the author of Fight Club, Lullaby is a dark look at what constant invasion of privacy and too much power can do to an average person. - Tara Garwood


My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler, the comedian best known from being on the show "Girls Behaving Badly", and being the host on her own show, "Chelsea Lately", Chelsea writes a very witty memoir. From her Jewish family to her frivolous escapades, Chelsea reflects on her life laughing about all the experiences that she had that and you just have to join in and laugh with her. - Mike Sutherland

Long Way Home by Ishmael Beah. This book is excellent. It's a touching memoir of Ishmael Beah . This book gives you the riveting insight on his life. His stolen childhood due to the genocide happening in his country, and his subsequent journey to becoming a child soldier. Although this book has some life altering occasions, it does have a wonderful ending and powerful message. A must read!! - Ekpa Eyoma

Movies:

Sleuth (1972), Starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine
An incredibly well-written and well-acted thriller, this is one of the most entertaining, enjoyable, keep-you-on-your-toes movies of all time. - Tara Garwood

There are questions you never ask servicemen and -women returning from a war. But the questions lie under the surface, waiting to be asked, waiting to be answered. To somehow share the burden of war in all its reality and ugliness, the National Endowment for the Arts funded an anthology of writing straight from the pens of our soldiers and Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (2007) is the documentary based on these writers and their work. I don't know that those of us who've never been to war could ever truly share the burden of those who have and are serving overseas. But with projects like this, we can at least try. - A.G. Akturk

Sound of Music (1965) - I think i have watched this movie a total of 100 times, and i still can't get enough of it. I grew up to this movie, love the music, have the soundtrack, and love the message on love. You can never go wrong with this classic. - Ekpa Eyoma

Mirrors (2008) - So I have to admit, this movie was decently scary. The last true scary movie I saw was The Ring(2002), over six years ago, which is pretty sad. There was some gore in Mirrors which I did not really expect, which enhanced the scare factor, and made it into the best scary in half a decade. Many parts made me jump, but found some humor, there's nothing more funny that your friends jumping every few minutes - just beware the mirrors, it's a whole different world. - Mike Sutherland


Music:

Sacrifice by Lisa Gerrard - Sohayl Vafai

Disturbia by Rihanna. Always gets me moving, and feeling a little freaky!! - Ekpa Eyoma

I've been listening to Marc Broussard, lately. The man is the soul of Delta blues/rock! I can't get enough of his tracks Home, Gavin's Song and Let Me Leave! Home will put you right in the swampy heart of Louisiana, stompin' to the beat for your everlovin' life!! And Gavin's Song is the purest expression of a father's love for his son. Truly a Southern treasure. - A.G. Akturk

Cake (All albums)
Far beyond their radio hits Never There and Let Me Go, Cake's music is possibly the coolest you will ever hear. With beats that get you moving and surprising harmonies, they are perfect for any mood or occasion! - Tara Garwood

blink-182's I Miss You Yeah, yeah, I know that this song is old, but I just can't let go. A punk band that embodied punk. I Miss You seems to be about someone who died and with reference to Jack and Sallie from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, they died and that they wish to be together, wherever the deceased girlfriend may be. It could also mean that simply the relationship died and that they wished that they were still together. Whatever the definition, the song is addictive, sweet yet, dark. "Don't waste your time on me you're already
the voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)" - Mike Sutherland