By Chauncey Mabe One of the knocks on modern literary fiction is that it seldom shows people at work, where, after all, most of us spend the preponderance of our time.And yet, as Monica Ali inadvertently demonstrates with In the Kitchen, it is possible to go too far in the opposite direction. Showing the tedium of a working life is one thing. Making it tedious for the reader is … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2009
Ali shows deft plotting hand in ‘Kitchen,’ but overwrites like the Dickens
One of the knocks on modern literary fiction is that it seldom shows people at work, where, after all, most of us spend the preponderance of our time. And yet, as Monica Ali inadvertently demonstrates with In the Kitchen, it is possible to go too far in the opposite direction. Showing the tedium of a working life is one thing. Making it tedious for the reader is quite … [Read more...]
Weekend picks: July 30-August 2
Gabrielle Chou, a musical triple threat.Music: Earlier this year, the now-defunct Boynton Regional Symphony Orchestra featured a performance by a 13-year-old Hollywood violinist in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Gabrielle Chou proved to have a good command of the concerto, demonstrating thorough technique and some attractive elements of personal style. She's a triple threat, … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 23-26
Brian Kovachik with his best-of-show vase. (Photo by Katie Deits) Art: The Gallery at Palm Beach Community College’s Eissey Campus in Palm Beach Gardens currently is featuring Earthly Delights, a multimedia exhibition of art by members of The Palm Beach County Art Teachers Association. The exhibition is composed of recent paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed media works … [Read more...]
Weekend picks: July 30-August 2
Music: Earlier this year, the now-defunct Boynton Regional Symphony Orchestra featured a performance by a 13-year-old Hollywood violinist in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Gabrielle Chou proved to have a good command of the concerto, demonstrating thorough technique and some attractive elements of personal style. She's a triple threat, as it turns out: She's equally … [Read more...]
Film review: Delightful ‘(500) Days’ offers smart twist on old formula
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer.By Hap ErsteinThe very appealing, refreshingly inventive (500) Days of Summer announces its intentions from the opening moments. A sober-voiced narrator intones that what we are about to see “is not a love story.”Implied is the suggestion that we not get involved in the on-again-off-again relationship between … [Read more...]
Delightful ‘(500) Days’ offers smart twist on old formula
The very appealing, refreshingly inventive (500) Days of Summer announces its intentions from the opening moments. A sober-voiced narrator intones that what we are about to see “is not a love story.” Implied is the suggestion that we not get involved in the on-again-off-again relationship between greeting card writer Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his … [Read more...]
Music feature: Jazz DJ keeps the flame alive in WXEL show
Stu Grant, jazz deejay.By Bill MeredithFor someone who isn't a professional musician, jazz deejay Stu Grant sure sounds like he's crafting a restaurant gig set list -- rather than a radio playlist -- for his Jazz Impressions show on WXEL 90.7 FM."I look at the first hour of the show as the dinner hour, and keep it lighter," he says of the weekly Saturday evening broadcast. "As … [Read more...]
Jazz DJ keeps the flame alive in WXEL show
For someone who isn't a professional musician, jazz deejay Stu Grant sure sounds like he's crafting a restaurant gig set list -- rather than a radio playlist -- for his Jazz Impressions show on WXEL 90.7 FM. "I look at the first hour of the show as the dinner hour, and keep it lighter," he says of the weekly Saturday evening broadcast. "As the evening goes along, we get … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Poets gear up for next week’s national slam in West Palm
Illustration by Pat Crowley.By Paul LomartireSlammed by syntax. Pummeled by a poem.The world heavyweight championship of words delivered with attitude is headed for West Palm Beach in the form of the 20th annual National Poetry Slam Aug. 4 to 8.And yes, fans, this is a competition every bit as heated as baseball or boxing."This is blood, sweat and tears poetry delivered live … [Read more...]