E-reader: Spouses in prison, pickup artists and more
Marrying a Monster by Jessica Pishko, Narratively, 14-minute read, free If you want to guarantee you know where your spouse is at all times, a sure-fire method might be the...
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E-reader: Ruminations on TV, books and movies
'Making a Murderer' and 'Bad' Families, The Rumpus, 15-minute read, free In assessing the much-discussed Netflix series "Making a Murderer," Lisa Borders reflects on the similarities between Steven Avery —...
‘Beloved Dog’ by Maira Kalman pays tribute to the dogs of life
Noted illustrator and author Maira Kalman's thesis statement couldn't be clearer: You, reading this book, most likely have, or had, a dog, You certainly know that your dog is, or...
Passion pick: ‘A Treasury of the Familiar’ deserves a reprinting
The New York Times recently ran a story lamenting the sad sight of bare shelves in our increasingly digital homes, shelves that used to hold music and books. More distressingly,...
Oscar-nominated shorts will screen at Music Box Theatre
In time for the edification of serious Academy Award aficionados, the Music Box Theatre will host showings of live-action and animated short-film nominees beginning Friday. The two categories will be...
‘Killer Poet: The Double Life of Norman Porter’ (3 1/2 stars!)
"Killer Poet" is so strong, so evenhanded in its examination of the life of Norman Porter (a.k.a. Jacob A. Jameson) that a viewer will see no need for this documentary...
‘The Axe in the Attic’: Filmmakers’ self-pity mars Katrina story
In Hurricane Katrina, Lucia Small ("My Father the Genius) and Ed Pincus ("Black Natchez") found the perfect storm on which to train their individual specialties. Small's previous documentary exposed the...
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ fans should buy a toy, not a turtle
Don't buy a turtle. And for the love of God, don't buy two turtles. This weekend brings the reboot of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise. When it launched in...
‘Quill’: Just keep the camera on the dog ✭✭ 1/2
What is it about yellow Labrador puppies? Whether it's the "world's worst dog" in "Marley & Me," or the much more manageable lead character in "Quill: The Life of a...
Films festivals for many tastes this weekend
We're heading into a crowded weekend for film fests in Chicago, with no fewer than three major events competing for attention. This kind of overlap is far from ideal, but...