Somewhere, the spirit of Douglas Adams is crying foul over Sam Leith’s new novel The Coincidence Engine. Lifting from the Hitchhiker books Adams’ infinite improbability drive is a far more venial sin than abandoning the promising screwball comedy of the novel’s first half for a much deeper, darker, and incongruous exploration of the characters that […]
A female acquaintance of mine once complained about baseball that “All it is, is a bunch of guys standing around grabbing themselves and spitting for an hour, moving for maybe two seconds, then standing around grabbing themselves and spitting for another hour.” While this characteristic of baseball cannot be denied, there’s a lot more to […]
Film Festival Brings French Culture to Newport Salve Regina U brings a taste of French culture and film to Newport with their seventh annual French Film Festival. This excursion into Gallic culture includes dance, music, food and wine at opening and closing events, and features 6 films over two weeks, from Sunday, March 18 through […]
Two books take place simultaneously within the slim confines of Stewart O’Nan’s new novel The Odds. One tells the story of a failed marriage, its two unhappy principals not filled with hate for each other, but worn down by their own and their partner’s mistakes and weaknesses. The other explores how desperation can drive people […]
Derby#: 420 Team(s): The Rats, The Killah Bees, and I am playing in my first Riveters bout this month..I’m so excited! Tagline: “Watch out or you’ll get hooked!” I got involved in derby because I thought it looked like a moshpit on rollerskates..awesome. I like that derby gives me an aggressive, positive outlet with the […]
From art & existential films to rock ‘n’ roll to lesbian vampires, Brown U continues bold programming As it enters its 19th year, Providence’s French Film Festival brings a greater variety of French-Language films to Rhode Island for local audiences. “We try to get films that can’t be seen here, but we’re also lucky to […]
There’s an iron fist inside the velvet glove that is Amy Franklin-Willis’ new novel, The Lost Saints of Tennessee, a story that, though it strays into sentimentality now and again, nevertheless depicts the small everyday challenges, successes and failures that define most lives with both empathy and unblinking realism. Ezekiel Cooper, 40, divorced, owner of […]
Boredom, identical in effect, is the offspring of a million causes. I can happily watch the moon rise over the beach, changing colors as it climbs higher into the sky, while another person would consider walking into the water and never walking out again a much more pleasant alternative activity. I thought about this as […]
‘Death: A Love Story’ screened at Cable Car. Award-winning film makes first RI appearance Later this Winter, on the other end of the cycle of life, The Providence Children’s Festival will enter its third year this February with high hopes and high expectations. Running Feb 16-24, the festival will show 18 feature films and more […]
Occupation: Classical violinist Hometown: Jamestown, RI Watering Hole: I enjoy going to Gracie’s on Washington Street in downtown Providence…amazing cocktails! I’m really into Petit Sirahs right now. French martinis are my go-to cocktail if I’m feeling girly, otherwise a nice vodka martini up with olives always hits the spot! Global Warming: Well, I run so […]