SOCIAL CHANGE self and others. Among the questions she asks
The Difference a Day Makes: 365 Ways are: What is truly beautiful to you, and what
to Change the World in Just 24 Hours, would you do to get it?
by Karen M. Jones. Each of the suggested
actions, such as volunteering at a food bank Creepers, by David Morrell. Disguising
or picking up litter when taking a walk, can himself as a journalist, Frank Balenger, ex-
be started and finished in a day or less, and U.S. Army Ranger and Iraqi war veteran, joins
none of them requires a cash donation. Readers a group of “creepers,” also known as urban
may want to tackle a new step each day of explorers or city speleologists—men and
the year, repeat an action every day or take women who outfit themselves with caving
actions that address a personally favored issue, gear to break into and explore buildings that
such as animal welfare or the pursuit have long been abandoned. They take noth-
ofpeace. ing but photographs, destroy nothing and
leave no footprints. But this time it’s differ-
OPERA ent—Frank and his crew aren’t the only ones
Madame Butterfly and La Boheme, prowling around in the old Paragon Hotel.
by Giacomo Puccini and La Traviata,
by Guiseppe Verdi. Each set includes the COOKBOOKS
complete opera on two CDs, a libretto with Cooking Light Holiday Cookbook, from
annotations, historical commentary, concise Cooking Light magazine. That time of year
biographies of the composers and illustra- is approaching, and wouldn’t it be nice to
tions. A great find for opera buffs and begin- have something new to serve? Brighten—and
ners alike. lighten—holiday menus with a choice of more
than 350 no-stress, super-quick, make-ahead
book
previews
David Morrell
Book contest and
FICTION recipes. The cookbook also features serving
On Beauty, by Zadie Smith. Smith’s third tips, table settings, clever decorations and ideas
novel is an analysis of family life, marriage and for gifts from your kitchen with festive packag-the intersections of the personal and political. ing ideas. This is the must-have helper to make
It also offers a look at people’s deceptions—of your season bright and healthy.—Valerie Ryan
giveaway
COSTCO HAS four autographed
copies of Who the Hell’s in It, by Peter
Bogdanovich, to give away. To enter
to win this collection of interviews
with and portraits of famous actors,
print your name, membership number,
address and daytime phone number on
a postcard or letter and send to: Peter
Bogdanovich, The Costco Connection,
P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-
1088, or fax it to (425) 313-6718.
No purchase is necessary. Entries must
be received or postmarked by October 1,
2005. Void where prohibited. Employees
of Costco and their families are not eligible. Winners will be notified by mail. One
entry per household.
dvd
picks
Will to succeed gives
Ferrell box office magic
SOME CRITICS WONDERED if Will Ferrell of horror is back in this
would disappear from the Hollywood “hot creepy remake of the
list” a few years ago after he resigned as come- 1979 thriller. One year
dian in chief of Saturday Night Live and took after a nightmarish series
his act to the big screen. Box-office exit polls of murders took place in
suggest he made a magical executive decision. a residence in Amityville, Long Island, George You can do it!: Ferrell roots for his own
Two of his latest hits, Bewitched and and Kathy Lutz and their children move into team in Kicking & Screaming.
Kicking & Screaming, are available on DVD the house, thinking it is their dream home.
in October. But over the next 28 days, they find that the (Reynolds) are both doing time in the same
In Bewitched, Ferrell plays Jack Wyatt, an house might be haunted by a murderous prison. Asked to put together a team of
unlucky actor who’s trying to revive his career presence. The DVD is available in September. inmates to take on the guards on the gridiron,
by playing the lead role, Darrin, in a big- House of Wax. Carly(Elisha Cuthbert), Crewe enlists the help of Scarborough to
screen remake ofthe old Bewitched TV show. Paige (Paris Hilton) and their buddies coach the inmates to victory in a football
He chooses Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) attempt to keep the flicker of life burning game “fixed” to turn out quite another way.
to play the role of his TV wife—not knowing after they stumble on an abandoned Florida The DVD is available in September.
she’s a real-life witch. town while travelling to a college football Keep an eye out for other new releases
In Kicking & Screaming, Ferrell plays Phil game. Soon, the crew is stalked by a killer, arriving soon, including the complete first
Weston, who has spent his life dealing with forcing them to take refuge in a scary wax seasons of two of ABC’s most successful
his ultra-competitive father, Buck (Robert museum. The DVD is available in October. breakout hits, Desperate Housewives and
Duvall). Now Phil is coaching his 10-year-old The Longest Yard. In this remake of Lost, The Adventures of Sharkboy and
son’s soccer team, and their opponent in the Burt Reynolds’ 1974 hit, former pro quarter- Lavagirl in 3D, Sahara and the 10th-
finals is a team led by none other than Buck. back Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) and ex-col- anniversary edition of Toy Story.
