David Shapiro's Suggestions:
I haven't had much time to read lately, but a few things I've been listening to:
Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8, by Bob Dylan. It's amazing that the guy has 26 previously unreleased tracks like these just laying around.
Songs of Joy & Peace, by Yo-Yo Ma. The cellist eases us into the holidays with a "party" at which he's joined by friends like Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Dave Brubeck, James Taylor and Jake Shimabukuro.
At 89, by Pete Seeger. A celebration that this amazing human being is still alive and making music.
Didi Wood's Suggestions:
I was a big Stephen King fan when I was young, but I hadn't read him in years when I picked up Lisey's Story. This poignant novel about the "two hearts" of a marriage, "one light and one dark," stayed with me for weeks after I finished it. I was amazed that King made me care so deeply about a character I knew was already dead.
I read a lot of fiction for kids and young adults, and one of the best is Cynthia Lord's Rules. It's an engaging story about a twelve-year-old girl with an autistic younger brother, and I appreciated how Lord brought her situation to life with humor and pathos, and with admirable subtlety. I read it aloud to my kids (7 and 10), and it afforded some great opportunities for talking about people who are different.
Finally, because 'tis the season, here are some of my favorite holiday books and movies: