ALBUMS

THEN:

Mignonette – The Avett Brothers

Imagine a bluegrass band. Now imagine them playing punk rock and it sounding strangely beautiful. The Avett Brothers sound like no one else, and the sheer force of their energy comes off this album in waves. Quiet, loud, angry, wistful, beautiful and always surprising – The Avett Brothers are the musical toy in the bottom of the cereal box.

NOW:

Lonely Avenue – Ben Folds & Nick Hornby

After years of writing about music, High Fidelity author Nick Hornby is trying his hand at songwriting. Who better to interpret and breathe life into Hornby’s lyrics than indie rocker Ben Folds. If you can envision a vivid character study set to beautifully arranged music, you might have envisioned Lonely Avenue.

—Sharon Penny

BOOKS

THEN:

Flood by Andrew Vachss

Andrew Vachss is a crime writer who takes hard-boiled to a new level – edgy, unflinching, bitter and demanding vengeance. Flood begins his acclaimed Burke series, the avenging angel of child abusers. This dark quest through the bowels of New York City will likely leave you a little shaken and toying with the idea of reading more. Do it.

NOW:

The Confession by John Grisham

The story of the innocent man wrongly accused is well trodden. John Grisham examines the flip side in his new novel; a guilty man who happily looks on as an innocent man takes his fall. But when a change of heart moves him to confess, he learns the difficulty in proving another man’s innocence.

—Sharon Penny

FILMS

THEN:

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

The unforgettable bond between the lonely Elliot and the lost alien that he befriends made for cinematic magic when the Steven Spielberg-directed E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial debuted in 1982. Today, nearly two decades later, the relationship at the heart of the film still resonates with audiences of all ages.

NOW:

How to Train Your Dragon

We love an underdog, which the delightful How To Train Your Dragon gives us in Hiccup, a gentle Viking with an unfortunate aversion to fighting dragons – his clan’s bread and butter. The film’s big-hearted and generous script hilariously explores the tender relationship between Hiccup and his rescue dragon, Toothless, and makes this PG-rated family film an animated classic.

—Jenn Thornton