Arts & Culture

 My Effin’ Life’s positive sense of life, inspirational stories, and amusing anecdotes make it a rewarding read. Geddy Lee leaves readers with a strong sense that no matter how bad things get, it’s always worth staying positive and producing beautiful art.

Many literary works depict individualist heroes struggling against collectivist societies, but three brilliant examples are Charlotte Brönte’s classic Jane Eyre, Lois Lowry’s award-winning young-adult novel The Giver, and Ayn Rand’s dystopian novella Anthem.

Dream Louder drips with talent, but it is not mere “musician’s music”—technical pyrotechnics without soul. In fact, it is one of those rare jazz albums that even non-jazz fans can deeply enjoy.

It’s been almost a century since Edith Hamilton published her classic The Greek Way, and during those years, countless thousands of readers have encountered Greek culture for the first time through her works. Yet despite her achievements, Hamilton has never been the subject of a full biography until now.

Godzilla Minus One is no run-of-the-mill monster movie. It is an outstanding story about the value of human life and the immorality of sacrificing it.

Taylor Swift's story is an example to all that—even when one’s back is against the wall—resourceful, creative thinkers can often find a way out.

Many could stand to expand their holiday soundtrack palette. Toward that end, here are two suggestions, one old and underappreciated, one contemporary but not exactly mainstream, both of which were re-released in new editions this year.

Despite Wonka’s unfortunate confusion about greed, Wonka is a joyful film that celebrates innovation, entrepreneurship, and win-win relationships. If you’re looking for a fun movie to enjoy with the whole family this holiday season, this is a great pick.

Dolly Parton has always been a rockstar. Nonetheless, we can count our lucky stars that she decided to record a rock album. The genre is better for it.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes fails its source material in two major ways: It barely touches on the control-versus-freedom conflict central to the book, and it fails to establish Coriolanus as the Hobbesian power luster he appears as in the later films.