From Christopher Bram, author of Exiles in America and Gods and Monsters:
What was the best book of the year?
Like many people, it’s rare that I read a book the year it comes out. The greatest book I read this year was BLEAK HOUSE, which was published a century and a half ago but I regret to say I didn’t get around to it until last month. What an amazing novel. The best new book I read was NIGHT DRAWS NEAR by Anthony Shadid, which gives us the Iraq War as seen through the eyes of Iraqis, including the diary of a fourteen year old girl. A powerful, harrowing book, but even it published a year ago.
What was the best movie?
I’m more current on movies, and there were a slew of good ones this year, including LITTLE CHILDREN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and INFAMOUS. But for me the best was VOLVER by Pedro Almodovar, a black comedy about mother-and-daughter reconciliations with Carmen Maura as an oddly goofy dead mother.
Who was the person of the year?
The person of the year was Howard Dean, who as chairman of the Democratic Party fought to win the midterm elections in ALL states, not just those the Democrat poobahs thought were good bets. As a result, emergency brakes have now been applied to the Bush administration. (Let’s see if they work.)
What is your New Year’s resolution?
My New Year resolutions are to get my cholesterol count down and make a solid start on a new novel.
