Media Mix

Book

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Down River

By John Hart

St. Martin's Minotaur

$24.95

A good-at-heart drifter is plunged into a tangle of murders and deception after he returns to the Southern town (and fractured family) he once fled in disgrace.

"Things had changed, people, too; and my father was right about one thing. Five years was a long time, and I knew nothing about nothing."

— Long-lost son Adam Chase considers the family he left behind

The atmosphere is palpably heavy, and the story works both as a suspenseful whodunit and as a sensitive rumination on the emotional force of family dynamics.

Second-time author Hart takes a bit too long to achieve liftoff, so readers can be forgiven if they speed-read through the first few chapters.

— Reviewed by Sara Cardace

B

Book

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Matrimony

By Joshua Henkin

Pantheon

$23.95

This complex love story tracks the relationship of two college sweethearts as they navigate an early marriage beset with challenges from illness to infidelity.

"The first week together, Julian and Mia stopped sleeping. They were coasting on adrenaline, Mia said. 'On libido,' said Julian."

— The beginning

Like a highbrow version of a voyeuristic reality show, the novel elicits a passionate investment in the fate of its characters -- truly an up-all-night read.

While tangentially addressing issues of class, this is a story of privileged people grappling with privileged problems -- not recommended for readers for whom "yuppie" is a four-letter word.

— Reviewed by Adriana Leshko

B+

CD

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100 Days, 100 Nights

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Daptone

$16.98

Out with the new, in with the old: What sounds like a long-forgotten soul album is actually the latest effort from the irrepressible Sharon Jones.

"Let them knock upon my door until their hands are black and blue / I'm not answering for no one until my man and I are through."

— "Let Them Knock"

After a summer touring behind Amy Winehouse, the Dap-Kings are in excellent form, providing Jones with some killer grooves over which to vamp.

A few too many slow burners keep the album from gaining steam.

— Reviewed by Chris Richards

B+

CD

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Magic

Bruce Springsteen

Columbia

$18.98

After a foray into folk on last year's "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions," Springsteen reconvenes the E Street Band and returns to straight-ahead rock-and-roll.

"We don't measure the blood we've drawn anymore / We just stack the bodies outside the door / Who'll be the last to die for a mistake / The last to die for a mistake"

— "Last to Die"

There's a wonderfully odd quality to Springsteen's voice on "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," and "Terry's Song," the hidden track closer, is among the Boss's best.

On a few songs, notably "Gypsy Biker" and "Devil's Arcade," Bruce sounds as though he's working a little too hard to sound, well, Springsteeny.

— Reviewed by Joe Heim

B

DVD

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The Sarah Silverman Program: Season One

Not rated

Paramount

$19.99

Self-absorbed and foul-mouthed comedian Sarah Silverman sets out to upset everyone in her loopy sitcom.

Finding a funny line from this show that can be printed in a family newspaper is well nigh impossible.

Silverman may be amoral and juvenile, but she's also very, very funny. The disc includes some singalong versions of the show's catchy and offensive songs.

There are only six episodes, so you might want to wait to see whether a box set is planned down the line.

— Reviewed by Greg Zinman

B

DVD

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The War

Not rated

PBS

$129.99

Ken Burns's epic seven-part documentary about World War II traces its impact on the men and women of four American towns.

"I was raised in a real Christian family. As a result, killing was not part of my training. And that was a big hurdle for me to get over."

— Infantryman Glenn Frazier of Mobile, Ala., shares his war story

Burns expertly weaves archival footage, talking-head interviews and narration to bring a fresh, personal perspective to a familiar tale. There is also a wealth of bonus features and commentaries.

Some viewers might be put off by a 15-hour historical exercise that considers only America's side of a global conflict

— Reviewed by G.Z.

A-

Game

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Drawn to Life

Nintendo DS

Rated Everyone

THQ

$29.99

A magical land is under attack by sinister forces, and you are called upon to literally create a hero.

Be imaginative! With stylus in hand, you must draw and color the game's protagonists, as well as weapons, vehicles and other props.

Feel free to go off script: The game may ask you to draw a cloud, but there's nothing to stop you from sketching a giant flying hot dog instead.

Take away the (admittedly awesome) gimmick, and Drawn to Life plays like any other generic platformjumping game.

— Reviewed by Christopher Healy

B+

Game

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Halo 3

Xbox 360

Rated Mature

Microsoft

$59.99

In the sci-fi franchise's latest installment, protagonist Master Chief must rally Earth's troops during a multi-front war to put an end to an invasion by a marauding alien alliance.

This sequel introduces all kinds of new military field equipment, such as portable shields and energy drainers, adding new levels of strategy for online combat.

Halo 3's improved environmental designs, robust multi-player options and well-paced action enable the game to live up to most of its incredible hype.

Hard-core gamers may find that the default "Normal difficulty" level lacks the challenge they were expecting.

— Reviewed by Evan Narcisse

A