Welcome to the brand spankin' new recommends section brought to you by Slicey. *waves at everyone* Hello all, Slicey here. I had some free time on my hands (haha) and thought I would share with you my favorite picks in books, CDs, movies, and so on. As luck would have it, I spend my days working for a major book retailer, so I am constantly reading books, listening to new CDs and hearing about the next cool box set of DVDs to be released. Since I get paid to read (well, I guess that's not what they technically pay me to do), I can weed through the heaps of titles all those best-seller lists throw at you and give you my favorites each month. Sometimes they'll be popular and well-known and other times they will be more obscure. All I know for sure is that these are some of the things that I enjoy in my free time, and I hope you will too.

With the exception of the short-lived Young Americans, this series easily takes that title. Wonderfalls is a quirky, funny, light drama/dark comedy that could easily beat out Dead Like Me for most sarcastic and apathetic lead character in a TV series. That is, if FOX hadn't axed the critically acclaimed series after shoving it in a terrible timeslot.

The main character, Jaye, is a classic Gen Y slacker - overeducated and underemployed. With a degree from Brown and a family of overachievers, Jaye nevertheless takes a go-nowhere-job working for a gift shop at Niagara Falls and chooses to live in a trailer.  When the figurines in the gift shop start talking to her, Jaye thinks she's going crazy, but soon learns that when she follows the advice of the inanimate objects things in her life (and the lives of others) turn out for the better.

*Noteworthy: Jaye's sister as a semi-closeted lesbian - at least a few hilarious scenes to be had when watching her.

*If you live in NYC you can see a marathon screening "Falling for Wonderfalls" of all 13 episodes on Saturday and Sunday, January 29 and 30, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. at the Museum of TV & Radio

At times earthy, bluesy, and rockin' she sings of relationships and politics in a style some compare to Alanis Morissette.  In fact, one reviewer says "Some see her as a folkie-punk-bisexual-feminist-radical-crap-kicker, while others reckon she's merely Alanis Morissette with better lyrics."

This is DiFranco's 15th album and it shows in the polished lyrics and guitar rhythms. This is a great addition to your CD collection.

Buy the CD now from Amazon and you don't have to wait days for the mail to come -
receive the entire album to download and listen to immediately!

Tracks to check out first: Recoil, Modulation, and Seeing Eye Dog.

When a child is stricken with leukaemia, her parents create a "designer" baby, specifically crafted to save her older sister's life. What would your life be like when you've always lived it for the benefit of someone else?

Told in the first person narrative by several different characters, this story draws the reader in and asks you to make the choice "what would you do?" A hard decision to face in a world with shades of grey.

Read this if you liked The Lovely Bones.

Since picking up this album, I've read several reviews praising it, but all were by long-time Indigo Girls fans. In all honesty I have never truly listened to Emily Sailers and Amy Ray before (except for the occasional tune on the radio), and I know very little about their previous albums. 

So, from a first-time fan I am recommending this CD because it's filled with catchy tunes and great melodies. When the girls harmonize it makes you want to cry, the sound is so beautiful. Listening to each tune is like reading a poem from a long-lost friend or lover. I've listened to this one so much that the songs are constantly in my head, yet I can't wait to get home and listen once again.

Beautifully adapted from Sarah Waters' novel (die-hards should read the book first), this 3-part BBC mini-series tells the story of oyster girl Nan Astley who dreams of more than her world can offer her.

She finds more than she bargains for when she follows drag (king) performer Kitty Butler to the rowdy streets of Victorian London. Here we read the ups and downs of Nan's life as she struggles to make it in her newly discovered queer world.

Each part of this book/film is a startling discovery - more fun to experience the less you know about it. Whether you read the novel first or watch the movie, you should make a point to do both. This title should be in every book & movie lover's collection.
 

The title I'm most anticipating is next month's release of Ellen: Season One on DVD. Originally titled "These Friends of Mine" the show was later remade with a different cast of supporting actors, but it's the same Ellen we all know and love.  No matter who you surround her with, Ms. DeGeneres is always hilarious, and I'm sure this DVD will be a blast to watch. 

Special Features include:

• Commentary by Holly Fulger and Arye Gross on the pilot
  
• Two bonus episodes filmed during the first season but broadcast during the third season
  

Save $12 on this title by pre-ordering now!