Directed by Andrew Niccol.

In the near future, people stop aging at 25. Time is added to their "life countdown" clock like a paycheck when they work, and purchases are made by taking away time from the clock -- coffee costs 4 minutes, a car might cost several decades. One man obtains over a century through mysterious means and begins a quest to bring equality to the system.

This was a fun action and sci-fi "concept" movie. It really gets you thinking about whether you would rather have time or money. And if you did have time instead, would you throw 4 minutes away on coffee as easily as you put $4 on the counter?

4 out of 5 stars.

- Marleah

By Chris Harbach.

This was such a wonderfully odd book.

It reminded me of a John Irving novel for the middle-class Midwest, artfully capturing that feeling you get when you realize that you aren't "right" (in all the implications of the word) and that your intentions aren't even clear to you.
Still, it is touching book, like getting hit in the head during a pillow fight, taking a blow that doesn't hurt on contact but is strong enough to knock you over.

4 out of 5 stars.

- Eric

By Susan Hill.

I wanted to read the source material before possibly seeing the feature film of the same name, starring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame.

The book is quite short, more of a novella really, and is quick enough to finish in an evening - preferably a late, windy evening in front of the fireplace, curtains rustling here and there. The book is written in an older style that I did not expect from a story published in the 1980's, but it fits the tone well. It's not perfect, but it is an enjoyable ghost story.

3 out of 5 stars.

- Marleah