NOVEMBER 2017
A&E 21
STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS BOOKS: BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY By Alison Habina In Ruta Sepetys’ historical novel “Between Shades of Gray,” Lina Vilkas, a normal, popular fifteen year old girl was living her ordinary life in Lithuania, until one day, Soviet officers came knocking on her door. Lina and her family were taken to a Soviet work camp, where over 12 years she would be beaten, starved and struggle to stay alive. She would make new acquaintances and enemies at the camp as she tried to protect her family. This proud Lithuanian girl risks her life many times in order to help her family and the one she comes to love at the camp. Photo courtesy of Lauren Upah
By Brynn Luskey R&B music has evolved with the emergence of Sabrina Claudio, a 21 year old singer and songwriter from Miami, Florida. She gained her following from posting covers on YouTube of artists such as Beyoncé and Willow Smith. Claudio recently released her debut album, “About Time,” after her 2017 EP “Confidently Lost” hit the charts, and since has joined 6lack on his North American tour. Her songs such as “Unravel Me” and “Wait” perfectly encompass Claudio’s soulful and calming vibe, and her alluring voice has contributed to her growing fame. Sabrina Claudio is full of raw talent, and her passionate lyrics reel listeners in. Photo courtesy of Apple Music
TELEVISION: SILICON VALLEY By Annaliese Grunder
“Silicon Valley” is an HBO original sitcom centered around Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch), a programmer who lives in a Silicon Valley tech incubator. Richard finds himself thrown into the spotlight when he accidentally develops the tech world’s most advanced compression algorithm while working on his music app, Pied Piper. Hilarity ensues as Richard, now CEO of his own company, plunges into a frantic race to get Pied Piper’s algorithm to market before his competitor, tech magnate Gavin Belson (Matt Ross). Combining raunchy comedy, satire of the real world tech industry and a stellar cast, “Silicon Valley” is an uproarious masterpiece. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
MUSIC: SABRINA CLAUDIO
MOVIES:
CASINO ROYALE
By Jack Patrick
“Casino Royale” is about James Bond, who after receiving his license to kill, goes out on a mission to bankrupt and arrest Le Chiffre, a criminal planning to take billions of dollars from Casino Royale for a secret organization. I recommend “Casino Royale” because it has strong performances from Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench and Mads Mikkelsen, along with outstanding action sequences like the construction site assault and fantastic musical score like the poker scene theme and opening theme song. It is very thrilling from start to finish. Photo courtesy of WDavid MacKenzie (Flickr)