We've selected four recommendations over the weekend to get out and watch a film with the opportunity to talk about it afterwards. more ›

For anyone who likes dark, macabre and a little bit weird, Rotters is a book to consider getting your grimy little hands on. Though the cover looks disturbing, author Daniel Kraus sets up his story innocently enough. Joey seems like an average high-school student. But when his mother suddenly dies, he’s left with no living relatives except his father. Joey’s never met him, but he has no choice but to ship off to a small town in Iowa to start a new school and a new life living with a stranger. As if that isn’t challenging enough, Joey’s dad, Harnett, who lives in a cabin on the outskirts of town that smells like garbage, is totally uninterested in working on any sort of relationship with his long lost son. At this point, about 80 pages in, Rotters feels like a wholesome YA book that’s on the path to teaching readers an important message about father-son relationships. more ›

Daniel Kraus is a local author who seems like a normal dude judging by his website’s bio page. There you’ll find a picture of a seemingly easygoing guy, reading a book with an adorable little dog curled in his lap. But even he’ll admit he has a dark and twisted mind. His first book, The Monster Variations, was about a small town killer. And his just-released second novel, Rotters is about a teenage kid learning a gruesome trade. Protagonist Joey is sent to live with his weirdo estranged father when his mother dies. Although Joey and his dad don’t hit it off right away, when Joey discovers what his father does for a living, he’s intrigued. What follows is an apprenticeship in his father’s craft — graverobbing. What’s more, both of Kraus’ novels can be found in the Young Adult section at bookstores or libraries, since he writes about YA protagonists. more ›

A sheriff, a musician, and a professor walk into a bar--wait, that's a different post. more ›

Daniel Kraus must have invented a method of extracting more than twenty-four hours out of a day. When we last checked in with him, he had just premiered his documentary Musician, profiling jazz genius Ken Vandermark. Since then he's ramped up production of additional installments of his WORK series, with at least three new films in various stages of production; transitioned into a Books for Youth associate editor at Booklist magazine; and, oh yeah, also published a novel for young adults, The Monster Variations. It's enough to make the rest of us look like layabouts. more ›

There is arguably no genre of music littered with more forgotten figures than jazz. When it comes to pop and rock, every neglected album is just a Pitchfork blurb away from reappraisal and appreciation. But in the world of jazz, for every undervalued legend like Jimmy Scott whose work is rediscovered, there are dozens still consigned to near invisibility. Such a singer is Jackie Paris. He toured with Charlie Parker, performed with Lionel Hampton and Charlie Mingus, and even opened for Lenny Bruce. But an erratic recording career and the proverbial string of bad personal choices have ensured his status as a little-known cult figure. 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris, a new documentary playing in a week-long run at the Siskel, traces the life of the troubled song stylist. Interviewees include Billy Taylor, George Wein, Mark Murphy, and Ruth Price. Incidentally, thanks to the magic of iTunes, several of his albums are now back in print. A casual listen brings to mind Johnny Mathis with a smidge of Jon Hendricks' tone. more ›

As if you needed reminding, it's Tax Day, one of the more stressful times of the year, especially with the economy in the toilet. But maybe you're lucky enough to get a half-decent refund from the Federal Government this year and feel like treating yourself to something nice. more ›