So I checked out Nelson's list of the top 100 books that sold in 2006. I've read a pitiful thirteen of them, six of which (in bold) I read earlier than in 2006 (or in the case of Wicked, I saw it on Broadway in 2005 and decided that counted--just to make myself feel better). Two books have two numbers because they were best sellers both in hardback and in paper, in case you wonder about how number 4 can also be 13. Don't worry--I didn't "double dip."

4, 13 The DaVinci Code, Brown
8 The Kite Runner, Hosseini
18 Wicked, Maguire
26,47 The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis
27 The Five Love Languages, Chapman
42 The Year of Magical Thinking, Didion
46 The Secret Life of Bees
48 What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Group
55 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Rowling
71 The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Albom
88 Gilead, Robinson
91 Mere Christianity, Lewis
98 Blue Like Jazz, Miller

I console myself by telling me, "Self, you were too busy reading classic writers like Dante and T. S. Eliot to read more best sellers." (Self to self: Yarright.)

When it comes to movies, I am not exactly the arts queen, either. But I've seen a few lately about which I will comment. Over Christmas break in D. C. we saw "Charlotte." Superbly done. Julie Roberts does a fine job as the voice of Charlotte. I'd see it again.

A couple of nights ago we watched "Pirates of the Caribbean II" on video. I had the same response as the first time: Dude. What's up with all the slime?

Last night some of us got together and watched "One Night with the King"--the story of Queen Esther of Persia. My seamstress sister loved all the rich fabrics. The costumes were superb. The sets were also fantastic. And my niece loved seeing the main character in gorgeous gowns with bare feet. "What's not to like about that sort of wardrobe?" she wanted to know.

Other than that...It was too slow moving to hold the attention of my 12-year-old daughter. And when it comes to history, I give it a thumbs down. Xerxes' real-life failed Greek campaign probably happened between Vasti's exit and the king's selection of Esther. In the movie, though, events happen on the eve of battle. By departing from history they give up what could have been great motivations to drive the plot. In real life, Haman's bribing of the king to commit genocide against the Jews was probably easy to pull off because the war had (past tense) severely depleted the royal treasuries.

In the movie, Esther wields her influence as the politically correct anti-war advocate. In real life what do you think are the chances of a woman who had barely more than harem status daring to be outspoken with the king about her political opinions? And we know from history that Xerxes was quite the womanizer. Yet the story makes him a monogamous man in loyal love. They wait until their wedding night to "get together," meaning we have an R-rated Bible and Hollywood makes it "G." Do you see the irony in that?