By Sarah Bigelow
READ "Songs Without Words" by Ann Packer. In her sophomore effort, Packer chronicles two women, Liz and Sarabeth, as they struggle with the effects of depression and suicide in their families. Liz's daughter, Lauren, has a breakdown, triggering painful memories of Sarabeth's mother, who committed suicide when Sarabeth and Liz were in high school. Packer, whose own father killed himself, spent 10 years working on this novel and has created a beautiful, moving story about modern families.
WATCH the second-season premiere of "30 Rock" tonight at 8:30 on NBC. "30 Rock" won the Emmy for best new comedy show this year and for good reason. This smart sitcom chronicles the misadventures of Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and the cast of "TGS with Tracy Jordan," an "SNL"-like parody show. The show is buttressed by "SNL" alum Tracy Morgan as the bombastic and somewhat insane Tracy Jordan and Alec Baldwin as pleasantly condescending and well-connected network executive Jack Donaghy. The show also has a reputation for hosting guest stars - Jerry Seinfeld visits the Rock this week.
GO SEE "Eastern Promises," staring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. Watts plays Anna, a midwife who finds herself sucked into the London underworld of the Russian mob, the Vory. When a Russian teenager dies in childbirth, Anna discovers the girl's diary and decides to investigate its contents. Her quest leads her to mob boss Semyon and his cruel, explosive son, Kirill. Anna discovers an unlikely ally in Nikolai (Mortensen), Semyon's driver, when she triggers the wrath of the Vory. "Eastern Promises" is showing in Portland at Pioneer Place and the Lloyd Center.
LISTEN TO Nellie McKay live at the Aladdin on Sunday. McKay's tour coincides with her third studio album, "Obligatory Villagers," which dropped on Sept. 25. McKay sounds like no other artist and her music defies genre. "Obligatory Villagers" sounds like a boisterous musical that zigzags from the big band feel of "Oversure" to the jazzy, bluesy "Zombie." Her earlier releases echo this wild variety. McKay's lyrics often draw from and parody current events. How many artists have written a song called "Identity Theft"? Tickets are $18.50 before the event and $20 at the door; the show begins at 8 p.m.
