Scourge of God

I liked "The Scourge of God" by William Dietrich. It's about the fall of the Roman Empire to the Huns, but also about Attila himself, and was engrossing. I have no idea about its historical accuracy (there is a historical note at the end, addressing the lack of reliable histories of that time) but it was a really good story about love and power.

New Author/book and movie

OK, I'm reading books about communities in New York City and gentrification and I got out the book Boombox by Gabriel Cohen. The residents of Cobble Hill are caught in a struggle between the people who've been there forever (mostly minorities), and the urban professionals who realize how convenient the neighborhood is to Manhattan, and all these people share the backyard area where their spaces collide. Cultures clash and what begins as a very easy novel about New York City takes an ugly turn. If anyone has read this novel and liked it, I want you to go find Shoot George! an independent film about what happens to the quiet guy in the office (you know, the guy who everyone teases, who never says anything back) when he gets a gun.