Movies: The Door in the Floor. John Irving’s A Widow for One Year was one of the best examples of his ability as a storyteller. It was not until I saw the movie that I realized the links between the names of the men in Marion’s life – Ted, her husband, Tom and Tim, the sons for whom she grieves, Eddie, the boy she seduces. This movie only covers the first third of the novel and does so quite well. Kim Basinger provides Marion with a flush of sorrow in all her actions. Jeff Bridges flaunts his affairs in a suitably cruel manner, tinged with sleaze.

In the interview with John Irving on the DVD he suggests that we can somehow forgive Marion the greatest sin of all – abandoning her young daughter Ruth. But not only does she abandon her; Marion removes all traces of the deified brothers to whom Ruth is as attached as she is to her flesh and blood parents. Perhaps this is what I cannot forgive – that Marion would leave her daughter bereft and alone with only the broken relic of her father.

More of the top 100 gadgets:

70. Atari Pong – although I remember playing this on the big RCA console TV we had when I was a teenager, I don’t think we ever owned it. Perhaps this is a created memory?

63. Maglite flashlight – ever since my hotel lost power a few years ago while staying in Cambridge, I’ve traveled with one of these. Perhaps I should check the batteries.

57. Mattel Magic 8-Ball – What are the chances that the decisions made by large companies would be just as good if they were assisted by this device? All signs point to yes.

50. Etch-a-Sketch – I find that if I turn my laptop upside down and shake it, I get the same results as an Etch-a-Sketch.