Web Reads: Mothball grandmas, Hollywood incomes, and boxing kangaroos

Mothballs. Theodore Dalrymple’s humorous essay about a grandmother who smelled of mothballs will make you smile and think about why you remember the things you do.

Best books. Readers are always looking for book recommendations. Flavorwire asked various “cultural icons”—James Franco, Hilary Clinton, J.K. Rowling— to list their favorite novels.

More best books. The website BrainPickings also offers book recommendations: a “Top Ten List of the 20th Century” and a “Top Ten List of the 19th Century,” based on the weighted recommendations of 125 contemporary writers.

Show me the money. Curious about who’s making the big bucks in Hollywood? The Hollywood Reporter gives a salary rundown for big stars and showrunners, producers, agents, and even assistants.

Kangaroo knockout. I didn’t know kangaroos actually box, but here’s a video showing two of the marsupials squaring off in a suburban Australian neighborhood. (Warning: They kick.)

Colorful history. Old black and white photos might be aesthetically pleasing, but they often make events and faces look unreal. The super-saturated hues of these colorized photos can also look unreal, but they provide a fresh way to look at history.