THE LIST: DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores week of July 21

DVDS
  “Coraline” (PG): In a banner year for animated hits, this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s satisfyingly shivery tale from stop-motion wizard Henry Selick (“Nightmare Before Christmas”) follows the curious title character (voiced by Dakota Fanning), who discovers a darkly fascinating alternate world resembling a pop-up storybook come to life.
  An alternate universe also figures in “Watchmen” (R), an adaptation of the landmark graphic novel set in a make-believe 1985, as the title avengers (Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman) take on conspirators out to discredit — or kill — past and present superheroes. And on a kinder, gentler note, the showbiz satire “The Great Buck Howard” (PG), which includes some made-in-Vegas scenes, casts John Malkovich as a washed-up mentalist trying to get his career back on track.
  Also due out: “Echelon Conspiracy” (PG-13), “Super Capers” (PG), “Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer” (not rated), “Leaving Barstow” (not rated), “American Outrage” (not rated), “Visioneers” (not rated), “Sherman’s Way” (not rated), “Don’t Cry, Nanking” (not rated), “Wonder of It All” (not rated), “Dim Sum Funeral” (R) and the unrated TV transfers “Prison Break: The Final Break,” “Hotel: The First Season,” “The Lucy Show: The Official First Season,” “This American Life: Season Two,” “Pushing Daisies: The Complete Second Season,” “Route 66: Season Three, Vol. One,” “Psych: The Complete Third Season,” “Charlie’s Angels: The Complete Fourth Season,” “Jon and Kate Plus Ei8ht: Season Four, Vol. Two — The Big Move,” and “Monk: Season Seven.”

CDS
  Brooke Hogan, “The Redemption”: It’s time to invest in some locust insurance, dudes. Seriously, we fully expect this album to conjure the apocalypse, complete with brimstone showers and skies raining blood.
  And really, we deserve it, for making a semistar out of this bleach-blond empty vessel, whose “music” is about as welcome a sound as the death pangs of a loved one.
  Honestly, this is just a really bad week for new music.
  Put the iPod down and go read a book or something.
  Also in stores: The Fiery Furnaces, “I’m Going Away”; Bill Frisell, “Disfarmer”; Ian Hunter, “Man Overboard”; Kenny Loggins, “All Join In”; Demi Lovato, “Here We Go Again”; Magnolia Electric Co., “Josephine”; Our Lady Peace, “Burn Burn”; Portugal. The Man, “The Satanic Satanist”; Jordin Sparks, “Battlefield”; Stryper, “Murder By Pride”; Sugar Ray, “Music for Cougars”; and Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, “Under the Covers Vol. 2.”

BOOKS
  “Twenties Girl” by Sophie Kinsella: At 27, Lara Lington’s life is full of distractions. Her best friend has run off, her company is failing and she’s just been dumped. In addition, the spirit of her departed great-aunt Sadie begins pestering her to find a missing necklace, without which Sadie cannot rest. Though they seem to have nothing in common, the pair learn much from each other about love and friendship in this chick-lit tale from the author of the “Shopaholic” series.
  Also expected out this week is “The Defector” by Daniel Silva, in which Gabriel Allon tries to clear his name after being accused of planting a double agent.
  Also hitting shelves this week: “Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” by Neil Gaiman; “A Colossal Failure of Common Sense: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers” by Lawrence G. McDonald; “A Disobedient Girl” by Ru Freeman; “Fire and Ice (Joanna Brady Series No. 14)” by J.A. Jance; “Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know” by Mary Jo Buttafuoco with Julie McCarron; “Harry and the Pirates” by Brian Lumley; “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” by Stephen Hunt; “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way” by Nene Leakes; and “Storm Cycle” by Iris Johansen.