When my family went to write up our holiday/year end letter, I realized I didn't do anything "year-end-letter" worthy in 2013. Here's what I did do: I celebrated award shows with Elise and Bryce and sparkling beverages. Heidi named a cookie after me. I mourned Roger Ebert's death. I visited Seattle (Lillian! Kristen!) and Alaska (Tim!). I finally started watching Dr. Who and finished the first six seasons on Netflix. I took a class on The Modern and Postmodern through Coursera. I watched hours of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with my beard fiancée, Kristen, until she left me and moved to California (I miss you!). I cooked up a storm of new recipes and went to the movies a lot. I applied for many jobs and didn't get very far. And then I lost almost 30 lbs before I gained 15 of it back.
And now for Top 10 Lists! I hope it's not any more boring than last year's.
Let's start with music. My Top 5 Albums of the year were:
Bankrupt! by Phoenix (stand-out song: "The Real Thing")
This album is as crisp and bubbly as seltzer and was my go-to album all summer long.
Born to Die by Lana Del Rey ("National Anthem")
It was only this year (after "Summertime Sadness" became her first charting US single) that I became obsessed with this 2012 album and Lana's languid and sultry bad-girl songs.
Heartthrob by Tegan and Sara ("How Come You Don't Want Me")
This is a delightful pop album about hookups and breakups (and, I'll admit, my first exposure to Tegan and Sara.)
Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend ("Diane Young")
Still thoroughly a Vampire Weekend album, it is a bit older and a bit darker and maybe their best one yet. Full of pop hooks, dense lyrics, and preppy East Coast imagery.
Pure Heroine by Lorde ("Royals")
Combining excellently produced hooks with old-soul lyrics, it's both a great album about adolescence and a take-down of pop art's consumer culture.
And here are 10 more Songs I loved this year (mostly 2013ish releases):
"Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding
"Dancing On My Own" by Robyn
"Harlem" by New Politics
"Here's to Never Growing Up" by Avril Lavigne (I'm slightly embarrassed but I cannot deny my love for Avril.)
"Hot Knife" by Fiona Apple
"Lightning Bolt" by Jake Bugg
"Old Skin" by Ólafur Arnalds and Arnor Dan
"Picking Up the Pieces" by Paloma Faith
"San Francisco" by The Mowgli's
"Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey
Bonus
Song: "I Love It" by Icona Pop was my summer jam in 2012, but it didn't
start playing on the radio until this summer, and I loved it just as
much this year as last.
Films! This aren't necessarily the "best" pictures I saw, but they are my favorite movie theater experiences this year (includes some late 2012 releases I didn't see till early 2013). Also, I have not seen a lot of the recent year-end releases:
Anna Karenina directed by Joe Wright
Gorgeous and theatrical, it's a very Baz Luhrmanesque adapation.
Argo directed by Ben Affleck
It may not have deserved its Best Picture statue, but it's a well-executed thriller done up in old Hollywood style.
Before Midnight directed by Richard Linklater
The first two Before films were about meeting and remeeting. Midnight is about the baggage and bruises that comes from spending nearly a decade together. It's an excellent if difficult chapter in the relationship between Celine and Jesse.
Blue Jasmine directed by Woody Allen
In Woody's take on A Streetcar Named Desire, we follow Blanchett's fearless performance as a woman constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
The Conjuring directed by James Wan
A well-done and terrifying flick. My friends and I screamed, laughed, gasped, and tightly grabbed each other's hands.
Frances Ha directed by Noah Baumbach
Greta Gerwig is goofily delightful as 27-year-old Frances who is fumbling through life after her best friend moves out. Proudly wearing its French New Wave influences, it may be Baumbach's warmest picture (which is not saying much). Awkwardly funny, exuberant, and uncomfortably close to home.
Frozen directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Though only very loosely based on "The Snow Queen," it's a delightful Disney film about the relationship between two sisters (and the men who get in the way).
Gravity directed by Alfonso Cuarón
A stunningly visual and heart-racing experience (esp. in IMAX 3-D).
Much Ado About Nothing directed by Joss Whedon
Nothing more than a trifle that Whedon filmed at his house starring his friends, it is nonetheless a delightful trifle that acquits itself of Shakespeare rather well.
Short Term 12 directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Brie Larson is quietly fantastic as a foster care supervisor battling demons of her own. It's authentically moving (even when the film's designated structure is obvious).
Here are my favorite ten books I read this year (only one of which was a 2013 release) including my Goodreads (friend me!) reviews:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Betraying the promise of the Russian Revolution, Orwell’s fairy story of animals who overthrow their human masters only to submit to porcine tyranny vividly illustrates the potential consequences of our political actions.
I read my first Orwell this year for book club: The Clergyman's Daughter. I didn't care for it. But my book club recommended I read this title, and I liked it quite a lot. One day I'll get around to 1984.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
The Bundren family take turns narrating their harrowing odyssey to bury their formidable wife and mother, Addie, combining dark comedy with great pathos.
I first read this in college, and I think it may be Faulkner's most accessible novel. And didn't James Franco direct a film adaptation of it this year..?
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
In Fun Home, Bechdel's "compulsive propensity to autobiography" charts her identity as a lesbian, her fraught relationship with her father (including his possible suicide and homosexual inclinations), and the common ground they find in literature (including Remembrance of Things Past and Ulysses). This postmodern and (tragi)comic memoir is richly detailed, emotionally honest, and compulsively readable.
I reread this graphic memoir for my Modern and Postmodern course and found it even better the second time.
Glittering Images by Camille Paglia
Reading Paglia is like talking to the smartest person at a party; her conversation refreshes, provokes, and sustains. Here Paglia teaches us to focus our eyes on over two dozen pieces of art from Ancient Egypt to Star Wars, providing a marvelous (if brief) art history education.
Paglia's passion for and insight of art is astounding and makes this the only nonfiction book on my list.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark
Clarke, in her ambitious novel, has created an excessively detailed history of English magic set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. The host of characters includes the fussily reclusive and paranoid Mr Norrell, who returns practical magic to England; his foppishly brilliant and unruly pupil, Jonathan Strange, who pushes the boundaries of practical magic, to his eventual peril; a balmy and bloodthirsty fairy who places cruel enchantments on various persons; and the mysterious Raven King who casts a shadowy presence on the proceedings throughout. It is a joy to read such an engrossing novel replete with engaging characters and full of history and the fantastic.
Lev Grossman calls it a must-read fantasy novel. I agree.
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
Bored as king of Fillory, Quentin longs for a heroic quest. Meanwhile, the wrathful Julia will stop at nothing to become a magician. Their joint adventures with both imperil and safeguard Fillory, and both will pay prices they could not imagine.
This sequel of Grossman's adult take on Narnia and Harry Potter remains just as engrossing as The Magicians.
Tenth of December by George Saunders
In this satiric set of short stories, George Saunders cuts to the quick of life in these United States. From milquetoasts with delusions of grandeur to unlikely heroes, these tales (sometimes veering into sci-fi) examine home, free will, class society, love, and the life choices we all must make. These darkly subversive stories can be quite savage, nevertheless Saunders generously empathizes with his characters.
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
This modernist novel captures the minutiae of familial and daily life—its minor victories and setbacks, love and grief. Illuminating ordinary life with a matchstick, Woolf's vision expands the lyrical into a breathtaking narrative.
Possibly Woolf's best (and my favorite), I reread this for my Modern and Postmodern class. (Earlier this year I also read Woolf's The Waves for the first time. It was . . . most unusual.)
Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
Snarky and drolly pessimistic, Lemony Snicket asks all the wrong questions in this children’s take on noir detective fiction in his search for a stolen item that wasn’t stolen at all.
We read this for book club, forgetting that mysteries do not lend themselves particularly well to discussion. Nonetheless, while I never really cared for Unfortunate Events, I thought this book was rather delightful.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Things fall apart in this Caribbean Gothic when the Creole heiress Antoinette enters into an arranged marriage with Jane Eyre's prideful Mr. Rochester and loses her mind due to colonial sex and race relations eventually becoming the madwoman in the attic.
While I did not initially care for this book club selection, Rhys's combined instinct for form and passion for the underdog creates an original and deeply troubling novel ripe for discussion.
So that's it for now and for 2013. What did you think about the year and art? I don't have a TV list because I only watch old seasons on Neftlix anymore. Have a great 2014!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Summer Reading 2013
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
Now that summer is more or less here, it's time for my summer reading list. Dr. P started a 16 books in 16 weeks summer reading challenge a few years ago. But because I hope to finish my list this year, I've limited myself to 12 books to finish by Labor Day. I've including a smattering of fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, and memoir. Without further ado, here is my list, alphabetical by title:
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
(After I already started, I learned that James Franco is directing a film adaptation. Should be . . . interesting.)
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Drinking with Men by Rosie Schaap
Glittering Images by Camille Paglia
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
(This Regency romance may be the closest thing on my list to a "beach read.")
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
On Being Different by Merle Miller
The Waves by Virginia Woolf
Wides Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
(book club book)
The World According to Garp by John Irving
After composing this list, I realized I forgot to include an Alaskan read as I will be going to Alaska in August! If I've made significant progress on my list, I may include any or all of the following:
30 Days of Night by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (graphic novel)
The Cartography of Water by Mike Burwell (poetry)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (fiction)
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (nonfiction)
What will you be reading this summer?
Now that summer is more or less here, it's time for my summer reading list. Dr. P started a 16 books in 16 weeks summer reading challenge a few years ago. But because I hope to finish my list this year, I've limited myself to 12 books to finish by Labor Day. I've including a smattering of fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, and memoir. Without further ado, here is my list, alphabetical by title:
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
(After I already started, I learned that James Franco is directing a film adaptation. Should be . . . interesting.)
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Drinking with Men by Rosie Schaap
Glittering Images by Camille Paglia
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
(This Regency romance may be the closest thing on my list to a "beach read.")
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
On Being Different by Merle Miller
The Waves by Virginia Woolf
Wides Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
(book club book)
The World According to Garp by John Irving
After composing this list, I realized I forgot to include an Alaskan read as I will be going to Alaska in August! If I've made significant progress on my list, I may include any or all of the following:
30 Days of Night by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (graphic novel)
The Cartography of Water by Mike Burwell (poetry)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (fiction)
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (nonfiction)
What will you be reading this summer?
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ash Wednesday
Mormons don't observe Carnival or Lent, and I have never given up anything for Lent before. But this year, I've decided to give up drinking and soda. This stems less from a religious/devotional place and more from a physical place as I'm trying to eat healthier and lose weight. I'm giving up all soda till Easter, but I will allow myself to have the occasional glass of wine on Sundays as allowed. Lent is also a time for self-reflection which I could use more of, especially when my life doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
I did celebrate Mardi Gras in my own little way, making red beans and rice, macaroni & cheese with a Cajun twist, and a King Cake frosted in the Mardi Gras colors. I then went with Kristen to Bar X in downtown SLC for some final cocktails and then we went to Denny's. And nothing says Mardi Gras quite like Denny's.
Finally, here is a poem by the devotional poet George Herbert which I think is fitting for today.
Church Monuments
While that my soul repairs to her devotion,
Here I entomb my flesh, that it betimes
May take acquaintance of this heap of dust,
To which the blast of Death's incessant motion,
Fed with the exhalation of our crimes,
Drives all at last. Therefore I gladly trust
My body to this school, that it may learn
To spell his elements, and find his birth
Written in dusty heraldry and lines;
Which dissolution sure doth best discern,
Comparing dust with dust, and earth with earth.
These laugh at jet and marble, put for signs,
To sever the good fellowship of dust,
And spoil the meeting—what shall point out them,
When they shall bow and kneel and fall down flat
To kiss those heaps which now they have in trust?
Dear flesh, while I do pray, learn here thy stem
And true descent, that, when thou shalt grow fat,
And wanton in thy cravings, thou mayst know
That flesh is but the glass which holds the dust
That measures all our time, which also shall
Be crumbled into dust. Mark here below
How tame these ashes are, how free from lust,
That thou mayst fit thyself against thy fall.
1633
I did celebrate Mardi Gras in my own little way, making red beans and rice, macaroni & cheese with a Cajun twist, and a King Cake frosted in the Mardi Gras colors. I then went with Kristen to Bar X in downtown SLC for some final cocktails and then we went to Denny's. And nothing says Mardi Gras quite like Denny's.
Finally, here is a poem by the devotional poet George Herbert which I think is fitting for today.
Church Monuments
While that my soul repairs to her devotion,
Here I entomb my flesh, that it betimes
May take acquaintance of this heap of dust,
To which the blast of Death's incessant motion,
Fed with the exhalation of our crimes,
Drives all at last. Therefore I gladly trust
My body to this school, that it may learn
To spell his elements, and find his birth
Written in dusty heraldry and lines;
Which dissolution sure doth best discern,
Comparing dust with dust, and earth with earth.
These laugh at jet and marble, put for signs,
To sever the good fellowship of dust,
And spoil the meeting—what shall point out them,
When they shall bow and kneel and fall down flat
To kiss those heaps which now they have in trust?
Dear flesh, while I do pray, learn here thy stem
And true descent, that, when thou shalt grow fat,
And wanton in thy cravings, thou mayst know
That flesh is but the glass which holds the dust
That measures all our time, which also shall
Be crumbled into dust. Mark here below
How tame these ashes are, how free from lust,
That thou mayst fit thyself against thy fall.
1633
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Gerwig & Gerwig
Over the summer two indie comedies starring Greta Gerwig were released, Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress and Daryl Wein's Lola Versus. I wanted to see both films, but sometimes I am far too lazy to actually go to the movie theater--and I love movies! Anyway, they are both on DVD, and so I sent them to the top of my Netflix queue and watched both of them this past week.
I wanted to like the stylized Damsels in Distress so much, and based on the trailer, I thought I would. Gerwig stars as Violet (not her real name), the leader of her own little college clique who runs the campus's suicide prevention center, dates fraternity (Roman letter not Greek) "doofi," and wants to start an international dance craze. It's all just too-too. She sees herself as some kind of know-it-all golden girl rescuing the less fortunate until she herself is dumped by her boyfriend and succumbs to depression. "I don't really like the word 'depressed.' I prefer to say that I'm in a tail-spin." I never bought any of the characters, I couldn't get a handle on Violet at all, and the dialogue was arch and stilted--that's the kind of whimsy, off-kilter movie this is--but it didn't really work for me. That said, I've never seen any other Whit Stillman films, so I'm going to try out Metropolitan and The Last Days of Disco. Side note: Megalyn Echikunwoke as Violet's friend Rose, was probably my favorite character. She spent two weeks in London and now speaks in a British accent all the time and believes most, if not all, men are "rat, playboy operators."
If Violet was unbelievable, Greta Gerwig was a convincing delight as Lola, a 29-year-old New York grad student whose fiance leaves her shortly before their wedding. Over the next year she struggles with her ex, sex, friends, school, and herself. If Stillman's film is all arch irony, Wein's film is all awkward naturalism. The plot is overly familiar (at least it had one! kind of), but I laughed throughout. I have never seen the HBO series Girls (sadly), but Lola Versus is a lot like what I imagine Girls to be. Many complain that the characters, especially Lola, are narcissistic, grating, and self-involved, but I think Gerwig keeps Lola endearing, and I often enjoy "unpleasant," self-absorbed characters.
But what the hell do I know? Damsels has a 76% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes while Lola is rotten at 34%. Either way Greta Gerwig is a quirky actress and I hope big things are in store for her.
I wanted to like the stylized Damsels in Distress so much, and based on the trailer, I thought I would. Gerwig stars as Violet (not her real name), the leader of her own little college clique who runs the campus's suicide prevention center, dates fraternity (Roman letter not Greek) "doofi," and wants to start an international dance craze. It's all just too-too. She sees herself as some kind of know-it-all golden girl rescuing the less fortunate until she herself is dumped by her boyfriend and succumbs to depression. "I don't really like the word 'depressed.' I prefer to say that I'm in a tail-spin." I never bought any of the characters, I couldn't get a handle on Violet at all, and the dialogue was arch and stilted--that's the kind of whimsy, off-kilter movie this is--but it didn't really work for me. That said, I've never seen any other Whit Stillman films, so I'm going to try out Metropolitan and The Last Days of Disco. Side note: Megalyn Echikunwoke as Violet's friend Rose, was probably my favorite character. She spent two weeks in London and now speaks in a British accent all the time and believes most, if not all, men are "rat, playboy operators."
If Violet was unbelievable, Greta Gerwig was a convincing delight as Lola, a 29-year-old New York grad student whose fiance leaves her shortly before their wedding. Over the next year she struggles with her ex, sex, friends, school, and herself. If Stillman's film is all arch irony, Wein's film is all awkward naturalism. The plot is overly familiar (at least it had one! kind of), but I laughed throughout. I have never seen the HBO series Girls (sadly), but Lola Versus is a lot like what I imagine Girls to be. Many complain that the characters, especially Lola, are narcissistic, grating, and self-involved, but I think Gerwig keeps Lola endearing, and I often enjoy "unpleasant," self-absorbed characters.
But what the hell do I know? Damsels has a 76% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes while Lola is rotten at 34%. Either way Greta Gerwig is a quirky actress and I hope big things are in store for her.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
10 Things January
Hey, y'all. I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing here regularly. Keeping current with social media seems to be pretty important to those people who hire for jobs. I should probably apply for another one of those things soon. Blerg. Anyway, now that it's the end of January, here are ten things that I'm all about from this month.
"Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding
I became obsessed with this lead single from her second album Halcyon (which was released back in August).
Gayby directed by Jonathan Lisecki
This is such a fresh, funny, lighthearted and sweet film about two friends, Jenn and Matt, who decide to have a baby--the old fashioned way, even though Matt is gay. Jenn Harris is hilariously offbeat. SO good! Watch it, but DON'T watch the trailer--it shows too much plot and funny bits.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler killed it at the Golden Globes.
The Globes were so great from the presenters to the winners to Jodie Foster and her awkwardly amazing speech. And Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell had one of the best bits.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
I'm 3/4 of the way through this amazing and very long book, and loving every minute of it. It's a historical fantasy novel set during the Napoleonic Era, when two magicians, Norrell and Strange, bring practical magic back to England. More on this when I finish.
I joined a book club with some people I work with at the U, mostly former English majors. Yay! We just discussed The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. Our next book is A Clergyman's Daughter by George Orwell. I've missed discussing books.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Round Three
Since moving home from Seattle, I've watched the entire series twice. Now I'm watching it again with my friend Kristen Marie. Yay Buffy!
My former roommate Heidi created these oatmeal cookies and named them after me! Having a cookie named after me totally made my day. I just made a batch and they're delicious!
Greg Cookies
My iPod, Nigel, tragically flung himself to the ground earlier this month and is now mostly dead. So sad! I'm sure sooner or later I'll be buying a new one. But for the moment I have commandeered my missionary sister's iPod. I'm also creating a playlist of the 2012-13 music that she's missed including ubiquitous hits like "Call Me Maybe," "We Are Young," "Somebody That I Used to Know," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "What Makes You Beautiful," and indie hits like "It's Time," "Ho Hey," "Little Talks," and some other stuff I've been into lately. If you have any music from the last year that you've been really into, let me know!
I haven't made it out the movies a whole lot this month, but I did see Zero Dark Thirty. And I was kind of underwhelmed. I thought The Hurt Locker was a much better movie. Please feel free to tell me why ZDT was so great. In the whole torture controversy, I think GQ said it very well: "Kathryn Bigelow's troubling, brilliant epic about the hunt for you-know-who did no such thing [glorifying torture]. She just refused to stick moral-advisory labels on the grim stuff, making audiences complicit with the dark deeds committed in our name on the long road to getting Bin Laden" (Feb. 2013). Fair enough. Torture may not be legal, moral, effective, and many have argued it did not actually lead to the intel on Bin Laden, but many people were interrogated in the name of "national security" on our watch. In lighter news, I am going to f i n a l l y see Anna Karenina tonight before it leaves the movie theater.
I've stuck with a New Year's Resolution to eat healthier and be more physically active for a whole month now. Amazing! I've also lost 10 lbs. Also amazing.
"Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding
I became obsessed with this lead single from her second album Halcyon (which was released back in August).
Gayby directed by Jonathan Lisecki
This is such a fresh, funny, lighthearted and sweet film about two friends, Jenn and Matt, who decide to have a baby--the old fashioned way, even though Matt is gay. Jenn Harris is hilariously offbeat. SO good! Watch it, but DON'T watch the trailer--it shows too much plot and funny bits.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler killed it at the Golden Globes.
The Globes were so great from the presenters to the winners to Jodie Foster and her awkwardly amazing speech. And Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell had one of the best bits.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
I'm 3/4 of the way through this amazing and very long book, and loving every minute of it. It's a historical fantasy novel set during the Napoleonic Era, when two magicians, Norrell and Strange, bring practical magic back to England. More on this when I finish.
I joined a book club with some people I work with at the U, mostly former English majors. Yay! We just discussed The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. Our next book is A Clergyman's Daughter by George Orwell. I've missed discussing books.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Round Three
Since moving home from Seattle, I've watched the entire series twice. Now I'm watching it again with my friend Kristen Marie. Yay Buffy!
My former roommate Heidi created these oatmeal cookies and named them after me! Having a cookie named after me totally made my day. I just made a batch and they're delicious!
Greg Cookies
My iPod, Nigel, tragically flung himself to the ground earlier this month and is now mostly dead. So sad! I'm sure sooner or later I'll be buying a new one. But for the moment I have commandeered my missionary sister's iPod. I'm also creating a playlist of the 2012-13 music that she's missed including ubiquitous hits like "Call Me Maybe," "We Are Young," "Somebody That I Used to Know," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "What Makes You Beautiful," and indie hits like "It's Time," "Ho Hey," "Little Talks," and some other stuff I've been into lately. If you have any music from the last year that you've been really into, let me know!
I haven't made it out the movies a whole lot this month, but I did see Zero Dark Thirty. And I was kind of underwhelmed. I thought The Hurt Locker was a much better movie. Please feel free to tell me why ZDT was so great. In the whole torture controversy, I think GQ said it very well: "Kathryn Bigelow's troubling, brilliant epic about the hunt for you-know-who did no such thing [glorifying torture]. She just refused to stick moral-advisory labels on the grim stuff, making audiences complicit with the dark deeds committed in our name on the long road to getting Bin Laden" (Feb. 2013). Fair enough. Torture may not be legal, moral, effective, and many have argued it did not actually lead to the intel on Bin Laden, but many people were interrogated in the name of "national security" on our watch. In lighter news, I am going to f i n a l l y see Anna Karenina tonight before it leaves the movie theater.
I've stuck with a New Year's Resolution to eat healthier and be more physically active for a whole month now. Amazing! I've also lost 10 lbs. Also amazing.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
2012 Favorites
So, I don’t think entertainment in 2012 was particularly great. Or at least not the stuff I was exposed to, which was mostly the mainstream stuff everyone else was exposed to. Not being a book, film, or music critic, I didn’t get to read, see, or listen to every book, film, and album/song put out this year. Also, because I’m not a critic, these are “favorites” not “bests.” Bold titles are my most favorite.
MOVIES
My film list includes two 2011 releases that I didn’t see until 2012.
Your Sister’s Sister by Lynn Shelton
Hugo by Martin Scorsese
Young Adult by Jason Reitman
Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson
Safety Not Guaranteed by Colin Trevorrow
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Skyfall by Sam Mendes
Lincoln by Steven Spielberg
Silver Linings Playbook by David O. Russell
Possible 10th Place (aka films still playing that I want to see)
Looper
Argo
Les Miserables
Anna Karenina
Thanks to Brewvies Film Buff Night and Tower Through Time I saw plenty of old(er) movies on the big screen. Here are five favorites:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell
Harold and Maude by Hal Ashby
When Harry Met Sally by Rob Reiner
True Romance by Tony Scott
The Apartment by Billy Wilder
BOOKS
I read just over 30 books this year, slightly lower than my yearly average, but I still had a hard time scrounging up 10 of them to fill out this list. Mostly NOT from 2012.
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller
In One Person by John Irving
A Gay and Melancholy Sound (currently reading) by Merle Miller
American Fascists by Chris Hedges
Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
MUSIC
FavoriteTen Nine Songs of 2012
Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
It’s Time by Imagine Dragons
Andrew in Drag by The Magnetic Fields
I Love It by Icona Pop
All the Rowboats by Regina Spektor
Miss Atomic Bomb by The Killers
Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson
Lights by Ellie Goulding (so, yeah, it was released in 2010—whatever)
MOVIES
My film list includes two 2011 releases that I didn’t see until 2012.
Your Sister’s Sister by Lynn Shelton
Hugo by Martin Scorsese
Young Adult by Jason Reitman
Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson
Safety Not Guaranteed by Colin Trevorrow
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Skyfall by Sam Mendes
Lincoln by Steven Spielberg
Silver Linings Playbook by David O. Russell
Possible 10th Place (aka films still playing that I want to see)
Looper
Argo
Les Miserables
Anna Karenina
Thanks to Brewvies Film Buff Night and Tower Through Time I saw plenty of old(er) movies on the big screen. Here are five favorites:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell
Harold and Maude by Hal Ashby
When Harry Met Sally by Rob Reiner
True Romance by Tony Scott
The Apartment by Billy Wilder
BOOKS
I read just over 30 books this year, slightly lower than my yearly average, but I still had a hard time scrounging up 10 of them to fill out this list. Mostly NOT from 2012.
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller
In One Person by John Irving
A Gay and Melancholy Sound (currently reading) by Merle Miller
American Fascists by Chris Hedges
Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
MUSIC
Favorite
Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
It’s Time by Imagine Dragons
Andrew in Drag by The Magnetic Fields
I Love It by Icona Pop
All the Rowboats by Regina Spektor
Miss Atomic Bomb by The Killers
Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson
Lights by Ellie Goulding (so, yeah, it was released in 2010—whatever)
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
10(ish) Things
Hey y'all! It's been a while.
I'm totally obsessed with the new P!nk single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)." In my car I pretty much scan all the radio stations until I can find it. (However, I'm not loving her black dress at the end.)
I'm also kind of liking (surprisingly) Taylor Swift's latest, less country all pop, though at the end it gets a bit repetitive and annoying. Love the line "some indie record that's much cooler than mine." I read that in-depth story on her in Vogue or Vanity Fair a while back and she seems like a real cool person, I've just never loooooved her music.
My hella janky computer seems to have gasped its last breath. I'm trying to briefly resuscitate it to grab some files, but then I want to take a sledgehammer to it--but only if they'll still be able to recycle it properly.
The days are getting darker and cooler. It's nearly Labor Day and fall is on the horizon. It is my favorite season. Here's a bunch of autumnal things:
School started at the U this week, so everything's a total mess. It's difficult to find parking, the lines for coffee are way too long (I didn't get my daily jolt today!), and we're slammed at work with requests--which should only get busier as more universities open in the next few weeks. Then maybe a brief lull before midterms...
I was at Ross and found an adorable hoodie for $12! It just needs to get a few degrees cooler to wear it. (I, however, cannot find any of my scarves since I moved from Seattle. Tear.)
I have returned to drinking hot coffee. The U switched vendors over the summer and the new iced coffee was terrible--but it was summer dammit! and hot coffee is not thirst quenching while iced coffee is quite quaffable. I'm happy to report their hot coffee is much better.
I'm starting to think about my annual fall playlist. Suggestions welcome. I've also been listening to From the Choirgirl Hotel, my go-to fall album. The dark, clanging hallways of the record are perfect for the season. By the way, it's Tori's birthday today. Happy birthday, T!
It has been decided that I will be going as the Penguin this year for Halloween. One group of friends is going as Batman characters while the other is going as sea creatures. I'm wondering if I can get away with just one penguin suit... Anyway, I'm looking up Batman comics featuring the Penguin (to get into character) and cheap accessories: monocle, top hat, umbrella, cigarette holder. Renting a tailcoat is going to set me back a little, but oh well, right?
I'm taking a free online course through Coursera. The class is Fantasy & Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World. So far we've read the Brothers Grimm, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. (Side note: I never read the Alice books as a kid. My first exposure was the Care Bears version, which was the best movie ever when I was 6. Later I would see the iconic Disney version which was deeply upsetting.) Then it was Dracula and Frankenstein--only I didn't finish Frankenstein. After the insufferable Victorian Goodness of Dracula (shut up Van Helsing!), I couldn't stand the insufferable Romantic Feeling of Frank. Also, I think Stoker is a better writer than Shelley. Also, I was busy (and lazy). Next up is stories by Hawthorne and Poe. Poor Poe, he's such a dreadful writer, and now he has to be compared to Hawthorne. Hasn't he suffered enough already?
As you might imagine, this has prematurely ended my summer reading list. Here's a brief recap: I finished my friend Val's The Tale of Telsharu, an Asian martial arts fantasy. It reminded me a bit of Kay's Under Heaven. I made no new progress in A Clash of Kings or The Iliad. I'm still working on friend Elise's Albus Unus. Leaving the Saints was a fascinating looking into Mormonism, especially the controversy surrounding Mormon intellectualism in the late 80s/early 90s. The Night Circus was an engaging and whimsical, if not completely satisfying, fairy tale. In One Person is vintage Irving, a wonderful novel about identity, sex, and literature with a fantastic cast of characters. Highly suggested! I'm midway through Merle Miller's A Gay and Melancholy Sound which is quite good, very bleak and funny. And the rest of the list . . . yeah, not so much. (Side note: So The Hobbit was on my list, and can I just tell you how upset I am that one Peter Jackson decided it needs to be three films. WTF? The Hobbit is not a gd trilogy! It's a wonderful and fairly short book that deserves much better treatment. This trend of cutting up books into multiple films needs to end. I am boycotting the film, and by boycotting I mean I will probably still end up seeing it opening week with friends. But seriously!)
So, that's around 10ish things... Let's do this again real soon.
I'm totally obsessed with the new P!nk single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)." In my car I pretty much scan all the radio stations until I can find it. (However, I'm not loving her black dress at the end.)
I'm also kind of liking (surprisingly) Taylor Swift's latest, less country all pop, though at the end it gets a bit repetitive and annoying. Love the line "some indie record that's much cooler than mine." I read that in-depth story on her in Vogue or Vanity Fair a while back and she seems like a real cool person, I've just never loooooved her music.
My hella janky computer seems to have gasped its last breath. I'm trying to briefly resuscitate it to grab some files, but then I want to take a sledgehammer to it--but only if they'll still be able to recycle it properly.
The days are getting darker and cooler. It's nearly Labor Day and fall is on the horizon. It is my favorite season. Here's a bunch of autumnal things:
School started at the U this week, so everything's a total mess. It's difficult to find parking, the lines for coffee are way too long (I didn't get my daily jolt today!), and we're slammed at work with requests--which should only get busier as more universities open in the next few weeks. Then maybe a brief lull before midterms...
I was at Ross and found an adorable hoodie for $12! It just needs to get a few degrees cooler to wear it. (I, however, cannot find any of my scarves since I moved from Seattle. Tear.)
I have returned to drinking hot coffee. The U switched vendors over the summer and the new iced coffee was terrible--but it was summer dammit! and hot coffee is not thirst quenching while iced coffee is quite quaffable. I'm happy to report their hot coffee is much better.
I'm starting to think about my annual fall playlist. Suggestions welcome. I've also been listening to From the Choirgirl Hotel, my go-to fall album. The dark, clanging hallways of the record are perfect for the season. By the way, it's Tori's birthday today. Happy birthday, T!
It has been decided that I will be going as the Penguin this year for Halloween. One group of friends is going as Batman characters while the other is going as sea creatures. I'm wondering if I can get away with just one penguin suit... Anyway, I'm looking up Batman comics featuring the Penguin (to get into character) and cheap accessories: monocle, top hat, umbrella, cigarette holder. Renting a tailcoat is going to set me back a little, but oh well, right?
I'm taking a free online course through Coursera. The class is Fantasy & Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World. So far we've read the Brothers Grimm, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. (Side note: I never read the Alice books as a kid. My first exposure was the Care Bears version, which was the best movie ever when I was 6. Later I would see the iconic Disney version which was deeply upsetting.) Then it was Dracula and Frankenstein--only I didn't finish Frankenstein. After the insufferable Victorian Goodness of Dracula (shut up Van Helsing!), I couldn't stand the insufferable Romantic Feeling of Frank. Also, I think Stoker is a better writer than Shelley. Also, I was busy (and lazy). Next up is stories by Hawthorne and Poe. Poor Poe, he's such a dreadful writer, and now he has to be compared to Hawthorne. Hasn't he suffered enough already?
As you might imagine, this has prematurely ended my summer reading list. Here's a brief recap: I finished my friend Val's The Tale of Telsharu, an Asian martial arts fantasy. It reminded me a bit of Kay's Under Heaven. I made no new progress in A Clash of Kings or The Iliad. I'm still working on friend Elise's Albus Unus. Leaving the Saints was a fascinating looking into Mormonism, especially the controversy surrounding Mormon intellectualism in the late 80s/early 90s. The Night Circus was an engaging and whimsical, if not completely satisfying, fairy tale. In One Person is vintage Irving, a wonderful novel about identity, sex, and literature with a fantastic cast of characters. Highly suggested! I'm midway through Merle Miller's A Gay and Melancholy Sound which is quite good, very bleak and funny. And the rest of the list . . . yeah, not so much. (Side note: So The Hobbit was on my list, and can I just tell you how upset I am that one Peter Jackson decided it needs to be three films. WTF? The Hobbit is not a gd trilogy! It's a wonderful and fairly short book that deserves much better treatment. This trend of cutting up books into multiple films needs to end. I am boycotting the film, and by boycotting I mean I will probably still end up seeing it opening week with friends. But seriously!)
So, that's around 10ish things... Let's do this again real soon.
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