I read Steig Larsen's novel the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a while ago, and I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I've actually had a hard time trying to explain how I felt about the novel to other people. It's well written, but the first 3/4 of the book were monotonous...not enough so that I put it down and didn't bother to pick it back up again...but enough that I found it mildly irritating.
Before I'd even picked up the book, I read a review of it, referring to it as a feminist work, which intrigued me a little bit, and did contribute a little to my desire to give the book a read. I've gotta say though, I totally disagree with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo being a feminist work of fiction. It's clear that Larsen is trying to make a statement about a culture that condones, or at least seems to shine a blind eye on violence against women, but it falls short. The main female characters are strong, but at times almost too much so. What Larsen has created with these characters is not a fictionalized reality, but rather a caricature. The women are either extremely strong, or they are victims. The men are all either aggressors and perpetrators of violence against women or some sort of protector. I fail to see any balance or reality in the characters that Larsen has created. I do suppose, however, that anyone reading this should keep in mind that I am writing this from a Canadian perspective, and the novelist and the novel itself are Swedish. Perhaps I am lacking some of the proper context.
As you can tell by the title of this entry, I have only read two thirds of this trilogy, but I've got to say that the Girl Who Played With Fire is a far better read than the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (which as I said above, I didn't hate, but I found the balance in the book a little bit off. Three quarters of it were devoted to giving the reader a background and only in the last quarter was there any catalyst or increase in action). The Girl Who Played with Fire was more interesting from the get go. The action was balanced throughout the story, and there weren't any parts that I found particularly monotonous. I've got to say that I still have issues with Larsen's characters though. You've got Lisbeth Salander (the main female character)who Larsen has crafted as someone who doesn't give a flying fuck about any social norms. She lives as off the grid as possible. She sees the world in black and white. She doesn't take shit from anyone, she's brilliant (like genius smart), doesn't need help from anyone and won't do anything that she doesn't want to do. So reading that, you're thinking 'Holy fuck, that seems like a pretty strong female character'...but wait, Larsen decides to make her bi-sexual and in the second book the character gets breast implants. So the reader is supposed to believe that the character who doesn't buy into any social stigmas and media propaganda suddenly decides that we wants a boob job. Nope, I'm not buying it. I also had a little bit of a problem with one of Lisbeth's lovers in the book. Apparently it's not enough for a character to be a lesbian, but she had to be the caricature of some kind of uber-lesbian. She's a kick-boxer who does performance art at S&M clubs and part owner in a store that sells lingerie and fetish wear. This is my problem with Larsen's characters. It seems as if everyone has to be a complete extreme. It's very unrealistic and totally over the top.
Some of you might say that I am reading too much into this and that I'm not just taking the story at face value. Perhaps you're thinking that Larsen didn't even really intend for this to be read as any kind of commentary on the rights of women or feminism or anything of the sort. You may be right, and at face value, the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was a good story, and the Girl Who Played with Fire was even better. I'm not denying that. But here's some food for thought...The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo's title in the original Swedish is Men Who Hate Women. I find it hard to believe that Larsen would call the book that without thinking that he was making some type of commentary on the rights of women.
That's all.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
God, It's Been A Long Time...
Wow, I can't believe that it's been almost two months since I committed any acts of bloggery! I actually caught a little bit of shit today from my super awesome boyfriend (who is also, I suspect, the only person who actually reads this) for not having written anything in so long. So I suppose that we can thank him for this entry, and hopefully for my getting back into the routine of writing with some level of frequency.
I usually write about stuff that I'm reading, or movies that I've seen, but we sort of fell out of our routine of going to the movies frequently, and the lack of decent films hitting theatres as of late hasn't really helped our motivation out at all.
Right now we're working our way through the Six Feet Under complete series (we just finished season one)that we bought over a year ago. It's a re-watch for me, and the boyfriend has seen about half (maybe a little bit more than that) the series. I hadn't forgotten how fantastic a series it is, but watching it again is just as amazing as watching it the first time. The characters are incredibly well written and superbly acted, the story lines are both hilarious and heartbreaking. It's really got everything that you could possibly want in a television series, and fuck, don't even get me started on the last episode of the series. It's probably the most complete, and satisfying ending to a series that I have ever seen. In fact, I can't wait to get through the series just so that I can watch that ending with the boyfriend and see what he thinks of it.
I usually write about stuff that I'm reading, or movies that I've seen, but we sort of fell out of our routine of going to the movies frequently, and the lack of decent films hitting theatres as of late hasn't really helped our motivation out at all.
Right now we're working our way through the Six Feet Under complete series (we just finished season one)that we bought over a year ago. It's a re-watch for me, and the boyfriend has seen about half (maybe a little bit more than that) the series. I hadn't forgotten how fantastic a series it is, but watching it again is just as amazing as watching it the first time. The characters are incredibly well written and superbly acted, the story lines are both hilarious and heartbreaking. It's really got everything that you could possibly want in a television series, and fuck, don't even get me started on the last episode of the series. It's probably the most complete, and satisfying ending to a series that I have ever seen. In fact, I can't wait to get through the series just so that I can watch that ending with the boyfriend and see what he thinks of it.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
This Is't About a Book or a Movie...
Shocking, I know, but this blog isn't about a book that I've read, or a movie that I've seen. Weird, right? I've been kind of lax on reading for the last week, and the only movies that I've seen are re-watches. What I am really excited about is the trip to Europe that my boyfriend and I are leaving for in 3 months and 18 days! It seems like it's still a while away, but it's coming up so fast!
I ordered a backpacking pack on the internet the other week, and it came yesterday! It's everything that I wanted! It's big, not too heavy, the day pack that attaches to it is the perfect size, and it's really well made. My stoke-o-meter is at, like, an 11! So excited that I can hardly contain myself!
I'm going to set up a travel blog that I'll be writing in while we're away so that my friends and family, and whoever else in the blog-verse can see what awesome things we've been up to! Here's the link, although not a whole lot is going to be happening there (with the exception of a countdown) for the next 3 month and 18 days...I just couldn't wait to set it up!
I ordered a backpacking pack on the internet the other week, and it came yesterday! It's everything that I wanted! It's big, not too heavy, the day pack that attaches to it is the perfect size, and it's really well made. My stoke-o-meter is at, like, an 11! So excited that I can hardly contain myself!
I'm going to set up a travel blog that I'll be writing in while we're away so that my friends and family, and whoever else in the blog-verse can see what awesome things we've been up to! Here's the link, although not a whole lot is going to be happening there (with the exception of a countdown) for the next 3 month and 18 days...I just couldn't wait to set it up!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
So Once Again, I've Let Too Much Time Pass Between Blogs...
...and I've seen a few movies and read a couple of books that I haven't blogged about. Last weekend, we went to the movies to do a 'double feature' night. The first movie that we saw was The Losers. During the day I read the first volume of the graphic novel, so that I was at least a little in the know about the source material before seeing the movie. I've gotta say that it was acutally pretty damn close to the grpahic novel, despite changing the ethnicity of two of the main characters, and making Aisha's back story a LOT less interesting and bad ass, but more palatable for American mass consumption. All in all, the movie was really entertaining, and I actually loved it. I didn't have the highest of hopes going into it, considering that it had earned a PG rating, but it was actually pretty damn good. It was fun and fast paced, the characters were fairly true to their comic book roots, definitely worth seeing.
The next movie that we saw that night was How to Train Your Dragon, which for some completely baffling fucking reason has been marketed as Dreamworks Dragons...does anyone know the logic behind this? 'cause I'm at a total loss, is How to Train Your Dragon too hard to say, or is it the vague innuendo of auto erotic exhileration that made Dreamworks decide to try to market it as Dreamworks Dragons instead? Like I said, baffling. But enough about the bizarre name change, and back to the actual movie: IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING!!! Possibly the best animated feature that I've seen since Wall-E, and that's saying a lot, 'cause I fucking loved Up too. It's definitely, hands down, Dreamworks' best animated feature film (sorry Shrek, I still love you, but this movie was just amazing). The animation was stellar, the story was amazing, and the 3D just blows you the fuck away. I'd definitely say that it's a 'must see' movie, not just for kids, or families, but for everyone...and if you want to avoid the kids and the familes, then go to the late show. That's what we did.
The next movie that we saw that night was How to Train Your Dragon, which for some completely baffling fucking reason has been marketed as Dreamworks Dragons...does anyone know the logic behind this? 'cause I'm at a total loss, is How to Train Your Dragon too hard to say, or is it the vague innuendo of auto erotic exhileration that made Dreamworks decide to try to market it as Dreamworks Dragons instead? Like I said, baffling. But enough about the bizarre name change, and back to the actual movie: IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING!!! Possibly the best animated feature that I've seen since Wall-E, and that's saying a lot, 'cause I fucking loved Up too. It's definitely, hands down, Dreamworks' best animated feature film (sorry Shrek, I still love you, but this movie was just amazing). The animation was stellar, the story was amazing, and the 3D just blows you the fuck away. I'd definitely say that it's a 'must see' movie, not just for kids, or families, but for everyone...and if you want to avoid the kids and the familes, then go to the late show. That's what we did.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The New Dead
I finished reading The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology (edited by Christopher Golden) yesterday morning, and I know, I read a lot of zombie books and stories, but this anthology was really phenomenal. It's comprised of 19 short stories by a wide range of writers. I loved a lot of the stories, and at least liked and enjoyed reading the rest. I really stretches out the zombie genre, the vast majority of the stories weren't just about people running from brain munching zombies (don't get me wrong though, I fucking love stories where people have to run from brain munching zombies), some dealt with moral dilemmas, some with the concept of the soul, some with the dangers of technology, and some were just straight up great stories.
As you know, if you've been reading my blog, I'm a Joe Hill fan, and I really like his short story collection 20th Century Ghosts, so I was really excited to read his contribution to the New Dead. I've got to say, it blew me away. I haven't really stopped thinking about it since I finished the story yesterday morning. It was brilliantly written, and everything a short story should be. I'm not going to say too much here, because I really don't want to give anything away, but if you have the chance, you absolutely must read Twittering from the Circus of the Dead. The entire story is told via a girl on a family road trip tweeting from her cell phone, and each little 140 character or less segment is compelling. I'm not going to say anymore, 'cause with a short story, you really run the risk of giving something away, but I've got to say this, read it!
As you know, if you've been reading my blog, I'm a Joe Hill fan, and I really like his short story collection 20th Century Ghosts, so I was really excited to read his contribution to the New Dead. I've got to say, it blew me away. I haven't really stopped thinking about it since I finished the story yesterday morning. It was brilliantly written, and everything a short story should be. I'm not going to say too much here, because I really don't want to give anything away, but if you have the chance, you absolutely must read Twittering from the Circus of the Dead. The entire story is told via a girl on a family road trip tweeting from her cell phone, and each little 140 character or less segment is compelling. I'm not going to say anymore, 'cause with a short story, you really run the risk of giving something away, but I've got to say this, read it!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Kick Ass!
I completely forgot to write anything after we went to see Kick Ass on Saturday. I'm a blogging failure, but what can ya do, right?
Soooo, that being said, we went to see Kick Ass on Saturday, and I broke my rule again (the one about reading the book before seeing the movie...terrible, I know), but I couldn't wait to see the movie, I'd read so much about it that it had to be done, and rules are made to be broken (except for that one about having sex with a dead body, that rule should never be broken. NEVER!...just sayin'). I've gotta say though, that I hands down, no lie, fucking LOVED this movie! It had everything that I want to see in a movie, ultra-violence, masked avengers, great dialogue and a fucking NARRATOR!!!! Hells yeah! I think I was smiling from beginning to end while watching the movie, and the last movie that I remember that happening in was Watchmen (and maybe Alice in Wonderland...I can't quite remember with that one).
From what I've heard, the movie was incredibly true to the graphic novels, but the violence was toned down a little for the movie, and I've gotta admit, with all the hype around how violent and crude the movie was, I was honestly expecting it to be worse. See what happens when you hype shit up and blow it out of proportion, main stream media? See? I think it's fucking hilarious, the controversy that Kick Ass created, people complaining about the violence and the language...the movie is rated R, fuck off and don't watch it if you don't want to. So there.
It did blow my mind a little bit that when we went to see the movie, there was a family sitting at the end of the row that had brought their 6 and 8 year old kids to see the movie. I'm not a parent, but I can call an epic parenting fail when I see one, and that was definitely one. I kept glancing over during the course of the movie to see if they'd up and left the theatre yet, but they didn't, they stayed to the very end. People are dumb...that seems to be my new motto in life...it's sad, but people re-affirm it for me every single fucking day.
Soooo, that being said, we went to see Kick Ass on Saturday, and I broke my rule again (the one about reading the book before seeing the movie...terrible, I know), but I couldn't wait to see the movie, I'd read so much about it that it had to be done, and rules are made to be broken (except for that one about having sex with a dead body, that rule should never be broken. NEVER!...just sayin'). I've gotta say though, that I hands down, no lie, fucking LOVED this movie! It had everything that I want to see in a movie, ultra-violence, masked avengers, great dialogue and a fucking NARRATOR!!!! Hells yeah! I think I was smiling from beginning to end while watching the movie, and the last movie that I remember that happening in was Watchmen (and maybe Alice in Wonderland...I can't quite remember with that one).
From what I've heard, the movie was incredibly true to the graphic novels, but the violence was toned down a little for the movie, and I've gotta admit, with all the hype around how violent and crude the movie was, I was honestly expecting it to be worse. See what happens when you hype shit up and blow it out of proportion, main stream media? See? I think it's fucking hilarious, the controversy that Kick Ass created, people complaining about the violence and the language...the movie is rated R, fuck off and don't watch it if you don't want to. So there.
It did blow my mind a little bit that when we went to see the movie, there was a family sitting at the end of the row that had brought their 6 and 8 year old kids to see the movie. I'm not a parent, but I can call an epic parenting fail when I see one, and that was definitely one. I kept glancing over during the course of the movie to see if they'd up and left the theatre yet, but they didn't, they stayed to the very end. People are dumb...that seems to be my new motto in life...it's sad, but people re-affirm it for me every single fucking day.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
mmmmMMmmmmMMM Braaaaains...
As you know if you've read my wee bio on my blog, I'm a big zombie fan. I love zombie books and movie, songs that mention zombies, pretty much anything zombie related. I like to think that if there was a zombie apocalypse, that I would manage to survive, but I'd prefer it if the zombies in question were the slow moving, motor skill stunted kind, and not the super fast Zack Snyder's remake of Dawn of the Dead kind (if that were the case we'd all be pretty much fucked).
That being said, I was really into the Walking Dead series of graphic novels, but then I sort of fell off the ball. Last week I picked up books 9 and 10, and I think before work today I'm going to stop and get book 11, then I'll be totally caught up for when the new book comes out in June. These books are AWESOME! They're definitely worth reading, but you have to be able to stomach the zombie goodness, 'cause they're pretty graphic.
The books are great because they deal with the problem of the undead, but they also deal with the mental breakdowns that each of the characters deal with as they try to adapt to a world without any kind of order, and the best part is that as you read through the series it becomes more and more evident that no one is safe.
There's been talks for quite a while now about a Waking Dead tv series, and I always contended that the only way that they'd be able to pull it off would be through HBO, or possibly Showtime...but it turns out that it's going to be an AMC original series. AMC did prove that their worth to me with Breaking Bad, which is a great series, so I have hope...but I'm not sold just yet. Time will tell.
That being said, I was really into the Walking Dead series of graphic novels, but then I sort of fell off the ball. Last week I picked up books 9 and 10, and I think before work today I'm going to stop and get book 11, then I'll be totally caught up for when the new book comes out in June. These books are AWESOME! They're definitely worth reading, but you have to be able to stomach the zombie goodness, 'cause they're pretty graphic.
The books are great because they deal with the problem of the undead, but they also deal with the mental breakdowns that each of the characters deal with as they try to adapt to a world without any kind of order, and the best part is that as you read through the series it becomes more and more evident that no one is safe.
There's been talks for quite a while now about a Waking Dead tv series, and I always contended that the only way that they'd be able to pull it off would be through HBO, or possibly Showtime...but it turns out that it's going to be an AMC original series. AMC did prove that their worth to me with Breaking Bad, which is a great series, so I have hope...but I'm not sold just yet. Time will tell.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
One Bloody Thing After Another!
I just finished Joey Comeau's new novel One Bloody Thing After Another, and it was fan-fucking-tastic! Seriously, it was a really great read. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little blood and guts mixed in with a very well crafted story and great characters. You just have to have the stomach to handle the bloody bits.
One Bloody Thing After Another is one of those books that you don't want to put down...a book that makes you resent the day to day crap that you have to do, and wish that you could just keep reading. My review of it is posted on the ecw press website, and I figured that it would be a wee bit redundant to just copy and paste the exact same thing right here, so if you'd like to read the full review, click here. Then if the passion moves you, you can even pre-order the book straight from the fine folks at ecw.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I've Never Really Decided Who My Favourite Author Of All Time Is...
...I've always been more of a top five list kind of girl, but I think that Christopher Moore might be a serious contender for first place.
I've read all of his books (most, multiple times), and when his new book Bite Me: A Love Story came out yesterday I was at the bookstore as soon as it opened (but not obnoxiously waiting at the door...I hung back in my car, and waited a few minutes so that I didn't come off a a total douche, running in there as soon as they unlocked the front doors) and I spent my entire day, with the exception of some quality boyfriend time and some solid Lost watching, reading the book...and I finished it.
Once again, Christopher Moore didn't disappoint, Bite Me was hilarious, and even kind of touching...at least as touching as a book about vampires, goth girls, manga haired boys and Chet the giant vampire cat can be. It was absolutely, thoroughly entertaining!
Lamb, one of Moore's earlier books is consistently in my top five favourite books of all time, I've read it probably four or five times...so could it be...could it possibly be that I've finally found an answer to the "who's you're favourite author?" question...it seems likely.
I've read all of his books (most, multiple times), and when his new book Bite Me: A Love Story came out yesterday I was at the bookstore as soon as it opened (but not obnoxiously waiting at the door...I hung back in my car, and waited a few minutes so that I didn't come off a a total douche, running in there as soon as they unlocked the front doors) and I spent my entire day, with the exception of some quality boyfriend time and some solid Lost watching, reading the book...and I finished it.
Once again, Christopher Moore didn't disappoint, Bite Me was hilarious, and even kind of touching...at least as touching as a book about vampires, goth girls, manga haired boys and Chet the giant vampire cat can be. It was absolutely, thoroughly entertaining!
Lamb, one of Moore's earlier books is consistently in my top five favourite books of all time, I've read it probably four or five times...so could it be...could it possibly be that I've finally found an answer to the "who's you're favourite author?" question...it seems likely.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Level 26
A few days ago I finished reading Level 26 By Anthony E. Zucker with Dave Swierczynski. It's being billed as the world's first Digi-Novel. So what you do is, you sign up at this website, and at selected intervals in the novel you go to the website, enter a specific code and watch bits of footage that are related to the book (crime scenes, clips of the killer, things like that). At first the idea intrigued me. It's a novel about a serial killer who has hit an all new level of off the charts fucked-up-ed-ness (that's what Level 26 signifies...apparently before this guy, serial killer fucked-up-ed-ness was measured on a scale of 1-25...and they had to create an all new level to cover the scope of crazy that this guy was)...I wasn't expecting a work of literary genius or anything (obviously...the book was penned by the guy who created CSI), but it was something different (this whole Digi-Novel business), so I figured "what the hell, I'll give it a shot". Plus it was a loaner that I got from my brother in law, and he said it was fairly twisted, so I'd likely enjoy it.
I've gotta say, I'm not sold on this Digi-Novel crap...perhaps if it was executed better, then I would have a higher opinion of it, but if you've ever read my blog before, you know that I have a bit of a problem at times with books translating properly onto film, and in this case, the two were conceived (supposedly) at the same time, and carried to fruition with the sole intention of creating the "World's first Digi-Novel"...so why were there so many inconsistencies between what was written in the book and what was depicted in the film clips? Why were some of the characters so poorly cast for the roles they were playing? Either the author didn't realize that when you describe a character's skin as "milky" the connotation is 'pale' not 'smooth'...if he wanted a dairy reference for smooth, he should have used 'creamy', not 'milky' (and I don't think that this is me being entirely too picky...I've asked a bunch of people what they think of when they read 'milky skin', and I'm not alone in my interpretation...in fact, no one said smooth...pale was the consensus). Or, the folks casting the visual bits didn't bother to take their cues from the author. Either way, the girl who was cast as the 'milky' skinned character was clearly of mixed racial background...it just didn't make sense. Even some of the footage that was supposed to be taken by the serial killer from a video camera on a tripod was moving footage...from different camera angels. A little bit of continuity would have gone a long fucking way to make this "Digi-Novel" far more frightening, and have the end result be much more satisfying for the reader/viewer.
Don't get me wrong, the story was creepy, and I did sleep with my bedside light on one night in the middle of reading the book because I was altogether creeped out, but if they were trying to break new ground, and be the first to publish a multimedia novel, they should have made sure that they pulled it off without a hitch, which they didn't. It all seemed a little ill conceived and poorly executed. But that's just one girl's opinion.
PS- it was also kind of an annoying pain in the ass to try to log on to the website to watch the footage at the end of almost every chapter.
I've gotta say, I'm not sold on this Digi-Novel crap...perhaps if it was executed better, then I would have a higher opinion of it, but if you've ever read my blog before, you know that I have a bit of a problem at times with books translating properly onto film, and in this case, the two were conceived (supposedly) at the same time, and carried to fruition with the sole intention of creating the "World's first Digi-Novel"...so why were there so many inconsistencies between what was written in the book and what was depicted in the film clips? Why were some of the characters so poorly cast for the roles they were playing? Either the author didn't realize that when you describe a character's skin as "milky" the connotation is 'pale' not 'smooth'...if he wanted a dairy reference for smooth, he should have used 'creamy', not 'milky' (and I don't think that this is me being entirely too picky...I've asked a bunch of people what they think of when they read 'milky skin', and I'm not alone in my interpretation...in fact, no one said smooth...pale was the consensus). Or, the folks casting the visual bits didn't bother to take their cues from the author. Either way, the girl who was cast as the 'milky' skinned character was clearly of mixed racial background...it just didn't make sense. Even some of the footage that was supposed to be taken by the serial killer from a video camera on a tripod was moving footage...from different camera angels. A little bit of continuity would have gone a long fucking way to make this "Digi-Novel" far more frightening, and have the end result be much more satisfying for the reader/viewer.
Don't get me wrong, the story was creepy, and I did sleep with my bedside light on one night in the middle of reading the book because I was altogether creeped out, but if they were trying to break new ground, and be the first to publish a multimedia novel, they should have made sure that they pulled it off without a hitch, which they didn't. It all seemed a little ill conceived and poorly executed. But that's just one girl's opinion.
PS- it was also kind of an annoying pain in the ass to try to log on to the website to watch the footage at the end of almost every chapter.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
I Finished Reading High Fidelity the Other Day...
I finished reading High Fidelity the other day, and I've been playing around in my head how exactly I was going to put into words the way that I felt while reading it, and when I finished reading it.
I think that I mentioned before that I don't generally like to read a book after I've seen the movie, as it ruins the reading experience for me. You've got actors stuck in your head, rather than building the characters in your mind as the author moves through the book, little descriptors and nuances changing your concept of the character with each page you read. As a rule I try to read the book before the movie is out (or failing that, at least before I see the movie myself), that is not to say, however, that I make a point of reading every book that's made into a movie, but if it's a book that I've been interested in, and it's on my to read list, then I do try to get the book read before I see the movie ('cause odds are that if I want to read the book, and I enjoy the book, then I want to see how the movie turns out).
In the case of High Fidelity though, I finally decided to let it slide. I saw the movie ages ago (it came out when I was 19, and I hadn't really developed my hard and fast literature/movies rules), and I loved it. I still do. I own it, I've seen it a bunch of times. I'd been thinking about reading the book for a few years now, but I never got around to it, and my book/movie rules nagged at me (no, you shouldn't read it now, it's too late, the read will be wrecked for you by having seen the movie...all that bizarre neurotic crap that runs through my head), then, as I was walking through the library a couple of weeks ago, trolling the shelves for something to read, I meandered through the "Adult Fiction H" section and came across Nick Hornby. I paused, looked at High Fidelity on the shelf, pulled it out, had a look at the paperback (thank god it wasn't the movie cover edition of the book, 'cause that would have been a deal breaker for me...I know it seems superficial, but I'd feel like a band-wagon-jumper reading the movie edition of any book. I feel like it just screams "I'm only interested in reading this because Hollywood deemed it worthy for mass consumption"). Sometimes I think too much about ridiculous shit. Anyways, it was in my hand, and the decision was made. I was finally going to read High Fidelity.
I'm so glad that I did, and it seems like it was kismet or fate or something that I finally decided to read it at this point in my life. It was so fitting, so appropriate. I couldn't believe it. There's so much that I don't have in common with the book's main character Rob Fleming, most obviously, I'm not a 35 year old British man, I am not miserable, hopeless and self destructive in my relationship (quite the opposite, I'm so incredibly happy in mine that sometimes I feel like I'm going to explode, and I'm still not sure how I managed to get so lucky [and yes, I know you're reading this]), but other than that I have started to become a lot like Rob. I've noticed myself becoming more and more bitter, and more and more jaded. So much like Rob in the book.
I've been passively thinking about making some life changes for the past, oh, I don't know, three or four years, and lately it's become less and less passive. Reading High Fidelity was, bizarrely enough, the final push that I needed in the right direction. I know that it's a work of fiction, but I see myself on the same road as Rob, wandering aimlessly, stuck where it's familiar, hating it more and more everyday, becoming more and more bitter and hopeless everyday. I don't want to end up a foul, bitter, overly judgemental person...and the way things are going, I'll end up there if I don't make a change.
It's bizarre that a fictional story about a fictional person can bring about this kind of...well...I won't say epiphany, 'cause I already knew that the problem was there, but you know what I'm getting at. That a fictional story can make the reader see inside herself and realize that there are things that need to change. I guess that would be what makes it great. Now I'm not saying that this is going to be a life changing book for everyone who reads it, for some, for most, likely, it's just a good story, at times quite funny, about a man who works in a shop. A man who does the same dance day in and day out and has come to loathe it, and by virtue of that loathe parts of himself, but for me, it was the perfect book for me to read at this point in my life. Perfect.
I think that I mentioned before that I don't generally like to read a book after I've seen the movie, as it ruins the reading experience for me. You've got actors stuck in your head, rather than building the characters in your mind as the author moves through the book, little descriptors and nuances changing your concept of the character with each page you read. As a rule I try to read the book before the movie is out (or failing that, at least before I see the movie myself), that is not to say, however, that I make a point of reading every book that's made into a movie, but if it's a book that I've been interested in, and it's on my to read list, then I do try to get the book read before I see the movie ('cause odds are that if I want to read the book, and I enjoy the book, then I want to see how the movie turns out).
In the case of High Fidelity though, I finally decided to let it slide. I saw the movie ages ago (it came out when I was 19, and I hadn't really developed my hard and fast literature/movies rules), and I loved it. I still do. I own it, I've seen it a bunch of times. I'd been thinking about reading the book for a few years now, but I never got around to it, and my book/movie rules nagged at me (no, you shouldn't read it now, it's too late, the read will be wrecked for you by having seen the movie...all that bizarre neurotic crap that runs through my head), then, as I was walking through the library a couple of weeks ago, trolling the shelves for something to read, I meandered through the "Adult Fiction H" section and came across Nick Hornby. I paused, looked at High Fidelity on the shelf, pulled it out, had a look at the paperback (thank god it wasn't the movie cover edition of the book, 'cause that would have been a deal breaker for me...I know it seems superficial, but I'd feel like a band-wagon-jumper reading the movie edition of any book. I feel like it just screams "I'm only interested in reading this because Hollywood deemed it worthy for mass consumption"). Sometimes I think too much about ridiculous shit. Anyways, it was in my hand, and the decision was made. I was finally going to read High Fidelity.
I'm so glad that I did, and it seems like it was kismet or fate or something that I finally decided to read it at this point in my life. It was so fitting, so appropriate. I couldn't believe it. There's so much that I don't have in common with the book's main character Rob Fleming, most obviously, I'm not a 35 year old British man, I am not miserable, hopeless and self destructive in my relationship (quite the opposite, I'm so incredibly happy in mine that sometimes I feel like I'm going to explode, and I'm still not sure how I managed to get so lucky [and yes, I know you're reading this]), but other than that I have started to become a lot like Rob. I've noticed myself becoming more and more bitter, and more and more jaded. So much like Rob in the book.
I've been passively thinking about making some life changes for the past, oh, I don't know, three or four years, and lately it's become less and less passive. Reading High Fidelity was, bizarrely enough, the final push that I needed in the right direction. I know that it's a work of fiction, but I see myself on the same road as Rob, wandering aimlessly, stuck where it's familiar, hating it more and more everyday, becoming more and more bitter and hopeless everyday. I don't want to end up a foul, bitter, overly judgemental person...and the way things are going, I'll end up there if I don't make a change.
It's bizarre that a fictional story about a fictional person can bring about this kind of...well...I won't say epiphany, 'cause I already knew that the problem was there, but you know what I'm getting at. That a fictional story can make the reader see inside herself and realize that there are things that need to change. I guess that would be what makes it great. Now I'm not saying that this is going to be a life changing book for everyone who reads it, for some, for most, likely, it's just a good story, at times quite funny, about a man who works in a shop. A man who does the same dance day in and day out and has come to loathe it, and by virtue of that loathe parts of himself, but for me, it was the perfect book for me to read at this point in my life. Perfect.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wild Things...
I finally finished reading Wild Things by Dave Eggers the other night. Dave Eggers is responsible for writing the screen play for Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are, and Wild Things is essentially an extension of that screen play. There are moments in Wild Things where Max makes different decisions than Max in the movie and things play out a little differently. I like how Eggers explains it in the Acknowledgements at the end of the book
"I found other pathways...and generally added my own interpretations to the story of Max. The children's book Max is, after all, a version of Maurice, and the movie Max is a version of Spike. The Max of this book, then, is some combination of Maurice's Max, Spike's Max, and the Max of my own boyhood."
It's put so well, and makes so much sense. Each of the Wild Things is a little bit of Max's psyche with fur and teeth, and each and every one of us has a Max in them. Max takes us back to what it is like to be a child, at once so sure of yourself, but a second later completely crushed. Parts of you that want to be gentle, while other parts just want to destroy everything in sight. The book, as with the movie, was touching, and a little heartbreaking, watching Max come to terms with his Wild Things, and then leave them, lovingly behind.
"I found other pathways...and generally added my own interpretations to the story of Max. The children's book Max is, after all, a version of Maurice, and the movie Max is a version of Spike. The Max of this book, then, is some combination of Maurice's Max, Spike's Max, and the Max of my own boyhood."
It's put so well, and makes so much sense. Each of the Wild Things is a little bit of Max's psyche with fur and teeth, and each and every one of us has a Max in them. Max takes us back to what it is like to be a child, at once so sure of yourself, but a second later completely crushed. Parts of you that want to be gentle, while other parts just want to destroy everything in sight. The book, as with the movie, was touching, and a little heartbreaking, watching Max come to terms with his Wild Things, and then leave them, lovingly behind.
Corey Haim
First thing to talk about this morning is why, in the name of anything holy did I wake up at 6:30am wide-a-fucking-wake on my sleep in day. It was disappointing, and beyond frustrating, and now my eyes are burning with tired. Fucking great.
In yesterday's news, we mourn the passing of Corey Haim. He was Canadian, he was the king of the downward spiral and he starred in one of my all time favourite movies; Lost Boys. I was sad when I read about Haim yesterday morning, but honestly, not surprised in the least. So last night I tipped my metaphorical glass to Haim by watching lost Boys for the 564th time.
In yesterday's news, we mourn the passing of Corey Haim. He was Canadian, he was the king of the downward spiral and he starred in one of my all time favourite movies; Lost Boys. I was sad when I read about Haim yesterday morning, but honestly, not surprised in the least. So last night I tipped my metaphorical glass to Haim by watching lost Boys for the 564th time.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Go Ask Alice...No, Wait, Go SEE Alice
Seeing Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland was on my list of things that I'm looking forward to in 2010. I've been stoked on the idea of Mr. Burton giving us his take on Alice, Wonderland, The Mad Hatter and everything else since the rumours of the possibility of that happening started years ago. That's a lot of anticipation and a lot of build up, not to mention a lot to live up to for this girl, 'cause Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are two of my favourite books of all time.
And here's the thing, after all that waiting, reading anything that happened to pop up on the interwebs regarding Burton's Alice, and catching little glimpses of his visions of the Wonderland folk, the movie didn't let me down in the least. I think I was smiling from beginning to end. We saw it in glorious Real-D 3D and it was BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely, breathtakingly, beautiful.
I loved that although the story was not an exact interpretation of either Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass, it took elements of both and then added in bits of awesomeness here and there.
Sometimes I surprise myself, as I am in many ways a purist when it comes to translating a book or graphic novel to the screen, and believe that the source material should be honoured above all else, but in this instance, the editions didn't bother me. In fact I think they added a humanity to the residents of Wonderland.
I'm genuinely shocked that Alice in Wonderland is getting such terrible reviews from a lot of people (none of whom I rely on for reviews on a regular basis anyways, the reviewers that I read regularly seem to be on board the good ship Alice). Lets look at the pieces of the movie; the acting was stellar, each actor brought great depth and vision to their character, the script (although not mind blowing) was well written, the visuals and the directing were stunning as we have come to expect from Tim Burton over the years, Danny Elfman once again came through with a fantastic score that suited the action to a t. So when all signs point to yes, then the answer is yes. Fuck yes, see this movie.
That is all. Thank you.
And here's the thing, after all that waiting, reading anything that happened to pop up on the interwebs regarding Burton's Alice, and catching little glimpses of his visions of the Wonderland folk, the movie didn't let me down in the least. I think I was smiling from beginning to end. We saw it in glorious Real-D 3D and it was BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely, breathtakingly, beautiful.
I loved that although the story was not an exact interpretation of either Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass, it took elements of both and then added in bits of awesomeness here and there.
Sometimes I surprise myself, as I am in many ways a purist when it comes to translating a book or graphic novel to the screen, and believe that the source material should be honoured above all else, but in this instance, the editions didn't bother me. In fact I think they added a humanity to the residents of Wonderland.
I'm genuinely shocked that Alice in Wonderland is getting such terrible reviews from a lot of people (none of whom I rely on for reviews on a regular basis anyways, the reviewers that I read regularly seem to be on board the good ship Alice). Lets look at the pieces of the movie; the acting was stellar, each actor brought great depth and vision to their character, the script (although not mind blowing) was well written, the visuals and the directing were stunning as we have come to expect from Tim Burton over the years, Danny Elfman once again came through with a fantastic score that suited the action to a t. So when all signs point to yes, then the answer is yes. Fuck yes, see this movie.
That is all. Thank you.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
I Also Finished Reading Horns...
...a couple days after I started reading it, and here's the verdict: it was awesome. Joe Hill hasn't let me down yet.
I say go out and grab yourself a copy and give it a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I say go out and grab yourself a copy and give it a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I Just Finished Watching (500) Days of Summer...
...what a fantastic movie. I can't believe that I waited this long to watch it. I mean I wanted to see it in the theatre, but it didn't get a very wide theatrical release, so I never made it and then when it came out on DVD I just kept putting off buying it for some reason. Which is totally bizarre because I really love Zooey Deschanel and own pretty much every movie that she's been in.
It's funny, though Deschanel is the title character of the film, she is definitely not its focus. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (awww, remember Third Rock from the Sun...and he was also in Halloween H2O. Anyone else remember that? I think he dies by hockey skate to the face, which in itself is pretty awesome)delivered an absolutely phenomenal performance. The way he embraced his character, the ups and downs, the complete range of emotions, blew me away.
I'm gonna put it out there, this is a must see movie. Hands down, you've gotta see it. It just...it was...ok, here's my best shot at it;
This week has been a little bit shitty for me. Work has been frustrating and exhausting, I've been sleeping poorly, I've been stressed out about what to do with myself in terms of my future...go back to school, new job, what? So all of that combined has made for a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but when I watched (500) Days of Summer last night it took me out of everything. When the movie was over I felt fresh, like if there's still movies as wonderful as this being made, then there's hope. I know that sounds super lame. I know, you don't have to point it out or tell me, I know. But it's also true. So there.
As an aside, (500) Days of Summer also has a narrator, which means that I was going to love it regardless. I've got a bizarre love for any movie that has a narrator. I think that it stems from my early obsession with the movie Stand By Me, but I'm actually interested to go back now and examine movies that I was really in love with when I was really little to see if any of them had a narrator...I'd love to figure out where my obsession began.
It's funny, though Deschanel is the title character of the film, she is definitely not its focus. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (awww, remember Third Rock from the Sun...and he was also in Halloween H2O. Anyone else remember that? I think he dies by hockey skate to the face, which in itself is pretty awesome)delivered an absolutely phenomenal performance. The way he embraced his character, the ups and downs, the complete range of emotions, blew me away.
I'm gonna put it out there, this is a must see movie. Hands down, you've gotta see it. It just...it was...ok, here's my best shot at it;
This week has been a little bit shitty for me. Work has been frustrating and exhausting, I've been sleeping poorly, I've been stressed out about what to do with myself in terms of my future...go back to school, new job, what? So all of that combined has made for a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but when I watched (500) Days of Summer last night it took me out of everything. When the movie was over I felt fresh, like if there's still movies as wonderful as this being made, then there's hope. I know that sounds super lame. I know, you don't have to point it out or tell me, I know. But it's also true. So there.
As an aside, (500) Days of Summer also has a narrator, which means that I was going to love it regardless. I've got a bizarre love for any movie that has a narrator. I think that it stems from my early obsession with the movie Stand By Me, but I'm actually interested to go back now and examine movies that I was really in love with when I was really little to see if any of them had a narrator...I'd love to figure out where my obsession began.
Friday, February 19, 2010
I Love Joe Hill...
in the literary sense, not in the stalkery sense.
For those of you who don't know, Joe Hill's new book Horns came out on Tuesday, and I declare that you must run out and buy it. I did. If that's not reason enough for you, well fuck, what better reason than that do you need...ok, well I have a better reason for those of you who don't care for the last one that I gave you; Horns is AWESOME (don't make me bust out the AWESOME-O-METER to show you just how awesome, 'cause I will)! When I saw Joe Hill's tweet (yes I follow him on Twitter) on Tuesday saying that Horns hit the shelves that morning, I ran out on my break to grab it. Sorry Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter, you've been back burnered until I finish Horns, and that's saying something, 'cause Queen Vic was starting to get pretty good. Prince Albert just got kidnapped by a werewolf, that shit is gold, but alas it must wait.
I'm about half way trough Horns right now, and I don't want to put it down. I'm really digging it, in fact I don't even really want to be writing this right now, I'd rather be delving deeper into the book. To be totally honest, I kind of resented taking a shower today because, fuck knows, you can't read in the shower...now the bath on the other hand...shit! I should have said 'fuck showers' and taken a bath, reading and cleanliness combined! Again, I digress...(that seems to happen a lot...anyone else notice that?)...
Anyhoo, I highly recommend giving Joe Hill's other books a read too, Heart Shaped Box is a great novel. It's spooky and well written with great characters. 20th Century Ghosts is an awesome short story collection that spans horror, sci-fi, and has a little bit of heart break and comedy in there too. I absolutely loved all of the stories in the collection; partly because they're so well written, partly because they're all so different in genre and content and partly because I've got a big soft spot for the short story as an artform. By far the most though, I love his graphic novel series Locke & Key. The first two trades are out, and I promise that once you've read the first one you'll jump to the next and then be like me, waiting and longing for the next volume to come out.
Now, back to Horns...
For those of you who don't know, Joe Hill's new book Horns came out on Tuesday, and I declare that you must run out and buy it. I did. If that's not reason enough for you, well fuck, what better reason than that do you need...ok, well I have a better reason for those of you who don't care for the last one that I gave you; Horns is AWESOME (don't make me bust out the AWESOME-O-METER to show you just how awesome, 'cause I will)! When I saw Joe Hill's tweet (yes I follow him on Twitter) on Tuesday saying that Horns hit the shelves that morning, I ran out on my break to grab it. Sorry Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter, you've been back burnered until I finish Horns, and that's saying something, 'cause Queen Vic was starting to get pretty good. Prince Albert just got kidnapped by a werewolf, that shit is gold, but alas it must wait.
I'm about half way trough Horns right now, and I don't want to put it down. I'm really digging it, in fact I don't even really want to be writing this right now, I'd rather be delving deeper into the book. To be totally honest, I kind of resented taking a shower today because, fuck knows, you can't read in the shower...now the bath on the other hand...shit! I should have said 'fuck showers' and taken a bath, reading and cleanliness combined! Again, I digress...(that seems to happen a lot...anyone else notice that?)...
Anyhoo, I highly recommend giving Joe Hill's other books a read too, Heart Shaped Box is a great novel. It's spooky and well written with great characters. 20th Century Ghosts is an awesome short story collection that spans horror, sci-fi, and has a little bit of heart break and comedy in there too. I absolutely loved all of the stories in the collection; partly because they're so well written, partly because they're all so different in genre and content and partly because I've got a big soft spot for the short story as an artform. By far the most though, I love his graphic novel series Locke & Key. The first two trades are out, and I promise that once you've read the first one you'll jump to the next and then be like me, waiting and longing for the next volume to come out.
Now, back to Horns...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Long Time, No Post...
Ok, well maybe not a long time, but a week or so, which is longer than I had originally planned on going between posts. So here I am! Posting! It's me, it's me!
So, I started reading the book that my sister and brother in law gave me for Christmas, it's called Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter (by A.E. Moorat)and the tag line (yes, a book with a tag line, books are marketed like movies now, deal with it...like I'm trying to)is...wait for it...wait for it..."She loved her country. She hated zombies."
Now I've gotta admit that I had seen this book a couple of times during my aimless bookstore wanderings, chucked at the ridiculousness of it, and moved along. But, since I got it as a gift ('cause they know that I love zombies...not the same way that I love kittens...like I don't want to cuddle with zombies or give them them treats or anything, mostly 'cause those treats would be my delicious brain which I'm not willing to part with at the moment...but I digress, shocking, I know) I figured that I should give it a read...
...and here's the thing, I kinda dig it, I mean really it sold me at the end of the first chapter with this:
"'Sir, it's the zombies, sir' Perkins managed, breathing heavily.
There was a crack of lightning from outside, a rumble of thunder.
'Yes?' said Quimby, still irritated. 'What about the zombies?'
'Sir, they're eating the prostitutes'"
End of chapter. AWESOMENESS!
I mean, I just can't help myself...when there's zombies eating prostitutes, a girl's just gotta keep reading. That being said, I'm not even a quarter of the way through the book, so I'll leave this with; Less typing, more reading.
That is all.
So, I started reading the book that my sister and brother in law gave me for Christmas, it's called Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter (by A.E. Moorat)and the tag line (yes, a book with a tag line, books are marketed like movies now, deal with it...like I'm trying to)is...wait for it...wait for it..."She loved her country. She hated zombies."
Now I've gotta admit that I had seen this book a couple of times during my aimless bookstore wanderings, chucked at the ridiculousness of it, and moved along. But, since I got it as a gift ('cause they know that I love zombies...not the same way that I love kittens...like I don't want to cuddle with zombies or give them them treats or anything, mostly 'cause those treats would be my delicious brain which I'm not willing to part with at the moment...but I digress, shocking, I know) I figured that I should give it a read...
...and here's the thing, I kinda dig it, I mean really it sold me at the end of the first chapter with this:
"'Sir, it's the zombies, sir' Perkins managed, breathing heavily.
There was a crack of lightning from outside, a rumble of thunder.
'Yes?' said Quimby, still irritated. 'What about the zombies?'
'Sir, they're eating the prostitutes'"
End of chapter. AWESOMENESS!
I mean, I just can't help myself...when there's zombies eating prostitutes, a girl's just gotta keep reading. That being said, I'm not even a quarter of the way through the book, so I'll leave this with; Less typing, more reading.
That is all.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Booooooooone!
I finished reading Jeff Smith's Bone today. It was absolutely amazing! I loved it! The only down side to it, was that it weighed about 10 pounds, no exaggeration, I actually hit myself in the face with it a few times when I fell asleep reading, but what can ya do, right?
So, yeah, Bone was a fucking great read! I can't recommend it enough, to anyone. Everyone. I still haven't read Rose, the prequel book, but it's sitting at my feet at the moment just calling for me to read it as soon as I'm done typing this. I also think I'm going to have a look around on the great and powerful inter-webs to see if I can get Bartelby stuffed animal...ok, I'm back...hmm, I think that might require more searching...I did come across a Fone Bone stuffed animal though...CUUUUUTE!
My list of stuff to read just doesn't seem to be getting any smaller though. I still have to read Wild Things, Metamorphosis, Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter (that one my sister and brother in law game me for Christmas), The Boys (book 1)...geeze, and I know that there are a couple more that I'm forgetting about.
I think I'm going to have to ban myself from book stores until I've made a bigger dent in the pile. There's also a bunch of my older books that I want to re-read, like the Princess Bride, Watership Down, Pornographer's Poem, and a bunch of others, but they'll have to wait for a little while...
There just never seems to be enough time...womp womp
So, yeah, Bone was a fucking great read! I can't recommend it enough, to anyone. Everyone. I still haven't read Rose, the prequel book, but it's sitting at my feet at the moment just calling for me to read it as soon as I'm done typing this. I also think I'm going to have a look around on the great and powerful inter-webs to see if I can get Bartelby stuffed animal...ok, I'm back...hmm, I think that might require more searching...I did come across a Fone Bone stuffed animal though...CUUUUUTE!
My list of stuff to read just doesn't seem to be getting any smaller though. I still have to read Wild Things, Metamorphosis, Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter (that one my sister and brother in law game me for Christmas), The Boys (book 1)...geeze, and I know that there are a couple more that I'm forgetting about.
I think I'm going to have to ban myself from book stores until I've made a bigger dent in the pile. There's also a bunch of my older books that I want to re-read, like the Princess Bride, Watership Down, Pornographer's Poem, and a bunch of others, but they'll have to wait for a little while...
There just never seems to be enough time...womp womp
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Posting Before Work Is Always Fun...
...except that it reminds you that you have to leave for work in twenty minutes, and that your job is slowly sucking your will to live. Or maybe that's just me *sigh*.
So I'm sitting here all warm and cozy in my boyfriend's apartment with a GIANT cup of coffee and his roley-poley little fur ball Dexter cuddling up to me (he's actually kitten-snoring at the moment, which if you've never witnessed before, is exceptionally adorable), and I figured that I really should post a mini-review of Lovely Bones before too much time passes and I can't remember the things that I wanted to say about it.
The Lovely Bones was good, and I enjoyed it, but I enjoyed the book FAR more. Maybe it's because it's still so fresh in my head, or maybe it's because of how moving the book was, but the movie just didn't compare. Now I know, and you know, that the movie or tv adaptation or what have you never lives up to the book* and I never expect it to. Hmmmm...but how do I put this...it's almost as though Peter Jackson missed the tone, which isn't exactly true, because the movie made you feel almost the same things as the book, just not as intensely. My boyfriend, who hasn't read the book thought that the movie was great, very powerful. So apparently if you've not read the book, then the movie does get across the concept and emotion behind Sebold's novel.
Arghhh, I wish I didn't have to leave for work, 'cause I'm sure that there's more that I could say...but such is life I suppose.
*The only real exception to this rule that I have noticed is Dexter, the tv series. When it first premiered I watched a bunch of the episodes and then went out ant bought the first two Jeff Lindsay books, and they were TERRIBLE. I didn't even read the second one. The show has much better character development and is far better written than the book. I'd love to know if anyone else has come across different examples of the adaptations surpassing the original....hmm
So I'm sitting here all warm and cozy in my boyfriend's apartment with a GIANT cup of coffee and his roley-poley little fur ball Dexter cuddling up to me (he's actually kitten-snoring at the moment, which if you've never witnessed before, is exceptionally adorable), and I figured that I really should post a mini-review of Lovely Bones before too much time passes and I can't remember the things that I wanted to say about it.
The Lovely Bones was good, and I enjoyed it, but I enjoyed the book FAR more. Maybe it's because it's still so fresh in my head, or maybe it's because of how moving the book was, but the movie just didn't compare. Now I know, and you know, that the movie or tv adaptation or what have you never lives up to the book* and I never expect it to. Hmmmm...but how do I put this...it's almost as though Peter Jackson missed the tone, which isn't exactly true, because the movie made you feel almost the same things as the book, just not as intensely. My boyfriend, who hasn't read the book thought that the movie was great, very powerful. So apparently if you've not read the book, then the movie does get across the concept and emotion behind Sebold's novel.
Arghhh, I wish I didn't have to leave for work, 'cause I'm sure that there's more that I could say...but such is life I suppose.
*The only real exception to this rule that I have noticed is Dexter, the tv series. When it first premiered I watched a bunch of the episodes and then went out ant bought the first two Jeff Lindsay books, and they were TERRIBLE. I didn't even read the second one. The show has much better character development and is far better written than the book. I'd love to know if anyone else has come across different examples of the adaptations surpassing the original....hmm
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I Should Be Sleeping...
I should be sleeping, but instead I'm typing. I just finished watching Whip It! Holy sweet Jesus fuck, that movie was AWESOME!
I missed it when it was in theatres, but I picked it up yesterday when it came out on DVD. I didn't get to watch it last night 'cause I was too tired (story of my life lately) when I got home from seeing Lovely Bones (which I will post a review of tomorrow...hopefully). So yeah, I've been anticipating seeing this movie since it was in theatres, and we all know how that can work out sometimes...y'know, you hype it up in your head and it doesn't live up to your expectations when you finally get a chance to see it. That, however, was NOT the case with Whip It! I was tired when I started watching the movie, but I really wanted to see it. It only took the opening scene to totally and completely hook me. Whip It had my undivided attention for the next hour and fifty minutes.
I've really gotta say that the cast was phenomenal, every last actor in the movie was WICKED, but particularly Ellen Page (obviously...I love her!), Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, and Drew Barrymore as Smashly Simpson (SO GOOD!). Oh, and the lovely Ms. Barrymore gets two thumbs WAY UP for her directorial debut. As a side note, I didn't know that there was a third and oldest Wilson brother before I saw this movie, but as soon as he spoke, I knew that Andrew Wilson had to be related to Luke and Owen. Their inflection when they speak is identical. Jusy saying.
All I have to say is that if you haven't seen Whip It yet, you have to. Go out and rent it or buy it (it's totally worth it) NOW! Like right now, right this instant and bask in the glory of roller derby. BASK IN IT!
Watching Whip It made me wish (not for the first time) that I'd gotten into roller derby. For real. If only I weren't horribly clumsy...curses.
I missed it when it was in theatres, but I picked it up yesterday when it came out on DVD. I didn't get to watch it last night 'cause I was too tired (story of my life lately) when I got home from seeing Lovely Bones (which I will post a review of tomorrow...hopefully). So yeah, I've been anticipating seeing this movie since it was in theatres, and we all know how that can work out sometimes...y'know, you hype it up in your head and it doesn't live up to your expectations when you finally get a chance to see it. That, however, was NOT the case with Whip It! I was tired when I started watching the movie, but I really wanted to see it. It only took the opening scene to totally and completely hook me. Whip It had my undivided attention for the next hour and fifty minutes.
I've really gotta say that the cast was phenomenal, every last actor in the movie was WICKED, but particularly Ellen Page (obviously...I love her!), Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, and Drew Barrymore as Smashly Simpson (SO GOOD!). Oh, and the lovely Ms. Barrymore gets two thumbs WAY UP for her directorial debut. As a side note, I didn't know that there was a third and oldest Wilson brother before I saw this movie, but as soon as he spoke, I knew that Andrew Wilson had to be related to Luke and Owen. Their inflection when they speak is identical. Jusy saying.
All I have to say is that if you haven't seen Whip It yet, you have to. Go out and rent it or buy it (it's totally worth it) NOW! Like right now, right this instant and bask in the glory of roller derby. BASK IN IT!
Watching Whip It made me wish (not for the first time) that I'd gotten into roller derby. For real. If only I weren't horribly clumsy...curses.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Not Sure What To Title This Bad Boy...
I went to Niagara Falls this weekend with my awesome boyfriend for my birthday. It was so much fun! I love doing all the campy tourist-y shit. We went to the wax museum, rode the giant ferris wheel, went to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, and the Lego Museum! So FUN!
There was a stuffed lamb that was born with a horn at Ripley's. Now I really want a lamb-i-corn. Is that so wrong?
Look how cute it is...LOOK AT IT!
So, I can have one right? All I need is a little Island Of Dr. Moreau action. It could happen.
We're going to the movies tomorrow night, hurrah for cheap Tuesdays! Not entirely sure what we're going to see yet, but it's not going to be Avatar. It's still way too f-ing busy to see that. The theatres are all crowded, and you just know that there'll be at least one total douche who feels the need to text during the movie. I swear, one of these days I'm going to fight someone for that. For realsies. That being said, I'll definitely post a review of whatever we see.
Other things that I'm excited about (in no particular order):
Whip It comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray tomorrow, I can't wait to see it!
There's a new Johnny Cash CD coming out in February (it's the last of the Rick Rubin recordings), so I'm pretty stoked to hear that.
I just read another review for that Frozen movie that's premiereing at Sundance. I want to see it! NOW!
I also read a snippette that the fine folks at Ain't it Cool News put up about the Walking Dead comics being crafted into a TV series...I'm actually kind of intrigued. I really like the series, so here's hoping that it translates well.
I'm tired...I feel like there was actually something that I wanted to talk about, and not just ramble on about a variety of randomness, but alas, I have forgotten. Sad face.
That is all.
There was a stuffed lamb that was born with a horn at Ripley's. Now I really want a lamb-i-corn. Is that so wrong?
Look how cute it is...LOOK AT IT!
So, I can have one right? All I need is a little Island Of Dr. Moreau action. It could happen.
We're going to the movies tomorrow night, hurrah for cheap Tuesdays! Not entirely sure what we're going to see yet, but it's not going to be Avatar. It's still way too f-ing busy to see that. The theatres are all crowded, and you just know that there'll be at least one total douche who feels the need to text during the movie. I swear, one of these days I'm going to fight someone for that. For realsies. That being said, I'll definitely post a review of whatever we see.
Other things that I'm excited about (in no particular order):
Whip It comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray tomorrow, I can't wait to see it!
There's a new Johnny Cash CD coming out in February (it's the last of the Rick Rubin recordings), so I'm pretty stoked to hear that.
I just read another review for that Frozen movie that's premiereing at Sundance. I want to see it! NOW!
I also read a snippette that the fine folks at Ain't it Cool News put up about the Walking Dead comics being crafted into a TV series...I'm actually kind of intrigued. I really like the series, so here's hoping that it translates well.
I'm tired...I feel like there was actually something that I wanted to talk about, and not just ramble on about a variety of randomness, but alas, I have forgotten. Sad face.
That is all.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Lovely Bones...Read It.
I just finished reading the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I'm still having a little trouble putting into words exactly how the book made me feel.I'll start off by saying, as I did in my post before, that I know that it's lame to read a book that has just come out as a movie...but I couldn't help it this time. I want to see the movie, but I wanted to read the book first, and that was that.
Going into the book, I sort of knew the premise, but other that that I really didn't know anything about it. I assumed that since it being made into a movie (even if it was a Peter Jackson movie) and because it was a New York Times bestseller that it would be a sort of run of the mill pulp-fiction-y novel written about as well as a John Grisham or Dan Brown book (now I'm not knocking Grisham or Brown really, but their books are what they are...vacation reading...enjoyable brain candy...Oh, come on! You know what I mean). What I discovered after just the first chapter of the Lovely Bones was that I had greatly underestimated this novel.
What Alice Sebold created with the Lovely Bones is a work of literature, not just a novel. What happened after the book was published was somehting that I consider to be a pretty rare phenomenon. The public ate it up. For once the masses were consuming what is actually a pretty amazing, unique and well written work of fiction.
I think that I've decided on the best way to sum up this book, and that is not to say that it's a tear-jerker (although it is that too, and I challenge you to make it through the whole thing without shedding a tear or two), but rather, that this book made my heart hurt. At times throughout the book it was so sad that my heart ached, and at others it was so hopeful that I felt my heart swell until it felt like it would burst (Grinch style...y'know heart growing ten sizes?...Everyone loves a Dr. Seuss reference).
So, I've said what I had to say on the topic of the Lovely Bones. I hope that if you've not yet read it that you'll give it a go. It's definitely worth the read.
Now, to finish Bone. Then go on to attack the rest of the neglected pile of books in my "to read" pile.
Going into the book, I sort of knew the premise, but other that that I really didn't know anything about it. I assumed that since it being made into a movie (even if it was a Peter Jackson movie) and because it was a New York Times bestseller that it would be a sort of run of the mill pulp-fiction-y novel written about as well as a John Grisham or Dan Brown book (now I'm not knocking Grisham or Brown really, but their books are what they are...vacation reading...enjoyable brain candy...Oh, come on! You know what I mean). What I discovered after just the first chapter of the Lovely Bones was that I had greatly underestimated this novel.
What Alice Sebold created with the Lovely Bones is a work of literature, not just a novel. What happened after the book was published was somehting that I consider to be a pretty rare phenomenon. The public ate it up. For once the masses were consuming what is actually a pretty amazing, unique and well written work of fiction.
I think that I've decided on the best way to sum up this book, and that is not to say that it's a tear-jerker (although it is that too, and I challenge you to make it through the whole thing without shedding a tear or two), but rather, that this book made my heart hurt. At times throughout the book it was so sad that my heart ached, and at others it was so hopeful that I felt my heart swell until it felt like it would burst (Grinch style...y'know heart growing ten sizes?...Everyone loves a Dr. Seuss reference).
So, I've said what I had to say on the topic of the Lovely Bones. I hope that if you've not yet read it that you'll give it a go. It's definitely worth the read.
Now, to finish Bone. Then go on to attack the rest of the neglected pile of books in my "to read" pile.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Check One Thing Off The List...
On Tuesday I went to the Ontario Science Centre to see the Body Worlds exhibit which was on the list of things that I'm looking forward to doing in 2010, and it definitely didn't disappoint. It was actually even better than I had expected it to be...
Body Worlds was something that I'd been really looking forward to seeing; partly because it just looks really cool, partly because I know a couple of people who saw it the last time it was here and they said that it was pretty neat, and lastly because I was mad at myself for missing it when it was here about five years ago.
I definitely recommend going to see it. I would also recommend going to see it during the extended hours on Friday or Saturday evening so that you don't have to be astounded by the stupidity of students the same way that my boyfriend and I were. There was actually a group of students who made it all the way through to the end of the exhibit without realizing that they were actual human bodies, and that everything that they had just seen was once alive. Mind blowing (and not in a good way)!
The atmosphere created in the exhibit was also really intriguing. It was dimly lit, but the displays were all well lit up, and the use of red and black fabrics gave everything a warm feel. There were interesting quotes all throughout the exhibit from authors,doctors, world leaders, poets and so forth that pertained to the human heart (which was the theme of the exhibit) which, coupled with the actual bodies created a somber yet accessible atmosphere. I was sort of taken by the need to be restrained, quiet and respectful in the exhibit...I got the same vibe as I get in a funeral home during a visitation...I mean there are people everywhere, but you are overcome by a sense of vulnerability. I'm not sure whether that is on of the intentions of the exhibit or not, I'm just saying.
So, if anything that I said intrigues you, here's the link:
http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/bodyworlds/default.asp
Now I'm going to start reading the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I know that it's lame to jump on the bandwagon and read a book that's coming out as a movie, but I want to see the movie, and I want to read the book before I do so. Plus, I really like Peter Jackson (y'know, the guy who makes movies about walking and tricksy little Hobbits) , and I could have made myself seem like less of a joiner if I'd bought the book when I first heard that he was making the movie, but I didn't and I'm being honest about it, so there.
This also means that I have to back burner the other books that I'm reading right now (Wild Things by Dave Eggers, Metamorphosis by Kafka and Bone by Jeff Smith)...maybe I should try reading one book at a time...maybe.
Body Worlds was something that I'd been really looking forward to seeing; partly because it just looks really cool, partly because I know a couple of people who saw it the last time it was here and they said that it was pretty neat, and lastly because I was mad at myself for missing it when it was here about five years ago.
I definitely recommend going to see it. I would also recommend going to see it during the extended hours on Friday or Saturday evening so that you don't have to be astounded by the stupidity of students the same way that my boyfriend and I were. There was actually a group of students who made it all the way through to the end of the exhibit without realizing that they were actual human bodies, and that everything that they had just seen was once alive. Mind blowing (and not in a good way)!
The atmosphere created in the exhibit was also really intriguing. It was dimly lit, but the displays were all well lit up, and the use of red and black fabrics gave everything a warm feel. There were interesting quotes all throughout the exhibit from authors,doctors, world leaders, poets and so forth that pertained to the human heart (which was the theme of the exhibit) which, coupled with the actual bodies created a somber yet accessible atmosphere. I was sort of taken by the need to be restrained, quiet and respectful in the exhibit...I got the same vibe as I get in a funeral home during a visitation...I mean there are people everywhere, but you are overcome by a sense of vulnerability. I'm not sure whether that is on of the intentions of the exhibit or not, I'm just saying.
So, if anything that I said intrigues you, here's the link:
http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/bodyworlds/default.asp
Now I'm going to start reading the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I know that it's lame to jump on the bandwagon and read a book that's coming out as a movie, but I want to see the movie, and I want to read the book before I do so. Plus, I really like Peter Jackson (y'know, the guy who makes movies about walking and tricksy little Hobbits) , and I could have made myself seem like less of a joiner if I'd bought the book when I first heard that he was making the movie, but I didn't and I'm being honest about it, so there.
This also means that I have to back burner the other books that I'm reading right now (Wild Things by Dave Eggers, Metamorphosis by Kafka and Bone by Jeff Smith)...maybe I should try reading one book at a time...maybe.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Music Will Save Your Soul...Or At Least Your Sanity
Yesterday I was having one of those frustrating and stressful days, and on the drive home my iPod saved my life. Have you ever had one of those days where you put your iPod on shuffle and it just seems to know exactly what you want to hear? I love when that happens!
When the iPod started playing the Distillers album Sing Sing Death House I immediately took it off shuffle and sang (or screamed) along with the whole album on the drive and by the time I got home I felt a million times better.
On the drive I also started toying with my favourite albums of the past decade...and have come up with a tentative list. So here it is...and the same rules apply to this as they do to my top movies of the decade list. They're in no particular order, any time that I make a "tops" list it is entirely dependent on my mood and coulechange from day to day. So don't judge me too harshly on my list...so, without further ado...my top 25 albums of the 2000's!
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008)
Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First (2004)
Black Lungs - Send Floweres (2008)
Broadcast Zero - Yesterday You Could Save The World (2008)
Distillers - Sing Sing Death House (2002)
Dropkick Murphys - Warrior's Code (2005)
Flogging Molly - Float (2008)
Fort Minor - Rising Tied (2005)
Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (2008)
Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
HorrorPops - Hell Yeah! (2004)
Hostage Life - Walking Papers (2006)
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me (2002)
Johnny Cash - American IV (2002)
Kimya Dawson - Remember that I love you (2006)
Lars Frederickson & The Bastards - Lars Frederickson & The Bastards (2001)
Lily Allen - Alright, Still (2006)
Nashville Pussy - High As Hell (2000)
Rancid - Indestructible (2003)
Rise Against - Siren Song Of The Counter Culture (2004)
She & Him- Volume One (2008)
Street Dogs - Fading American Dream (2006)
Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004)
Teagan & Sara - So Jealous (2004)
So There it is!
When the iPod started playing the Distillers album Sing Sing Death House I immediately took it off shuffle and sang (or screamed) along with the whole album on the drive and by the time I got home I felt a million times better.
On the drive I also started toying with my favourite albums of the past decade...and have come up with a tentative list. So here it is...and the same rules apply to this as they do to my top movies of the decade list. They're in no particular order, any time that I make a "tops" list it is entirely dependent on my mood and coulechange from day to day. So don't judge me too harshly on my list...so, without further ado...my top 25 albums of the 2000's!
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008)
Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First (2004)
Black Lungs - Send Floweres (2008)
Broadcast Zero - Yesterday You Could Save The World (2008)
Distillers - Sing Sing Death House (2002)
Dropkick Murphys - Warrior's Code (2005)
Flogging Molly - Float (2008)
Fort Minor - Rising Tied (2005)
Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (2008)
Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
HorrorPops - Hell Yeah! (2004)
Hostage Life - Walking Papers (2006)
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me (2002)
Johnny Cash - American IV (2002)
Kimya Dawson - Remember that I love you (2006)
Lars Frederickson & The Bastards - Lars Frederickson & The Bastards (2001)
Lily Allen - Alright, Still (2006)
Nashville Pussy - High As Hell (2000)
Rancid - Indestructible (2003)
Rise Against - Siren Song Of The Counter Culture (2004)
She & Him- Volume One (2008)
Street Dogs - Fading American Dream (2006)
Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004)
Teagan & Sara - So Jealous (2004)
So There it is!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Today At Work...Doesn't Every Great Story Start This Way?
Today while I was on my break at work I overheard the greatest conversation (insert sarcasm here). It was, in fact, so awesome that it left me speechless (imagine my voice dripping with sarcash now). There were two girls, and they were looking at posters and this was the conversation:
Girl 1 "Ooooooh, look Twilight posters"
Girl 2 "Oooooooh, look Jonas Brothers posters"
Girl 1 "you know, Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are like exactly the same"
Girl 2 "I know, right!"
*Now picture the most completely baffled expression on my face* I'm not going to lie, at this point I was dying to know what they were going to say next, but sadly there was no conclusion to their "Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are exactly the same" hypothesis. The conversation just continued in a completely vapid and circular manner. So I'm going to draw my conclusion to the above mentioned hypothesis; Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are exactly the same in that they are both completely lame and contrived and spoon fed to the mindless masses.
Now normally, I'm not quite this mean or judgmental (I'm a little mean and judgmental though, don't despair), but overhearing this conversation (if you can call it that) made me lose a little bit more of my faith in humanity. I would just once like to overhear a conversation that gave me pause in a good way...oh well...Any hoo, tomorrow is another day, so here's hoping. Maybe someone will surprise me *crosses fingers*.
For now I'm tired and a little cranky and am going to read more of Bone and then go to sleep. 'night Blog World.
Girl 1 "Ooooooh, look Twilight posters"
Girl 2 "Oooooooh, look Jonas Brothers posters"
Girl 1 "you know, Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are like exactly the same"
Girl 2 "I know, right!"
*Now picture the most completely baffled expression on my face* I'm not going to lie, at this point I was dying to know what they were going to say next, but sadly there was no conclusion to their "Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are exactly the same" hypothesis. The conversation just continued in a completely vapid and circular manner. So I'm going to draw my conclusion to the above mentioned hypothesis; Twilight and the Jonas Brothers are exactly the same in that they are both completely lame and contrived and spoon fed to the mindless masses.
Now normally, I'm not quite this mean or judgmental (I'm a little mean and judgmental though, don't despair), but overhearing this conversation (if you can call it that) made me lose a little bit more of my faith in humanity. I would just once like to overhear a conversation that gave me pause in a good way...oh well...Any hoo, tomorrow is another day, so here's hoping. Maybe someone will surprise me *crosses fingers*.
For now I'm tired and a little cranky and am going to read more of Bone and then go to sleep. 'night Blog World.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Top Movies of the Past Decade
I want to begin by saying that these are listed in no particular order...I mean it's hard enough to come up with a list, let alone a list in order of preference. Also, my lists always reflect how I feel at the moment, and may be totally different from one day to the next. I'm not going to make more than one list, but what I'm really trying to say is, don't judge me too harshly on my list. Thanks.
Amelie
Almost Famous
Frida
Sin City
The Fountain
Inglourious Basterds
Where the Wild Things Are
Clerks 2
Jersey Girl
Kill Bill V1
Donnie Darko
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Big Fish
Stranger Than Fiction
Super Troopers
Ok, so I might add more to this list, and I might change a few titles, but here it is for now...and now, this gal has to get to bed.
Amelie
Almost Famous
Frida
Sin City
The Fountain
Inglourious Basterds
Where the Wild Things Are
Clerks 2
Jersey Girl
Kill Bill V1
Donnie Darko
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Big Fish
Stranger Than Fiction
Super Troopers
Ok, so I might add more to this list, and I might change a few titles, but here it is for now...and now, this gal has to get to bed.
Yay for 2010!
Here's a little list of things that I'm looking forward to doing in 2010:
1) Going to see Kevin Smith at Roy Thompson Hall - Check this off the list...the man doesn't disappoint. If you get the chance, go! He's one of the greatest story tellers of our time.
2) Seeing Body Worlds at the Science Centre (since I missed it the last time that it was here) Did it! Woo-Hoo! Jan 12, 2010!
3) Traveling
4) Going to see the new Harry Potter exhibit when it comes to the Science Centre.
5) Lots more trips to the zoo! I haven't even seen the new Tundra set up yet.
6) Reading the new Christopher Moore book.
7) Seeing the King Tut exhibit at the AGO.
8) Getting new tattoos. That's a must...I'm going through withdrawal.
9) Seeing Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland -HELLS YEAH! I love you Tim Burton, you're one of my many heroes...you done Alice good.
10) Seeing the new Harry Potter movie...and the last Harry Potter movie *tear*
1) Going to see Kevin Smith at Roy Thompson Hall - Check this off the list...the man doesn't disappoint. If you get the chance, go! He's one of the greatest story tellers of our time.
2) Seeing Body Worlds at the Science Centre (since I missed it the last time that it was here) Did it! Woo-Hoo! Jan 12, 2010!
3) Traveling
4) Going to see the new Harry Potter exhibit when it comes to the Science Centre.
5) Lots more trips to the zoo! I haven't even seen the new Tundra set up yet.
6) Reading the new Christopher Moore book.
7) Seeing the King Tut exhibit at the AGO.
8) Getting new tattoos. That's a must...I'm going through withdrawal.
9) Seeing Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland -HELLS YEAH! I love you Tim Burton, you're one of my many heroes...you done Alice good.
10) Seeing the new Harry Potter movie...and the last Harry Potter movie *tear*
Where to begin...
Most people would say "begin at the beginning" but that's bullshit. If I did that we'd both end up bored to death and you'd never come back and read my blog again, and we don't want that.
So I say fuck it, I'm going to begin now; not at the beginning, and if you don't like it you can suck it. So there. Wait, I take it back...don't leave!
Beginning now...hmmm...I guess I'll mention a couple of my New Years resolutions...one was to actually start writing this blog that I set up over a year ago (check one thing off the list! Woo-hoo!), another is to read more...which is funny 'cause I read a lot already. In fact I think that I've started off the New Year reading less than usual, but that will change.
So on New Years day, after a long nap and once I didn't feel like I was going to barf I read Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader. Fuck I love Neil Gaiman. SO MUCH! He definitely falls into the super-ridiculously-awesome category. I can't think of any better send off for Gotham City's dark defender. Now I'm working my way through Bone; the complete series as well as reading Battle for the Cowl. I'm dying for it to be March so that I can read the new Christopher Moore novel...I can't wait...in fact, I think that I might pre-order it...just so I feel like I own it already...it's like baby steps towards actually being able to read it. I'm also reading Metamorphosis by Kafka 'cause I've never read it, and I like to balance out my reading a little bit. Make sure that there is a balance between brain candy and sustenance.
I am going to post a couple of "tops of the decade" and "tops of 2009" lists soon, because there really aren't enough of those going around right now. I'm going to need a little more time to put those together though, mainly because I'm kinda lazy and tend to second guess myself when I make "tops" lists.
So I say fuck it, I'm going to begin now; not at the beginning, and if you don't like it you can suck it. So there. Wait, I take it back...don't leave!
Beginning now...hmmm...I guess I'll mention a couple of my New Years resolutions...one was to actually start writing this blog that I set up over a year ago (check one thing off the list! Woo-hoo!), another is to read more...which is funny 'cause I read a lot already. In fact I think that I've started off the New Year reading less than usual, but that will change.
So on New Years day, after a long nap and once I didn't feel like I was going to barf I read Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader. Fuck I love Neil Gaiman. SO MUCH! He definitely falls into the super-ridiculously-awesome category. I can't think of any better send off for Gotham City's dark defender. Now I'm working my way through Bone; the complete series as well as reading Battle for the Cowl. I'm dying for it to be March so that I can read the new Christopher Moore novel...I can't wait...in fact, I think that I might pre-order it...just so I feel like I own it already...it's like baby steps towards actually being able to read it. I'm also reading Metamorphosis by Kafka 'cause I've never read it, and I like to balance out my reading a little bit. Make sure that there is a balance between brain candy and sustenance.
I am going to post a couple of "tops of the decade" and "tops of 2009" lists soon, because there really aren't enough of those going around right now. I'm going to need a little more time to put those together though, mainly because I'm kinda lazy and tend to second guess myself when I make "tops" lists.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
