That's right, longtime readers and new ones... we're almost done! We just got the music to cover and then we can brush our hands clean of the year. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the apocal- I mean, 2012.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Best of 2011: Book Edition
I may actually finish reading some 2011 releases during January 2012 and may redo this list to reflect the newer choices. Otherwise, here it is as of this time...
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Best of 2011: Movie Edition
Yes, it is that time of year again! We'll kick things off with the moving pictures!
This is a short list, half mostly concert films. Sometime during the year, I said that if this list was small, I would end doing a best-of for movies each year. Since I watch films at a pace that would agitate a movie aficionado, this is my last list. If I watch enough in 2012, I will do a list but otherwise, do not expect it from here anymore. I love movies, but I'm a snail.
So without further ado, my final list:
This is a short list, half mostly concert films. Sometime during the year, I said that if this list was small, I would end doing a best-of for movies each year. Since I watch films at a pace that would agitate a movie aficionado, this is my last list. If I watch enough in 2012, I will do a list but otherwise, do not expect it from here anymore. I love movies, but I'm a snail.
So without further ado, my final list:
Monday, November 14, 2011
Book Review 18 of 24 (Scrapbooks Are Paper Blogs)
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt
By Caroline Preston
Barnes & Noble link
(Fun fact: I just found out about this book earlier yesterday at my job. Read it in two sittings and decided that it was an appropriate last review.)
When given the tools, anyone can become the person they were meant to become. The influences could come from anywhere, but usually you can discern the usual suspects. For the narrator of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, this was an easy one: her own parents. But it takes more than that to get this girl going. Adventures await her as she leaves the farming countryside of New Hampshire for the wide-eyed wonder of New York State in this uniquely-presented tale.
By Caroline Preston
Barnes & Noble link
(Fun fact: I just found out about this book earlier yesterday at my job. Read it in two sittings and decided that it was an appropriate last review.)
When given the tools, anyone can become the person they were meant to become. The influences could come from anywhere, but usually you can discern the usual suspects. For the narrator of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, this was an easy one: her own parents. But it takes more than that to get this girl going. Adventures await her as she leaves the farming countryside of New Hampshire for the wide-eyed wonder of New York State in this uniquely-presented tale.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Book Review 17 of 24 (Atwood Schools Everyone About Sci-Fi)
In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination
By Margaret Atwood
Barnes & Noble link
(Fun fact: the main reason I joined Twitter was because Margaret Atwood had one and enjoyed using it.)
When you want to learn about a genre, you normally go towards the genre's representative books. In this case, we are talking about science fiction. Go for the popular, we have Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Philip K. Dick. Wanna get esoteric? Walter M. Miller, C.S. Lewis, and J.G. Ballard. How about the ladies? Margaret Atwood, Octavia E. Butler, and Ursula K. Le Guin. You have a lot to choose from.
In this case, let's go with Margaret Atwood. She has written the chilling The Handmaid's Tale, the apocalyptic tale of Oryx and Crake and its sequel The Year of the Flood. But she ain't through. She has more to say about science fiction than her novels could contain. With In Other Worlds, Atwood puts together all she learned about sci-fi and schools you good.
By Margaret Atwood
Barnes & Noble link
(Fun fact: the main reason I joined Twitter was because Margaret Atwood had one and enjoyed using it.)
When you want to learn about a genre, you normally go towards the genre's representative books. In this case, we are talking about science fiction. Go for the popular, we have Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Philip K. Dick. Wanna get esoteric? Walter M. Miller, C.S. Lewis, and J.G. Ballard. How about the ladies? Margaret Atwood, Octavia E. Butler, and Ursula K. Le Guin. You have a lot to choose from.
In this case, let's go with Margaret Atwood. She has written the chilling The Handmaid's Tale, the apocalyptic tale of Oryx and Crake and its sequel The Year of the Flood. But she ain't through. She has more to say about science fiction than her novels could contain. With In Other Worlds, Atwood puts together all she learned about sci-fi and schools you good.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Book Review 16 of 24 (Surrealistic Lady Writers Unite!)
Fantastic Women: 18 Tales of the Surreal and the Sublime from Tin House
Edited by Rob Spillman
Barnes & Noble link
(I'm breaking with tradition: I normally don't review things after reading another review, in fear of plagiarizing... but it's time to subvert!)
If it weren't for the wonderful magazine Bitch, this book's existence would've never been made unto me. Already hurting to read more works by female writers, this collection not only appealed to that but also for the draw of big names. I've read Rikki Ducornet's The Fountains of Neptune (a recommendation from a creative writing professor) and am currently reading Karen Russell's excellent Swamplandia! and the collected stories of Lydia Davis. Thanks to this book, I now have a list of fantastic writers to check out.
Edited by Rob Spillman
Barnes & Noble link
(I'm breaking with tradition: I normally don't review things after reading another review, in fear of plagiarizing... but it's time to subvert!)
If it weren't for the wonderful magazine Bitch, this book's existence would've never been made unto me. Already hurting to read more works by female writers, this collection not only appealed to that but also for the draw of big names. I've read Rikki Ducornet's The Fountains of Neptune (a recommendation from a creative writing professor) and am currently reading Karen Russell's excellent Swamplandia! and the collected stories of Lydia Davis. Thanks to this book, I now have a list of fantastic writers to check out.
Monday, September 19, 2011
When Out of the Cradle and Under the Skin Collide...
Seeds We Sow
By Lindsey Buckingham
Barnes & Noble link
It used to be epic news to hear that Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham was releasing a solo album. Go Insane and Out of the Cradle was a soul-rending eight years of waiting and wondering. For the last five years, he has spoiled fans by releasing three albums in a-year-and-some-odd time span. If each album ended up being as great as the last, then why did he take so damn long earlier? Well, it's not best to dwell on the past. We have to listen to Buckingham's latest offering! 'Cause, you never know... he could release another album soon.
By Lindsey Buckingham
Barnes & Noble link
It used to be epic news to hear that Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham was releasing a solo album. Go Insane and Out of the Cradle was a soul-rending eight years of waiting and wondering. For the last five years, he has spoiled fans by releasing three albums in a-year-and-some-odd time span. If each album ended up being as great as the last, then why did he take so damn long earlier? Well, it's not best to dwell on the past. We have to listen to Buckingham's latest offering! 'Cause, you never know... he could release another album soon.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Book Review 15 of 24 (Ladies and the Records They Love)
Record Collecting for Girls: Unleashing Your Inner Music Nerd, One Album at a Time
by Courtney E. Smith
Barnes & Noble link
There are not too many women writing and publishing books on music criticism, or even about the life and times of being a record collector. Well, there are but not enough to balance out what has been a longtime man's game. Music has been mostly about guys and showing off their collections and their knowledge. Us ladies have been treated as ones only casually interested (and stereotypically as only interested in "girly" music) and never being knowledgeable. But, this couldn't be further from the truth. Us ladies can be just as knowledgeable (and maybe even more) and we're into more than "girly" music. We can listen to Sarah McLachlan and have our Creedence Clearwater Revival too. Just don't count Courtney E. Smith as our representative (we're torn between Ann Powers and the late Ellen Willis at the moment).
by Courtney E. Smith
Barnes & Noble link
There are not too many women writing and publishing books on music criticism, or even about the life and times of being a record collector. Well, there are but not enough to balance out what has been a longtime man's game. Music has been mostly about guys and showing off their collections and their knowledge. Us ladies have been treated as ones only casually interested (and stereotypically as only interested in "girly" music) and never being knowledgeable. But, this couldn't be further from the truth. Us ladies can be just as knowledgeable (and maybe even more) and we're into more than "girly" music. We can listen to Sarah McLachlan and have our Creedence Clearwater Revival too. Just don't count Courtney E. Smith as our representative (we're torn between Ann Powers and the late Ellen Willis at the moment).
Monday, August 22, 2011
Further Thoughts on Retromania
The book spurred so much thinking that a separate post is needed. I didn’t want to clutter the review with my own load of “cool story, sis”, so here you go!
Book Review 14 of 24 (In Which We Learn the Internet is A DeLorean)
Retromania: Pop Culture’s Addiction to Its Own Past
By Simon Reynolds
Barnes & Noble link
(I dedicate the Doctor Who references in the beginning paragraph to my Amy Pond-cosplaying, Dalek-hugging little sister. Keep on shining with your Sonic Screwdriver.)
I shall never doubt the contents of the introduction ever again. When I cracked open Reynolds’ latest offering in music criticism/history, the introduction led me to believe that all the arguments were going to be a big load of “cool story, bro” and at worst, pathetic. By the fourth chapter, I was thunderstruck. Yep, seems like society jumped into a TARDIS and went back without warning the rest of us. And we left the Good Doctor behind.
By Simon Reynolds
Barnes & Noble link
(I dedicate the Doctor Who references in the beginning paragraph to my Amy Pond-cosplaying, Dalek-hugging little sister. Keep on shining with your Sonic Screwdriver.)
I shall never doubt the contents of the introduction ever again. When I cracked open Reynolds’ latest offering in music criticism/history, the introduction led me to believe that all the arguments were going to be a big load of “cool story, bro” and at worst, pathetic. By the fourth chapter, I was thunderstruck. Yep, seems like society jumped into a TARDIS and went back without warning the rest of us. And we left the Good Doctor behind.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge 2011: Book Review 2 of 5
after the quake
By Haruki Murakami
Barnes & Noble link
*Note: this is the second of five reviews for the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge*
Short stories are a strange animal. You are telling the story of people, places, and things; and yet you only have a limited amount of time. All there is time for is the important stuff, the "greatest hits" of it, if you would. It takes a different set of skills to reach shortened-literary perfection. Even novelists are daunted by them. Haruki Murakami remained, as usual, undaunted by a challenge. While he's done it before, he achieved his finest hour in after the quake.
By Haruki Murakami
Barnes & Noble link
*Note: this is the second of five reviews for the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge*
Short stories are a strange animal. You are telling the story of people, places, and things; and yet you only have a limited amount of time. All there is time for is the important stuff, the "greatest hits" of it, if you would. It takes a different set of skills to reach shortened-literary perfection. Even novelists are daunted by them. Haruki Murakami remained, as usual, undaunted by a challenge. While he's done it before, he achieved his finest hour in after the quake.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Book Review: 13 of 24 (First Lady of Rock Criticism)
Out of the Vinyl Deeps: Ellen Willis on Rock Music
Edited by Nona Willis Aronowitz
Barnes & Noble link
This was a book I wasn't sure how to approach when it came time to finally review it. At first, I abandoned the idea of doing this, since it is the first book of its kind that I ever reviewed (here or anywhere else). But after some consideration, the review will go on. This unsung lady of rock journalism shall not go ignored any longer! With a little help from her friends (and daughter too), the late Ellen Willis gets a fitting tribute in this collection of her greatest hits in Out of the Vinyl Deeps.
Edited by Nona Willis Aronowitz
Barnes & Noble link
This was a book I wasn't sure how to approach when it came time to finally review it. At first, I abandoned the idea of doing this, since it is the first book of its kind that I ever reviewed (here or anywhere else). But after some consideration, the review will go on. This unsung lady of rock journalism shall not go ignored any longer! With a little help from her friends (and daughter too), the late Ellen Willis gets a fitting tribute in this collection of her greatest hits in Out of the Vinyl Deeps.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge 2011: Book Review 1 of 5
South of the Border, West of the Sun
By Haruki Murakami
Barnes & Noble link
*Note: this is the first of five reviews for the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge*
When it comes to writing about lost love in an earnest tone, Haruki Murakami delivers in spades. If you need further evidence, please consult Sputnik Sweetheart and Norwegian Wood. He writes another story of lost love, and this time, there is nothing that stand between the two... well, except the two. Lovers go to battle with their own demons in South of the Border, West of the Sun.
By Haruki Murakami
Barnes & Noble link
*Note: this is the first of five reviews for the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge*
When it comes to writing about lost love in an earnest tone, Haruki Murakami delivers in spades. If you need further evidence, please consult Sputnik Sweetheart and Norwegian Wood. He writes another story of lost love, and this time, there is nothing that stand between the two... well, except the two. Lovers go to battle with their own demons in South of the Border, West of the Sun.
Friday, June 17, 2011
WTF Ear Candy
Law and Order
by Lindsey Buckingham
Barnes & Noble link
Special note: this was reviewed using the 1981 vinyl release.
Much like his New Wave compatriot from Wisconsin, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham set forth on the journey to Solo Career Town in 1981 with the release of Law and Order. To the surprise of absolutely no one, it wasn't an enormous success. You know, because there was another album out that was catching everyone's attentions. It didn't stop the album's second song "Trouble" from becoming his first Top Ten hit. When you finish spinning the album for the first time, it leaves you feeling something, mostly the feeling of "what the eff did I just listen to".
by Lindsey Buckingham
Barnes & Noble link
Special note: this was reviewed using the 1981 vinyl release.
Much like his New Wave compatriot from Wisconsin, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham set forth on the journey to Solo Career Town in 1981 with the release of Law and Order. To the surprise of absolutely no one, it wasn't an enormous success. You know, because there was another album out that was catching everyone's attentions. It didn't stop the album's second song "Trouble" from becoming his first Top Ten hit. When you finish spinning the album for the first time, it leaves you feeling something, mostly the feeling of "what the eff did I just listen to".
Monday, April 11, 2011
Book Review: 12 of 24 (Richard Matheson is A Ninja)
Other Kingdoms
By Richard Matheson
Barnes & Noble link
Imagine my surprise when I happened upon a random slice of information one late February day: Richard Matheson, the man who brought the world What Dreams May Come and one of the most popular Twilight Zone episodes (also a short story), had released a new book. New book. In 2011. You bet I ordered it before you could say "Bob's your uncle and he makes cheese of the finest variety". Too bad it was a sore disappointment.
By Richard Matheson
Barnes & Noble link
Imagine my surprise when I happened upon a random slice of information one late February day: Richard Matheson, the man who brought the world What Dreams May Come and one of the most popular Twilight Zone episodes (also a short story), had released a new book. New book. In 2011. You bet I ordered it before you could say "Bob's your uncle and he makes cheese of the finest variety". Too bad it was a sore disappointment.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Book Review: 11 of 24 (Nail-Biting Nonfiction)
Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima
By Stephen Walker
Barnes & Noble link
As the narrator of Fallout 3 best put it: "War never changes". Years have passed since the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on two cities in Japan, citing the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. But, what if the bombs weren't dropped? Well, there would've been a land battle between Americans and Japanese. Many deaths were foreshadowed, possibly more than the total overall of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But, some had to die in order for more not to die? Those, among many more questions you will ask yourself as you read Walker's Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima.
By Stephen Walker
Barnes & Noble link
As the narrator of Fallout 3 best put it: "War never changes". Years have passed since the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on two cities in Japan, citing the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. But, what if the bombs weren't dropped? Well, there would've been a land battle between Americans and Japanese. Many deaths were foreshadowed, possibly more than the total overall of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But, some had to die in order for more not to die? Those, among many more questions you will ask yourself as you read Walker's Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima.
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